Chapter 66: Half-Step Celestial Being

Various heretical and demonic sects joined forces to establish a Sacred Dao Alliance, plotting a grand scheme.

They agreed to make their move in three months.

After concluding their discussions, they returned to their respective bases to muster troops and gather all their disciples. Keeping a low profile, they scattered and crossed various regions, converging upon a nameless island near the coast within the territory of the East Sea Dynasty.

Following this, they would launch a coordinated raid at the appointed time, using the chaos to forge a notorious reputation.

With the meeting adjourned, everyone dispersed.

Three Grand Masters who had infiltrated the demonic factions as deep cover agents—Zhao Feng of the Cloud Sword Palace, Shu Li of the Heavenly Star Valley, and Tang Jing of the Frost City—quietly gathered once more.

Though these three old individuals had a combined age of over five hundred years, their appearances spanned three distinct generations. Zhao Feng looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, blessed with a dashing and romantic appearance.

Shu Li appeared as an elderly man with a crane-like complexion and childlike skin, radiating an aura of high virtue and deep respect. Tang Jing looked like a ravishing mature woman in her thirties.

"The plan is proceeding smoothly, and the first step has been a success. We have successfully lured out the vast majority of the heretical and demonic scum."

"What remains to be done now is to close the net."

Zhao Feng spoke, offering a phased summary.

"Next, we shall each return to mobilize our disciples, preparing to wipe out these demonic factions in one fell swoop."

Shu Li chimed in.

The combined strength of the three righteous martial arts sanctuaries was formidable. Once they grew serious, manipulating these heretical factions in the palm of their hands was child's play.

The reason they had not done so previously was due to the exorbitant cost, coupled with the fact that eradicating one batch of evil sects inevitably led to the emergence of new ones.

Like stubborn weeds that could not be completely burned away, they would sprout anew with the spring breeze.

Consequently, they had adopted a strategy of instantly eliminating heretical figures whenever they reared their heads, largely ignoring them during ordinary times.

However, this time, under the leadership of the Cloud Sword Palace, everyone discovered that after years of accumulation, the wealth and resources amassed by these demonic sects far exceeded their expectations. Eliminating them at a high cost not only covered expenses but also yielded a handsome profit.

As a result, the subjective initiative of the Heavenly Star Valley and the Frost City was fully activated, and both sanctuaries grew unusually enthusiastic. Doing good deeds while making a profit was a rare occurrence indeed.

"The distribution of the spoils of war will follow our previous agreement. Each will take possession of the demonic industries within their respective territories."

"As for portable wealth such as martial arts manuals, gold, and silver jewelry, the three houses will divide them equally. Should any house end up with too few assets in the end, the other two will provide appropriate compensation."

Tang Jing spoke, bringing up the most crucial issue of loot distribution.

"I have no objections."

Shu Li said.

"Neither do I."

Zhao Feng replied.

"Then let each of our factions dispatch ten thousand Xiantian experts, eight hundred Grandmasters, and eight Grand Masters."

At that moment, Shu Li proposed.

This military force represented nearly all of their combat strength, excluding only those left behind to guard their headquarters.

While not an all-out mobilization, it still represented seventy to eighty percent of their true might.

"Very well."

"Should we invite allies?"

Tang Jing nodded, then raised another topic.

"I see no need. In truth, the joint forces of our three Grand Masters alone are enough to slaughter every last one of these demonic scumbags. Bringing other disciples along is merely a precaution to prevent any fish from slipping through the net."

"If we invite allies, we will have to share a large portion of the benefits with them."

Shu Li disagreed.

A Grand Master possessed the combat power of an army of one man; the addition of a single Grand Master was equivalent to tens of thousands of ordinary warriors.

Within the alliance formed by the demonic sects, discounting the three undercover agents, there were only five Grand Masters left.

With over twenty martial arts sanctuary Grand Masters joining forces, slaughtering all the demonic factions would be no harder than killing chickens. Not only would they emerge unscathed, but it would also take very little time.

"I believe we should invite them. Sharing just a sliver of the benefits is a small price to pay. If we do not invite allies and allow the heroes of the pugilistic world to witness us executing the demonic factions, how will the world ever know of the compassionate hearts of our righteous martial arts sanctuaries and our sacred duty to protect all living beings?"

Zhao Feng spoke, instantly rendering the dissenting Shu Li speechless.

His words made complete sense.

If you perform a good deed without publicity, how would anyone know you were the one who did it?

People traveled from afar to watch you display your prowess and provide you with emotional value; what harm was there in sharing a bit of the bounty with them?

"Fine, let us issue the invitations then."

"However, we must maintain strict confidentiality. We must use proper means to control those who know, ensuring no news leaks and allowing the fish to escape."

Shu Li agreed, accepting the proposal.

"Then let it be done."

Tang Jing nodded in assent.

With the mini-conference concluded, the three Grand Masters dispersed to make their final preparations.

Both Heavenly Star Valley and Frost City were gearing up for the impending cleanup of the Sacred Dao Alliance, secretly mobilizing their forces and gathering allies, fully intending to let their companions witness their majestic valor in wiping out the demonic sects.

As for the Cloud Sword Palace, their preparations were geared toward claiming the title of the number one martial arts sanctuary in the world.

They needed to prepare to suppress the other two sanctuaries after crushing the demonic alliance, handle the subsequent political fallout, and harvest a massive haul of war spoils.

"I wonder what expressions they will have when they witness Heng'er make his move?"

Xiao Rang said with a smile after listening to Zhao Feng's report regarding the Sacred Dao Alliance.

"Imagining that scene, I cannot help but smile myself."

Thinking of that picture, Zhao Feng could not suppress the grin on his face.

It had taken over a year to gather intelligence on the demonic factions, and another year of high-pressure suppression to herd them into gathering. This plan for the Cloud Sword Palace to ascend to the pinnacle, prepared for over two and a half years, had finally reached its closing curtain.

The stage had already been set, and now, with the guests in place and the actors ready to enter, an unprecedented drama was about to unfold.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

"Heng'er, how is your cultivation progressing?"

Xiao Rang asked, looking at Lin Heng, who sat cross-legged at the edge of the cliff, facing a sea of clouds.

"Progress has been rapid. I have already stepped half a foot beyond the realm of Grand Master, reaching what can be considered the half-step Heaven-Human boundary."

Replied Lin Heng, who had just turned ten years old.

At age seven, his cultivation had reached the eleventh level of the Grand Master realm. Relying on the Azure Wood Spiritual Body and the Heaven-Human realm comprehension attained during his first simulation, he had achieved combat power at the peak of the Grand Master level. It was then that the Cloud Sword Palace's ascension plan was first proposed by the higher-ups.

Now, three years later, he had practiced diligently without a single moment of rest.

The experience of martial arts comprehension from his first simulation, the enhancements of the Azure Wood Spiritual Body, and the limitless cultivation resources provided by the Cloud Sword Palace allowed Lin Heng's cultivation to advance at a breathtaking pace.

Over the past three years, Lin Heng had increased his cultivation realm by one heavy layer every single day, successfully elevating his power to the one thousand one hundred and fourth layer of the Grand Master realm. Nearly eighty thousand acupuncture points within his body were now brimful with internal breath.

Though internal breath of this caliber had not yet undergone the refinement and sublimation of the thirty-six layers of the Grand Master realm, making it as fragile as tofu compared to the True Essence of the Heaven-Human realm, its sheer volume had reached a magnitude as boundless as the sea.

This was no exaggeration, but a literal description.

In addition to this, Lin Heng had also comprehended the Sword Emperor's intent.

By merging the physiological traits of the Azure Wood Spiritual Body with the Sword Emperor's intent, he had pushed his swordsmanship to an even higher plane.

Though Lin Heng in this state could not yet defeat his former self at the peak of his power as a Martial Dao Heaven-Human, his combat strength had already far surpassed the boundaries of a Grand Master.

Therefore, it was no exaggeration for Lin Heng to declare that he possessed the combat power of the half-step Heaven-Human realm.