Immortality Starts With Ignorant Heart Sword Art

Chapter 157: A Stirring Wave

The Ignorant Heart Sword Art is Zhong Cang's reliance during his early rise.

Zhong Cang has sentimental attachment to this ability.

However, he doesn't want to rely solely on the sword for his entire life. With the arrival of other techniques, his focus has been divided, causing this technique to stagnate for a long time.

Currently, the contamination of the malicious blood soul has stimulated the Sword Heart, allowing it to upgrade through honing.

As a result, the only impact of the blood soul's sting on Zhong Cang is that he needs to constantly maintain the state of Sword Heart or Heavenly Heart for a period of time.

Feeling at ease, Zhong Cang noticed that Hua Lin, a Perfected Being, only had bloodshot eyes and exuded a fierce killing intent, but his actions were extremely organized. This gradually eased Zhong Cang's tense heart.

"Hu... indeed, the younger generation surpasses the older generation. To conquer the Abyss City with such force and withstand the blood soul sting from the Blood Bone Old Ghost, Zhong Cang, you are much stronger than me."

"You're too kind."

With a faint response, Zhong Cang shifted his gaze to Yue Qianqian and Hou Hua behind him, as if they had something to say.

"What's the matter?"

Upon hearing the question, Yue Qianqian glanced at Hou Hua and found that he didn't dare to step forward. Yue Qianqian had to speak up herself, "Senior Zhong, how should we deal with the surrendering individuals?"

"Reorganize the ordinary soldiers into the Black Mountain Army... From now on, the Black Mountain Army will be renamed the Cloud Soaring Army. Do you have any objections?"

"No, I will follow the Perfected Being's orders."

Seeing Hou Hua's response, Zhong Cang nodded in satisfaction and gave him a little reward.

"You will still be the commander of the Cloud Soaring Army."

"As for the descendants of the noble families in Abyss City, kill them all."

"!!!"

When Zhong Cang said the last sentence, his voice remained calm, as if he was talking about something ordinary like "Have you eaten?"

However, the meaning behind his words made Hou Hua shiver and tremble uncontrollably.

At this moment, he was certain of one thing. On that day, in front of the Black Prison City, when Zhong Cang said that if the Black Mountain Army didn't surrender, he would destroy them, he wasn't just saying it casually.

"When others say 'kill all of you,' it's just a joke, but he really dares to kill... Hu, fortunately, I surrendered back then."

Apart from fear and terror, what surged in Hou Hua's heart at this moment was a sense of relief.

Zhong Cang's "calm" decision not only made Hou Hua break out in a cold sweat but also surprised Hua Lin and Yue Qianqian with his words.

After exchanging glances, Hua Lin, a Perfected Being, was the first to speak, "Did you really kill them all? I'm not opposed to this decision, or rather, I want them to die more than you do."

As he said this, Hua Lin seemed to think of the disciples of the Cloud Firmament Sect who were brutally killed by the descendants of the noble families. This caused him to clench his fists.

But soon, he became somewhat discouraged and said, "In the Xuan Yuan Realm, the noble families are almost united. Slaughtering an entire city will unite others against us, which will be detrimental to our future control."

This is indeed a reason, but Zhong Cang has a different view.

"Slaughtering the noble families of an entire city may indeed cause other powerful figures to unite and resist us, but there is another possibility: to make them fear and be afraid to oppose us."

"As long as we kill all those who betray us and oppose us, the remaining people will understand how to choose."

"..."

Zhong Cang's murderous intent was so strong that Yue Qianqian and Hua Lin, the Perfected Being, looked at each other in astonishment.

However, in the end, they agreed with his opinion.

Before leaving, Yue Qianqian couldn't help but ask curiously.

"If other gatekeepers were to find out about this, but still refuse to surrender?"

"Then kill them all... In fact, it's even better this way. After eliminating a group, we can promote some of the lower-class disciples who obey us. This will be more advantageous for our rule."

"..."

Yue Qianqian didn't know what to say in response to such an heartless answer.

As for Hou Hua, all that remained in his heart was fear.

He knew very well that while others might just talk about such things, Zhong Cang was actually capable of thinking and doing them.

...

Due to leading the team to consecutive victories, Zhong Cang's prestige was high.

Especially since he had contributed the most to the previous victories, occupying a decisive role, which made others even more obedient to Zhong Cang.

Therefore, once his orders were issued, they were smoothly executed.

Soon, the remaining gatekeeper families in Linyuan City who surrendered were dealt with.

After surrendering, they encountered a deadly situation, causing the children of those gatekeeper families to either beg for mercy or curse loudly.

"Please, spare me..."

"Bastard, you don't follow the rules."

"Don't touch me, I demand the treatment of a noble captive..."

"Dare to kill us, the other generals and the city lord will be your enemies!"

"I have a history with Tian Shan City, they won't let you off..."

"Just wait, you won't be able to take a single step in the Xuan Yuan Realm in the future..."

Begging for mercy, cursing, threatening, or resisting.

No matter what actions they took, Zhong Cang remained unfazed.

From a high altitude, he silently watched as the city's elites were slaughtered.

At the same time, news spread that Zhong Cang led his troops to defeat the demonic army and occupied Linyuan City.

Accompanying the spread of this news was the fact that he had exterminated the city's elites, causing a huge uproar in the Xuan Yuan Realm, especially the latter.

...

The Imperial City was the place where power, wealth, and strength were most concentrated in the Xuan Yuan Realm.

With a large concentration of power, this place was unlike other towns, as it could influence the battles between the Dao and Demon sects.

Without gathering their dispersed forces, neither the Dao nor the Demon sects could completely overpower the Imperial City.

Because of the power they possessed, both the Dao and Demon sects were more amicable towards each other at the foot of the Imperial City.

At this moment, in the Southern Heavenly Master's Palace, a middle-aged Daoist with a sword on his back was listening attentively to a disciple dressed as a Daoist boy reporting.

"Reporting to the Perfected Being, I have informed the imperial dynasty of this world to classify all the officials and families of Linyuan City as traitors and issue a nationwide wanted order, but..."

"They refused."

Seeing the killing intent in Jing Ming's eyes, the Daoist boy hurriedly said,

"They didn't explicitly refuse, but they also didn't agree. They said the situation in Linyuan City is complicated and needs further investigation. They also said that they can't label all the officials and families in Linyuan City as traitors, as it would cause a backlash in other regions... Perfected Being, I think they are already leaning towards the Demon sect. The emperor there has a bloody aura, indicating that he has consumed Blood Pills."

As the Daoist boy spoke, worry appeared on his face.

On the other hand, Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, didn't care and said,

"If the Demon sect can provide Life Extending Pills, it's natural for the old emperor to lean towards them. But rest assured, as long as I have the ability to break into the imperial palace and behead him, that cowardly old emperor won't dare to do anything out of line."

"Furthermore, that guy is just bad, but not stupid. He knows very well that if he eliminates us, the balancing force, the Demon sect will never spare him. So, he won't dare to touch us."

Upon hearing this, Dao Tong breathed a sigh of relief.

However, before he could say anything, a group of people burst in angrily.

"Master, your people have gone too far!"

"They killed everyone, it's too cruel."

"Even if they were at fault, they shouldn't have done this..."

"Hmph!"

Being held accountable right away, Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, snorted coldly.

This voice slightly restrained the anger of many officials, but they still glared at Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, with fury.

In this situation, Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, naturally wouldn't back down. Seeing this, Dao Tong stepped forward and inquired about what had happened.

After a while, he learned the reason why these people had come in angrily, but the cause left Dao Tong somewhat dumbfounded.

Not only was Dao Tong surprised, but Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, also found it hard to believe.

His keen senses allowed him to hear the conversation between Dao Tong and these officials, and as a result, he knew:

"Zhong Cang won. He led the Black Mountain Army to attack Lin Yuan City, killing a large number of Martial Masters and demonic cultivators, and even shook a Foundation Building Perfected Being to death? Are you kidding me!"

Upon learning this information, Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, initially thought that these people had come to make fun of him.

It's not surprising that he would think that.

As the commander-in-chief of the Xuan Yuan Realm, he was well aware of the strength of the disciples of the Cloud Firmament Sect.

The information in his hands showed that Zhong Cang's cultivation was only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and the cultivators who went with him numbered only about a hundred.

Even if these people were added to the disciples rescued by the Hualin Perfected Being, there were only a little over a hundred and fifty.

On the other hand, the demonic cultivators had a few hundred people, hundreds of Innate Martial Masters, and several Grandmasters.

The quantity and quality of the ordinary army were overwhelmed by the Black Mountain Army.

No matter how he calculated, he couldn't see any hope of victory for Zhong Cang.

In fact, because of his pessimism, he had even issued an order to Zhong Cang that if he couldn't hold onto Black Prison City, he could hide in the mountains.

In such a situation, someone suddenly told him that Zhong Cang had won and had achieved a complete victory. How could he not be shocked?

"He risked his life to win?"

Although shocked, when he saw the people coming angrily, and they didn't seem like they were acting, he secretly used a jade talisman to contact the Hualin Perfected Being thousands of miles away.

"What's the situation in Lin Yuan City now? I have officials from the court here, saying that you've won? And that you've killed all the influential figures in the city?"

"Yes, we won, a complete victory. Bloodbone Old Ghost was careless and stayed in Lin Yuan City!"

These words caused Jing Ming, the Perfected Being, to clench his fist tightly, but soon his expression returned to calm, and he secretly transmitted his voice:

"How did you win? They had so many people, I didn't dare to say we would win. How did you achieve victory? Did they have internal conflicts? And why didn't you inform me immediately after winning?"

"Cough cough..."

The last question made the Hualin Perfected Being cough awkwardly.

The reason why he didn't inform him was naturally because this victory was too unbelievable, and the Hualin Perfected Being was too caught up in his joy to remember.

Of course, he couldn't say that to his old friend.

"Let's not worry about those small matters. This victory was all thanks to Zhong Cang."

"Zhong Cang? Master Qin's disciple, the prodigy who didn't dare to come to the mortal realm?"

"What he dares not come, that is disdain. Haven't you seen? This monster, with his own power, set up a thundercloud formation that covers the entire city. The Martial Master demons in the city were all killed by his thunder strikes. Qin Dashifu has good judgment. He has taken in a monster."

The person opposite praised incessantly, and Jingming Perfected Being also showed joy on his face because of the victory.

However, he quickly realized that there were imperial officials present, so he quickly wiped the smile off his face and said lightly, "Ahem, I already know the situation you're talking about, but I don't think Zhong Cang did anything wrong. Those who dare to join the demonic sect, such wicked scoundrels, should all be killed!"

"You...protecting that wicked scoundrel, you are making enemies of all the noble families and dignitaries of the imperial court! I will request the emperor to classify your Cloud Firmament Sect as a cult and issue a nationwide arrest warrant..."

"Tsk!"

Before the words were finished, the official's head fell off, blood spraying like a fountain and splattering on the ground.

With a beheading, Jingming Perfected Being said calmly, "If you want to classify my Cloud Firmament Sect as a cult, you can try."

The hall where someone had died made the remaining officials quiet like cicadas in winter. It was only at this moment that they realized that the Cloud Firmament Sect was not under their jurisdiction, but a transcendent force stronger than them.

Just as the officials trembled, an old man sighed and spoke up.

"Ah, Jingming Perfected Being, you have gone too far, and your disciple is too cruel as well. It's fine to judge and kill the evildoers in Linyuan City, but to kill them all..."

The words of the old man made Jingming Perfected Being furrow his brow, but he couldn't say anything.

This old man in front of him was one of the few consciences of the decaying imperial court of the Xuan Yuan Realm. That's why he could stand up at this moment and reason with him.

Previously, he had been persuading the emperor of the imperial court to establish the Cloud Firmament Sect as the state religion and eradicate the demonic sect with all their might.

He could be considered an ally of the Cloud Firmament Sect.

When Jingming Perfected Being furrowed his brow, the old man waved his hand, asking the others to leave, and then he spoke with a worried expression on his face.

"Perfected Being, you need to give an explanation to the entire court and the local dignitaries. Otherwise, the court officials, the military, and the local dignitaries will all use this as an excuse to join the demonic sect."

"Of course, I won't ask you to kill him, just make him leave this world."

The old man's words were not pleasant to hear, but they were heartfelt. Jingming Perfected Being also knew that if this matter couldn't be resolved properly, the local dignitaries would never have a favorable view of the Cloud Firmament Sect.

However, he didn't want Zhong Cang to just leave like that.

Therefore, he waved his hand and let the old man leave first.

Seeing this, the old man sighed and said, "It's better to be quick. After he leaves, I can gather others and persuade the emperor to overlook this matter."

...

After the old man left, Jingming Perfected Being immediately picked up a jade talisman and contacted Hualin Perfected Being, explaining the situation here. Then, he said somewhat speechlessly, "Why did you kill all the people in Linyuan City? This will only provoke the noble families and dignitaries. You should have left some alive."

Obviously, even Jingming Perfected Being did not agree with the decision to exterminate the noble families in the city.

To this, Hualin Perfected Being didn't say anything. It wasn't that he agreed with this decision, but he didn't want to say much to Jingming Perfected Being... When Zhong Cang gave the order, although he was angry, he had also tried to persuade him.

Now that he remained silent, it was because Zhong Cang was right beside him, and the jade talisman was in his hand.

After listening to the situation on the other side and learning that the dignitaries of the Xuan Yuan Realm were going to unite to deal with him, Zhong Cang, with Heavenly Heart possessing him and Sword Heart burning fiercely, did not feel any fear or anxiety. He just calmly said, "Perfected Being, if I leave, can that old man persuade the emperor of the imperial court to fight against the demonic sect with all his might?"

"You are Zhong Cang..."

After confirming the other party's identity, Jingming Perfected Being shook his head and said, "It's impossible. Even if you leave and the noble families and dignitaries no longer pursue this matter, things will just return to square one... Those damn old guys are reluctant to give up the elixirs provided by the demonic sect."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Cang said indifferently, "Perfected Being, since persuasion is useless and cannot lead us to victory, then let's do it my way."

"What do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do..."

Closing his eyes, feeling the blood soul curse in his sea of consciousness and the increasingly bright Sword Heart, a hint of a smile appeared on Zhong Cang's face.

"Perfected Being, it is said that those noble families and dignitaries are willing to do anything to deal with me. I really want to try whether it is my sword's sharpness or their will that is stronger."

(End of this chapter)