Bao Gu said gratefully, “Thank you, Pavilion Master.
With thirty thousand of Soul Chasing Pavillion’s elusive assassins taking heads behind enemy lines, I believe the fear and destruction they’ll cause won’t be any less than an army of two hundred thousand pressing on the city.”
Qu Yirou replied, “You flatter us.
The Nether Hall of the Kan Gang may have only been around for four years, but it’s produced plenty of talent and impressive results.
No one dares underestimate them.”
Bao Gu shook her head.
“The Bloodshadow assassins of Kan Gang’s Nether Hall are nothing compared to your Soul Chasing Pavillion assassins—yours are impossible to guard against.” She chuckled.
“Pavilion Master, you know, Jade Shura may have lost your ride, but she really can’t be blamed.”
Qu Yirou snorted, half amused.
“She lost my ride, and you say she can’t be blamed?”
Bao Gu said, “You know, when she lost your ride, she snatched the Mirage Dragon Pearl right out from under the noses of Di Gui Longshen and a bunch of Qianlongyuan bandits, not to mention a bunch of Void Tearing cultivators.
In that situation, even a Void Tearing cultivator might not have gotten out alive.
For Jade Shura to grab the Mirage Dragon Pearl and still keep your ride safe? That’s just asking too much.”
Qu Yirou’s eyes flashed, her mind turning, then she smiled and asked, “You didn’t put in a good word for Jade Shura, did you?”
Bao Gu said, “I’m just telling it like it is.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Qianlongyuan.”
Qu Yirou nodded.
“I’ve heard of it.” Her gaze shifted.
“Jade Shura snatched the Mirage Dragon Pearl right under Qianlongyuan’s nose.
There’s no way Qianlongyuan would just let that go, but I haven’t heard of them causing trouble for Soul Chasing Pavillion.
Is there something I’m missing?”
Bao Gu said, “Jade Shura sold the Mirage Dragon Pearl to me.
Her price was for me to help her get your ride back, help her break through her cultivation bottleneck, and take care of the Qianlongyuan mess.”
Qu Yirou said, “Getting tangled up with Qianlongyuan is a real headache.
If needed, I’ll personally take people over there and chop off Di Gui Longshen’s head.”
Bao Gu said, “Qianlongyuan isn’t even the real problem.
Right now, there are plenty of people who need you to take care of them.
You know all the major forces in the cultivation world have joined up, gathered an army of eight million, and are attacking Yue Country, trying to force them to hand me over.”
Qu Yirou nodded.
“I know about that.
Yue Country would never hand you over.
If they did, it’d be a betrayal—selling out an ally and surrendering to the enemy.
That would turn their friends into enemies, and the hostile forces would still bleed Yue Country dry.
Not only would their reputation be ruined, but they’d have to pay a terrible price.
Even if they managed to make peace for a while, they’d be suppressed and eaten away by all sides, and with the stigma of betraying an ally and being in a weak position, they’d never have any friends again.
They’d be isolated, unable to resist the pressure, and probably never recover.
It’s better to unite with their allies and fight to the death.
With your forces, plus Yue Country and their friendly factions, this is a fight you can win.
Your name alone is enough to attract plenty of followers.
Didn’t Soul Chasing Pavillion mobilize everyone for you? All the powers in Xuanyue Ancient City will back you, and gathering another hundred thousand troops won’t be a problem.”
Bao Gu nodded lightly.
“I’ll still need your full support, Pavilion Master.” She changed the subject, pointing to the jade slips on the round table.
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the drought demon disaster.
These jade slips record methods for dealing with corpse demons and corpse ghosts.”
Qu Yirou said, “A single jade slip is worth as much as a sacred artifact.
Soul Chasing Pavillion can’t afford that price.”
Bao Gu said, “You’re joking.
Selling these to Yue Country, sure, they’re worth a sacred artifact.
Selling them to you, not so much.
After all, the Wild Ancient Mountains are in Yue Country, not Xuanyue Ancient City.” The drought demon disaster would hit Yue Country first—they couldn’t avoid it.
Xuanyue Ancient City was too far away; even using domain gates, it would take four or five hours, and flying would take over a month.
By the time the distant Snow Region in the demon domain was affected, the whole world would be in chaos.
She couldn’t just sit back and watch the world burn.
Qu Yirou knew Bao Gu only treated her this way because she didn’t see her as an outsider.
She sincerely thanked her, then picked up a jade slip and unrolled it, only to find she couldn’t understand it.
Her lips parted slightly as she focused, then glanced at Jade Shura.
No wonder Jade Shura couldn’t copy these talismans—she couldn’t even read them herself.
But someone nearby could.
Qu Yirou pinched her nose bridge, smiling at the demon saint.
“A-Sheng, I can’t read these talismans.”
The demon saint said, “These are ancient demon talismans from the upper realm.
Not just you—even among the demon race, few can read them.
Doesn’t matter if you can’t; just follow the instructions in the jade slip to make and use them.” She saw Qu Yirou smiling at her, eyes sparkling with meaning.
She laughed.
“Don’t look at me like that.
These are upper realm demon talismans—nothing to do with your cultivation world.”
Qu Yirou said, “The cultivation world is full of talent.
Who’s to say we can’t figure these out?”
The demon saint replied, “That’s for later!”
Wang Ding saw Bao Gu was free and quickly brought out two jade slips, presenting them to her.
“Master, please take a look.”
Bao Gu took the jade slips.
She unrolled the first one and saw it was a list of war supplies requisitioned by Kan Gang for the campaign—an enormous amount, almost emptying their treasury.
She frowned slightly.
“Do we really need this much?” Wang Ding bowed.
“You’ll understand after reading the second slip.” Bao Gu opened the second slip and saw it was Kan Gang’s expansion plan—in short, a massive recruitment drive for heroes from all over.
Not just loose cultivators, but people from all sorts of sects and factions.
Just like Wang Ding and Jade Shura had discussed before: first, Kan Gang and Soul Chasing Pavillion form an alliance.
Kan Gang picks the targets, Wang Ding informs Soul Chasing Pavillion, and Soul Chasing Pavillion just handles the assassinations—Kan Gang takes care of the rest.
Afterward, Kan Gang splits thirty percent of the cultivation resources with Soul Chasing Pavillion.
Second, Kan Gang’s Shadow Hall will give Soul Chasing Pavillion a deputy hall master position—they can recruit their own troops, and Kan Gang provides all resources.
This position is set for Jade Shura.
Soul Chasing Pavillion will give her a thousand Nascent Soul assassins as her starting capital.
These thousand Soul Chasing Pavillion Nascent Soul assassins will become Shadow Pavilion assassins under Jade Shura’s command, and Kan Gang will provide all their equipment and supplies.
Not just Soul Chasing Pavillion—plenty of small factions are joining Kan Gang, too, with anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand people.
That means more issues: integrating them, distributing gear and supplies, and all of it costs money! Before the army moves, the supplies have to be ready! Before they take any cities or loot anyone else’s treasury, they have to use their own stockpile.
War eats up equipment and supplies fast, so the logistics hall has to expand, too—that’s another huge expense.
This is a matter of life and death, so Bao Gu couldn’t and wouldn’t cut corners.
She just said, “You know my usual way of doing things.”
Wang Ding bowed.
“Understood, Master.” Of course he understood—whatever Kan Gang spent on the war, he’d have to earn back double! But he wasn’t worried; Kan Gang had always made its fortune off war.
With Bao Gu’s approval, Wang Ding took the jade slips and hurried off.
After Wang Ding left, Bao Gu looked curiously at Jade Shura and Qu Yirou.
“Can I ask whose idea it was to have Jade Shura be deputy hall master of Shadow Pavilion?”
Jade Shura said, “Mine.
Got a problem with that?”
Bao Gu looked at Qu Yirou.
“Pavilion Master, you don’t mind?”
Qu Yirou said, “She needs the experience, and this was the elders’ collective decision.
I don’t mind, either.”
Don’t underestimate this deputy hall master position—it’s not low, and it comes with real power.
However many troops Jade Shura can recruit and command, that’s how much power she’ll have.
With this position, the only people who can order Jade Shura around are the Shadow Hall master, Kan Gang’s left envoy Wang Ding, and Bao Gu.
Shadow Hall is under Wang Ding’s command—even the right envoy Kuangmo and finance envoy Sun Dilong can’t mobilize it.
This is a chance for Jade Shura to gain experience—not a slight at all.
Besides, if Bao Gu really wins this war, Kan Gang could unite all the sects and rule the cultivation world.
By then, Jade Shura’s faction will be a major force.
Bao Gu understood Soul Chasing Pavillion’s intentions.
But for them to join Kan Gang and go all in at this critical moment was a real lifesaver.
Every bit of help increased Kan Gang’s chances.
For Soul Chasing Pavillion, helping Kan Gang and her now was basically betting their entire future.
Bao Gu was deeply grateful, but also worried—if Kan Gang lost, Soul Chasing Pavillion would lose everything.
She’d worked with Qu Yirou for so long—her character, temperament, and style all earned Bao Gu’s trust.
Plus, Qu Yirou and Jade Shura’s master-disciple and dao partner relationship, and Jade Shura and Yu Mi’s sworn sisterhood, made Bao Gu see them as close friends and family.
Qu Yirou and Jade Shura trusted her—how could she let them down?
Qu Yirou was busy copying the jade slips.
Jade Shura got a message from Wang Ding via sound transmission talisman, said a quick goodbye, and hurried off.
Once Jade Shura left the courtyard, Qu Yirou finally looked up, gazing longingly at the gate.
The demon saint teased with a smile, “Can’t bear to let her go? Your soul’s about to run off with Jade Shura.”
Qu Yirou shot her a look.
“Would you be willing to throw Zi Yunshu onto the battlefield?” Not wanting to let go or being worried doesn’t change anything.
Jade Shura needs to be tempered—if she kept her by her side, she’d just spoil her.
But thinking of Jade Shura fighting for her life on the edge of death made Qu Yirou’s heart ache, and she wanted nothing more than to rush out and pull Jade Shura back into her arms. If pills and treasures could help Jade Shura break through, she’d never let her take such risks.
The demon saint replied, “Do I look like someone who runs toward danger?”
Qu Yirou was left speechless.
Everyone knew the demon saint ran faster than a rabbit at the first sign of trouble! Back when Kan Gang attacked the group mansion, ten Void Tearing cultivators went after Bao Gu and the demon saint, and the demon saint grabbed her and vanished in a flash—not even ten Void Tearing cultivators could catch up!
At dawn,
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Zi Yunshu, the demon saint, Bao Gu, and Qu Yirou, the jade slips were finally finished.
Bao Gu took a set of jade slips and went straight to see Zi Tianjun.
With Zi Tianjun’s approval, Bao Gu moved Xuantian Sect’s hundred thousand disciples out of the Xuantian Mountains.
For now, they were settled in Kan Gang’s branch camp.
At this point, all the branch’s troops had already gone through the domain gate to attack the forces besieging Yue Country, leaving the camp empty—just right for Xuantian Sect’s disciples to use as a temporary base.
Zi Tianjun had already made arrangements for Xuantian Sect’s future.
With the demon saint and Zi Yunshu staying to help, Bao Gu felt at ease about Zi Tianjun and Xuantian Sect.
Now, Bao Gu had to deal with Qianlongyuan.
Qianlongyuan were bandits, with no dealings with the so-called righteous sects, and they weren’t among the forces attacking Yue Country.
But Qianlongyuan had sent a hundred thousand troops to pin down Kuangmo’s army—wherever Kuangmo’s troops retreated, Qianlongyuan chased them.
At a time when Kan Gang desperately needed troops and generals, this infuriated Bao Gu, Kuangmo, and Wang Ding.
In a fit of anger, Bao Gu decided to join forces with Soul Chasing Pavillion and launch a surprise attack on Qianlongyuan, raiding Di Gui Longshen’s lair!
