Chapter 1243: The Two Pianos Leave the Valley

After the sect competition held by Jinxiu Heshan came to an end, the entire martial arts world of the Central Plains quickly mobilized. Many powerful factions sent one or two top experts, who joined forces with the 10,000-strong force of the Heroic Alliance and set off for the Western Regions in a grand procession. The troops from Jinxiu Heshan did not join them! Outside, no one even knew where Jinxiu Heshan’s 20,000 troops were, but many martial artists who went to the Western Regions to watch the events would occasionally encounter Jinxiu Heshan’s disciples riding swiftly along the way. No one knew how many people Jinxiu Heshan had sent… nor what kind of forces they had deployed. Even some high-ranking members within Jinxiu Heshan, due to time constraints, only led a group of their subordinates to the Western Regions and were unaware of the full details. The only ones in the know were Kai Xin and Ji Feng! The figure of 1,500 top experts from Jinxiu Heshan was a figure calculated internally… a number sufficient to rival the elite warriors under the Evil Emperor! But Kai Xin still didn’t want these people to gather together, as that would reveal Jinxiu Heshan’s greatest trump card. Due to the unstable factors of Qingdeng Muyu and Da She Wan, Kai Xin sent the four best performers from the sect competition ahead to find another route and carry out a reconnaissance mission in the Western Regions. The journey was long—taking a whole day and night in the real world to reach the Western Regions. …

In the hospital’s separate rehabilitation courtyard, Kai Xin went for his routine walk outside. The warm sunlight shone on the white sheets, making the courtyard appear extremely clean and sacred. The busy nurses also looked very cute. As soon as Xu Yao pushed open the door, she saw the man with his familiar, resolute face closed in meditation. The gentle light illuminated his face, giving him a serene and calm appearance. Xu Yao was momentarily distracted. She quickly took a deep breath and stepped forward. “You’re here?” Kai Xin recognized her from the delicate fragrance surrounding her and sighed slightly in relief. He opened his eyes and smiled. “How does it feel to be back in the martial arts world?” “Don’t force a smile if it’s so hard. Are you facing some difficulties? This trip to the Western Regions must be troublesome, right? Do you need me to go with Feng Ling to help?” Xu Yao immediately saw the seriousness hidden behind Kai Xin’s calmness and exposed his disguise. Kai Xin smiled slightly, said nothing, closed his eyes again, and continued to enjoy the warm sunlight. After a while, he slowly spoke, his tone heavy:

“The Evil Emperor has perfected the ‘Daoxin Zhongmo Dafa’. According to the calculations of Bai Xiaosheng, this technique is extremely powerful, even surpassing the ‘Yijin Jing’. Unless I can advance my cultivation of the ‘Ximesi Jing’ to a higher level, it will be very difficult for me to compete with the Evil Emperor.” He paused before continuing, “But in this battle, we must curb the Evil Emperor’s ambitions and deal a heavy blow to the Wild Wolf Organization. Only by dragging the Wild Wolves to their doom in the Western Regions can I achieve my goal of establishing the Imperial Guard!”

“…”

Xu Yao silently watched Kaixin.

She knew that Kaixin had planned everything for this day and gone through so much between life and death—all for the sake of eliminating the First-Class Hall and completely eradicating the Wild Wolf Organization. Although the Imperial Guard had a powerhouse like Jinxiu Heshan as its backing, it was consuming the most elite forces, which would cause immeasurable damage to Jinxiu Heshan over time.

Kaixin wanted to use this battle to completely demoralize the Evil Emperor, hold back the Wild Wolf Organization, and send a signal, a glimmer of hope, to the forces of various countries around the world. If this battle succeeded, the organizations suppressed by the Wild Wolf Organization could rise up in support. Otherwise, with only the strength of Central Plains and Jinxiu Heshan, it would be impossible to completely eliminate or contain the Wild Wolf Organization.

Thinking of this, Xu Yao spoke up again, “Anyway, Sister Fengling and I are closer to the Western Regions than you are. We’ll go help you!”

“Fengling can be considered, but you can’t. You’ve just reached the Wuwei Realm and aren’t ready to join the battle in the Western Regions right away,” Kaixin rejected Xu Yao’s proposal without hesitation.

Frustrated, Xu Yao glared at him, “These past few days, with the brothers from Jinxiu Heshan helping me with missions, I’ve made rapid progress in my cultivation. I’ve already reached the Wuwei Realm. Moreover, my cultivation in music relies on the number of people I teach—my progress is several times faster than that of ordinary people. I’m already much stronger than most people. Even Sister Fengling said my skills in the Music Sect are extraordinary, and I’ll soon surpass her…” She paused, as if thinking of something else. “Sister Fengling has the body of the Nine Yin Cut-off Vessel. If she can go to battle, what am I afraid of? At worst, I’ll lose a few days of cultivation progress… Besides, the martial arts of my Music Sect are meant to protect others. Sister Fengling’s body is fragile, so I must go and protect her!”

“Protect others?”
Xu Yao’s last words moved Kaixin, who opened his eyes and asked, “What do you mean?”

“My zither music can transform into powerful sound waves to protect those I wish to safeguard, within a radius of a hundred meters. It can be controlled at will. Anyone who wants to deal with Wind Chime must first break through her defenses and then my musical barriers… In other words, anyone who wants to kill Wind Chime must pass through me! I am that lock!”
Happy was immediately persuaded:
“Okay!”
Although he didn’t want Xu Yao to take risks, given the seriousness of the situation, it was entirely feasible to have her join this mission to enhance the safety of the Nine Yin Cut-off Veins.
“After I go online, I’ll send you a batch of Life and Death Dream Pills and a drop of the Fire Qilin’s blood, which can increase internal energy by 20 points. Also, after leaving the valley, you and Wind Chime should immediately put on human masks and meet up with me… But remember, once we enter the Western Regions, I’ll assign people to protect you, but your task is to protect Wind Chime.”
“Understood!”
Delighted, Xu Yao’s spirits lifted.
…
In a conference room of a seven-star hotel in the capital, hundreds of elite men and women from all over gathered!
“From now on, for the next month, this hotel will be your home. I need you to do your best.”
A man in a leather suit gave orders in an unyielding tone, looking down on them.
“What can be accomplished in a month? Bloodcloth, what are you and the sect leader planning this time?”
Someone asked.
Although staying in such a luxurious hotel for a month wasn’t bad, if it was for serious work, it was just a nicer cage.
“After today’s competition, Happy has once again put our First-Class Hall under pressure. Our brothers here were just trying to catch their breath and practice, but now that’s gone…” The speaker was the Monk with Thick brows, who was in charge of matters in the Central Plains.
These past days had been extremely difficult.
Since the Wild Wolves were driven out of the Central Plains, those who were slower in the First-Class Hall were effectively imprisoned in the city. Any attempt to leave meant certain death. Even the higher-ups were under close surveillance, with no freedom at all.
Those on Bloodcloth’s side still had some room for maneuver, but the Central Plains were completely stagnant, devoid of any vitality. So despite gathering in a luxurious hotel, their words still carried strong resentment.
Frowning slightly, Bloodcloth glanced at the Monk with Thick brows:
“Happy has sent a large number of experts to the Western Regions, taking most of the heroes from the Heroic Alliance with them. With weakened backbones, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to regain control of the Central Plains…”
“Gain control of the Central Plains? With what?”
The Monk with Thick brows could barely suppress his mockery.

The people around them all sneered with disdain.
Today, apart from its forces abroad, Yipin Tang still had tens of thousands of members, but within the Central Plains, over time, its numbers had dwindled to less than two thousand… With such a small force, not to mention taking control of the Central Plains, they would be wiped out completely by the local gang forces, Jinxiu Heshan, and Xifeng Lou as soon as they left the city…
“Don’t worry. Once the conflict breaks out in the Western Regions, Happy will surely lose. By then, the Wild Wolves Organization will join forces with us to fight our way back! We’ll gradually regain everything.” Blood-Clothed’s words shocked many present.
But most people didn’t believe it!
Jinxiu Heshan had grown stronger than Yipin Tang ever was! Anyone who had witnessed the sect’s competitions and seen the prowess of Windy Li and Green Lamp Wood Fish couldn’t imagine how Yipin Tang, in its current weakened state, could ever retake the Central Plains…
Thick-Browed Monk was the first to doubt it!
“Can the Evil Emperor win?”
“There are hundreds of top experts in the Central Plains, allied with Jinxiu Heshan and the Heroic Alliance. Their number might reach a thousand. How can the Wild Wolves hope to defeat Jinxiu Heshan?”
“That’s right! Not to mention it’s impossible to win in the Western Regions, now the Central Plains is under the control of Xifeng Lou, with Bai Xiaosheng and Ji Feng as its deputy leaders, and Silver Fox and others supporting them. What role can you play if you return?”
Chatter filled the venue, with few showing even a hint of confidence in this mission.
As he listened, Blood-Clothed’s expression grew darker!
Though he wanted to tell them everything, it was a matter of great importance. If revealed, all of Meng Yun’s plans would be ruined.
Meng Yun had pinned everything on this counterattack… on the Evil Emperor and the Wild Wolves Organization…
If they lost this time, Yipin Tang would utterly collapse and be erased from history.
Blood-Clothed absolutely didn’t want that to happen!
Seeing that the group remained demoralized, Blood-Clothed said sternly, “You must know that it is Master Meng Yun who has given you all this. Yipin Tang’s reputation was fought for by us over many years. Whether you want to regain what you once had is up to you to decide!”
Facing the gradually heated gazes of everyone, Blood-Clothed offered hope:
“As for our chances of winning this time, they far exceed your imagination. But I can’t tell you now… When we march back to the Central Plains, everyone will know!”
“Was this ordered by the master early this morning?”
Thick-Browed Monk was slightly surprised and asked Blood-Clothed with a frown.
The latter nodded seriously:
“That’s right!”

Xueyi knew that Monk Thick Eyebrows was already moved, so he seized the opportunity to urge him on: “To fight our way back to the Central Plains, we’ve planned a lot and paid a heavy price. In a few days… it will be the battle where we go all in and see the results! If we fail… we shall sacrifice our lives!” His resolute words and fierce determination, spoken by Xueyi, instantly inspired everyone in the room!