Chapter 426: Chapter 270: Marriage Alliance_1

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, thirty-eight years have passed.

Iron Domain, Blood Tribulation Mountain.

Blood tribulation, as the name implies, is a bloody massacre.

Legend has it that during the great calamity of a thousand autumns ago, myriad ferocious beasts occupied this area, making it a forbidden zone for the Human Clan until three ancestors of the Chen Clan, wielding the power of Heaven’s Calamity Slaying the Wolf, stepped into the Divine Martial Realm. They led one hundred and eight Heavenly Punishments and Earthly Evils divine soldiers into this place, slaughtering these thousands of ferocious beasts to near extinction.

That battle lasted for months; the blood of the beasts dyed the rivers and mountains, and even the grass and stones turned blood-red. To this day, they have not completely faded away but instead, due to the nourishment of the beasts’ blood and flesh, various rare and exotic treasures have emerged, including the famous SLP Mysterious Iron.

Afterward, the Chen Clan moved into this region and built a colossal fortress at the center of the Slaughter Battlefield. They practiced the Heaven’s Calamity Slaying the Wolf cultivation technique with the murderous aura remaining from the great battle, thus becoming the widely known weaponsmithing family—Iron Heart Fortress.

Although times have changed and the Chen Clan is no longer as glorious as before, and Iron Heart Fortress no longer has three Divine Martial Venerables, and even the last ancestor is at the juncture of his destined fate, the Divine Martial Heritage remains. A camel, skinny as it may be, is still bigger than a horse; within the Iron Domain, still no one dares to challenge the majesty of Iron Heart Fortress.

Even decades ago, the various powers within the Iron Domain took the initiative to move away to avoid the renowned Iron Heart Fortress master—known for his combat power from taking extreme actions at the last moment and to prevent the aftermath of his passing from causing strife between the Righteous and Evil Paths and the Demon Sect Holy Lands, spreading disaster to the innocent.

As a result, the Iron Domain has become increasingly desolate in recent years.

But today’s atmosphere has changed.

Crowds from all directions are racing to arrive, and at Blood Tribulation Mountain, gongs and drums thunder while firecrackers crackle. A multitude of the Chen Clan’s descendants and Iron Fortress disciples, amidst the festive decorations, welcome the guests.

What a celebratory scene.

However…

“As flowers bloom in splendor, the intense fire cooks the oil!”

Outside of Blood Tribulation Mountain, a lone peak stands, with a man and a woman side by side.

The man had a face like jade, his demeanor casual and elegant, and his spirit buoyant.

The woman was dressed in white, purer than snow, her face veiled in a light fabric, and equally beautiful.

Standing together like this, if not a match made in heaven, they were at least flawlessly complementary.

They were none other than the two principal successors of the Freewheeling Peak and Mercy Sailing Temple.

Ning Xinghe, Yun Mengyao.

Gazing upon the guests converging from all directions and the festively adorned Blood Tribulation Mountain, Ning Xinghe shook his head and turned to the lady in white beside him, “I wonder what the Demon Sect has planned this time, or will they simply let things take their course?”

Yun Mengyao’s eyes remained calm and unfathomable, “If this event succeeds, the power of the Righteous Path will strengthen. Naturally, the Demon Sect is not willing to let this happen, but with Senior Chen’s strength, it’s very difficult for the Demon Sect to do anything.”

“Though you say that, I still feel unease in my heart!” Ning Xinghe sighed deeply, “The situation in the world is more rotten than ever. Although the Demon Sect has been retreating step by step, their actions have become increasingly extreme, seemingly prepared to stake everything on one throw and risk mutual destruction.”

“Moreover, with that Heaven Martial Emperor stirring up trouble and spreading the so-called Taoist True Scriptures everywhere, he has disrupted the peace of the Martial World causing turmoil everywhere…”

“If things continue this way, regardless of the Demon Sect or that person, they might both bring about a great catastrophe!”

In his words, his concern was evident.

Yun Mengyao made no comment, instead taking out a book.

Ning Xinghe caught a glimpse and saw the title.

“Taoist Scriptures”

The Taoist True Scriptures!

The Yuan Spirit True Jue!

For cultivators, thirty-eight years are not too long, but still, many things have happened.

The conflict between the Righteous and Evil Paths, between Holy Lands and the Demon Sect, has become ever more intense.

All this because someone has muddied the waters, kindling a fire.

The Evil Path fanned the flames, using that person’s momentum to fish in troubled waters, taking advantage of the chaos to plunder.

Struck hard, how could the Righteous Path simply sit by? Thus, they too dove into the murky waters, using that person’s name to exacerbate their assault on the Evil Path.

For a time, the world was engulfed in wars, filled with the “Heaven Martial” crisis, and pillaging was rampant in all domains and cities.

Just the struggle between Righteous and Evil, the battle between good and demons was enough to throw the world’s affairs into chaos, with blood rain and fishy winds, and the flicker of knives and shadows of swords everywhere.

Adding to this, that instigator, the chief culprit, did not stop but spread the “Taoist Scriptures” through the world, causing unrest among people everywhere and relentless turmoil, further aggravating the disaster of war.

After all, in this world’s inheritance, Divine Martial is respected. The major powers monopolize the cultivation techniques with the War God’s Atlas, as well as the resources and path for advancement. Ordinary martial artists can only cultivate up to the Yuan Core realm at most. To advance to the Divine Bridge realm, one must join these major powers and run errands to trade for the chance to comprehend the Diagrams.

But these major Divine Martial powers have been inherited for ten thousand years; their structural systems have long been bloated and unable to absorb the Power of Diagrams internally, let alone allow outsiders to share in it. So, most martial artists, even though they serve the major powers, can hardly enter their core and gain the chance to comprehend the Diagrams.

How can the martial artists of the world accept this?

In the past, it didn’t matter much. The strength of Divine Martial dominated the world, and even with resentment, they had to bear it.

But times have changed. With the return of Heaven Martial, spreading the Taoist Scriptures with methods for advancement, as long as one has a Spiritual Root, they can hope to step into realms beyond the Yuan Core, even without the comprehension of the War God’s Atlas. They may also master various Divine Skills and abilities, competing in might with the True Martial God of War.

With this, how could the world’s martial artists not go mad, not go crazy?

The consequence of this madness was to challenge the major powers and the Divine Martial Heritage.

After all, whether in martial practice or cultivation, one cannot do without resources.

Those martial artists, having obtained the method of the Taoist Scriptures, and wishing to advance their cultivation, must seek out resources.

And the resources of the world are mostly in the hands of the major powers, in the grip of the Divine Martial Heritage.

Thus, those martial artists stuck at the Yuan Core, desperately seeking advancement, what might they do?

It goes without saying!

In the world today, it’s not just the Heaven Martial Emperor stirring up trouble, nor is it limited to the Evil Path and the Righteous Path, or the Demon Sects and Sacred Places adding fuel to the flames. There are also many Martial Artists with Yuan Cores who, having obtained the ways of the Taoist Scriptures and in need of resources for cultivation, are muddying the waters and taking advantage of the chaos.

This has turned the whole world into a den of bandits, all acting in the name of the Heaven Martial Emperor to create disturbances.

In all places, the hearts of the people have started to waver, and unrest stirs in every direction without cease!

The state of the world is decaying even further.

The major powers and the Divine Martial Heritage have suffered heavy losses.

After all, they control the main resources, and these Martial Artists with Yuan Cores can only rob them. It’s impossible for them to rob those ordinary citizens who have nothing, and from whose bones not even half an ounce of oil can be squeezed.

This is the strife of the Martial World, the conflict of martial artists.

With such developments, up to this day, although there has yet to be a Soul-transforming Cultivator among the common folk who can compare to a Divine Martial Venerable, there are more than a few Golden Cores and Nascent Souls that have been transformed by the power of the Yuan Cores. This has brought even greater shocks to the various powers.

Regarding this, the major forces are also quite helpless. Although they wish to ban these scriptures, it’s not something that can be simply prohibited. Once certain channels are opened, it is very difficult to close them again. Not to mention, there’s a ringleader causing trouble — it’s impossible to talk about banning the Taoist Scriptures and suppressing the world’s unrest without defeating him first.

But how to defeat him?

The Righteous and the Evil Paths setting aside their disputes to join forces with one heart?

Don’t joke!

The Demon Sects’ current plight makes them hope for the world to be in chaos, to add trouble to their opponents and alleviate their own worries. How could they possibly set aside disputes and join forces with the Righteous Path to ban the Taoist Scriptures and settle the world’s chaos?

The Evil Path is unwilling to cooperate, not only unwilling to cooperate, but also eager to add to the turmoil, further exacerbating the chaos in the world.

In such a case, how could the Righteous Path dare to divert their strength, risking the Evil Path taking the opportunity for profit, to deal with the disaster of the Heaven Martial on their own?

Therefore, there is no solution!

Whether it’s the Righteous Path’s Sacred Places or the Evil Path’s Demon Sects, they are all riding a tiger from which it’s difficult to get off.

…

“Back in the day, he used this tactic to instigate conflicts among martial artists and slaughter in the Martial World. Now he’s using the old trick again, but the people are still not alert. It’s truly said that the people of Qin have no time to mourn themselves, and the later generations mourn for them. Later generations mourn but fail to take warning, thereby causing future generations to also mourn for them!”

Looking at the Taoist Scriptures in Yun Mengyao’s hands, Ning Xinghe shook his head and sighed deeply, “Human hearts are difficult to fathom!”

Yun Mengyao gazed at the Taoist Scriptures in her hand, but remained silent, her thoughts unknown.

After a long time, she put away the book and looked up towards the Blood Tribulation Mountain in front of her, “Now that the Demon Sects are weakened, and the Evil Path’s forces are faltering, though they are still desperately struggling, it’s tough to change the overall situation. As long as the marriage between Iron Heart Fortress and Earth Yuan Mountain proceeds smoothly, combining Heaven’s Calamity Slaying the Wolf with Earth Yuan Unlimited’s practice, our Righteous Path will be able to add another Peak of Divine Martial.”

“At that time, we can break this stagnant quagmire!”

“Though that’s the case, I still feel uneasy in my heart!”

Hearing Yun Mengyao’s words, Ning Xinghe couldn’t help but sigh, “Matters touch on life and death. Even if the Demon Sects do not obstruct, that person will take action and will not allow such a situation to form.”

Yun Mengyao remained composed, “Whether it’s the Demon Sects or that person, no matter what, they can’t bypass Iron Heart Fortress. If they have the means to deal with Senior Chen, then they deserve to break this game.”

“I fear not in ten thousand chances, but in the eventuality.”

Ning Xinghe shook his head, his eyes filled with worry that wouldn’t dissipate.

The state of the world is deteriorating. To clean up the mess, the balance must be broken.

How to break it?

The time is now!

Iron Heart Fortress, Earth Yuan Mountain, today they unite in marriage and become one family!

With this, the union of Heaven’s Calamity Slaying the Wolf and Earth Yuan Unlimited’s practice of the two great True Martial God of War allows for the hope of achieving a Peak of Divine Martial powerhouse, raising the “Six Great Holy Lands of the Righteous Path” to “Seven Great Holy Lands of the Righteous Path!”

If this endeavor succeeds, the strength of the Righteous Path’s Sacred Places will increase further, completely breaking the balance of power between the Righteous and the Evil Paths, pushing the weakened and faltering Demon Sects of the Evil Path into an even more desperate situation, unable to co-conspire with that person to stir trouble.

Without the Evil Path adding to the commotion, that person will be but a trivial illness. United, the Great Holy Lands should surely be able to eradicate him.

Therefore, this marriage today is of utmost importance, and the Righteous Path must fully protect it.

But since it concerns survival and eradication, the Evil Path cannot just sit by and do nothing; they will surely interfere and try to disrupt this event.

But how to disrupt it?

Ning Xinghe has no clue. It is precisely this lack of a clue that leaves him so unsettled.

This marriage of Iron Heart Fortress and Earth Yuan Mountain is the result ordained by the venerable ancestors of both sides, with the Divine Martial Venerable’s approval, and Iron Heart Fortress has been proactive in the matter.

After all, the lifespan of Iron Heart Fortress’s ancestor Chen Tianjie isn’t much longer with his fate almost reaching its end. Despite making many efforts to cultivate a successor, he ultimately didn’t manage to create a second Divine Martial Venerable. To preserve the Chen Clan and the legacy of Iron Heart Fortress, he had to abandon his original neutral position, join the Righteous Path faction, and arrange a marriage alliance with Earth Yuan Mountain.

Although Earth Yuan Mountain has a cultivation technique that overpowers that of Iron Heart Fortress, the relationship between the two families isn’t bad. On the contrary, they are very close. Chen Tianjie and the old ancestor of Earth Yuan Mountain, Zhou Buji, are friends of a thousand years with deep affection.

Thus, they quickly agreed, and the two families merged into one, with the SLP Mysterious Iron of Iron Heart Fortress as the wedding gift, to support Zhou Buji of Earth Yuan Mountain in reaching the Peak of Divine Martial Realm.

In return, Zhou Buji pledged to protect the Chen Clan after Chen Tianjie’s passing and nurture the next Divine Martial Venerable for Iron Heart Fortress.

This marriage, actively initiated by Iron Heart Fortress and beneficial to both parties, how can the Demon Sects interfere and ruin it?

Never mind the full support from the Righteous Path – just the single challenge of confronting Chen Tianjie will stop them.

The SLP Mysterious Iron of Iron Heart Fortress is renowned for its combat power as part of the Divine Martial Heritage. The fortress master, Chen Tianjie, ranked twelfth on the Divine Martial List thanks to it, attaining the great accomplishment in the Divine Martial Realm, just below the masters of the Six Great Holy Lands.

Now, with his lifespan nearing its end, he is like a time bomb, always on the verge of self-destructing, making even those at the Peak of Divine Martial, the masters of the Sacred Lands, reluctant to engage in a life-or-death battle with him.

What methods, then, can the Demon Sects use to bypass this mountain and disrupt the marriage between Iron Heart Fortress and Earth Yuan Mountain, preventing the birth of the seventh Holy Land of the Righteous Path?

They can’t possibly go head-to-head with Chen Tianjie and steal SLP Mysterious Iron, can they?