Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1374: 878: Guiding Humans and Guiding Ghosts Are the Same
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
The blood puppets from the Yin Ghost Department, often called such, truly belong to the third category. They offer not just fearsome battle prowess but also sharp wits, ensuring absolute loyalty.
Back when Zhang Mo assaulted Lotus Heart Valley, the blood puppets slipping inside the valley were of the first kind, whereas those beyond the formation were the second variety.
Regarding the third kind—the authentic blood corpse puppets—Zhang Mo has returned most to the Yin Ghost Department, keeping just eighteen under his command.
When it comes to fighting strength, blood corpse puppets fall short of ghost soldiers. Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators possess robust divine souls, rendering blood corpse puppet refinement impossible.
Yet regarding loyalty, blood corpse puppets outshine ghost soldiers. Ghost soldiers carry a betrayal risk, but blood corpse puppets remain eternally faithful.
Thus, to Zhang Mo, blood corpse puppets form his vital core force, with ghost soldiers serving only as materials for crafting more blood corpse puppets.
This sets him apart from Mo Xuanyu, who placed excessive faith in the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Jade for managing ghost soldiers, letting Xuanzhen and Yang Zhenshan pinpoint the hideout.
Nothing of the sort could befall Zhang Mo, since his Evil Blood Killing Array accepts control solely from blood corpse puppets, barring ghost soldiers entirely.
Hundreds of blood corpse puppets flooded into the cavern room, as the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool gradually settled into tranquility.
Right then, Duan Qiankun stepped up to inform: “Master, exactly as you predicted, Qingli's six families are begging help from all sorts of powers!”
Zhang Mo caressed his graying beard with a soft smile: “Let them beg for help; we'll watch White Cloud Immortal City's response first!”
In the region around Yunxiao Mountain Range, White Cloud Immortal City stood as the sole power that daunted him.
Provided White Cloud Immortal City stays out of it, he could slowly consume every faction encircling the Yunxiao Mountain Range.
While Zhang Mo awaited White Cloud Immortal City's move, Liu Wei had reached Hidden Sword Mountain.
Buried deep within the Yunxiao Mountain Range, layers of fog draped over soaring cliffs, crafting a perfect natural shield that hid Hidden Sword Mountain amidst the peaks.
Hidden Sword Mountain might lack height, yet it radiated a relentless sword intent.
It felt less like a mountain rising there and more like a gigantic sword propping the heavens.
Positioned at the mountain's base, Liu Wei stared at the unassuming Hidden Sword Mountain, but sensed the crushing weight upon him.
Soon after, a Hidden Sword Mountain disciple guided him upward to the peak's Hidden Sword Hall.
Eaves of the Hidden Sword Hall pierced the clouds, sword phantoms flickering under the layered roofs. Within, the ceiling mimicked a starry sky, while walls bore the engraved “Hundred Swords Map,” showing a blade cleaving heavens, felling dragons and xi, with sword intent still echoing through the surfaces.
Never look down on this “Hundred Swords Map”; the Heavenly Sword True Monarch etched it himself, declaring it held all his life's sword intent.
Hence, the “Hundred Swords Map” ranks among Hidden Sword Mountain's prime legacies.
A blue-robed man stood inside Hidden Sword Hall, upright like a blade, his piercing brows lending a stern air.
“Haha, Brother Liu, long time no see!” The man grinned upon spotting Liu Wei.
Liu Wei eyed the man and sighed involuntarily: “Brother Jian, each visit to your Hidden Sword Mountain brings me overwhelming pressure!”
This was Jian Changhe, Hidden Sword Mountain's present Mountain Master.
Though Jian Changhe looked fiercely intimidating and unapproachable, his manner proved quite amiable.
“Our forebears' sword intent lingers here; every visitor senses that pressure!”
Hidden Sword Mountain's tradition spans over three millennia, outlasting even White Cloud Immortal City's. Despite its current downturn, its roots run profoundly solid.
Don't think Hidden Sword Mountain feeble today; far from it—enduring without a Golden Core True Monarch highlights its might.
Without certain secret aces, Hidden Sword Mountain would have fallen prey to surrounding powers ages ago.
“Take a seat, please!” Jian Changhe ushered Liu Wei into the tea chamber.
They settled in, and Jian Changhe swept tea leaves with a sword tassel, loosely added tea to a rough clay pot, added scalding water, then decanted it in a seamless sword-like flourish.
“Brother Jian must know the reason for my visit!” Liu Wei lost all desire for tea right then and adopted a grave tone.
“I have some idea! Yet your exact scheme eludes me!” Jian Changhe took a leisurely sip from his teacup.
“Our goal is to rally all the powers against the Yin Ghost Department!” Liu Wei revealed his aim openly, seeing no point in secrecy.
“Rallying the powers, does that include the Lingxiu Three Sects?” Jian Changhe asked.
For a brief instant, Liu Wei’s face stiffened; he was well aware of Hidden Sword Mountain’s feud with the Lingxiu Three Sects, yet he nodded firmly and replied: “Exactly!”
Jian Changhe toyed lightly with the sword tassel at his waist, his mild expression vanishing as he spoke coldly: “The Lingxiu Three Sects! Heh~”
“Hidden Sword Mountain refuses to ally with the Lingxiu Three Sects!”
Liu Wei drew in a heavy breath; though he anticipated this refusal, he pressed on: “Why? Does Brother Jian still aim to dominate the Lingxiu Three Sects?”
Even as martial sects, the Lingxiu Three Sects boast immortal cultivators and Divine Soul Realm martial artists among their ranks.
Lacking a Golden Core cultivator, Hidden Sword Mountain lacks the power to overpower Divine Soul Realm martial artists.
“Indeed,” Jian Changhe confirmed.
“Brother Jian knows full well that subjugating the Lingxiu Three Sects demands a Golden Core cultivator for Hidden Sword Mountain. Hasn’t Brother Jian faced this truth?” Liu Wei pressed.
“What makes you so certain I won’t reach Golden Core?” Jian Changhe fixed him with a piercing gaze.