126 Breaking Out of the Seventh Dream

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In fact, the distinction between good and evil in *Tale of Wuxia* is quite clear. Working backward from the final endings, the forces under the Dragon King of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, the Shura Palace, and the Heavenly Providence City are the villains. The Hundred Herbs Sect and the Poison Dragon Sect are opportunists, while the Shaolin, Wudang, Xiaoyao Valley, and Forget-Sorrow Valley represent the righteous sects. As for the forces under the Heavenly King of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, they intend to establish a nation in the Western Regions; though they do not oppose the Central Plains martial arts world, their ambitions are quite vast.

Of course, some factions have their own agendas. The Beggar Sect, for instance, seeks to support the current imperial court and frequently clashes with the Eastern Depot, while transcendent figures like the Sword Saint prefer to remain aloof from the chaos of the pugilistic world.

However, "in the pugilistic world, one is not master of one's own fate." It is like the outbreak of World War II—even the United States, which initially felt its own soil was not under threat, was eventually dragged into the conflict. This is not a matter of whether one is willing or not; it is a question of whether, even if you do not seek a car accident, the accident will seek you out.

After Yang Tang defected from Xiaoyao Valley with Xuan Mingzi and Jing Ji, he headed straight for the headquarters of the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

The Heavenly Dragon Sect was currently led by the Dragon King’s faction. Of the original Eight Classes of the Heavenly Dragon, three supported the Dragon King: Mahoraga, Yaksha, and Asura. The others—Gandharva Xiang’er, Kinnara, and Garuda—supported the Heavenly King. By coincidence, Mahoraga, Yaksha, Gandharva, and Kinnara had all been assassinated by Yang Tang over half a year ago, so the task of receiving Xuan Mingzi fell to Asura.

After some pleasantries, a sect member reported that the Heavenly King’s faction was colluding with certain righteous sects to obtain the other half of the Sanctuary Key. Xuan Mingzi proposed that they needed to control all the righteous sects to cut off the source of their strength and thwart the Heavenly King’s plans. He then produced the "Soul-Binding Pill"—equivalent to the Three-Corpse Brain-Spirit Pill—which could control the members of the righteous sects.

Asura logically dispatched Xuan Mingzi to prepare the poison. Xuan Mingzi, accompanied by Jing Ji and Yang Tang, left the headquarters and, after quite a bit of effort, successfully concocted the Soul-Binding Pills.

Later, under the pretext of testing the medicine, Jing Ji and Yang Tang were both "rewarded" with a pill each. Xuan Mingzi’s cunning plan had succeeded, and he gloated inwardly, unaware that Yang Tang had already used the purification techniques of Fairy Sound to neutralize the toxin.

Returning to the headquarters, Yang Tang followed the plot, soon learning that Jing Ji harbored a bloody vendetta against his parents. It turned out that over twenty years ago, it was Gu Yunfei, the father of his senior brother Gu Yuexuan, who had killed Jing Ji’s mother, while Xuan Mingzi had framed Jing Ji’s father. All the righteous sects and the Heavenly Dragon Sect had participated in this conspiratorial slaughter.

Jing Ji was devastated. Yang Tang advised him to hide behind Xuan Mingzi and systematically wipe out all his enemies. Jing Ji agreed that Yang Tang’s plan was feasible, and together with Xuan Mingzi, they traveled to the Poison Dragon Sect, Hundred Herbs Sect, Tang Clan, Heavenly Sword Sect, Severed Blade Sect, Long Rainbow Escort Agency, Jiang Manor, Huan Sha Gang, Tianshan Sect, Sword Casting Villa, and Qingcheng Sect, using force to compel them all to swallow the Soul-Binding Pills.

Overnight, every minor faction in the pugilistic world was either subdued by Xuan Mingzi’s poison or eradicated. Yet, when they were finished, Xuan Mingzi told Jing Ji and Yang Tang that there was one hidden force they had yet to visit: Xiaoyao Valley.

After a moment of hesitation, Jing Ji nodded in agreement to attack Xiaoyao Valley before Yang Tang could even speak.

Upon arriving at the valley, when Gu Yuexuan and Old Hu fell together at Yang Tang’s feet, Yang Tang felt a momentary trance. After all, these two, along with Jing Ji, were the people he had interacted with the most since entering this dream. For what great cause was he cutting down even these close associates?

No, that’s not it. I must follow this ending to escape the dream!

Thinking this, Yang Tang joined forces with Xuan Mingzi and killed even Wuxiazi.

"Forgive me, old master."

As Yang Tang mourned for Wuxiazi, he did not notice that Xuan Mingzi had set his sights on Jing Ji, who had not dared to strike at Wuxiazi, deeming him soft-hearted. On the journey back to the Heavenly Dragon Sect, Jing Ji was shoved off a cliff, leaving no place for his remains to be buried.

Later, during dinner, Yang Tang inadvertently learned that Xuan Mingzi refused to serve under anyone and was plotting a rebellion. However, just as they were whispering, they were discovered by Asura.

With no other choice, Asura was killed by the combined efforts of Xuan Mingzi and Yang Tang. A secret letter found on Asura’s body hinted that the Dragon King was suffering from internal injuries.

Xuan Mingzi saw this as an opportunity. He led the various sect leaders controlled by the Soul-Binding Pills to besiege the Dragon King and his subordinates. After a fierce battle, the Dragon King was dead, and his minions were wiped out.

However, Xuan Mingzi also suffered significant internal injuries. Yang Tang, having secretly consumed a Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill, was back to full health and internal energy, with all negative status effects cleansed by Fairy Sound.

"Uncle-Master, are your injuries alright?" Yang Tang helped Xuan Mingzi up after he finished meditating.

"I am fine. I have recovered quite a bit; in three to five days I will be—You?!" Just as Xuan Mingzi spoke, he realized that Yang Tang, who had been standing to his left, had shifted to his right in an instant. He then felt a sharp pain in his neck, and upon touching it, found his hand covered in blood. "You... you wretched Yang Tang, you’re courting death!"

*Insight has descended! You have dragged Xuan Mingzi into a formal combat scenario! Xuan Mingzi is in a critically wounded state; he will lose 30% of his health per turn for ten turns!*

True to the prompt, upon entering the formal scenario, Yang Tang saw that Xuan Mingzi had only 70% of his health remaining, and his action speed was negative. Yang Tang said playfully, "Uncle-Master, go in peace. I will take good care of the vast foundation you have built!"

"Yang Tang, you... don't forget, you... you swallowed the Soul-Binding Pill!"

"Haha, Uncle-Master, you really are naive. Since I dared to act, I naturally have a way to handle your pathetic poison," Yang Tang sneered. "If you don't believe me, look closely. Under the influence of your internal power, do I show even a trace of being poisoned?"

"You..."

"Thirteen Styles of the Netherworld: Yama’s Brush!"

With a roar from Yang Tang, sword energy surged around him, and in a single strike, he sent Xuan Mingzi crashing into a stone pillar. Yang Tang did not hold back; seeing that the pinned Xuan Mingzi was not yet dead, he thrust both swords forward in a move called "Impermanent Life-Taking"!

*Thud, thud, bang!*

Xuan Mingzi slid down the pillar, tumbled a few times, and lay still.

Yang Tang remained cautious. Activating Eagle Eye, he discovered Xuan Mingzi was not yet dead, so he finished him off with a long-range strike: "Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Snatching." Finally, the old poison master was dead on the spot.

At that moment, a sect member ran over in a panic. He glanced timidly at Xuan Mingzi’s corpse and stammered, "Re-re-re-report, Protector Yang..."

"What is it?"

"Th-th-the Heavenly King has brought a massive force and is... attacking the gates!"

"Understood. You can go die now."

After saying this nonchalantly, Yang Tang raised his hand and crushed the sect member’s skull.

*Insight descends once more: The final battle must be resolved in a formal combat scenario. The Dreamer may choose three teammates!*

Yang Tang found it a bit annoying, but he had to follow the instructions. From the large crowd of Soul-Binding followers, he chose three teammates: Xiahou Fei, young master of the Severed Blade Sect; Gong Guangjie, young master of the Hundred Herbs Sect; and Ren Jiannan, young master of the Sword Casting Villa. Xiahou Fei’s internal power could boost team defense, Gong Guangjie was an essential healer, and Ren Jiannan was a finisher with a wide attack range, useful if Yang Tang failed to kill someone in a single blow.

Finally, on the drill ground of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, the final battle of the "Hegemon Route" path Yang Tang had chosen began.

Actually, there were two difficulties in this battle according to the strategy guide. First, the Heavenly King, who possessed damage reflection and health regeneration, and could protect teammates within a two-grid radius, making his surrounding allies nearly unkillable. Second, Gandharva and Kinnara—one a powerful healer, the other a high-damage freak. Unfortunately, both had already been killed by Yang Tang.

Therefore, at the start, Yang Tang relied on the high action speed of the "Falling Flower Treasure Manual" to charge into the fray. He reached the Heavenly King and unleashed "Yama’s Brush," an area-of-effect move that halved the health of six or seven of the Heavenly King’s allies.

Damn it, the "Grandmaster" difficulty is so frustrating—you can't kill any famous martial artist in one turn!

No matter. By injuring six or seven people, Yang Tang triggered his "Combo" effect, allowing him to attack again. He repositioned himself, found four half-health targets in a straight line, and used "Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Snatching" to kill three of them. One remained with a sliver of health. Even though he didn't trigger another "Combo," the "Chain Slash" effect activated. Yang Tang repositioned again, found three more half-health targets in a line, and used "Impermanent Life-Taking"—all three died. "Combo" and "Chain Slash" effects triggered simultaneously. Yang Tang went back and finished off the one with a sliver of health. Another "Chain Slash" triggered, but because the internal energy cost doubles during a chain, Yang Tang stopped his mad slashing and retreated to his own position.

Soon, the Black and White Impermanence, leaders of the Black Wind Stronghold (a subsidiary of the Heavenly Dragon Sect), brought a group of minions to help. The battlefield turned into a chaotic mess. Yang Tang, assisted by the Black and White Impermanence, dragged the Heavenly King into a corner to slowly wear him down, while the other Soul-Binding followers swarmed in, gradually devouring the Heavenly King’s subordinates.

Finally, the Heavenly King was killed by the focused fire of Yang Tang and the Soul-Binding followers. At this point, a massive wave of fodder from the Mount Hua, Beggar, and Shaolin sects poured in. It didn't matter, as Yang Tang received a message: *The Dreamer has obtained the "Hegemon’s Boundless" state!*

*Hegemon’s Boundless: Attack doubled, infinite internal energy, and "Chain Slash" effect!*

Yang Tang cleared the fodder in a single turn. When the Seven Sages of Forget-Sorrow appeared, he was so deep in his bloodlust that he even cut down Fairy Sound and Huachi!

The moment Yang Tang killed Huachi, he felt a sharp pain in his head and screamed, "Ahhhhhhh!" With a blink of his eyes, he was shocked to find himself back in the golden mist.

A new week, please add to favorites, please add to favorites, please add to favorites!!

As you can all see, the seventh dream was written somewhat poorly, especially starting from chapter 122. Therefore, I intend to only update one chapter tomorrow, using the extra time to trim the "filler" content from chapters 122-126. I hope my readers will understand and forgive me!!