Chapter 218 - 216: A Major Piece of Intelligence

Chapter 218: Chapter 216: A Major Piece of Intelligence

Because of Luo the Thirteenth Lang, Chen Yuan had a thread of connection with the Sun-Swapping Alliance.

Now that Wang Xuangan had helped Chen Yuan kill the people from Vajra Prajna Temple, willingly shouldering the karmic consequences, this connection had grown even stronger.

So, when the day came that the Sun-Swapping Alliance truly ran into trouble, Chen Yuan would definitely intervene—but not now.

If Chen Yuan were to point out the problems within the Sun-Swapping Alliance now, Wang Xuangan would be displeased. He would think Chen Yuan was sowing discord, and all his previous admiration would vanish in an instant.

Some things cause problems if spoken of too early or too late. Only when the time is right is it suitable to resolve them.

Hearing Chen Yuan’s words, Wang Xuangan just shook his head regretfully and didn’t press the matter further.

It was a pity that such a brilliant talent wouldn’t join the Sun-Swapping Alliance, but just as Chen Yuan had said, if he had immediately betrayed Zhenwu Hall to join them the moment Wang Xuangan made an offer, he wouldn’t have been worthy of a personal invitation in the first place.

"Very well, I won’t force you against your will."

"However, Young Friend Chen, if you find you have no future in Zhenwu Hall, come to Yan Province. There will always be a place for you in my Sun-Swapping Alliance."

Wang Xuangan patted Luo the Thirteenth Lang on the head. "Let’s go. We can’t be away from Yan Province for too long."

Luo the Thirteenth Lang looked disappointed. He cupped his fists at Chen Yuan. "Brother Chen, the roads of the Jianghu are long. We’ll have a chance to fight side-by-side eventually."

Chen Yuan also cupped his fists. "Thank you for your high regard, Alliance Leader Wang. I am endlessly grateful.

Brother Luo, you must also take care. The Great Xia Court is already as precarious as a pile of eggs. The dynasty could collapse at any moment.

When that time comes, we will surely have our chance to fight side-by-side."

Wang Xuangan laughed heartily. "Now those are words I like to hear! It’s about time for this Great Xia Dynasty to see a new sun rise!"

With that, Wang Xuangan grabbed Luo Lie and vanished from outside Fire Cloud Cave.

Chen Yuan let out a long breath and shook his head gently.

’Zhi Shilang, Wang Xuangan... a tyrant of his generation. But in the original story, he was betrayed by all and his end was not a good one.’

’Because from the very beginning, Wang Xuangan’s goal was wrong.’

’His goal was only to overthrow the Court, but he never thought about what to do after it was overthrown.’

’In contrast, the goals of those who followed him to overthrow the Court were much clearer than his own.’

’They wanted power, wealth, and strength.’

’When Wang Xuangan couldn’t give them these things, and instead demanded they pay a huge price for the thankless task of toppling the Court, the day the Sun-Swapping Alliance would fall apart was not far off.’

Chen Yuan took out a handful of Elixirs, stuffed them into his mouth, and walked out of Fire Cloud Cave.

There was no one left outside Fire Cloud Cave.

Before, there had been hundreds of Sea of Reincarnation Realm Martial Artists blockading the entrance, but when they saw the Earth Fire erupting from within, they were scared witless and fled for their lives.

Sword Worship Manor had many members, but because it made its Cultivation Techniques public, it lacked the cohesion of a proper Sect or Noble Family. They were just a disorderly mob, only capable of fighting when they had the upper hand.

So, with Zhu Xinwu dead, and Zhang Tingye and the others also dead, Sword Worship Manor completely collapsed.

From now on, those people would probably never again claim to be from Sword Worship Manor.

"Tsk, tsk. I really didn’t think this was what you had in mind.

Luring over a hundred Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artists to their deaths in a single battle, killing Zhu Xinwu in the process, and completely annihilating Sword Worship Manor.

Once word of this achievement gets out, your rank on the Hidden Dragon Rankings will definitely rise again."

Wen Rou’s figure appeared, her gaze toward Chen Yuan complicated and tinged with shock.

She was the one who had helped Chen Yuan spread the news and lure the people from Sword Worship Manor to Fire Cloud Cave.

But even she hadn’t expected Chen Yuan to be so ruthless, wiping out over a hundred Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artists and destroying Sword Worship Manor in one fell swoop.

"You can spread the news of my other achievements, but I hope you won’t spread the news that Zhi Shilang just acted to save me," Chen Yuan said.

Wen Rou had actually been here the whole time, but she hadn’t dared to enter Fire Cloud Cave, merely waiting outside.

Although she hadn’t heard the conversation between Chen Yuan and Wang Xuangan, she could guess that their relationship was unusual. Wang Xuangan had come specifically to save Chen Yuan.

"Rest assured. My Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower may sell information, but we’re not loose-lipped gossips who say everything.

We say what should be said, and our lips are sealed about what shouldn’t.

But there is one thing I’m very curious about. When did you get to know ’Zhi Shilang’ Wang Xuangan?

He’s a titan of Yan Province, someone who stirs up so much trouble for the Court. How do you know such a powerful figure?"

Wen Rou was curious, but she quickly added, "Of course, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to."

"It’s not something I can’t talk about. Zhi Shilang’s adopted son, Luo Lie, also known as Luo the Thirteenth Lang, is a sworn brother of mine. He heard that I was being besieged by the Sword Worship Alliance and came to rescue me."

Wen Rou nodded in understanding. At the same time, she felt that Chen Yuan’s network in the Jianghu was becoming quite formidable.

Although he made enemies everywhere and many people wanted him dead...

...the people he befriended either had extraordinary backgrounds or immense potential.

Luo the Thirteenth Lang was backed by the Sun-Swapping Alliance, Lu Chuanshan by the up-and-coming Jianghai Alliance, and Cui Xuanye by the Cui Family of Celestial Official City, which had a long history and profound foundation.

Although Gu Lichuan was a Loose Cultivator, he had long since displayed astonishing talent in the Sword Dao and was destined to become a master of the sword.

Qin Suguang was in Qin Province, so Wen Rou knew him well. Though Qin Suguang seemed dull and slow-witted, he was extremely resilient and would certainly achieve great things in the future.

These people were all still part of the younger generation. But if they were all to mature, how terrifying would Chen Yuan’s network become?

In fact, Wen Rou had forgotten to count herself.

Although she was a bit older than Chen Yuan, she wasn’t old. At least in the information-brokering business, she was still considered part of the younger generation.

She was already a provincial Vice Tower Master at such a young age. It was still unknown how far she would go in the future.

"By the way, Boss Wen, thank you for your trouble this time. I have a piece of intel for you, consider it a thank-you gift."

Hearing this, Wen Rou’s eyes instantly lit up.

Back in Lianshan City, Chen Yuan had given her several astonishing pieces of news that had allowed her to be transferred from Lianshan City to a Central Plains Province.

The news Chen Yuan had this time was bound to be just as extraordinary.

"What news? Tell me, quickly."

Chen Yuan said lightly, "Xuan Hong, the Head of Wuxiang Hall in Vajra Prajna Temple, is having an affair with Xu Baiwei, the ’White-haired Witch’ of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect. The two of them also have an illegitimate son, who is a prodigy of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect’s younger generation, ranked twelfth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings—the ’Demon-Drinking Saber,’ Xu Tianhong.

Previously, when Vajra Prajna Temple was purging the Demon Sects and killing countless Demon Dao Martial Artists, Xu Tianhong managed to escape every time. Not only that, but he also killed many experts from Vajra Prajna Temple.

You could say that eighty percent of the battle achievements that put Xu Tianhong at twelfth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings came from Vajra Prajna Temple.

This Head Xuan Hong went easy on his own illegitimate son, even sacrificing the lives of Vajra Prajna Temple disciples for him. Tsk, tsk, how selfless of him.

If this news gets out, don’t you think it will be explosive enough?"

In truth, spreading this news wouldn’t benefit Chen Yuan at all. It was purely malicious Jianghu gossip, intended to harm others without benefiting himself, just to disgust them.

But who told those bald-headed bastards from Vajra Prajna Temple to mess with him? They could only blame him for releasing this disgusting piece of news.

After hearing this, Wen Rou stood there, completely stunned.

"Is this news real?"

The news was too shocking, too outrageous, for Wen Rou to tell if it was true or false.

"When he was young, Xuan Hong was also a prodigy of his generation at Vajra Prajna Temple. During a great battle between Vajra Prajna Temple and the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, he and Xu Baiwei fell into a secret realm together. They joined forces to escape, and in the process, secretly developed feelings for each other.

Originally, Xuan Hong promised Xu Baiwei he would leave Vajra Prajna Temple and return to secular life, and Xu Baiwei would also leave the Ten Thousand Demon Sect.

But who would have thought that after he returned to Vajra Prajna Temple, Xuan Hong’s master passed away from severe injuries and named him the successor to the Head of Wuxiang Hall.

In the end, the position of a Hall Head at Vajra Prajna Temple proved more attractive than a woman, so he broke his promise and chose to take over Wuxiang Hall.

But that woman, Xu Baiwei, was foolish enough not to expose the matter, even after all that.

Boss Wen, you can investigate the movements of these two over the past few years. I believe you’ll find your answer soon enough."

After speaking, Chen Yuan curled his lip, a mocking smile on his face.

It was normal for a Monk to have worldly desires. It was a matter of mutual consent, after all. Besides the outrage within Vajra Prajna Temple, others would see it as nothing much, perhaps even a romantic tale.

But Xuan Hong hid the affair and even allowed his illegitimate son to slaughter his own disciples. His actions left him condemned on all sides.

On one hand, he had wronged Xu Baiwei and their son; on the other, he had wronged his Sect and the temple experts who died at Xu Tianhong’s hands.

As the Head of Wuxiang Hall, Xuan Hong showed no sense of responsibility. He was neither a proper Monk nor a proper man.

In any case, after this matter was later exposed, Vajra Prajna Temple was shaken to its core for a long time.

The result was that Xuan Hong was stripped of his position as Hall Head and imprisoned in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda beneath Vajra Prajna Temple to reflect on his sins for the rest of his life.

But from then on, a mysterious and powerful iron-masked monk appeared, one who specialized in carrying out extremely perilous missions for Vajra Prajna Temple that required massive slaughter.

Wen Rou took a deep breath. If this news was verified to be true, it would undoubtedly be another earth-shattering event.

"Master Chen, thank you for the news. If you have more information like this in the future, you absolutely must not forget about me."

Wen Rou shot Chen Yuan a flirtatious glance, then eagerly hurried off to verify the matter.

"Of course. We go way back, after all."

That was what Chen Yuan said, but he still had plenty of Jianghu secrets he wasn’t planning on revealing.

Some secrets lose their value if you reveal too many at once.

It was like wooing a woman: you could go from frugal to extravagant, but you must never go from extravagant to frugal.