Starforce Warriors-Chapter 887: Myriad Saints Immortal Sect (3)

Yunzhou’s wandering hero, Li Yiyun, loudly slammed his fist down on the armrest, his voice filled with righteous fury. “The Myriad Saints Immortal Sect? They’re nothing but demonic parasites and bloodsuckers leeching off the people! A cancer within Great Song! If only I had the strength to fight back, I—!”

“You’ve gone mad!” Yang Zhao quickly cut him off and said, “Be careful what you say. Walls have ears. If those words reach them, you’ll find no safe haven anywhere in Great Song.”

Li Yiyun gritted his teeth and growled, “Then I’ll draw my sword and fight to the death. Better to die with honor than live as a coward!”

Kou Zhengyang hurried to calm him. “Brother Li, you are a man of courage and integrity. Who in Yunzhou does not know your name? But we must act with foresight. Only by surviving can we hope to do great things. Recklessness will only throw everything away.”

The three of them exchanged glances, each one filled with helpless resignation. To outsiders, they were influential figures. They were heroes, leaders, and renowned men of their generation. But they were no more than ants before the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect.

As the only immortal sect formally established within the borders of Great Song, the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect stood above mortal authority, transcending imperial power and worldly martial sects alike. Even a mere outer disciple from the sect could swagger before regional governors and military commanders as if they were royalty.

For the Great Song Dynasty, the loss of the sect’s protection would be nothing short of a national catastrophe. Thus, every year, the imperial family and the provinces were required to offer tributes to the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect.

The contents of these tributes varied from year to year. But human sacrifices, living offerings, were always part of the demand. This had long stirred unrest among the people of Great Song. There had been brave souls in the past who had dared to resist. But they had all died. Not just died, they had perished in the most brutal, tragic fashion imaginable. Their families, friends, teachers, students, and anyone associated with them had been wiped out.

The most notorious incident had occurred a bare twenty years prior. Prince Zhao Dechuan, a virtuous noble of Great Song, once uttered a single phrase during court, “The immortal sect is not so virtuous.”

By noon that very day, his entire household consisting of one hundred and forty-six people, had been slaughtered by a single celestial sword. After the massacre, the sword had released a solitary arc of sword qi that split open the eastern gate of the imperial palace.

Zhao Dechuan had been the blood uncle of the current emperor, Emperor Renzong. But the royal court had not shown the slightest anger or disapproval. On the contrary, they had submitted tributes and apology memorials in quick succession, seeking forgiveness from the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect.

It was said the emperor himself had once climbed the mountain barefoot and bore thorns on his back to offer his penitence. If even the imperial family could be reduced to this, how could someone like Kou Zhengyang, a mere minor prefect of a small border city, possibly oppose such a colossal force?

And yet, every time he thought of the one hundred virgin boys and girls, the one hundred young maidens, and the twenty pregnant women... all likely to be offered as live sacrifices...

As a man with a conscience, he could not sleep at night. The three men were still sighing with frustration when, all of a sudden, their expressions changed drastically. A fearsome martial aura erupted without warning from outside the City Lord’s Office.

It was like a divine mountain crashing down, like a vast ocean surging overhead. It was so immense that their souls trembled instinctively.

“Who... who could this be?”

“Is it an envoy from the Immortal Sect?”

Startled and grim-faced, the three rushed out of the main hall to see for themselves, their expressions filled with shock and rising anger.

Moments later, the captain of the guards rushed into the hall, his expression tense. He said, “Milord, a young man outside seeks an audience.”

“A young man? Kou Zhengyang raised a brow and asked, “Did he give his name or background?”

The guard captain shook his head and said, “No, but... with just one glance, he made all eight of the fierce tigers lie down and whimper on the ground. He told me that if I simply reported his arrival, Your Lordship would definitely agree to meet him.”

Kou Zhengyang furrowed his brows and fell into thought for a few seconds before nodding and said, “Bring him in.”

The captain quickly turned and left. Kou turned to his companions and said, “Brother Yang, Brother Li, what do you think?”

His tone carried a trace of unease as he asked, “Could it be an envoy from the Immortal Sect?”

Yang Zhao said gravely, “I fear he comes with ill intent. That aura we sensed earlier, it was clearly a show of force. That level of cultivation... within the borders of Great Song, likely only the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect possesses such power.”

Li Yiyun clenched his jaw and said, “To hell with it. If they come with force, we meet them with force. When water comes, use earth to dam it. When soldiers come, use generals to block.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

But Kou Zhengyang was already weighing his options. If this truly was an envoy from the Immortal Sect, then even if it meant swallowing his pride, he needed to negotiate carefully. Perhaps he could even trade something else, so long as he could avoid sacrificing human lives.

As he was pondering, the captain returned. He led a young man dressed in a simple white robe.

The newcomer appeared to be in his twenties, tall and straight-backed, with strikingly handsome features. Sword-shaped brows framed his starry eyes, which gleamed like lacquer. Though his attire was plain, he carried an air of transcendent grace. His white garments were as pure as snow, without a speck of dust, and his demeanor was effortlessly elegant. It was so ethereal he seemed almost not of this world.

“Prefect of Fengyin City, Kou Zhengyang, greets the Immortal Envoy,” said Kou Zhengyang as he cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.

The young man blinked, slightly taken aback. He replied, “Immortal Envoy? Prefect Kou, you must be mistaken. I’m no envoy, I’m merely a passing traveler.”

Hmm? Kou Zhengyang’s expression shifted subtly.

Li Yiyun and Yang Zhao exchanged glances, both equally surprised.

“You’re... not from the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect?” Li Yiyun asked, unable to hide his suspicion.

The man in white shook his head and said, “Myriad Saints Immortal Sect? Never heard of it. I’m Li Xiaofei. I came to visit Prefect Kou because there are a few matters I’d like to inquire about.”

The eyes of all three officials widened with even greater confusion.

Someone in the realm of Great Song... who has never heard of the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect? Unbelievable.

And yet, the power this young man had released earlier was nothing short of extraordinary, It was vast and majestic, like that of a true immortal. Even if he hadn’t cultivated immortal arts, his strength was undeniably formidable.

The three of them remained filled with suspicion, but they maintained a polite and respectful demeanor in their words.

“Honored guest, please take a seat.” Kou Zhengyang personally welcomed Li Xiaofei into the front hall, personally brewed tea, and then asked, “May I know what matter has brought you to seek me out today?”

Originally, Li Xiaofei had intended to ask discreetly about the Reapers. He had planned to feel things out slowly, but now... he changed his mind.

“To tell the truth,” he smiled. “I’ve lived in the mountains for many years, devoted to martial cultivation to the exclusion of all else. Just a few days ago, I experienced a breakthrough and decided to travel beyond the forest on a whim. Thus, I know little of the current affairs within the realm of Great Song. Prefect Kou, may I ask, what exactly is this Myriad Saints Immortal Sect you mentioned earlier?”

Kou Zhengyang hesitated for a moment, then replied carefully, “The Myriad Saints Immortal Sect is the state-protecting divine sect of Great Song. Much like the Yejin Shrine of the Liao, the Sacred Pass of the Qin, or the Golden Underworld Palace of the Yuan, which are all immortal sects that stand above secular authority. Their disciples cultivate the immortal path and wield powers beyond mortal comprehension.”

He phrased it with great delicacy. After all, he still couldn’t be entirely sure of Li Xiaofei’s identity. If this young man was actually a disciple of the Immortal Sect in disguise, and he were to speak ill of the sect, it could bring catastrophic consequences.

Li Xiaofei silently noted down the names of those sects.

So, immortal sects, huh? On this continent, those who cultivate the immortal path... are they enemies, or allies? It’s too early to tell.

In his heart, he resolved to pay each one a visit.

“Just now, you mentioned an envoy of the immortals.’” Li Xiaofei asked again, his tone casual. “Might that envoy be a disciple of the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect? What brings them here?”

Kou Zhengyang replied with a slight pause, “Ah... the envoy arrived to collect the annual tribute.”

“Annual tribute?” Li Xiaofei’s eyes flickered and he asked again, “May I ask, what exactly does the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect collect as tribute?”

If they were truly an immortal sect, then mundane items like gold and silver surely held no interest to them. What they sought must be resources beneficial to cultivation. And that... would certainly catch his attention as well.

“Well...” Kou Zhengyang hesitated, clearly unsure if he should speak further.

But Li Yiyun, the hero of Yunzhou, spoke bluntly, “Virgin boys and girls, young maidens, and pregnant women at the right stage... along with jade leaves. That’s the list. Heh, cultivation, right?”

Li Xiaofei was startled by what he heard.

Such things... are actually used for cultivation?

It sounded nothing like a righteous immortal path; instead, it reeked of demonic practices. He couldn’t believe that the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect collected such tributes out of goodwill, as if they were running a matchmaking agency or caring for orphans.

Then he noticed the subtle mockery in Li Yiyun’s tone. That explained the faint resistance and wariness he had sensed from the man ever since entering the governor’s hall. Li Yiyun had assumed he was someone from the Immortal Sect.

“A true immortal sect would never demand tributes like this,” Li Xiaofei said coldly. “What difference is there between such behavior and that of demonic cults?”

“Hahaha!” Li Yiyun slapped the table and burst out into laughter. “Oh? You think it’s wrong too? Then tell me, if I’m not mistaken, the technique you cultivate isn’t ordinary. You mean to say you’re not one of the Myriad Saints’ ilk?”

Before the words had even fully left Li Yiyun’s mouth, the Invincible Golden Saber Yang Zhao shivered violently in fright. He quickly tried to stop him, saying, “Second Brother! Mind your words, don’t speak so recklessly!”

But Li Yiyun was still fuming, and snorted coldly. “What? We can’t even speak the truth now? Heh, an immortal sect, they call themselves, yet they force commoners to hand over tributes like this? They demand living people for sacrifice? That’s a righteous sect? I spit on them. Even demons from hell wouldn’t stoop so low.”

Kou Zhengyang and Yang Zhao’s expressions changed dramatically.

Just then—

“How dare you.” A cold, merciless voice rang out from above, sharp as a blade. “You are mere ants, yet you dare slander the Immortal Sect behind its back? You have chosen the path of death.”

A single crimson-robed figure had appeared in the skies above the governor’s estate, though none had noticed his arrival.

He hovered in midair, as lofty and detached as a deity gazing down from the heavens. His expression was icy, and his eyes glinted with killing intent as he looked down at the people below.

He appeared to be only in his early twenties. But the pressure emanating from him was staggering. It crashed down on the entire estate like a falling mountain, smothering everything. Everyone within the compound instantly felt like the end had come. One by one, they fell to their knees, trembling uncontrollably.

“Immortal Envoy!” Yang Zhao gasped in horror.

Kou Zhengyang and Li Yiyun both turned deathly pale. They were in serious trouble. To have been overheard saying such things by an envoy of the Immortal Sect... There would be no explaining their way out of this.