Emperor of the Mysterious Heavens

Chapter 79: Chapter 051 More and more strong men gather together

"Very well, follow my instructions from now on."

"Instructions? Don't worry, Uncle Master. As long as we go to the Wind Demon Mountain Range, we'll follow your lead!" The Three Sword Heroes grinned with excitement.

"Let me think for a moment," Yan Chuan replied.

He then fell silent and returned to the Peaceful Mountain Tower, drinking sake alone.

The three thousand soldiers of the Brocade Guard slowly recovered from their grievous injuries. Though newly healed, they were all brimming with excitement. After all, the sonic battle from earlier had caused countless cultivators to writhe in agony, yet they emerged unscathed, even managing to destroy that terrifying sonic onslaught. Being part of the mighty Tiger Formation was something to be proud of.

The Brocade Guard gazed at Yan Chuan with admiration, while Jiu Jiansheng and the others looked at him with confusion. Yan Chuan stared at the ruins of the city, sipping his wine in contemplation.

Half an hour later, Yan Chuan's expression firmed as he turned toward the group.

"Jiu Jiansheng, the Seven Sword Heroes!" Yan Chuan called.

"Here!" The eight immediately stepped forward with eager smiles.

"Are you truly willing to obey my orders?" Yan Chuan asked seriously.

"Of course!" the Three Sword Heroes responded without hesitation.

"Absolutely!" Jiu Jiansheng echoed, just as excited.

"Good, I'll give you your assignments now," Yan Chuan said with a smile.

"Oh?"

"You, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Sword Heroes, I need you to return to the Black Dragon Pool, where you slew the flood dragon," Yan Chuan said in a serious tone.

"Huh?"

"You mentioned there was a large cave at the bottom of the Black Dragon Pool that connects to the Wind Demon Mountain Range, is that correct?" Yan Chuan asked.

"Uh, yes, but why are we going back there?" the Seventh Sword Hero asked in confusion.

"Follow that tunnel to its end. Find the passage to the Wind Demon Mountain Range for me. Enter the range through that tunnel and meet me inside," Yan Chuan instructed.

"Huh? Why?" the Seventh Sword Hero questioned, perplexed.

"Think of it as a backup plan, just in case," Yan Chuan replied thoughtfully.

"Uh, alright then!" the Fourth Sword Hero responded, a bit surprised.

Though the group had been eager to head to the Wind Demon Mountain Range, they hadn't considered this approach.

"But, Uncle Master, the Wind Demon Mountain Range is vast. How will we find you?" the Sixth Sword Hero asked, still puzzled.

"Don't worry. When I enter the Wind Demon Mountain Range, it will be impossible to miss. Simply ask around, and you'll find me," Yan Chuan said confidently.

"Huh?" The group still looked confused.

"Just take care of yourselves," Yan Chuan said dismissively.

"Oh!" The four nodded in agreement.

"Jiu Jiansheng, First Sword Hero, Second Sword Hero, Third Sword Hero," Yan Chuan called to the remaining four.

"Uncle Master, what are your orders?" they asked curiously.

From Yan Chuan's initial plans, it was clear that he had thought things through far more carefully than they had.

"You four, spread the word. Tell everyone that a Heaven-tier cultivation technique has appeared. I, Yan Chuan, saw it with my own eyes, in the hands of the person riding the chariot pulled by a pair of blue phoenixes. The technique is hidden somewhere within the Wind Demon Mountain Range, and they are searching for an even greater treasure there," Yan Chuan said solemnly.

"What? A Heaven-tier technique? That woman in white?" Jiu Jiansheng exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone looked at Yan Chuan in shock.

"Of course they didn't actually get it. Besides, there might not even be a Heaven-tier technique in the Wind Demon Mountain Range," Yan Chuan said irritably.

"Then what is your real intention, Uncle Master?" Jiu Jiansheng asked, still confused.

"I want to see her again!" Yan Chuan said, taking a deep breath.

"Huh?" The group was baffled.

"The rumor about the Heaven-tier technique came from Holy Son Gu Yue. I'm just confirming it. At the moment, not many cultivators know about it, but soon, a flood of them will descend upon the Wind Demon Mountain Range. The rumor of a Heaven-tier technique will drive them into a frenzy, and they will rush in, one after the other. Gu Yue started the rumor, and I'm just helping him prove it. The more people who believe, the more will come," Yan Chuan explained seriously.

"True experts may not care much for a Heaven-tier technique, but those below the God Realm will covet it. Even those in the early stages of the Void Realm may be tempted. As long as everyone is searching for her, I'll be able to track her down," Yan Chuan said, exhaling deeply.

"But Uncle Master, if she finds out you spread the rumor, won't she come looking for you to confront you?" Jiu Jiansheng asked, following his train of thought.

"Exactly. I want to meet her, and I'll use the cultivators to help me find her. If that doesn't work, she'll come looking for me herself," Yan Chuan confirmed.

"But won't the woman in white be in danger?" the Three Sword Heroes asked, concerned.

"Hardly. Those blue phoenixes are at least at the peak of the God Realm, if not Void Realm. If she wants to leave, no early-stage Void Realm cultivator could stop her. She'll be just fine," Yan Chuan shook his head.

"She may be safe, but Uncle Master, what about you? If the woman in white comes to confront you, or if other cultivators don't believe you, they might come to question you. If things get violent, won't you be in danger?" Jiu Jiansheng asked, worried.

"Yeah, Uncle Master, are you risking your life just to chase after a girl?" the Three Sword Heroes asked, their expressions odd.

"Relax," Yan Chuan said with a slight smile.

His eight disciples exchanged strange glances.

"Three days from now, we move. In the meantime, spread the word far and wide. Tell them I witnessed it personally. If anyone doubts, they can come find me," Yan Chuan said in a firm tone.

"Understood!" The group nodded, still somewhat confused.

"By the way, Uncle Master, what if the woman in white leaves in the next three days?" someone asked.

"She won't. Zi Zi mentioned seeing Holy Son Gu Yue and the Great Demon Tian Shang in Wuyou City months ago. They've been searching for something in the Wind Demon Mountain Range all this time. It's impossible for them to find it in just a few days. Since she entered the range with her blue phoenixes, she must be looking for the same thing. She's definitely still there. Now go, spread the message!" Yan Chuan commanded sternly.

"Alright!" The group's faces were filled with complicated emotions.

Clearly, Yan Chuan's plan had exceeded their expectations, and they couldn't predict what the future held.

...

Half a month later, deep within the Wind Demon Mountain Range, a vast canyon roared with battle cries.

"Kill!"

"Release the arrows!"

"Break the formation!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

...

The sounds of fierce combat reverberated through the canyon.

Huo Guang led the Brocade Guard, engaged in a brutal fight with a pack of demon wolves. Three thousand soldiers fought with maddened ferocity, their bodies drenched in blood, but their combat techniques grew more skilled with each passing moment.

Above the canyon, Yan Chuan stood with Liu Jin, Jiu Jiansheng, and the First, Second, and Third Sword Heroes by his side. They gazed down at the carnage below, while a peculiar expression crossed Jiu Jiansheng's face.

"Uncle Master, do you think bringing three thousand troops into the Wind Demon Mountain Range was wise?" Jiu Jiansheng asked, concerned.

"Yes, Uncle Master, when it was just you, escaping would've been easier. But with nearly three thousand men, if we encounter a demon king, there will be no way to retreat. The casualties could be severe," the Three Sword Heroes said, their faces grim.

"Who said we don't have protection?" Yan Chuan smiled.

Jiu Jiansheng and the others glanced at the surrounding mountain peaks. Sure enough, dozens of experts stood atop the cliffs, each one a master of Qi cultivation.

"For the past two weeks, more and more people have been following us. Uncle Master, what do we do about this?" Jiu Jiansheng asked.

"What's the problem? They're protecting us as we enter the Wind Demon Mountain Range. Isn't that a good thing?" Yan Chuan chuckled.

"Protecting us?" The group's faces showed mixed emotions.

Yan Chuan ignored their reactions and continued watching Huo Guang's battle below.

Meanwhile, small groups had gathered atop the various surrounding peaks.

On one small peak stood two sword cultivators in white robes.

"Senior Brother, do you think Yan Chuan is telling the truth?"

"He said the woman in white promised to share the Heaven-tier technique with him but broke her word. Now he's leading three thousand men into the Wind Demon Mountain Range to find her and make her fulfill her promise," the other replied.

"But it all sounds so far-fetched."

"Far-fetched? I think it's true."

"Oh?"

"If it weren't true, would he dare to enter the Wind Demon Mountain Range? Look at those three thousand Qi cultivators. It would be like lambs walking into a tiger's den without that Heaven-tier technique!"

"That's true."

The two sword cultivators fell into thought.

Similar conversations played out on various peaks, as groups of sword cultivators, Qi practitioners, and martial artists kept a close eye on Yan Chuan's movements.

"Are they watching or protecting?"