Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Deep Schemes of the Five Gangs Alliance

This is essence blood, which forms inside the human body, but the formation of essence blood is extremely slow, requiring a vast amount of expensive herbs and essence, and excessive consumption of essence blood can also affect one’s lifespan.

The next moment, a surprising scene unfolded.

As the blood seeped in, the patterns on the Turtle Shell began to change, gradually forming a red character.

Forest!

After the pattern changed, it finally became clear.

But soon, the red blood was evaporated, and the patterns on the Turtle Shell returned to normal, falling onto the table.

“Huff!”

Jiang Sanjia exhaled a turbid breath.

“This character ‘Forest’ is …?” Mu Xiaoyun asked eagerly.

Jiang Sanjia adjusted his breathing and said, “This ‘Forest’ character can be separated and recombined. If I am not mistaken, it should represent a place called Shuangmu Land.”

“Shuangmu?”

A glint appeared in Mu Xiaoyun’s beautiful eyes, “Could it be Shuangmu Forest?”

In her mind, the only place that contained both ‘Shuangmu’ and ‘Forest’ was Shuangmu Forest, which was also not far from Lijiang City, and it was highly suspicious.

Moreover, Tian Liu’s other residence was located within this Shuangmu Forest.

Soul Losing Hand Tian Liu (Chapter Two), a First Grade Expert of the Cao Gang, a figure above even the Dragon List, with a cultivation of First Grade Human Flower. The Gang Leader of Nu Jing Gang was killed by his hand.

Soul Losing Hand Tian Liu had joined the Cao Gang ten years ago, originally a master from Jiushan area, world-famous for the Soul Losing Hand, one of the ultimate techniques of the Soul Destruction Elder.

The Soul Destruction Elder was a paramount master amidst the chaos of the Nine Kingdoms, possessing three ultimate techniques that were famed worldwide: Soul Losing Hand, Soul Chasing Sword, and Soul Destruction Heart Technique. All three martial arts were of the True Martial Level and when combined, they reached the effect of the Heavenly Martial Level martial arts.

When the Soul Destruction Elder died, his relics caused chaos in the Jianghu, leading to a bloodbath as many coveted his three ultimate techniques.

After the final battle, it was unknown who obtained the three ultimate techniques, but afterwards, many masters learned these martial arts. Some were killed just as they entered the Jianghu, and others stood on the edge of the Jianghu for a short while in glory, but none left behind a significant legacy.

The most famous of them was Tian Liu, with a cultivation of First Grade and the True Martial Level Soul Losing Hand, he commanded great respect in the Martial World.

The Demon Sect and many other factions had extended an olive branch to him, but he had declined them all and for some unknown reason, he joined the Cao Gang, becoming a Guest Elder of the gang.

Jiang Sanjia nodded slightly, “That should be the place.”

“No wonder Tian Liu built his other residence there,” Mu Xiaoyun thought suddenly.

Tian Liu was recruited by the Cao Gang in these last ten years, naturally being close to the one impersonating Liu Qingshan, having little loyalty towards the true Liu Qingshan. Furthermore, with his First Grade cultivation, he was an excellent candidate for guarding.

“Tian Liu?” Jiang Sanjia furrowed his brows slightly.

He was very aware of how formidable this person was.

“Isn’t Zhou brother here?” Mu Xiaoyun glanced at An Jing beside her, with a beautiful glance, and said, “Let’s not be hasty with this matter. Let me gather some concrete information first, then we’ll make a decision.”

An Jing spoke indifferently, “I also hope Mrs. Liu checks thoroughly first, otherwise if we accidentally fall into a trap later…”

He had promised Mu Xiaoyun to take action, but he was not going to sell his life for her.

Mu Xiaoyun smiled knowingly, understanding the meaning behind An Jing’s words, and said no more.

Jiang Sanjia looked towards An Jing and said, “I heard that the Cao Gang plans to gather the four major families of Jiangnan Dao against you, Zhou brother. You should be cautious recently.”

Jiang Sanjia obviously had more to his words, wanting to know if An Jing was truly a high-level practitioner from the Demon Sect as rumored.

Ever since they met, An Jing had always been a mysterious figure to him, and similarly powerful figures were scarce in Jianghu.

Now that rumors claimed him to be a person from the Demon Sect, if it were true, then their conspiring held a different significance.

Before An Jing could speak, Mu Xiaoyun interjected, “Guo Yuchun uniting with the four major families against him is only one part, but there are other motives involved.”

“Oh?”

An Jing’s eyes slightly lifted.

If the Cao Gang uniting with the four major families against him was only one of their goals, what then was the real purpose of the Cao Gang?

Mu Xiaoyun spoke softly, “The four major families are entrenched in Jiangnan Dao, among them, Mu Family and Cao Family have aligned with the Cao Gang, but the Ming Family and the Su Family refuse to bow. This union with the four major families is not only to deal with Zhou brother but to fully integrate the four major families. Only by having complete control over Jiangnan Dao can they facilitate the imposter’s grand plan.”

“What grand plan?” An Jing continued to inquire.

He had heard from Mu Xiaoyun before that the Cao Gang had a grand plan, but she had previously been reluctant to reveal the specifics. Now, it seemed she was more willing to discuss it.

Jiang Sanjia also looked at Mu Xiaoyun, although the two were usually on this painted barge living together yet sleeping separately, they seldom shared their hearts.

He had known about the grand plan of the Cao Gang for quite some time, but he was also unclear about the specifics.

“Five Gangs Alliance!”

Mu Xiaoyun took a deep breath, with a glint in her somber eyes.

“Five Gangs Alliance!?”

Jiang Sanjia gasped in cold air.

In the Jianghu, the Five Gangs and Seven Factions held sway over most of the realm. Although the Five Gangs were not as ancient or deeply rooted as the Seven Great Factions, they were still a formidable force in the Great Yan Martial World.

If the five major gangs were united, the resulting power would be formidable worldwide, immediately forming a colossal entity to rival Zhenyi, Demon Sect, and Xuanyi Guard who could stir great turmoil.

The entire landscape of Great Yan would undergo tremendous changes instantaneously.

“Ambitious, indeed,”

An Jing squinted his eyes and spoke slowly.

He was well aware of the impact the formation of the Five Gangs Alliance could have.

“It’s difficult! No! Almost impossible,”

Mu Xiaoyun said somberly, “This is just his conception and blueprint. Not to mention the intrinsic difficulty for the five major gangs to ally themselves, the gangs themselves are filled with experts. It isn’t something he can control easily. Besides, many people do not want to see such a colossal entity emerge.”

An Jing and Jiang Sanjia nodded silently. Other powers in the Jianghu would never allow the existence of the Five Gangs Alliance unless someone wanted to stir up an even bigger wave.

“Actually, this is a great opportunity—right during the Ullambana Festival when they gather; that’s when we should make our move.”

Mu Xiaoyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“That would be ideal,”

An Jing nodded.

He estimated the time; the Ullambana Festival would be convened in two days.

He had never intended to participate in this grand event of the Ullambana Festival, and it seemed there was something strange about Fa Xi Temple, with its sinister and malevolent energy.

“I agree. The Fa Xi Temple is quite ominous. It would be better for us to keep our distance from it,” Jiang Sanjia agreed.

An Jing glanced at Jiang Sanjia, sensing from his words that he might know some secrets about Fa Xi Temple.

“Now that the time is set, I shall take my leave,”

An Jing stood up to bid farewell.

“Good, see you in two days,” Mu Xiaoyun nodded.

An Jing walked out of the painted boat, his body leapt up, and he vanished in an instant.

Watching An Jing’s departure, Mu Xiaoyun’s expression darkened slightly. “Come out,”

“He has discovered me,”

A figure emerged from the rear of the cabin, frowning as he spoke.

The man was dressed in green, his eyes sharp and gleaming, reminiscent of an eagle’s gaze, holding a longsword of three-foot with a thick scent of blood lingering on it.

If there were people from the Jianghu present, they would surely recognize him—the famous Floating Blood Sword, Xue Chen, well-known in the Jianghu.

He had been hiding in the painted boat all along.

Jiang Sanjia spoke slowly, “Brother Zhou’s strength should be at the First Grade, but the specifics are not very clear.”

That An Jing could discover Xue Chen was not surprising to him at all.

“He’s indeed a fascinating presence,” Mu Xiaoyun licked her lips.

In light of the significant event of rescuing Liu Qingshan, Mu Xiaoyun was somewhat uneasy about An Jing. She had once asked Jiang Sanjia to calculate this person’s identity and background using the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism, but it was blocked by an unknown Qi Mechanism.

This made her even more curious about who he really was, knowing that Jiang Sanjia’s Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism rarely failed to get any information.

“His strength is not weaker than mine, and his swordsmanship might be even stronger,” Xue Chen pondered for a moment and then said.

Merely a glance from him had sent shivers down his spine, confirming he was undoubtedly a Sword Dao master.

“Who is he really?” Jiang Sanjia couldn’t help but wonder to himself.

Xue Chen, a renowned expert in Jiangnan Dao, Second Grade Cultivation, ranked ninety-seventh on the Tiger List. Many had forgotten that Xue Chen was famed for his talent when he first emerged; he had entered the Tiger List at the age of twenty-three. Over the decades, he had few notable accomplishments, mainly killing other Second Grade experts, so his ranking on the Tiger List neither advanced nor declined.

In fact, Xue Chen had been diligently cultivating all these years, advancing rapidly in strength and had reached the First Grade three years ago, also attaining the Third Level of Sword Skill.

As recorded in “Sword Dao Tao General Outline,” Sword Skill is divided into seven levels. Those who developed their Sword Skill were decade-proven Sword Dao masters, and anyone reaching the Third Level was invariably renowned in the Jianghu.

The Fourth Level marked one of the peak rare Sword Dao masters of the age.

Reaching the Fifth Level could be called the foremost master of the Sword Dao of the current age; the Sword Demon who stunned an era a century ago was at the peak of the Fifth Level.