95: Outpost Clashes

Enhanced Fu Hongxue and Full of Towers were surrounded by the Men in Black, and the atmosphere instantly solidified. The leader of the Men in Black had a sinister gaze, and the long saber in his hand trembled slightly, clearly prepared to strike.

"It seems you prefer the hard way over the easy way," the leader sneered, swinging his saber towards Enhanced Fu Hongxue. The blade wind was sharp and carried a scent of blood, clearly the work of someone long accustomed to killing.

Enhanced Fu Hongxue's eyes narrowed. His black saber instantly unsheathed from his waist, tracing a black arc that precisely parried the opponent's long saber. With a crisp "ding" and sparks flying, the leader felt his arm go numb, actually being forced back half a step by the impact.

"What a fast blade!" The leader was startled, then roared, "Attack, kill them!"

Dozens of Men in Black surged forward like a tide, their flashing blades and swords weaving a net of death. Although Full of Towers could not see, he relied on his extraordinary hearing and perception of Qi. As his folding fan opened and closed, he employed the Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve Cultivation Technique. The breeze from his sleeves was soft yet contained clever force, always able to deflect attacks at the most critical moments. At the same time, he secretly used the Orchid Flicking Acupoint technique with his fingertips, and three Men in Black had already been struck at their acupoints, collapsing to the ground.

Enhanced Fu Hongxue's saber technique was completely different—fast, accurate, and ruthless, with every strike aimed directly at vital points. His figure moved like a ghost through the crowd of enemies. As his black saber swung, it created bursts of wind-breaking sounds. Wherever his Saber Qi passed, the Men in Black screamed repeatedly; either their arms were slashed, or their weapons were knocked away. In just a few seconds, more than ten people had lost their ability to fight.

"This man's saber technique is so overbearing!" The leader was both shocked and angry, charging forward again with his saber. His technique was vicious, with every move fatal, yet it was dismantled by Enhanced Fu Hongxue with even greater speed. After several collisions between the black saber and the long saber, the leader began to feel unable to hold on, his wrist aching unbearably from the shock.

Just then, Enhanced Fu Hongxue seized a flaw, his black saber suddenly changing direction, the back of the blade heavily striking the leader's wrist. The leader screamed, his long saber flying out of his hand, and he himself was swept by the blade wind, stumbling backward.

"Retreat!" Knowing he was no match, the leader decisively ordered a retreat. The remaining Men in Black, as if granted amnesty, helped the wounded and fled in a sorry state.

Full of Towers gently shook his folding fan and smiled, "Brother Fu, your saber technique truly lives up to its reputation."

Enhanced Fu Hongxue sheathed his saber and said indifferently, "This place is not suitable for a long stay. We must quickly investigate the movements of the stronghold."

The two sneaked into the perimeter of the stronghold. Full of Towers concentrated his hearing, and after a moment, said, "There is a secret chamber deep within the stronghold, with faint voices talking, seemingly mentioning terms like 'Blood Sacrifice' and 'Altar'."

Enhanced Fu Hongxue's eyes turned cold, "It seems the Dark Holy Cult is indeed planning something big. We must find a way to sneak into the secret chamber."

Meanwhile, outside Jueqing Valley, the situation was tense. The seven major factions, bewitched by the Dark Holy Cult, had assembled nearly a thousand troops, surrounding the valley entrance. Leading them was Li Qianhun, the Stockade Master of the Black Wind Stockade. This man had a face full of flabby flesh, held a giant axe, and his voice was like a booming bell, "Gongsun Zhi, if you are sensible, open the valley gate and surrender, otherwise I will trample your Jueqing Valley flat!"

On the valley wall, Gongsun Zhi's expression was grave, with Qiao Feng and others standing by in full battle array. "Li Qianhun, you are colluding with the Dark Holy Cult and aiding in their tyranny; are you not afraid of divine retribution?" Gongsun Zhi shouted angrily.

Li Qianhun laughed wildly, "Divine retribution? If I can obtain the power of the southern bright fire pearl, what does it matter if I suffer divine retribution! Gongsun Zhi, stop talking nonsense; either surrender, or die!"

After saying this, Li Qianhun waved his axe as a signal. A subordinate stepped forward and threw a bloody head in front of the valley gate—it was actually the Jueqing Valley Disciple who had previously been sent to contact other factions.

"Junior Brother!" The Disciples in the valley were filled with grief and indignation, roaring one after another.

Qiao Feng stepped forward and said loudly, "Fellow Martial Forest comrades, the Dark Holy Cult is ambitious. If they succeed, the Jianghu will surely be in chaos! Aiding in their tyranny is no different from digging your own graves!"

Some among the seven major factions looked hesitant, but Li Qianhun shouted sternly, "Do not listen to his bewitchment! If we break through Jueqing Valley, there will be plenty of benefits for you! Attack!"

In an instant, arrows rained down, and giant stones thrown by catapults whistled towards the valley walls. The Jueqing Valley Disciples fought hard to resist, pouring down rolling logs and stones, and both sides were instantly plunged into fierce battle.

Li Qianhun personally led his elite forces to charge the valley gate. As he swung his giant axe, the wooden gate was smashed until it was tottering. "Hero Qiao, the valley gate is about to give way!" Gongsun Zhi said urgently.

Qiao Feng nodded and said to Fu Hongxue and West Gate Blows Snow, "Let's go support them!"

The three leaped down from the valley wall. Qiao Feng blasted out the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, golden palm prints blasting away several enemies; Fu Hongxue's Saber Qi crisscrossed, forcefully carving out a gap; West Gate Blows Snow's Sword Qi was like frost, specifically targeting the enemies' flaws. The three coordinated tacitly, actually temporarily suppressing the offensive.

The Woman in White played her jade flute, and white light enveloped the valley walls, the Disciples' injuries recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye; the Man in Black Robe unfolded a rune array, ice-blue light freezing several catapults; the Blood Demon and the Sect Master of the Nether Ghost Sect led their subordinates to raid from the side gate, disrupting the enemy's rear.

The fierce battle lasted for two hours, with heavy casualties on both sides. Jueqing Valley barely held on by relying on the terrain, but the valley gate was already dilapidated, and the Disciples were exhausted.

Li Qianhun panted heavily, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes, "This can't go on. Send someone to urge the Dark Holy Cult to dispatch troops as soon as possible!"

Meanwhile, in the stronghold's secret chamber, Enhanced Fu Hongxue and Full of Towers had already quietly sneaked in. In the secret chamber, three Elders of the Dark Holy Cult were drawing a map, and in the center of the map was clearly the location of Jueqing Valley.

"The blood sacrifice ritual requires three hundred living souls; the Jueqing Valley Disciples are just right for this. After the seven major factions exhaust their strength, we will seize the opportunity to attack and take the altar treasure land," one Elder said sinisterly.

Another added, "The Cult Master has allied with the Blood Shadow Cult, and they will arrive at the outskirts of Jueqing Valley in three days. By then, with cooperation from inside and outside, we will surely succeed."

Enhanced Fu Hongxue and Full of Towers exchanged a glance, their hearts shaking violently—so the Dark Holy Cult's goal was actually the altar of Jueqing Valley!

"Not good, someone is here!" One Elder sensed a disturbance and turned his head abruptly.

Enhanced Fu Hongxue made a prompt decision, "Go!"

The two broke through the window and escaped, with dense sounds of pursuit coming from behind. Full of Towers said while sprinting, "Brother Fu, we must immediately send the news back to Beyond Heaven and inform Jueqing Valley!"

Enhanced Fu Hongxue nodded, increasing his speed by another thirty percent, "I will go to Jueqing Valley to report the news, you return to Beyond Heaven!"

The two figures parted ways, and a larger storm was brewing. Could the Dark Holy Cult's blood sacrifice conspiracy succeed? Could Jueqing Valley withstand the impending joint offensive? After Jun Xiaoyao receives the news, what kind of decision will he make? The fate of the Jianghu seemed to be hanging by a thread...