Eternal Saber-Chapter 249 - 34: Blood Sacrifice to the Eternal

Jing Wuming pondered, "From what I understand, the Profound Celestial Sect’s poisoning of the refugees serves at least two purposes. The first is to increase the casualties from the disaster to exert greater pressure on the Capital City."

"The second is that the acts of Evergreen Temple have violated the taboos of the Profound Celestial Sect."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang asked, "What do you mean?"

Jing Wuming said, "The Profound Celestial Sect rose to power back in the chaotic times, mainly by healing through water symbols and mystic skill, gathering countless followers and preaching everywhere. The Evergreen Temple’s current efforts to help the people by offering porridge are naturally undermining the influence of the Profound Celestial Sect."

"If the Government Office and Profound Celestial Temple were willing to come forward for disaster relief, the Evergreen Temple would not have intervened."

One of the Qilin Guards said, "The Commander of Cloud and the Observatory Master of Profound Celestial Temple are colluding, embezzling monetary resources, refusing to allow the refugees into the city, and unwilling to release grain for disaster relief, leaving the refugees outside to fend for themselves."

"The abbot of Evergreen Temple only led people down the mountain out of desperation."

Chen Tang asked, "What’s the use of keeping such corrupt officials alive instead of killing them?"

"Perhaps the situation in the Capital City is bad; most of the manpower from the Qilin Bureau has been transferred there."

Jing Wuming sighed, "We have only a dozen Qilin Guards here, and we can’t make a move against the Commander. If conflict arises, our brothers may all end up dead here."

Qingzhou is in chaos; even if dozens of Qilin Guards die, it doesn’t matter.

The Capital City is even more chaotic, with no energy to investigate this matter.

Jing Wuming continued, "As for whether other places in Qingzhou have similar situations, as Brother Chen mentioned, we still don’t know."

"Yes."

At this moment, a familiar voice echoed from outside the door.

Jing Wuming and the others grabbed their weapons, looking tense.

Chen Tang waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for concern.

He went up to open the door and found an ordinary woman standing there—it was Vermilion Bird Department Captain, Yan Qi!

Chen Tang stepped aside to let her in.

They were already acquaintances. Chen Tang briefly introduced both sides.

Chen Tang asked, "Captain Yan, are you here to investigate the flooding in Qingzhou as well?"

The Vermilion Bird Bureau specializes in intelligence and surely knows more about Qingzhou than the Qilin Bureau.

"Yes."

Yan Qi nodded, "As far as I know, similar events have occurred throughout Qingzhou, and the monks from various Zen temples and monasteries have been arrested by the Court."

Chen Tang squinted his eyes and said, "So, this is an action by the Profound Celestial Sect against the Buddhist Sect. But why would the Profound Celestial Sect suddenly want to target the Buddhist Sect?"

"It should be because of the Zen Sect."

Yan Qi replied.

Chen Tang felt a stir in his heart.

The Zen Sect, Master Le Kong!

Yan Qi said, "In fact, the reason for the flooding in Qingzhou this time has already been found. It’s because of the Flood Dragon raised by the Profound Celestial Sect... More precisely, it should be a True Dragon that was causing rainstorms and mountain floods!"

Flood Dragon, True Dragon?

Emperor Wu had mentioned to Chen Tang once that there really were a few Exotic Beasts across the world, the Snow Ridge Mountain Lord was one of them, and another was the Great Marsh Flood Dragon!

Yan Qi said, "It is said that this Flood Dragon has undergone a Thunder Tribulation and transformed into a True Dragon with two horns and four legs, covered in scales. Thus, it can bring rain and storm, causing continuous heavy rain in Qingzhou for over twenty days."

"Later, it was the Zen Sect that stepped in to battle this True Dragon on Jieshi Mountain by the sea in Qingzhou, finally causing the heavy rains to cease."

Chen Tang quickly asked, "How did the battle end?"

Yan Qi said, "According to a Vermilion Bird Guard, neither side had the upper hand. The Zen Sect couldn’t kill the True Dragon, only barely holding it back, preventing it from causing further storms."

Unexpectedly, it was Master Le Kong, who had been in retreat for years, who stepped forward and stopped the heavy rains in Qingzhou.

That True Dragon was so formidable that it could contend with a Grandmaster of Transformation Realm.

This clarifies why the Profound Celestial Sect suddenly acted against the Buddhist Sect.

It was likely due to Master Le Kong’s intervention, provoking retaliation from the Profound Celestial Sect!

In Chen Tang’s mind, numerous thoughts flitted by.

Simultaneously, a few doubts arose.

Chen Tang asked, "Since we know the cause of the flooding in Qingzhou, and it has nothing to do with the disaster punishment, why not spread the news to the Capital City and make it public?"

Yan Qi paused for a moment and said, "The news has already been sent to the Capital City, but it’s of no use. First, not many people believe it; second, some people, even knowing the truth, would blame His Holiness."

"These people would think it was His Holiness’s new policies that angered the Profound Celestial Sect, causing the True Dragon to be enraged, bringing rainstorms and mountain floods."

"Damn it."

One of the Qilin Guards couldn’t help but curse, "For whom are His Holiness’s new policies if not for the people of the world? In the end, they don’t blame the true culprits but blame His Holiness, it’s truly foolish!"

"Not entirely foolish; some are just opportunistic."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "The Profound Celestial Sect is powerful and dominant; they blame His Holiness. If the Profound Celestial Sect collapses, they would applaud and instead praise His Holiness as wise and brave."

Jing Wuming suddenly said, "I heard that even though the heavy rain has stopped these days, the mountain floods continue to occur frequently, causing massive casualties, which is quite unusual."

Continuous heavy rain for over twenty days, leading to mountain floods is understandable.

But such frequent occurrences are somewhat strange.

If that True Dragon had been held back by the Zen Sect, how could the mountain floods occur so frequently?

Yan Qi said, "We are also investigating this point, but haven’t found any results. Some people in the Capital City are using this to validate the disaster punishment."

"What should we do about the matter in Cloud County?"

Jing Wuming asked, "Why not let Brother Chen reveal the Imperial Token and strive to win over the forces on the Commander’s side, unite with the Commander, and then act against the Cyan Dragon Bureau?"

"Without the Cyan Dragon Bureau, dealing with the Profound Celestial Temple would be much easier."

"Not easy."

Yan Qi shook her head and said, "To my knowledge, the County Captain of Cloud is relatively honest, but the military and government of Cloud County are in the hands of the Commander alone, and he doesn’t have real power."

"Moreover, the Commander of Cloud is in league with the Observatory Master of Profound Celestial Temple and the Captain of Azure Dragon Department; it’s difficult to defeat them individually."

The group began to discuss.

Some proposed assassination.

Others suggested gathering Qilin Guards from other places, bringing all of Qingzhou’s Qilin Guards together for action.

"No need for such trouble."

Chen Tang waved his hand.

The longer this drags on here, the greater the pressure on the Capital City.

He didn’t have the patience to hang around with these people here.

"Brother Chen, what strategy do you have?"

Jing Wuming asked.

"No strategy."

Chen Tang gripped the ’Eternal’ at his waist and said, "One knife is enough."

"This..."

Yan Qi, Jing Wuming, and the others exchanged looks with each other.

Chen Tang did not bother to think about schemes or conspiracies.

He planned to use the ’Eternal’ knife at his waist to carve a path straight through, cutting through Cloud County!

Whether it was Yan Qi or Jing Wuming, it wasn’t that they lacked strength; they were just wary.

They dared to move against the Commander of Cloud, even dared to take on the Cyan Dragon Guard, but ultimately, they didn’t quite dare to challenge the Profound Celestial Temple.

Chen Tang had left the Capital City without any reservations.

He intended to first set an example with the Profound Celestial Temple, offering a blood sacrifice to ’Eternal’!