《My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the 13th year of Xingping, in Yuzhou City. Unknowingly, ten years had passed since the flood in the third year of Xingping. Dazzling sunlight shone on the green tiles and red walls. Standing on the Yuzhou bridge, one could see the overhanging eaves, the shop sign flag fluttering in the air, the travelling carriages and horses, and the endless stream of pedestrians. On both sides of the streets were teahouses, taverns, pawn shops, and so on. There were also many hawkers with large umbrellas on the empty space beside them. The bustling streets extended along the Yuzhou River to the east and west, all the way to the quiet suburbs outside the city. However, there were still many pedestrians on the streets: some carrying loads, some riding ox carts and donkeys to deliver goods, some stopping to admire the scenery of Yuzhou River. With the tall city tower as the center, rows upon rows of houses formed a unique alley. On the west side of the street, there was a rather worn plaque with the words ¡®Ji Shi Hall¡¯ engraved on it. ¡°Pa! Pa! Pa!¡± A series of abacus sounds came from the pharmacy. The person who was tapping the abacus was a young man with delicate and handsome features. The most special thing about him was his eyes. They were long and thin, but the corners of his eyes were deep. When his eyelashes blinked, it was as if the clouds covered the moon. The young man¡¯s name was An Jing. At this moment, he was standing in front of the medicine shop counter, tapping his abacus while recording the accounts. ¡°1.5kg of Cecelia is 300 dollars.¡± ¡°0.5kg of _ is 150 coins.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still coriander in stock. I won¡¯t buy it this time. Maybe I can save some money.¡± ¡°Pa! Pa! Pa!¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°Doctor An, do you want a wife?¡± At that moment, a hurried voice came from outside the wooden curtain. An Jing looked up and saw a skinny middle-aged man rushing in. ¡°As long as you give the word, I¡¯ll send her to you immediately.¡± An Jing looked up and smiled. ¡°If you want to give some wives to me, then give me a few more.¡± The person in front of him was Old Niu Fu, who lived in Yuzhou City. He was also a famous dentist. Some time ago, Niu Fu had a severe flu and a few doctors in Yuzhou City were unable to cure him. In the end, An Jing took action and managed to save his life. ¡°Didn¡¯t Uncle Niu arrange several blind dates for you, but they all ended up failing? This time, Uncle Niu found a good family.¡± Niu Fu said excitedly, ¡°The lady and her entire family moved here not long ago and she is still single. She looks extremely beautiful, it is my first time seeing someone like her¡­¡± An Jing asked suspiciously, ¡°Uncle Niu, are you serious?¡± Some time ago, An Jing also went on blind dates four or five times, but in the end, they all ended futile. There were two reasons why men treated women. If she could arouse his body¡¯s instincts and if he could control her with one hand. Uncle Niu spluttered and said, ¡°This lady is called Zhao Qingmei. She comes from a scholarly family and is proficient in everything, including sewing, chess, calligraphy and painting. She¡¯s a true lady from a wealthy family.¡± ¡°Doctor An, if you can marry her, you¡¯ll be blessed for eight lifetimes.¡± An Jing asked curiously, ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± A lady from a respectable family, sweet and gentle, and talented is simply the ideal woman for a man. ¡°Why would I lie to you? You are my savior.¡± Uncle Niu patted his chest and said confidently, ¡°If I lie, I will be struck by lightning.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give her a meet.¡± An Jing nodded. After all, An Jing knew very well that he had to meet her in real life to testify the claims. ¡°Doctor An, since you¡¯ve agreed, I¡¯ll arrange for the two of you to meet tomorrow. It will be in the Datong Teahouse. Don¡¯t forget this appointment.¡± When Uncle Niu heard An Jing¡¯s words, his face was full of smiles. ¡°I¡¯ll go back and inform them now. She is still waiting for my reply.¡± ¡°Uncle Niu, wait!¡± ¡°Get ready for tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring her over.¡± Uncle Niu ran away in a hurry, not giving An Jing any chance to speak. ¡°Sigh, Uncle Niu.¡± An Jing looked at the hurried back and sighed. ¡°He was in such a hurry. I haven¡¯t asked him.¡± An Jing was his name in this life. The original owner of this body had died in the flood long ago, and he had taken over this body after transmigrating. As soon as he came to this world, he experienced the biggest plague in the Jiangnan Province in decades. His parents died in the plague and he was lucky to survive. He even opened a medical center in Yuzhou City and lived a peaceful life. In An Jing¡¯s mind, there was a unique Earth Book. As his thoughts fell, he flipped the black Earth Book in his mind to the first page. Cultivation: Rank One Fate: Lucky Star Ability: Genius Martial Skills: Sword Drawing Technique, Hidden Sword Technique, Sword Control Technique, Nine Character Sword Technique, Nine Heavens Movement Technique, Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique, Qi Restraining Technique Prompt 1: The host¡¯s fate has yet to take root (after one year). When performing martial arts, no one is allowed to know the host¡¯s identity. Otherwise, you will receive a black opportunity. Prompt 2: A marriage is coming soon. If it succeeds, the host will be able to obtain the azure opportunity. ¡­.. Black opportunities were bad luck. There would be a fatal disaster, an undeserved catastrophe. An Jing followed the instructions from the book and cultivated step by step. He had been practicing medicine in Yuzhou City and had never revealed his cultivation and strength. In the eyes of ordinary people, he was just an ordinary doctor. No one knew that Doctor An was actually a Rank One expert. Last night, the second hint appeared in the Earth Book, so he did not reject this marriage. The azure opportunity was the greatest opportunity he had encountered so far. It might even allow his cultivation to advance further. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this azure opportunity is, but marrying such a beautiful wife will never be a loss.¡± An Jing tidied up the account book and looked at the sky. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s going to rain soon. I need to pack up.¡± ¡­¡­.. Yuzhou River, Misty Rain. The Yuzhou River was also known as Yuzhou Creek, which was about 70 square kilometers. The Yuzhou River ran through the entire city and one could see the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river. If one rode a black boat_ from the south to the north, the scenery would be extremely stunning. Drip! Drip! The raindrops fell on the black canopy quickly and rhythmically. It was not dull and instead gave off a comfortable feeling. A young woman stood at the bow of the ship, her eyes looking at Yuzhou City in the misty rain. She was elegant and poised, possessing a refreshing aura. She was like a new moon glowing faintly, like a flowering tree stacking snow, a beauty who was impossible to find. ¡°Tan Yun, do you know? In all these years, the most unforgettable thing is the rain in Jiangnan.¡± The woman extended her jade-like hand and let the raindrops fall onto her palm. She murmured in her heart, ¡°And that unforgettable person¡­¡± The servant looked at the endless haze and felt a little lost. Sometimes, people could not share their feelings. It was just like how she did not know why her sect master liked the rain and did not understand why he would go through so much trouble to marry an ordinary physician. Could it be that the sect master wanted to experience the lives of ordinary people? However, he was just an ordinary doctor, an ordinary person. The two of them seemed to have a huge gap between their statuses. She had many questions in her heart, but she knew that this was not something she could ask. ¡°Sect Master, this rain will probably last for a few more days,¡± Tan Yun said softly. Tan Yun was an expert ranked 84th in the Jianghu1 of Great Yan. She was quite famous in Jianghu by relying on the Buddha Sword. However, she was trembling in fear in front of the lady and did not dare to slight her. ¡°Then let it rain for a while longer.¡± The woman said indifferently, ¡°After the rain passes, the sky will clear.¡± ¡°When the rain passes, the sky becomes clear.¡± Tan Yun could not help but mutter to herself. ¡®Does the Sect Master mean that the rain of our Demon Sect has passed? Should I welcome the clear sky of my Demon Sect?¡¯ A few decades ago, the Demon Sect was expelled from the Jianghu of Great Yan. Three years ago, the Demon Sect Master mysteriously disappeared and there was no news of him anymore. For a period of time, the Demon Sect that was renowned throughout the world fell to the bottom. It was only when the new Sect Master in front of them took over the position that the Demon Sect gradually recovered some of its vitality. A gentle breeze blew past, stirring up a few strands of hair, causing the water to gently ripple. ¡°Tan Yun,¡± the woman suddenly said. ¡°Yes,¡± Tan Yun hastily replied. ¡°Did you hear that?¡±¡± What?¡± Tan Yun was stunned for a moment and quickly looked around. With her Rank Two cultivation, there were not many people in the world who could hide within three meters of her. The woman raised her head and took a deep breath, greedily enjoying the moment. ¡°It¡¯s really addictive to hear this wind through your bones.¡± ¡°Yuzhou City is such a good place.¡± ¡­.. Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After putting away the herbs, An Jing could not help but stretch. ¡°Now that there¡¯s no one around, it¡¯s a good time to go next door and have some tea and listen to some storytelling.¡± An Jing kept the account book and the abacus. Then, he picked up the small wooden stool beside him and walked out of Ji Shi Hall. Opposite the Ji Shi Hall was Yuzhou River. As soon as he stepped out, he could see the exquisitely carved railings and the sparkling Yuzhou River. Both sides of the Yuzhou River were filled with shops, and there was a teahouse beside the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Aiyo, isn¡¯t this Doctor An?¡± ¡°Doctor An, come in quickly.¡± ¡­¡­. Seeing An Jing arrive, everyone in the teahouse smiled and greeted him. After exchanging greetings with everyone, An Jing carried a small wooden stool and sat at the back. The teahouse worker first heated the fire until it was red, then placed the copper pot filled with well water on the iron plate that had holes dug in the surface of the furnace. Then, he placed the wooden table, bamboo chairs, and placed some ordinary flower tea into the white porcelain tea bowl. A faint fragrance drifted out, refreshing the mind. ¡°Doctor An, please have some tea.¡± The waiter placed a bowl of flower tea on the table. ¡°Thank you.¡± An Jing took out ten copper coins and handed them over. The clerk put away the copper coins, thanked him and left. Everyone in the Datong Teahouse knew that Doctor An liked to come to the teahouse to drink tea and listen to storytelling. At this moment, the tea drinkers, be they farmers, merchants, or people from all walks of life, were drinking tea and discussing daily trifles, discussing international affairs, and reporting business information. Whether they came or left, they were free to do whatever they wanted. They smoked and drank tea. An Jing sat on the small wooden stool he was holding, tidied his clothes, then took a sip of the flower tea. ¡°I really enjoy the happy ordinary life.¡± On the high platform of the teahouse, there was only a table, a folding fan, a wooden block, and a cup of tea. A middle-aged Confucian scholar stood on the platform. He was the storyteller of the Datong Teahouse, Mr. Zhou. Mr. Zhou took a big gulp of tea and rinsed his mouth before he picked up the wooden block on the table. Pa! Everyone fell silent at the sound of the block. ¡°I heard that the top ten on the ranking list are all top-notch experts. Their strength is comparable to a Rank One and they are rare. Today, let¡¯s talk about the five gangs and seven sects in Great Yan.¡± Mr. Zhou¡¯s voice was powerful and resonant, and his expression was even more captivating, making people immersed in it. When everyone present heard this, they all sat upright and listened attentively. Mr. Zhou continued, ¡°The Five Gang and Seven Sects are the 12 most powerful forces in Great Yan. We will start from the Three Lake Gang today.¡± ¡°The Three Lakes Gang has its own name. Hundreds of years ago, it was established by a group of good men from the green forest with the backing of White Lake, Tianxing Lake, and Jinshan Lake. After hundreds of years of development, they now have tens of thousands of disciples. There are countless experts in the gang. They enjoy an illustrious reputation in Jianghu. As long as they stand on the Three Lakes River and shout ¡®Three Lakes Gang¡¯, basically everything can be resolved.¡± ¡°There are many experts in the Three Lakes Gang. There is the Incense Master, the Branch Master, and the Head Master. The system and class are very strict.¡± Someone asked loudly, ¡°Mr. Zhou, didn¡¯t you say that Rank One experts are extremely rare? Are there any Rank One experts in the Three Lake Gang?¡± Mr. Zhou said in a low voice, ¡°Rank One experts are extremely rare. They are all top-notch experts in Jianghu. The leader of the Three Lakes Gang should be at the peak of Rank Two. He has not reached Rank One yet.¡± When the people below heard this, they started discussing. ¡°The Three Lakes Gang doesn¡¯t have a Rank One expert. Can it be considered one of the Five Gang¡¯s Seven Sects? Tian Liu from the Cao Gang is a Rank One expert. Why doesn¡¯t Jiangnan give Cao Gang some face?¡± ¡°I thought that the Three Lakes Gang was very impressive. I guess they should be the lowest of the five gangs.¡± ¡­¡­.. The folding fan in Mr. Zhou¡¯s hand opened and closed as he said with a soft laugh. ¡°Those who dare to look down on the Three Lakes Gang will not have a good ending. You only know that the Three Lakes Gang has many people and think that their gang is weak. Do you know who is backing the Three Lake Gang?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone behind the Three Lake Gang?¡± Everyone gasped. One had to know that the Three Lake Gang was already one of the Five Gangs and Seven Sects. If they still had someone supporting them, just how terrifying would they be? An Jing took a light puff of his tobacco pipe as curiosity surfaced in his eyes. ¡°Beyond the Heavens.¡± When Mr. Zhou said this, he slammed the table. A thunderous voice resounded throughout the teahouse and the entire place fell silent. ¡°What kind of power is that?¡± someone asked in confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t know about Beyond the Heavens, but if I change the name, you¡¯ll probably know.¡± Mister Zhou smiled and slowly said, ¡°Demon Sect.¡± Whoosh! The teahouse was silent. Everyone was stunned. Just hearing these two words was enough to make people shudder in fear. It was enough to make Great Yan¡¯s Jianghu tremble. ¡°Demon Sect?¡± This was an inauspicious name. The people from the Demon Sect were being hunted down by the entire martial world and even the family members of the Demon Sect were implicated. An Jing took a sip of tea and sighed in his heart. It was hard to imagine that the families of these Demon Sect members could not even live like ordinary people. He wondered how miserable their lives were. ¡°Doctor An, Wang Zhiping from the Red Mansion is here to pay his respects.¡± At that moment, a rough voice came from outside the door. ¡°Wang Zhiping?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Red Mansion was a brothel in Yuzhou City, and it was a place of livelihood in Cao Gang. Moreover, the person in charge of this livelihood was precisely the recently popular Altar Master Wang He of the Cao Gang. Cao Gang was also one of the Five Gangs and Seven Sects. In a short thirty years, it had become one of the largest gangs in the world. After annexing the Furious Whale Gang last year, its power and influence were even more monstrous. Its development was so fast that everyone was dumbfounded. As for Wang He, he was one of the most outstanding members of the Cao Gang, they were the most prominent members of the gang. Because of his outstanding abilities and vicious means, he was quickly promoted to be the owner of the altar and managed the brothel. Before Wang He became the Altar Master, the main business he was in charge of was Cao Gang¡¯s medicinal garden. The medicinal herbs in Ji Shi Hall were mainly purchased from Cao Gang¡¯s medicinal garden, so the two of them were quite familiar with each other. However, ever since Wang He became the Altar Master, the connection between the two of them had become weaker and weaker. Everyone looked at Wang Zhiping. They all knew that this person was the nephew of Wang He. ¡°Why are you looking for me?¡± An Jing stood up slowly. Wang Zhiping took out a piece of white paper and smiled. ¡°Doctor An, this is the prescription for the last month. Take a look at it first. If there¡¯s nothing wrong with it, I¡¯ll get someone to send the herbs over later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing took the prescription but did not rush to check it. Instead, he looked at Wang Zhiping, who did not move an inch. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°This time, I have something to ask Doctor An.¡± Wang Zhiping smiled and said, ¡°I wonder if Doctor An is willing to sell this title deed? My uncle said that if you are willing to sell it, he will help Doctor An find another piece of land to build a bigger medical center.¡± ¡°Oh!?¡± An Jing¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Go back and tell your uncle that I haven¡¯t thought about it yet. I¡¯ll tell him when I make up my mind.¡± Wang He liked to play dirty tricks. Normally, he liked to take advantage of the medicinal herbs and play dirty tricks. He said that he wanted to build a bigger clinic because he wanted to gain something without risking anything of his own. Wang Zhiping lowered his voice and said, ¡°Doctor An, Uncle is willing to pay Doctor An another three hundred yuan.¡± An Jing was 100% sure when he heard this. The title deed was not big but its location was excellent. It was located by the riverside of Yuzhou. If Wang He wanted to build another brothel here, he would definitely earn a lot of money. ¡°I don¡¯t care how much it costs.¡± An Jing shook his head and refused. ¡°Alright, sorry to bother you, Doctor An.¡± Wang Zhiping took a deep breath and forced a smile. He cupped his fists at An Jing and left. Although he did bit say anything, everyone could tell that Wang Zhiping would not let this matter rest. ¡°Doctor An, Cao Gang is not to be trifled with¡­¡± Someone whispered. More people shook their heads and sighed, not saying a word. ¡°What a bummer.¡± After Wang Zhiping¡¯s words, An Jing was no longer in the mood to listen to books. He carried the wooden stool and left. A moment later, Cao Gang sent a few herbs to the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Doctor An.¡± The steward weighed the silver in his hand and smiled bitterly. ¡°It says that the money for the medicine has increased by 33%. I¡¯m afraid the money you¡¯ve given is not enough..¡± Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the backyard of the Red Mansion¡­ ¡°Uncle, An Jing gave us the money obediently.¡± Wang Zhiping sat down smugly. Wang He frowned and slowly put down his teacup. ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy about? He gave us money, but he still refused to sell the title deed. Isn¡¯t everything we¡¯ve done useless? We only want the title deed.¡± The reason why Wang He raised the price of the herbs was to force An Jing to yield and obtain the title deed in his hands. Wang Zhiping¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Uncle, what should we do now? An doesn¡¯t have any family members¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe that his bones can be that hard!¡± Wang He took a deep breath and said, ¡°You go and think of a way for me. No matter what it is, you must obtain the title deed in his hands within half a month. Only by obtaining the title deed in his hands can my subordinates¡¯ livelihood be stabilized. When the time comes, I will ask the Branch Master for the Kaiyuan Pill. Only then will we have a chance to take another step forward and reach Rank Five cultivation.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Wang Zhiping narrowed his eyes and said slowly, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make that An Jing hand over the title deed within half a month.¡± Wang Zhiping knew in his heart that everything he had was thanks to this uncle of his. If his uncle¡¯s position was stable, he would naturally be able to rise along with the tide. Therefore, he had to take this title deed. ¡­¡­.. The next day, the breeze was warm and the sky was clear. At the entrance of the Ji Shi Hall, a carriage slowly drove over. ¡°Miss Zhao, we have arrived at the teahouse.¡± Uncle Niu glanced at the teahouse and said to the woman in the carriage. As the curtain was lifted, Tan Yun slowly helped a woman down from the boat. She was none other than Zhao Qingmei. Zhao Qingmei raised her head slightly and stared at the signboard in front of her. The place where the two of them met this time was none other than the teahouse beside the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Doctor Xiao An is the most famous doctor in Yuzhou City. He¡¯s the youngest and most promising doctor. His medical center is right by the side. Go in and wait for a while. I¡¯ll go call him over right now.¡± Uncle Niu smiled. Others might not know, but Niu Fu knew that this young lady in front of him seemed to have come from a prestigious family in the Jade Capital. It seemed like her family had met with some trouble before she escaped to Yuzhou City. Not only was she gorgeous, but her family was also wealthy. Now that she had grown up, she wanted to find a reliable person to marry. The only thing that was strange was that she was not interested in Young Masters of higher classes, but she had a special interest in the Physician of the Ji Shi Hall. ¡®Doctor An, don¡¯t be silly and miss out on the most important peach blossom in your life.¡¯ Niu Fu prayed in his heart. ¡°Look, a beauty is here.¡± ¡°Really? Let me see.¡± ¡°What a beautiful person. She¡¯s even more beautiful than the courtesan of Red Mansion!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Niu Fu? He doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s here to see a doctor.¡± ¡°Eh, he walked into the teahouse?¡± ¡­¡­ Upon sight of Zhao Qingmei, everyone in the teahouse began to discuss amongst themselves. Tan Yun¡¯s expression sank and he unconsciously rubbed his left index and middle fingers together. So cold! Everyone felt as if they had gone from a hot summer to a cold winter. They subconsciously tightened their sleeves and retreated to the sides. Zhao Qingmei walked into the teahouse calmly. Tan Yun was startled and quickly withdrew her aura. She stood at the side with her head lowered like a little maid who had never experienced the world. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the two of them slowly walked to the private room on the second floor. ¡°Uncle Niu, this lady is so handsome. Which family is she from? Is she already tied to a marriage?¡± Someone asked impatiently. ¡°Get lost. This is the wife I found for Doctor An,¡± Niu Fu said in an unpleasant tone. ¡°Doctor An!?¡± When everyone heard that, they looked at each other and revealed looks of envy. Doctor An was a very famous doctor in Yuzhou City. His reputation was especially good and he was very respected in Yuzhou City. Niu Fu ignored everyone and ran towards the medical center. ¡°Doctor An! Doctor An!¡± Niu Fu shouted at the backyard. ¡°Coming.¡± Not long after, An Jing walked out from the back hall. Niu Fu urged, ¡°The missy from the Zhao family is here. Quick, she¡¯s in a private room at the teahouse.¡± ¡°Oh? I¡¯ll go now.¡± When An Jing heard this, he was too embarrassed to let a woman wait for too long. He simply packed up and walked towards the teahouse. ¡­.. In the private room on the second floor of the Datong Teahouse¡­ Many people had gathered outside the private room to watch the fun. They all stuck their heads out, wanting to see the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Doctor An is here. Make way, make way.¡± Uncle Niu squeezed through the crowd with An Jing. He saw the girl in green sitting by the table. She looked natural and unrestrained, her eyes like were glistening like autumn waters and her cheeks flushed. Her skin was smooth and fair, and she looked gentle and elegant, like a lady from a wealthy family. For some reason, An Jing felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu when he looked at the woman before him. Could it be because this woman was too beautiful? Uncle Niu hurriedly introduced, ¡°Doctor An, this is Zhao Qingmei, Miss Zhao.¡± ¡°Greetings, Physician An.¡± Zhao Qingmei stood up and bowed slightly with her hands on her waist, her face flushed red. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s voice was light and melodious. It was worlds apart from the coldness of yesterday. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Miss Zhao, please sit.¡± An Jing smiled. Uncle Niu chuckled and gave Tan Yun a look before the two of them left. ¡°Wait!¡± The two of them walked out of the private room and Tan Yun pulled Uncle Niu who was about to leave. ¡°Miss Tan Yun, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Uncle Niu asked in confusion. ¡°We will stand guard at the entrance to prevent others from disturbing them.¡± Tan Yun said indifferently. Although Tan Yun¡¯s voice was calm, it carried an unquestionable tone. ¡°Okay¡­ okay.¡± Uncle Niu laughed dryly and could only agree. ¡­¡­ In the private room of the teahouse¡­ ¡°The Datong Teahouse is the most famous teahouse in Yuzhou City. Drinking tea is very good for the body. It is currently hot summer, and tea has the ability to reduce heat in the body.¡± An Jing picked up the kettle and poured a cup of tea for Zhao Qingmei. Zhao Qingmei picked up the teacup and took a sip. Her eyes lit up and she said, ¡°It¡¯s fragrant and has a lingering aftertaste. Great tea.¡± Her words came from her heart. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to like tea too, Miss Zhao.¡± An Jing chuckled. ¡°Doctor An, you must be joking. I simply drank tea with my father for a few years and learned a little.¡± She behaved appropriately and naturally. The way she sipped her tea was very particular. She must be from a noble family. An Jing was increasingly satisfied. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Miss Zhao has moved here with your entire family. May I know where you¡¯ve come from?¡± Zhao Qingmei slowly put down her teacup with a sorrowful expression. ¡°My parents passed away one after another, and I had no one to rely on, so I sold my house and returned to my ancestral land¡­¡± Based on her words, she was originally from a scholarly family. Her grandfather and father were both officials in Jade Capital. Later on, her family declined and her mother passed away due to illness. Following her mother¡¯s last words, she returned to Jiangnan Road. In this difficult world, without the help of her brothers and sisters, she sold all her family assets and even brought a maid to Jiangnan Road. This was an extremely difficult task for an adult man, let alone a weak woman. The two of them chatted for another 10 minutes and briefly understood each other. An Jing then asked Zhao Qingmei about her birthday, and found out that she was two years younger than him. He was extremely pleased with Zhao Qingmei. This was his ideal wife, virtuous and gentle. An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei and asked, ¡°Ms. Zhao, what do you want to know?¡± ¡°I have nothing to ask.¡± Zhao Qingmei hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. However, she sighed in her heart and thought to herself, ¡°It¡¯s always hard to say certain things.¡± ¡°Looks like Uncle Niu has already told Miss Zhao.¡± An Jing was slightly disappointed when he heard this. It seemed like he would not be able to obtain this azure opportunity. Since Zhao Qingmei did not want to ask about it, her intentions were clear. She might not be interested in him.. Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios What happened next was relatively simple. They just needed to convey the intentions of both parties through the matchmaker. There was no need for them to make a decision in person. Zhao Qingmei then walked out of the teahouse and whispered a few words into Uncle Niu¡¯s ear before getting onto the carriage with the help of Tan Yun. ¡°Sect¡­ Miss. What happened to you?¡± On the carriage, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face was flushed red like a ripe peach. This Sect Master of her clan was usually ruthless, decisive, and full of evil. When she mentioned the Demon Sect Master, she was an existence that could make countless experts in Jianghushudder in fear. But now, such a scene had actually appeared. ¡°Repeat what you just said.¡± ¡°If Doctor An agrees, the wedding will be held this month.¡± Tan Yun thought for a moment and repeated what she had just said. Zhao Qingmei expressed assent, after which her face turned as red as a tomato. She leaned against the table feebly, appearing as if she had lost all her strength. However, there was a contented smile on her face. It seemed that Brother Jing did not recognize her at all, but that was good too. ¡°Aye.¡± Tan Yun could only sigh helplessly. ¡­¡­ Niu Fu followed An Jing back to the private room. ¡°Doctor An, how is it?¡± Niu Fu could not wait to say, ¡°Miss Zhao¡¯s looks and figure are all top-notch. Furthermore, she comes from a noble family and is a descendant of a prestigious family. If I were to spread the news, who knows how many young masters in Yuzhou City would flock over like ducks?¡± An Jing picked up the medicine pestle and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s good, but I¡¯m afraid that¡­¡± She was beautiful and had a gentle personality. She looked like a well-bred young lady from a wealthy family and was the perfect match for a man. Judging from the way Zhao Qingmei left, she seemed to have something to hide. ¡°Doctor An, can you just tell me in a straightforward manner, if you want her as your wife?¡± Niu Fu interrupted An Jing. ¡°Me?!¡± An Jing raised his teacup and took a sip of tea as he asked, ¡°Miss Zhao doesn¡¯t seem very satisfied with me.¡± ¡°She said that she¡¯s very satisfied with Doctor An. It¡¯s best if the wedding date is this month.¡± Niu Fu anxiously came in front of An Jing and snatched the teacup from his hand. ¡°Give me a word, Doctor An.¡± ¡®It was Ms Zhao who asked to come over, how would she not be satisfied with you?!¡¯ ¡®How could you let go of an opportunity that is in front of you?¡¯ At this moment, Niu Fu was like an ant on a hot pan, running around in circles. This great marriage opportunity only needed one word from An Jing. Furthermore, as long as he succeeded, Miss Zhao would give him a hundred thousand coins. An Jing blinked and said in surprise, ¡°Miss Zhao really said that?¡± He had not expected Zhao Qingmei to have such thoughts. ¡°Yes.¡± Niu Fu said with a serious expression, ¡°When have I ever lied?¡± ¡°Miss Zhao was more than satisfied. As long as you agreed, you could get married on the spot.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s set the wedding date for this month.¡± An Jing smiled. Niu Fu heaved a sigh of relief when he heard An Jing¡¯s words. He was ecstatic. 100,000 coins! That was 100,000 coins! Dear God, thank you. ¡°Doctor An, please pack up. We will be organizing the wedding in a few days. I will go and arrange the wedding for you now.¡± Niu Fu rushed out of the door excitedly after he finished speaking. An Jing looked at Uncle Niu¡¯s dashing back and could not help muttering, ¡°This Uncle Niu is really kind-hearted.¡± ¡­¡­.. It was the seventh day of the seventh month in the Year of the Rat. It was suitable to pray for blessings, offer sacrifices, get married, deal and trade. Meanwhile, taking medicine, seeking medical treatment, and moving should be avoided. The Ji Shi Hall was hung with bright red lanterns and cloth, full of festive mood. ¡°The bride is here! The bride is here!¡± ¡°Doctor An is getting married!¡± ¡°I heard that the bride is very beautiful.¡± At first, there was a series of crackling firecrackers. Then, a few children ran out happily. There was an endless stream of people, one after another, stretching their heads out to watch the wedding. The trumpets sounded along with the firecrackers. ¡°Congratulations, Brother Jing!¡± ¡°Congratulations! Congratulations!¡± ¡°Hope you give birth to a big fat kid next year.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay. You have to come when the fat boy is one month old.¡± ¡°An Jing, you¡¯re really lucky to be able to marry such a beautiful lady. You must have accumulated 18 lifetimes of good fortune.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. How enviable.¡± ¡­¡­.. At this moment, An Jing was receiving congratulations from the guests. He was quite famous in Yuzhou City¡¯s Ji Shi Hall, especially in the eyes of the poor citizens. An Jing was the kindest doctor in Yuzhou City. ¡°Everyone, feel free to eat well and drink well.¡± An Jing almost could not hide the smile on his face, and he drank glass after glass. There were a total of 17 to 18 tables in the banquet, and dishes were served one after another before being carried down with empty plates. An Jing walked from the stage to the stage, and he was constantly escorting the guests that arrived. ¡°Constable Han has arrived!¡± A young constable dressed in black strode in. ¡°Congratulations, Brother An,¡± Han Wenxin said to An Jinghe. Han Wenxin was one of the two greatest constables in Yuzhou City. His father, Han Ju, was a constable who passed away. He had a wide network of connections in Yuzhou City. In addition, Han Wenxin was indeed capable, making him a constable in Yuzhou City at a young age. Due to an accident, several horses in Yuzhou City contracted the disease. At that time, Han Wenxin was in charge of this matter. He had invited eighty percent of the doctors in Yuzhou City, but none of them could do anything about the disease. In the end, An Jing took action and treated the horses to prevent the disease from spreading again. Since then, Han Wenxin was grateful to An Jing and regarded him as a close friend. ¡°Brother Han, quickly sit.¡± An Jing smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite between us.¡± Han Wenxin smiled and casually found a seat to sit down. ¡°Brother Han, when the time comes, the two of us must have a good drink.¡± An Jing patted Han Wenxin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°From then on, it became much more difficult for us to go out for drinks. Our reckless lifestyle from before has disappeared.¡± Han Wenxin winked. In the past, when they were free, Han Wenxin and An Jing often went out to listen to music and drink together. They had a good relationship. ¡°Drink? Have we drank together before? Brother Han, don¡¯t speak nonsense,¡± An Jing glanced at Han Wenxin and said lightly. Han Wenxin was confused. An Jing changed his attitude even faster than a woman in a hook-up? An Jing patted Han Wenxin on the shoulder and said, ¡°Brother Han, you¡¯re ageing too. It¡¯s time for you to consider starting a family.¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m not in a hurry yet.¡± Han Wenxin shook his head. Then, he thought of something and said, ¡°Oh right, I heard that you married a lady from a prestigious family. Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± An Jing could not help but feel delighted when he said this. Han Wenxin could not help but mutter, ¡°That lady¡¯s dowry is not ordinary!¡± He had never seen how the woman looked like, so he was not sure for now. However, when a young lady from a noble family of the Yan family got married, the dowry was not cheap either. This meant that his Brother An was going to be rich. ¡°Dowry?¡± An Jing looked at Han Wenxin unhappily. ¡°Brother Han, you¡¯re really a commoner.¡± What was a dowry? Money was just a worldly possession, how could it be more precious than the first drop of blood? Han Wenxin raised an eyebrow and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Brother An. I¡¯m just a boor..¡± Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Inside the bridal chamber, Zhao Qingmei was dressed in a red wedding outfit with a covering veil over her head. Squeak! Tan Yun pushed open the door and walked in. Zhao Qingmei asked, ¡°Tan Yun, have you investigated everything?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve investigated. Most of the people who came are neighbors who are on good terms with the young master,¡± Tan Yun replied. ¡°Got it.¡± Zhao Qingmei had a covering veil on her head, so her expression could not be seen clearly. However, her tone was extremely calm. ¡°Missy, I also found out that one of Cao Gang¡¯s Altar Masters wanted the title deed in Young Master¡¯s hands. A few days ago, he even threatened the Young Master.¡± Tan Yun said in a deep voice, ¡°Today, when the Young Master came to get married, he was delayed for an hour. It was all because of the Cao Gang. Fortunately, a constable came out to settle it.¡± How dare they cause trouble on the Sect Master¡¯s joyous day!? Today was a special day, a day of great joy that only happened once in a lifetime. The Wang Family actually came to make trouble, the meaning of this was self-evident. If it wasn¡¯t for the constable¡­ Also, what did he mean by selling the title deed? He was just trying to gain something without risking anything of his own! ¡°Today is a joyous occasion,¡± Zhao Qingmei said calmly. ¡°Besides, tomorrow is a sunny day.¡± Zhao Qingmei loved sunny days because they were ideal for one to kill and for blood to dry. ¡°I got it.¡± Tan Yun quickly nodded. Zhao Qingmei seemed to have thought of something and said, ¡°From now on, I hope you know your limits.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun understood. Zhao Qingmei cultivated the Heavenly Demon Technique and even top-notch experts were unable to detect her aura. Tan Yun was an expert from one of the Demon Sect¡¯s three sects, Mortal Sect. She was best at concealment and tracking. If she concealed her aura, it would be difficult for others to see through her. ¡­ The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Most of the guests gradually dispersed. ¡°I¡¯m coming in.¡± An Jing arrived at the entrance of the bridal chamber. Creak! As the door slowly opened, An Jing walked in. Zhao Qingmei placed her hands in front of her legs and clenched them tightly. One could hear her panting. ¡°I¡¯m going to unveil you.¡± An Jing smiled and picked up the balance scale. As the veil fell, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s beautiful face appeared even more alluring under the candlelight, especially her red lips, which seemed as if they were going to melt her completely. At this moment, a blush appeared on her fair and jade-like face, and her pair of limpid eyes were looking at An Jing affectionately. ¡°Qingmei.¡± An Jing held Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand and felt a warm sensation. An Jing did not expect that he could marry such a beauty. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart pounded rapidly, and she felt like a deer that had lost all her strength. She collapsed into An Jing¡¯s arms. ¡°Qingmei, you might have to suffer with me in the future¡­¡± ¡°Darling, it¡¯s like that cup of tea. We might suffer for a while, but definitely not for a lifetime.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing. ¡°Yes, we won¡¯t suffer for the rest of our lives.¡± An Jing looked at the person in front of him and swore in his heart that he would treat such an understanding wife well. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to consummate¡­¡± Following that, the candle flame was extinguished. ¡­ The next day, An Jing slowly opened his eyes. A faint ray of sunlight shone through the window. The red cloth curtain was still filled with warmth. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re awake.¡± Just then, the door opened. Zhao Qingmei had removed her red wedding dress and was dressed in green, which gave her a different vibe. At this moment, she had a dress around her waist and some sweat on her forehead. ¡°I made some medicinal porridge according to the records on your table. Try it.¡± An Jing was both amused and touched when he heard that. ¡°This porridge is used to nourish my body. My body is very healthy and I don¡¯t need it at all.¡± With that, An Jing got off the bed and looked at the fragrant medicinal porridge on the table, exclaiming in his heart. With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for? After An Jing drank the medicinal porridge, he felt that the heat in his body did not dissipate for a long time. He was secretly shocked. Could it be that the Man Flower in his body had already condensed? In order to advance from Rank One to Grandmaster, one had to condense three flowers, namely Man Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower. An Jing¡¯s cultivation had stagnated for more than half a year, but he had yet to condense the Man Flower. It seemed that this shackle was easily broken. Now, as long as he condensed the Earth Flower and Heaven Flower, he would be able to gather the three flowers into one and reach the Grandmaster level. He did not expect that he would be able to condense one of the Three Flowers in one night. ¡°How does it taste?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked nervously. ¡°Of course it¡¯s good.¡± An Jing smiled. ¡°Darling, I like everything you make.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. If you like it, I¡¯ll cook it for you every day.¡± Zhao Qingmei heaved a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with joy. ¡°Darling, take a look at the pharmacy first. There are still a few herbs missing a few days ago. I¡¯ll go and ask now.¡± ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± When Tan Yun saw An Jing leave, she could not help but ask, ¡°Miss, why don¡¯t you hire a few servants? Who can stand waking up every morning to cook porridge?¡± Her Sect Master¡¯s hands were usually stained with blood. When did she use them to make porridge for others? ¡°Just do your part.¡± Zhao Qingmei seemed to have thought of something as a smile formed on her face. ¡°Come with me to the streets later to buy some meat and vegetables. I¡¯ll have to prepare lunch and dinner.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun sighed helplessly. ¡­ In the Red Mansion of Yuzhou City¡­ ¡°Master Wang, come, have another drink.¡± ¡°Lord Wang, tell me the story of the Jade Forest Peak again. Did a Rank Three expert really appear that day?¡± ¡°Could it be that those demons have really been imprisoned in Yuzhou City¡¯s prison?¡± In an elegant private room, Wang Zhiping¡¯s face was flushed red and he was surrounded by a flock of women. ¡°Let me tell you, I am now a Rank Seven cultivator. With my aptitude and my uncle¡¯s nurturing, I will have a chance to enter the Rank Five or even Rank Four in the future.¡± Wang Zhiping laughed proudly. ¡°Rank Four!?¡± Shocked cries rang out in the surroundings. In the martial world, a Rank Four was already considered an expert. In the Cao Gang, he could even sit in the position of the deputy Branch Master. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible.¡± At that moment, a sharp and cold voice was heard. ¡°Who¡¯s that!?¡± When Wang Zhiping heard the voice, he immediately sobered up. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. What matters is who you are.¡± Outside the door, a fat and bloated old monk pressed his palms together with a smile on his lips. The old monk¡¯s face was extremely ugly, like a malicious ghost. Everyone in the martial world knew that there were four types of people in the martial world whom one had to be careful of. These are women, children, monks and Daoists. ¡°Who are you? There¡¯s no grudge between us!¡± Wang Zhiping took a deep breath and moved his palm to the lower part of his body. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Before Wang Zhiping could finish his sentence, the girls beside him stabbed their sabers into his body. ¡°You¡­ you guys¡­¡± Wang Zhiping¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He stared at the woman who had just been flirting with him in disbelief. Then, he collapsed to the ground. ¡°Guardian, he is just an insignificant Rank Seven character. Do you have to come personally?¡± A woman wiped the blood off her face and said respectfully to the old monk. Wang Zhiping did not know the identity of this old monk, but she knew very well. This person was one of the four great guardians of the Demon Sect and Mortal Sect. Back then, he was the abbot of the Lotus Sect¡¯s White Horse Monastery. After that, he betrayed White Horse Monastery and joined the Demon Sect. He had a notorious reputation in the martial world. Thirty years ago, the Hidden Sword Villa saw a massacre of 327 people. Not even the infants were spared. Thirteen years ago, he attacked the Wu Lan Tribe at night in the Northern Desert Plains and killed countless Rank Three and Rank Four experts. In the end, he even killed a Rank Two expert, a ferocious-looking Ghost-Faced Buddha. His battle achievements were countless. Within the Demon Sect, there were very few incidents as such. If one counted carefully, there were only two or three occurrences in the past few decades. Most of them were people from the martial world who killed each other and framed the Demon Sect. So, what kind of mistake did the Wang family make to actually have the Ghost-Faced Buddha personally kill a clan? ¡°According to the rules of the sect, don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t ask.¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha calmly spoke. ¡°Members of the Wang Clan, exterminate a clan.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The woman felt a chill in her heart and quickly bent down. There were very few people who offended the Demon Sect and resulted in the extermination of the clan. They must have made an unforgivable mistake. The old monk looked at the corpse on the ground and slowly walked downstairs. The entire Red Mansion was still bustling with noise and excitement. No one knew that Wang Zhiping had died inside. As the Ghost-Faced Buddha walked through the red hall, the surrounding people were still chatting and laughing. It was as if no one had seen him at all. This was the Formless Realm of Buddhism! At this moment, a cold gaze swept over. ¡°This is¡­¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha felt a chill rise from his back, rushing from his feet to the top of his head. It was as if he was stepping on the tip of a sword. It was only when he was facing the Sect Master and the few old bald donkeys from the Buddhist Sect that he would feel this way. When he followed his gaze, he saw a black figure disappearing from the entrance of the red hall. An expert! A peerless expert! The Ghost-Faced Buddha frowned as his heart trembled. At the Phaseless Realm, it was simply impossible to see his movements with the naked eye. However, that person was able to easily see him just now. If he was not born with those eyes, then that person was a top-notch expert. ¡°To think that there would be such an expert in Yuzhou City. Looks like I have to report this to the Sect Master..¡± Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°It would appear that Wang Zhiping has too many enemies. This saves me the trouble of attacking him.¡± An Jing walked out of the Red Mansion and changed back into a cloth shirt in the alley. The person who had just met Ghost-Faced Buddha was none other than An Jing. Initially, he had wanted to get rid of Wang Zhiping and protect his wife. However, he did not expect that someone would be able to get rid of Wang Zhiping before him. However, the person that Wang Zhiping had offended had some strength. The ugly monk was obviously from Buddhism, but he had a sinister aura around him. The two types of inner Qi were mixed together and he was definitely not an ordinary expert in the martial world. Moreover, the Qi in those women¡¯s bodies was much more powerful than those from the Cao Gang. They were well-trained and had a good ability to hide their Qi. They did not seem like an ordinary faction. Where did these people come from? He had been in Yuzhou City for so many years. Why had he never noticed the existence of these people? An Jing thought for a moment but did not have any idea, so he stopped thinking. These people had nothing to do with him anyway, so why should he care about these useless things? As long as they did not disturb his peace and he could live a happy life. ¡°Selling candied fruit, sour and sweet candied fruit.¡± ¡°Selling pears, fragrant and crispy pears. Ten copper coins per 500 grams.¡± ¡°The rouge from Flying Swallow Memory, on sale today.¡± ¡­ The streets were bustling with people. ¡°Boss, how much is this candied fruit?¡± An Jing waved at the hawker carrying the candied fruits. ¡°Sir, do you want candied haws? Three copper coins for a stick. If it¡¯s not sweet or sour, it¡¯s free.¡± The hawker hurriedly ran over. ¡°Give me two sticks.¡± An Jing took out six copper coins and smiled. Thinking of his gentle and beautiful wife, An Jing could not help but feel warm. ¡­ In the Western Market of the Yuzhou City, Zhao Qingmei raised her basket and glanced at the stalls on both sides. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Doctor An?¡± At this moment, a woman¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Are you here to buy vegetables? I have some cabbage that I dug out from the ground this morning. It¡¯s very fresh.¡± The woman then picked up a cabbage and stuffed it into Zhao Qingmei¡¯s basket. ¡°Auntie, how much is this? I¡¯ll pay you,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a smile. ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that. Doctor Xiao An didn¡¯t even charge me for my grandson¡¯s medical fees last time. Why would I charge for this cabbage?¡± The woman grabbed Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Doctor An is really kind. Our family is very grateful to him, but we¡¯ve never had the chance to thank him.¡± The woman¡¯s hands were very rough and her palms were covered with calluses. Her clothes were also sewn and patched. Zhao Qingmei chuckled and maintained her composure. ¡°I have an old hen with me. I¡¯ll bring it back for Doctor An to make soup.¡± ¡°Doctor An takes very good care of us. You¡¯re welcome, Madam An.¡± ¡°Doctor An is so lucky. His wife is so beautiful and looks like a fairy.¡± ¡°Of course. The two of them are a match made in heaven.¡± ¡­ Everyone began handing their dishes to Zhao Qingmei¡¯s basket and turned her down when she wanted to pay. In the end, when Zhao Qingmei finally left the market with Tan Yun, the baskets were already full. The two of them arrived at a small alley. ¡°Missy, there are too many people here. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll have someone deliver the food directly to your door.¡± Tan Yun felt disgusted when she thought about walking through a group of dirty people. Zhao Qingmei stared at the vegetables in the basket and thought about how she should cook them. ¡°Sect Master!¡± A voice sounded. It was none other than the Ghost-Faced Buddha. ¡°Have you dealt with it?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked calmly. The Ghost-Faced Buddha leaned over and said, ¡°Everything is settled, but¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked with a sullen expression. Whoosh! Although Zhao Qingmei had only raised her voice, the entire alley seemed to have gone from hot to cold. The immense pressure made even Ghost-Faced Buddha shudder. ¡°I met an expert in the Red Mansion.¡± ¡°What background?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure. This person is hiding his head and revealing his tail, but he can see through my Phaseless Realm. If he wasn¡¯t born with those eyes, he should be around Rank Two.¡± Rank Two experts were already top-notch experts in the martial world. A true top-notch expert did not appear in the martial world all the time. In the vast martial world, there were many small fish and shrimps. A Rank Five expert could kill many people, and a Rank Two expert was enough to enter the top 50 of the ranking. They was powerful enough to stir up a storm in the martial world. Such a person was definitely not a nobody in the martial world. Tan Yun frowned and said, ¡°Yuzhou City belongs to the Jiangnan Dao City, so it¡¯s normal for experts to appear. However, the Cao Gang is the head of Yuzhou City, and their cultivation levels are only at the Rank Three. Furthermore, this person did not reveal his whereabouts. It¡¯s obvious that he has some concerns, or perhaps he has other motives.¡± ¡°This person is very suspicious. We must investigate him.¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha said nothing, clearly agreeing with Tan Yun. Zhao Qingmei squinted and said calmly, ¡°I want to know everything about this expert in Yuzhou City.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he placed his hands in front of his chest. ¡°I will mobilize all the people from the Mortal Sect in Yuzhou City and even Jiangnan Dao to investigate this person¡¯s background.¡± The Demon Sect was divided into the Heaven, Earth, and Man Sects. The Mortal Sect was responsible for stealing, hiding, escaping, and information networks. They would often hide in the dark to spy on information and act as spies. The world was huge, and disciples of the Mortal Sect would appear at any place. It was rumored that the Demon Sect¡¯s Mortal Sect was comparable to the current Emperor Swallow¡¯s Inescapable Net. Furthermore, the Inescapable Net was a secret organization that the Emperor Swallow specialized in obtaining information. The Demon Sect¡¯s Mortal Sect was comparable to the Emperor Swallow¡¯s Inescapable Net. It could be seen from this. Meanwhile, the Ghost-Faced Buddha was one of the Mortal Sect¡¯s experts. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, go back.¡± Zhao Qingmei waved her hand. The Ghost-Faced Buddha paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Sect Master, yesterday, the Guardian sent me a message asking if I should gather some experts. If others find out that Sect Master has appeared on the Jiangnan Dao, I¡¯m afraid the entire Great Yan World will be affected.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Zhao Qingmei said calmly. ¡°The gathering of experts from my sect will only attract more attention.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha pressed his palms together and his body gradually disappeared. ¡°Tan Yun, go back.¡± All of a sudden, Zhao Qingmei took a glance at the basket and said calmly. ¡°This bunch of bumpkins are really too despicable. I¡¯ll chop off their hands right now.¡± Tan Yun thought that Zhao Qingmei was angry because of what happened just now. Her eyes turned cold and she turned around to leave. ¡°Come back,¡± Zhao Qingmei commanded. ¡°Miss, is there anything else?¡± Tan Yun turned around and asked. ¡°Go and give them the money. We¡¯ll pay as much as we need,¡± said Zhao Qingmei as she threw a piece of silver from her purse. ¡°¡­ I understand.¡± Tan Yun said embarrassedly.. Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios A light and pleasant voice rang out from the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°The miserable state of the person next door has nothing to eat.¡± Tan Yun was holding a feather duster and humming a tune as she happily cleaned the dust on the counter. ¡°This is all because of laziness and playfulness.¡± ¡°Tan Yun, oh Tan Yun, you are getting more and more diligent.¡± Tan Yun put down the feather duster, looked at the couplets on the wall and said faintly, ¡°These words are so-so. It¡¯s quite pleasing.¡± ¡°You can understand it?¡± At that moment, a voice sounded behind her. Tan Yun was shocked. She turned around and saw that it was An Jing. She immediately patted her chest and said, ¡°Young master, you scared me!¡± ¡°This is my masterpiece,¡± An Jing looked at the wall and said slowly. ¡®Hopefully, there would be no hardships in this world; Would rather be buried in medicine.¡¯ This couplet was written in cursive and was rarely understood. Even the old man who came last month did not recognize the words. Tan Yun had joined the Demon Sect since she was young and was taught martial arts by the Demon Sect¡¯s seniors personally. It was very easy for her to kill people. As for the words, she only knew the words ¡®Demon Sect¡¯. How would she recognize the complicated calligraphy in front of her? As for becoming the Sect Master¡¯s servant, she was sent here by the Sect Master at the last minute. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s personal servant was the Vermilion Bird¡­ No, this won¡¯t do. If this little doctor knows that I¡¯m illiterate, he might mock me for my ignorance. Tan Yun laughed dryly and said with a serious expression, ¡°Young master, missy is from a prestigious family. She has been practicing calligraphy and writing since she was young. I have followed her for so many years, so it is not a big deal to know these few words.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± An Jing gave him a thumbs up and exclaimed in his heart, ¡°As expected of someone from a prestigious family. Even a servant girl is so talented.¡± He said, ¡°You¡¯re so talented¡­¡± ¡°Young master, Miss has already prepared the food. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Before An Jing could finish, he was interrupted by Tan Yun, who was dancing with joy. ¡°Miss has been busy since the morning. Don¡¯t let her down.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll go take a look now. I¡¯ll leave this stick of candied fruits to you.¡± An Jing was also filled with anticipation as he quickly walked toward the back hall. Tan Yun heaved a sigh of relief as she watched An Jing leave. ¡°My reputation was almost ruined.¡± ¡­ An Jing and Tan Yun sat at the table eagerly. Shortly after, Zhao Qingmei served the dishes. The dishes were stir-fried chives, braised pork with spring bamboo shoots, sweet and sour carp, and braised tofu. ¡°Darling, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s sit down and eat.¡± An Jing looked at the dishes on the table and his throat surged. ¡°And a pork rib winter melon soup.¡± In the end, Zhao Qingmei scooped a pot of pork rib soup, which was filled with fragrant shallots. ¡°Young master, let me pour you some wine.¡± Tan Yun quickly picked up the wine pot beside her and obediently poured a small cup for An Jing. An Jing drank the clear wine in his cup in one gulp, feeling a sense of satisfaction. A month ago, he was still alone. He did not expect that a month later, he would have such a virtuous, gentle, and beautiful wife. ¡°Darling, try it.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up a piece of red braised pork and placed it in An Jing¡¯s bowl. ¡°It¡¯s been stewing for more than two hours. It should be seasoned.¡± ¡°Delicious. It melts in my mouth, fat but not greasy.¡± An Jing took a bite of the braised pork. He did not expect Zhao Qingmei¡¯s dishes to be so delicious. Zhao Qingmei was filled with bliss upon seeing An Jing¡¯s satisfied expression. ¡°Darling, I have something to discuss with you.¡± ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only doctor in the medical center, so you¡¯ll definitely be busy. Besides, it¡¯ll be a little troublesome if you encounter some female patients. Why don¡¯t you let Tan Yun learn some medical skills from you in the future so that she can share your burden?¡± Zhao Qingmei said slowly. Tan Yun raised her head and stared at Zhao Qingmei in bewilderment. ¡®Sect Master, why didn¡¯t you discuss with me before?¡¯ An Jing chuckled. ¡°Since you said so, there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. Tan Yun is smart and smart. She¡¯s also very talented. She must be a good candidate to study medicine. It¡¯s good as long as she¡¯s willing.¡± ¡°She definitely would.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and looked at Tan Yun. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m willing.¡± Tan Yun revealed a smile that was uglier than crying, then she said, ¡°Young master, you¡¯ve just gotten married, and you¡¯re rather busy. Why don¡¯t you wait for half a month first?¡± ¡°Might as well,¡± An Jing thought for a moment and replied. Zhao Qingmei nodded in satisfaction. With Tan Yun around, An Jing would be able to stay away from the other women and she would have another pair of eyes to keep a lookout. After eating and drinking to his heart¡¯s content, the task of cleaning the dishes naturally landed on Tan Yun. The waning moon hung high in the sky and the stars were sparse. ¡°Darling!¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s voice was pleasant and lingering. Then, she pulled An Jing into the room. An Jing felt a warm sensation on his body and started to burn. Looking at the beautiful face in his arms, how could he not understand? ¡­ The night was silent. In the Spring Breeze Alley¡­ ¡°That¡¯s not all. I can still drink. Come, have a few more drinks.¡± Zhou Xianming carried a wine jar and walked home drunk. This Zhou Xianming was none other than the storyteller in the teahouse. Since ancient times, scholars had been quite dissolute. He had nothing to do normally. Other than earning some money from reading books in the teahouse, he went to the various brothels to have fun. Clang! Zhou Xianming kicked open his door and stepped into his house. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Suddenly, a shiny blade was placed in front of his neck. As long as he took a step forward, the blade would behead him. Zhou Xianming instantly sobered up and broke out in cold sweat. ¡°Lord¡­ Lord, have mercy!¡± ¡°Come in first.¡± Zhou Xianming swallowed his saliva and did not dare to shout. He could only walk in. Inside the room was a figure dressed in black, holding a shining blade in his hand, standing upright beside the table. Although Zhou Xianming was a storyteller in the martial world, he was a weak scholar who did not have the strength to truss a chicken. When he saw this scene, his body was already limp on the ground as he cried out, ¡°Great hero, please spare me! Great hero, I¡¯m just a poor scholar!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, scholar.¡± The person in black¡¯s voice was hoarse, dry and unpleasant to hear. ¡°Scholar?¡± Zhou Xianming was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what was going on. Were they even picking people to rob now? ¡°Do you know this book?¡± The person in black took out a book. Zhou Xianming picked up the book on the ground and said honestly, ¡°I know. This is the book that young children of the Yan Country read.¡± ¡°Teach me,¡± the person in black said. ¡°Ah!?¡± Zhou Xianming thought he had heard wrongly. This person actually wanted him to teach this student¡¯s elementary books. Could this be another kind of test? ¡°I said, start teaching me the simplest words on it,¡± said the person in black coldly. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly said, ¡°As long as Great Hero doesn¡¯t kill me, my body will be at your disposal.¡± Zhou Xianming then lit a candle and opened the book. Under the weak candlelight, Zhou Xianming began to teach the person in black. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the simplest list. This word is ¡®one¡¯.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°This word is ¡®two.''¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°The word is ¡®three.''¡± ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not difficult to read. I already know how ¡®Four¡¯ is written.¡± The person in black laughed lightly, his tone carrying a hint of pride.. Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The next morning, the sky began to brighten, and the sun rose. ¡°This weather is wonderful.¡± As usual, An Jing opened the door of the pharmacy and stretched himself in satisfaction. ¡°Darling, the medicinal porridge is ready.¡± Zhao Qingmei walked out of the inner hall with a smile. ¡°Brother An!¡± Just as An Jing was about to turn around, Han Wenxin rushed over from afar. ¡°So this is sis-in-law.¡± Han Wenxin looked at Zhao Qingmei, who was standing beside An Jing, and was instantly shocked. It turned out that An Jing had married such a beautiful lady from the Zhao Family. That should not be the case. Logically speaking, An Jing should be Yuzhou City¡¯s physician, while he was Yuzhou City¡¯s young constable. ¡°That¡¯s my wife,¡± said An Jing with a smile. Han Wenxin said sourly, ¡°Brother An, you¡¯re so lucky. It seems like you really did save Uncle Niu¡¯s life. No, you definitely saved sis-in-law¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Brother Han must be joking.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled sweetly. When An Jing saw Han Wenxin¡¯s expression, he felt extremely happy and said, ¡°Brother Han, why did you come to find me so early in the morning?¡± Only then did Han Wenxin remember why he had come here. ¡°Wang He and Wang Zhiping are both dead,¡± he said hurriedly. ¡°And their deaths were so cruel and horrible that even the coroner who worked in the county office for decades shook his head repeatedly.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing looked surprised. ¡°Is that true?¡± He already knew that Wang Zhiping had been killed, so he was just putting on an act. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Han Wenxin took a deep breath. Then, he looked around and said in a serious tone, ¡°Let me tell you an even more frightening piece of news. Not only Wang He, but Wang Zhiping is also dead. His entire clan has been killed. If you think about it carefully, a total of 327 people died yesterday.¡± ¡°Do you know what that means? The extermination of a clan must mean that they have offended someone they shouldn¡¯t have.¡± ¡°Is it really that terrifying?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked fearfully as she leaned against An Jing. It was clearly summer, but Han Wenxin felt a strong gust of wind rushing into his sleeves. There was a shattering sound. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t panic.¡± An Jing patted Zhao Qingmei¡¯s shoulder gently and said, ¡°In that case, they must have provoked a terrifying figure.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Han Wenxin nodded. Then, he laughed coldly and said, ¡°This uncle and nephew of the Wang Family have committed all sorts of crimes. They¡¯re arrogant and despotic. They think that they can rest easy just because they have the Cao Gang backing them up. A small Altar Master is also a small character in the Cao Gang. To be able to kill more than 200 people in a single day without making a single sound or showing any signs, this is enough to show how terrifying the background is. Did the Cao Gang offend the faction behind Wang He and Wang Zhiping?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Brother Han, do you know who¡¯s behind this?¡± ¡°Brother An, you must be joking. How would I know who¡¯s behind this?¡± Han Wenxin shook his head and said confidently, ¡°Early this morning, the Gold-tier constables of the Black Clothes Guard came to investigate the person behind this. I think since the Gold-tier constables have been mobilized, the outcome should be out very soon.¡± Black Clothes Guard were divided into gold, silver, and bronze constables. These constables were the most outstanding constables in the entire Great Yan Selection. The lowest cultivation of a bronze constable was Rank Five, while a silver constable was Rank Three, while a gold constable was Rank Two. These were all top-notch strengths on the surface, and it was said that there were even Jade constables and Black-clothed Guard commanders. He was not sure about the exact details, but according to his estimation, the Jade Constable should be a Rank Two or even higher. After all, it was a force of the Imperial Court. Moreover, the experts of the Black Guard were forbidden from entering the Martial World rankings. As for their actual strength, ordinary people did not know their background. Han Wenxin rubbed his hands and said, ¡°This time, the gold constable is here. I have to establish a good relationship with him. I might have a chance to enter the Black Clothes Guard and become a copper constable in a few years.¡± ¡°Then I wish Brother Han all the best,¡± An Jing said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t just talk about it. Brother An, you have to give us some practical help.¡± ¡°How can I help?¡± ¡°Brother An, if you encounter a demon from the Demon Sect, you must report to me. As long as you capture a demon from the Demon Sect, it will be a great merit.¡± Han Wenxin licked his lips and said excitedly. Beside the Ji Shi Hall was a teahouse. It was well-informed and crowded. Han Wenxin had built a good relationship with An Jing partly because he wanted to develop An Jing into his informant. After making a great contribution, he wanted to marry a beautiful woman to cook, wash his clothes, warm his bed, and fold his blanket. Zhao Qingmei smiled at the excited Han Wenxin and remained silent. An Jing laughed and patted Han Wenxin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I know where that Demon Sect demon is, I will be the first to report to Brother Han. When Brother Han becomes a jade constable, you must take care of me.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Han Wenxin also laughed. Suddenly, he felt a chill down his spine. ¡°Brother An, why do I feel a little cold?¡± ¡°Now that you say it, it does feel a little cold.¡± ¡°Am I sick in this hot summer?¡± ¡­ The following days were very peaceful. Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Zhao Qingmei cooked different dishes every day and An Jing enjoyed different delicacies every day. His ordinary self, his ordinary wife. Life was peaceful and happy, other than Tan Yun, who would occasionally become listless and sleep on the medicine cabinet. That afternoon, An Jing rummaged through his closet for herbs. ¡°Darling, what are you looking for? You¡¯ve been busy all morning,¡± Zhao Qingmei walked out of the back hall and asked curiously. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m looking for some herbs,¡± An Jing said casually. ¡°You don¡¯t even remember where the herbs are. How silly.¡± Zhao Qingmei pointed at An Jing¡¯s forehead and asked coquettishly, ¡°Do you want me to help you find them?¡± ¡°No¡­ nothing. Just some herbs I haven¡¯t used in a long time. I¡¯ll just find them myself.¡± An Jing laughed dryly. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing suspiciously, finding it rather strange. Not long after, An Jing carried a large wine jar and placed it on the counter. Then, he poured the herbs he found into the wine jar one by one. ¡°This is a treasure.¡± After doing all this, An Jing revealed a gratified smile. Then, he carefully carried the wine jar and placed it on the table in the back hall. ¡°Are you brewing medicinal wine?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked as she walked out with a basket of vegetables. ¡°Hahaha, it was just a casual brew,¡± An Jing said guiltily. ¡°Doctor An, is Doctor An here?¡± At that moment, a sound came from outside the door. ¡°Someone¡¯s here for consultation. I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± An Jing quickly walked towards the front hall. The person who came to see the doctor was none other than the storyteller, Zhou Xianming. However, at this moment, his face was pale, and he was weak and powerless. Even when he walked, he seemed to be floating. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what happened to you?¡± An Jing asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling weak under my feet recently. My body is weak and my brain is buzzing,¡± Zhou Xianming sighed. ¡°Mr. Zhou, did you go to too many brothels and get drunk?¡± An Jing asked with a sigh. ¡°Who is it?¡± At this moment, Tan Yun rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked out. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t been to the brothel recently.¡± Zhou Xianming sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t know, Doctor An. I have to teach people how to read every night. It¡¯s too tiring.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be tired from learning calligraphy, right?¡± An Jing touched his chin and asked in surprise. ¡°Yeah, that person is as stupid as a swine. I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m¡ª¡± Zhou Xianming could no longer hold back. ¡°Aye.¡± An Jing sighed. In his previous life, there were some parents who cried because they did not manage to teach their children well. He did not expect to meet someone like that. Neither of them noticed that Tan Yun, who was standing in front of the medicine cabinet, had a dark expression on her face. Her fists were tightly clenched and there seemed to be flames surging in her eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll prescribe you some calming medicine first.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor An.¡± An Jing was grabbing the herbs when Zhou Xianming came over. His face was slightly flushed as he asked, ¡°Little¡­ Doctor An, why is your maid looking at me?¡± Could it be that Doctor An¡¯s beautiful young maid had taken a liking to him? Zhou Xianming¡¯s heart skipped a beat. As a poor scholar, he was already in his thirties and had yet to find a wife. Although Tan Tan Yun was a maid in Doctor An¡¯s house, she was gentle and charming when she looked at her. I pity her when I see her. An Jing glanced at Tan Yun, who was studying hard, and shook his head. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± In the end, An Jing grabbed the herbs for Zhou Xianming. Zhou Xianming could not help but glance at Tan Yun a few times before reluctantly leaving. ¡­ When night fell, it was completely silent. The Ji Shi Hall looked the same. An Jing touched his waist before he tiptoed towards the back hall. ¡°Brother!¡± Zhao Qingmei immediately noticed An Jing and hurriedly put down the book in her hand, her face flushed red. ¡°Qingmei, you¡¯re still awake. Why is your face so red?¡± An Jing asked in surprise, ¡°Are you sick?¡± Zhao Qingmei gently stepped on An Jing¡¯s feet, exposing her fair and slender legs. ¡°No, I learned some new tricks.¡± ¡°What trick?¡± ¡°To find a dragon to swallow gold, to overturn Kun! Brother, do you want to give it a try?¡± Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the afternoon, a piercing cicada chirped. The golden rays of the sun shone on the Yuzhou River. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m so haggard from the wine and lust¡­¡± An Jing looked at his pale face in the bronze mirror and said, ¡°From today onwards, no, from this moment onwards, abstinence!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± At this moment, Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing, who was mumbling to herself in the mirror while holding a bowl of mung bean soup. ¡°I say, the weather is really hot and yet you are working so hard.¡± ¡°This is green bean soup that I just cooked, it¡¯s still hot.¡± ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve worked so hard.¡± An Jing happily took over the green bean soup and forgot about what he just said. ¡°I added some of your Chinese medicine in it,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a sly look in her eyes. ¡°Chinese medicine?¡± An Jing was stunned. Could it be the Chinese medicine used to brew medicinal wine? Zhao Qingmei pursed her lips and said, ¡°I cooked this for you alone. There¡¯s a huge pot at the back that¡¯s placed at the entrance of the pharmacy. It can relieve the heat for the passersby.¡± An Jing sighed in his heart. ¡°Not only is my wife gentle and virtuous, but she¡¯s also kind-hearted. Grandma Wang is right. To be able to marry such a woman, I must have been blessed for eight lifetimes.¡± ¡°Madam, the most famous opera troupe in Pear Garden is on stage today.¡± Tan Yun sleepily carried a pot of green bean porridge and walked out. ¡°Opera Troupe?¡± An Jing was puzzled. He had never heard Zhao Qingmei mention that she liked to listen to opera songs. Tan Yun immediately perked up. She looked at An Jing with her big eyes and said, ¡°Young master, have you never heard of opera music?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it before. I used to listen to it all the time. I even know how to sing a few lines, listen to me¡­¡± An Jing was also interested and cleared his throat. Zhao Qingmei looked over with curiosity in her eyes. ¡°Young master, don¡¯t force yourself.¡± Tan Yun clicked her tongue. An Jing lifted his sleeves and walked forward unhurriedly. ¡°Yu Ji, do you have any regrets?¡± His voice was sweet and pleasing to the ear, lingering in the air. An Jing turned his feet, his clothes swaying with the breeze as his eyes lit up. ¡°Your concubine will follow Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Life and death.¡± ¡°No regrets.¡± ¡­ The room fell silent. Zhao Qingmei fell into a trance. Especially when she said the last few words, she seemed to have seen that sorrowful woman looking at her king with unwavering determination. Then, with a slash of her sword, blood spurted out from her neck. On the other hand, Tan Yun had goosebumps all over and was extremely shocked in her heart. ¡°How is it? Not bad, right?¡± An Jing chuckled. ¡°In the past, my hometown¡¯s relatives all liked this style. I also learned a few words.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ not bad, is it?¡± Tan Yun came back to her senses and said with an uncertain gaze, ¡°After all, he¡¯s slightly inferior to the lead actor in the Pear Garden Drama.¡± At this moment, Tan Yun felt very strange. Why did this young master sing even better than that entertainer?! This shouldn¡¯t be, shouldn¡¯t be! ¡°Darling, when I return, sing me this whole song,¡± Zhao Qingmei said affectionately. ¡°Alright, you guys go first.¡± An Jing smiled. After cleaning up, Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun headed to the Pear Garden on the west side of the city, leaving An Jing alone in the medicine hall. ¡°Since I have nothing to do now, I might as well go next door to listen to some storytelling.¡± An Jing picked up the tobacco pipe hanging on the wall, picked up the stool and went to the teahouse next door. ¡°Doctor An, we can only drink tea today. There are no more books to listen to,¡± said the tea shop assistant when he saw An Jing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± An Jing asked in confusion. ¡°When I went to Mr. Zhou¡¯s house this morning, I realized that Mr. Zhou was bedridden. He seemed to have caught a cold.¡± The shop assistant replied. ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± An Jing sighed and returned to the pharmacy. ¡°There seemed to be some changes in the Earth Book last night. I didn¡¯t have time to check it out¡­¡± An Jing thought of something. The Earth Book entered his mind. Cultivation: Rank One Fate: Lucky Star Ability: Genius Martial Skills: Sword Drawing Technique, Hidden Sword Technique, Sword Control Technique, Nine Character Sword Technique, Nine Heavens Movement Technique, Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique, Qi Restraining Technique Prompt 1: The host¡¯s fate has yet to take root (after one year). When performing martial arts, no one is allowed to know the host¡¯s identity. Otherwise, you will receive a black opportunity. Prompt 2: There are people who can deduce the heavenly secrets in Yuzhou dungeons. You can obtain the yellow opportunity (the whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead) from them. > ¡­ ¡°Dungeon? Where is the Bodhi Bead?¡± An Jing frowned as he thought to himself. According to the description in the Earth Book, the opportunities from low to high were red, orange, yellow, azure, blue, indigo, and purple. A yellow opportunity was already considered a very good opportunity. The azure opportunity he had obtained the last time allowed An Jing to directly condense a Man Flower, saving him decades of bitter cultivation. Although he felt that the azure opportunity wasn¡¯t that simple¡­ The yellow opportunity was a Bodhi Bead. According to past experience, the treasures given by the yellow opportunity were all top-notch. Martial arts were divided into three grades and the advanced level of martial arts. They were respectively the Earth, Black Tortoise, True Martial, and Heaven levels. The Sword Drawing Technique, the Hidden Sword Technique, and the Sword Control Technique combined to form the True Martial Level Sword Technique. The Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique was also a True Martial Level Sword Technique. A True Martial level was already considered an extremely high-level martial art. As long as it appeared in the martial world, there would be bloodshed. As for the Sword Technique that An Jing had learned, the Zenith Heaven Heart Technique was obtained from the yellow opportunity. This meant that the Bodhi Bead was at least a True Martial treasure. Perhaps it could help him increase his cultivation. An Jing picked up the feather duster on the table and cleaned the dust on the counter. Coincidentally, a cockroach crawled out from the corner. An Jing put down the feather duster, feeling unhappy. ¡°With my strength, sneaking into the dungeon shouldn¡¯t be too risky. However, Han Wenxin said that gold constables from the Black Clothes Guard appeared in Yuzhou City, which is quite a threat to me.¡± ¡°The gold constable¡¯s cultivation is at Rank Two. If I accidentally kill him, it will definitely cause chaos and attract even more experts from the Black Clothes Guards. Therefore, I must not expose my identity when I go to the dungeon this time.¡± ¡°After all, I only have one year to completely take root here. At this critical juncture, I absolutely cannot make any mistakes.¡± ¡°To be able to marry such a beautiful and gentle wife and live such an ordinary and beautiful life, that¡¯s a blessing accumulated from several lifetimes.¡± ¡°No matter what, I have to protect her well. So, I absolutely cannot expose my cultivation before my Fate takes root. However, the increase in strength is also crucial.¡± ¡°There are always some secrets that can only be found out by oneself and can¡¯t be told to others. I feel much better after telling them today.¡± Ever since the instructions from the Earth Book, he had never revealed his strength to anyone nor revealed his thoughts to anyone. It was hard to keep a secret in one¡¯s heart. An Jing heaved a long sigh and felt much more relaxed. Then, he stomped the cockroach on the ground to death. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cockroach. You know too much.¡± ¡­ Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The Pear Garden was one of Yuzhou City¡¯s three most famous opera houses. It sat on the east and faced the west. On the north and south sides of the garden were tour corridors that surrounded the garden. The tour corridors were two stories high and the audience could sit inside and watch the show. On the west side was an elegant and simple archway. They walked into the opera house. The gray tiles and red columns were magnificent. At this moment, a loud voice suddenly rang out from the Pear Garden. Following this, the sounds of drums and gongs could be heard. They only heard the lyrics of the song, mournful and mournful. The audience below the stage cheered and clamored. Zhao Qingmei sat on the second floor, clad in a set of plain white clothes. She had a cold expression on her face as she watched the show below the stage. ¡°Sect Master!¡± Before long, the Ghost-Faced Buddha appeared behind her. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± Zhao Qingmei took a sip of tea. ¡°Your subordinate is incompetent. I was unable to find this person.¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha quickly bowed and said. Tan Yun frowned and said, ¡°I feel that this person might just be passing by Yuzhou City and might have already left. Otherwise, how could the Mortal Sect¡¯s experts not be able to investigate?¡± The Demon Sect¡¯s Mortal Sect was an organization that was comparable to the Human Emperor¡¯s Heavenly Network. It was not difficult to investigate a Rank Two expert unless he was an expert from the royal family or other top-tier forces. An expert that even the Mortal Sect could not find, just what kind of existence was he? Zhao Qingmei said calmly, ¡°Since there are no results, don¡¯t waste your manpower and resources. Have you heard anything about the other matter I asked you to investigate?¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha said, ¡°I investigated but I found other information.¡± Zhao Qingmei knocked her fingers gently on the table and remained silent. ¡°The Divine Foresight¡¯s Jiang Sanjia is in Yuzhou City and he is imprisoned in the Yuzhou dungeon.¡± ¡°A Yuzhou City¡¯s magistrate shouldn¡¯t be so capable.¡± ¡°Sect Master is wise. Jiang Sanjia is jointly detained by Cao Gang¡¯s head of Yuzhou, Liu Haoping, and Yuzhou City¡¯s magistrate. Behind them may be the Cao Gang¡­¡± ¡°Cao Gang?¡± Zhao Qingmei remained calm and composed. Ghost-Faced Buddha said in a deep voice, ¡°Ever since Cao Gang swallowed the Furious Whale Gang, their sphere of influence has already spanned Jiangnan Dao, Jinling Dao, Jiangdong Dao, Yi Dao, and their gang members have expanded by hundreds of thousands. During this period, the three monsters of the West Mountain, Cangshan Eagle, and other Rank Two experts have also joined in, causing Cao Gang¡¯s momentum to soar in a short period of time. Their strength is one of the best among the five gangs. Coupled with the help of the four great merchant associations behind them, their prestige is like the sun in the midday sky, and they faintly have the might of the number one gang in the world.¡± ¡°It seems like the Great Yan Dynasty has changed after the Demon Sect hasn¡¯t visited the Great Yan Dynasty for decades.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled. From the beginning to the end, his expression was calm and indifferent, not changing in the slightest. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of dogs and chickens.¡± Tan Yun raised his head and snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate these four trading unions.¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha shook his head and said, ¡°These four trading unions are made up of merchants from Jin Union, Jiangnan Union, Jiangdong Union, and Nan Union. Behind them is a huge economic lifeline. Not only are there cloth, banks, porcelain, silk, and even the trade of the desert plains, they basically occupy about 20% of the livelihood of the Great Yan. Just a stomp of their foot would shake the entire Jiangnan Dao.¡± ¡°And this Yuzhou City¡¯s magistrate, Cao Anmin, is just one of the figures in Jiangnan¡¯s business. He can¡¯t even be considered a core figure.¡± For a prefectural magistrate from an important city like Yuzhou City to be unable to enter the core of Cao Gang, one could see how impressive the upper echelons of Cao Gang were. Zhao Qingmei glanced at the actress below and asked, ¡°Why are they imprisoning this Divine Foresight?¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha took a deep breath and said, ¡°This is Cao Gang¡¯s core secret. Only Yuzhou City¡¯s prefectural magistrate, Cao Anmin, and Yuzhou City¡¯s head, Liu Haoping, know about it. The information I received is that Cao Gang seems to be a very ancient item, and it might even be traced back to the Great Zhou Dynasty.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled. ¡°Sect Master, what should we do now? Should we snatch food from the tiger¡¯s mouth?¡± The Ghost-Faced Buddha paused for a moment before saying, ¡°The Divine Foresight from Phantom Valley is the descendant of the Phantom Valley and the divination must consume Qi and blood in his body. He had relied on his divination to roam the martial world for decades. His life has long been exhausted. In addition to being in the dungeon, he might not have the strength to push out the murderer who killed the old Sect Master.¡± Phantom Valley Sect was an extremely mysterious faction in the martial world, and Divine Foresight Jiang Sanjia was one of their successors. ¡°With his life.¡± Zhao Qingmei answered faintly, ¡°I can do it again, but it¡¯s not a big deal this time. I¡¯ll do it if I can.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Ghost-Faced Buddha¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°I have already investigated the situation in the Yuzhou dungeon. Many experts and Cao Gang are gathered in the dungeon. These people are elites selected by Cao Gang.¡± ¡°We kill the elites.¡± ¡­ In the dark, silent cell, there was a damp and rotten smell. On both sides of the long and narrow passage were prisons. The prisons were extremely simple and crude, all of them built from stone. The bed in the corner only had a single straw mat. The Yuzhou dungeon was divided into two levels. The ones locked up in the upper level were all ordinary prisoners. Most of them were hooligans who stole from others. They might be released after a few days. Meanwhile, the people imprisoned in the second level of the underground world were felons. Most of these criminals were extremely vicious and evil. As long as the time came, they would be executed. As they advanced deeper into the second floor, the number of prisoners in the cells on both sides decreased. Many of the cells were even covered with bloodstains and strange symbols. This was especially true in the depths of the second level. The air was heavy with a rotten stench, giving off an extremely sinister feeling. Clang! Clang! At this moment, the sound of an iron weapon vibrating could be heard coming from the deepest cell. ¡°Brother Jiang, stop struggling. The more you struggle, the more it will deplete your life.¡± A voice sounded. The air in the prison cell was filled with dense chains. These black chains had a strange luster. Clearly, they were not made of ordinary iron. These chains formed locks that connected to the person in the center of the cell. That person¡¯s hair was disheveled, his clothes were tattered, and his face could not be seen clearly. Beside him stood a middle-aged Confucian scholar dressed in official robes. This person was Yuzhou City¡¯s prefectural magistrate, Cao Anmin. Yuzhou City was one of the few core cities of Jiangnan Dao. To be able to become a Yuzhou magistrate, not only did one need some talent, but one also needed strength and a strong background. Cao Anmin had a strong and powerful background. He was from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, and the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce was one of the four biggest chambers of commerce that controlled Cao Gang. Therefore, Cao Anmin had been a magistrate of Yuzhou for thirteen years. No matter what happened, he would not budge. ¡°You seem to be more afraid than I am when my life force is gradually depleted?¡± His hair was disheveled and his eyes were bloodshot. That pair of eyes was suffused with blood color. In the dark and silent prison, it was like a streak of blood-red light in the abyss. It made one¡¯s back turn cold and their heart turn cold. ¡°Afraid?¡± Cao Anmin laughed. ¡°I¡¯m indeed afraid. I¡¯m afraid that if Brother Jiang dies like this, I won¡¯t be able to report to the higher-ups, but this won¡¯t threaten me.¡± ¡°All this time, I still have some admiration for you, Jiang Sanjia, for not using any methods¡­¡± If Jiang Sanjia died, it would be very difficult for him to report to his superiors. However, if they threatened him because of this, they would be underestimating Cao Anmin. Jiang Sanjia sneered. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of your methods?¡± ¡°A person who isn¡¯t afraid of death is indeed afraid of many things.¡± Cao Anmin took a deep breath. There was a cold glint in his eyes. ¡°However, people who are not afraid of death might be afraid of other things.¡± ¡°For example?¡± ¡°Kunning Palace¡¯s steward eunuch is very greedy. It¡¯s very easy to send you in. What do you think?¡± As soon as Cao Anmin finished speaking, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s pupils constricted. There was someone in Kunning Palace that he did not want to see in his life. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Cao Anmin raised his head and laughed out loud. This laughter was extremely mocking in Jiang Sanjia¡¯s ears. ¡°Brother Jiang, this dungeon is heavily guarded. Not only are there dungeon guards, there are also Cao Gang¡¯s elites guarding it. Ordinary people are utterly unable to enter. I advise you not to take any chances.¡± ¡°After all, you do not wish to die either. Else, you would¡¯ve already died from anger. I¡¯ll give you a final period of time to think about it. After all, I can continue to wait, whereas others cannot.¡± After Cao Anmin finished speaking, he left the cell with his hands behind his back. Crack! Crack! Crack! The moment Cao Anmin walked out, the guard behind him closed the cell door again and locked it with three metal locks.. Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing changed into a loose-fitting forest green night cloak and entered Yuzhou City¡¯s dungeon. Most people might not be familiar with Yuzhou City¡¯s prison, but An Jing knew a little about it. If the prisoners in the prison fell ill, they would need timely treatment. The person in charge of this was Head Constable Qin from the Ministry of Justice. Because An Jing had once helped the Sima prison, and his medical skills were rather famous in Yuzhou City, Head Constable Qin would always go to the Ji Shi Hall to ask An Jing to treat these prisoners. After a while, An Jing was familiar with Yuzhou City¡¯s prison. Someone who could deduce the secrets of heaven was definitely extraordinary. There was a 90% chance that he was imprisoned on the second floor of the dungeon, which was also where the Heaven-class prisoners were imprisoned. Yuzhou City¡¯s number one prisoner was equivalent to a prisoner in the Jade Capital¡¯s Heavenly Prison. It was said that there were eighteen levels of prison in Jade Capital. There were criminals from the Imperial Court, devils from the martial world, and huge businessmen locked up in the prison. Being able to be imprisoned in the prison was enough to prove that their identities were extraordinary. They were all criminals who were personally imprisoned by the Emperor Swallow. As for the number one prisoner in Yuzhou City, one could imagine his identity. However, An Jing even suspected that there might be Heaven-class prisoners on the second floor. Could there be such a figure in Yuzhou City? If the instructions on the Earth Book were true, then it was definitely from the second floor. ¡°There should be quite a number of experts on this second floor.¡± An Jing slipped into the second floor and became cautious. He took out half a stick of Bewitching Fragrance from his waist. This Bewitching Fragrance was specially made by him. In the original Bewitching Fragrance, he had added the Mandara Flower, Rhododendron molle, and other materials to refine it. As long as one inhaled this special Bewitching Fragrance, experts below the Rank Five would instantly faint. ¡°Sigh.¡± An Jing gently blew the incense, and the elegant fragrance spread throughout the entire second floor of the dungeon. Not long after, the sound of someone falling to the ground could be heard. ¡°Next is the hidden sentry of the dungeon.¡± An Jing crushed the burning incense into powder before striding into the depths of the dungeon¡¯s second level. There were hidden sentries in the dungeon. With An Jing¡¯s strength, it was not difficult for him to avoid these hidden sentries. This special fragrance was very strong, and some of the felons on the second floor of the dungeon were also knocked unconscious. Only a few people whose cultivation had reached Rank Five and above still had a trace of consciousness. ¡°Could it be that an expert has come to break into the prison!?¡± Some people saw a black shadow flash past and were greatly shocked, thinking that they were seeing things. ¡°The Earth Book¡¯s reaction is getting stronger. It seems like that person is inside.¡± The next moment, An Jing arrived at the door of a cell. The Earth Book kept flashing in his mind. As long as he got close to the opportunity, the Earth Book would constantly give him hints. Looking through the crack, he saw that the iron chains in the cell were coiled like dragons, and in the center stood a person with disheveled hair. Could it be this person? ¡°Cao Anmin, you¡¯ve used these tricks a few times. Do you still want to use them?¡± Jiang Sanjia looked up with a cold smile. An Jing raised his brows and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you and Magistrate Cao were like flies and dogs, but from the looks of it, you¡¯re the person I¡¯m looking for.¡± He knew Cao Anmin, the Yuzhou magistrate. However, An Jing did not have a good impression of the magistrate of Yuzhou City. Everyone knew that Cao Anmin was a huge businessman, but he seemed to have someone backing him up. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t even know you.¡± Jiang Sanjia raised his head and said coldly. ¡°Now we know each other.¡± As he spoke, An Jing placed his palm on the prison door. ¡®Could this person be here to break into the prison?!¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s here to save me!?¡¯ Jiang Sanjia was greatly shaken. Even though he had all sorts of doubts in his heart, in front of him was his only chance of survival. ¡°This is Yuzhou City¡¯s prison!¡± Even though Jiang Sanjia was extremely excited, he still spoke in a low voice. ¡°You should be from the Phantom Valley Sect, right?¡± An Jing asked with a faint smile. ¡°I am Jiang Sanjia of the Phantom Valley Sect.¡± Jiang Sanjia felt a bit strange. This person in front of him did not know his identity? So it was that Divine Foresight from the martial world. It seemed that his opportunity lay with him. An Jing was shocked. The name Divine Foresight was quite famous in the martial world. He was from the Phantom Valley Sect, and he was proficient in the art of foresight, divination, and other knowledge of the Phantom Valley. He was able to see through all things and peer into the secrets of heaven. It was rumored that he was previously appointed as the Great Yanqin Heaven Supervisor, but for some unknown reason, he resigned from his post and entered the martial world. As soon as this person entered the martial world, he relied on the inheritor of the Phantom Valley and his fortune-telling skills to make a name for himself. Two years ago, for some reason, he disappeared. It turned out that he was imprisoned in Yuzhou City¡¯s dungeon. An Jing was not interested in why the Divine Foresight was imprisoned in the dungeon. ¡°Hand over the Bodhi Bead and I can save you.¡± Jiang Sanjia came to a realization. So this person was here for the Bodhi Bead. The Bodhi Bead was a supreme treasure of Buddhism and the Bodhi Bead was originally a consecrated treasure of Western Region¡¯s Leiyin Monastery. It was placed in the main hall and worshiped by all the people, enjoying thousands of years of incense offerings. However, a few years ago, the Bishop of Leiyin Monastery was instigated by the Demon Sect¡¯s Ghost-Faced Buddhas. He brought the Bodhi Bead and wanted to betray Leiyin Monastery. In the end, he was surrounded by several experts of the Western Region and was killed in the Western Region¡¯s Heaven Stone Cave. As for the Bodhi Bead, its whereabouts were unknown. Not only did the Bodhi Bead contain the power of Buddhism¡¯s incense, it also contained thousands of years of Buddhism aura. It was a rare treasure. Jiang Sanjia said in a deep voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know about the Bodhi Bead you¡¯re talking about. Please change your condition.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing to say.¡± An Jing waved his hand unhappily. He had come here for the yellow opportunity Bodhi Bead. If he could not obtain it, he would not have the time to waste. An Jing¡¯s steps were steady, and he did not stop in the slightest. He was not prepared to bargain at all. ¡°Wait¡­ wait a minute.¡± Jiang Sanjia saw that An Jing was acting out of the ordinary and hurriedly shouted. An Jing stopped in his tracks. Jiang Sanjia took a deep breath and said, ¡°Although I don¡¯t have the Bodhi Bead, I know its whereabouts and it¡¯s easy to find.¡± ¡°Tell me,¡± said An Jing. ¡°May I know your name?¡± Jiang Sanjia asked after a moment of silence. ¡°Zhou Xianming,¡± said An Jing. Jiang Sanjia raised his eyebrows slightly but did not speak. ¡°Why? You don¡¯t believe me?¡± An Jing asked lazily. ¡°I believe so.¡± Jiang Sanjia sighed and said, ¡°I have to believe whatever you say.¡± ¡°Alright, tell me where the Bodhi Bead is. I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± ¡°No, you have to get me out first.¡± ¡°Impossible. What would I do if I got you out and you lied to me?¡± ¡°If I tell you and you leave, wouldn¡¯t I be wasting my efforts?¡± ¡°I can swear.¡± An Jing stretched out three fingers and said confidently. ¡°Oaths don¡¯t work on people like you,¡± Jiang Sanjia said faintly. An Jing¡¯s expression darkened, but that was what he had in mind. As long as this old man told him the whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead, he felt that it was absolutely true that he would leave immediately. Saving this person might very well cause a lot of trouble. He was most afraid of getting into trouble. Moreover, he simply did not believe this Jiang Sanjia in front of him, even if he was the successor of the Phantom Valley. Jiang Sanjia naturally had his own plans as well. The Bodhi Bead was originally a treasure for him to recover his vitality. If he told this person, he would be heavily injured when he went out and might be captured again. Originally, he had left behind a secret technique. As long as the chains on his body loosened and the prison door opened, he would immediately slip away. He would then use the Bodhi Bead to recover from his injuries. Yet now, it seemed that the person opposite him would not fall into his trap. Both of them had their own ulterior motives and schemed against each other. For a moment, neither of them spoke. ¡°Then how would I get you to trust me?¡± Jiang Sanjia was the first to break the silence. Now, he could only make this person believe him. After all, he was his only chance of survival. An Jing pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°If you say that the people of Yan Country don¡¯t lie to their own people, I¡¯ll believe you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the successor of the Phantom Valley, Jiang Sanjia. How could I lie to you?¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned as he spoke. ¡°Then tell me that the people of Yan Country don¡¯t lie to their own people.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried, you can go to the martial arts world and ask about my character.¡± ¡°Then tell me.¡± An Jing sneered. ¡°The people of Yan Country don¡¯t lie to their own people.¡± Jiang Sanjia was speechless.. Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°If we¡¯re so suspicious of each other, I¡¯m afraid no one will get what they want.¡± Jiang Sanjia pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll impart the Phantom Valley Sect¡¯s Hundred Steps Flying Sword to you as a down payment?¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the Hundred Steps Flying Sword.¡± He already had the True Martial level Sword Technique on him. If he could obtain the Hundred Steps Flying Sword, it would indeed be icing on the cake. However, if he was deceived by this old man, it would not be worth it. Jiang Sanjia said, ¡°My Phantom Valley Sect¡¯s Hundred Steps Flying Sword is a Heaven realm sword technique. Are you really not tempted?¡± Heaven level martial arts? An Jing¡¯s heart was moved. Up until now, he had not been able to obtain a Heaven level martial technique after obtaining the Earth Book. Now that the Heaven realm sword technique was in front of him, it truly moved his heart. Jiang Sanjia sneered in his heart. As one of the oldest sects, Phantom Valley¡¯s deep heritage was rarely seen in the entire martial world. This Hundred Steps Flying Sword was indeed a Heaven realm sword technique, but it was the hardest to cultivate. In the entire history of Phantom Valley Sect, there were very few who could cultivate this Hundred Steps Flying Sword. One had to know that the Phantom Valley Sect only recruited geniuses. In the vast river of time, these geniuses were like carps crossing the river, but most of them were unable to cultivate the Hundred Steps Flying Sword. From this, one could see the difficulty of the Hundred Steps Flying Sword. In this generation, no one had learned this sword technique yet. Since ordinary people could not learn it, why not give it to the person in front of him? He would not be able to learn it anyway. ¡°Very well. Speak your mind. If it is true, I will save you,¡± An Jing said lightly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll recite this sword technique now. Listen carefully, there¡¯s only one time.¡± Jiang Sanjia nodded and began to narrate the general principles of the Hundred Steps Flying Sword. ¡°The people of the world are afflicted by the poison, the world is set on fire, and among the thousands of sword sects, I am the only one who can move unhindered. The sky hangs with the stars and moon, the earth enters the Phantom Valley, a horizontal line can be crossed, and a hundred years can be difficult to comprehend.¡± When An Jing heard this, he felt more and more that it was incomparably marvelous. Among them, the sword arts and moves were even more extraordinary, making his eyes light up. Attacking with a horizontal sword to gain an advantage was a tactic; attacking with a vertical sword to for reality was to seek closure. These are the means for heaven and earth. To open and to seek closure, the Phantom Valley Sect combines yin and yang. The person would be able to master both the tactics of horizontal and vertical strikes. Not only was every sword strike and every stance exceptionally exquisite, they also contained the core concepts of the Phantom Valley. The vast concepts contained within were also extraordinary. An Jing could not help but feel curious about the Phantom Valley Sect. ¡°This is the Hundred Steps Flying Sword.¡± In the end, Jiang Sanjia exhaled deeply. Jiang Sanjia sneered in his heart as he looked at the frowning person in black. So what if I tell you the outline of the Hundred Steps Flying Sword? Without the Phantom Valley Cultivation Technique, it would be difficult to cultivate it even if you were a genius. The Phantom Valley Sect had countless geniuses throughout history. Even with the help of the Phantom Valley mental cultivation technique, there were not many who successfully cultivated it. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± An Jing nodded. His swordsmanship was brilliant to begin with, so he could naturally tell whether this swordsmanship was real or fake. Jiang Sanjia was certain that this swordsmanship was not fake. Besides, the Book of the Earth had also changed. Cultivation: Rank One Fate: Lucky Star Ability: Genius Martial Skills: Sword Drawing Technique, Hidden Sword Technique, Imperial Sword Technique, Nine Symbolic Sword Technique, Heaven Shifting Movement Technique, Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique, Qi Restraining Technique, Hundred Steps Flying Sword (Third Level) Prompt 1: The host¡¯s fate has yet to take root (after one year). When performing martial arts, no one is allowed to know the host¡¯s identity. Otherwise, you will receive a black opportunity. Prompt 2: There are people who can deduce the heavenly secrets in Yuzhou dungeons. You can obtain the yellow opportunity (the whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead) from them. ¡­ With the existence of this Earth Book, no matter how difficult a martial art was, An Jing could easily learn it. In addition to his bones and fate, his cultivation level naturally increased very quickly. Other than the mental cultivation, most martial arts were divided into ten levels. To be able to learn the basics after cultivating the Hundred Steps Flying Sword meant that An Jing had deep attainments in swordsmanship. ¡°Then it¡¯s time for you to fulfill your promise,¡± said Jiang Sanjia. ¡°Definitely.¡± An Jing smiled and unsheathed his sword. Since Jiang Sanjia was related to his Bodhi Bead, he would definitely save him. Chi! Internal energy flowed into the sword and a red light glowed. ¡°What profound inner force!¡± Seeing An Jing attack, Jiang Sanjia knew that An Jing¡¯s strength was extraordinary. The streak of light heavily struck the iron chain. Clang! Clang! Clang! With a flash of sword light, the three iron chains instantly broke as though they were made of mud. An Jing kicked open the cell door and raised his arm. It was as if countless sword lights were dancing in the air. In an instant, the chains that wrapped around Jiang Sanjia¡¯s body were all broken. In the end, he coolly sheathed his sword. The chains on Jiang Sanjia¡¯s body broke as he staggered and almost fell to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Jiang Sanjia suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and hurriedly said. He knew that now was not the time to be happy. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s trouble.¡± An Jing sighed. ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Sanjia also looked into the distance. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! At this moment, countless figures appeared in the dungeon. ¡°What audacity! You even dare to kidnap the Heaven-class prisoner in the dungeon?¡± A cold shout could be heard. Cao Anmin slowly walked over from the dark tunnel. ¡°There¡¯s a path to heaven, but you don¡¯t want to take it. Hell has no door, but you throw yourself in,¡± Cao Anmin shouted coldly. The dozens of dungeon guards behind him instantly surrounded the entire dungeon. Oh no! Jiang Sanjia frowned and exhaled heavily. ¡°This dungeon¡¯s iron chain is connected to the mechanism above. As long as the iron chain is broken, it will trigger the mechanism above. Jiang Sanjia, do you really think we only want to rely on a few iron chains and the prison to trap you?¡± Cao Anmin looked at Jiang Sanjia with a playful smile. His gaze never landed on An Jing. Under the Qi restraining technique, he felt that the An Jing in front of him was too ordinary. This was the entrance of the Heaven-class prison. If they were on the streets, he would not even look at this person. ¡°Although I¡¯m currently heavily injured, you might not be able to stop me.¡± Jiang Sanjia said indifferently. ¡°Really?¡± Right at this moment, a cold voice sounded from afar. As he walked over, he was a tall and burly middle-aged man. He was bare-chested and his muscles were like dragon whiskers. His body was covered with densely packed wounds and his entire body emitted a vicious aura. His eyes were as cold as blades and carried a hint of bloodlust. At first glance, one would feel fear. Was this not a wild beast? ¡°Liu Haoping?¡± Jiang Sanjia¡¯s heart turned cold. If it was just Cao Anmin alone, he would still have a chance to take advantage of the situation. However, there was Cao Gang¡¯s Branch Master, Liu Haoping, beside him. He would not have a last chance.. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Liu Haoping, Yuzhou City¡¯s Cao Gang¡¯s Branch Master. Cao Gang had a total of 36 branch masters since its founding. There seemed to be a lot of them, but the truth was that not all of them were powerful experts in the martial world. In the eyes of ordinary people, they were high and mighty existences. However, not many of these 36 leaders could be heard throughout the entire martial world. Liu Haoping was one of them. He was originally a beggar from Linjiang City, and he had lived on the streets since he was young and begged along the streets. Later on, he was fortunate enough to join Cao Gang and become a member of Cao Gang. Because his natural talent was extremely high, he was ruthless and decisive in his actions, and he quickly made a name for himself in Cao Gang. After that, he was taken seriously by Cao Gang¡¯s leader, Liu Qingshan, and he was taken in as a foster son. Liu Qing Shan treated him like his own son and nurtured him wholeheartedly. With Liu Haoping¡¯s ability, he quickly became one of the 36 leaders. In the martial world, he was famous. He was even more infamous especially in the underworld, making people fearful. Cao Gang and the Furious Whale Gang had been at war for three years. In the end, they had annexed the Furious Whale Gang and taken over all of their territories. Liu Haoping had contributed greatly, but he was extremely vicious. It was said that the wife of the leader of the Furious Whale Gang, Madam Chen, had been played to death by him. Cruel, vicious, decisive, and outstanding. Such a person was the cornerstone of Cao Gang, and also the future of Cao Gang. Since Liu Haoping was Liu Qingshan¡¯s foster son, he would definitely know Qingshan¡¯s Qingshan Palm Technique. That was a True Martial technique, in addition to his peak Rank Three cultivation. If Jiang Sanjia had been at his peak, he would not have been afraid of Liu Haoping. However, his vitality was gradually drying up, and his Qi and blood had been declining recently. He was not Liu Haoping¡¯s match at all. Many thoughts flashed past in a flash. ¡°Am I going to die here?¡± Jiang Sanjia took a deep breath and intended to circulate the last strand of vital energy within his body to fight desperately. Right at that moment, his gaze landed on the person who had saved him. His black robe covered his face, making it impossible to see his exact appearance, but his eyes were still as calm as water. It was too peaceful, just like the quiet mountain village at dusk. No matter how calm he was, it was useless. In front of absolute strength, everything was just fabricated. Jiang Sanjia shook his head secretly and sighed inwardly. ¡°So what if you know about the Hundred Steps Flying Sword? So what if you know about the Bodhi Bead? In the end, it¡¯s all for naught.¡± At this moment, he suddenly discovered that An Jing¡¯s palm was caressing his scabbard. What now? Was he prepared to fight to the death? Or was he scared silly? ¡°Move aside!¡± roared Liu Haoping. His tall and sturdy body was like a small mountain. The moment he stepped out, it was as if the entire dungeon was shaking. Of course, this was just an illusion. The dungeon was so sturdy that it was impossible for it to tremble just because of the impact of a few hundred pounds. This was an aura! Liu Haoping looked at Jiang Sanjia. The coldness in his eyes could freeze someone to death. This old thing in front of him was what his foster father had asked him to watch over. He definitely could not let anything go wrong. As he spoke, he stretched out his palm and intended to grab Jiang Sanjia. However, his gaze suddenly landed on the man in a navy blue robe beside him. His eyes were as calm as water and as calm as an abyss. ¡°You dare come to break into the prison? You really are courting death!¡± Liu Haoping sneered and turned his palm. If Jiang Sanjia really escaped, then he would be a sinner. This person before him had almost made him commit a mistake, so he had to kill him! Boom! A huge palm appeared in the air and slammed down like a mountain. An Jing finally moved the moment the giant palm descended. ¡°This time around, we must finish this quickly. Otherwise, there will be another unforeseen event.¡± Chi! The sword light was unsheathed, and in an instant, the entire quiet dungeon became translucent. The sword cut through the dark night like the morning sun, its dazzling edge illuminating An Jing¡¯s face. ¡°This is¡­¡± Liu Haoping could not see the trajectory of the sword, but at that moment, his heart tightened. His life had already disappeared with the darkness into the dawn. ¡­ In the Pear Garden of Yuzhou City, night fell and moonlight poured down like water. ¡°The charming color of such luxuriant flowers is unappreciated and paid to the broken well.¡± ¡°How can we spend the precious time in such a beautiful spring? What kind of families would be doing things that make them happy?¡­¡± ¡­ Under the stage, the performer was singing an opera tune. Thunderous applause sounded from below the stage as everyone cheered. ¡°Missy, according to the plan, Jiang Sanjia should be standing before you the day after tomorrow.¡± Tan Yun said confidently. ¡°It¡¯s best if nothing goes wrong.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression remained calm and composed. ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun smiled. ¡°Cao Gang¡¯s reputation has been flourishing recently. Let¡¯s dampen their spirits.¡± Tan Yun was very dissatisfied with Cao Gang. The Demon Sect had left Great Yan and now they were the number one faction. ¡°Well, it¡¯s about time. We should get back.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked up at the moon and smiled. Suddenly, a cool breeze blew over. The cup on the table started to shake. This slight change made Zhao Qingmei frown. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Tan Yun asked in confusion. Zhao Qingmei remained silent and looked into the distance. At the next moment, a strong gust of wind blew over. Then, from the depths of heaven and earth, a streak of light rushed out from the bottom, directly rushing into the nine heavens above. Whoosh! The light resounded through the sky with an imposing aura. ¡°This¡­ What a powerful sword force!?¡± Tan Yun opened his mouth wide, a trace of surprise appearing in her eyes. The moment the light shone on her, she felt her body sway. The hairs on her skin stood up. Although it could not be said that such sword energy and sword light did not exist, they were definitely rare existences. ¡­ On the Yuzhou River, on the Red Mansion pleasure boat. ¡°Li Yue, come and receive the guests. It¡¯s Young Master Ming.¡± A female brothel keeper with heavy makeup smiled as she lifted the curtain. ¡°I understand. Tell Young Master Ming to wait a moment.¡± Inside the curtain was an extremely enchanting and charming woman. The woman had a pair of peach blossom eyes, and her slightly red lips were breathtaking. Her curvaceous lips alone were enough to steal one¡¯s soul away. The woman was a courtesan of the Red Mansion. She was also one of the most famous courtesans of Jiangnan Dao, Li Yue. ¡°That is the Young Master of the Ming family, the Young Master of the largest aristocratic family in Yuzhou City,¡± the old procuress said anxiously. ¡°So what if he¡¯s the Young Master of the Ming Clan?¡± Li Yue gently inserted the hairpin. A courtesan of a brothel was not an existence without status, especially a courtesan like Li Yue. Her talent was not inferior to the daughters of rich families. She had to be proficient in poetry, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Most importantly, she understood men very well. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and reply first,¡± sighed the procuress before she quickly walked out. Li Yue gently smiled and touched the hairpin. Then, she tidied it up and prepared to leave the ship. At this moment, a violent gust of wind stirred up somewhere. All of the pleasure boats on the Yuzhou River began to sway. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Why is this ship shaking?¡± ¡­ The people on the pleasure boat were all very curious. They all stuck their heads out to look at the lake. The young master of the Ming family, Ming Fei, also walked to the deck. He was bewildered. What happened? ¡°Look, in the sky!¡± Someone suddenly shouted. Everyone followed the finger and looked over. Ming Fei was no exception. At the same time, Li Yue also lifted the curtain, and the moment she did so, that beam of light formed the most magnificent stance. It pierced through the sky and created a hole in the night sky. The sky turned bright! Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the dilapidated dungeon of Yuzhou City, when Han Wenxin and Head Constable Qin arrived, they saw a huge gully. The Yuzhou City prison had been split into two. The long and narrow crack was stained with blood and tattered clothes. The trees at the side were also split into two. The place was filled with desolation and had already turned into ruins. Terrifying! The surroundings were so dilapidated that it was as if they had gone through a huge battle! The bodies of Yuzhou City¡¯s Branch Master and Yuzhou City¡¯s magistrate, Cao Anmin, might have disappeared or been buried in the ruins. Han Wenxin and Head Constable Qin were drinking today. Furthermore, they were not in charge of guarding the dungeon. This allowed them to escape this calamity. They never expected that the dungeon would be hacked. Even the Yuzhou City magistrate, Cao Anmin, and the Yuzhou City Lord, Liu Haoping, died without an intact corpse. Head Constable Qin¡¯s eyes were flickering and his face was pale. He did not know what to say and his body was trembling. Han Xinwen¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. He covered his mouth and took a deep breath. ¡°The soaring sword energy hasn¡¯t dissipated yet. It¡¯s too terrifying.¡± At this moment, the sword aura in the cracks of the dungeon had yet to completely disperse. It was still frightening and made people shudder. ¡°What do we do now?¡± The two of them looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Tap, tap¡­ Right at this moment, a tall man in a cloak and a green mask walked over from afar, and a white falcon was standing on his arm. ¡°Sir!¡± When they saw who it was, the two of them quickly bowed and paid their respects. They immediately felt slightly at ease. This person was none other than Hong Yuanwu, the head constable of the Black Guard. In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Black Guard was like a stabilizing force. ¡°The two of you, capture the fugitive first,¡± Hong Yuanwu said in a deep voice. ¡°Yes.¡± The two of them felt as though they had been granted amnesty as they quickly left the place. ¡°What a formidable expert!¡± Hong Yuanwu looked at the crack, his heart wavering. ¡°There¡¯s actually such an expert in Yuzhou City? Who is he?¡± He understood better than Han Wenxin and Head Constable Qin how impressive the swordsman was. Even he had to retreat when faced with that astonishing sword aura. ¡°This person took action and saved Jiang Sanjia, could it be that he is also the successor of the Phantom Valley, or is there someone with ulterior motives?¡± Hong Yuanwu took out a piece of white paper, threw it gently, and pointed. Golden light flashed and a few golden characters appeared on the white paper before disappearing. Hong Yuanwu stuffed the note into the messenger falcon¡¯s ankle. Flap! Flap! The falcon flapped its wings and flew into the sky. ¡­ In the dense forest outside Yuzhou City. At this moment, Jiang Sanjia revealed a look of astonishment. That sword that struck earlier was truly breathtaking. Even he could not help but praise the swordsmanship of the person before him. One strike! With a single slash, he split open the dungeon and escaped with him. ¡°What kind of sword technique was that?¡± Jiang Sanjia could not help but ask. An Jing said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just a draw.¡± That strike just now was the Sword Drawing Technique. The so-called Sword Drawing Technique was not about unsheathing a sword. It was called the Sword Drawing Technique. Sword Drawing Technique! A sword that shook the heavens, a sword that struck out, and a person died. The true technique of drawing a sword was to combine the essence, energy, and spirit in one¡¯s body. Some people had raised a sword for several years, and the sword¡¯s momentum had already reached its peak just for the moment it was pulled out. And at that moment, all the essence, energy, and divine of the past few years had been gathered on this sword. How could the power not be terrifying? That was exactly what An Jing had done. The Sword Regression Technique only had three simple moves. It looked basic, but it was the essence of the Sword Dao. When Jiang Sanjia heard this, he could not help but feel a little strange. Was there such a sword technique in the martial world? He actually did not know that this masked black-clothed man before him was actually so powerful. Why had he not heard of his name before? ¡°Can you tell me where the Bodhi Bead is?¡± An Jing touched the long sword on his waist. Jiang Sanjia¡¯s heart sank. If he told that person about the Bodhi Bead, it would be very difficult for him to recover from his injuries within a short period of time. Instantly, he felt troubled¡­ ¡°You still have a long way to go in life. Don¡¯t take shortcuts,¡± An Jing said softly. ¡°Brother Zhou, you must be joking.¡± Jiang Sanjia felt a chill in his heart and immediately regained his wits. ¡°It¡¯s just one Bodhi Bead. If I can befriend someone like Brother Zhou who has been through thick and thin, it would be worth it even if I had ten, let alone one.¡± The person in front of him was extremely evil and only cared about profit. Furthermore, his character was hard to understand. If he did not give it to him, it was very likely that he would be killed by his sword. ¡°This Bodhi Bead was originally obtained by Monk Hui Hai, the bishop of the Great Sun Academy. He failed to bring this Bodhi Bead with him and was ambushed by the experts of the Western Regions. This Bodhi Bead also completely disappeared. In fact, this Bodhi Bead had long been handed over to Wanderer Wudi by Monk Hui Hai. Wanderer Wudi secretly brought this Bodhi Bead to Great Yan, but he didn¡¯t expect to encounter a killer from Fengyu Pavilion in Yuzhou City. In the end, he was killed by several Heaven-ranked killers from Fengyu Pavilion.¡± ¡°Fengyu Pavilion!?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. Fengyu Pavilion was also one of the most famous forces in the Great Yan martial world and was one of the five gangs. However, Fengyu Pavilion was slightly different from the other five gangs. Fengyu Pavilion was a killer gang with a long history. It was also the only gang that had been established since the previous dynasty. The killers in the gang were extremely powerful and had a strict system. They were spread all over the Great Yan Kingdom and some of them were even hidden in the city wells. Some of the feuds and disputes in the martial world, as well as the occasional assassinations of officials from the Imperial Court, were all done by Fengyu Pavilion. The fact that they dared to kill an official of the Imperial Court was enough to prove the courage and boldness of Fengyu Pavilion. Most importantly, the success rate of Fengyu Pavilion¡¯s assassination was extremely high. It was rare for them to fail. When the people of the martial world heard about the people of Fengyu Pavilion, all of their expressions changed. They were afraid that one day, they would be on the dark side of Fengyu Pavilion. Moreover, no one knew where the headquarters of Fengyu Pavilion was, not even the killers of Fengyu Pavilion themselves. Some people said that the main altar of Fengyu Pavilion was in the vicinity of Swordmen Pass of Western Shu, while others said that the main altar of Fengyu Pavilion was not in the borders of the Country of Yan. Some people even said that the main altar of Fengyu Pavilion was in the Great Inner Imperial Palace. In short, there were all sorts of rumors in the martial world, but no one knew where the headquarters of Fengyu Pavilion was. All in all, the reputation of Fengyu Pavilion might not be as great as the other four gangs, but among the five biggest gangs in the Country of Yan, the most feared was this Fengyu Pavilion. ¡°Yes, Fengyu Pavilion.¡± Jiang Sanjia nodded and continued, ¡°When Wanderer Wudi died, his corpse sank into the Yuzhou River, so this Bodhi Bead also fell into the Yuzhou River.¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and said in an unfriendly tone, ¡°You mean the Bodhi Bead is in Yuzhou River?¡± One had to know that the Yuzhou River was extremely wide and long. The entire Yuzhou City was split into two banks by the Yuzhou River. If the Bodhi Bead was under the Yuzhou River, who could find it? If they made a big fuss, it would inevitably attract the attention of others. ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t be anxious.¡± Jiang Sanjia smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve already deduced the location of this Bodhi Bead back then. It¡¯s under the huge rock at Qing River Crossing. As long as you dive 300 feet down, you¡¯ll see the corpse beside the huge rock. The Bodhi Bead is on Wanderer Wudi¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Qing River Crossing?¡± An Jing muttered. Qing River Crossing was a pier formed by a branch of the Yuzhou River. It was not far from the south of the city and was quite a distance from the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Good. I hope you¡¯re a smart guy, Sanjia.¡± An Jing narrowed his eyes. Jiang Sanjia was an old schemer. The whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead might be true, but there might be other schemes hidden within. He had to be careful. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m telling the truth,¡± Jiang Sanjia said seriously. Jiang Sanjia had divined the whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead back then, and what he said was not false. However, there were some things he did not say out loud. There was a trace of baneful aura beside the Bodhi Bead. Just the backlash from the baneful aura was enough to reduce his lifespan by more than a year. It was obvious how powerful this baneful aura was. However, he did not say it out loud. This was not within the scope of what he should say. ¡°Alright, see you again.¡± An Jing patted his bottom and leaped away. ¡°Brother Zhou, I hope you¡¯ll be safe.¡± Jiang Sanjia looked in the direction where An Jing left and muttered in his heart. Then, he also disappeared into the forest.. Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The moon was shining brightly. The Ji Shi Hall lit up. In the past, when An Jing returned from his consultation at night, the lights here would always be switched off. But now, it was different. An Jing changed his clothes and walked in with the candied haws he had just bought. At this moment, a black fur ball rolled to his feet. ¡°Where did it come from?¡± An Jing looked at the puppy by his feet and could not help but ask. ¡°Young master, you¡¯re back from your consultation.¡± Tan Yun walked over with a pestle and said excitedly, ¡°Missy and I picked it up on our way back. I thought it was pitiful so I brought it back.¡± An Jing nodded and gently stroked the puppy¡¯s fur. He said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea to take care of a dog.¡± ¡°By the way, does it have a name?¡± The little black dog licked An Jing¡¯s finger and kept rolling on the ground. ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Tan Yun waved the pestle and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we call it Blackie? It¡¯s simple and suits it very well.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not elegant enough.¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡®Nowadays, all dogs are called Blackie, Whitie, can we choose a different one?¡¯ Tan Yun pouted. ¡°Lil Black? Isn¡¯t that elegant enough?¡± Elegant enough? An Jing paused. ¡°I think it¡¯s elegant, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s loud enough.¡± ¡°Young master, you¡¯re really picky!¡± Tan Yun¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°How about this? How about ¡®Lil Blackie¡¯? It¡¯s elegant and loud.¡± Anjing was speechless. Finally, the name of Lil Blackie was confirmed. An Jing watched as Lil Blackie was ¡®played¡¯ by Tan Yun and quietly walked towards the back hall. Lights flickered in the inner hall. The room was neat and tidy, with two sunflowers on the desk. The sunflower was currently in its blooming season. Besides, Zhao Qingmei liked sunflowers, so she placed two of them in the room. At this moment, Zhao Qingmei was sitting by the desk with a book in front of her. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re back.¡± Upon hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, Zhao Qingmei regained her senses and said with a smile, ¡°Have you had dinner? I¡¯ll cook you a bowl of noodles.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. I ate before I came back.¡± An Jing chuckled and took out the candied haws from his back. ¡°What do you think this is?¡± Zhao Qingmei seemed to like eating candied haws, which were sour and sweet. ¡°Darling, you are the best.¡± Zhao Qingmei grabbed the candied haws happily. ¡°Madam, are you learning a new trick?¡± An Jing walked to the side of the table and picked up the book to take a look, but his heart could not help but jump. He had fallen in love with tricks ever since Zhao Qingmei did it for him. ¡°Bad person!¡± Zhao Qingmei blushed and said, ¡°This is ¡®Youyang Miscellaneous Articles¡¯. There are some strange things recorded in it. I¡¯ve been reading it a lot lately, especially a certain unique breed of bird recorded in it.¡± ¡°What bird?¡± ¡°Footless Bird.¡± ¡°Footless Bird?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That kind of bird doesn¡¯t have feet. It only has wings. It flies all its life. And it only lands once in its life. That¡¯s when it dies. I don¡¯t think it actually goes anywhere. It died from the beginning.¡± Zhao Qingmei placed her finger on the book and smirked. It could only touch the ground once in a lifetime, and it was when it died! An Jing looked at the woman in front of him who seemed to be a little sentimental and gentle like water. His heart rippled. At this moment, Zhao Qingmei walked towards the window and gently propped it up. The moonlight poured down like water. An Jing looked at the silver moon hanging high in the sky outside the window and the sky full of stars. He could not help but say, ¡°Qingmei, shall we admire the moon together?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Due to the humid climate on the Jiangnan Dao, it rained all year round. The eaves of the houses were very steep. An Jing took out a ladder from the courtyard. ¡°I¡¯ll hold on to it. You climb up first.¡± Zhao Qingmei carefully held onto the ladder and climbed onto the roof before An Jing slowly climbed up. A crescent moon hung high in the dark blue sky, its clear radiance illuminating the land. The evening breeze blew gently. Under the moonlight, Tan Yun was also sitting on the steps, her palm constantly rubbing the dog¡¯s body. The little black dog sprawled on the ground, as if it had already accepted its fate and allowed Tan Yun to do anything to it. ¡°Lil Blackie, let¡¯s enjoy the moon together.¡± Tan Yun said sourly before looking up at the full moon. ¡°Woof!¡± When Lil Blackie heard this, he protested. ¡°In another five or six months, it will be winter and you will be about your age. Miss said that she wants to nourish Young Master¡¯s body.¡± Tan Yun placed Little Blackie on her lap and chuckled. She muttered to herself, ¡°You¡¯re so cute now. You¡¯ll definitely be delicious when the time comes.¡± ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± When Lil Blackie heard this, his hair stood on end and he jumped up nervously. He barked at Tan Yun with a fierce look. ¡­ ¡°The moon is really beautiful tonight.¡± Zhao Qingmei sat on the roof and allowed the breeze to blow against her exquisite face while her soft hair swayed in the wind. ¡°Yeah, the wind is gentle too.¡± An Jing chuckled and stretched. The moon was beautiful and the wind was gentle. Some people seemed to be naturally compatible with each other. If you said that the moon was beautiful, he would also reply that the wind was gentle. The stars filled the sky and decorated the vast dark sky and surrounded the late-summer crescent moon. It was indeed beautiful and gentle. ¡°Be careful.¡± Zhao Qingmei stared at An Jing and thought to herself, He¡¯s just an ordinary physician who¡¯s weak and feeble. No matter how dangerous the martial world is, I have to protect him no matter what happens in the future. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With my skills, not to mention this ten-foot-tall roof, I can even walk on the city wall as if it¡¯s flat ground,¡± An Jing said with a chuckle. ¡°Shut up! If that city wall falls, you¡¯ll be dead. Who do you think you are?¡± Zhao Qingmei pinched An Jing¡¯s arm gently and lamented, ¡°We haven¡¯t admired the moon like this for many years.¡± ¡°What?¡± An Jing felt strange. Have they ever appreciated the moon like this? ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve been wanting to enjoy the moon with you like this for a long time.¡± Zhao Qingmei blushed and took out the candied hawthorn stick. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat this, the candied hawthorn stick will melt.¡± Zhao Qingmei then licked the candy wrapper on the candied fruit. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face turned red and her heart started beating faster. An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s exquisite face, which was shy and adorable. He could not help but grab her soft hand and pinch it. He swore in his heart that he would protect his wife and make her stay away from all the conflicts in the world. ¡°Qingmei.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want to eat candied fruits too.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll feed you.¡± ¡°How do you feed it? Well¡­ oh¡­ it¡¯s so sour. You ate all the sugar-coated stuff.¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡­ Under the moonlight, a series of giggles could be heard.. Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The Yuzhou City is under martial law now. There are three to five shifts of constables at the city gate every day. They are searching for the strong. I heard that there are also people from the Black Guard.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is the Demon Sect here again? Or are we going to war with the State of Zhao again?¡± ¡°F*ck, you don¡¯t even know how big it is? Yesterday, Yuzhou City¡¯s dungeon was split into two by a sword. It¡¯s said that the sword split the dungeon into two.¡± ¡°I heard about it too. It¡¯s said that the prefectural magistrate, Cao Anmin, died in the ruins. Who is this person? He¡¯s so bold and powerful.¡± ¡°The Cao Gang will definitely take revenge. That¡¯s the foster son of Cao Gang¡¯s leader, Liu Qingshan.¡± ¡°I heard that Cao Gang has an expert coming to Yuzhou City. He might be one of the Seven Great Vajras.¡± ¡°Early in the morning, I saw many young swordsmen going to observe and comprehend that sword aura. In my opinion, this swordsman will definitely be able to enter the top ten of the martial world¡¯s rank.¡± ¡­ In the morning, the teahouse was no longer as peaceful as it used to be. Discussions surged like a tide. Everyone was discussing what happened last night. The mysterious swordsman attacked and the dungeon was split open by a sword! Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping died tragically! These were all matters that had shaken the entire Yuzhou City. The noticeboard was already filled with notices. The Black Clothes Guards had been mobilized, and it was said that Cao Gang was also doing their best to search for this person. Who was this person!? Everyone was guessing. ¡°A new day, a new beginning.¡± An Jing opened the door with a smile. Lil Blackie wagged its tail and followed behind him. Since it was only about a month old, it was very cute when it walked. At that moment, Han Wenxin walked over with several constables. ¡°Brother Han, why are you so early today?¡± An Jing asked curiously. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept for the entire night.¡± Han Wenxin said with his panda eyes, ¡°We¡¯ve been arresting fugitives since last night, and now we want to arrest that swordsman.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± An Jing pretended to be surprised and asked. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Han Wenxin sighed and said, ¡°Last night, a swordsman robbed the dungeon, causing the magistrate Cao Anmin to be killed. Furthermore, countless fugitives escaped.¡± ¡°So serious!¡± An Jing was stunned for a moment. ¡°This is a big matter. Who is so bold?¡± Han Wenxin shook his head helplessly and said, ¡°By the way, go to the county office in the afternoon. There are many criminals who have been seriously injured by the ruins. I need you to take a look.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Brother Han.¡± An Jing sighed. He was very tired last night. ¡°This son of a b*tch.¡± Han Wenxin gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I clearly made an appointment with Miss Chun Hui last night. Don¡¯t let me catch him. If I catch him, I¡¯ll skin him alive.¡± An Jing was speechless. Old Han, this is your fault. How can you scold people? Han Wenxin glanced around furtively, then revealed a mischievous smile. ¡°Brother An, prescribe ¡®calming medicine¡¯ for me. This time, add some more medicine, it¡¯ll be of great use again.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get it for you now.¡± An Jing patted his chest. Others did not know what Han Wenxin was talking about, but An Jing could understand. The calming medicine was his medicine. Was this divine medicine? It was naturally a man¡¯s divine medicine. An Jing entered the house to see that Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun were placing some herbs on a basket. ¡°It¡¯s a nice day,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a perfect day to sun the herbs.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and said, ¡°By the way, I heard you talking to someone at the door. Who is it?¡± An Jing said casually, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Head Constable Han. You¡¯ve seen him before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Han Wenxin!¡± Zhao Qingmei thought of Han Wenxin and clicked her tongue. ¡°Isn¡¯t he bent on capturing members of the Democ Sect and becoming a copper constable? Why would he have the time to come to our pharmacy?¡± ¡°Who, who said they wanted to capture the Demon Sect¡¯s people?¡± When Tan Yun heard this, his brows immediately raised. ¡°It¡¯s Head Constable Han. He likes to brag. Ignore him. He¡¯s very timid.¡± An Jing shook his head and looked at Zhao Qingmei. ¡°By the way, Madam, where did I put the Chinese medicine? I want to prescribe some medicine for Constable Han.¡± ¡°Here. I¡¯ve put it in that cabinet.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out a few jars from the cabinet. An Jing took out some medicinal powder from the jar, then added some soybean powder and prepared to pack it up with craft paper. Brother Han, who asked you to scold me. This time, I¡¯ll teach you a small lesson. ¡°Young master, isn¡¯t this the soybean powder?¡± Tan Yun walked over and asked curiously. ¡°Um¡­ yeah.¡± An Jing¡¯s hand froze, but he was secretly anxious in his heart. ¡®Tan Yun learns very quickly. She even knows about the soybean powder. I secretly added soybean powder into Han Wenxin¡¯s medicine. If she finds out, will my image be ruined?¡¯ ¡°Young master, you¡¯re too petty.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s expression sank. ¡°Although I am a maidservant, I still have to speak properly. One cannot be so petty.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± An Jing was stunned for a moment. ¡°We have to be more magnanimous.¡± Tan Yun added the soybean powder into the herb. ¡°This is¡­¡± When An Jing saw this, cold sweat kept trickling down his forehead. The effects of so much soybean powder were very strong. What if it suddenly acted up during sex? ¡°Young master, I¡¯ll send it to him.¡± After wrapping up the medicinal herbs, Tan Yun walked out of the door with satisfaction. Looking at Tan Yun¡¯s back view, An Jing could not help but swallow his saliva. He hoped that Han Wenxin did not drink Chinese medicine before he had sex. ¡°Head Constable Han, this is the medicine that Young Master prepared for you.¡± Tan Yun walked out and placed her hands on her waist as she bowed. A sweet smile appeared on her face. ¡°Alright, thank you Miss Tan Yun.¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s face flushed red as he looked at the gentle and beautiful Tan Yun. Brother An, Brother An, you are really happy. Not only do you have such a beautiful wife, but you also have such a cute servant. Why are you taking all the benefits? ¡°Head Constable Han, remember to drink the Chinese medicine. I prepared it myself.¡± Tan Yun winked at Han Wenxin. ¡°Good¡­ good, I will definitely drink it. Since Miss Tan Yun personally caught it for me, I will definitely drink it all.¡± Head Constable Han said seriously with a flushed face. ¡°The porridge Madam prepared for Young Master is almost ready. I will go back and serve Young Master first.¡± Tan Yun smiled and returned to the medicine hall. Looking at Tan Yun¡¯s graceful back, Han Wenxin suddenly felt even more jealous. ¡­ After noon, An Jing carried the small medicine box and went to the yamen for treatment. In the back hall, Zhao Qingmei stood in front of the stairs with her hands behind her back and a frown on her face. Tan Yun asked in a low voice. ¡°Missy, Jiang Sanjia has been rescued. What should we do now?¡± ¡°Who is this peerless swordsman?¡± asked Zhao Qingmei. ¡°To dare oppose our Demon Sect, this person is truly daring.¡± A sneer appeared on Tan Yun¡¯s face. ¡°Woo¡­ woof¡­¡± Little Blackie shouted from the side, seemingly supporting Tan Yun. ¡°This person saved Jiang Sanjia and messed up my plan. However, he might not be going against our Demon Sect.¡± Zhao Qingmei said calmly, ¡°Cao Gang and the Imperial Court are searching for him now. It¡¯s a good thing for us, but it¡¯s a bad thing too. Yuzhou City has been under martial law recently, so we have to be careful. Don¡¯t let the news leak out. The Demon Cult has returned to the Great Yan City, so we shouldn¡¯t expose ourselves for the time being.¡± ¡°We have to investigate this peerless swordsman as well. I will not allow anyone or anything beyond my expectations to appear and disrupt my plans.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun cupped his fists respectfully. ¡°Oh right, the Ghost-Faced Buddha also told me something.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Master is coming.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Qingmei raised her voice. It was obvious that she was slightly surprised by the arrival of her master. ¡°Master said that he wants to see who the man is.¡± Tan Yun quietly said. ¡°Tell him not to come,¡± Zhao Qingmei said expressionlessly. ¡°Sect Master, you know it too.¡± When Tan Yun heard this, he said with a bitter face, ¡°And Master seems to have already arrived at the Great Yan territory..¡± Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing went to the county office. After applying medicine to the prisoners, he put on his navy blue cloak and hurried out of Yuzhou City. Jiang Sanjia was a sly old fox. An Jing was not sure if he would take the risk of being captured and continue to stay near Yuzhou City so he could take the Bodhi Bead first. After leaving Yuzhou City, they would have to travel 80 kilometers south to reach Qing River Crossing. At this moment, the sun was blazing above his head and the earth was as hot as a furnace. There were trees in the forest that blocked out the sun, making it a little cooler. The Great Yan territory was vast, and the five regions could be divided into the Great Yan¡¯s factions. The Jiangnan Dao where the wealthy families gathered was one of them. Since ancient times, Jiangnan Dao had been blessed by the heavens. The rain was plentiful and the water was plentiful, making it very convenient for trade. This also resulted in the gathering of wealthy families in Jiangnan. As one of the core cities of Jiangnan Dao, Yuzhou City, which was blessed by the heavens, naturally developed very smoothly. Therefore, the size of Yuzhou City and its scope of jurisdiction were not something that ordinary cities could compare to. Even outside the city, there were some cargo docks that could transport merchants. An Jing ran swiftly through the forest. His body was like a nimble swallow as he shuttled through the greenery. After about five minutes, An Jing realized that there seemed to be people ahead. Taking a closer look, it turned out to be a tea shed. ¡°Big bowl of tea! Big bowl of tea that costs three copper coins!¡± A waiter holding a cloth napkin was shouting when he saw An Jing walking over. ¡°Dear guest, the weather is hot. Why don¡¯t you get a big bowl of tea to quench your thirst?¡± ¡°Give me three bowls.¡± An Jing had not had any water since he came out of the county office. At this moment, he also felt thirsty and sat down immediately. ¡°Alright, please take a seat.¡± The waiter shouted into the room, ¡°Three bowls of tea!¡± An Jing sat down slowly and looked around. In front of him was a woman in her thirties. She had a curvy figure. Coupled with her beautiful face that was slightly powdered, she perfectly portrayed the appearance of a mature woman. Every move she made gave off a feeling that made men¡¯s minds go wild. Other than the woman, there were also a few burly men with carriages and goods parked beside them. From their words, they seemed to be people from an escort company. As the few dart masters spoke, their eyes constantly drifted towards the beautiful and mature woman, and a trace of greed flashed past their eyes. An Jing did not mind. After all, it was not his fault. ¡°Sir, here¡¯s the three bowls of tea.¡± Shortly after, the waiter came over with three bowls of tea. An Jing stopped the waiter and asked, ¡°Waiter, is the Qing River Dock not far away?¡± The waiter pointed at the official road and enthusiastically said, ¡°That¡¯s right, do you want to go to the Qing River Dock? You¡¯ll be able to reach there after walking along the road for twenty miles. Do you want to take a boat? Then you will need to hurry later. There¡¯s only one passenger boat every afternoon and it will stop taking people once it¡¯s full.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks.¡± An Jing nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The waiter shook his cloth napkin and continued shouting. Just as An Jing was about to drink a large bowl of tea and prepare to leave, the well-rounded and mature woman in front of him walked over. She smiled and said, ¡°You are heading to the Qing River Dock?¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong?¡± An Jing felt as if there was a surging tide in front of him. The mature woman smiled and said, ¡°I also intend to go to Qing River Crossing. How about we go together?¡± Her charming laughter was soul-stirring, as if it wanted to draw out the deepest desires of men. If it was summarized, it would be ¡®slutty¡¯. Even the waiter and shopkeeper in the distance would glance over from time to time, secretly swallowing their saliva. When the few escorts heard the woman¡¯s words, they looked at An Jing with hostility. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s inconvenient.¡± An Jing was not an inexperienced boy. He had come out this time to search for the Bodhi Bead and did not want to be involved in any trouble. It was only a few dozen miles and they had to travel together? ¡°Little brother, are you really not considering it?¡± The mature woman pursed her lips as a gentle wave seemed to surge through her eyes. There was something wrong with this woman. ¡°No thanks.¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m used to being alone.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± The woman looked disappointed. Then, she picked up her bag and left. Upon seeing the lady leave, the few dartsmen hurriedly put down their money and followed her. ¡°Second Uncle, look at the Three Lakes dartsmen!¡± When the waiter saw this scene, how could he not know what was going on? Those burly dartsmen did not even take away their goods. They followed behind the beautiful and mature woman. Their intentions were clear. If he followed, it would definitely be a huge battle. The shopkeeper frowned and looked into the distance without saying anything. ¡°Second uncle, should we report this?¡± Slap! Before he could finish his sentence, the shopkeeper slapped him hard. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind,¡± the shopkeeper snapped, ¡°the Three Lakes dartsmen are backed by the Three Lakes Gang. If you let them know you¡¯re reporting to the authorities, they¡¯ll skin you tomorrow and turn you into a lantern to hang on a tree.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in the affairs of the martial world.¡± The waiter looked at the departing figure, his heart thumping wildly. It was as if some scenes had already been painted into his mind. He could not help but sigh, ¡°Second uncle, it¡¯s so good to be in the martial world!¡± ¡°Good my ass!¡± The shopkeeper laughed coldly. ¡°If you dare to enter the martial world, you don¡¯t need anyone to do anything. I¡¯ll skin you alive right now so that you don¡¯t die in the hands of others. Then I will not need to collect your corpse in the future.¡± An Jing shook his head and felt that the shopkeeper was right. He drank three bowls of tea in one go, put down ten copper coins, and set off along the official road. On the official road, the road was flat. Moreover, the journey of twenty miles was less than half an hour for An Jing. The forest was dense, and they did not encounter anyone else along the way. Suddenly, An Jing smelled blood and stopped in his tracks. After walking a few steps along the forest, he found three crooked corpses lying on the ground. They were the three dartsmen. ¡°It seems that woman is not an ordinary person.¡± An Jing looked at the wounds on the dartsmen¡¯s corpse. All of them had been killed in one hit. There was a hint of shock and disbelief in his eyes. This meant that he had died very quickly in the blink of an eye. The dartsmen were all rather powerful in the martial arts world. They were much stronger than the average person and new disciples of the sect. Most of them were at least Rank Six, Rank Five, or even Rank Four. However, the three of them were killed in one move. This was enough to show that the person who killed them was powerful enough. At the very least, that person was an expert above Rank Three. In the martial world, it was hard to tell if one was an expert or a commoner if one did not use their inner Qi. One could only tell if they were an expert or a commoner if they released their inner Qi slightly. However, some experts in the martial world had cultivated the Qi retraction technique which increased the difficulty. However, most martial artists in the martial world would reveal some of their inner Qi. Firstly, many people would not be able to control their inner Qi and secondly, they would be able to avoid unnecessary trouble. Therefore, the waters in the martial world were very deep. ¡°It¡¯s best not to interfere in the affairs of the martial world.¡± An Jing shook his head and continued running along the road towards Qing River Crossing.. Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At the Qing River Crossing¡­ The Qing River Crossing was the ancient crossing of Yuzhou City. It was left behind by the Zhou Dynasty last year. From the east side of the canal to the Yuzhou City, one had to cross the Yuzhou River. Therefore, the Yuzhou River gave rise to countless crossings. Most of the salt boats that came from the East Ocean were on the docks of Yuzhou City. There were also passenger boats that came from afar by the river. Relying on the prosperity of the ferry, a small town gradually grew out of this place. This was because this crossing was previously called Head Ferry. Later on, it was changed to Qing River Crossing, and this small town was called Ferry Town. At this time, people were coming and going on Qing River Crossing. It was bustling with activity. An Jing stood at a corner of the ferry and looked at the merchant ships coming and going. At this moment, the sun was shining brightly on the water. ¡°This should be it.¡± An Jing used his internal energy to cover his body. Holding his sword in his arms, he jumped into the river like a fish. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The river water was cold and refreshing. An Jing¡¯s body swayed as he charged down the river. The river water was clear, fish swam around him. An Jing did not use his internal energy and could only see about ten feet. The further down he went, the less sunlight there was and the darker it became. At this moment, a huge wave of water pressure came. The most direct observation was his ears. An Jing felt that his hearing ability was gradually decreasing. Then, there was the situation around him. The huge darkness corroded him, causing him to see less and less things. In the end, he could only see things that were about one meter around him. Other than that, there was also the pressure of the water that continuously squeezed through his internal organs. If it was someone with shallow internal energy, they might not be able to endure it after diving for over a hundred feet because they still needed to breathe. Most importantly, there was an unknown fear. Suddenly, he realized that there seemed to be a bottomless ravine ahead. The crossing was usually very shallow and could not be very deep. As for this ravine, others clearly did not know about it. Was he supposed to have gone down from there? An Jing was moved and swam towards the ravine. At first, An Jing knew how many feet he had dived. After about 200 feet, he lost the ability to judge. He could only feel that he was still diving downwards, and his speed was becoming slower and slower. However, he was not sure how far he had dived. The Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique circulated in his body at all times to resist the surging water pressure. Suddenly, An Jing felt as if his feet had touched something. He looked down. There was an abandoned ship under his feet with seaweed growing beside it. An Jing was standing at the bow of the ship. ¡°Finally!¡± An Jing looked at the broken boat and knew that he had reached the bottom of the Qing River Dock. Next, he had to find the boulder that Jiang Sanjia mentioned. An Jing stepped on the bottom of the river and swam forward. At the bottom of the river that was 300 feet deep, it was much more difficult to move than on the ground. However, this was all targeted at ordinary people. Ffft! Ffft! The inner force in An Jing¡¯s body surged, trying to disperse the surrounding water and form a vacuum. Some of the creatures in the surrounding seabed seemed to have sensed the abnormality, and as if they were alarmed, they fled frantically towards the surroundings. One had to know that this place was 300 feet deep. The water pressure was extremely high and it was extremely difficult for An Jing to use his inner force to create a light shield. ¡°Huff!¡± An Jing heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°The internal energy in my body won¡¯t last long either. I have to find the Bodhi Bead as soon as possible.¡± At the bottom of such a river, the water pressure was terrifyingly high. Every breath was extremely draining. With this thought in mind, An Jing walked around in search of boulders. At the bottom of the river, other than some sunken ships, some creatures that never saw light all day long, there were also some rotten bones and a lot of random things. Although An Jing¡¯s internal energy forced out a light shield, his speed was not fast. ¡°Mm!?¡± Suddenly, a huge black stone appeared in front of them. An Jing¡¯s heart stirred as he slowly walked over. This black stone was extremely large like a mountain, causing others to exclaim in admiration. ¡°Could this be the boulder that Jiang Sanjia mentioned? But why does it feel a little strange?¡± An Jing surrounded the black stone, but his heart was beating wildly. He felt the impulse! A true expert would always have a warning for danger. Some people called it a sudden impulse, some called it a sixth sense, but they were all predicting danger ahead of time. An Jing started to circle around the black stone. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that this black stone was very strange. ¡°These are scales?¡± The black stone was densely packed with patterns. It looked hard and shiny, and An Jing could sense a fierce aura from it. Baleful aura! The last time he had felt this aura was five years ago, when An Jing had been in the ancient battlefield. It was murderous aura! A towering murderous aura! It was the biggest battle between Yan and Zhou Dynasty. It was said that that war helped to establish the complete Great Yan Kingdom. In that war, more than 700,000 soldiers died on both sides, resulting in rivers of blood and mountains of corpses at the battlefield. The smell of blood soared to fifteen kilometers away. In the next ten years, one could still almost hear the horn of the battlefield every full moon. Hundreds of years had passed since that battle, but An Jing could still feel the murderous aura from the city walls. Because there were 700,000 souls buried underground. Thus, every year, the grandest festival was the Qingming Festival. Countless people would burn paper on the streets to pray for the peace of the people on the ground. The vital energy he sensed this time was different from the last time. The vital energy of the ancient battlefield had dispersed, or it could be said that it had been buried underground. However, the aura he felt was real. The powerful impact felt different standing on an ancient battlefield. The more An Jing thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong. He subconsciously touched the black stone with his palm, and a cold feeling entered his body. At the same time, a baleful aura rushed into his body. ¡°This is bad!¡± An Jing wanted to circulate his internal energy to resist the murderous aura, but it was already too late. The cold murderous aura rushed into his dantian. Although there was only a trace of ice-cold killing intent, it was extremely violent. The Zenith Heaven Cultivation Technique belonged to the True Martial level, not the Extreme Yang Cultivation Technique. It was extremely difficult to eliminate this baleful aura. After regulating his breathing for several dozen times, An Jing barely managed to temporarily suppress this baleful Qi. If he wanted to completely obliterate it, he would need another hour. The baneful aura would devour his body and strengthen itself. The longer the baneful aura remained in the body, the greater the damage to the body. But in this place, he did not have that much time to erase this baleful aura. ¡°I¡¯d better find the Bodhi Bead soon¡­¡± An Jing raised his brows slightly and took a few steps forward, searching for Wanderer Wudi¡¯s corpse. A True Martial level treasure was enough to cause a bloody storm in the martial world. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I noticed? Could it be that I¡¯ve really been played by Jiang Sanjia?¡± An Jing frowned. However, at the next moment, the scene before him completely stunned him.. Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In front of him was the head of a huge python. The head of the python was 30 feet wide, and its triangular eyes were closed. On both sides of its cheeks was a tumor that looked like small wings. This huge monster seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, but it still gave off an extremely powerful pressure. Hiss! An Jing could not help but gasp. How was this a black stone? It was obviously a mutated beast. The black stone that he had been surrounding was nothing more than its massive head. There was actually such a terrifying monster hidden beneath Qing River Crossing! An Jing¡¯s heart was beating wildly. Even though this mutated beast was sleeping, it could still give him such a terrifying pressure. What kind of terrifying existence would it be if it woke up? One had to know that he was a Rank One cultivator. However, the strange beast in the deep sleep was still unable to breathe. ¡°It is rumored that snakes devour essence energy and can become pythons. If a python cultivates for a thousand years, it can become an anaconda. If anaconda cultivates for a thousand years, it can become a wyrm. Is this a real anaconda?¡± An Jing recalled the records he had read in the ancient text and said in disbelief, ¡°If there really is an anaconda, then it¡¯s possible that there are also wyrms.¡± All along, An Jing had thought that legends about such beasts were just fabricated. He did not expect it to really appear one day and it was right in front of him. ¡°Does it have a Golden Core in its body? Will the Golden Core that consumes it condense into Earth Flowers, Heaven Flowers, and then combine to reach the Grandmaster level?¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the blood and bones of mutant beasts. They¡¯re all treasures.¡± An Jing was like an ant as he stood in front of the huge anaconda and swallowed his saliva. Right at this moment, the Earth Book began to emit a golden light. ¡°Prompt 2: The host is close to the beast, the 1,000-year Black Anaconda. The 1,000-year Black Anaconda is still sleeping. If it is awakened, the host will obtain an unprecedented black opportunity.¡± ¡°Prompt 3: The 1,000-year-old Black Azure opportunity is a Beast of Heaven and Earth. If you kill it or subdue it, you can obtain the azure opportunity.¡± ¡°Prompt 4: Host has an ownerless treasure (Bodhi Bead) nearby.¡± ¡­ An Jing looked at the series of notifications from the Earth Book and licked his lips. An unprecedented black opportunity? Could it be another transmigration? Then forget it. My wife is still waiting for me to come home for dinner. An Jing took a deep breath and carefully looked at the thousand-year black anaconda in front of him, afraid to wake it up. Then, he began to carefully move around the 1,000-year-old Black Anaconda, searching for the Bodhi Bead. ¡°Why did Wanderer Wudi¡¯s corpse disappear? Could it be that it was swallowed by this thousand-year-old Black Anaconda?¡± An Jing thought of something and a drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. If he was really swallowed by the 1000-year Black Anaconda, then all his efforts until now would have been for nothing. An Jing gritted his teeth and continued to search for Wanderer Wudi¡¯s corpse according to the map. After walking around for a while, he seemed to have arrived at the tailbone of the 1,000-year Black Anaconda. An Jing discovered that there was half a skeleton underneath the tail of the 1,000-year Black Anaconda. ¡°Could it be this?¡± An Jing walked over carefully. The bones had long rotted, turning into white bones. There was a red light at the ribs and arm bones. ¡°Bodhi Bead!?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes lit up and he walked over quickly. The fiery red bead lay quietly on the corpse, emitting a faint glow, like a ball of fire burning in the night. The supreme Buddhist charm was still flowing, even though it had been buried under the river for several years. ¡°What a treasure!¡± An Jing stretched his hand out and carefully put away the Bodhi Bead. Instantly, a warm feeling spread from his palm into his body. A wave of scorching flames surged out from his dantian and the trace of baleful aura that was in his body earlier was completely incinerated. ¡°Leave this place quickly.¡± An Jing played with the Bodhi Bead and carefully left the 1000-year Black Anaconda. If he accidentally woke up this monster, he would be in big trouble. This beast had lived for at least a thousand years. It was a terrifying existence. It was very uncomfortable to dive down, but it was much easier to float up. Plop! The moment An Jing rushed out of the water, water splashed everywhere. His body leaped and landed on the tree trunk like a fallen leaf. As he circulated his internal energy, the water droplets on his body evaporated. ¡°The Bodhi Bead is in my hands.¡± An Jing took out the Bodhi Bead and looked at it. It was a stone the size of an egg with a golden Buddhist aura flowing around it. It felt extremely hot in his hand. Extreme Yang Pureness! Sensing the extreme yang energy coming from the Bodhi Bead, An Jing started to ponder. If he had the Bodhi Bead to assist his cultivation, his cultivation speed would increase by more than two times. As expected of a Buddhist treasure! Now that he had just condensed the Man Flower, his cultivation was still not stable enough. He would probably need some time to consolidate his realm, and when the time came, he would condense the Earth Flower and Heaven Flower. At his current age, let alone in the current martial world, he was a unique existence in the entire history. ¡°Let¡¯s go home and eat.¡± An Jing put away the Bodhi Bead and dashed towards the city. ¡­ At the dining table, there were stir-fried mountain herbs, wood ears, stewed beef, stir-fried autumn sunflowers, steamed eggs, and fragrant black rice on the table. Just looking at it made one¡¯s appetite surge. ¡°Darling, the dishes today are really delicious,¡± An Jing said while holding a piece of chinese yam. After a busy day, his gentle and virtuous wife prepared a meal and waited for him to return home. Wasn¡¯t this the ideal life for a man? ¡°Of course. I made these specially for you.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up a piece of autumn sunflower and placed it in An Jing¡¯s bowl. ¡°Special¡­?¡± An Jing looked at the dishes on the table. ¡°That¡¯s right, these are all great supplements.¡± Zhao Qingmei pouted coquettishly and said, ¡°Husband, every medicine has its own toxicity. You should take less medicine in the future.¡± An Jing laughed dryly. ¡°Oh right, where¡¯s Tan Yun? She¡¯s the most enthusiastic when it comes to eating.¡± ¡°Young Master, Young Master, I¡¯m here.¡± Just then, Tan Yun came over carrying a plate of crabs. ¡°Look at the crabs I made for you. These are the specialties from Weishan Lake in Linjiang City.¡± Yuzhou had many rivers. Crabs were not expensive. ¡°Did you make crabs?¡± When An Jing saw the crabs, his appetite was instantly aroused. ¡°I love eating crabs from Weishan Lake. They are delicious and juicy, with tender meat and crab roe.¡± Zhao Qingmei was gentle, understanding and virtuous. Her servant was quick-witted and lively. It was said that she grew up together with Zhao Qingmei and they were like sisters. Even after Zhao Qingmei¡¯s family had fallen, she still refused to leave them. Ever since Zhao Qingmei married him, she had always been the one cooking. She had never heard of Tan Yun cooking before, so she decided to have a taste of it today. ¡°Wait a moment, young master.¡± Just as An Jing was about to start eating, Tan Yun stopped him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± An Jing asked curiously. Tan Yun pinched the corner of her clothes and said shyly, ¡°Young master, Xiaoyun has a presumptuous request that I don¡¯t know if I should tell you.¡± When An Jing saw this, for the first time, he understood the phrase ¡°acting coy¡±. Zhao Qingmei said, ¡°Darling, it¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s just that Tan Yun¡¯s Third Master is coming to Yuzhou City to seek refuge with us. He used to manage the accounts room in my family for a period of time. We are not that close. Besides, I think there are already enough people in this small pharmacy.¡± Zhao Qingmei then winked at An Jing. When An Jing saw the look in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes, he instantly understood what she meant. He smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that he¡¯s here. It¡¯ll be more lively with more people around. At most, we¡¯ll just get someone to help him find a job.¡± Zhao Qingmei put down her chopsticks angrily and thought to herself, ¡®This dumb*ss¡­¡¯ ¡°Young master, you¡¯re the best.¡± Tan Yun was pleasantly surprised. Zhao Qingmei frowned and thought to herself, My husband really agreed to it. To think that I even hinted to him. ¡°Can we eat this crab now?¡± ¡°Eat, eat. Young master, you can eat as much as you want. There¡¯s more in the pot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to eat crabs with vinegar.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you now. If you want to eat it in the future, I¡¯ll cook it every day.¡± Watching Tan Yun run into the kitchen, An Jing shook his head and laughed. ¡°I can finally eat crabs.¡± As he spoke, he extended his chopsticks toward the crab. When his chopsticks reached a crab, the crab extended its pincers and clamped his chopsticks firmly. An Jing was confused. The crab raised its eyes as if to say, ¡°Are you familiar with this? Stop touching.¡± ¡­¡­. Chapter 20 - Unknown Opportunity, Zhou Xianming Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it because of the baneful aura at the bottom of the river?¡± After the meal, An Jing felt a little tired and fell asleep on the bed. ¡°Darling, why did you agree to it?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked An Jing who was lying on the bed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to agree?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to agree!¡± ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ve already agreed. One more person simply means one more pair of chopsticks.¡± Zhao Qingmei really wanted to say that it was not that simple. ¡°Sleep early. You¡¯ve been busy all afternoon.¡± An Jing yawned and took off his coat. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping so early?¡± Zhao Qingmei licked her lips and kept glancing at An Jing. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired.¡± After An Jing returned from Qing River Crossing, he felt a little tired. Perhaps it was because of the baneful energy entering his body. Although it had been expelled by the Bodhi Bead, it still made him feel very tired. ¡°Brother!¡± Zhao Qingmei crawled over and wrapped her long legs around An Jing¡¯s thigh while her hand slipped into his underwear. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s do it tomorrow. I¡¯m really tired today.¡± An Jing felt like he was about to fall asleep. ¡°Brother, I learned a new trick.¡± Zhao Qingmei bit An Jing¡¯s ear and blew on it. ¡°Sure, show it to me tomorrow,¡± An Jing said weakly. ¡°I want to show you today.¡± Zhao Qingmei refused to give up and continued to move her hand downwards. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± An Jing felt very comfortable, but he still lay like a dead person. ¡°You ate the food for nothing,¡± complained Zhao Qingmei as she patted An Jing¡¯s cheek. But An Jing was already asleep, and there was only the soft sound of breathing. ¡°An Jing, get up!¡± ¡­ Yuzhou City, in a quiet courtyard, several men in linen clothes stood on both sides of the courtyard. They each held an orange-red lantern in their hands, lighting up the entire courtyard as if it was daytime. Cao Gang wore linen clothes. This was something that everyone knew. In the middle of the courtyard, a limping old man was brandishing a knife in his hand. The corners of his robes fluttered with the wind, and he held a pair of scimitars in his hands. The wind from the scimitar was strange. It made people shudder as if a malicious spirit was crying. ¡°Brother Tie!¡± A hearty laugh was heard, and Hong Yuanwu walked into the courtyard wearing a cloak. ¡°Lord Hong!¡± The limping old man who was practicing with his scimitar kept his scimitar and apologized to Hong Yuanwu. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to get you here,¡± said Hong Yuanwu. The old man in front of him was none other than one of Cao Gang¡¯s Seven Great Vajras, Tie Yunshan. Cao Gang¡¯s 36 Branch Masters were in charge of various territories, while the Seven Great Vajras were in charge of the headquarters. They were even more infamous and were all top-notch experts. Some people once said that the 36 Branch Masters were not very famous in the martial world. In that case, any one of the Seven Great Vajra Masters was a renowned expert in the martial world. Any one of them was enough to establish a sect in the martial world. In his early years, Tie Yunshan had roamed the martial world for dozens of years. He relied on a pair of scimitars to travel through the martial world. Countless experts had died in his hands. Later on, he offended the head of the Su Clan in Taihu Ming City and was hunted down. In the end, he fought back and killed dozens of Su Clan¡¯s experts, including the head of the Su Clan at that time. He caused the Su Clan¡¯s Old Ancestor to personally take action. In the end, in order to survive, he severed one of his legs and threw himself into Cao Gang to protect himself. Cao Gang was powerful, Liu Qingshan was even more unyielding, the Su Clan could only suffer this huge loss. Among Cao Gang¡¯s many experts, mobilizing the Seven Great Vajras was extremely rare. Speaking of which, their friendship was pretty strong. Initially, Hong Yuanwu was not a member of the Black Clothes Guard. He was also a martial artist. His personality was also arrogant and overbearing. At that time, both of them were in the Jiangnan Dao area. He and Tie Yunshan could be said to have become friends through fighting. Later on, Hong Yuanwu joined the Black Clothes Guard. From then on, he wore official robes and lived off the Imperial Court. When Tie Yunshan was being hunted down by the Su Clan, Hong Yuanwu mediated and exerted quite a bit of effort. Although he was unable to resolve the grudge in the end, this caused the relationship between the two to become even deeper. Tie Yunshan took a deep breath and said, ¡°This is no small matter. Haoping has a close relationship with me, and you know my character. It¡¯s impossible for me not to come.¡± Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly. He naturally knew that Tie Yunshan valued loyalty. Liu Haoping had an extremely good relationship with him. Now that he had been killed in Yuzhou City, he naturally would not remain indifferent. Hong Yuanwu said solemnly, ¡°That mysterious swordsman is at the peak of second-grade. I think he¡¯s at least at the peak of second-grade.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve observed that sword strike. It¡¯s capable.¡± Tie Yunshan sneered, ¡°But I am not a nobody, especially with Brother Hong here.¡± ¡®Flying Arrow Tie Yunshan Under the Moon¡¯ was his alias in the martial world. ¡°The two of us will have a great chance if we attack.¡± Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly. Not only was Cao Gang on the wanted list for the mysterious swordsman, but the Imperial Court was also present. Tie Yunshan nodded slightly and said, ¡°I have three reasons for coming to Yuzhou City. Please lend me a hand.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to say anything about our friendship. I will naturally lend you a hand.¡± Hong Yuanwu asked, ¡°What is your motive?¡± ¡°Capture two alive.¡± ¡°Which two?¡± ¡°Jiang Sanjia, Mu Xiaoyun.¡± ¡°Mu Xiaoyun?¡± Hong Yuanwu frowned and said in disbelief, ¡°Her? Is there a mistake?¡± Cao Gang wanted to capture Mu Xiaoyun!? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Tie Yunshan was silent for a long time before replying. ¡­ The next day, An Jing woke up early. ¡°Darling, didn¡¯t you put any medicine in the porridge today?¡± An Jing stared at Zhao Qingmei, who was busy sorting out the herbs. In the past, Zhao Qingmei would usually put Chinese medicinal walnuts, lotus seeds, and other herbs in the porridge she cooked in the morning. However, there was none today. It was just plain porridge. ¡°It¡¯s useless even if you eat it. I¡¯ll not cook it anymore,¡± Zhao Qingmei raised her head and said calmly. ¡°Indeed. The taste of the mixture of those medicines is a little strange. The taste of the porridge with some pickled vegetables is the best.¡± An Jing nodded and continued unknowingly. ¡°Then I won¡¯t cook porridge anymore.¡± ¡°Sure, change to something else.¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing before walking toward the backyard out of spite. Before An Jing knew what had happened, Lil Blackie ran to his feet. ¡°Little thing, it¡¯s only been two days and you¡¯ve already become rounder.¡± An Jing reached out and stroked Lil Blackie¡¯s body. ¡°Woof!¡± Upon hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Lil Blackie quickly ran away. ¡°This little thing! I fed you for nothing.¡± The afternoon was very comfortable. Under the shade of the dense green trees, the slightly mottled and gray white walls of the ancient house in Jiangnan faced the unchanging little bridge and flowing water. The golden silk and soft willow trees and shadows rippled, and the sound of the yellow orioles passing by could be heard. The shadows of boats could be seen drifting past the Yuzhou River and the surface of the water sparkled with golden light. An Jing picked up a tobacco pouch and a small stool on the wall, intending to go to the tea house next door to listen to stories and drink tea. Before he reached the door, he was informed by the teahouse worker that Zhou Xianming was not there. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Mr. Zhou?¡± An Jing found it strange. ¡°It¡¯s rare for him to not come to the teahouse for three consecutive days. Logically speaking, he should have recovered from his cold. Did something happen?¡± Whoosh! The Earth Book emitted a golden light and a new notification appeared. An Jing¡¯s thoughts entered the book. ¡°Prompt: Zhou Xianming might have an unknown opportunity..¡± Chapter 21 - Sound of Zither on a Yuzhou Night Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At the Spring Breeze Alley, An Jing arrived at Zhou Xianming¡¯s house. Knock Knock! ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s me, An Jing,¡± An Jing shouted softly. Creak! As the door opened, Zhou Xianming, whose face was still slightly bruised, poked his head out. He then looked around and urged, ¡°Doctor An, come in quickly.¡± An Jing walked into the house and could not help but ask, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Zhou Xianming definitely did not look like he had caught a cold. He was clearly beaten up! ¡°Sigh!¡± Zhou Xianming sighed heavily and said, ¡°Make yourself comfortable and take a seat.¡± ¡°This¡­ where to sit?¡± Anjing looked around the room. Zhou Xianming¡¯s house was not big. The house he lived in was rented from a dentist. It was only about twenty square meters. The facilities in the house were very simple. There was a table, a few chairs, and a big bed. There was a stove in the corner. The house was very messy. There were brushes, inkstones, bowls and basins everywhere. Moreover, there seemed to be some porridge in the pot. The only thing placed neatly was a bookshelf on the west side. It was filled with books. ¡°What happened?¡± An Jing asked curiously. Could it be that someone had come back to take revenge on Zhou Xianming? ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve done.¡± Zhou Xianming sat on the chair and sighed. ¡°Doctor An, there are some things you shouldn¡¯t ask.¡± The skills of the person in black who came late at night were extraordinary. It was not something that a weak doctor or scholar could handle. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you?¡± An Jing glanced at the messy kitchen and asked. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Zhou Xianming waved his hand. Then, he thought of something and said, ¡°Doctor An, I know you¡¯re a benevolent doctor. Can you treat me?¡± An Jing smiled and said, ¡°You only suffered from some superficial wounds. You can come with me to my house later to apply some ointment.¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly waved his hand. ¡°Doctor An, I¡¯m not talking about this superficial wound.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a superficial wound?¡± An Jing frowned. Could it be that Zhou Xianming had internal injuries? He actually could not tell. ¡°I am suffering from lovesickness.¡± Zhou Xianming lowered his head and coughed. ¡°Lovesickness?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Ever since I saw Miss Li Yue on the pleasure boat last time, I¡¯ve been unable to control myself, unable to sleep at night, unable to eat or sleep. I¡¯ve been tossing and turning, my mind filled with her shadow.¡± ¡°Then how can I treat you?¡± ¡°Doctor An, I¡¯d like to listen to some music at the brothel.¡± An Jing was stunned. He did not expect Zhou Xianming to be so thick-skinned that he would let him bring him to have fun. In his impression, Zhou Xianming was a very timid scholar. However, the moment he mentioned the music, it was as if he had changed into a different person. There was even a glint in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a scholar.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with scholars?¡± Zhou Xianming stood up and said righteously, ¡°Isn¡¯t it only right and proper for us scholars to curry favor and listen to music? It¡¯s precisely because of our studies that we have to go to curry favor and listen to music. If we don¡¯t save these girls who have gone down the wrong track, how can we save our country and the world in the future?¡± It was precisely because he was a scholar that he had to go to the brothel to listen to music. Seeing Zhou Xianming so impassioned, even An Jing was shocked. Was there such a thing? ¡°Doctor An, are you going?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡­ On the Yuzhou River, the lanterns were lit and the lights on both sides of the river shone brightly. Countless pleasure boats floated on the Yuzhou River, and the beautiful courtesans on the pleasure boats raised their wine goblets and sang endlessly. ¡°Doctor An, have you been to this Red Mansion¡¯s pleasure boat before?¡± Zhou Xianming stood at the bow of the boat. He wore white clothes and held a folding fan in his hand, looking like an indecent man. Beside him, the boatman rowed toward the pleasure boat in the middle of the river. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never come to such a place.¡± An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve come to such a place.¡± ¡°Doctor An¡¯s wife is as beautiful as a dazzling celestial fairy. It¡¯s normal that he doesn¡¯t like the low-class women here.¡± Zhou Xianming nodded to express his understanding. Then, he said with a yearning expression, ¡°But Miss Li Yue is different. She is a lotus flower that is untainted by mud.¡± What was the difference? It was just a matter of the price. An Jing rolled his eyes. Before long, the boat¡¯s bow had reached the Red Mansion pleasure boat. They saw that the pleasure boat was decorated beautifully and exquisitely. Above the rippling water, from time to time, the sound of orioles and swallows could be heard from the pleasure boat. It was like a continuous stream, and a procuress with heavy makeup was warmly welcoming guests. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t this Doctor An?¡± The madam¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw An Jing. ¡°You haven¡¯t been here for a long time. The ladies miss you.¡± Zhou Xianming was confused. ¡®Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ve never come here before?¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t this your first time here?¡¯ An Jingyi said righteously, ¡°Mother Zhao, you can¡¯t say that. I¡¯ve never been to such a place.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Doctor An has never been here before.¡± The old procuress smiled as she beckoned for An Jing and Zhou Xianming to enter the boat. An Jing took out a tael of silver from his chest pocket. Entering the cruise liner required one to pay the entrance fee, and each person was asked for five hundred copper coins. The two of them just happened to have a tael of silver. This was his hard-earned money. In the past, when he needed money, he would borrow some from Yuzhou¡¯s wealthy merchants. However, he rarely did that recently, so this one tael of silver was the consultation fee that Han Wenxin had given him a few days ago. In the center of the pleasure boat, there was a woman playing an ancient zither. The woman was beautiful and wore a veil. Her curvaceous figure made people¡¯s hearts beat faster. Below her, there were dozens of seats. At this moment, most of the seats were already filled with people. Most of the people on this pleasure boat were courtesans. They only played the zither and sang and was not not in charge of receiving guests. However, if the guests were willing to pay a large sum of money to win the hearts of these women, they would be more than happy to receive guests. All of this depended on one¡¯s ability. An Jing and Zhou Xianming found a seat and sat down. ¡°That¡¯s Lady Li Yue.¡± A hint of intoxication appeared in Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes as he looked at the woman on the stage. The sound of the zither was crisp and pleasant. ¡°The sound of the zither is really good.¡± An Jing nodded. At this moment, a beautiful maid walked over with two pots of wine. ¡°Please enjoy.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± An Jing took out another tael of silver. In this pleasure boat, they had to pay for the drinks and the girls, and they were very expensive. One tael of silver was equivalent to one thousand copper coins, while three copper coins were equivalent to one stick of candied fruits. One tael of silver could buy three hundred candied fruits. When the servant took over An Jing¡¯s silver, she gently swiped her finger across An Jing¡¯s palm. ¡°I am Man Yue. Young Master, remember this well.¡± As she said that, her pair of charming eyes were filled with radiance. There were not many customers who were so good-looking and generous. ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing nodded slightly, calm and composed. Seeing that An Jing did not say anything, Man Yue was slightly disappointed but she still left obediently. Meanwhile, Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes were fixed on Li Yue above him. His face was flushed red as if he was mesmerized.. Chapter 22 - Scorpio Beauty Mu Xiaoyun Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Soon, the song ended. Li Yue glanced below the stage, stood up, and said, ¡°Li Yue thanks everyone for showing me support tonight.¡± Her voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of charm. ¡°Miss Li Yue is too polite.¡± ¡°Yeah, too polite.¡± ¡­ Everyone politely raised their cups in response. Even though his heart was already itching, he still maintained his good behavior. ¡°Good! Great good! To be able to hear Miss Li Yue¡¯s ¡®Guan Shan Yue¡¯ is truly our honor. It¡¯s a fortunate thing in this life!¡± At that moment, a loud shout resounded in the cruise liner. The person who spoke was none other than Zhou Xianming. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face was red with excitement. But he did not have to have such a huge reaction¡­ An Jing was so frightened by the sudden shout that his cup almost trembled. If one did not know that he was shouting at another singer, one would think that he had gotten the placing of a top scholar in school. Li Yue covered his mouth and said with a light smile, ¡°Young Master Zhou, you are flattering me. Thank you Young Master Zhou for coming to support me again. If I have the time, I would like to invite Young Master Zhou for a drink to express my gratitude.¡± Every frown and smile disturbed his mind. Zhou Xianming¡¯s heart was beating wildly and uncontrollably. ¡°Brother Zhou, she¡¯s gone.¡± After a while, An Jing patted Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Doctor An.¡± Zhou Xianming came back to his senses and said excitedly, ¡°Did you hear that?¡± ¡°Hear what?¡± ¡°There were so many people, but Lady Li Yue only said one sentence to me. Didn¡¯t you hear her?¡± ¡°I heard it.¡± An Jing glanced at Zhou Xianming. Old licker¡­ It seemed that he should not believe in this unknown lucky chance. However, he had already spent two taels of silver. If he did not continue to wait, he would not be satisfied. ¡°She definitely meant what she said. Absolutely.¡± Zhou Xianming clenched his fists. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much.¡± An Jing sighed. ¡°This won¡¯t end well.¡± ¡°Think about it. Why didn¡¯t she tell anyone else? Why did she only tell me?¡± Zhou Xianming asked seriously. ¡°Well¡­¡± An Jing was speechless. At that time, you were the loudest and the words you shouted were the weirdest. What did she see in you? A pauper in his thirties or an ugly man? Of course, he could not say these words out loud. ¡°She¡¯s hinting at me.¡± Zhou Xianming slammed the table. ¡°What did she hint at?¡± ¡°Undying love is always extremely difficult. It¡¯s not tolerated by the secular world. She must be extremely distressed and cannot reveal her feelings to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°How much does it cost to redeem a courtesan?¡± Zhou Xianming did not listen to An Jing¡¯s words at all. His mind was filled with what Li Yue had told him just now. He felt that Li Yue¡¯s words were directed at him. ¡°You want to use public funds for private reasons?¡± An Jing asked in surprise. Indeed, the old saying was right. Love could easily get into one¡¯s head, but Zhou Xianming¡¯s rush was too fierce. It looked like his blood vessels had ruptured. Even if she was a courtesan, her background was very poor. Zhou Xianming was a scholar afterall and had great achievements with a relatively high status in the Great Yan Dynasty. In history books or miscellaneous records, there were mostly stories of scholars falling in love with courtesans, but the truth was somewhat melodramatic and unacceptable. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Zhou Xianming glared at him when he heard that. He looked like he would flip the table if he said another word. ¡°Redemption is very expensive. Li Yue is a courtesan. The entire cruise liner is supported by her. It costs at least a few hundred coins.¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡®You poor thing, forget it. Even if you redeem yourself, you don¡¯t have the money to maintain it.¡¯ ¡°Brother An, these are just small amounts.¡± Zhou Xianming shook his head. ¡°True love is priceless.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± An Jing did not want to argue with Zhou Xianming about these meaningless things. ¡°Continue another round. I¡¯ll pay you back when I have money.¡± Zhou Xianming poured himself a glass of wine. Someone who had never been able to fork out money actually felt that a few hundred coins were nothing¡­ An Jing took out a tael of silver and threw it to the servant beside him. He then walked out to get some fresh air. As night fell, moonlight casted over the river. The surrounding pleasure boats weaved about and the atmosphere was extremely lively. ¡°Prompt 3: Unknown opportunity has been unlocked. There is an azure opportunity in the pleasure boat. Obtaining this opportunity can increase one¡¯s ability.¡± ¡°Mm? Increase ability!?¡± Hearing this, An Jing was shocked. One had to know that the reason why he could reach Rank One in such a short period of time was mostly because his ability was a heaven-gifted genius. If his ability was not bad, he should end up becoming the leader of a top sect in the future. Such an ability was already rare in the present world. It was a first-rate existence. Now, there was actually an opportunity to improve his ability. This was simply an enormous fortuitous encounter! An Jing¡¯s heart sank as he looked around. The Earth Book sensed a seemingly ordinary pleasure boat. An Jing returned to the pleasure boat and found Man Yue. ¡°This is five taels of silver. Arrange a room for me.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Man Yue was overjoyed as she quickly replied. ¡­ The waves of the ship rippled and flowed with the wind. In the pleasure boat, there was only a table, a pot of tea, four cups, and a few praying mats. It was extremely simple. Beside the table sat a middle-aged Daoist priest dressed in black. The Daoist priest¡¯s expression was slightly gloomy. If An Jing were here, he would definitely be able to recognize the person in front of him. It was the Divine Foresight, Jiang Sanjia. Opposite him was a beautiful and mature woman whom An Jing had seen before. The beautiful and mature woman chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s been a few decades since we last met. The last time we met was in Jade Capital¡¯s peach blossom garden. At that time, your sideburns weren¡¯t so white.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if we don¡¯t meet.¡± Compared to the beautiful and mature woman¡¯s enthusiasm, Jiang Sanjia was extremely cold. ¡°Your words make me very sad.¡± The beautiful mature woman put on a pitiful look. ¡°You weren¡¯t like this back then. For my sister, you were very passionate towards me. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned and snapped, ¡°Mu Xiaoyun, what do you want?¡± Mu Xiaoyun, these three words resounded like thunder in the martial world. Mu Xiaoyun was a member of the Mu Family of Jiangnan Province. Back when she was in the martial arts world, she was already a famous beauty. Countless young heroes chased after her and fell head over heels for her. Later on, she even formed a relationship with the leader of Cao Gang, Liu Qingshan, to help him manage Cao Gang. Due to her vicious and ruthless methods, she was known as a poisonous beauty. Mu Xiaoyun was very famous but her younger sister was even more famous. She was the current Noble Consort of Great Yan. The Mu Family was the head of the Jiang Nan Chamber of Commerce, and with their status as a relative of the royal family, their influence in the Jiangnan Dao was unmatched. Jiang Sanjia had a relationship with Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s younger sister in the past. At that time, the two of them were also a story. One of them was the successor of the Phantom Valley, a new noble from the Imperial Court, and the other was a stunning beauty from a family with hairpin. No matter how one looked at it, the two of them were a perfect match. However, in the end, Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s younger sister became the imperial concubine of the current dynasty. Jiang Sanjia resigned from his post and retired from the martial world.. Chapter 23 - Shocking Secret on the Pleasure Boat Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°You sure have suffered. I never expected those people to imprison you in Yuzhou City.¡± Mu Xiaoyun sighed softly. ¡°As the lover of Liu Qingshan, how could you not know?¡± Jiang San Jia sneered. Everyone in the martial world knew that Mu Xiaoyun and Liu Qingshan were a married couple, while the Mu Family and Cao Gang were in an alliance. They would share both glory and loss. Cao Gang imprisoned him in the Yuzhou City, so how could Cao Gang¡¯s Gang Leader¡¯s wife not know? ¡°I really didn¡¯t know.¡± Mu Xiaoyun lowered her head and said, ¡°You seem to have a lot of misunderstandings towards me. Actually, I stopped interfering with Cao Gang¡¯s matters a few years ago. I don¡¯t know anything about Cao Gang¡¯s affairs in the past decade or so, and it has nothing to do with me.¡± Jiang Sanjia did not believe the words of this poisonous beauty in front of him at all. He said, ¡°You ¡®invited¡¯ me here to explain this matter clearly to me. If that¡¯s the case, then I understand.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Jiang Sanjia stood up and prepared to leave. ¡°Sanjia, why are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± Mu Xiaoyun raised her eyebrows. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking. Don¡¯t tell me that I, Mu Xiaoyun, am going overboard by asking you over for tea?¡± Jiang Sanjia paused. Due to their relationship back then, he eventually sat down. Mu Xiaoyun smiled and said, ¡°Sanjia, you are indeed a loyal person, but my younger sister¡­¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned. ¡°Why are you looking for me this time? Just say it. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°I want you to help me find someone with the Phantom Valley Heavenly Secret.¡± ¡°Who? ¡°Liu Qingshan.¡± ¡­ The pleasure boat fell into silence. Jiang Sanjia¡¯s eyes flashed with suspicion, but he did not say anything. Who was Liu Qingshan? That was the current leader of Cao Gang! Mu Xiaoyun was his wife, why would he need to look for her himself? ¡°It¡¯s Liu Qingshan.¡± Mu Xiaoyun narrowed her eyes and said word by word, ¡°Actually, Cao Gang¡¯s current leader is not Liu Qingshan.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Sanjia¡¯s expression turned grim. If the leader of Cao Gang was not Liu Qingshan, then who was he? Mu Xiaoyun said faintly, ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is, but I¡¯m sure that the current Liu Qingshan is not the original Liu Qingshan. I have slept with a man for decades. How can I not know if he is real or fake?¡± ¡°A few years ago, I vaguely sensed something strange. His every move, his manner of speaking, and his style of doing things, although very similar, were not.¡± A woman¡¯s familiarity with her man was like her left hand and right hand. Jiang Sanjia asked seriously, ¡°You mean Liu Qingshan has already been replaced by another person?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably what happened.¡± Mu Xiaoyun nodded. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Jiang Sanjia shook his head in disbelief. One had to know that Cao Gang¡¯s prestige had been vast for more than a decade, and it faintly showed signs of being the number one gang in the world. Yet, their gang leader had actually been replaced by someone else. How many tricks did this require? And what kind of person and power was behind this? It was simply unimaginable! ¡°I think you¡¯re crazy, really crazy.¡± Jiang Sanjia stood up and said. ¡°I have proof.¡± Mu Xiaoyun took out an ancient-looking token from her waist. ¡°Others might not know about this token, but you, Jiang Sanjia, should know about it.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Sanjia glanced at the title plate, but his heart was moved. ¡°You should know who Liu Qing Shan is, but when he touched this token, there was no reaction.¡± ¡°You tested it yourself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Jiang Sanjia was shocked after hearing this. If Mu Xiaoyun was telling the truth, then she was too terrifying! Cao Gang¡¯s gang leader was actually a fake?! Yet now, this Liu Qingshan who could do anything was actually a fake!? Jiang Sanjia hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Even if what you said is true, Liu Qingshan might have already been poisoned by someone else.¡± Mu Xiaoyun said firmly, ¡°No. If they didn¡¯t find that item, Liu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t have died.¡± ¡°You have that thing?¡± ¡°No, but I know where it is.¡± Jiang Sanjia knew very well what the item Mu Xiaoyun was talking about was. He seemed to have let his guard down a little. ¡°I have yet to recover from my severe injuries and my vitality is thin. If I calculate this, I will definitely die.¡± Mu Xiaoyun heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that. ¡°I can wait for you to recover from your injuries. I can even take care of you for the time being. After all, it¡¯s not safe for you to be alone now.¡± Jiang Sanjia did not say anything else. At this moment, he had yet to recover from his heavy injuries, so it would be a good thing if he could obtain Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s protection. Moreover, Cao Gang could be considered to have a blood feud with him. If it was really as Mu Xiaoyun said, finding the real Liu Qingshan was the same as helping himself. ¡°Brother Sanjia, I think this is a good opportunity.¡± At this moment, a chuckle came from outside the deck. Jiang Sanjia shouted in a low voice, ¡°Who! Show yourself!¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone!?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, but her palm reached under her skirt. Who was it?! He was actually able to get on the ship without anyone noticing. ¡°Sanjia, long time no see. How have you been?¡± After changing his clothes, An Jing slowly walked out. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± When the two of them caught sight of who it was, their hearts skipped a beat as they exchanged glances with one another. ¡°Both of you know each other?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked curiously. ¡°It was Brother Zhou who saved me from the dungeon,¡± said Jiang Sanjia as he took a deep breath. ¡°What!?¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at the person in front of her, her heart trembling. The news of him killing Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping while destroying the dungeon had spread throughout the entire martial world. Everyone was guessing that he was a peerless swordsman. She did not expect him to be here. An Jing looked at the two of them. According to the instructions on the Earth Book, the azure opportunity was actually with this woman. This woman was Liu Qingshan¡¯s wife. Was there really an opportunity on her? An Jing was puzzled. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± Jiang Sanjia asked seriously. ¡°From that Liu Qingshan couple.¡± An Jing smiled faintly. ¡°In that case, Brother Zhou should have heard of it.¡± Mu Xiaoyun said with a smile. The foe of an enemy was a friend. The strength of this swordsman was extraordinary. If he could rope him in, he would definitely be a great help. ¡°I¡¯ve heard everything that I shouldn¡¯t have,¡± An Jing admitted honestly. ¡°Then you should know that Liu Qingshan is a fake now?¡± ¡°If what you say is true.¡± ¡°If I can find my husband, the true leader of Cao Gang, I wonder if Brother Zhou is willing to lend a hand. This will be a great favor to us.¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at An Jing. ¡°Brother Zhou, you¡¯ve already offended the current leader of Cao Gang, and we have a common enemy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. Cao Gang¡¯s main target isn¡¯t me, right?¡± An Jing interrupted Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°Knowing that Liu Qingshan is a fake, you are their main target. Their goal is whatever is in Liu Qingshan¡¯s hands.¡± He had heard everything. If what Mu Xiaoyun said was true, then Liu Qingshan was a fake. Right now, the gang leader wanted the mysterious item in Liu Qingshan¡¯s hands, so he did not kill him. As for Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s goal, it was very simple. She wanted to rescue Liu Qingshan and even expose the fake Liu Qingshan to regain control of Cao Gang. Mu Xiaoyun paused for a moment before saying, ¡°What you said isn¡¯t wrong, but do you know that Liu Haoping is the adopted son of that person? He is an existence that Liu Qingshan treats as his own. If you kill him, he will definitely take revenge.¡± Although Liu Haoping was only the head of Cao Gang, his status was extraordinary. An Jing sneered. ¡°Who knows my identity? If I want to hide, can Cao Gang find me?¡± ¡°Could it be that Brother Zhou wishes to hide for the rest of your life?¡± Mu Xiaoyun said, hitting the nail on the head. The two of them were testing each other and their words were sharp. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me anymore. Just tell me what benefits you can give me. I don¡¯t mind helping you.¡± An Jing waved his hand and said, ¡°The premise is that my services are very expensive. You should know that.¡± In any case, he had a grudge with Cao Gang. ¡°How expensive?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s body slowly leaned over, gently exhaling warm air. He felt it! It was a cold sensation. He looked down and saw that it was a sword. An Jing said expressionlessly, ¡°Give me something that satisfies me.¡± Stupid man! Mu Xiaoyun secretly suffered a loss, but on the surface, she chuckled. ¡°Alright, when I find my husband, I will definitely give you something that will satisfy you.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your news.¡± ¡°If there are red lanterns hanging on this pleasure boat, Brother Zhou can come and have a chat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be here when I see the red lanterns.¡± An Jing nodded, then looked at Jiang Sanjia. ¡°Right, I almost forgot the purpose of this trip. Sanjia, you¡¯re really dishonest. The murderous aura under the river is very strong. I almost didn¡¯t even make it.¡± With that, An Jing walked out of the deck. Jiang Sanjia was shocked when he heard An Jing¡¯s words. Did he come here specially to look for him? That meant that he knew where he was at all times and from his tone, he knew that he had taken the Bodhi Bead. ¡°Sanjia, is that person trustworthy?¡± After An Jing left, Mu Xiaoyun asked in a low voice. ¡°This person is cunning and insatiable. His strength is profound and unfathomable,¡± said Jiang Sanjia faintly. ¡°Unpredictable.¡± Mu Xiaoyun frowned slightly.. Chapter 24 - The Crisis in the Small Boat Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As the night deepened, the Yuzhou River became more and more lively. The constables of Yuzhou¡¯s county changed their clothes and came to the redlight district in groups. ¡°This is f*cking martial law. I¡¯m so tired.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s tiring to post notices every day.¡± ¡°That mysterious swordsman probably left the Jiangnan Dao long ago. Why should we waste our efforts?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± ¡­ Han Wenxin turned around and looked at the people who were nagging. ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s go out and have fun. Let¡¯s not talk about those annoying things.¡± ¡°Chief Han is right. Have fun today.¡± Head Constable Qin nodded in agreement. The group of people skillfully entered the pleasure boat, and soon after, sounds of moving cups and laughter could be heard. Not long after, Han Wenxin walked out with a beautiful woman in his arms. ¡°Xiao Huan, I¡¯ll show you my power today,¡± Han Wenxin said with a flushed face. With Brother An¡¯s medicine, Han Wenxin felt that he could fight ten people today. ¡°How could I not know how powerful you are?¡± Xiao Huan extended a finger and tapped Han Wenxin¡¯s forehead with a smile. ¡°You can¡¯t fix any ceramics without the diamond drill. Everyone says I¡¯m a diamond drill in Yuzhou.¡± Han Wenxin laughed proudly, then entered the private room behind the pleasure boat with the woman. Just before entering, Han Wenxin secretly took out a pill that had been brewed long ago, the calming medicine. ¡°Slow down¡­ Don¡¯t be in such a hurry¡­ boo-hoo.¡± Soon, delicate laughter came from the private room. However, a few minutes later, Han Wenxin felt extremely uncomfortable. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± There was a strange smell in the air and Han Wenxin paused. ¡°What happened to constable Han?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Han Wenxin resisted the urge in his stomach and broke out in cold sweat. Xiao Huan also found Han Wenxin a little strange and thought that he was at the climax. However, Han Wenxin found it increasingly unbearable. ¡°This is bad!¡± Han Wenxin hurriedly leaped forward and ran out of the ship like a madman. ¡°Constable Han!¡± Xiao Huan lay on the bed and looked at Han Wenxin¡¯s back in shock. ¡°Make way! Make way!¡± Han Wenxin, who had rushed out of the private room, shouted at the crowd with bloodshot eyes. Meanwhile, the people who were indulging in wine and drinking were also stunned. They stared blankly at Han Wenxin who suddenly rushed out. Wasn¡¯t Constable Han having fun? What was going on? Why was he covering his butt? ¡°Water! Water! Make way!¡± Han Wenxin staggered and pushed Head Constable Qin who was in front of him away. He held his butt and jumped into the river like a pig being slaughtered. Plop! Water splashed everywhere, creating countless splashes, shaking the pleasure boat. ¡­ An Jing changed his clothes and returned to the cruise ship. At this moment, Zhou Xianming was already slightly tipsy. There were several wine cups placed in front of him. He spoke eloquently, ¡°Peppered beyond belief, beg for forgiveness. Hidden Dragon Snake, save yourself¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s getting late. We should go back,¡± An Jing said as he walked to Zhou Xianming¡¯s side. ¡°Late?¡± Zhou Xianming laughed foolishly. ¡°It¡¯s not late yet. I still want to drink.¡± ¡°Still drinking?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Mr. Zhou, didn¡¯t you say that you were going to enlighten the student tonight? It¡¯s not good to delay the proper business.¡± He had already obtained the clues to the opportunity. It would be a waste of time for him to stay here with Zhou Xianming. When Zhou Xianming heard that, he seemed to have thought of something and his face darkened. ¡°We¡¯re going back. It¡¯s indeed time to go back.¡± An Jing nodded slightly. The two of them then walked out of the pleasure boat and summoned a boatman beside them. At this moment, a tragic cry came from afar, followed by the sound of a huge object falling into the river, scaring Zhou Xianming. ¡°Who?! This is so degrading!¡± Zhou Xianming raised his eyebrows and shouted. An Jing said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. If you¡¯re from the martial arts world, you might be thinking about us. When the time comes, you¡¯ll reward the two of us with those metal blades. That won¡¯t be worth it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get on the ship and leave.¡± When Zhou Xianming heard the words ¡°martial world¡±, his body trembled and he shut his mouth, not saying another word. Although Zhou Xianming often talked about the martial world in the teahouse, he was actually just a weak scholar who was very timid and afraid of trouble. An Jing still remembered that there was once a time when a few gangsters from the martial world came to drink tea and listen to stories. When Zhou Xianming talked about the exciting parts, he was prepared to end work and wait for the next day to continue. However, those gangsters did not let Zhou Xianming leave. At first, Zhou Xianming was unwilling to talk about it, but when they held a knife to his neck, he was so scared that his legs went weak and he almost knelt down. He could only continue honestly. In his own words, a gentleman would not stand under a dangerous wall. ¡°Brother An is right. If you speak too much, you will lose. If you speak too much, it will hurt others. A gentleman keeps his mouth shut. Let¡¯s hurry up and leave.¡± Zhou Xianming shuddered and urged An Jing to board the ship. ¡­ The lights in the Ji Shi Hall were dim. Zhao Qingmei took out An Jing¡¯s autumn coat and began sewing. ¡°Miss, Young Master and Zhou Xianming went to the Red Mansion pleasure boat,¡± Tan Yun whispered. Zhao Qingmei lowered her head and remained silent. ¡°Also, he entered the room with a singer called Man Yue.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s voice trailed off as she scrutinized Zhao Qingmei carefully. Zhao Qingmei paused for a moment before continuing to mend her autumn clothes. Tan Yun knew Zhao Qingmei too well. The calmer she was, the angrier she felt. ¡°Miss¡­¡± ¡°Go and rest first.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun sighed softly and walked out of the room. Even after Tan Yun had left, Zhao Qingmei was still sewing her autumn clothes, as if she had not been affected by her words at all. Outside the hall, Tan Yun took a deep breath and looked at Lil Blackie who was lying on the ground. She said fiercely, ¡°Indeed! Not a single man is good!¡± ¡°What happened to you?¡± At this moment, An Jing walked in. When he heard Tan Yun¡¯s words, he had a strange look on his face. Could it be that this little girl Tan Yun had been deceived? ¡°Nothing? I say, this bastard is really heartless!¡± Tan Yun ignored An Jing. She pointed at Lil Blackie and said, ¡°You have food at home but you insist on eating shit outside. You¡¯re asking for a beating.¡± With that, Tan Yun kicked Lil Blackie. ¡°Ao¡­ Oof!¡± Lil Blackie was dozing off when he was kicked awake. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you venting your anger on the dog?¡± An Jing was confused. He poured a cup of tea and took a sip. ¡°Did you get angry or were you deceived?¡± Tan Yun glared fiercely at Lil Blackie and said, ¡°No, I just wanted to teach this dog a lesson. It doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate favors. We gave it food, drinks, and even gave it a stable home, but it actually goes out every day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s despicable?¡± ¡°Woof woof!¡± Lil Blackie shouted pitifully. ¡°Indeed¡­¡± An Jing nodded. He felt that Tan Yun was acting weird today, so he put down the teacup and walked into the inner hall.. Chapter 25 - Zhou Xianming with a Battered Face Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re back? The hot water is ready.¡± An Jing found it a little strange. In the past, Zhao Qingmei would always welcome him warmly every time he returned from a consultation. However, she would only reply casually today. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m back.¡± An Jing walked towards Zhao Qingmei with a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s already so late and you¡¯re still sewing the clothes. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°This shirt is torn. It¡¯s better to change into a new one.¡± ¡°Then why are you still sewing?¡± ¡°The weather is getting cold. Many people in the south of Beggar Street don¡¯t have clothes to wear.¡± ¡°I see.¡± An Jing nodded, feeling that something was amiss. ¡°Darling, what¡¯s wrong? Are you unhappy?¡± Zhao Qingmei put down her clothes and looked up with a smile. ¡°No, you¡¯d better take a shower. You smell like rouge.¡± Although she was still smiling, it made his heart ache. An Jing laughed guiltily and thought to himself that he had forgotten about it. ¡°Darling¡­¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Zhao Qingmei lowered her head and continued sewing her clothes. By the time An Jing was done showering and washing up, Zhao Qingmei had already fallen asleep. An Jing carefully lay down beside her, afraid to wake her up. Soon, even breathing sounds could be heard. Zhao Qingmei opened her eyes gently and stared at the man lying in front of her. ¡­ No matter how dull An Jing was, he could feel that his wife was angry. Although she was still cooking porridge and sunning herbs, she still spoke to An Jing gently. This vexed An Jing. His visit to the pleasure boat probably got found out. How could he explain? Should he say that he did not cheat on her? Would she believe it? An Jing leaned against the door, his palm caressing Lil Blackie. ¡°Tan Yun, where did Madam go?¡± ¡°She went to the south of the city early in the morning to donate clothes.¡± ¡°Tan Yun, where did I put the China root herbs?¡± ¡°Young master, why are you looking for that?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just asking.¡± ¡°Tan Yun¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°How does Missy behave when she is angry? ¡° ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Tan Yun seemed to have thought of something as her body trembled. As time passed, people came to get the medicine from time to time and An Jing got busy. In the blink of an eye, it was noon. ¡°When you go back, remember not to eat spicy food anymore. Your diet must be light. Brew this medicine for two hours once every morning and once every night. After ten days, come back again and I¡¯ll take a look again.¡± An Jing packed the herbs in the cowhide paper and instructed. ¡°Thank you, Doctor An.¡± The woman took the herb and thanked him repeatedly before leaving slowly. ¡°It¡¯s raining. Why isn¡¯t Darling back yet?¡± An Jing walked to the door and frowned. At this moment, the drizzle was like silk that dripped onto the ground. The Yuzhou River was hazy. Zhao Qingmei left the house early in the morning and had been gone for almost four hours. She had never been out alone for such a long time. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Tan Yun also stuck her head out and looked outside. ¡°You keep an eye on the pharmacy. I¡¯m going to look around.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart sank. He picked up the oil paper umbrella from the shelf and walked out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± At this moment, Zhao Qingmei walked in with a basket of vegetables. An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei and said, ¡°I was thinking you¡¯ve not returned after more than four hours¡­¡± ¡°Darling, don¡¯t worry.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled and said, ¡°Are you still afraid that something will happen to me? I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°Miss, you¡¯re back.¡± Tan Yun quickly stepped forward and grabbed the basket. She then looked at the paper in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that in your hand?¡± ¡°It was distributed in the notice board. It seems like Cao Gang¡¯s expert wants to challenge that mysterious swordsman.¡± Zhao Qingmei handed the piece of paper to Tan Yun and said with a smile, ¡°I found it interesting, so I brought one back.¡± ¡°Show me, miss.¡± Tan Yun received the white paper and then laughed loudly. ¡°Cao Gang¡¯s people actually used this method to challenge that peerless swordsman.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s very interesting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone will call this swordsman a peerless swordsman in the future. He should be called the Pighead Swordsman.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± ¡­ ¡°What is it? Let me take a look too.¡± An Jing looked at the two of them talking and laughing. He also turned his head and asked. ¡°Tan Yun, come with me to cook.¡± When Zhao Qingmei saw An Jing walking over, she handed the paper slip to him and walked towards the kitchen. ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun stuck out her tongue at An Jing and followed him. An Jing picked up the paper on the table and took a look. It turned out that the Cao Gang wanted to challenge him and they were searching for him everywhere. They sounded harsh and their words carried a bit of provocation. These paper slips must have spread throughout the entire Yuzhou City. Their goal was to force him to appear. ¡°This is too low-level.¡± An Jing looked at the piece of paper in his hand and shook his head. This kind of provocation could only be used against a few inexperienced kids. As he spoke, he crushed the paper slip in his hand and threw it into the paper basket. ¡°Doctor Xiao An¡­¡± At that moment, a person who was wrapped tightly walked in sneakily. An Jing looked at the person and asked doubtfully, ¡°You are¡­?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Zhou Xianming.¡± That person took off the bamboo hat that was wrapped around his body and spoke with a sobbing tone. Looking at Zhou Xianming, An Jing was stunned. His face was bruised and swollen, and his face looked like a pig¡¯s head, as if he had changed into another person. Even though An Jing recognized Zhou Xianming, he still could not recognize him from his facial features. This showed how serious his injuries were. ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± An Jing gulped. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know either. When I came out early in the morning, I was weapped in a sack. Then, the fists began to strike me like a storm and flew towards my head and knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself like this.¡± Zhou Xianming said with tears in his eyes, ¡°Doctor An, they hit me so hard, sob sob¡­¡± An Jing could tell from Zhou Xianming¡¯s expression that his injuries must have hurt. Who was so heartless!? From the looks of it, his grudge with Zhou Xianming was not small. ¡°Doctor An, who do you think I¡¯ve offended recently? Why is God so unfair to me?¡± The more Zhou Xianming spoke, the more his heart ached. When he thought about his recent unhappy life, his cries became even louder. ¡°Stop crying.¡± An Jing patted Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder and sighed helplessly. Logically speaking, who would go against a poor scholar like him? This old man must have provoked someone. Could it be related to the martial arts practitioner from last night? ¡°Who is it!?¡± Upon hearing her cries, Zhao Qingmei walked out of the backyard.. Chapter 26 - A Great Gathering Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Madam An.¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly stopped crying when he saw Zhao Qingmei. He cupped his hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xianming, sorry for being rude.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the man who looked like a pig¡¯s head and asked in astonishment, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Zhou. Why are you like this? What feud do you have the person who attacked you? Why would he be so vicious?¡± ¡°Sigh!¡± Zhou Xianming sighed, feeling even more sour in his heart. ¡°It must be because of my carelessness in doing things that attracted the jealousy of others.¡± ¡°How pitiful.¡± Zhao Qingmei said sympathetically, ¡°Just looking at him makes me feel unbearable pain. He must have hit me hard.¡± After Zhou Xianming heard that, he felt that his wound had been sprinkled with salt and it hurt even more. ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t this Mr. Zhou?¡± Tan Yun also walked out from behind and said with concern, ¡°Who is so cruel to beat you up like this? Quickly apply some medicine.¡± As she spoke, she reached out to touch Zhou Xianming¡¯s pig head. ¡°Ouch¡­!¡± Zhou Xianming could not help but let out a shrill scream. Zhao Qingmei instructed, ¡°Tan Yun, it¡¯s inconvenient for Mr. Zhou to move around. Help him apply some ointment.¡± ¡°I understand, Miss. I will definitely put my heart into applying medicine for Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°Oh right, Mr. Zhou, you haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? I made some food. Let¡¯s eat together later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Miss¡¯s cooking is really delicious.¡± ¡°Y-you guys are really good people.¡± Zhou Xianming had never felt such warmth before, and his eyes were filled with tears. The human world was filled with warmth! Even if this world was dark, there would always be a ray of light shining on your lifeless life. ¡°How pitiful.¡± An Jing sighed. For some reason, she just felt that Zhou Xianming was very pitiful. ¡°An Jing! Come out!¡± Just as Tan Yun was applying medicine for Zhou Xianming, a loud shout came from outside the door. Han Wenxin covered his butt with both hands and walked in awkwardly, anger visible in his eyes. ¡°Brother Han, why are you so angry?¡± An Jing had a bad feeling when he saw Han Wenxin like this. Slap! Han Wenxin took a step forward and slammed the long saber in his hand onto the table. ¡°Brother An, I¡¯ve treated you like a close friend, but you framed me like this.¡± When he thought about what happened last night, Han Wenxin felt so ashamed that he wanted to dig a hole and bury himself. It was a great humiliation! Han Wenxin¡¯s brilliant life had been ruined here! ¡°Brother Han, let¡¯s talk nicely.¡± When An Jing saw this, he had an epiphany. The soybean powder that Tan Yun had placed had definitely taken effect. This was indeed not right! ¡°What do you mean by talk nicely!?¡± Han Wenxin sat down on the chair. ¡°If you don¡¯t give me an explanation today, I¡¯m not leaving.¡± ¡°Young master, what did you do to make Constable Han so angry?¡± Tan Yun looked very curious, like a pure and innocent white rabbit. An Jing looked at Tan Yun¡¯s innocent eyes and thought helplessly, ¡®Isn¡¯t it all because of you?¡¯ Tan Yun¡¯s words were like a fuse that made Han Wenxin even angrier. If looks could kill, An Jing might not be Han Wenxin¡¯s match at this moment. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to eat. Brother Han, do you want to eat first? You will only have the strength to solve the problem after you eat,¡± chuckled Zhao Qingmei. Upon hearing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words, Han Wenxin immediately said in a gentler tone, ¡°Sis-in-law, since you¡¯ve already said so, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go prepare the food now. Tan Yun, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and dragged Tan Yun toward the kitchen. Han Wenxin pulled a long face the moment Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun left. ¡°Brother Han¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Brother Han!¡± ¡°Head Constable Han, what happened?¡± Zhou Xianming could not help but ask when he saw the furious Han Wenxin. Han Wenxin was furious and turned to look at the person who spoke. When he saw that face, it was as if he had seen a malicious spirit. His body shot up. ¡°F*ck! Are you a man or a ghost?!¡± ¡°Brother Han, don¡¯t be rash!¡± ¡°Han¡­ Head Constable Han¡­ don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡­ At the dining table, An Jing, Han Wenxin, Zhou Xianming, and the others each sat on one side. The table was filled with steaming hot dishes. Steamed sea bass, green bean and corn, crystal pig skin, loach with pickled bean and tofu spinach soup. The fragrance wafted through the air, stirring up one¡¯s appetite. ¡°Sis-in-law is really good at cooking,¡± Han Wenxin looked at the dishes on the table and said while drooling. ¡°Brother Han is flattering me,¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled. The two of them looked at An Jing enviously. An Jing must have been blessed to have such a good wife. Dang dang dang! At this moment, Tan Yun came up with a large plate of crabs. ¡°I specially made these crabs.¡± ¡°There are even crabs?¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This is good. It can nourish the Yin and strengthen the Yang. It¡¯s a great supplement.¡± Han Wenxin was also shocked. Then, he looked fiercely at An Jing and said, ¡°Brother An doesn¡¯t like this. You can just put this crab in front of us.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Leave it in front of you two.¡± An Jing nodded repeatedly. Ever since he had eaten the crab prepared by Tan Yun, his bad habit of eating crabs was cured. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what¡¯s wrong with you? You really scared me just now.¡± Han Wenxin picked up a loach and ate it. ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t know who hit me either.¡± Zhou Xianming said with a bitter expression, ¡°There have been more and more unlucky things recently.¡± ¡°Truly too vicious. There aren¡¯t many people who are this vicious.¡± Han Wenxin took a small sip of wine and said, ¡°If that person is not from a normal gang, then he must be from the martial world. You might have offended someone.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s hand trembled and his chopsticks almost dropped. He said in a trembling voice, ¡°Constable Han, what should we do?¡± ¡°Stop scaring Brother Zhou.¡± An Jing poured himself a cup of wine. Zhou Xianming was timid. What if he had a heart attack? Han Wenxin grabbed An Jing¡¯s cup and said, ¡°Bullsh*t, I¡¯m not trying to scare him. The world is not safe these days. Have you forgotten about Uncle Wang Zhiping and his nephew? Also, the mysterious swordsman has appeared recently. This is all a warning.¡± ¡°All of you are weak commoners who have no strength to truss a chicken. You don¡¯t understand the dangers lurking in the martial world and the unfathomable temple hall. Do you know that a slight move will affect the entire situation?¡± Han Wenxin finished the wine in his glass. ¡°Head Constable Han is really capable.¡± Tan Yun obediently poured a cup of wine for Han Wenxin. ¡°Thank you, Lady Tan Yun.¡± Han Wenxin chuckled and felt much lighter. He continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Cao Gang¡¯s experts searching for the whereabouts of that exceptional swordsman? If that exceptional swordsman isn¡¯t afraid, how could he not show himself? He must be afraid.¡± ¡°What does this mean? That peerless swordsman is afraid of Cao Gang, which means that the faction behind him is afraid of Cao Gang.¡± Warning!? Warning my ass! An Jing complained in his heart, ¡®You are just an ignorant constable..¡¯ Chapter 27 - There Are Bad People In The Crowd Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Of course I know that, but what does it have to do with me?¡± Zhou Xianming hesitated for a long time before asking carefully. He was just a weak scholar. What did the chaos in the martial world have to do with him? ¡°You.¡± Head Constable Han shook his head. ¡°I have been very close to Head Constable Hong recently. He is a member of the Black Guard and knows a lot of information. It is said that the Demon Sect has been recuperating for decades and there is a possibility that they will make a comeback. I suspect that the recent incidents might be related to the Demon Cult.¡± ¡°You think about it. If the Demon Sect wants to enter the Great Yan again, it must know some information, and you like to talk about the martial world everyday, don¡¯t you have some understanding about the matters of the martial world?¡± Demon Sect!? Zhou Xianming was stunned for a moment, then said, ¡°I heard it all from hearsay and then fabricated it. It can¡¯t be real.¡± ¡°F*ck!¡± When An Jing heard this, he thought to himself, To think that I used to treat everything you said as a guide to the martial arts world, an encyclopedia. ¡°You¡¯re lying, but some people took it seriously.¡± Han Wenxin shook his head and said. Han Wenxin¡¯s words made Zhou Xianming even more uneasy. ¡°But these are all my guesses. You don¡¯t have to take them to heart,¡± Han Wenxin consoled Zhou Xianming. An Jing also said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Think about it, the Demon Sect is such a huge entity, why would they target a commoner like you?¡± Zhou Xianming nodded and a trace of fear appeared in his eyes. ¡°The people from the Demon Sect are vicious and ruthless. Furthermore, they kill people like flies. I don¡¯t think they will target me.¡± Han Wenxin put down his wine glass and said indignantly, ¡°They¡¯re not only vicious, they kill people like flies. They¡¯re simply insane and commit all kinds of crimes.¡± ¡°When I master the Universe Sword in my hand, I¡¯ll definitely let those fiend sects¡¯ scoundrels have a taste of my prowess.¡± An Jing looked at the two of them chattering non-stop. He felt that it was like a story between a lucky person and two unlucky people. He could not interject at all and was isolated by them. Zhou Xianming still retained a trace of rationality. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Those Demon Sect members are all extremely ferocious experts.¡± Han Wenxin patted the long saber on his waist and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, before my Qiankun Saber reaches the successful stage, I won¡¯t look for these scoundrels for the time being.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few dishes, and you¡¯re already so drunk?¡± Zhao Qingmei thought to herself with a smirk. ¡°You two little brats, if our Demon Sect really wants to make a comeback, we will first use you two little bastards as sacrifices to the heavens.¡± Tan Yun snorted and took out his beloved little black book to record their names. ¡°Why does it feel a little chilly?¡± Zhou Xianming touched his arm. ¡°Me too. Is this wine fake?¡± Han Wenxin glared at An Jing. ¡°This is a good wine, a premium wine from the Dancing Sun Winehouse,¡± An Jing said unhappily. ¡°Miss Tan, what are you doing?¡± Han Wenxin turned to look at Tan Yun, who seemed to be writing something. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just taking down the accounts. You guys drink your stuff, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Tan Yun said casually. Zhao Qingmei smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Zhou, Brother Han, don¡¯t just drink. Come and have some food. Do the dishes not suit your taste?¡± ¡°No, no, why would I?¡± ¡°Yeah, this dish is even better than the chefs of Tianyun Pavilion.¡± ¡°Sis-in-law, you¡¯re too enthusiastic.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s good at cooking and kind-hearted.¡± The two of them laughed. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, let¡¯s have a drink. This wine is good wine!¡± An Jing raised his cup and finally spoke. There was a short silence at the dinner table. ¡°Mr. Zhou, where were you talking about?¡± ¡°Tan Yun, quickly go pour wine for Brother Han and Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡­ After the meal, Han Wenxin and Zhou Xianming left. ¡°Tan Yun, where¡¯s Madam?¡± After An Jing sent the two back, he looked at Tan Yun, who was clearing the dishes. ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Tan Yun replied without turning around. An Jing thought about it and took out a ladder from the courtyard. Then, he climbed up the ladder. As expected, Zhao Qingmei was sitting on the roof. In the twilight, a new moon was slowly rising. Under the faint moonlight, she looked like a fairy that had walked out of a painting. ¡®How could you not cherish such a gentle and virtuous wife?¡¯ An Jing cursed himself before walking towards Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Are you still angry?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhao Qingmei stared at the moonlight above her. ¡°Darling, I was wrong.¡± An Jing lowered his head. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked with a smirk. ¡°I¡­¡± An Jing didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. ¡°Zhou Xianming,¡± Zhao Qingmei reminded him. There were bad people in the crowd! An Jing was stunned. How did Zhao Qingmei know that Zhou Xianming and he were going to the pleasure boat? Could it be that Zhou Xianming was the one who betrayed him? He was not being honest! ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have accompanied Zhou Xianming to the pleasure boat. I was completely bewitched by him, but I¡¯ve always kept my chastity for my wife and didn¡¯t do anything. I can swear to God.¡± An Jing extended three fingers and said, ¡°If I, An Jing¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t swear.¡± Zhao Qingmei turned around and grabbed An Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Darling!¡± An Jing was touched. ¡°What if it really works?¡± Zhao Qingmei pouted. ¡°Darling, I really didn¡¯t do anything. If you can¡¯t, you can try.¡± An Jing hurriedly said, ¡°My children and grandchildren are still here.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhao Qingmei burst into laughter and glowered at An Jing. ¡°You¡¯re a bad person!¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± An Jing grabbed Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand gently, knowing that he had finally overcome his obstacle. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll take you somewhere.¡± Zhao Qingmei asked curiously, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Young Master, Miss, where are you going?¡± Tan Yun asked when she saw An Jing and Zhao Qingmei rushing out of the room. ¡°They don¡¯t even bother bringing me along to have fun,¡± Tan Yun complained as she wiped the water off her hands. An Jing pulled Zhao Qingmei to a pier by the river in Yuzhou. They boarded a boat and said to the boatman, ¡°Old Li, I¡¯ll use this ship.¡± The boat swayed along with the river, slowly flowing towards the center of Yuzhou River. ¡°In the past, what I liked the most was to push the bamboo pole along Yuzhou River at night.¡± An Jing moved the bamboo pole, the scenery on both sides continuously moving backwards. ¡°I know.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the person she loved dearly. An Jing smiled and said, ¡°At that time, I was thinking of bringing her to Yuzhou River to walk around. I will personally row the bamboo pole while she stands behind me, with the boat floating in the night.¡± ¡°Now, this wish has been granted.¡± Zhao Qingmei remained silent, yet her heart was filled with sweetness. She felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest. At this moment, the sky that had been washed by the rain was clean. The stars in the sky were dazzling and bright. ¡°Husband, do you still remember the story of the footless bird I told you about?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked while looking up at the sky. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I feel like a footless bird. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°I do. You¡¯ll never leave me for the rest of your life.¡± An Jing giggled. With such a wife, what more could he ask for? ¡°Yes. The two of us will not be separated.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing and said, ¡°Zhao Qingmei has never been divorced. She has only lost her spouse.¡± An Jing¡¯s smile gradually froze. Swish! Swish! Swish! At this moment, a flame shot into the sky. The originally quiet night sky instantly became bright, like a colorful flower garden filled with colorful fireworks. In a corner not far from the Yuzhou River¡­ ¡°Tell me, why are we helping that evil thief?¡± Han Wenxin took out boxes of fireworks indignantly. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but he gave me one tael of silver.¡± Zhou Xianming lit the fireworks happily. ¡°It¡¯s really too much.¡± ¡°Where did he get the money?¡± ¡°How can a doctor be poor?¡± ¡°The treatment fee for the Ji Shi Hall is very cheap, and the medical fees are not expensive either.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small profit but through a lot of sales. Brother Han, don¡¯t mind these things. Shall we go to the brothel to listen to music later?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m never going there again.¡± ¡­ On the Yuzhou River, the flames were resplendent, shining in the night sky. ¡°This fireworks look good, right?¡± An Jing smiled. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Zhao Qingmei murmured while staring at the fireworks in the sky. ¡°I think so too,¡± An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s exquisite and fair face and said softly. The mountains and rivers are vast and it felt that she was omnipresent. ¡°You idiot, I¡¯m not angry at all¡­ Husband!¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You said you only loved me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one I love.¡± ¡°Forever.¡± ¡°Forever, of course!¡± ¡­ The boat flowed along the river and the night sky was filled with fireworks.. Chapter 28 - Hardworking Zhou Xianming Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The wind and rain had just cleared, and the peaceful days were like flowing water. With the help of the Bodhi Bead, An Jing¡¯s body was filled with large amounts of pure Yang energy. Coupled with his heaven-bestowed talent, his cultivation improved by leaps and bounds. In the martial world, cultivation was divided into nine ranks. Rank Six to Rank Nine were categorized as the lower-third tier. At this realm, those with cultivation were the small creatures in the martial world. This included the gang members of Cao Gang, ordinary constables, some escorts of the Escort Agency and young people. These people had a certain amount of internal energy and were indeed somewhat stronger than ordinary people. However, in the vast world of martial arts, they were not worth mentioning. Wang He and Wang Zhiping were among them. Such people were the most common. They were also the most pitiful in the martial world. Rank Three to Rank Six were known as middle-third tier Martial Artists. Most of the experts who reached this realm had decades of internal energy and had mastered some famous martial arts. They were the cornerstones of the entire martial world. They were also the main targets of recruitment from some gangs and various large factions. Some of them had quite a bit of fame in the martial world and were respectfully addressed as experts by the younger generation. Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping were the cream of the crop among them. In the eyes of ordinary people, this kind of person was already a renowned expert. Ordinary people would not be able to see him easily, but in the eyes of true experts, they were just chess pieces that could be discarded at any time. Finally, it was the upper-third tier. Such a person was a true expert in the eyes of those who had been in the martial world for many years. If someone jokingly called a middle-third tier martial artist an expert, then an upper-third tier martial artist would be an expert amongst experts. In order to become an upper-third tier expert, all three conditions had to be met. Firstly, one had to have at least a Black Tortoise cultivation method. From low to high, there were nine ranks. Above Rank One were the Earth, Black Tortoise, True Martial, and Heaven levels. The Martial Arts Heart Technique was the foundation of a person. It was also the quality of a bowl of water. No matter how deep this ancient well was, no matter how good the opening of the cup was, without a mouthful of clear spring water and sweet wine, it was still a pity. Yet, this was only one of the conditions. The second condition was that only one in a thousand possessed this ability. There were not many people who possessed this ability, but if one looked carefully, they would still be able to find it. The last was to persevere, persevere day after day. Even if he had the best ability and the best martial arts in the world, it would be useless if he did not persist in cultivating. Therefore, his temperament was also extremely important. An Jing possessed the Earth Book and was extremely talented. He had bitterly trained for ten years before reaching Rank One. There was a huge gap between Rank One and Grandmaster. Not to mention the difficulty of condensing the three flowers at the top, even the accumulation of Man Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower would require a lot of effort. It had not been long since An Jing condensed the Man Flower. It would still take some time for him to condense the Earth Flower. In the leisurely afternoon, the faint sunlight shone through the leaves and onto the ground, forming a mottled shade. Zhao Qingmei brought two small wooden stools with her and followed An Jing to the teahouse. The couple ordered a cup of tea together. The two of them did not speak and found a corner to sit down. The harmonious couple was like a ray of sunlight that warmed the afternoon in the teahouse. ¡°It¡¯s been half a month and that swordsman still hasn¡¯t appeared. I think he¡¯s afraid that Tie Yunshan will run away.¡± ¡°Who is Tie Yunshan? He is an expert ranked 73rd on the martial world rankings.¡± ¡°That swordsman¡¯s strength isn¡¯t bad either. I see that sword aura condensing without dispersing. He¡¯s also an expert.¡± ¡°What do you know? Who is behind Tie Yunshan? That¡¯s the Cao Gang that is like the sun in the midday sky. Who isn¡¯t afraid?¡± ¡­ In the teahouse, there was a flurry of discussion, recklessly discussing matters of the martial world. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Zhou Xianming here today?¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced outside the door and chuckled. ¡°We were talking about the Mortal Sect yesterday. I wanted to hear more about it.¡± Zhao Qingmei had nothing to do for the past few days, so she followed An Jing to the teahouse to listen to some stories. She was rather curious about how Zhou Xianming was going to share about the Demon Sect. An Jing said angrily, ¡°He was just bragging. If the Demon Sect demon stood in front of him, he would be so scared that his third leg would tremble.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing coquettishly. ¡°Sorry for the wait, everyone.¡± At this moment, Zhou Xianming walked out from the back hall with a red face. He cupped his hands at everyone and said, ¡°Thank you for your support during this period of time. Recently, some unforeseen events have occurred, and I plan to stop my storytelling. Please forgive me.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t had my fill yet.¡± ¡°Exactly, why are you stopping?¡± ¡­ Although the storyteller¡¯s job was not fixed, and there were often other storytellers who came, most people in the teahouse felt that Zhou Xianming¡¯s stories were the most exciting and pleasant to listen to. However, Zhou Xianming refused to talk about it. Moreover, his attitude seemed very firm, as if he had already made a decision. Everyone looked disappointed. Then, they continued to drink their tea, talk about family matters and gossip. At this moment, Zhou Xianming walked over. An Jing asked curiously, ¡°Old Zhou, what happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to do storytelling anymore. I plan to work hard and retake the Imperial Examination!¡± Zhou Xianming said seriously. ¡°Imperial Examination?¡± ¡°This year¡¯s autumnal exam is about to begin. I want to participate in it and strive to win first place.¡± There was a hint of hope in Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with you!¡± An Jing looked at Zhou Xianming who was working hard and analyzed calmly. A person who was able to say that a scholar should listen to music should work hard and study hard. Would you believe it? Anyway, An Jing did not believe it. When Zhou Xianming heard this, he immediately jumped up and down in anxiety. ¡°Doctor An, why do you say that? Why do you think that I, Zhou Xianming, am someone who doesn¡¯t know how to improve, doesn¡¯t know how to learn, doesn¡¯t have skills, and doesn¡¯t want to improve?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± An Jing nodded seriously. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face darkened. Zhao Qingmei nudged An Jing with her elbow and said, ¡°Darling, how can you be so sarcastic? I think it¡¯s a good thing that Mr. Zhou wants to take the imperial examination.¡± An Jing said angrily, ¡°Madam, this old man isn¡¯t a good person. Don¡¯t be fooled by his appearance¡­¡± ¡°Madam An, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly interrupted An Jing before revealing a troubled expression. ¡°Madam An, actually, I have a request that I would like to ask¡­¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± An Jing interrupted Zhou Xianming with a sneer and said, ¡°I knew that Brother Zhou was waiting here. Tell me, are you going to borrow money to visit the Red Mansion?¡± ¡°Nonsense, nonsense!¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s thoughts seemed to have been pointed out, and his face flushed red. ¡°Old Zhou, just admit it.¡± Zhou Xianming said angrily, ¡°You¡¯re slandering me and hurting me with your malicious words. I¡¯m clearly borrowing money for the examinations. I¡¯ve already promised Miss Li Yue that as long as I pass the exam, I¡¯ll definitely come back to redeem her..¡± Chapter 29 - A Challenge At The Datong Teahouse Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing sneered and asked, ¡°You are planning to go to the imperial examinations to redeem a singer?¡± Other people go to the imperial examinations for the sake of promotion and wealth, for the sake of a bright future, for the sake of fame, Zhou Xianming actually went to the examination for a female singer? ¡°Why not?¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes carried a hint of hope. ¡°You don¡¯t understand Miss Li Yue¡¯s naivety at all. The day before, when I went to the pleasure boat, she told me not to go again. It must be because I have gone every day to support her, making her feel uneasy and ashamed¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a poor man.¡± An Jing said bluntly, ¡°She can¡¯t get any money from you and you¡¯re annoying her every day like a fly.¡± ¡°Darling, how can you say that?¡± Zhao Qingmei stopped An Jing. ¡°You¡¯re just a commoner.¡± Zhou Xianmin shot An Jing a disdainful glance before turning to look at Zhao Qingmei. He smiled apologetically and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind to take the exam this time and I will definitely obtain the first place. May I borrow some money from you, Madam An? When the time comes, I¡¯ll definitely repay you tenfold or even a hundredfold.¡± An Jing was a crafty, evil schemer. Zhou Xianmin decided to approach the gentle, virtuous and kind Mrs An instead. ¡°Since you have your heart set on studying, I¡¯d definitely support you.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out her purse and handed it to Zhou Xianming. ¡°Here are ten taels of silver. If it¡¯s not enough, you can ask me for more.¡± Ten taels of silver! Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the silver, and he could not help but cry out inwardly. ¡°Darling, that¡¯s ten taels of silver.¡± An Jing licked his lips. He had almost forgotten that his wife used to be a scholar. She seemed to have more money than him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll take it as doing a great deed.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled. ¡°Many thanks, Madam An,¡± said Zhou Xianming, excitedly accepting the money. ¡°I will never forget your kindness. In the future, I will definitely repay you with gold and silver.¡± ¡°Old Zhou, Madam and I are inseparable. It¡¯s the same if you repay me.¡± An Jing patted Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder and smiled. Zhou Xianming took a look at An Jing and quietly removed his hand. Then, he flicked the dust on his shoulder with disdain. Whoosh! Whoosh! Just then, footsteps came from outside the door. ¡°Who is that! I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Someone looked in the direction of the voice and immediately kept quiet when he saw who it was. Dozens of men in linen clothes walked in. All of them were burly and looked fierce. The leader was an old man in green. Only the members of Cao Gang would wear linen clothes, and among Cao Gang¡¯s experts, those who did not wear linen clothes had even more terrifying statuses. The old man¡¯s expression was calm, his skin was rosy and his eyes were bright and lively. This old man was none other than Tie Yunshan. An expert! When An Jing saw who it was, his expression did not change, but he thought to himself. This person¡¯s aura was extremely powerful. If one were to carefully sense it, they would feel as though a mountain was crashing down on them. It was obvious that his inner force had reached the upper-third tier. Zhao Qingmei frowned and grabbed An Jing¡¯s arm without batting an eyelid. She would immediately protect him if there was any danger. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± An Jing thought that Zhao Qingmei was afraid, so he patted her hand and comforted her. ¡°My lord¡­¡± The shopkeeper quickly ran down and bowed his head to Tie Yunshan. ¡°You are the shopkeeper?¡± A Cao Gang expert beside Tie Yunshan shouted. This person¡¯s name was Zhu Hou, and he was the new head of Yuzhou City. ¡°I am.¡± The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. ¡°What about storytellers? It¡¯s impossible for a teahouse to not have storytellers, right?¡± ¡°Right there, but Zhou Xianming is not doing storytelling today.¡± ¡°Not doing storytelling?¡± A cold smile appeared on Zhu Hou¡¯s lips as he scanned his surroundings, as though he was looking for the storyteller called Zhou Xianming. ¡°I¡¯ll speak, I¡¯ll speak.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s legs turned to jelly. Tie Yunshan nodded slightly and scanned his surroundings before walking slowly towards An Jing and Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Ignorant fool! Are you not going to move!?¡± Zhu Hou¡¯s brows furrowed as he barked coldly. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at Zhu Hou before grabbing An Jing¡¯s hand and walking away. An Jing did not say anything as he memorized Zhu Hou¡¯s face. Tie Yunshan sat down and looked at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s back as he muttered to himself, ¡°This little girl looks pretty good.¡± ¡°Elder, then¡­?¡± Zhu Hou¡¯s lips curled up as his eyes narrowed slightly. Cao Gang was a gang that belonged to the martial world. On the surface, they had business, but behind their backs, they were loan sharks. It was common for them to engage in human trafficking and it was naturally not difficult for them to snatch women from commoners. Tie Yunshan leaned on his walking stick with one hand and said indifferently, ¡°I want to listen to books. Let¡¯s talk about the history of the Nine Kingdoms.¡± ¡°Did you hear that? History of the Nine Kingdoms,¡± Zhu Hou shouted to Zhou Xianming. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Zhou Xianming swallowed his saliva and walked towards the stage. After organizing his thoughts, he began to speak. ¡°After the Zhou Dynasty fell apart, the Nine Kingdoms became chaotic¡­¡± The so-called history of the Nine Kingdoms was the era before the State of Yan. After the Great Zhou fell apart, the entire world was occupied by nine powerful vassal states. The State of Yan was one of them. At that time, there was an extremely serious internal turmoil in the State of Zhao and it was unable to send troops to unify the country. The world was in chaos, outstanding heroes rising up one after another. All sides fought endlessly, mountains of corpses and seas of blood everywhere, the people living in poverty. This was a chaotic and terrifying history. The founding ancestor of the Great Yan Country had slaughtered his way out of the nine kingdoms and established the unified Yan Dynasty, which had been passed down until now. Many people in the martial world liked the history of the Nine Kingdoms. Back then, the martial world was even more chaotic and dangerous than the current martial world. It was even easier to become famous. Leaping horse, swinging spear, dominating the world. Tie Yunshan closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep. It was as if his thoughts had already entered the chaotic Nine Kingdom. Zhou Xianming¡¯s voice was trembling. No one dared to leave without Tie Yunshan¡¯s order. An Jing, on the other hand, felt that the history of the Nine Kingdom was rather interesting. Unknowingly, he also listened to it. Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing, who remained still, and her heart grew colder and colder. The Cao Gang was such a show-off! They had scared her husband silly. After an unknown period of time, Tie Yunshan slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here for today.¡± Hearing Tie Yunshan¡¯s words, the shopkeeper and Zhou Xianming both let out heavy sighs of relief. Tie Yunshan took a step forward with his walking stick. ¡°I heard that this Datong Teahouse is the place where news spreads the fastest in the entire Yuzhou City. Help me pass a message. Tell them that I, Tie Yunshan, am holding down the fort at the Yuzhou City¡¯s headquarters. I welcome the swordsmen who rescued Jiang Sanjia to come and visit.¡± ¡°I want to see if his sword is faster or my saber is faster.¡± As he spoke, Tie Yunshan slowly walked out of the tea house. Whoosh! A stone would cause a thousand ripples! Everyone looked at each other. So Tie Yunshan had come to the teahouse to issue a challenge to that peerless swordsman. Soon, Tie Yunshan¡¯s challenge to the peerless swordsman spread throughout the entire Yuzhou City and even to the entire Jiangnan Dao. Everyone was discussing whether this peerless swordsman would attend the appointment or not. Who would win this battle of swords and sabers? ¡°Tie Yunshan¡¯s provocation is too childish.¡± ¡°That swordsman might not be Tie Yunshan¡¯s match. After all, Tie Yunshan¡¯s battle achievements are splendid and he has countless victories. That swordsman could only hack open the dungeon.¡± ¡°The key is the Yuzhou City headquarters. Who dares to go?¡± ¡°With thousands of gang members gathered, even a superior Rank Three expert would find it difficult to escape unscathed.¡± ¡­ Chapter 30 - Hidden Murderous Intent in Yuzhou City Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the evening¡­ ¡°Madam, I have to go to the south of the city for a consultation, so I¡¯ll be leaving first,¡± said An Jing before he left with the small medicine box. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled and said, ¡°Remember to come back early.¡± As she watched An Jing leave, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face turned as cold as ice. ¡°Tan Yun.¡± ¡°Miss!¡± Tan Yun immediately ran over. ¡°I don¡¯t want Tie Yunshan to see the sun tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­ I understand. Even if Liu Qingshan comes, he won¡¯t be saved.¡± Tan Yun licked her lips when she saw Zhao Qingmei¡¯s gaze and walked towards the back of the house. She had not seen blood for a long time. ¡­ On the Yuzhou River, small boats floated past in twos and threes. An exquisite pleasure boat drifted about. ¡°Are you receiving guests?¡± Someone shouted towards the pleasure boat. ¡°Scram, scram, we¡¯re not receiving guests.¡± The disguised Jiang Sanjia was leaning against the cabin, drowsy. Naturally, he did not have a good tone when he heard this. No one would have expected that the wanted criminal Jiang Sanjia of Cao Gang and the Imperial Court was right under their noses. When the guest on the small boat heard Jiang Sanjia¡¯s words, he did not become angry. He commanded the boatman to row towards the pleasure boat even further away. ¡°Time to eat.¡± At that moment, Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Coming.¡± Jiang Sanjia lazily stood up and walked to the side of the small table. He put down the chopsticks that he had just picked up and said unhappily, ¡°Why are there pickled vegetables and steamed buns again?¡± He had a better life in the dungeon. Jiang Sanjia needed meat. As long as there was no meat, he would not eat the dish. Liu Haoping was afraid that he might be killed by Jiang Sanjia, so he could only serve him fish and meat every day. Although he had no freedom in the dungeon, he ate quite well. Now that he was out of the dungeon, his food had become worse. Mu Xiaoyun picked up a steamed bun and started chewing on it. She said, ¡°You should be blessed that there¡¯s food.¡± ¡°Is this the attitude of someone seeking help?¡± Jiang Sanjia snorted. ¡°You dog! If you don¡¯t eat it, do you believe that I¡¯ll let you eat the food from the dungeon again?¡± Mu Xiaoyun sneered. When Jiang Sanjia heard Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s words, he instantly wilted. Others might not know, but Mu Xiaoyun, this crazy woman, could do anything. She meant her words. Jiang Sanjia laughed awkwardly and picked up a steamed bun. ¡°Oh right, when you came back, did you say that Tie Yunshan issued a challenge to brother Zhou?¡± ¡°The entire city is in a storm. Tie Yunshan intentionally spread the news to provoke Zhou Xianming. As long as we find Zhou Xianming, won¡¯t we be able to find you?¡± Mu Xiaoyun shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s still possible for him to use this provocative method on the young ones, but forget about Zhou Xianming.¡± Jiang Sanjia sneered. He understood that the old fox, Zhou Xianming, was terrifyingly shrewd. It was absolutely impossible for him to take action just because he was provoked. ¡°Tie Yunshan had no choice. Since he couldn¡¯t find you, he naturally wanted to find that swordsman.¡± Mu Xiaoyun smiled charmingly and muttered to herself, ¡°I really want to see him fight.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, those prison days were pretty good. Now that I am out, I have to suffer through this¡­ hmm? The smell of roasted chicken?¡± Jiang Sanjia suddenly smelled the scent of roasted chicken and swallowed his saliva continuously. ¡°Sanjia, your nose is so sensitive. You can smell it even before the roast chicken arrives?¡± The curtain was lifted and An Jing walked in, dressed in a black robe and holding two roasted chickens wrapped in brown paper. ¡°Brother Zhou, why are you here?¡± As Jiang Sanjia spoke, he reached out to the roasted chicken. ¡°Sanjia, look at how anxious you are.¡± An Jing directly threw the roasted chicken in his hand to Jiang Sanjia. ¡°For the past half a month, I haven¡¯t been able to see the red lanterns hanging high up, so I came uninvited, afraid that you¡¯d already fallen into Cao Gang¡¯s hands.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s fortuitous encounter could improve his ability, so how could he not be anxious? Mu Xiaoyun let out a soft sigh and said, ¡°Sanjia¡¯s injuries have yet to heal. We can only wait until his injuries are more or less healed before we can investigate my husband¡¯s whereabouts. That¡¯s why Brother Zhou is afraid that you will have to wait a while longer.¡± Jiang Sanjia seemed to have not seen oil for some time. He hugged the roasted chicken and started to eat it in big mouthfuls. An Jing nodded. If he did not know Liu Qing Shan¡¯s true whereabouts, it would indeed be difficult. However, all of this would depend on Jiang Sanjia. After his injuries were mostly healed, he would use the Phantom Valley Heavenly Secret to find Liu Qingshan¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°That¡¯s easy to say.¡± At this point, An Jing paused and looked at Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°May I know what you want to pay me?¡± He had to plan carefully and not be fooled by her. ¡°I will definitely satisfy Brother Zhou.¡± Mu Xiaoyun narrowed her eyes. ¡°But before that, I want to know if Brother Zhou¡¯s wrist is really hard. After all, Brother Zhou is our core.¡± Jiang Sanjia, who was eating heartily, was slightly stunned. Then, he thought of something. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I heard that Cao Gang¡¯s Tie Yunshan wants to learn from you. Actually, I also want to know if Tie Yunshan¡¯s blade is faster or your sword is faster.¡± ¡°You mean you want his head?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing¡¯s reply was very simple and straightforward. Tie Yunshan had already been on his must-kill list. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡± ¡°Soon.¡± An Jing walked out of the pleasure boat slowly after he spoke. ¡­ Jiang Sanjia chewed on the roasted chicken as he said, ¡°If you want him to kill Tie Yunshan, I¡¯m afraid it will be a little difficult. That old man must be staying at the headquarters. Furthermore, he said that Tie Yunshan is alone. Who knows if Cao Gang will make a false move.¡± In his opinion, it would be unwise for An Jing to go to the Yuzhou headquarters. This was obviously Tie Yunshan¡¯s trap. Mu Xiaoyun smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s difficult that I let him do it.¡± Jiang Sanjia clicked his tongue and said, ¡°This move of yours kills three birds with a stone. Firstly, it can test Zhou Xianming¡¯s strength. Secondly, it can attract Cao Gang¡¯s attention. Thirdly, if you kill Tie Yunshan, it can also be considered as showing your stance.¡± ¡°From your words, it seems like you think he can do it?¡± Mu Xiaoyun picked up the steamed bun and said faintly. ¡°If we refuse according to common sense, I feel that it will be very difficult.¡± Jiang Sanjia pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Tie Yunshan and Hong Yuanwu have a good personal relationship, and there are many experts in the headquarters. Although Zhou Xianming agreed readily, if he was ambushed or attacked by Tie Yunshan and Hong Yuanwu, there is a possibility of failure.¡± ¡°So,¡± Mu Xiaoyun lowered her head and smiled, ¡°let¡¯s finish eating quickly and prepare to leave at any time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary.¡± Jiang Sanjia leaned lazily on the deck, his mouth full of grease. ¡°I¡¯m talking about an ordinary person, but this Brother Zhou of mine is not an ordinary person.¡± ¡°He is very cunning. He will not commit himself until success is certain. He agreed to kill Tie Yunshan so straightforwardly, I¡¯m afraid that Tie Yunshan is someone he was determined to kill..¡± Chapter 31 - Promiscuous in the Martial World Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The Hall of Loyalty in the Southern River Courtyard of Yuzhou City was a place that everyone knew about, be it from the martial world or the ordinary people. This was the Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters in Yuzhou City. There was an endless stream of carriages at the entrance. From time to time, men in linen garments would enter and exit the Southern River Courtyard. Two Cao Gang members stood at the door, yawning. ¡°Sigh! I¡¯m exhausted during the day, and I have to be on duty at night.¡± ¡°Have you heard? Altar Master Liu has broken through to Rank Five.¡± ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard of it? Elder Tie has already summoned him. On the third day of next month, it¡¯s said that Altar Master Liu is hosting a banquet.¡± ¡°I wonder when I can reach Rank Six.¡± ¡­ The two on duty chatted casually to pass the time. What kind of place was the martial world? The rivers flowed and there are massive dragons soaring through the dragon gate in the martial world, there are also countless ordinary small fry. However, not every small fry will become a peerless hero in the end. ¡°Old Liu, I haven¡¯t been home for decades.¡± Suddenly, a guard looked at the night sky and sighed. He remembered that one winter, a bully from the village had barged into his house to humiliate his wife. Finally, he could not take it anymore and stabbed two bullies to death. In order to escape arrest, he disguised his identity and joined Cao Gang. ¡°I don¡¯t have a home. My parents died long ago.¡± The gang members beside him looked calm and indifferent, as if they were saying something unrelated to him. ¡°I wonder if my wife ran away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. She must have run away.¡± ¡°F*ck, can¡¯t you give me some hope?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this when you played with Zhang Mazi¡¯s wife yesterday.¡± ¡°Zhang Mazi, that little brat, wanted to use a knife against me. How can I let him off so easily?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together tomorrow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! Zhang Mazi¡¯s wife is amazing.¡± The more they talked, the more energetic they became until a figure walked to the door. That person was dressed in a navy blue robe and his face could not be seen clearly. He held an ordinary iron sword in his hand and walked towards the door at a steady pace. It was An Jing. ¡°Stop! Who are you!¡± The two of them felt a chill in their hearts when they saw An Jing hiding himself. An Jing said nothing and continued walking towards the Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters. Chi! A faintly discernible sword light flashed past! The first person who spoke felt his heart stop for a moment. Then, he found it hard to breathe. He stretched out his hand but eventually had his hand hang down weakly. He merely took a step forward! That person had already fallen to the ground! ¡°Get here! Someone is entering the headquarters! Get here!¡± When the others saw this, their hearts started beating wildly as they hurriedly shouted towards the Hall of Loyalty. This sound was like an arrow breaking through the dawn, completely igniting the night in the Hall of Loyalty. ¡°Who dares to barge into our Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡­ Countless Cao Gang members swarmed out from all directions. An Jing did not speak and continued to walk forward at a steady pace. ¡°Die!¡± One of the Rank Six gang members had a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. He strode forward and executed the Rank Three martial arts, Dragon-capturing Hands, aiming for An Jing¡¯s shoulder blade. This person was also a rising star amongst the Cao Gang members. He was quite young. Just as that person was about to approach An Jing, a sword beam shot out. Plop! The Cao Gang members¡¯ eyes lost their divine light as their bodies fell heavily to the ground. When the surrounding Cao Gang experts saw this, they were alarmed. That person only took a step forward and they died? What sort of strength was this?! How terrifying was this?! ¡°Attack together!¡± Right at this moment, several experts from Cao Gang walked out. These people all had a cultivation of Rank Four, and they were the hall masters of the various halls in Yuzhou City. The person in the lead was Zhu Hou. Upon hearing Zhu Hou¡¯s words, Cao Gang and company gathered their courage. An Jing did not say anything, but the gang members who were ten feet away from him fell one after another. There was no sword and no techniques used. As he strolled around, countless people were killed by the sword light! With a single step, lives would be killed! He was pacing himself and did not say a single word. It was as if he was walking through the streets and alleys as usual, as calm as ever. How terrifying! Looking at this swordsman who was as calm as water, only two words remained in everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°You¡­ who exactly are you?¡± One of the Rank Four experts in the Cao Gang asked with a trembling voice. Who was this peerless expert? ¡°Could it be that peerless swordsman that split open the dungeon?¡± Zhu Hou cried out involuntarily as he recalled. He was a man of few words and held an ordinary long sword in his hand. The aura he emitted from his body was like a sharp sword, making people not dare to look at him directly. Killing people without leaving a trace! An Jing remained silent and walked forward. However, with every step he took, countless people died. Every step would lead to mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He was using the Hundred Steps Flying Sword! In less than a moment, the ground was already dyed red with blood. The road on the ground had already become a bloody road with only corpses left on the ground. When An Jing walked into the Hall of Loyalty, other than him, there were no other living people within a few meters. Zhu Hou was scared silly by this scene and his body was trembling. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Meanwhile, An Jing continued to walk in. From beginning to end, he did not say a single word and his footsteps were not the slightest bit messy. Plop! The moment his toes touched the ground, Zhu Hou felt a chill on his neck before he fell heavily onto the ground. ¡­ At an antique banquet, Tie Yunshan sat on the main seat. Below him was a young man. He was dressed in a crescent white embroidered robe that was tailored to fit him perfectly. His figure was tall and slender, like an orchid and jade tree, bright and clear like the moon, indescribably noble and elegant, like a poem or painting. If Tie Yunshan and Hong Yuanwu were both powerful people, then the young man in front of him, or rather, the Mu Clan behind him, was a real local tyrant. Mu Jie of the Mu Family was ranked seventh on the ranking of the martial world. He was known as the son of a noble family with a jade fan and was the dream lover of many wealthy ladies. His cultivation level reached Rank Four last year and he was extremely famous in the martial world. Among the four great clans of Jiangnan Dao, Mu Jie was one of the most talented youths of the younger generation. Such a person would be the future overlord of the Jiangnan Dao. He would control the winds and clouds of the Jiangnan Dao and would even have a place in the Yan Country. Tie Yunshan raised his cup and smiled. ¡°In recent years, the Mu Clan has been doing better and better. I heard that the Mu Clan¡¯s caravan is heading towards the Southbright Kingdom. This is truly worthy of celebration.¡± ¡°This is all thanks to Cao Gang¡¯s help in recent years,¡± Mu Jie quickly replied respectfully. Tie Yunshan, who was in front of him, was an extremely terrifying character. Back then, he had killed the Su Clan¡¯s Patriarch. Although he was a genius and the future leader of the Mu Clan, he did not dare to put on airs in front of Tie Yunshan. ¡°No, we¡¯re just cooperating sincerely.¡± Tie Yunshan shook his head. ¡°Good, what a sincere cooperation. Let¡¯s raise our glasses to Senior Tie¡¯s words,¡± shouted Mu Jie. The two raised their glasses again and drank. What was the martial world? The martial world was a battle for fame and fortune. Only in this chaotic martial world would one become famous and gain the fastest. This was the dream of many people. Some people wandered about the martial world. Some people indulged themselves in the martial world. There were also some people who were promiscuous.. Chapter 32 - The Battle of Sabers and Swords Under the Moonlight Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After drinking, Tie Yunshan reminded him, ¡°Nephew, don¡¯t forget what I told you earlier.¡± ¡°Senior, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll remember it.¡± Mu Jie sighed softly. ¡°My aunt is too willful and reckless. When I find my aunt, I¡¯ll definitely tell her about it.¡± Mu Jie¡¯s father, Mu Delun, was the current head of the Mu Family, and Mu Delun¡¯s sister was Mu Xiaoyun, who was also the aunt that Mu Jie spoke of. ¡°Just let me know if you find any traces.¡± Tie Yunshan smiled and said, ¡°I can also report to the gang leader.¡± With the help of the Mu Clan, it would be easier to find Jiang Sanjia, the mysterious swordsman, Mu Xiaoyun, and the others. ¡°Okay.¡± Mu Jie cupped his hands and said in a low voice, ¡°As for that swordsman, my Mu Clan will also do our best to help Senior. However, I have also comprehended a bit of the sword moves of this swordsman. He is indeed extraordinary.¡± ¡°Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen is Rank Two. All Directions Sword Gao Zixing is also Rank Two. Both of them are famous swordsmanship experts in Jiangnan Dao. One of them is ranked 97th on the rankings, while the other is ranked 63rd on the rankings. This person¡¯s swordsmanship is completely different from the two of them. Furthermore, I have never seen such swordsmanship in Jiangnan Dao. This means that this person might not be from Jiangnan Dao.¡± Mu Jie was also a swordsman. He had once gone to the old Yuzhou prison to observe and comprehend the power of the sword and was deeply moved. He only knew that this person¡¯s swordsmanship was exceptional, but he did not know which sect or clan this person was from. ¡°It¡¯s really too strange. It¡¯s extremely difficult to track this person down. That¡¯s why I used such a despicable method to provoke him.¡± Tie Yunshan nodded. This swordsman seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Jiang Sanjia had never had any relations with such a person in his life. Not to mention his strength, even his identity was extremely mysterious. If it was not for Jiang Sanjia, he would not even want to investigate this swordsman. Mu Jie smiled and said, ¡°That swordsman must have been afraid and didn¡¯t dare to appear again. He must have secretly left Jiangnan Dao by now. Senior, don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡± ¡°No, he definitely didn¡¯t leave.¡± Tie Yunshan shook his head. His intuition told him that person had not left. ¡°Oh? Why are you so sure, Senior?¡± Mu Jie asked curiously. ¡°No¡­ Oh no¡­¡± At that moment, Cao Gang stumbled in. ¡°Ghost¡­ came after us.¡± ¡°What the hell?¡± Mu Jie asked curiously, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± Tie Yunshan stared off into the distance. When the cold light rushed over, the limestone slab on the ground began to crack inch by inch before spreading to the table. The panicked gang member was directly pierced by the cold light, turning into a bloody mist that filled the sky. Then, that sword light continued to rush forward. Its target was Tie Yunshan. Crack! Tie Yunshan was shocked. He raised both his hands and two arcs of light flew up to block the cold light. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Under the moonlight, a figure slowly approached. His figure was indistinct, as if he had merged with the moonlight in the sky and the stone slabs on the ground into one. The sword in his hand had yet to be unsheathed, but it made people feel as though there was a dagger on his back. ¡°That swordsman!¡± Mu Jie looked at the figure in front of him and gasped. Just standing there gave him an imposing aura. A peerless swordsman! This was a true peerless swordsman! Mu Jie had seen many experts, including Rank One experts. However, he did not feel much from this swordsman. That confidence and sharpness was peerless. Drip! Drip! The web between Tie Yunshan¡¯s thumb and index finger which was holding onto the two sabers had blood dripping. This was the result of him forcefully receiving the sword light. ¡°You¡¯ve finally come.¡± Tie Yunshan¡¯s heart turned cold. Before he saw that sword light, he had felt that the swordsman was not his match. Now that he saw this person, he felt that he was a little rash. ¡°As you wish!¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was calm and indifferent. Moonlight slowly shone over. Mu Jie, who was standing at the side, panted heavily. He felt like he was about to suffocate in front of the two of them. Who was Tie Yunshan? Cao Gang was one of the Seven Great Vajras. He was a well-known vicious man in the martial world. His pair of scimitars were so fast that it was unknown how many famous experts he had killed. Such a person might have a chance to enter the realm of Rank One in the future. Without a Grandmaster, he would be the top expert in the martial world. However, that peerless swordsman made his heart surge even more, and it was difficult for him to calm down. On the other hand, he, Mu Jie, was usually revered as a proud son of heaven, yet he was still oppressed to the point of being unable to breathe. Was this a battle between experts? Mu Jie took a deep breath and retreated subconsciously, afraid of being affected. If Mu Jie had only endured less than ten percent of the pressure, then Tie Yunshan had endured ten or even a hundred times more. From his imposing manner, he knew that the swordsman in front of him was an unprecedented enemy. It was as if no matter how fast his saber was, there was no way to defeat him. ¡°Your status should be reported, right?¡± Tie Yunshan asked in a low voice. He was gathering his aura. An Jing smiled faintly. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to answer your irrelevant question.¡± ¡°It seems that I am still very important to you.¡± Tie Yunshan laughed. ¡°To me, it¡¯s more important without you.¡± An Jing shook his head expressionlessly. The atmosphere froze, as if the air had frozen. Tie Yunshan gripped his dual sabers tightly. An Jing did not say anything. In his opinion, Tie Yunshan was already a dead man. He did not have much to say to the dead man. At the next moment, the two of them moved. The long sword in An Jing¡¯s hand moved like a snake and a dragon, heading straight for Tie Yunshan¡¯s throat. Tie Yunshan¡¯s scimitar was not an undeserved reputation, especially after years of bitter training. It had long been integrated into his bones, blood, and memories. Scimitars were the hardest saber to cultivate amongst all the different types of sabers, while the double-handed scimitar was even more difficult. There were not many who could use scimitars in the martial world, and amongst those who could, most of them were experts. Under the saber flashes and sword shadows, the two of them continuously threw out dozens of moves. Tie Yunshan used all his strength to barely block the incoming sword light. The figures of the two of them flashed swiftly, and their speed was so swift that even Mu Jie was shocked. Even with his Rank Four cultivation, he was actually unable to keep up with their exchange. What did this mean? This meant that if the two of them wanted to kill him, they would only need one move. A single move was enough to pierce through his throat and kill him! Not long after, Tie Yunshan¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat. He felt like he was completely suppressed. He had to use his full strength. With this thought in mind, he turned his hands around, and the two sabers in his hands were like a full moon. Chi! Chi! Chi! Two saber beams slashed out, illuminating the full moon in the sky. Full Moon Scimitar! Unparalleled Full Moon! The blade light was not fast, but by the time one reacted, it was already pouring down on one like moonlight.. Chapter 33 - A Sword Asking the Martial World Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing turned the long sword in his hand and did a series of motions. Nine Character Sword Technique! Patterned word! Clang clang clang clang! Sparks flew in all directions as the swords clashed. A series of sonic booms formed a shockwave. Not far away, Mu Jie felt his heart surging. His body felt like it was about to be separated from his soul. It was a feeling of being in a trance. Was the saber faster or the sword faster?! Mu Jie tried his best to look ahead. Under the moonlight, the sword light was airtight, protecting An Jing¡¯s entire body. The saber light that poured out like moonlight was actually completely blocked, not missing a single thing. Tie Yunshan missed his first attack. His inner force was like a surging river, pouring into his arm. Buzz! Buzz! The powerful inner force fluctuations caused the surrounding air to emit a sound. Even the wine jugs on the tables started to crack. As his internal energy was injected into the pair of cold blades, a frightening cold light appeared. The corner of Tie Yunshan¡¯s clothes fluttered without any wind. The curved blade in his hand was placed horizontally in front of his chest, while the other was placed behind his neck. Then, both of his hands swung out. In an instant, it was as if moonlight poured out, and within the moonlight, there was a blade glow. Tie Yunshan was very rough. Naturally, his saber was also very rough. The experts who had died under his saber made him even more arrogant and rough. Full Moon Scimitar! Full moon shone on the west building! The wind gusted with unparalleled sharpness. Only a streak of light descended from the sky, about to split the earth into two and turn it into pieces. ¡°This¡­ This is an upper-third tier expert?¡± Mu Jie was stunned. A life and death battle between upper-third tier experts! It was rare in the martial world. There were many rumors in the martial world, but very few had actually seen those rumors, and Mu Jie was one of them. It was a pity that he was the only one who had witnessed the battle between swords and sabers. An Jing¡¯s expression was calm like an ancient well, but he drew his sword. The sword was as clear as the wings of a cicada, emitting a soft hum. The sound was like a lone boat in the vast expanse of smoke. Chi! Then, sword glows bloomed. Under the night sky, it was like a new sun rising. Nine Symbolic Sword Art! Battle word! With a point of his sword, the originally silent moon gradually dispersed. On the ground, a long, narrow slash appeared, followed by three sword strokes. Bang! With a loud explosion, everything in the surroundings turned into dust. Mu Jie¡¯s face was pale as he retreated frantically. Amidst the smoke, the two figures continued to fight. Saber and sword light flashed. It was difficult to find them, but they had already reached the climax. ¡°You¡¯ve already used your move, so take my attack,¡± An Jing said calmly. Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Tie Yunshan¡¯s heart was in his throat. No one understood the prowess of the swordsman before him better than him. The long sword in An Jing¡¯s hand slipped and it was hard to find it. His swordsmanship was bizarre and rare. Swoosh! Swoosh! Tie Yunshan was shocked. He quickly raised his two blades to block his chest. He was powerful! Too powerful! At this moment, Mu Yun was indescribably shocked. This seemingly casual strike was actually so profound. Clang! The sound of metal colliding resounded as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. Tie Yunshan was dizzy from the impact, but he felt as if he had just survived a calamity. He blocked it! ¡°Pfft!¡± But in the next moment, a sword light flew out of nowhere and pierced through his throat. His eyes were filled with disbelief. He had clearly seen that sword glow and had firmly blocked it. Why did he still die? Hidden Sword Technique! The Hidden Sword Technique seemed to be one of the introductory sword techniques, but 99% of the swordsmen had yet to learn it. The Hidden Sword Technique did not hide the sword, but the sharpness of the sword and the killing intent. When others let their guard down, at the most critical moment, the sword art that they had been hiding all this time would appear and deliver the most fatal blow to their enemy. This was the true essence of the sword art. ¡°Argh¡­!¡± ¡°Rank¡­ one¡­¡± Tie Yunshan¡¯s eyes gradually lost their glow as blood flowed out from his throat before he fell to the ground. Mu Jie was stunned by this scene. Fast! It was too fast! In the blink of an eye, Tie Yunshan fell to the ground. Was the saber faster or the sword faster? Mu Jie was the witness. He felt that there was no comparison between the two. He wanted to shout, but he suddenly realized that something was stuck in his throat. An Jing did not retract his scabbard, but instead looked at the distant roof. ¡°Your sword is so fast!¡± A clear voice rang out and a figure appeared on the distant roof. He was holding a red long sword in his hand and there seemed to be blood flowing on the long sword. Buddha Sword! This was the renowned Rakshasa¡¯s sword, the Buddha Sword. That person was dressed in black and was hidden in the dark. His figure could not be seen clearly and neither could his face. This person was Tan Yun. She was incomparably shocked. This person had actually killed Tie Yunshan. Furthermore, when he had fought with Tie Yunshan, he had been able to discover her existence. This person was definitely not an ordinary expert. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are or why you¡¯re here, but I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡± An Jing looked coldly at the figure in front of him. ¡°Get lost!¡± As he spoke, An Jing swung his sword. As the sword beam surged, terrifying waves formed in the surroundings. It was like a tidal wave that descended from the sky and rolled over. Clang! Tan Yun caught the sword, and the violent internal energy in her body churned violently. Rank one! This person was a Rank One expert! Tan Yun was extremely shocked and did not dare to stay any longer. He turned into a streak of black smoke and flew into the distance. ¡°He sure runs fast!¡± An Jing silently retracted his sword. If that person was a step slower, he would not mind killing that person. Meanwhile, Mu Jie, who was watching from the side, was not so lucky. His originally fair and handsome face was now stained with blood. ¡°Sen¡­ Senior, I¡­ I am¡­¡± Mu Jie¡¯s heart almost jumped out of his chest. ¡°This scar is now the glory of your life.¡± An Jing did not even look at Mu Jie as he walked into the distance. He strolled leisurely, just like when he came. ¡°This scar is now the glory of your life¡­¡± This voice kept echoing in Mu Jie¡¯s ears, as though it was crushing his heart. An Jing¡¯s footsteps were unhurried and he disappeared from the Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters. It was not until several minutes after An Jing had left that Mu Jie finally reacted. His body fell limply to the ground as if he had lost his support. After a long while, he finally gasped for breath and shouted, ¡°Quick! Someone come quickly! Senior Tie¡­ Senior Tie has been killed!¡± The surroundings were silent. No one responded, as if it was a barren land. ¡°Is¡ªis¡ªis¡ª¡± Mu Jie¡¯s body froze as if he had thought of something. His face was filled with fear. The headquarters of Yuzhou was massacred¡­ Chapter 34 - The Great Zhou Extraordinary Persons Refinement of Elixirs Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios On a pleasure boat on the Yuzhou River, Jiang Sanjia muttered to himself as he chewed on the chicken bone, ¡°This roasted chicken is really delicious. If another pot of wine were to be served, it would truly be an immortal-like day.¡± ¡°What a good-for-nothing.¡± Mu Xiaoyun harrumphed and said, ¡°When the matter is settled, I¡¯ll give you eight to ten roasted chickens.¡± Jiang Sanjia enjoyed the delicious food and did not seem to want to talk to Mu Xiaoyun at all. ¡°Hey, Sanjia, do you still have Wan¡¯er in your heart?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked. ¡°Wan Er¡­¡± Upon hearing those two words, Jiang Sanjia clearly paused. Then, he continued eating. Mu Xiaoyun played with the jade pendant in her hand, muttering to herself, ¡°Wan¡¯er, does she have a good life? She became a royal concubine of the imperial court, enjoying endless glory and wealth, serving the most powerful man in the world. Not only that, she also has a devoted man like you. You can say that she doesn¡¯t have a good life since she¡¯s trapped in the palace, serving the man she doesn¡¯t love every day¡­¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Jiang Sanjia sneered. Bad luck only found those who suffered. Sometimes, Jiang Sanjia felt that he was very pitiful, but sometimes, he felt that it did not matter how much he had suffered because there were people in this world who had suffered more than him. This woman in front of him was one of them. ¡°Me?¡± Mu Xiaoyun chuckled with a hint of mockery. ¡°I died long ago.¡± Jiang Sanjia spat out the chicken bone in his mouth into the river. ¡°But you¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°To me, life and death are no different.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s lips curled into a charming smile. Her pair of foxy eyes seemed to contain countless emotions and desires, but upon closer inspection, there was nothing. ¡°Sanjia, there¡¯s something wrong with your morals. Everyone is responsible for protecting water resources.¡± At this moment, a faint voice sounded. ¡°Brother Zhou, you haven¡¯t gone yet?¡± Jiang Sanjia looked up at the figure that appeared on the deck in front of him. It was An Jing. Mu Xiaoyun was also puzzled. An Jing said indifferently, ¡°Madam Liu, I have fulfilled my promise. Tie Yunshan¡¯s death was too ugly, so I did not cut off his head.¡± ¡°This is the token on him. Take a look and see if it belongs to Cao Gang.¡± Then, An Jing threw a token onto the deck. ¡°Oh!?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s pupils constricted slightly as she looked at the token on the ground. Indeed, it was Cao Gang¡¯s Elder Token. Furthermore, there was the word ¡®Tie¡¯ engraved on it. An Jing had really killed Tie Yunshan. Who was Tie Yunshan? He was one of the Seven Great Vajras of the Cao Gang and Liu Qingshan¡¯s confidant. He was an expert on the rankings in the martial world. Any one of his titles was well-known. With just a stomp of his feet, he could shake the entire Yuzhou City. He could easily control most of his emotions, including life and death. However, for such a character, his life and death were no longer in his hands. Wasn¡¯t this a kind of tragedy? Jiang Sanjia paused. He had just finished his roast chicken and An Jing had already returned from killing people. How fast was this? Who was this peerless swordsman? Who exactly was he? What exactly did he represent? This question instantly filled her mind. It was not just her, even Jiang Sanjia was puzzled in his heart. Who exactly was this Brother Zhou before him? Why had he never heard of this person¡¯s name in the martial world? This would not do. When his injuries recovered a little, the first target would be this person. ¡®I must figure out Brother Zhou¡¯s identity¡¯, Jiang Sanjia thought to himself. ¡°I think Jiangnan Dao is going to change soon.¡± An Jing muttered to himself, ¡°But Cao Gang is too powerful. You should be more careful.¡± With Tie Yunshan dead, Cao Gang would definitely make a big move. A storm was brewing! Cao Gang¡¯s leader had his own plans, and Mu Xiaoyun, this deep woman, also had hers. ¡°Brother Zhou has indeed attracted Liu Qingshan¡¯s attention.¡± Jiang Sanjia smiled and said: ¡°It might disrupt Liu Qingshan¡¯s pace and rhythm.¡± ¡°No, his rationality is terrifying.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes lit up. No one understood how terrifying Cao Gang¡¯s current leader was better than her. An Jing seemed to have thought of something. ¡°Right, I haven¡¯t asked why Brother Sanjia was imprisoned in the dungeon by Cao Gang. Since we¡¯re all allies now, I hope you can tell me about this?¡± When Jiang Sanjia was trapped in the dungeon, Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping seemed to want to get something from him. ¡°Upgrade: Jiang Sanjia has a yellow opportunity (the whereabouts of the golden pellet).¡± Suddenly, a beam of light appeared from the Earth Book. ¡°Actually, even if Brother Zhou didn¡¯t ask, I would have said it.¡± Jiang Sanjia pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°The Phantom Valley Cultivation Technique is said to be able to calculate the workings of the heavens and know everything. Actually, this is too exaggerated. The Phantom Valley Cultivation Technique can only deduce some vital energy. For example, searching for people and searching for things, it¡¯s impossible for the secrets of the heavens to know.¡± ¡°Liu Qingshan imprisoned me in the dungeon because he wanted me to find the golden pellet for him.¡± ¡°Golden pellet!?¡± This was the first time An Jing had heard of this name, and a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes. ¡°Not many people know about the golden pellet. Brother Zhou is not a gangster, so it¡¯s normal that he doesn¡¯t know.¡± By the side, Mu Xiaoyun explained, ¡°It¡¯s said that several hundred years ago, there was an extraordinary person in Great Zhou who gathered dozens of Heavenly Treasures and spent 49 days to refine a cauldron of elixirs. There are a total of nine elixirs in this cauldron, and each elixir is extremely powerful. Therefore, those who do not have strong internal energy are not allowed to consume it. Ordinary martial artists can obtain a hundred years of internal energy by swallowing it and directly reach Rank One. As for those with Rank One cultivation and already condensed three flowers, after consuming this elixir, they can combine the three flowers into one and reach the Grandmaster level.¡± ¡°And these pills are called golden pellets. At the time, three of these golden pellets were collected by an extraordinary person, and three were consumed by experts who were assisting in refining them. The final three were obtained by the Imperial Court. Two of the Great Zhou Imperial Court¡¯s pills were consumed by the princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, while the last one was destroyed by the Great Zhou Imperial Court and scattered across the world. No one knows.¡± An Jing was secretly astonished. ¡°It¡¯s so magical.¡± A single golden pellet could allow one to directly receive a hundred years of inner force, and even allow one to combine three flowers into one. An Jing did not know how difficult it was to combine three flowers into one, but condensing three flowers alone made him feel that it was very difficult. In the past, when he was cultivating, the advancement from Rank Nine to Rank One took a short time. However, he was stuck at the advancement from Rank Two to Rank One for two years. However, from Rank One to condensing the Man Flower, he felt that it was difficult to advance even an inch. In a year, he did not feel anything at all. In the end, he had to break through the boy¡¯s body to condense the Man Flower. Condensing Man Flower was already so difficult. Earth Flowers and Heavenly Flowers were even more difficult. According to the ancient martial arts records, combining three flowers into one was the most difficult. Countless people had been stuck at this combination since ancient times. The combination of three flowers was a Grandmaster stage. The might of a grandmaster! What sort of existence was that!? An Jing¡¯s heart was surging. He also yearned for this golden pellet. Jiang Sanjia said solemnly: ¡°Of course, this golden pellet is a treasure, Liu Qingshan covets this treasure and wants me to deduce its whereabouts.¡± So Liu Qingshan wanted to rely on Jiang Sanjia to find this golden pellet! An Jing raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Does that mean Liu Qingshan is an expert at condensing the Heavenly Flower?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the Heavenly Flower, but the Earth Flower must have condensed.¡± Mu Xiaoyun said slowly, ¡°As far as I know, he is planning a huge event and urgently needs to increase his strength.¡± Planning a huge event?! Liu Qingshan was the Cao Gang¡¯s leader. What he was planning was definitely a big event that would shake the martial world. ¡°Liu Qingshan is quite ambitious.¡± Jiang Sanjia clicked his tongue. An Jing was silent for a while after hearing this. Even if Liu Qingshan was a condensed earth flower, he was still an expert one realm higher than him, he was also in danger. ¡°Does Brother Sanjia know the whereabouts of this golden pellet?¡± Jiang Sanjia shook his head and stared at An Jing warily. ¡°How would I know? I have to use the Phantom Valley Cultivation Technique to deduce it. It consumes too much life force. All these years, my body has been riddled with holes from using the Phantom Valley Cultivation Technique. Moreover, even if I deduce it, I might not be able to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this old man wants me to deduce the whereabouts of golden pellet by myself?¡± Thinking of this, Jiang Sanjia subconsciously shifted his butt. An Jing sighed. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. I wonder how that extraordinary person refined it.¡± ¡°There are very few records of that extraordinary individual, just like how mysterious Brother Zhou is.¡± Jiang Sanjia sighed, ¡°It¡¯s said that when he was refining the golden pellet, he used the fire of the earth. The lightning in the sky was like a snake and thunder rumbled, creating an astonishing phenomenon.¡± Mu Xiaoyun also nodded slightly. ¡°That extraordinary person is related to the Great Zhou royal clan, but the royal clan does not know much. It seems that this person¡¯s identity is top secret.¡± Jiang Sanjia was a descendant of the Phantom Valley Sect. Phantom Valley Sect had an ancient heritage and was considered a veteran in the martial world. Mu Xiaoyun was a member of the Mu Family and was also Liu Qingshan¡¯s wife. She had come into contact with many secrets and even the two of them did not know who that extraordinary person was. It seemed that this extraordinary person was really extraordinary. Jiang Sanjia sighed emotionally, ¡°Brother Zhou, don¡¯t even think about that extraordinary person. After so many years, the Great Zhou Dynasty has fallen apart. After experiencing the Nine Nations¡¯ upheaval and the changes of a thousand years, that extraordinary person simply cannot live.¡± An Jing nodded and turned to Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°Madam, let¡¯s get back to the topic. I don¡¯t know if you agree to my reward.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Zhou. You¡¯ll definitely be satisfied with my remuneration.¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at An Jing charmingly and took out a leather scroll from her ample waist. ¡°This is it.¡± Jiang Sanjia also curiously stuck his head over and said in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re actually willing to take this out?¡± Chapter 35 - The Clouds of Jiangnan Dao Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the Ji Shi Hall, Zhao Qingmei sat on the chair with her brows furrowed. ¡°You mean that when you and Ghost-Faced Buddha rushed over, Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters had already been massacred?¡± Tan Yun¡¯s face was pale, and he clutched his chest as he said, ¡°That¡¯s right, all of these people died with a single strike of the sword, and the wounds on their blades were all very neat. That peerless swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship is even higher than mine.¡± ¡°When I continued to head deeper into Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters, I discovered that the swordsman was competing with Tie Yunshan. Tie Yunshan was killed by an extremely strange sword technique and his head was severed.¡± ¡°That swordsman discovered my whereabouts and swung his sword at me. I was no match for him and suffered some light injuries.¡± Zhao Qingmei frowned slightly. She understood Tan Yun¡¯s swordsmanship very well. Since she said that her swordsmanship was superb, it definitely could not be faked. ¡°Rank one cultivation? I didn¡¯t expect such an expert to exist in this small Yuzhou City. However, who is this swordsman? Why does he have to attack before the Demon Sect?¡± ¡°Young Lady, could this person know that our Demon Sect has appeared in Great Yan? He has the intention to go against our Demon Sect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. Even though our entry into the Great Yan Dynasty is hidden, there are no secrets in this world that cannot be leaked. Furthermore, it was the Mortal Sect who killed Wang Zhiping previously. If someone were to investigate further, they might not be able to find out. However, there is another explanation as to whether they are against our Demon Sect.¡± ¡°What should we do now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. How long until Third Master arrives?¡± ¡°According to my estimation, Master will arrive in two days.¡± ¡°Alright, when the Third Master arrives, I¡¯ll let him find a chance to exchange a few moves with this swordsman and find out who he is.¡± ¡­ It was pouring in Jiangnan Dao, Yuzhou City. In the Su Clan¡¯s study¡­ The Su Clan, one of the four great aristocratic families of Jiangnan, was known as the head of Jiangnan during its heyday. At that time, the head of the Su Clan was the master of the Jiangnan Dao. It could be said that he ruled the world with one hand. His younger brother was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites in the Imperial Court. He also had the backing of the Crown Prince¡¯s faction, which was at the height of its power at that time. The Su Clan¡¯s power was illustrious, and their glory was unmatched. Just the Su Clan¡¯s distinguished guests alone numbered three thousand, and the number of people who came to seek refuge was still endless. Everyone believed that the crown prince would inherit the throne at that time, and the Su Clan had the merit of following the dragon. At that time, the Su Clan could even get rid of the Jiangnan Dao family and become one of the aristocratic families of Yan Country. Although it was only a step, it was a complete change for the aristocratic families. However, what happened next was unexpected. Forty years ago, there was a coup that shocked the world. In the end, the political situation of the Yan Country changed drastically, and the country was completely purged. Before the emperor passed away, the crown prince died violently, and the third prince inherited the reign of the Yan Country, named Taiping Yuan. The word ¡®peace¡¯ was enough to show the long-cherished wish of the current Emperor of Great Yan. He hoped that Great Yan would be able to obtain some peace during this coup. Following that, the Human Emperor issued a pardon, amnesty to the world, tax reduction, and other measures that benefited the country and its people. It was indeed worthy of the word ¡®peace¡¯. However, the Su Clan was not peaceful. There was no other reason. It was because the Su Clan was part of the former crown prince¡¯s faction. Now that the Third Prince had ascended the throne, it was a very natural thing to cleanse the old faction, and the Su Clan was naturally implicated. The Su Clan¡¯s influence plummeted. With the stagnation of the recent decades, the Su Clan was gradually overtaken by the Mu Family and the Cao Family. Although they were said to be on par with the other three aristocratic families, they were merely basking in the glory of the past. Everyone knew that the Cao Gang was behind the Mu Family and the Cao Family. Tens of years ago, Tie Yunshan killed the head of the Su Clan and dozens of Su Clan¡¯s experts. In the end, he joined Cao Gang. Even if the Su Clan wanted to take revenge, they could only give up when faced with Liu Qingshan, who had a strong aura. At this moment, Su Ze was sitting at the table with a book in her hands, ¡°Commerce Theory¡±. ¡°Father! Father¡­¡± A voice sounded outside the door. ¡°Come in,¡± said Su Ze calmly as he put down the scroll in his hand. A refined young man walked in quickly and said happily, ¡°Father, there¡¯s a piece of good news.¡± ¡°What good news?¡± Su Ze asked calmly. ¡°Tie Yunshan was killed!¡± ¡°Tie Yunshan¡­ what? Who did you say was killed?¡± Su Ze stood up instantly and stared at her son, Su Rui. Who was Tie Yunshan? He knew all too well. ¡°Indeed, Father.¡± Su Rui said excitedly, ¡°Not only Tie Yunshan, but also Cao Gang¡¯s 37 experts have all died. These are all Cao Gang¡¯s true elites.¡± ¡°Good, good, good. They¡¯ve killed so well, hahaha!¡± Su Ze cried tears of joy upon hearing this. He had been looking forward to killing Tie Yunshan for so many years. He had always wanted to take revenge for his elder brother. However, Tie Yunshan had Cao Gang backing him up and his prestige was increasing by the day. It was extremely difficult to deal with Tie Yunshan. Su Rui was thrilled to see his father like this. ¡°Who is it that managed to massacre the Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters and killed Tie Yunshan?¡± After a long while, Su Ze asked. How powerful was Tie Yunshan? He was already a Rank Two several years ago. In recent years, his strength had definitely increased. Being able to defeat him meant that he was not an ordinary person. To be able to kill him and even massacre the Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters, he was an extremely terrifying existence. Su Rui hurriedly said, ¡°The dead Cao Gang members only had a sword wound on their bodies and there was a black shirt on the ground of Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters. In my opinion, it¡¯s most likely that peerless swordsman. His cultivation should be at the peak of Rank Two or even Rank One.¡± ¡°What a formidable swordsman!¡± When Su Ze heard this, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect our Jiangnan Dao to have such an expert. What a pity. If we knew where this person was, our Su Clan should also thank him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the swordsman has already gone into hiding.¡± Su Rui smiled wryly and said, ¡°This matter has spread throughout the entire Yuzhou City. When I first came back, there were countless falcons in the sky. I believe this news will quickly spread throughout the entire martial world.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Su Ze chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this. Tonight, the two of us will drink to our hearts¡¯ content and celebrate.¡± ¡­ In Cao Gang¡¯s main hall in Linjiang City, the atmosphere in the hall was extremely oppressive and it was almost suffocating. Seated at the head of the table was a middle-aged Confucian scholar. He held a folding fan in his hand, and his expression was so dark that it seemed like water was about to drip from it. ¡°Mister Guo, what should we do now?¡± A burly, bearded man asked with cupped fists. The burly man was more than nine feet tall and had a sturdy body. The muscles on his arms bulged, making him look like a horned dragon. This person was one of Cao Gang¡¯s Seven Great Vajras, Nan Ming. This person was originally a monk from a Buddhist monastery. By chance, he had learned the Buddhist Xuanwu level martial technique, the Vajra Arts. He cultivated bitterly for twenty years and his cultivation level became increasingly high. However, he eventually could not stand the rules of Buddhism and renounce asceticism. That scholar was Liu Qingshan¡¯s trusted aide, Poison Scholar Guo Yuchun. Cao Gang¡¯s rapid development was definitely related to this person. Some people in Cao Gang were not afraid of Liu Qingshan, because there were very few opportunities to meet him. However, there was no one who was not afraid of Guo Yuchun. Once Guo Yuchun went to drink tea with him, there was a high chance that he would be in trouble. Thus, even though the members of Cao Gang usually avoided him. ¡°Tie Yunshan¡¯s sharp blades are not just for show. This person was able to kill Tie Yunshan and even massacred our Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters. This shows that his strength is far above Tie Yunshan¡¯s. He is very likely a Rank One expert.¡± Guo Yuchun calmly analyzed, ¡°Recently, have there been any signs of Rank One experts in Great Yan? Not at the moment. Only the Demon Sect is stirring. In addition, the Yu Family¡¯s Wang Zhiping and his family are dead¡­¡± ¡°Demon Sect?!¡± A woman beside him frowned and said softly. This woman was also one of Cao Gang¡¯s Seven Great Vajras, Ouyang Yu. At the mention of these two words, the entire hall became depressed and the atmosphere became strange. Cao Gang became more and more powerful with each passing day. It felt as though they had the might of the number one gang in the world. However, they only had a vague presence. Even if they were the number one gang in the world, they were still afraid when facing the Demon Sect that had dominated the Great Yan martial world. The Demon Sect¡¯s prestige back then was too terrifying! The Five Gangs and Seven Sects were jointly besieged by the Black Clothes Guard of the Imperial Court. Even in such an environment, they still persisted for half a year before leaving Great Yan. If they made a comeback, the entire Great Yan martial world would tremble. ¡°The Demon Sect can¡¯t possibly act so insolently, right?¡± Nan Ming said after thinking for a moment. The Demon Sect did not plan to return to the Great Yan but they were already acting so insolently. Weren¡¯t they afraid of attracting the attention of others? ¡°This swordsman is definitely from the Demon Sect!¡± Guo Yuchun said firmly. Nan Ming and Ouyang Yu looked at each other, as if they understood something. Guo Yuchun sneered. ¡°Spread the news that the swordsman is from the Demon Sect. Our Cao Gang has gathered all the aristocratic families in Jiangnan Dao to kill the thieves together. This is exactly what we want.¡± ¡­ Chapter 36 - Meticulous Li Fuzhou Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios News of Cao Gang¡¯s headquarters being massacred quickly spread throughout Yuzhou City. It could be said that a single stone stirred up a thousand waves, stirring up heavenly shocking waves. Squadrons of constables wore bamboo hats and raincoats as they moved through the streets and alleys in the heavy rain, searching for the whereabouts of peerless swordsmen. It had to be known that these peerless swordsmen were not only wanted criminals of Cao Gang, but also wanted criminals of the Imperial Court. ¡°To think that Tie Yunshan would die just like that!¡± ¡°Looks like his saber isn¡¯t fast!¡± ¡°He managed to massacre the Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters overnight. This swordsman is too terrifying.¡± ¡°Tie Yunshan has truly provoked someone he shouldn¡¯t have.¡± ¡°I never thought that someone like Tie Yunshan would die so easily.¡± ¡°Who is this swordsman?¡± ¡°Is his an expert from the Alioth Sword Sect?¡± ¡°My guess is that he might be the successor of Sword Magician.¡± ¡°Someone like him is simply too amazing.¡± ¡­ In the teahouse and restaurant, everyone was discussing softly. Most people were amazed by the bloodbath at Yuzhou¡¯s headquarters. They were curious about the strength of the peerless swordsman. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t know? I heard that the swordsman is a Demon Sect expert,¡± whispered someone. ¡°What?!¡± When the surrounding people heard that, they revealed shocked expressions. Demon Sect! An existence that could make one¡¯s expression change! ¡°Is this true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. My second uncle is the coroner of the government. He told me himself that this swordsman is the new expert of the Demon Sect.¡± ¡°So this person is an expert from the Demon Sect. I was wondering why he was so bold to even dare to rob the dungeon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also heard some rumors. It¡¯s said that Cao Gang has already sent out invitations, and they want to discuss how to kill this person during the Yulanpen Festival of Fa Xi Monastery.¡± ¡°Now that the Demon Sect has returned, I¡¯m afraid there will be another bloodbath.¡± ¡­ The rumors became more and more shocking. Meanwhile, An Jing, who was thought to be the swordsman because of a black shirt, had a new identity as a Demon Sect expert after that. At the same time, on the ranking of the Great Yan World, the black-shirted man had killed Tie Yunshan and was placed 37th. Another Demon Sect expert had entered the ranking too. It was like a spark that silently ignited the entire Great Yan martial world and the royal court. In an instant, the entire Great Yan martial world was in turmoil. ¡­ In Ji Shi Hall¡­ ¡°Doctor Little An, my body!¡± A middle-aged man looked at An Jing with a pale face. ¡°As the saying goes, nourishment is better than medicine. Although the effects of these medicines are faster, you should pay more attention to your daily diet.¡± With that, An Jing walked to the medicine cabinet and started to grab the herbs. ¡°Thank you, Doctor An,¡± the middle-aged man said gratefully. Recently, the summer turned into autumn, and the seasons change caused the number of patients to increase. An Jing had been sitting in the clinic for four hours without taking a break. At this moment, Tan Yun said that she was going to the harbor to pick up her Third Master, while Zhao Qingmei was concocting medicine in the back hall. Hence, An Jing was the only one who was in charge of the consultation today. He had to see the patients and dispense medicine. ¡°Next!¡± An Jing took a sip of tea. The woman was delighted to hear this. She had been queuing for almost an hour and it was finally her turn. ¡°Make way, make way.¡± Just as the woman was about to step forward, a young man stepped in front of her. ¡°How can you¡­¡± The woman was just about to express her displeasure when she saw the burly man¡¯s figure and immediately swallowed her words. She recognized this person. His name was Song Lin. He was a famous local ruffian who was good at scamming and cheating. He was the kind who did everything except good. Song Lin sat down. ¡°Doctor An, I¡¯m here to help my friend.¡± ¡°One of my friends said that his palms were always sweaty and he felt tired, especially when he was involved in sex.¡± When An Jing saw this, he understood that the friend he had mentioned was non-existent. ¡°Hold out your hand,¡± An Jing said lightly. Song Lin stretched out his palm, which was already covered in sweat. An Jing took his pulse. Sure enough, it was a Kidney problem. ¡°Doctor Little An, how is it?¡± The young man asked nervously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Your friend might be a little weak. It¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡± An Jing then walked to the medicine cabinet, grabbed some herbs, and wrapped them in a piece of paper. ¡°This is half a month¡¯s worth of medicine. Together with the medical fee, it¡¯s 500 coins!¡± ¡°500 coins!?¡± Song Lin¡¯s expression changed drastically when she heard this. ¡°Doctor Little An, in the past, it was only 30 copper coins. How come it¡¯s 500 now?¡± An Jing said angrily, ¡°That¡¯s my price. It¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Song Lin sneered and snatched the paper from An Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you trying to play dirty with me?¡± ¡°What, are you planning to walk away without paying?¡± An Jing sized up Song Lin and said lazily, ¡°Kid, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m bragging, but the people who played with me have all been defeated.¡± Seeing this scene, Song Lin could not help but laugh. ¡°Aiyo, I¡¯m so scared. What should I do?¡± A little doctor was actually playing such tricks in front of him? He was a professional at bluffing. ¡°What happened?¡± Seemingly having heard the commotion, Zhao Qingmei lifted the curtain and walked out. The moment Zhao Qingmei appeared, Song Lin¡¯s eyes lit up and she chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Doctor An¡¯s wife is as beautiful as a fairy. I never expected it to be true.¡± Zhao Qingmei frowned and said, ¡°You either pay or leave the herbs behind. Don¡¯t hinder others.¡± ¡°I want this herb, and I don¡¯t want to give you money. What should I do?¡± Song Lin waved the herb in his hand as if he was determined to eat it. Slap! ¡°Ouch!¡± At that moment, a huge palm swept over and landed heavily on Song Lin¡¯s head. Immediately, Song Lin felt as if he had been hit by an iron ball. It hurt so much that he cried out loudly. His body swayed and he almost lost his balance. ¡°Who!?¡± Song Lin rubbed the back of his head and turned around to see an old man. The old man¡¯s face was full of wrinkles. Gray spots covered his face, but his eyes had a hint of divine light. Although his clothes were tattered and had been washed until they were white, his clothes were meticulous, as if he was born with a sense of righteousness. ¡°At such a young age, it¡¯s the time to study hard and work hard, yet you don¡¯t learn well! How sad! How sad!¡± ¡°Who are you!?¡± Song Lin cried out in pain. The old man clasped his hands together and cupped his fists at Song Lin. ¡°My name is Li Fuzhou!¡± Song Lin swallowed his saliva. He seemed to be intimidated by Li Fuzhou. ¡°You¡­ Why did you hit me?¡± Li Fuzhou snorted and said, ¡°I hit you because you didn¡¯t follow the rules. I hit you because you don¡¯t know your manners! The Sage once said: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, move no evil. Have you already forgotten?¡± Speaking up to this point, Li Fuzhou actually turned to look at the others and started lecturing them. ¡°I hope everyone doesn¡¯t learn from him and become a person who doesn¡¯t know his limits and has no manners. In the future, use this person as a warning to wake yourself up.¡± Li Fuzhou was like an old-fashioned teacher. He was serious, strict and meticulous. Everyone looked at each other and nodded subconsciously. Song Lin¡¯s face turned red and green from the old man¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 500 yuan.¡± In the end, Song Lin threw down half a tael of silver. He did not dare to go too far. Others might not know, but he knew very well that Han Wenxin had already privately told him not to cause trouble in the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Third Master, you¡¯re here.¡± At this moment, Zhao Qingmei chuckled and nodded. Li Fuzhou¡¯s expression turned serious. He straightened his clothes, cupped his fists, and bent over meticulously. ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°Li Fuzhou pays his respects!¡± Chapter 37 - Change in Mood Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Don¡¯t be so serious.¡± Zhao Qingmei waved her hand and said, ¡°Although it¡¯s a few days later than the time stated in your letter, you are finally here.¡± An Jing, on the other hand, sized up the pedantic and old-fashioned old man in front of him. This was completely incompatible with the arrogant and dark Tan Yun. In comparison, he preferred Tan Yun¡¯s personality. This old-fashioned old man looked very serious. ¡°I went to visit some good friends, but I was a little late.¡± Li Fuzhou cupped his fists, then looked at An Jing beside him and asked, ¡°Is this Mr. An Jing?¡± An Jing also cupped his fists and smiled. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded but he frowned in his heart. He did not have any internal energy. If the Sect Master really took a liking to this person, it would be a great misfortune for the Demon Sect. Just now, an ordinary local ruffian caused him to be in a dilemma. If he were to face the monsters in the martial world in the future, he would be scared out of his wits. The two of them exchanged glances before looking away. Zhao Qingmei smiled and said, ¡°The dishes have already been prepared. Why don¡¯t we have a meal first before continuing?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Third Master must be tired from the long journey.¡± An Jing nodded. ¡°I am used to working hard. This journey is nothing.¡± Li Fuzhou noticed the look in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes and said calmly, ¡°But it¡¯s good to eat.¡± ¡­ At the dining table, Tan Yun was like a quail, completely devoid of her usual vigor. Lil Blackie was lying on the side of the basin, eating fresh soup and rice. His little tail kept wagging left and right, looking extremely happy. Li Fuzhou sat upright on the chair. His expression was serious and he did not say a word. The atmosphere was extremely different from the typical lively one. ¡°Where did you run off to just now?¡± An Jing asked, feeling bored. ¡°I went the wrong way,¡± said Tan Yun carefully looked at Li Fuzhou. ¡°How can you go the wrong way? Is this your first day in Yuzhou City?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and smiled. In the past, if he said this, Tan Yun would definitely put down her chopsticks and argue back, but today, Tan Yun did not say anything. ¡°Woof woof! Woof woof!¡± Lil Blackie seemed to have eaten his fill. He ran to Tan Yun¡¯s feet and called out to her, as if he wanted Tan Yun to give him more food. ¡°Shut up!¡± Li Fuzhou frowned and shouted at Lil Blackie, ¡°Eat without speaking, sleep without speaking. This is the rule. Since we are in the same room, we have to follow the rules!¡± ¡°Woof!¡± The little black man took a few steps back and lay on the ground, aggrieved. Li Fuzhou actually taught a dog a lesson!¡­ An Jing blinked at the side and thought to himself: Is this old man being indirect? After eating and drinking to their hearts¡¯ content, Zhao Qingmei brought Li Fuzhou to the backyard. An Jing looked at Tan Yun, who was studying medicine diligently. He looked outside curiously and asked, ¡°Did the sun rise from the west?¡± In the past, Tan Yun would bring Lil Blackie out to play after washing the dishes. Today, she was actually reading. How could this not be strange? ¡°I¡¯m usually like this.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s face sank.¡± Don¡¯t slander me.¡± An Jing walked to Tan Yun¡¯s side and asked with a smile, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re very afraid of your Third Master? What¡¯s his background?¡± Anyway, An Jing did not like this Third Master. It was obvious at a glance that he was old-fashioned, pedantic, a stone in a latrine, and he even hurt him with his words. ¡°Who said I¡¯m afraid?¡± Tan Yun frowned and whispered, ¡°Who am I, Tan Yun, afraid of?¡± A sinister smile appeared on An Jing¡¯s face as he watched Tan Yun speak in the softest tone possible. ¡°Oh? Really? You¡¯re not afraid of anyone.¡± Hearing this, An Jing deliberately raised his voice. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tan Yun glared at An Jing and said, ¡°Young master, you went to drink with Han Wenxin two days ago¡­¡± An Jing would usually drink with Han Wenxin, but Zhao Qingmei would not let him drink with Han Wenxin, for fear that he would go to places like brothels. ¡°How did you know?¡± An Jing looked at Tan Yun in surprise. Tan Yun said proudly, ¡°When you left, you definitely brought the little pill for Han Wenxin. Also, every time you guys secretly talked to each other, I knew that although he always bragged about how fierce his needles were, I knew that he was bragging.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± An Jing coughed dryly and said, ¡°You can¡¯t say that out loud. If word gets out, Han Wenxin won¡¯t be able to get a wife in the future.¡± Tan Yun was such a weird girl. He had to avoid her in the future. Every time he thought of her giving Han Wenxin soybean powder, his heart would turn cold. ¡°By the way, what did your Third Master do in the past? Tell me quickly.¡± An Jing thought of something and asked. ¡°He was a scholar. Later on, he said that studying and reasoning with others was useless, so he stopped studying.¡± Tan Yun casually said this as she cursed in her heart: ¡°Changing topics when you cannot continue your conversation.¡± ¡°No wonder. Do all scholars have to abide by so many rules?¡± ¡°He has many rules. I don¡¯t know about the others.¡± ¡°An old antique.¡± ¡°Young master, you can¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? This is my house. I can¡¯t speak. Don¡¯t be afraid. Young master will protect you.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± After Tan Yun finished speaking, he looked towards the direction of the backyard and then took in a large amount of peace and quiet. Who was Li Fuzhou? He was the Sect Leader of the Demon Sect and was the trusted aide of the previous Sect Master. Even the current Sect Master had to give him some face. If a small physician like him wanted to fight with him, he would probably suffer from broken bones¡­ ¡°You still don¡¯t believe me?¡± An Jing patted his chest and said, ¡°I;m a reliable person. My words are more real than pearls.¡± Tan Yun rolled her eyes. ¡°Young master, the pearls in the house are fake.¡± Anjing was speechless. Tan Yun could not help but burst into laughter upon seeing An Jing¡¯s hesitant expression. Although young master was not capable, he could make people happy. ¡°Young master, your small body is still protecting me. Forget it.¡± Tan Yun sized up An Jing¡¯s body. ¡°Are you looking down on me?¡± An Jing sneered. ¡°Even your Miss doesn¡¯t dare to look down on me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not looking down on you, sir. I just feel¡­ how should I say it¡­¡± Tan Yun touched her braid, not knowing how to say it. ¡®I, the Demon Sect¡¯s Rakshasa, don¡¯t need a small physician like you.¡¯ ¡°Third Master is a scholar, you won¡¯t be able to beat him.¡± In the end, Tan Yun spoke from his heart. In this world, scholars were the most detestable. They spoke of righteousness and morality, but used their sword to deal with you. ¡°Alright, then Zhou Xianming is also a scholar. Maybe the two of them can get along.¡± An Jing paused and nodded. After a long while, he stood up and walked outside. ¡°Young master, where are you going again?¡± Tan Yun asked when she saw An Jing¡¯s back. ¡°Me? I¡¯m going out to buy a few pounds of benevolence.¡± ¡­ Chapter 38 - Scholars Feel Like Old Friends at First Sight Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the backyard¡­ ¡°Leader, is that young doctor your lover?¡± Li Fuzhou asked with a strange expression. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Qingmei answered simply. Li Fuzhou slowly said, ¡°If Sect Master isn¡¯t married, then this Li will definitely condemn you to death. But since this matter has already been decided in the coffin, then it¡¯s meaningless for me to say anything else.¡± ¡°However, there are some things that I must say to warn you.¡± Zhao Qingmei said calmly, ¡°Go ahead.¡± She was already prepared for Li Fuzhou¡¯s lecture. Li Fuzhou said slowly, ¡°Sect Master, the physician is just an ordinary person while you are the master of Heaven¡¯s beyond, the leader of the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Sects. Let¡¯s not talk about external enemies, will the internal three sects agree to this marriage? You should know the intentions of the Earth Sect¡¯s master. If the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal sects are divided and cannot be united, it will undoubtedly be a huge crisis for the Demon Sect.¡± ¡°There are still external enemies lying in wait. The current situation of Great Yan seems to be as calm as water, but it has been peaceful for dozens of years. There will be a storm at any time, and this is a rare opportunity. Will he become your obstruction and become the Demon Sect¡¯s obstruction?¡± ¡°I am aware of everything you said.¡± Zhao Qingmei placed her hands behind her back and said calmly, ¡°Sect Master Li, don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m the master of Heaven¡¯s Beyond. The Earth Sect is merely a branch of Heaven¡¯s Beyond. It¡¯s not his place to criticize me. If he insists on criticizing me, what¡¯s the point of the Heaven Sect to me?¡± Zhao Qingmei spoke calmly, but there was no doubt about it. Li Fuzhou remained silent, seemingly unsurprised by her words. ¡°The sword in your hand is the sword in your hand. Li Fuzhou, do you understand?¡± Zhao Qingmei turned to look at Li Fuzhou. ¡°The behavior of a gentleman is like a long trip. One must be humble when one is at a high position. I understand.¡± Li Fuzhou looked at the pair of eyes and lowered his body. ¡°However, that little doctor doesn¡¯t even have the strength to tie up a chicken. If someone wants¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you came at the right time.¡± Zhao Qingmei smirked. ¡°Sect Master, do you want me to¡­?¡± Li Fuzhou frowned slightly. Who was he? He was the Sect Leader of the Mortal Sect, a Heaven¡¯s Beyond. Someone like Human Emperor Yan, one of the three great eunuchs, Zhangxi Eunuch, actually wanted to protect an insignificant physician? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded and said, ¡°Thank you, Third Master.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Upon hearing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words, Li Fuzhou had no choice but to agree. He then seemed to have thought of something and said, ¡°When I came to Yuzhou, I heard that there was a peerless swordsman in Yuzhou City. I heard that he was an expert from the Demon Sect?¡± Cao Gang was a top-notch gang in Great Yan. One of the seven Great Vajra Realm martial experts, Tie Yunshan, was killed and the entire headquarters was massacred. This was a huge matter and he had heard quite a bit of news along the way. Moreover, he was the sect leader of the Mortal Sect, he was the first to hear news about the world. He actually did not know that such an expert had appeared in the sect. Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, ¡°This person isn¡¯t a member of our Demon Sect. He should be using Cao Gang to mislead us and make use of others to deal with this swordsman.¡± ¡°Cao Gang is really bold. If the swordsman is really a member of our Demon Sect, he is completely provoking our Demon Sect. It seems like our Demon Sect is no longer as powerful as before.¡± Li Fuzhou chuckled. ¡°When I came here, I heard that the Leiyin Monastery is making a move too. They seem to be coming to Fa Xi Monastery. Jiangnan Dao is really quite lively.¡± ¡°Buddhists? They¡¯ve finally made their move?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Li Fuzhou sighed. ¡°Pure Land Sect has long wanted to return to the Yan Country. This isn¡¯t a secret. The first thing they have to do is to pass through the Yan Country¡¯s cult. We don¡¯t have to worry. After all, the more chaotic the situation is, the better it is for the Demon Sect. What I¡¯m curious about is the identity of this swordsman.¡± The Pure Land Sect of the Western Regions was known as the Three Thousand Buddhist Kingdom. Among them, there were countless experts from Buddhist sects. The First True Sect was the Yan Country¡¯s sect after the Peace Emperor ascended the throne. Its prestige was like the midday sun and it was the number one sect in the world. Although the two sides did not have a deep blood feud and were like fire and water, there were many grudges between them and their conflicts were not shallow. Zhao Qingmei gently knocked on the table and said, ¡°According to my guess, this person is very likely from the Phantom Valley Sect.¡± ¡°That old fogey from the Phantom Valley Sect?¡± Li Fuzhou narrowed his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t he live in seclusion to seek the Great Dao and never ask about the facts of the martial world?¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded and said, ¡°This person executed the Hundred Steps Flying Sword when he was massacring Caoyao Gang. He also rescued Jiang Sanjia and made my plan fail.¡± ¡°This old monster from the Phantom Valley Sect has not done anything for decades. As the saying goes, it¡¯s a joy to have friends from afar.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation. ¡­ Yuzhou River was scenic and beautiful. There were endless streams of people on the ancient bridge. On both sides of the street were rows and rows of shops. After lunch, Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun went out to buy some cloth. An Jing was in charge of consultation while Li Fuzhou was in charge of getting the herbs according to An Jing¡¯s prescription. He was meticulous and serious in his work, and made no mistakes when weighing the herbs. ¡°The handwriting is too messy. You have to correct your attitude. You can¡¯t be careless about this,¡± said Li Fuzhou strictly as he looked at the words. ¡®Old man, what do you know?¡¯ ¡°Got it.¡± An Jing agreed readily, but still wrote in a very careless manner. When Li Fuzhou saw this, he immediately felt that this little physician was becoming more and more annoying. An Jing actually looked down on him. Li Fuzhou gave An Jing the impression that he was serious, old-fashioned, and scheming. For the entire morning, apart from this sentence, the two of them did not say anything else. ¡°Ouch, my waist is about to break.¡± An Jing stretched his back lazily. ¡°Third Master, some herbs in the back room can be sunbaked. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Li Fuzhou put down the book in his hand and walked towards the backyard. An Jing nodded in satisfaction, then touched the Lil Blackie. ¡°Little thing, you seem to be quite well-behaved this morning.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s face darkened when he heard this. Bastard! These words were definitely insinuating. ¡°Hey, Doctor An, are you alone?¡± At this moment, Zhou Xianming walked in and glanced at the back hall as if he was looking for something. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Are you here to work again?¡± ¡°No, I just came to take a look.¡± Zhou Xianming laughed dryly. ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve been studying hard at home, so I came out to walk¡­ Ahchoo!¡± As he spoke, Zhou Xianming sneezed, and his mucus rolled out. ¡°Did you really catch a cold?¡± An Jing took a closer look and said, ¡°The season has changed recently, you have to keep warm.¡± With his medical skills, he could naturally tell that Zhou Xianming had caught a cold. ¡°It¡¯s windy on the boat. I accidentally caught a cold last night. It¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Xianming wiped his snot with his sleeve and smiled. ¡°The wind on the ship is strong?¡± An Jing was puzzled. Zhou Xianming also seemed to know that he had let his tongue slip. He hurriedly said, ¡°For the past few days, I had been studying seriously at home. I didn¡¯t go to support Miss Li Yue. I was afraid that she would be worried, so I went to the Red Mansion last night. Back then, Young Master Ming Fei booked the entire Red Mansion¡¯s pleasure boat. I could only wait outside.¡± ¡°How long did you wait?¡± ¡°Not long. Less than four hours.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t long? You just waited like that?¡± An Jing could imagine the scene of the young master named Ming Fei and Li Yue lingering on the pleasure boat while Zhou Xianming stood outside the boat and listened to the sentry. Tears were shed by those who heard it! Zhou Xianming sighed and said, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Young Master Ming Fei often goes there and is very generous. For the sake of money, the procuress definitely doesn¡¯t want to offend this big customer. She forced Miss Li Yue to accompany her for so long, but she had no choice. She only hates me for not having money to redeem her.¡± ¡°In truth, Miss Li Yue is so aloof and proud. How could she be willing to accompany that ignorant and incompetent man like him?¡± ¡°She must have suffered last night.¡± When An Jing saw this, he was stunned for a moment before saying in astonishment, ¡°Brother Zhou, you were obviously frozen like a grandson.¡± At this moment, Zhou Xianming had shown An Jing what a war wolf was. ¡°Although my body is cold, my heart is warm. Forget it, you¡¯re just an ordinary person. I won¡¯t waste any more time with you.¡± Zhou Xianming felt that An Jing was not on good terms with him. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly found a book on the table. ¡°Eh? You read this book ¡®Strategy¡¯ too?¡± ¡°No, I use it to clean my ass.¡± An Jing took a look. This was obviously the book Li Fuzhou had put down. ¡°How disgraceful!¡± Zhou Xianming glared at him. ¡°That¡¯s my book, how dare you!¡± At this moment, Li Fuzhou walked out. He picked up the discussion on the table and looked coldly at An Jing. ¡°So it¡¯s the old man¡¯s book, so sorry for being rude.¡± Zhou Xianming saw Li Fuzhou¡¯s attire and hurriedly bowed. ¡°I was wondering why Doctor An has the book ¡®Strategy¡¯ at home when he doesn¡¯t like to read.¡± Li Fuzhou raised his head and said indifferently, ¡°Such a profound book isn¡¯t something an ordinary person can understand. Forget about him. You¡¯re quite perceptive.¡± ¡°I usually like to study ¡®Strategy¡¯. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re an elegant person.¡± ¡°Oh? Boy, you do have some foresight. This old man also likes it very much. Every time I read those words, my heart would be enlightened and unable to control myself.¡± ¡°Especially that line¡­¡± ¡­ The two of them chatted happily. Zhou Xianming¡¯s admiration for Li Fuzhou increased. He felt like he regretted not meeting him earlier. Li Fuzhou looked at Zhou Xianming with greater satisfaction. An Jing looked at the two coldly. He did not expect him to build their relationship. Weren¡¯t the two just flattering each other and flattering each other? It was really disgusting. Unknowingly, the two of them had become old friends. It was like meeting a bosom friend. Zhou Xianming smiled warmly and said, ¡°Mr. Li, we hit it off right from the start. Why don¡¯t we go to the brothel and listen to music tonight?¡± Zhou Xianming must be out of his mind to invite this old-fashioned and pedantic old man to listen to music? An Jing thought to himself. But what happened next made An Jing¡¯s jaw drop. ¡°Go to the brothel and listen to music?!¡± Li Fuzhou clapped and smiled. ¡°Alright! I haven¡¯t been there for a long time.¡± ¡°When was the last time Old Master Li went?¡± ¡°Two days ago.¡± ¡°Two days? That¡¯s a long time indeed. I don¡¯t have much money on me. I wanted to borrow some from Madam An this time and return it when I have money in the future.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I still have some on me.¡± ¡­ The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked out of the Ji Shi Hall, leaving An Jing with a stunned expression.. Chapter 39 - The Arrival of the Monk from the Western Regions Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Following the death of Tie Yunshan, the news of a swordsman suspected to be a Demon Sect expert entering and exiting the Swallow Capital spread like wildfire. The entire Jiangnan Dao was in a state of panic. The word Demon Sect was an existence in the Great Yan martial world. There were even rumors in the martial world that Cao Gang was preparing to ally with the four great clans of Jiangnan to deal with the swordsmen and demonic cult demons. A storm was brewing, casting a shadow over Yuzhou City. It was September, and it became gradually colder. In the Ji Shi Hall, An Jing kept the sunbathing herbs back into the medicine pot. In just a few months, he could clearly feel his qi and blood strengthening, even though it was still a while before he could condense the Earth Flower. Most of this was thanks to the Bodhi Bead. The Bodhi Bead was indeed worthy of being a Buddhist treasure. Its body contained surging pure Yang energy which was very beneficial for cultivation. Li Fuzhou sat on the chair beside him and read a book. He did not look sideways. Meanwhile, Tan Yun was like a little quail, holding the book and flipping through it. Lil Blackie was leaning against the door, lazily basking in the afternoon sun. The scene was very harmonious. ¡°Tan Yun, the weather is pretty good today. Shall we go fishing later?¡± An Jing looked outside the door and realized that the weather was pretty good. Tan Yun looked up at old antique beside her and said in a low voice, ¡°Young master, I have to prepare fabric to sew autumn clothing with the missy later.¡± An Jing said regretfully, ¡°That¡¯s a pity. I was planning to use Old Li¡¯s ship to reach the west of the city. You should know that the crystal bun at the west of the city is excellent.¡± Crystal bun!? Tan Yun gulped and glared at An Jing. The young master was obviously saying this on purpose for her to hear. In the past, the young master would buy candied fruits, crystal buns, and sweet cheese whenever he passed by. Thinking of this, she almost drooled. Li Fuzhou flipped through the book and said calmly, ¡°Be diligent in your studies, success and glory will follow.¡± ¡°Third Master is right.¡± Tan Yun nodded her head and looked at the book in her hands seriously. An Jing felt a buzzing in his head. It was as if his mind was affected by something, as if he approved of Li Fuzhou¡¯s words. ¡°Mm!?¡± An Jing frowned. He felt that Li Fuzhou¡¯s words affected him. That subtle feeling, according to this kind of situation, was very similar to the Bewitching Technique in the martial world, or the Confucian Nature Energy¡¯s method of guiding one¡¯s nature. Could it be an illusion!? An Jing could not help but glance at Li Fuzhou. There was something wrong with this old man. ¡°This child really cannot be taught!¡± Li Fuzhou muttered to himself when he saw An Jing¡¯s indifference. This was a secret technique that he had fused with the Heavenly Demon Secret Manual and the Confucian Dao. It was called the Heavenly Demon Righteous Energy, and it could silently guide others. Typically, there were only two types of people who were unaffected. One type was an expert with an exceptional temperament, while the other type was a fool without a brain. In Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes, An Jing was an incurable person. Right at this moment, a figure appeared at the entrance of the Ji Shi Hall. ¡°Yo! Isn¡¯t this Mr. Zhou?¡± An Jing could not help but shout when he saw the person. It was Zhou Xianming. Li Fuzhou coughed lightly without saying anything. Zhou Xianming acted as if he did not see An Jing and shouted at Li Fuzhou who was reading, ¡°Senior Li, Senior Li!¡± ¡°Coming.¡± Li Fuzhou put down the book in his hand and said to Tan Yun, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while. I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and nodded. After Li Fuzhou finished speaking, he quickly walked out. The two of them chatted and laughed. Tan Yun looked at Zhou Xianming¡¯s back and was deep in thought. It seemed like she had to have a good talk with Zhou Xianming tonight. The more songs one listened to, the better. ¡°Tsk tsk.¡± An Jing looked at the backs of the two of them who had their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders and sneered, ¡°Be diligent in your studies, success and glory will follow. It seems that there are no such things in books, they should be only found in the brothels.¡± ¡°Young master, aren¡¯t you going to the west of the city? Let¡¯s go!¡± Tan Yun put down the book in her hand and said excitedly. ¡°I was joking. Did you take it seriously?¡± ¡°Annoying! You only know how to lie to me!¡± When Tan Yun heard this, her face swelled up like a round bun. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zhao Qingmei slowly walked out of the back hall with a white plate in her hand. There were soft pastries on it. One could also smell the faint fragrance. ¡°Darling, this is apricot cake. Try it.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up a piece of apricot cake and handed it to An Jing. ¡°Delicious!¡± An Jing immediately gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Eat more if it¡¯s delicious.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled. ¡°Miss, I want to eat too,¡± said Tan Yun hurriedly. Zhao Qingmei handed the plate to Tan Yun. An Jing chuckled and said, ¡°Look, although I didn¡¯t get to eat the crystal bun, the apricot cake made by Madam is even better than the crystal bun.¡± Tan Yun snorted and turned around to back face An Jing. Whoosh! At this moment, the curtain was lifted. An old monk wearing a kasaya walked in. ¡°Amitabha!¡± The old monk bowed to An Jing and the rest. ¡°I am Huizhi. Greetings, benefactors.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Master Huizhi.¡± An Jing took out his pouch and prepared to give the old monk some money. In Great Yan, Buddhism did not have a high status. In fact, it was on the lower end. There were very few incense offerings in the temple, so there were often monks going down the mountain to beg for alms. When it came to Buddhism, the Great Zhou Dynasty had to be mentioned. The Great Zhou Dynasty respected Buddhism, and Buddhism flourished. Buddhism temples and monasteries were everywhere in the Great Zhou Dynasty. At that time, the Great Zhou Dynasty¡¯s emperors had offered sacrifices to Buddhism. As the emperors paid their respects to Buddhism, ordinary people naturally followed suit, causing Buddhism to flourish in the Great Zhou Dynasty. At that time in the Zhou Dynasty, temples and Buddha statues could be seen everywhere. People also had abnormal respect for monks. Following the Great Zhou Dynasty¡¯s decline, Buddhism also plummeted and was even denounced by various people. In the end, they even planned to exterminate Buddhism. During the Nine Nations¡¯ chaos, there were three grand battles to exterminate Buddhism. At that time, the First True Sect that represented the Dao Sect was also one of the current representatives of the Yan Country. Even though the battle to exterminate Buddha did not succeed, it still caused Buddhism to suffer heavy losses in the world. The legacies of Leiyin Monastery, White Horse Monastery, and other monasteries even retreated to the pure land. The monasteries left in some places were also sparsely populated, gradually becoming desolate lands. Only a few places still had some monasteries, but there were very little incense offerings. When the monks in these temples had no incense offerings, they could only come out to solicit donations. Within the Yuzhou City, there was an ancient temple called the Fa Xi Monastery which had been left behind by the Great Zhou Dynasty. ¡°Huizhi? Master, are you from the Pure Land?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked smilingly. ¡°That¡¯s right. This poor monk came from the Pure Land three months ago,¡± Huizhi said as he placed his hands on his chest. ¡°Madam, do you know that this monk came from the Pure Land?¡± An Jing asked softly. It had been hundreds of years since the founding of Great Yan. Therefore, there was a slight difference between the Buddhism of Great Yan and the Buddhism of Pure Land. However, others could not tell. Zhao Qingmei explained, ¡°The robes of the monks of Great Yan have gradually been assimilated. They are mostly plain and elegant, while the monks in the Pure Land are still following the ancient teachings. Their robes haven¡¯t changed much.¡± Monk Huizhi chuckled. ¡°This female benefactor is right. I am from the Pure Land¡¯s Leiyin Monastery. When I passed by this place just now, I felt some buddhist ripples. I sensed it carefully and came in to take a look. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me.¡± Buddhism ripples?! Could it be the Bodhi Bead!? An Jing¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Zhao Qingmei frowned and thought to herself, ¡°Leiyin Monastery, this monk is actually from Leiyin Monastery. Could it be him, Monk Huizhi?¡± Tan Yun casually said, ¡°Monk, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re mistaken. This is a small medicine hall, so there¡¯s no such thing as Buddhism or Daoism.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not mistaken.¡± Monk Huizhi looked at An Jing and said with a smile, ¡°This benefactor is filled with Yang qi, but it condensed and didn¡¯t dissipate. It seems like he was born in the Seamless Realm. Such a person is naturally fated with Buddha.¡± Yang Qi was abundant and condensed without dispersing. This was talking about the Bodhi Bead. After all, he had covered the Bodhi Bead with his inner core. Ordinary people would not be able to sense it. Even Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia were unaware of it, but the monk in front of them knew. Before An Jing could even speak, Zhao Qingmei chuckled and said, ¡°Master, my husband can¡¯t become a monk.¡± If that monk dares to shave my husband¡¯s head, I will kill him. If that temple dares to take in my husband, I will destroy that temple. ¡°Amitabha!¡± Monk Huizhi put his palms together and said sadly, ¡°That¡¯s really a pity. I didn¡¯t expect this benefactor to be married. Don¡¯t worry, benefactor, I¡¯m a monk so I won¡¯t force you.¡± An Jing took a glance at Old Monk Huizhi. From the looks of it, this monk was not an ordinary monk. He could actually sense the Bodhi Bead in his body. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to harbor such thoughts.¡± Zhao Qingmei shielded An Jing behind her like an old hen protecting a chick. ¡°Definitely.¡± Monk Huizhi smiled. ¡°I¡¯m from the Western Regions and have succeeded the new abbot of Fa Xi Monastery. It will be the Yulanpen Festival in a few days. I welcome the three benefactors to come to Fa Xi Monastery to offer incense at any time. I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± With that said, Monk Huizhi turned and left. ¡°This monk is actually the new abbot of Fa Xi Monastery.¡± An Jing looked at the monk¡¯s back and secretly clicked his tongue. Zhao Qingmei stared at the back of Monk Huizhi, overwhelmed with emotions. The Western Region Pure Land appeared in Great Yan. It was just as Li Fuzhou had said.. Chapter 40 - Knocking on the Door Late at Night Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As the night deepened, the entire Yuzhou City fell silent. The hazy moonlight shone through the window. Zhao Qingmei said sternly, ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t believe what that old monk said.¡± Buddhism was not as good as many people imagined, but it was not as evil as the people who said bad things about Buddhism. Once the forest was big, there would be all kinds of birds. No one knew if the old monk would bewitch An Jing and convert to Buddhism. After all, An Jing was just an ordinary doctor. What if he was bewitched by the old monk¡¯s scheming words? ¡°What are you thinking?¡± An Jing said angrily, ¡°Why would I be a monk? Would I let you be a widow alone?¡± ¡°Brother, I knew you wouldn¡¯t leave me behind.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and wrapped her arms around An Jing¡¯s neck. Her exquisite face and limpid eyes, especially those red lips, made one want to kiss her. Knock Knock! ¡°Is Doctor An here?¡± ¡­ At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Zhao Qingmei glanced outside the door and said, ¡°Someone is knocking at the door in the middle of the night. It must be something important. Husband, hurry and take a look.¡± An Jing frowned and quickly walked to the front hall and opened the door. ¡°Doctor An, please go and take a look. My mistress has contracted a strange disease. It¡¯s very serious.¡± The person who came was the Cao Family¡¯s butler. He had also come to the Ji Shi Hall once or twice to grab the medicine. The Cao Family was extraordinary. They were one of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao. Cao Anmin was a member of the Cao Family. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll prepare the first-aid kit.¡± An Jing nodded, then turned and walked into the house. ¡°Darling, I have to go out for consultation. You should rest first.¡± ¡°Hold on, let Third Master go with you.¡± ¡°Forget it, I can go myself.¡± An Jing looked in the direction of Li Fuzhou¡¯s residence. The lights were still on. This old fellow was probably going to stay up all night to study the erotic art. ¡°No. Let him go with you,¡± Zhao Qingmei insisted. Creak! Li Fuzhou walked out and looked at An Jing calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Young Master.¡± ¡°Third Master, sorry to trouble you.¡± ¡°No trouble.¡± When An Jing saw this, he did not say anything in the end. He simply packed up and left with the Cao Family¡¯s housekeeper. Zhao Qingmei put on a coat and watched them leave. Tan Yun asked, ¡°Miss, did you ask Master to follow him because you¡¯re afraid¡­?¡± ¡°Do you know who Monk Huizhi is?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked. Tan Yun thought for a while and said, ¡°The abbot of Fa Xi Monastery probably knows some Buddhist martial arts, but there isn¡¯t any internal energy leaking from his body. He should be an expert. I think he should at least be an expert like the devil¡¯s face.¡± It was rare to see an ancient temple like the Fa Xi Monastery in Great Yan. Moreover, a host had suddenly come from the Western Regions. This was somewhat strange. Zhao Qingmei said slowly, ¡°That old monk said his name is Huizhi and he¡¯s from Leiyin Monastery. Leiyin Monastery is a Buddhist Zen sect, so there are many differences between the Dharma names of Great Yan and Great Yan. However, Great Yan¡¯s Dharma name should be called Fazhi.¡± ¡°Fazhi? It¡¯s him?¡± When Tan Yun heard these two words, her heart trembled. ¡°The head of Leiyin Monastery, Monk Fazhi. He is a true expert of Zen Sect, but he actually came to Fa Xi Monastery to be the abbot?¡± The Head Prefect of the Leiyin Monastery, Monk Fa Zhi, was a well-known figure. The arrival of an expert from the Zen Sect to preside over the declining swallows of Buddhism was even more unbelievable. What was his purpose for this trip? How could this not make one¡¯s imagination run wild? ¡°Xiaoyun, do you feel it?¡± Zhao Qingmei suddenly asked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I feel that the bottleneck that has been stagnant recently is starting to loosen.¡± ¡°Me¡­ me too. But what does it matter?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes turned gloomy and she remained silent. ¡­ Inside the Cao Family residence, although the night was getting darker, the hall was brightly lit. ¡°Madam, Doctor An is here.¡± ¡°Quick, let him take a look,¡± urged the old lady who had been waiting for a long time. An Jing was brought directly to Miss Cao¡¯s bedroom. At this moment, the room of the Cao Family¡¯s young lady was filled with several doctors. They were all famous doctors in Yuzhou City. At this moment, they were all frowning as if they were discussing something in low voices. When the few doctors saw An Jing enter, they took a glance at him and continued discussing. ¡°Madam, this¡­¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. In Yan Country, Confucianism was prevalent. It was said that men and women should not touch each other, especially the women in the bedroom. If news of this were to spread, it would not be good. ¡°Saving her is more important.¡± The Old Madam could not care less about anything else at the moment and immediately said. ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing nodded and went to Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s bed. At that moment, Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s face was pale and her forehead was covered with a layer of cold sweat. It was as if she was in great pain. Old Lady Cao said, ¡°Ever since Ling¡¯er returned from the Fa Xi Monastery, she has been feeling cold all over. The internal energy in her body has also been frozen. Even if I transfer all my internal energy into her body, it won¡¯t help.¡± Li Fuzhou stood beside Cao Ling¡¯er and swept his gaze across her. He immediately felt strange. The Yin and Yang Qi on her body had deviated. Women were born with heavy Yin Qi, but this woman¡¯s Yin Qi was abnormally dense and had reached a critical point. In his impression, only people who cultivated Yin Qi cultivation techniques would have such heavy Yin Qi in their bodies. Other than that, the flying corpses of the corpse controllers in the southwestern Southern Barbaric Mountain Range would have such dense Yin Qi. ¡°It¡¯s fine for this doctor to take a look at the cold. How can he solve such a complicated illness?¡± Li Fuzhou frowned as he thought to himself. It was not that he looked down on An Jing, but this kind of condition was no longer a normal illness. If An Jing was a famous doctor in the martial world, he might have a chance to try. Unfortunately, he was only a slightly famous doctor in Yuzhou City. He did not mix in the martial world, and with his medical skills, it was difficult for him to do anything in the martial world. Among the famous doctors in the Great Yan martial world, there were four famous doctors. Among the four famous physicians in the world, one of them was intimidated by the Human Emperor and became a member of the imperial physicians. Other than that, one of the four famous physicians was known as the Poisonous Medicine King. This person was from the Demon Sect but he was not currently in the Great Yan Kingdom. Because of that, the two of them became extremely famous and respected. An Jing stretched out two fingers and gently placed them on Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s pulse. Instantly, a chill surged out from her pulse. It felt as if he had touched ice. So cold! There seemed to be a wave of ice in this woman¡¯s body that froze her blood and bones. Even the Yang qi in her body was frozen. If not for the fact that Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s cultivation base was at Rank Five and that Old Madam Cao and the other experts had injected their internal energy into her, she would have long been turned into a corpse. This was the sign of Yin Qi entering Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s body. The Yin Qi entering Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s body was slightly more than the baneful aura that invaded An Jing¡¯s body that day. But why was she tainted by Yin Qi? Could it be Fa Xi Monastery? Fa Xi Monastery was a Buddhist temple, how could it have evil energy? Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: A Peerless Rare Fruit in Sight Chapter 41: Chapter 41: A Peerless Rare Fruit in Sight An Jing retracted his fingers and slowly said, ¡°This is a case of imbalance between Yin Yang Qi.¡± ¡°Doctor, do you have a way to treat this?¡± Cao Madam¡¯s eyes lit up involuntarily when she saw this. You should know that the doctors who had just come by had looked her over for quite some time and still had no clue about the condition, but this young doctor named An Jing was able to diagnose the problem in just a moment, which suggested he indeed had some real ability. Li Fuzhou also looked at An Jing with great interest. ¡°Allow me to first use silver needles to probe,¡± An Jing said. An Jing took out silver needles from his medicine box and gently inserted them into Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s acupoints. ¡°Shh!¡± The traces of Yin Energy began to flow out along the meridians but were instantly consumed by the Yang Energy released from the Bodhi Bead. As Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s body released the Yin Energy, her expression gradually became calmer, and her pain began to fade away. Seeing this, Cao Madam heaved a sigh of relief; this young Doctor An truly had some skills. Cao Madam was a Fifth Grade Cultivation, and she might not have clearly seen what had just happened, but Li Fuzhou saw it distinctly¡ª he noticed that strand of Yin Energy being drawn out and then immediately extinguished. ¡°This An Jing, he seems to have some tricks up his sleeve,¡± Li Fuzhou thought to himself with quiet astonishment. Let alone the skillfulness of guiding out Yin Energy, the feat of neutralizing it was not something ordinary people could achieve. Yin Energy itself was an extremely complex Qi Mechanism, somewhat softer compared to malicious Qi, but equally tenacious, and once attached it was incredibly difficult to expel. Furthermore, Yin Energy was more common than malicious Qi; although it was less harmful, it was far more troublesome. If An Jing was a person of profound Inner Strength, Li Fuzhou would have found it quite ordinary, but An Jing was a doctor with no Inner Strength at all, without the strength to even truss up a chicken. ¡°This is just a temporary relief for the pain inside her body,¡± An Jing said as he withdrew the silver needles and spoke slowly, ¡°Yin and Yang are the ways of Heaven and Earth, the path of transformation and creation. All beings are governed by Yin and embrace Yang, harnessing Qi to achieve harmony. If this balance of Yin Yang Qi is broken, it naturally causes significant harm to the human body, so it is necessary to replenish Yang.¡± For traditional Chinese medicine, it is all about the harmony of Yin and Yang; based on this foundation, one explores the source. What one sees and achieves then becomes much more effective. An Jing¡¯s ability to set up a dispensary in a prime location of Yu State City and provide consultations was certainly not without merit; he still possessed many genuine abilities. In layman¡¯s terms, Yin represents blood, body fluids, water, skin, bones, flesh, internal organs, etc., while Yang represents Qi, heat energy, and other forms of energy. Both are interrelated and coexist symbiotically. All of his medical skills came from the compilation of ancient traditional Chinese medicine, and he naturally had an easy time treating these types of Qi. Upon hearing this, the other doctors felt a jolt in their hearts, and the way they looked at An Jing began to change; they all abandoned their earlier disdain and pricked up their ears to listen attentively. ¡°All beings are governed by Yin and embrace Yang, harnessing Qi to achieve harmony,¡± Li Fuzhou muttered to himself. These words seemed common, but they contained the vastness of the world¡¯s phenomena, causing those with deeper understanding of the Dao to be irresistibly drawn in, unable to extricate themselves. The ultimate principle of Yin and Yang encompasses the way of the world, and medical skill is just one aspect of it. ¡°Doctor An, how do you propose to replenish Yang?¡± Cao Madam asked hastily, her thoughts naturally focused on her beloved granddaughter. An Jing did not keep them in suspense but answered directly, ¡°It requires extremely valuable medicinal herbs refined with Essence, then brewed into a strong decoction, combined with Inner Strength circulating through six major Yang acupoints, and afterward neutralizing the Yin Energy within her body.¡± If it were just him alone, he could use the Bodhi Bead and his own Inner Strength to purge the Yin Energy, but both were assets he could not reveal. As Cao Ling¡¯er had no ties to him, there was no need to risk exposure. ¡°Hurry, go to the treasury and bring all the valuable medicinal herbs,¡± Cao Madam ordered the housekeeper. ¡°Yes, I will go now.¡± The housekeeper responded and quickly made his way towards the door. ¡°Cao Madam, we will also need two skilled experts, ideally with a Cultivation above Fourth Grade,¡± An Jing added from the side. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go and ask someone right away.¡± Before long, the Cao family steward arrived with several servants, carrying boxes into the room. These were the herbal medicines collected by the Cao family, which were in a strict sense already considered Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. ¡°Doctor An, take a look and see which ones can be used,¡± instructed the steward, as everyone opened the boxes in front of An Jing. ¡°This Polygonum multiflorum, it couldn¡¯t be a hundred years old, could it!?¡± ¡°Blood Ginseng, it¡¯s actually Blood Ginseng!¡± ¡°Could this be the hundred-year-old Red Rhodiola!¡± ¡­¡­ When the herbs were presented, several doctors in the room were all astonished. It was known that these extremely precious herbs could only be seen in medical books, but now they were vividly appearing in front of them. An Jing was also secretly amazed in his heart, the aggregation of these precious herbs was truly worthy of being part of the foundation of one of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao. Any single herb here was worth tens of thousands of silver pieces. ¡°Hint: An orange opportunity is near the host.¡± The Earth Book suddenly emanated an orange glow, which caught An Jing¡¯s attention, and he quickly turned to look at the medicine boxes. Suddenly, his gaze fell on one particular box. Inside the box was a red fruit that seemed ordinary and didn¡¯t appear to have anything special about it. Bodhi Bead! This was a Bodhi Bead! ¡°The people of the Cao family actually gathered this Bodhi Bead inside the box!¡± Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s thoughts began to stir, ¡°Clearly, they have not recognized the Bodhi Bead.¡± The Bodhi Bead was a rare fruit born in deep mountains and great marshes, smooth and round with a lustrous red color. Its medicinal power was exceptionally strong. Eating it could strengthen one¡¯s body; for those practicing martial arts, it could immediately increase one¡¯s cultivation by twelve years. Although saying it increased cultivation by twelve years was a bit of an exaggeration, it was indeed an exceedingly rare treasure. The Bodhi Bead was extremely scarce, and it looked no different from ordinary fruits. Although the people of the Cao family knew that this red fruit was extraordinary, they never guessed its true nature, which is why it was placed in this box. If they knew what it was, it would have long been swallowed by the head of the Cao family. ¡°I will take this Bodhi Bead as my consultation fee,¡± thought An Jing with great excitement. Li Fuzhou also saw the Bodhi Bead and inwardly lamented how the Cao family squandered such a treasure by simply storing it in a box. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°With this Bodhi Bead, my injuries should be able to recover quite substantially,¡± he thought. He maintained a calm and serene expression without any hint of change, yet in his heart, he had already marked the Bodhi Bead as his, treating it as if it were already in his possession. Both men had glanced at the box containing the Bodhi Bead, and in their hearts, they had already considered the Bodhi Bead theirs. Just then, the old Mistress Cao returned with two of the Cao family¡¯s experts and asked, ¡°Doctor An, do you have need of these herbs?¡± The two experts of the Cao family were Guest Elders, Jinghong Saber Guo Qing, and Scholar of Ten Directions Bai Qiushui. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Extraordinary Expert is Really Ordinary Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Extraordinary Expert is Really Ordinary Both of their cultivation were not low, both at the Fourth Grade Realm, and they enjoyed a modest reputation as martial arts experts in Jiangnan Dao. The Cao Family was one of the four great families in Jiangnan Dao, and within it were numerous experts¡ªnot to mention guest elders, even the Cao family itself boasted countless masters, and the family head, Cao Hongkou, was one of the Second Grade experts. So for the Cao Family, dealing with two Fourth Grade Realm experts was indeed not too difficult. An Jing nodded and said, ¡°I need these two herbs, Polygonum multiflorum and Red Rhodiola. I will mix them with some other herbs, boil them on high heat first, and then simmer for two hours. After that, Miss Cao can take the concoction. Next, the three of you stand in three directions and channel your inner strength, starting with the Three Yang Scripture of the hand as the starting point and the Three Yang Scripture of the foot as the endpoint, circulating back and forth three times.¡± Guo Qing and Bai Qiushui both nodded their heads, not daring to be the slightest bit careless, as everyone knew that Miss Cao was a tender spot in the old madam¡¯s heart. After receiving the prescription from An Jing, the Cao family immediately procured the herbs and then brewed the medicinal soup. The weakened Cao Ling¡¯er slowly opened her eyes and looked at the broad back in front of her. For some reason, she felt that the back was extraordinarily tall, giving her an inexplicable sense of security. ¡°Rest well, you will be better very soon.¡± An Jing chuckled lightly, ready to leave with his medicine chest. ¡°Okay¡­ okay¡­¡± Cao Ling¡¯er weakly responded. When the old madam saw An Jing getting ready to leave, she instructed the maid beside her, ¡°Yulan, quickly give the consultation fee to Doctor An.¡± The maid named Yulan hurriedly took out a silver ingot and placed it in An Jing¡¯s palm, smiling and said, ¡°Here is the consultation fee, Doctor An, please accept it.¡± An Jing graciously accepted the silver, smiling and said, ¡°Then I thank the old madam. After drinking the medicine, see if the miss¡¯s condition improves. If there are any problems, feel free to come to Jishi Hall to find me.¡± The old madam nodded and was about to speak when at that moment the Cao house steward hurried over and whispered, ¡°Old madam, old madam, the master says he has urgent matters to discuss with you.¡± ¡°What matters? Ling¡¯er is ill now and needs care!¡± the old madam exclaimed with a frown. The Cao house steward glanced at An Jing and Li Fuzhou, then whispered, ¡°The master says that during the Ullambana Festival, the Cao Gang aims to join forces with the four great families to eliminate that swordsman¡­¡± Although the steward¡¯s voice was very low, An Jing and Li Fuzhou, being who they were, heard every word clearly. ¡°I understand,¡± the old madam said, her expression changing slightly, then she turned to An Jing, ¡°Yulan, please see our guest out.¡± ¡°Yes, old madam,¡± Yulan responded with a slight bow. ¡°Then I shall take my leave.¡± An Jing held his fist in salute to the old madam and stood up to leave. ¡­¡­ The dusk grew heavy, but Jishi Hall was still flickering with lights. ¡°You¡¯re back. Was there no trouble?¡± Zhao Qingmei, wearing a coat, took the medicine chest from An Jing¡¯s hand and asked. ¡°No trouble at all,¡± An Jing took a sip of the prepared tea and said, ¡°Doctor An¡¯s miraculous healing, do you still not believe me?¡± ¡°The son-in-law is indeed skilled in medicine,¡± Li Fuzhou nodded slightly. Zhao Qingmei knew well that Li Fuzhou was not one to offer empty flattery, and in the entire Demon Sect, there were few who could elicit such behavior from him. ¡°You and your glib tongue, you must be hungry, I¡¯ll go cook you a bowl of noodles.¡± Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing in mock annoyance, then carrying a lamp, she walked towards the kitchen. Every time An Jing made a night visit, no matter how late, Zhao Qingmei would wait with a lamp for him to return safely, and then when he came back, she would make him a bowl of noodles. Such days repeated, serene and comforting. An Jing took a seat at the table, his eyebrows raised slightly. It seemed that after he had killed Liu Haoping and those on Tieyun Mountain, he had indeed provoked this behemoth; they were now discussing how to deal with him. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let his identity be revealed; being alone wasn¡¯t a problem, but if Qingmei and Tan Yun were to be put in danger, there would be trouble. ¡°Son-in-law, what are you thinking about?¡± Li Fuzhou, seeing An Jing silent, couldn¡¯t help but ask. An Jing casually replied, ¡°I was thinking that the Cao Family, as one of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, can easily summon two Fourth Grade Cultivation experts. It is truly impressive.¡± Fifth Grade Cultivation, in the eyes of ordinary people, was already that of a master, so it was not unreasonable for An Jing to speak this way. ¡°In this world, there are many who bow down for the sake of profit, and even the martial experts of Jianghu are no exception.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but I am an exception.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, what if you became such a master as well?¡± Suddenly, Li Fuzhou asked. ¡°A master? A Fifth Grade Cultivation?¡± An Jing asked, puzzled. ¡°No, even higher.¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head. ¡°Third Grade?¡± ¡°Even higher.¡± ¡°Then it must be Second Grade, or even First Grade.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°That would be a master capable of entering the Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List.¡± ¡°Exactly, if you, son-in-law, were such a great master, what would you do then?¡± Li Fuzhou said with interest. After thinking for a moment, An Jing said, ¡°If I were such a master, I would pretend to be an ordinary person, a common doctor, as long as I could live well with Qingmei.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyebrows went up, and he spoke in a complex tone, ¡°Son-in-law is truly a remarkable man, who in this world would do such a thing, to have left Jianghu before even entering it?¡± He did not agree with An Jing¡¯s notion. A man, born into this world with such great strength, yet still thinking of a comfortable life? Moreover, Li Fuzhou did not believe such a person existed. The small-town doctor must have never harbored the idea of becoming a master. An Jing took a gentle sip of his tea, and thought to himself: But that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ve done. Before long, Zhao Qingmei came out with two bowls of noodles. ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Fuzhou quickly rose to his feet and accepted the noodles. ¡°Old Li, you¡¯re lucky.¡± An Jing said nonchalantly, ¡°Wife, where¡¯s my garlic?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already peeled it for you.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out a few peeled cloves of garlic and put them on the table. Seeing this, Li Fuzhou couldn¡¯t help but glance at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s delicate hands, never thinking that one day these hands, rather than taking lives, would be peeling garlic for someone¡ªthe lad really has a good fate, he really knows how to enjoy life. ¡°Wife, you go ahead and sleep first; I need to step out for a bit.¡± An Jing said while eating his noodles. ¡°So late, and you¡¯re still going out?¡± Zhao Qingmei sat down and said with a smiling face, ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Seeing this, An Jing quickly said, ¡°Wife, don¡¯t misunderstand, didn¡¯t I tell you about the pharmacy garden? Today¡¯s medicinal herbs just arrived in the west of the city. I¡¯m worried those people might not take good care of the herbs. I want to check, so they don¡¯t get ruined.¡± ¡°Let Third Master accompany you.¡± Zhao Qingmei said. ¡°I¡¯ll go by myself, it¡¯s so late, let Old Li rest.¡± An Jing motioned with his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in about half an hour.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only He was not going for the west city¡¯s herbs, but for Cao Family¡¯s Zhu fruits. Bringing Li Fuzhou along would be too much trouble. Seeing An Jing insist, Zhao Qingmei bit her red lips and softly said, ¡°Alright, then make your trip quick and return soon.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Watching Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes brimming with affection, An Jing¡¯s heart felt as if it was gently scratched by cat claws. ¡­¡­. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Two People Fight Under the Moonlight Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Two People Fight Under the Moonlight ¡°` The night was thick, and all was silent. The entire Yu State City had fallen into tranquility. Yet, the Cao Family residence in the southern part of the city was ablaze with lights, and the vast courtyard and corridors were adorned with lanterns, as bright as day. Walking side by side along the corridor were Guo Qing and Bai Qiushui. ¡°Who would have thought that young doctor actually had some skills?¡± Guo Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°He really did manage to expel the yin energy from the young lady¡¯s body.¡± Bai Qiushui nodded slightly, his complexion calm as water, ¡°Guo brother, the old madam was summoned away by the butler just now. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Guo Qing¡¯s eyebrows rose. Although he didn¡¯t know what had happened, the look on Bai Qiushui¡¯s face indicated it was no trivial matter. ¡°It¡¯s about that Ghost Swordsman from the Demon Sect.¡± Bai Qiushui spoke gravely, ¡°I¡¯ve received a secret message. Cao Gang¡¯s Guo Yuchun sent our family head an invitation, calling together the four major families of Jiangnan Dao during the Ullambana Festival to discuss dealing with the Demon Sect¡¯s Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°When the time comes, we may have our hands full.¡± Guo Qing¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman is extremely skilled. The sword strike that split the dungeon¡ªI saw it. And the sword injuries on the bodies of those who were slaughtered at the Cao Gang¡¯s Yu State headquarters are profound, his strength is unfathomable, absolutely beyond the thirty-seventh on the Tiger List.¡± ¡°If we have to confront him, that would be a big problem.¡± The Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List is divided into the Dragon List and the Tiger List. The standard for entering the Dragon List is possessing First Grade strength; those who reach First Grade Cultivation are all renowned figures in the Jianghu, each dominating a territory. Thus, they rarely take action, new masters seldom emerge, and the list does not change often. The Tiger List, on the other hand, includes those below First Grade Cultivation. Ninety-nine percent of them are of Second Grade Cultivation. Compared to the Dragon List, the Tiger List is much more likely to change, and it captures people¡¯s attention the most. The Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List that common folks talk about refers to the Tiger List. In the Tiger List, the top ten ranks are all at the peak of Second Grade, but their true strength is no weaker than that of First Grade. To ordinary people, both are skilled fighters, but within the Tiger List, they are no more than small fry. It¡¯s like that saying, ¡°In the eyes of the powerful, the big shots in your eyes are also small fry.¡± Bai Qiushui sincerely agreed, ¡°I think so too. This Ghost Swordsman¡¯s strength is unfathomable. Now that the four major families have joined forces with the Cao Gang to deal with him, we must be extremely cautious¡­¡± Guo Qing nodded and remained silent. They were mere Guest Elders of the Cao Family. There was no need for them to die for the Cao family, especially over a matter that did not threaten the Cao Family¡¯s safety. As the two discussed, a shadow flitted past like a ghost of the night. An Jing, dressed in a dark cyan cloak, stood atop the eaves, moving lightly without a sound. Ordinary people could not detect his presence, let alone Fourth Grade experts like Guo Qing and Bai Qiushui. Moments after An Jing left, another figure landed in the corridor. It was Li Fuzhou. Shortly after An Jing left, he returned again for the Cao Family¡¯s coveted fruit. ¡­.. The moon cast a hazy light over the desolate scene. An Jing arrived in front of a chamber in the inner courtyard. ¡°This must be the Cao Family¡¯s treasure vault.¡± An Jing felt the Earth Book pulsating with light, confirming that he was indeed at the Cao Family¡¯s treasure vault. At the entrance to the vault¡¯s main hall, a green-clothed elder was sitting cross-legged in meditation, his force Qi robust, causing his clothes to flutter without wind. An Jing glanced at him once. The elder released his Inner Strength openly, also possessing Fifth Grade Cultivation. Since this place was the Cao Family¡¯s treasure vault and nothing had happened for a long time, this Fifth Grade expert was fully focused on cultivation, with no alertness whatsoever. An Jing¡¯s figure flashed, and in an instant, he slipped into the vault. The high-level expert continued to cultivate, completely unaware that someone had sneaked into the vault. Inside the vault, rows upon rows of shelves held various treasures collected by the Cao Family, including famous paintings, renowned swords, and several Martial Arts manuals. ¡°Prompt: The host has discovered a Red Opportunity!¡± ¡°Prompt: The host has discovered a Red Opportunity!¡± ¡­¡­ The Earth Book prompted three times in a row, but they were all Red Opportunities. Red Opportunities are no more than Xuanwu or Earth Martial level Martial Arts, or treasures of this grade. With First Grade Cultivation, An Jing had no interest in Red Opportunities and was intent on finding the Orange Opportunity of the coveted fruit. ¡°Found it!¡± Quickly, An Jing located the box and a gleam of light flashed across his eyes. Silently opening the box, the coveted fruit lay peacefully within. Without hesitation, An Jing pocketed the fruit and was about to dash off towards the distance when a cold gleam suddenly streaked towards him. ¡°` Not good! An innate sense of danger penetrated deep into An Jing¡¯s soul, and he activated his Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique. Immediately, his body transformed into a wisp of agile white smoke, dodging that streak of cold light. Who¡¯s there!? An Jing followed the source of the cold light, only to see a dark figure standing under the moonlight. ¡°Hand over the vermilion fruit in your possession.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s voice converged into a thin line, pouring into An Jing¡¯s ears. Transmission Skill! Typically, only a master could perform the Transmission Skill. This required control of Inner Strength to an extremely subtle realm, so anyone who reached this realm undoubtedly possessed considerable strength. An Jing completely ignored Li Fuzhou, spun his body around, and dashed towards the outside of the house. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± His figure moved as fast as a gust of wind, reaching the eaves of the side room in an instant. Li Fuzhou¡¯s steps were also incredibly fast, his toes touching the roof tiles as lightly as a dragonfly skimming water, his True Qi beginning to converge within him. Under the moonlight, the two of them chased each other atop the eaves. An Jing felt the troublesome nature of the person behind him, the most formidable master he had encountered so far, sending a shock through his heart. Neither Jiang Sanjia nor Mu Xiaoyun had ever exerted such immense pressure on him. This person¡¯s Cultivation was absolutely not inferior to the Human Flower, perhaps even higher. ¡°Shiiing!¡± An Jing drew his longsword from his waist, the Sword Light in his hand emitting a burst of chilly gleam, shooting straight towards Li Fuzhou behind him. Such a fast sword! A glint sparkled in Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes. Could this person be the profoundly mysterious Ghost Swordsman? With this thought, his True Qi wrapped around, the vast ocean-like True Qi surged towards the Sword Light like an endless sea. The Sword Light and the vast sea-like True Qi stirred together under the moonlight, locked in a stalemate as if splitting the moonlight in two, standing off against each other. Yet, the tiles beneath their feet did not break at all, and around them, there was not the slightest sound. Both were restraining themselves, neither wanting to cause a major commotion. ¡°Go away!¡± An Jing¡¯s brows lifted, and as his Inner Strength surged madly in an instant, a red flower emerged behind him. It was indeed the Human Flower! Activating the Human Flower meant bringing one¡¯s Inner Strength to a certain extreme. Nine-character Sword Technique! Bing Character Secret! The uncanny Sword Light with its surging Sword Skill plummeted straight down, as heavy as a mountain, with an unstoppable and formidable force. Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes remained undisturbed, serene like an ancient well; his hands came together. Behind him, an ancient shadow emerged, exuding a mix of five parts domineering Demonic Qi and five parts Vast Righteous Qi. Heavenly Demon Qi! Li Fuzhou could no longer concern himself with keeping hidden, unleashing the Heavenly Demon Qi. As he brought his hands together, the shadow behind him did the same. ¡°Thud!¡± The mountain-like Sword Light was firmly caught between his palms, as if it couldn¡¯t advance another inch. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The tiles underfoot finally could no longer withstand the weight and started to break apart. ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡± A Fourth Grade Cao Family master who was meditating suddenly awoke with a start, leaping out of the building. All he saw was the moonlight casting shadows below, quiet and still, with no person in sight. ¡°Bang!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Two broken pieces of tile fell from the eaves, making a crisp sound as they hit the ground. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Just then, several stray cats scurried out. ¡°So it was just stray cats.¡± Seeing this, the Cao Family master breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bodhi Bead Transforms into Golden Bone Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Bodhi Bead Transforms into Golden Bone West of the city, a ten-mile-long street. ¡°The aura of that person is somewhat peculiar, could it be the martial arts of Outer Heaven? It is rumored that Outer Heaven plans to return to Great Yan, could that person be an expert from Outer Heaven?¡± An Jing adjusted the Inner Strength within his body, his mind still recalling the great battle that had just occurred, filled with questions. He knew little of the affairs of Jianghu, but he was aware that there was a highly noticeable force within Jianghu, that being Outer Heaven, also known as the Demon Sect. Many years ago, the Demon Sect¡¯s demonic fire had burned across the lands, and countless sects in Jianghu had trembled beneath their feet, with numerous experts dying at their hands. In the mouths of those in Jianghu, the Demon Sect was a truly terrifying existence. ¡°It seems that the rumors of Cao Gang thinking I am a Demon Sect expert are not without basis, no wonder the Cao Gang has gone to such lengths¡­.¡± An Jing thought silently to himself. Nowadays, everyone in the Great Yan Martial World knows that Jianghu is divided into five gangs and seven sects. The five major gangs, rising from insignificance, are Jiangnan Dao¡¯s Cao Gang, the Golden Corner Alliance in the northwest, Wind and Rain Tower, Sanhu Gang, and finally, the most chaotic of all, Liyang City in the southwest. Among them, Sanhu Gang is the weakest, but it is the most rumored about, some say its backer is Outer Heaven, others say it¡¯s backed by one of the seven sects, the Blue River Sect. In Jianghu, opinions are mixed, and no one truly knows which power backs them, but though Sanhu Gang has no First Grade experts openly, its position as one of the top five gangs shows that there are indeed capable people behind it. Apart from Sanhu Gang, Wind and Rain Tower is the most mysterious gang. A small building listening to the wind and rain overnight, where in Jianghu could the flowers not fly, no one in Jianghu isn¡¯t afraid of having their name appear on Wind and Rain Tower¡¯s hidden list. It¡¯s not that Wind and Rain Tower never fails, but the likelihood of its failure is exceedingly low, low to the extent that one might as well expect to find gold while walking. The most powerful force is undoubtedly Cao Gang. As An Jing sees it, Cao Gang being subtly referred to as the number one gang in the world is entirely a result of deliberate efforts by those with vested interests, Cao Gang¡¯s massive power isn¡¯t false, but it also contains some inflated elements. Between Cao Gang and Demon Sect, there truly might be a chance for a martial world conflict to unfold. And that person who had exchanged blows with him just now, is ninety percent likely to be an expert from above the Dragon List, or even higher is not impossible¡­. Those capable of entering the Dragon List, the weakest among them are First Grade Human Flowers, demonstrating the strength of Dragon List experts, and those above the Dragon List are undoubtedly true Grandmasters. Most people consider First Grade to be the peak of Jianghu, but that is with one enormous assumption, that Grandmasters do not come forth. If a Grandmaster emerges, what then is a First Grade expert? ¡°Forget it, these Jianghu grievances have nothing to do with me, for now, it is better to find an opportunity to refine and absorb this vermilion fruit, my Cultivation is about to reach the peak of Human Flower, waiting for an opportunity to condense the Earth Flower.¡± After pondering for a moment, An Jing walked towards the outskirts of the city. It was deep in the night at this time, silent and deserted around, An Jing found a secluded spot in a dense forest. The vermilion fruit, round and bright red, was very rare, with ancient texts stating it flowers every hundred years, and fruits every hundred years, meaning it takes two hundred years to bear a vermilion fruit, growing in extremely harsh environments. If not harvested, the vermilion fruit on the tree can continue to absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth, becoming a hundred-year vermilion fruit, and even a thousand-year vermilion fruit. However, given the rarity of the vermilion fruit, hardly anyone can obtain a hundred-year one, let alone a thousand-year one. An Jing sat cross-legged, placing the vermilion fruit in his throat and swallowing it down. Instantly, a warm surge of force spread out from his body. As the Daluo Heart Method circulated, the surrounding Qi, as if guided by something, rushed over in a mighty torrent toward An Jing¡¯s body. Inner Strength continuously converged toward his meridians, and at the same time, the vermilion fruit inside his body slowly permeated his flesh, turning into streams of red Essence, circulating within An Jing¡¯s body. The red Essence was extraordinarily domineering, like dragons of fire, making even An Jing¡¯s resilient meridians burn as they were rushed through by the flame-like red Inner Strength. The red Essence moved extremely fast, and in less than an instant, An Jing¡¯s body turned as red as a cooked shrimp, his skin covered in tiny, flowing red streaks, which looked very bizarre. The violent Inner Strength, like explosions in An Jing¡¯s meridians, exerted a powerful force, nearly bursting his body open. ¡°The Bodhi Bead?¡± Just then, the Bodhi Bead within him seemed to be attracted as if it completely fused into An Jing¡¯s body. An Jing furrowed his brows, unable to suppress a muffled sound, his lips slightly parted, and immediately, a large amount of red blood qi flowed out from his mouth, nose, and ears. In this hazy state, the Bodhi Bead transformed into a golden Essence and completely merged with the red Essence, entering An Jing¡¯s body, the powerful impact even causing him injuries. Indeterminate time had passed, and those violent golden-red Essences swam through An Jing¡¯s meridians, healing the injuries within his body. After a period of about one stick of incense, the injuries within An Jing¡¯s body had been mostly healed by that mighty Inner Strength washing over them. Subsequently, the Essence and the Essence differentiated from the Bodhi Bead moved together, rushing towards the Qi Sea within An Jing like surging waves. At this substantial influx of Essence into An Jing¡¯s Dantian, it suddenly behaved like magma that hadn¡¯t erupted for thousands of years, nearly boiling over in a frenzy. The originally pale bones were suddenly covered with a layer of golden light. Golden Bone! This was Golden Bone! In ancient texts, it was recorded that only experts who had reached Master Cultivation and practiced Heavenly Martial Level Body Refining Martial Arts could forge Golden Bone. Never had anyone, below the level of a Grandmaster, managed to cultivate Golden Bone. In the midst of the night, An Jing sat cross-legged, his body shimmering with gleaming golden light, resembling a gilded Buddha in a Buddhist Temple. ¡°Although I am still one step away from condensing the Earth Flower, I have managed to cultivate up to Half-step Golden Bone¡­..¡± About another period of one stick of incense later, An Jing finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath. Fusing with the Bodhi Bead not only allowed him to cultivate Golden Bone but also imprinted Buddha Nature in his body, which would yield twice the result with half the effort in practicing Buddhist Martial Arts, and this benefit goes without saying. ¡­¡­. Jishi Hall. Li Fuzhou frowned and cupped his fists, ¡°Sect Hierarch, that Ghost Swordsman indeed has First Grade Cultivation without a doubt. His swordsmanship is tricky, having reached even the four realms of Sword Skill.¡± Although there were injuries on his body, preventing him from exerting his full strength, it also appeared that the swordsman might not have used his full strength either, keeping his Qi Mechanism completely concealed. If not for his actions, he would seem like an ordinary person, which was precisely what he found most terrifying. Zhao Qingmei asked, ¡°Third Master, have you figured out his background?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Li Fuzhou to give such an evaluation of that peerless swordsman; it seemed this person truly was an extraordinary expert. Others might not be aware of Li Fuzhou¡¯s strength, but she indeed knew it well. Half-step Grandmaster! Even though his failed attempt at reaching Grandmaster status had left his body with injuries that were hard to heal in a short time, he was still not someone who just any First Grade Expert could handle. Li Fuzhou shook his head, ¡°No, that person¡¯s swordsmanship is somewhat inferior to old man from Ghost Valley, and his Inner Strength is lacking too. I always feel he¡¯s hiding something.¡± ¡°He has not brought out all his strength.¡± Zhao Qingmei scowled, ¡°Who exactly is this person? Could it be that person¡­..?¡± The person Zhao Qingmei was referring to was indeed that influential figure currently dominating the court. Li Fuzhou nodded, ¡°It¡¯s possible. That person is ambitious and as deep as the sea; having a pawn isn¡¯t unexpected, but it could also be someone from Zhenyi Mountain. Recently, there have been rumors in the marketplace that the court¡¯s figure is no longer tolerant of Jianghu¡¯s figure, clearly showing the depth of their rift.¡± Zhenyi Mountain, also known as Great Yan Country Mountain. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only None other, for the National Religion Zhenyi Sect was established atop Zhenyi Mountain. If the Demon Sect evokes terror and fear, then Zhenyi Sect represents just the opposite¡ªthe Righteous Path and hope. The number one great sect, the National Religion of Great Yan, countless prestigious titles resound within it, rendering Zhenyi Sect a critically significant presence in Jianghu, the marketplace, and the courtrooms. Of course, there is also one most important person living on Zhenyi Mountain. The number one person in the Great Yan Martial World. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism Predicts the Prison Ground Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism Predicts the Prison Ground The next evening. Zhou Xianming had changed into a brand-new outfit and appeared at the entrance of the apothecary. ¡°Mr. Li, would you like to go listen to the music at the brothel?¡± ¡°Give me a moment, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After a short while, Li Fuzhou came out, all smiles. ¡­. The following day, at the same time. ¡°Mr. Li, are you going today?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Li Fuzhou said briefly and then hurried out the door. ¡­. The third day. Zhou Xianming was standing at the door but had not yet spoken. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Fuzhou immediately grabbed Zhou Xianming¡¯s arm and walked toward the distance. An Jing watched the two fading figures and wondered, ¡°Old Zhou clocks in right on time every day, even more punctual and diligent than during his storytelling.¡± ¡°Where is he getting the silver from? It¡¯s really strange!¡± Visiting the brothel to listen to music was not cheap, especially since Zhou Xianming was visiting the kind where an Oiran hosted, which was very expensive. I used to go often myself, but I could ¡®borrow¡¯ to do so. Could Zhou Xianming possibly borrow as well? The more An Jing thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Tan Yun watched the fading figures with a smile and said, ¡°Son-in-law, stop thinking about it. Maybe one of Mr. Zhou¡¯s relatives died and left him a fortune.¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°With such good fortune, why hasn¡¯t he treated us to a meal?¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun replied somewhat irritably, ¡°Son-in-law, if someone in his family died, should he really be inviting us to a meal?¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± An Jing watched as the two disappeared and picked up the ancient texts on the table to continue his studies. After the Bodhi Bead had dissolved, An Jing¡¯s bones had fully formed a golden layer, although only a Half-step Golden Bone, it significantly surpassed the refining of an ordinary First Grade expert¡¯s body. Moreover, the essence left behind by the vermilion fruit and the Bodhi Bead had not allowed him to condense the Earth Flower, but he had reached the peak of the Human Flower stage, only one step away from condensing the Earth Flower. The Human Flower is related to essence; cultivating essence nurtures the Human Flower, while the Earth Flower relates to qi. When qi is abundant and overflows, the Earth Flower can be condensed. Thus, condensing the Earth Flower requires years of accumulation or the infusion of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. An Jing, having absorbed a vast amount of essence, had already reached the critical point, which was also the most intricate step. Through the ages, although some superior Martial Arts remained confidential, the methods and techniques of breakthrough were public knowledge. It was recorded in books on Martial Arts, but also in the same ancient texts, it all depended on research and sudden comprehension. After a while, An Jing put down the ancient text, stretched his limbs, and then walked with his hands clasped behind his back to the Yu State River. Little Black, seeing An Jing walking out, also followed with enthusiastic barks. At that moment, he noticed that there was a pleasure boat in the distant river with a red lantern hanging on it. This was Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s agreement with him; as long as the red lantern was hung on the pleasure boat, it indicated that they could proceed with their plans. ¡°Old Jiang is finally willing to get things moving.¡± An Jing muttered to himself. ¡­.. On the Yu State River, a painted boat adorned with red lanterns drifted with the waves. Jiang Sanjia had changed into a black and white Daoist robe, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, his face devoid of any expression. In front of him were dozens of stacked turtle shells. Additionally, beside him was a small furnace emitting black and purple flames. This was the Turtle Shell Divination of the Ghost Valley Sect, the unique skill that had made Jiang Sanjia famous. An Jing and Mu Xiaoyun were seated on either side. Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, deep in thought, while An Jing appeared curious, observing Jiang Sanjia. ¡°Why do I feel this has a bit of a Mystical Sect flavor?¡± Both Jiang Sanjia¡¯s attire and the patterns on the turtle shells before him bore many similarities to the Daoist practices of Great Yan. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Jiang Sanjia nodded, saying, ¡°Actually, thousands of years ago, the Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect were one and the same.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± This was the first time An Jing had heard this secret. The Ghost Valley Sect was exceptionally mysterious in the martial world, its numbers extremely few. Though few in number, no one underestimated the Ghost Valley Sect. The Zhenyi Sect, however, was even more formidable. The national religion of the Great Yan, the number one sect under the heavens. The Zhenyi Sect had originally been very powerful, and after it had assisted the current Human Emperor in a coup, its influence had grown even mightier, directly established as the state religion of the current dynasty. The Zhenyi Sect had its own temples throughout Great Yan, truly spreading across the entire empire, with a temple in Lijiang City in Jiangnan Dao. Its disciples, numerous and diverse, now numbered well over hundreds of thousands in Great Yan, intertwining with many noble families. Some said that the Zhenyi Sect was the imperial court of the Great Yan Martial World. Others claimed that there were two rulers under heaven: one was the Human Emperor in the lofty hall, and the other was Xiao Qianqiu, whose might shuddered the world and who presided over Zhenyi Mountain as the Sect Leader. Although these were just rumors from the marketplace, they reflected the deep influence of the Zhenyi Sect. An Jing hadn¡¯t expected that the Ghost Valley Sect actually had some connection with the Zhenyi Sect. Jiang Sanjia looked at An Jing with a smile that was not quite a smile, saying, ¡°However, the Zhenyi Sect and our Ghost Valley Sect have long been as water is to fire, with a history of deep grievances. Zhou, since you¡¯ve learned my Hundred-step Flying Sword, you are counted as a named disciple of our Ghost Valley Sect. You should be cautious in the future.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that!?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose. By learning the Hundred-step Flying Sword, had he somehow provoked the Zhenyi Sect? The Zhenyi Sect was a true behemoth, with top masters as common as carp across the river, and it even housed Grandmasters within its ranks. Its Sect Leader was publicly recognized as the top figure in the Great Yan, the State Preceptor to the Human Emperor. If, because of this Hundred-step Flying Sword, he had attracted the attention of such a behemoth, An Jing felt that it was a losing deal no matter how he thought of it. Jiang Sanjia fell silent for a long while, not speaking. His gaze turned toward the turtle shells on the table. ¡°Thud!¡± As Inner Strength circulated, the furnace beside him landed on the table. Then, flicking his fingers, the turtle shells on the table also began to levitate. The turtle shells kept spinning and eventually formed a semicircle around the furnace. Feeling the proximity of the turtle shells, the black and purple flames on the furnace grew more vigorous, as if they were about to melt the turtle shells altogether. The temperature inside the painted boat suddenly rose. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only About several dozen breaths later, the turtle shells, unable to withstand the fierce flames, developed numerous cracks, which emitted golden glows densely packed together. With a casual flick of his finger, Jiang Sanjia caused one of the turtle shells to fall onto the table, while the rest lined up in a row, eventually all settling down on the table. Was this the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism? An Jing looked at the turtle shells on the table, the patterns very clear yet quite similar, something that ordinary people couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of. With a flick of his finger, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s complexion gradually turned pale. Between his index and middle finger, red blood seeped out, slowly dripping onto the turtle shell. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Deep Schemes of the Five Gangs Alliance Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Deep Schemes of the Five Gangs Alliance This is essence blood, which forms inside the human body, but the formation of essence blood is extremely slow, requiring a vast amount of expensive herbs and essence, and excessive consumption of essence blood can also affect one¡¯s lifespan. The next moment, a surprising scene unfolded. As the blood seeped in, the patterns on the Turtle Shell began to change, gradually forming a red character. Forest! After the pattern changed, it finally became clear. But soon, the red blood was evaporated, and the patterns on the Turtle Shell returned to normal, falling onto the table. ¡°Huff!¡± Jiang Sanjia exhaled a turbid breath. ¡°This character ¡®Forest¡¯ is ¡­?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked eagerly. Jiang Sanjia adjusted his breathing and said, ¡°This ¡®Forest¡¯ character can be separated and recombined. If I am not mistaken, it should represent a place called Shuangmu Land.¡± ¡°Shuangmu?¡± A glint appeared in Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s beautiful eyes, ¡°Could it be Shuangmu Forest?¡± In her mind, the only place that contained both ¡®Shuangmu¡¯ and ¡®Forest¡¯ was Shuangmu Forest, which was also not far from Lijiang City, and it was highly suspicious. Moreover, Tian Liu¡¯s other residence was located within this Shuangmu Forest. Soul Losing Hand Tian Liu (Chapter Two), a First Grade Expert of the Cao Gang, a figure above even the Dragon List, with a cultivation of First Grade Human Flower. The Gang Leader of Nu Jing Gang was killed by his hand. Soul Losing Hand Tian Liu had joined the Cao Gang ten years ago, originally a master from Jiushan area, world-famous for the Soul Losing Hand, one of the ultimate techniques of the Soul Destruction Elder. The Soul Destruction Elder was a paramount master amidst the chaos of the Nine Kingdoms, possessing three ultimate techniques that were famed worldwide: Soul Losing Hand, Soul Chasing Sword, and Soul Destruction Heart Technique. All three martial arts were of the True Martial Level and when combined, they reached the effect of the Heavenly Martial Level martial arts. When the Soul Destruction Elder died, his relics caused chaos in the Jianghu, leading to a bloodbath as many coveted his three ultimate techniques. After the final battle, it was unknown who obtained the three ultimate techniques, but afterwards, many masters learned these martial arts. Some were killed just as they entered the Jianghu, and others stood on the edge of the Jianghu for a short while in glory, but none left behind a significant legacy. The most famous of them was Tian Liu, with a cultivation of First Grade and the True Martial Level Soul Losing Hand, he commanded great respect in the Martial World. The Demon Sect and many other factions had extended an olive branch to him, but he had declined them all and for some unknown reason, he joined the Cao Gang, becoming a Guest Elder of the gang. Jiang Sanjia nodded slightly, ¡°That should be the place.¡± ¡°No wonder Tian Liu built his other residence there,¡± Mu Xiaoyun thought suddenly. Tian Liu was recruited by the Cao Gang in these last ten years, naturally being close to the one impersonating Liu Qingshan, having little loyalty towards the true Liu Qingshan. Furthermore, with his First Grade cultivation, he was an excellent candidate for guarding. ¡°Tian Liu?¡± Jiang Sanjia furrowed his brows slightly. He was very aware of how formidable this person was. ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou brother here?¡± Mu Xiaoyun glanced at An Jing beside her, with a beautiful glance, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not be hasty with this matter. Let me gather some concrete information first, then we¡¯ll make a decision.¡± An Jing spoke indifferently, ¡°I also hope Mrs. Liu checks thoroughly first, otherwise if we accidentally fall into a trap later¡­¡± He had promised Mu Xiaoyun to take action, but he was not going to sell his life for her. Mu Xiaoyun smiled knowingly, understanding the meaning behind An Jing¡¯s words, and said no more. Jiang Sanjia looked towards An Jing and said, ¡°I heard that the Cao Gang plans to gather the four major families of Jiangnan Dao against you, Zhou brother. You should be cautious recently.¡± Jiang Sanjia obviously had more to his words, wanting to know if An Jing was truly a high-level practitioner from the Demon Sect as rumored. Ever since they met, An Jing had always been a mysterious figure to him, and similarly powerful figures were scarce in Jianghu. Now that rumors claimed him to be a person from the Demon Sect, if it were true, then their conspiring held a different significance. Before An Jing could speak, Mu Xiaoyun interjected, ¡°Guo Yuchun uniting with the four major families against him is only one part, but there are other motives involved.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes slightly lifted. If the Cao Gang uniting with the four major families against him was only one of their goals, what then was the real purpose of the Cao Gang? Mu Xiaoyun spoke softly, ¡°The four major families are entrenched in Jiangnan Dao, among them, Mu Family and Cao Family have aligned with the Cao Gang, but the Ming Family and the Su Family refuse to bow. This union with the four major families is not only to deal with Zhou brother but to fully integrate the four major families. Only by having complete control over Jiangnan Dao can they facilitate the imposter¡¯s grand plan.¡± ¡°What grand plan?¡± An Jing continued to inquire. He had heard from Mu Xiaoyun before that the Cao Gang had a grand plan, but she had previously been reluctant to reveal the specifics. Now, it seemed she was more willing to discuss it. Jiang Sanjia also looked at Mu Xiaoyun, although the two were usually on this painted barge living together yet sleeping separately, they seldom shared their hearts. He had known about the grand plan of the Cao Gang for quite some time, but he was also unclear about the specifics. ¡°Five Gangs Alliance!¡± Mu Xiaoyun took a deep breath, with a glint in her somber eyes. ¡°Five Gangs Alliance!?¡± Jiang Sanjia gasped in cold air. In the Jianghu, the Five Gangs and Seven Factions held sway over most of the realm. Although the Five Gangs were not as ancient or deeply rooted as the Seven Great Factions, they were still a formidable force in the Great Yan Martial World. If the five major gangs were united, the resulting power would be formidable worldwide, immediately forming a colossal entity to rival Zhenyi, Demon Sect, and Xuanyi Guard who could stir great turmoil. The entire landscape of Great Yan would undergo tremendous changes instantaneously. ¡°Ambitious, indeed,¡± An Jing squinted his eyes and spoke slowly. He was well aware of the impact the formation of the Five Gangs Alliance could have. ¡°It¡¯s difficult! No! Almost impossible,¡± Mu Xiaoyun said somberly, ¡°This is just his conception and blueprint. Not to mention the intrinsic difficulty for the five major gangs to ally themselves, the gangs themselves are filled with experts. It isn¡¯t something he can control easily. Besides, many people do not want to see such a colossal entity emerge.¡± An Jing and Jiang Sanjia nodded silently. Other powers in the Jianghu would never allow the existence of the Five Gangs Alliance unless someone wanted to stir up an even bigger wave. ¡°Actually, this is a great opportunity¡ªright during the Ullambana Festival when they gather; that¡¯s when we should make our move.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°That would be ideal,¡± An Jing nodded. He estimated the time; the Ullambana Festival would be convened in two days. He had never intended to participate in this grand event of the Ullambana Festival, and it seemed there was something strange about Fa Xi Temple, with its sinister and malevolent energy. ¡°I agree. The Fa Xi Temple is quite ominous. It would be better for us to keep our distance from it,¡± Jiang Sanjia agreed. An Jing glanced at Jiang Sanjia, sensing from his words that he might know some secrets about Fa Xi Temple. ¡°Now that the time is set, I shall take my leave,¡± An Jing stood up to bid farewell. ¡°Good, see you in two days,¡± Mu Xiaoyun nodded. An Jing walked out of the painted boat, his body leapt up, and he vanished in an instant. Watching An Jing¡¯s departure, Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Come out,¡± ¡°He has discovered me,¡± A figure emerged from the rear of the cabin, frowning as he spoke. The man was dressed in green, his eyes sharp and gleaming, reminiscent of an eagle¡¯s gaze, holding a longsword of three-foot with a thick scent of blood lingering on it. If there were people from the Jianghu present, they would surely recognize him¡ªthe famous Floating Blood Sword, Xue Chen, well-known in the Jianghu. He had been hiding in the painted boat all along. Jiang Sanjia spoke slowly, ¡°Brother Zhou¡¯s strength should be at the First Grade, but the specifics are not very clear.¡± That An Jing could discover Xue Chen was not surprising to him at all. ¡°He¡¯s indeed a fascinating presence,¡± Mu Xiaoyun licked her lips. In light of the significant event of rescuing Liu Qingshan, Mu Xiaoyun was somewhat uneasy about An Jing. She had once asked Jiang Sanjia to calculate this person¡¯s identity and background using the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism, but it was blocked by an unknown Qi Mechanism. This made her even more curious about who he really was, knowing that Jiang Sanjia¡¯s Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism rarely failed to get any information. ¡°His strength is not weaker than mine, and his swordsmanship might be even stronger,¡± Xue Chen pondered for a moment and then said. Merely a glance from him had sent shivers down his spine, confirming he was undoubtedly a Sword Dao master. ¡°Who is he really?¡± Jiang Sanjia couldn¡¯t help but wonder to himself. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Xue Chen, a renowned expert in Jiangnan Dao, Second Grade Cultivation, ranked ninety-seventh on the Tiger List. Many had forgotten that Xue Chen was famed for his talent when he first emerged; he had entered the Tiger List at the age of twenty-three. Over the decades, he had few notable accomplishments, mainly killing other Second Grade experts, so his ranking on the Tiger List neither advanced nor declined. In fact, Xue Chen had been diligently cultivating all these years, advancing rapidly in strength and had reached the First Grade three years ago, also attaining the Third Level of Sword Skill. As recorded in ¡°Sword Dao Tao General Outline,¡± Sword Skill is divided into seven levels. Those who developed their Sword Skill were decade-proven Sword Dao masters, and anyone reaching the Third Level was invariably renowned in the Jianghu. The Fourth Level marked one of the peak rare Sword Dao masters of the age. Reaching the Fifth Level could be called the foremost master of the Sword Dao of the current age; the Sword Demon who stunned an era a century ago was at the peak of the Fifth Level. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Jealousy Arises in the Presence of a Beauty Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Jealousy Arises in the Presence of a Beauty Jishi Hall, the night deepened. Zhao Qingmei sat in front of the desk, looking at the letters sent from various places in Great Yan. Among them were the schemes of the Demon Sect and also messages from important spies; all of which she needed to review and heed, and then she would have to provide further instructions. Sometimes she did read books, but other times she needed to ¡®approve these letters¡¯. ¡°Tan Yun, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s close up shop,¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at the sky and commanded. ¡°Understood.¡± Tan Yun, who was playing with the little black pet, nodded and went to the door of Jishi Hall to close and lock it. Just as Tan Yun was about to lock up, an embroidered shoe appeared at the doorstep. ¡°Woof¡­ Woof.¡± The little black pet barked twice at the intruder, then hid behind Tan Yun¡¯s legs. Tan Yun lifted her head to look; it was a young woman of delicate beauty and grace, with a hint of light sorrow between her brows. Her pallor evoked an instinctive tenderness in others. This woman was none other than Miss Cao Ling¡¯er of the Cao Family. Tan Yun asked, ¡°Miss, are you here for medicines or consultation? Our medical hall is about to close.¡± Cao Ling¡¯er pursed her lips and said, ¡°I¡¯m not here for a consultation, nor to get medicines.¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s face was filled with confusion. This was a medical hall; if she wasn¡¯t here for consultation or medicines, then what was her purpose? ¡°My miss wishes to find Doctor An Jing.¡± Cao Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t speak, but a maid behind her did. ¡°Looking for my husband?¡± Tan Yun paused for a moment, assessing Cao Ling¡¯er and asked, ¡°My husband isn¡¯t in. What do you need him for?¡± Not for medicines, not for consultation, but indeed here to find my husband? Tan Yun¡¯s heart pounded erratically; could it be¡­? A trace of disappointment flickered in Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes, then she said, ¡°My family name is Cao, and I am called Cao Ling¡¯er. Doctor An Jing saved my life the other day, and now that my health has somewhat improved, I wanted to come and express my gratitude to Doctor An Jing.¡± ¡°Since Doctor An Jing isn¡¯t here, then let¡¯s forget it. I¡¯ll come back when he is available,¡± said Cao Ling¡¯er and prepared to leave with her maid. ¡°Miss Cao, please wait. Since you¡¯re here, come in and have a cup of tea,¡± a voice came from behind Tan Yun, as Zhao Qingmei slowly stepped out. ¡°Who might this be?¡± When Cao Ling¡¯er saw the person who came out, her heart skipped, and even she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim silently: such a stunningly beautiful woman. ¡°I am Doctor An¡¯s wife,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a light laugh. Though Zhao Qingmei was smiling, Tan Yun, who knew her well, felt an unusual chill. ¡°So you are Doctor An Jing¡¯s wife,¡± Cao Ling¡¯er forced a smile. Originally, there were rumors that An Jing had married a great beauty, and she had been skeptical, but seeing Zhao Qingmei today, she thought this was no mere beauty but an exquisitely lovely creature. The maid behind Cao Ling¡¯er was also stunned, unable to believe that the young doctor could have married such a beautiful, gentle, and intelligent lady, even more beautiful than her own miss. ¡°Please come in first, sister. My husband is out on a consultation and should return shortly,¡± the poise in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s every frown and smile denoted the demeanor of a grand household. ¡°Tan Yun, go prepare some tea.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Tan Yun responded and briskly made her way to the inner hall. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. If Doctor An Jing isn¡¯t here, I won¡¯t impose any further,¡± said Cao Ling¡¯er, feeling increasingly uneasy in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s presence. She gave a bow and made her escape towards the distance. Zhao Qingmei watched Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s retreating figure, her smile gradually fading from her lips. ¡°Eh, where did Miss Cao go?¡± Before long, Tan Yun came out with a tray of tea and realized she hadn¡¯t seen Cao Ling¡¯er at all. ¡°She has left,¡± said Zhao Qingmei indifferently. ¡°It seems Miss Cao is quite sensible.¡± Tan Yun muttered to herself, then cautiously glanced at Zhao Qingmei. Having grown up in the Demon Sect Main Hall since childhood and followed Zhao Qingmei closely, she might not have been her personal maid, but she knew Zhao Qingmei very well. Especially that incident. She remembered when they were eight or nine years old, there was a secret chamber next to the sect¡¯s library for cultivation and rest. Zhao Qingmei, being a disciple of the Sect Hierarch, directly chose the largest chamber, and she wouldn¡¯t let others enter even when she was away. One follower ¡®accidentally¡¯ broke this rule. After going out on a mission, he never returned. Tan Yun remembered clearly how she followed behind Zhao Qingmei and saw with her own eyes Zhao Qingmei piercing through the follower¡¯s heart with a sword. When Zhao Qingmei killed that follower, her expression was calm and indifferent, nothing like an eight- or nine-year-old girl. Murdering people like hemp, treating lives as nothing, this was vividly displayed in a young girl. Since that time, no one else dared to enter Zhao Qingmei¡¯s ¡®private chamber.¡¯ Not even to approach it. Every time Tan Yun saw Zhao Qingmei, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit of fear in her heart. Unlike the fear of Li Fuzhou, a strict teacher, this fear of Zhao Qingmei was etched into her very soul. Zhao Qingmei was not the gentle, beautiful, and graceful woman that ignorant people like An Jing, Han Wenxin, and Zhou Xianming thought she was. Only Tan Yun knew clearly that she was a Sect Hierarch with an extremely strong possessive desire, heavy jealousy, and extremely brutal and ruthless methods. ¡°Son-in-law, oh son-in-law, you must not make any mistakes,¡± Tan Yun silently prayed for An Jing, ¡°You must keep control of ¡®yourself.¡¯ ¡°The Cao Family¡­¡­.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up Tan Yun¡¯s teacup and gently sipped her tea. ¡°This servant knows what to do.¡± Tan Yun obsequiously said. Zhao Qingmei glanced at Tan Yun, ¡°What do you know? Now is a critical moment, and it¡¯s not good to make a big move.¡± Chilled by that gaze, Tan Yun immediately felt a shiver down her spine and cautiously lowered her head. The Cao Family had unwittingly escaped disaster. ¡°Madam, what are you doing here?¡± Just then, An Jing came back carrying a small medicine chest and noticed Tan Yun standing aside like she had done something wrong. ¡°Husband, you must be tired,¡± said Zhao Qingmei, blooming with a smile as she saw An Jing and gently took the medicine chest, ¡°I¡¯ll go and draw you a bath now.¡± With that, Zhao Qingmei headed towards the back courtyard. The wife is gentle as water. As An Jing watched Zhao Qingmei¡¯s graceful figure, he couldn¡¯t help but be moved and looked at Tan Yun still standing there, ¡°What are you dawdling for? Close up shop.¡± ¡°I know, son-in-law.¡± Tan Yun stuck out her tongue and hurried to pick up the wooden sign. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Also, there¡¯s no need to keep the door open.¡± ¡°What about the third master?¡± ¡°If he hasn¡¯t come back by this late hour, he probably won¡¯t be coming back. He can stay overnight at the pleasure boat after the hour of Hai.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, how do you know one can stay overnight after the hour of Hai?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Crisis Lurks All Around on the Painted Boat Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Crisis Lurks All Around on the Painted Boat The lantern light on the boat moved across the river, casting a soft red glow that illuminated the dark Yu State River like a galaxy, with the small boat moving slowly amidst the bustling scene. In the Red House houseboat, the sound of laughter continued nonstop but was now drawing to a close. At this moment, Li Fuzhou¡¯s face slightly reddened, sitting beside him were two delightful women, occasionally letting out bell-like giggles. Zhou Xianming saw that Li Yue was preparing to leave after finishing her song, hurried forward, and said, ¡°Miss Li Yue, the song you just played was truly delightful, if I¡¯m not mistaken, it must be ¡®Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake¡¯.¡± Li Yue laughed softly and said, ¡°Mr. Zhou is truly knowledgeable, it was indeed ¡®Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake.¡¯ I fear I¡¯ve embarrassed myself.¡± ¡°You must not say that.¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly said, ¡°How can this be embarrassing? The song Miss Li Yue played sounds like the most beautiful music in the world to my ears, even the heavenly music of the Heavenly Palace could hardly compare.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s words were passionate and filled with righteous indignation, resonating deeply. ¡°Mr. Zhou, you flatter me too much.¡± Li Yue bowed slightly, ¡°Young Mister Ming Fei is still waiting for me, I must take my leave first.¡± Zhou Xianming, upon hearing this, laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right, it¡¯s all right, I can wait here without any problems.¡± Wait here!? Hearing Zhou Xianming¡¯s words, Li Yue¡¯s smile stiffened, then she sighed and said, ¡°You have really troubled yourself during this time, Mr. Zhou. You should know my situation; it¡¯s best not to waste your time on me anymore.¡± Originally, Li Yue was from a government-official family in Yujing City. Due to a case involving tax evasion in Yujing City, her family was raided, and she should have been sent to the Office of Music, but thanks to some connections, she ended up in a brothel instead of the Office, becoming a courtesan. She came from a family of government officials and was a lady of eminent standing with a striking appearance, so the price for redeeming her was extremely high and required approval from higher-ups. Over the years, many have attempted to redeem her, but ultimately, no one fulfilled the promise. This was something that everyone knew. Miss Li Yue must be worried that I cannot bear the pressure of the imperial examination and is advising me to give up. But I, Zhou Xianming, will definitely not give up. Zhou Xianming¡¯s heart warmed, ¡°Miss Li Yue, rest assured, I will not let you down. Please go to Young Mister Ming Fei first, I will wait here for a while.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ alright then, Mr. Zhou, perhaps have a few drinks first, I will be back soon.¡± Li Yue offered an apologetic smile, then bowed and left as if escaping. Li Fuzhou glanced at the departing figure of Li Yue, continuing to chat up the women beside him without a change in expression. Wind and Rain Tower, to think that a top assassin was hiding among the houseboats, how intriguing. Others did not recognize Li Yue¡¯s identity, but Li Fuzhou, the leader of the Demon Sect, saw through the Oiran¡¯s identity. Wind and Rain Tower top assassin. Top assassins from Wind and Rain Tower are exceedingly rare, and they are figures who strike terror in Jianghu, yet now one covertly resides in Yu State City as an Oiran, hinting at an underlying scheme. But in this vast Jianghu, who doesn¡¯t have their own schemes? However, Li Fuzhou was here to seek pleasure, not to investigate the top assassin from Wind and Rain Tower. Zhou Xianming absent-mindedly watched Li Yue¡¯s receding figure. ¡°Xianming, come have a drink,¡± Li Fuzhou called out. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xianming sat down and muttered, ¡°After I finish this pot of wine, Miss Li Yue should be coming out.¡± Li Fuzhou said irritably, ¡°Why worry about one flower when the world is full of them?¡± Zhou Xianming poured and drank on his own, ¡°Mr. Li, to me, it¡¯s like the endless waters of the weak river, yet I choose to drink from only this ladle.¡± Li Fuzhou, upon hearing this, was suddenly at a loss for words. Usually, when he taught someone a lesson, most people didn¡¯t dare to respond, some didn¡¯t know how to refute, but only the useless An Jing and the current Zhou Xianming left him speechless. Half an hour later. Li Fuzhou looked at the listless Zhou Xianming and shook his head, ¡°Your wine is finished, yet she has not come out.¡± In that half an hour, Zhou Xianming drank pot after pot, enough to amaze even a seasoned wanderer like Li Fuzhou. ¡°I¡­ I must not have drunk enough,¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s face was flushed, and several empty wine pots were already on the table. Li Fuzhou: ¡°¡­..¡± The surrounding courtesans: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s brows furrowed as he sensed a slight fluctuation in the water. He gently tapped the table with his fingers, ¡°It seems there are experts fiercely battling.¡± ¡­¡­ The night was waning, but the Yu State River remained bustling. Jiang Sanjia sat cross-legged on the cushion, his hands positioned in front of his navel, circulating the Ghost Valley Heart Method repeatedly through numerous cycles. Suddenly, he felt a tremor in his heart, as if a crisis was looming over him. Then, he slowly opened his eyes and looked outside the painting boat. Songs and dances flourished, red lanterns reflected on the glistening waves of the Yu State River, exuding tranquility. ¡°Mu Xiaoyun, Mu Xiaoyun¡­.¡± Jiang Sanjia turned and called out. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± asked Mu Xiaoyun, pulling apart the door curtain with a frown. ¡°I feel something is wrong,¡± Jiang Sanjia said, taking a deep breath. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mu Xiaoyun inquired. ¡°Look around you, it¡¯s too peaceful.¡± Jiang Sanjia pointed around. Hearing this, Mu Xiaoyun looked around, then suddenly noticed ripples forming on the surface of the water. In the silent night, because the painting boat was some distance away from the lively area, the water was pitch black, obscuring any view and making it feel like they were in a world of darkness. ¡°Not good!¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s pupils shrank sharply. Just then, dozens of arrows swiftly flew toward them from a distance. ¡°Clack, clack, clack, clack!¡± Some arrows plunged into the water, while several others shot directly into the cabin, piercing through it fiercely. Jiang Sanjia waved his sleeve, and the inner strength covered sleeve swept up a gale to shock all the flying arrows back. Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s face suddenly changed and he shouted in a low voice, ¡°People from Cao Gang.¡± Following that, arrows came at them like a storm, and the painting boat resembled a small ship in the wind and rain, with countless arrows sweeping over it, turning it into a porcupine. The entire surface of the river was covered with ripples and waves. Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia, both Second Grade Cultivators, naturally were not harmed by the arrows and managed to block them instantly. After a while, the rain of arrows stopped, and all was silent again. ¡°Madam, the gang leader has sent an invitation.¡± Just then, a chilling voice sounded. Standing on the water surface appeared an eerily pale Scholar, resembling the drowned water monkey from folk rumors, with eyes full of gloom and dreariness. The newcomer was none other than the Poison Master, Guo Yuchun. Seeing him, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s heart immediately sank and he looked to the side. If Guo Yuchun was there, it was unlikely he was the only one present. ¡°Is this how you treat this lady?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s brows tightened as she coldly snapped. Guo Yuchun, with a bow and a cold smile, said, ¡°This intrusion is regrettable, madam, I beg your indulgence, and I hope you will not make it difficult for us.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Although his words suggested an apology, his eyes carried an intense threat. ¡°Good, good, making it difficult for a subordinate,¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, ¡°If I refuse to go back, would you shoot more arrows, commit more offenses?¡± ¡°What do you think, madam?¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s gloomy face curled into a smirk, his piercing gaze filled with brutality, and the murderous intent in his dark pupils seemed to be capable of consigning one to death. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Floating Blood Swords Soul Breaks in Yu State Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Floating Blood Sword¡¯s Soul Breaks in Yu State ¡°Then take my corpse back.¡± Mu Xiaoyun coldly shouted, her body leaping forward. ¡°Capture her!¡± Guo Yuchun indifferently waved his hand. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± Several figures emerged from behind Guo Yuchun, rushing towards Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia. These individuals were the Cao Gang¡¯s top experts, the seven Vajra ferocious blades Nan Ming, Red Begonia Ouyang Yu, and Iron Chain across the River Bian Fang. All three were of Second Grade Cultivation, especially Red Begonia Ouyang Yu, who had reached the peak of Second Grade and was faintly touching the threshold of First Grade, ranking among the top experts within the seven Vajra. Bian Fang, with a whip in his hand, lashed out like a mad snake aiming directly for Jiang Sanjia¡¯s throat. Jiang Sanjia felt a chill in his heart and hastily dodged, not knowing from where he pulled out a horsetail whisk and flung it at Bian Fang. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± The silver threads on the whisk were like thousands of flying needles, indestructible. Soon, the whip and whisk tangled with each other, lacking the firm clash of hard weapons, but beneath the calm surface, undercurrents surged, where any slight misstep could lead to death and obliteration. Meanwhile, Ouyang Yu and Bian Fang teamed up to encircle Mu Xiaoyun, their dense moves like a violent storm, trapping her around the painted barge, rendering her unable to move. Jiang Sanjia¡¯s old injuries had not fully healed yet, and although Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s skills were remarkable, equally at the peak of Second Grade, she was no match for Ouyang Yu and Bian Fang working together. On the Yu State River, figures crowded, tumultuous as overturning seas, and the painted barge started to rock violently under the fierce energies. ¡°It won¡¯t do, a prolonged battle will undoubtedly lead to death.¡± Mu Xiaoyun clenched her teeth in determination. Encircled by three Second Grade experts, she and Jiang Sanjia were simply no match, especially since one of them was the peak Second Grade Ouyang Yu. ¡°Miss, do not panic!¡± Just then, a blood-red sword light appeared in the night sky, cleaving towards Guo Yuchun. ¡°What formidable sword light!¡± Ouyang Yu glimpsed the surging sword light, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes. The comer was none other than Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen. Mingling in Jianghu as a scholar does not necessarily mean one is merely a scholar, and Guo Yuchun, able to become Liu Qingshan¡¯s close confidant, certainly did not rely solely on his eloquence. ¡°Crack!¡± Guo Yuchun saw the approaching sword light, stretched out a finger, and actually clamped the red sword light directly, then twisted his fingers and the sword light directly shattered into two halves. ¡°First Grade?!¡± Xue Chen saw his sword light damaged and immediately felt a chill in his heart. Unexpectedly, this Guo Yuchun, unassuming and inconspicuous, turned out to be a First Grade Expert. Although he had not yet condensed a Human Flower, he was indeed a bona fide First Grade Expert, with First Grade Cultivation sufficient to stand prominent on the Tiger List in Jianghu. But this Tiger List did not bear Guo Yuchun¡¯s name, obviously, like himself, he had also always concealed his own cultivation. ¡°First Grade Cultivation, so you are the swordsman, Floating Blood Sword!¡± Guo Yuchun seeing the newcomer, a cold smile appeared on his lips. He had never imagined that the peerless swordsman, who killed Haoping and people of Tieyun Mountain, would turn out to be Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen, which was somewhat different from what he had anticipated. ¡°What!? A peerless swordsman?¡± Ouyang Yu and the others also looked over, greatly shaken. They had not expected that the currently famous, killer of the Cao Gang Yu State Headquarters leader Haoping, Tieyun Mountain¡¯s peerless swordsman, would be Xue Chen. ¡°Indeed, it is I, Xue!¡± Xue Chen sneered, his longsword swirling in his hand. He practiced the Xuanwu Level mental method, the Blood Coagulation Technique, augmented by his own creation, the Floating Blood Sword Technique, making his sword light resemble a blood light. ¡°I¡¯ll just spar a few moves with you then.¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s voice was somewhat hoarse, hands stretched out, his back emitting a violent aura, instantly causing the tumultuous river water to form several screens of water. Bright Moon Over the Great River! The water screens seemed to be pulled by the moonlight, becoming even more radiant. Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen continuously maneuvered his longsword, strenuously cleaving through the layers of water screens, his sword tip directly aimed at Guo Yuchun in the center of the water screens. ¡°Shii! Shii!¡± Within the water screens, sword light flickered, blood light scattered, the resonating sounds echoing by the ears. ¡°Tss!¡± A drop of water drifted out, attacking Jiang Sanjia. The water drop appeared golden and also seemed like blood. It contained both Xue Chen¡¯s inner strength and Guo Yuchun¡¯s inner strength. ¡°Boom!¡± The water drop directly pierced through Jiang Sanjia¡¯s calf, instantly causing intense pain, his forehead swiftly covered in a layer of sweat. ¡°Get out of the way quickly!¡± A battle of First Grade experts! The few people around, seeing the battle of First Grade experts, swiftly moved away, not daring to get too close. Even though neither of them had condensed a Human Flower, the fluctuation of their aura was something Second Grade warriors couldn¡¯t come close to. In the midst of the water curtain, the intense battle continued unabated, turning blood-red without anyone noticing. The moonlight shone straight down, making it starkly visible. ¡°Triple Sword Skill, such a formidable Floating Blood Sword, you being at the bottom of the Tiger List is truly an underestimation of your talents.¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s expression turned extremely grave, a streak of blood appearing on his pale cheeks, clearly inflicted by the Floating Blood Sword. At this moment, he also realized that Xue Chen had definitely concealed his own cultivation level. ¡°You overpraise me.¡± Xue Chen¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and with a twist of his longsword, the surrounding droplets of water began to be drawn into forming a spiraling vortex. Blood Coagulation Form! The next instant, Guo Yuchun felt the wound on his face begin to bleed profusely as if it was being drawn by the vortex. If left unchecked, it seemed like the force could completely drain all the blood from his body. ¡°Not good!¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s expression hardened as he resisted that sucking force. ¡°You guys go first!¡± Xue Chen shouted loudly, swinging his longsword so that the surging red vortex rushed toward Guo Yuchun, and he himself was caught in the whirl, charging toward Guo Yuchun. ¡°Help me!¡± Guo Yuchun also shouted loudly, his inner strength quaking, causing the surrounding river waters to surge tumultuously. All rivers are turbulent! The rushing river water built up high, almost like a city wall emerging on the surface of the river. Seeing this, other experts of the Cao Gang immediately exerted their full power, rushing toward Guo Yuchun. The already wide river water wall became even more indestructible, like a real wall of copper and iron. ¡°Quick, leave!¡± Mu Xiaoyun quickly grabbed Jiang Sanjia, who was injured, and took the opportunity to flee into the distance. The others could only watch helplessly as the two escaped. ¡°Focus all efforts on combating this unparalleled swordsman!¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s hoarse voice carried a hint of murderous intent. Xue Chen¡¯s eyes shone with a concentrated light, without the slightest hesitation. ¡°Bang!¡± The moment the blood light and the golden light collided, it was as if heaven and earth stood still, followed by a surging and tumultuous force transmitting from the sword itself. ¡°Wow!¡± Xue Chen spewed a jet of blood, as if his internal organs had been shattered by the force. ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away.¡± Guo Yuchun immediately shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t get away.¡± Ouyang Yu¡¯s eyes gleamed with a chill as he chased like a swift wind. The sword light was swift and as cold as ice, seemingly freezing the surrounding air in place. ¡°Zi!¡± That sword pierced Xue Chen¡¯s heart, producing a slight sound. Xue Chen¡¯s face stiffened, and then he tightly grasped the sword blade. Ouyang Yu twisted the sword handle and continued to push forward, the two of them advancing and retreating until they hit the deck of the painting boat, the sword blade piercing through Xue Chen and into the deck itself before stopping. ¡°Gurgle¨C!¡± Xue Chen spat out blood, the light in his eyes gradually dimming. That year, the peach blossoms were in full bloom; who knows what they are like this year? In a daze, his vision blurred, as if returning to the past. ¡°Miss¡­ hurry¡­ go¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, his head tilted, and his breath ceased completely. Under the joint efforts of Guo Yuchun, Ouyang Yu, and Nan Ming, Xue Chen was eventually overpowered and met his demise. ¡°So this is the unparalleled swordsman? Nothing special after all.¡± Ouyang Yu scoffed coldly, then harshly withdrew his treasure sword. Xue Chen¡¯s corpse, now unsupported by the sword, rolled directly onto the ground. ¡°Xue Chen was indeed strong. If it weren¡¯t for Vice Gang Leader Guo being here today, we would have been in danger,¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Nan Ming came over and said solemnly, ¡°Now that Xue Chen is dead, it can be considered revenge for my iron brothers.¡± At that, all the present Cao Gang experts showed a trace of sorrow. The unparalleled swordsman is dead, but Tieyun Mountain will never come back. ¡°Release the news, say that the unparalleled swordsman has been slain, and at the Ullambana Festival, we will behead the corpse in public. As for those two¡­¡± Guo Yuchun looked in the direction where Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia had fled and slowly said, ¡°Search the entire city, I want those two captured.¡± Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 News of the Unmatched Swordsman Chapter 50: Chapter 50 News of the Unmatched Swordsman In Yu State City, streets crisscrossed, and eaves faced each other. The cool autumn, with its sparse morning rain, freshened the air where dust particles, once congealed by the chill, now floated down with the fine drizzle. Yet, the long, ancient streets had already come to life. Yan Er went for his usual morning tea, but when he arrived at the tea house, the normally quiet place was bustling, with every table fully occupied. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Yan Er glanced around and noticed that besides the wandering figures of Jianghu, there were also spies from various powerful factions discussing animatedly. Something big had happened! This was a jolt to Yan Er¡¯s heart; something significant must have transpired in Yu State City to bring these people together. ¡°Brother He, what happened last night?¡± Thinking this, Yan Er approached a young man and asked softly. ¡°Yan Er, did you sleep through last night?¡± The young man looked up at Yan Er, ¡°You don¡¯t know about such a big event?¡± ¡°What big event?¡± Yan Er¡¯s brows furrowed at once. The young man let out a cold laugh, ¡°Last night, the Cao Gang made their move. Three of the seven Vajras acted, and the Poison Master himself took charge, killing that mysterious swordsman.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Yan Er was shocked, disbelief flashing in his eyes, ¡°Is this true? The mysterious swordsman is dead?¡± ¡°Is there any doubt?¡± The young man sneered, ¡°The news from the Cao Gang is absolutely reliable. Do you know who that mysterious swordsman really was?¡± ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°Floating Blood Sword, Xue Chen!¡± ¡°It was him.¡± ¡­.. The tea house was abuzz with conversation, everyone discussing the big event of the previous night. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Floating Blood Sword to be that mysterious swordsman. It¡¯s truly surprising.¡± ¡°He debuted with great talent twenty years ago, and there has been little news of him in the past decade. I found it strange; his strength should rank higher than the bottom of the Tiger List.¡± ¡°Such a pity, the mysterious swordsman ultimately met his demise at the hands of the Cao Gang.¡± ¡°The Cao Gang is indeed formidable, eliminating the mysterious swordsman in an instant with the swiftness of lightning.¡± ¡°The Cao Gang¡¯s methods are too fierce. I initially thought that peerless swordsman would be a tough opponent.¡± ¡°Tough? I don¡¯t think he was all that.¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve heard that during the Ullambana Festival, the Cao Gang plans to display Xue Chen¡¯s decapitated head publicly.¡± ¡°It seems the Cao Gang is set on using the name of this peerless swordsman to establish their authority!¡± ¡­¡­. The once-quiet morning was now full of clamor, all due to the news spread by the Cao Gang, making the entire Yu State City exceptionally noisy. Nobody expected that the mysterious swordsman who had been the talk of the town just days ago was none other than the Floating Blood Sword, Xue Chen¡ªand he had been killed by the Cao Gang. For a moment, everyone was in awe of the strength and tactics of the Cao Gang; it hadn¡¯t been long since the swordsman who killed the men of Tieyun Mountain laid dead. The reputation of the Cao Gang had invisibly climbed another step in the hearts of many. An Jing stood at the entrance of Jishi Hall, frowning. I¡¯m dead? How come I didn¡¯t know about it? ¡°Last night¡¯s battle seems to have allowed the Cao Gang to trace down the hideouts of the two through some clues; indeed, there¡¯s a reason why the Cao Gang has grown so powerful,¡± An Jing thought to himself. Although rumors of the Cao Gang¡¯s influence pervade Jianghu, one cannot fathom the extent of this vast syndicate¡¯s power without experiencing it firsthand. It was like a mighty hand, casting its shadow over the region of Jiangnan Dao, not to be underestimated. Thinking this, a chill went through An Jing¡¯s heart. If the Cao Gang could find Jiang Sanjia and Mu Xiaoyun, one day they might also uncover my identity. No one can guarantee their secrets will remain hidden. Once exposed¡­ Wait, I¡¯m supposed to be already dead, right? Why worry about these things now? ¡°Son-in-law, what are you thinking about?¡± Tan Yun, holding a little black pup, asked An Jing, who was frowning deeply. The young doctor has worries too? ¡°Ao wu¡­ Ao wu¡­¡± The little black pup struggled incessantly, trying to escape from Tan Yun¡¯s grasp. An Jing stroked his chin, smiling and said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about what delicious food the lady will make tonight.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s eyes lit up, eagerly saying, ¡°Son-in-law, it¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve cooked for you, how about I show off my skills again tonight?¡± ¡°No need, I won¡¯t be hungry tonight.¡± Thinking of that crab, An Jing quickly added. ¡°Son-in-law~!¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s mouth puckered up like a teapot about to tip over, ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± An Jing with a serious face said, ¡°I trust you, but I really won¡¯t be hungry tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cook at noon.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be hungry at noon either.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, I really want to cook for you. You have to believe me. I¡¯ve learned quite a few new dishes lately, like ¡®Emerald Willow and Crying Red¡¯, ¡®Jade Trees Hanging with Coins¡¯, ¡®Phoenix Welcoming Spring¡¯¡­¡± Tan Yun counted off on her fingers as she spoke. I really want to cook for you, those words sounded very sweet. But to An Jing¡¯s ears, it was as if she was saying: Son-in-law, will you eat? I¡¯ll personally poison you¡­ Just then, a cough came from the doorway. ¡°Tea¡­ It¡¯s Third Master, ah.¡± Seeing the newcomer, Tan Yun¡¯s smile froze on her face. Was somebody here to try the poison? An Jing, grinning, said, ¡°Third Master is indeed the Third Master, not returning all night ¨C the definition of growing old but ever vigorous, old yet increasingly crafty¡­¡± Li Fuzhou let out a cold laugh, ¡°Last night on the painted boat, that old Madame Zhao asked¡­¡± ¡°Third Master, you must be tired, right? Please, have a seat!¡± Feeling a chill in his heart upon hearing this, An Jing quickly aided Li Fuzhou by the arm, saying, ¡°Tan Yun, didn¡¯t you see Third Master come in? Quickly go and pour a cup of tea to moisten Third Master¡¯s throat.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Tan Yun, looking puzzled, hurried off to pour the tea. Li Fuzhou watched An Jing with a half-smile, ¡°You do have the poise of a scholar.¡± He admitted that he had been rash in the past, having misjudged this ¡®little doctor¡¯. Especially after recalling how last night, old Madame Zhao couldn¡¯t stop praising An Jing, practically sparkling with admiration; without the silver in place, such a reaction would hardly be possible. This man is not an ordinary character! An Jing chuckled dryly, ¡°Third Master, you flatter me. I¡¯m just a little doctor, how can I compare to the noble character of a scholar like you?¡± Li Fuzhou waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No, I¡¯m just an old thing, that¡¯s all.¡± That old rascal! An Jing cursed inwardly, Tan Yun was right; scholars indeed are the most troublesome. He hadn¡¯t expected the old thing to have caught him in a weak spot. Pulling out the consulting fee he received from the Cao Family, An Jing said, ¡°Third Master, I have some silver here. If you want to visit the brothels to listen to music tonight, please accept it.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem quite proper, does it?¡± Li Fuzhou blinked, his gnarled hand reaching for the silver in An Jing¡¯s hand, then he weighed it mischievously, pretending to be surprised, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the consulting fee from the Cao Family? It must be ten taels, right?¡± ¡°Not more, not less, exactly ten taels.¡± An Jing turned his head away, the money was his hard-earned cash, and now he could only use it to buy Li Fuzhou¡¯s moral righteousness. ¡°Not bad, not bad at all.¡± Li Fuzhou happily pocketed the silver, smiling, ¡°Shall we go together to the brothel to listen to music tonight?¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t go.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing hurriedly shook his head; who knew whether this old man was trying to trick him? ¡°Then that¡¯s truly a pity.¡± Li Fuzhou gently sipped his tea, patted An Jing on the shoulder, and said with a smile, ¡°Prepare the silver for me to go brothel-visiting the day after tomorrow, too. I know you¡¯ll have it.¡± ¡°This secret, I¡¯ll eat off of for a lifetime.¡± ¡­¡­ Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Buddhist Opportunity Sealing Movement Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Buddhist Opportunity Sealing Movement Fa Xi Temple. Fa Xi Temple was originally named Tianzhu Temple, but after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, Jiangnan Dao was within the territory of Wu Country at the time. Many in Wu Country harbored animosity towards Buddhism, sparking the infamous campaign to annihilate Buddhism. It was then that Tianzhu Temple was renamed to Fa Xi Temple. In addition, it was the prevention by the Zhenyi Sect Leader that allowed this ancient temple to be preserved. Fa Xi Temple was surrounded on three sides by mountains, offering a picturesque landscape. Its interior was dotted with splendid buildings and valuable collections of scriptures and elixirs. The built structures include the Heavenly King Hall, Yuantong Treasure Hall, Grand Hall, Scripture Pavilion, Vilu Hall, among others, arranged in a solemn and orderly manner, along with the heritage of the Scripture Translating Platform, Seven-leaf Hall, and the Three-Life Stone. Inside the Vilu Hall, it was categorically calm and silent. Fa Zhi was kneeling in front of a Buddha statue, his eyes tightly shut, tapping a wooden fish in his hands. Time passed unbeknownst, and Fa Zhi¡¯s movements halted. He then slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the wooden fish hammer in his hand. On the wooden fish hammer, a crack had startlingly appeared. ¡°When demons see blessings, their evil is not ripe; when their evil ripens, they must endure severe punishment.¡± Fa Zhi sighed deeply. A crack appearing on the wooden fish hammer was evidently an ominous sign. ¡°Senior brother.¡± Just then, a youthful voice called out from outside the door. A small monk, about seven or eight years old, stood at the doorway, holding a string of Buddha beads. The little monk had rosy lips and white teeth, clear eyes and handsome features, yet his expression carried a bit of naivety and innocence. ¡°Come in.¡± Fa Zhi slowly said, ¡°Have you recited today¡¯s scriptures?¡± ¡°Senior brother, Fa Wu has recited.¡± the young monk replied with his hands clasped respectfully. Fa Zhi nodded without saying more. Fa Wu, puzzled, asked, ¡°Senior brother, why do you constantly recite scriptures in this Vilu Hall?¡± His senior brother, Fa Zhi, had been reciting scriptures here for several days; he did not understand why not in the Grand Hall. ¡°I am resolving karma.¡± ¡°Has senior brother managed to resolve it?¡± ¡°The cycle of cause and effect, consequences arise from causes, naturally they also cease due to causes.¡± ¡°What is the cause? Is it the Buddha?¡± ¡°No, it is the beings of this world.¡± Fa Wu said, ¡°Since it¡¯s the cause of the beings of this world, naturally it must be resolved by the beings of this world.¡± Fa Zhi chuckled softly, ¡°But aren¡¯t you and I also part of these myriad beings?¡± Fa Wu nodded, seemingly understanding yet not quite; I am indeed part of the myriad beings of this world. If the cause is sown by the people of this world, naturally I must also bear such consequences. Behind that Buddha statue in front, specks of black energy began to emerge, like dark vines entwined around the Buddha statue, while a layer of golden radiance pulsed from within the statue. The black energy and the golden light reflected off each other, intertwining. If An Jing were here, he would definitely recognize that the black energy in front of him was Yin Energy. A place of Buddhist purity had manifest such dense Yin Energy, even seemingly overshadowing the Buddha statue¡¯s golden radiance. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The next moment, as if unable to withstand it, the Buddha statue¡¯s body suddenly displayed several cracks, and soon these cracks spread across the entire statue. ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± The already weak golden light instantly shattered, and the black Yin Energy became even more rampant and wild. Fa Wu cried out, ¡°Senior brother, this¡­¡± ¡°Evil has ripened.¡± Fa Zhi sighed softly, ¡°Quickly call all the monks in the temple here.¡± ¡°Yes, Fa Wu will go right now.¡± Fa Wu, upon hearing this, dared not slacken in the slightest. ¡­¡­. Inside Jishi Hall. Zhao Qingmei sat beside a table, her expression calm and indifferent. ¡°Miss, Master, your son-in-law has already gone out with his medicine box,¡± Tan Yun said quietly, then obediently stood aside. Zhao Qingmei softly said, ¡°Mr. Third, you are aware of last night¡¯s events, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I am aware. The two individuals pursued by Cao Gang were Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia,¡± Li Fuzhou slowly said, ¡°The person who was killed was indeed Xue Chen of the Floating Blood Sword. His cultivation had reached the First Grade, that is certain.¡± The Human Sect was specifically responsible for auditing and intelligence. Needless to say, Li Fuzhou had been on the Yu State River last night and naturally knew this matter like the back of his hand. ¡°Mu Xiaoyun?¡± Zhao Qingmei couldn¡¯t help but laugh upon hearing these three words. Mu Xiaoyun was the wife of the Gang Leader of Cao Gang, yet now she was being pursued by Cao Gang. Li Fuzhou said, ¡°According to the intelligence gathered by the spies, it seems Mu Xiaoyun knew something detrimental to Liu Qingshan, which led to her house arrest. Eventually, she secretly escaped, and Xue Chen, owing her a favor from many years ago, did not hesitate to die for her because of that past kindness.¡± Tan Yun quietly said beside, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a peerless swordsman to be defeated so easily. I had thought his skills were profound.¡± ¡°Facing one First Grade Expert and three Second Grade Experts in a joint attack, holding on for several exchanges is already commendable,¡± Li Fuzhou glanced at Tan Yun and said, ¡°Your cultivation seems to have stagnated for quite a while. It seems you¡¯ve become lax since leaving the headquarters. Too many comfortable days have made you quite plump.¡± Tan Yun shrank her neck, too frightened to speak again. Only when Li Fuzhou withdrew his gaze did she subconsciously touch her round cheeks and soft belly, thinking to herself: It¡¯s all because of that stinking son-in-law. Every time he returns, he brings back pastries. Even though I¡¯ve told him not to, he insists on bringing them¡­ and I can¡¯t let them go to waste¡­ ¡°Finding Mu Xiaoyun, I am very curious about this secret,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a smile, ¡°and also about that Jiang Sanjia.¡± ¡°Sect Hierarch, do you intend to use Jiang Sanjia¡¯s Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism to find the killer of the old Sect Hierarch?¡± Li Fuzhou asked gravely. ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Qingmei said indifferently. Li Fuzhou thought for a moment, then said, ¡°I doubt Jiang Sanjia will be able to calculate it. Those capable of killing the old Sect Hierarch are undoubtedly among the top few experts in the world today. The divination practices of the Ghost Valley Sect adhere to the principle that not all heavenly secrets should be revealed.¡± Old Sect Hierarch Jiang Shang of Demon Sect, a peerless expert whose name made all heroes tremble, a tyrant who controlled the Demon Sect. Anyone capable of killing such a figure could be counted on one hand in the entire world. Zhao Qingmei said with an expressionless face, ¡°Let¡¯s find this person first. I don¡¯t want to see the people from Cao Gang getting to them before us.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded slightly, then as if he remembered something, said, ¡°Sect Hierarch, I have received an important piece of news.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°The thing that was sealed in Fa Xi Temple seems to have loosened.¡± ¡°Oh? That is not a good omen.¡± Zhao Qingmei raised her eyebrow and fell into deep thought, ¡°If the object recorded in the ancient scriptures in our sect is true¡­¡± The antiquity of the Demon Sect outlasted many sects of Great Yan, and today, only Zhenyi and Buddhism are comparable. The remaining sects are merely newcomers. Furthermore, given the continuous prosperity of the Demon Sect, the secrets recorded in its ancient scriptures are considered supreme in the world. ¡°This object, if obtained by those with ulterior motives, might lead to another period of great turmoil,¡± Li Fuzhou said slowly. ¡°It seems this Ullambana Festival, we ought to join the excitement,¡± Zhao Qingmei said somberly. Li Fuzhou nodded and said, ¡°Just leave it to me.¡± ¡°Mr. Third, how is your injury?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked, glancing at Li Fuzhou. ¡°Although I have swallowed the elixir formulated by the Poison King within our sect, it still requires some time.¡± Li Fuzhou regretted, ¡°Had it not been for Xue Chen stealing my Zhu fruit, by now my injury might almost be fully healed¡­¡± As he spoke, Li Fuzhou suddenly felt something odd. Zhao Qingmei had always been aware of his injury, why was she suddenly asking these questions? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Sect Hierarch¡­¡± ¡°I heard this morning that you are taking my husband to the brothel to listen to music.¡± ¡°It was just an offhand remark made to test that young doctor.¡± Li Fuzhou chuckled nervously, heartachingly took out the silver he had not yet warmed up, and offered it with both hands: ¡°Sect Hierarch, this is the silver given to me by your husband, exactly ten taels, no more, no less.¡± Zhao Qingmei accepted the silver contentedly, thinking, The hard-earned consultation fee of my husband can only be used by me. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: This Half-Life of Love, Resentment, Anger, and Foolishness Chapter 52: Chapter 52: This Half-Life of Love, Resentment, Anger, and Foolishness Outside Yu State City, at dusk. The setting sun was like blood, and on the broken remnants of branches, a few crows were cawing. An Jing had changed into a dark cyan hooded cloak, flitting through the woods, feeling the faint glow from the Earth Book. ¡°Never thought that one day this Earth Book would not only help me find opportunities but also help me locate people.¡± At this moment, he was using the Earth Book¡¯s sensations to search for Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia. According to the Earth Book¡¯s guidance, the two had fled from within Yu State City and come to its outskirts. At this moment, both inside and outside Yu State City were filled with the Cao Gang¡¯s men, as well as the Court¡¯s constables. The two must have hidden themselves. ¡°They should be in the temple ruins ahead.¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows slightly and walked slowly into the temple ruins ahead. The temple was in a state of disrepair, with broken porcelain fragments and ashes on the ground, and piles of grass accumulated in the corners. As soon as he stepped inside, the Earth Book in his mind emitted intense bursts of light. ¡°Come out.¡± An Jing said faintly. There was silence all around, only the empty echo of his voice. ¡°Brother Sanjia, I said before, finding you would be a matter of anytime,¡± An Jing continued. ¡°It seems it¡¯s indeed you, Brother Zhou.¡± Jiang Sanjia then emerged from behind the dilapidated Buddha statue, his face as pale as paper, walking with a limp. Following Jiang Sanjia, Mu Xiaoyun also walked out slowly. Compared to Jiang Sanjia, her complexion was even more pallid, without a trace of color. ¡°Where¡¯s Xue Chen?¡± That was the first thing she asked An Jing, her voice somewhat hoarse and dry. ¡°Dead,¡± An Jing replied. The news of Xue Chen¡¯s death had already spread throughout the entirety of Yu State City and was likely radiating toward Jiangnan Dao. ¡°Dead?¡± Mu Xiaoyun was stunned. Although she had guessed this outcome, the news felt like a heavy hammer striking fiercely on her chest when she heard it, making it hard for her to breathe and stifling her breath. Jiang Sanjia sighed softly, without a word. He had had a premonition about Xue Chen¡¯s death; fighting Guo Yuchun and Ouyang Yu alone while covering their retreat, he was sure to be no match for them. Had he managed to escape by some fluke, he certainly would have come to find them. An Jing nodded, ¡°The Cao Gang plans to behead and display the body during the Ullambana Festival to serve as an example to others.¡± ¡°It seems the Cao Gang truly believed that they had killed you, Brother Zhou,¡± Jiang Sanjia said with a strange expression. Clearly, by killing Xue Chen, the Cao Gang intended to establish authority. Wasn¡¯t that mysterious swordsman a big deal a while ago? Wasn¡¯t he causing a storm in Yu State City? Challenging the might of the Cao Gang? Well, now we¡¯ve killed that mysterious swordsman, and you¡¯ll know the cost of defying the Cao Gang. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me.¡± An Jing shrugged his shoulders and then took out a packet of Hemostatic Powder and handed it to Jiang Sanjia, ¡°This is Hemostatic Powder, stop the bleeding first.¡± He didn¡¯t care about these false reputations anyway; now that the Cao Gang believed he was dead, it actually worked out better for him. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiang Sanjia took the Hemostatic Powder and then sat on the steps, carefully sprinkling the powder onto his shin, ¡°Brother Zhou, you should have brought some food and drink. My stomach has been singing the Empty Fort Strategy since midnight.¡± An Jing raised his eyebrow, ¡°The Cao Gang is hunting you all over the city, and you¡¯re still thinking about eating?¡± Jiang Sanjia grinned, ¡°I¡¯d rather be caught by the Cao Gang than die of hunger¡­ Hiss¨C!¡± As the Hemostatic Powder scattered on the wound, Jiang Sanjia couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply from the pain, as if the wound was being torn open again. Mu Xiaoyun stood there stunned, seemingly lost in a daze, as if she hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality from what An Jing said. In a trance, she was transported back twenty years. Within the backyard of the Mu Family, the young Xue Chen was being surrounded by several boys his own age. ¡°The son of the gatekeeper? That¡¯s also a servant.¡± ¡°What is this place, and who allowed you to come in?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve really got guts, even daring to enter the backyard.¡± ¡­¡­.. Several people started coldly sneering at Xue Chen. ¡°Young Master, I didn¡¯t know where this was and mistakenly trespassed, please don¡¯t blame me,¡± Xue Chen said through clenched teeth. Within the Mu Family, there was an extremely harsh class system; not all servants could enter the inner courtyard, and once discovered, they would face severe punishment. ¡°Didn¡¯t know? It¡¯s already too late to know now.¡± One of the youths pushed Xue Chen to the ground and sneered, ¡°Teach him a harsh lesson for me, let him understand the rules of my Mu Family.¡± Hearing this, several youths stepped forward and started punching and kicking Xue Chen, their fists and feet striking mercilessly. As Xue Chen lay on the ground, he bit down on his teeth hard, and even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, he didn¡¯t utter a single plea for mercy. Several maids in the distance saw this and hid behind wooden pillars. ¡°This will kill someone¡­ ¡± ¡°Hurry, go call someone.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t dare.¡± The maids looked at each other helplessly as they watched Xue Chen lying on the ground, beaten until he was bloodied and battered, appearing as if he could be beaten to death right there and then. ¡°Good lad, this kid¡¯s bones are indeed tough,¡± the lead youth said with a hint of anger in his eyes, ¡°Beat him hard. I refuse to believe it today.¡± ¡°Stop, what are you doing?¡± Just then, a commanding voice rang out. Upon hearing this voice, the youths halted their actions. ¡°Sister, why have you come?¡± The young man immediately laughed awkwardly upon seeing the arrival. The newcomer was none other than Mu Xiaoyun, the little overlord of Yu State City from the Mu Family, feared by all children among the local gentry in Yu State City. Even her own father had to treat her carefully, coaxing her lest she decided to complain to the old ancestors one day. ¡°Mu Jinglun, is bullying servants all you¡¯re capable of?¡± Mu Xiaoyun said coldly, ¡°Just a few days ago when the chief disciple of the Five Poison Sect, Dai Danshu, was traveling through Yu State, you were beaten and scattered like a rat. I don¡¯t recall seeing you this arrogant.¡± ¡°Sister, I¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to scram?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I¡¯ll scram right now, this instance.¡± Mu Jinglun, along with several youths, scurried away as if granted amnesty, afraid of even being half a step slow and displeasing Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°Kid, are you alright?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked, looking at Xue Chen, who laid on the ground. ¡°Thank you, Miss. I shall repay this kindness in the future.¡± Xue Chen struggled to get up and gave a bow to Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°You seem to have quite a backbone. However, there¡¯s no need to think about repaying me. I simply didn¡¯t want to see an innocent person die innocently,¡± Mu Xiaoyun said after sizing up Xue Chen. She had clearly seen that even though Mu Jinglun and the others had been beating Xue Chen ruthlessly, he had not cried out even once, something not many young men could endure. But she, Mu Xiaoyun, a young miss of the Mu Family, needed a servant to repay her? The youth Xue Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and earnestly said, ¡°My father told me since I was young to remember kindness as deeply as blood.¡± ¡°No need for that. This is the inner courtyard, you should be more careful in the future.¡± Mu Xiaoyun waved her hand and then instructed, ¡°Xiao Huan, tell Uncle Liu to let him rest for a few days.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss,¡± the maid beside her nodded. Having said that, Mu Xiaoyun prepared to leave with her maid. ¡°Miss.¡± Xue Chen suddenly called out. ¡°What is it?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I will never forget the kindness you showed me today!¡± ¡°Your intention is appreciated.¡± Under the sunlight, the young man wore a serious expression, his eyes filled with resolve, while the radiant young miss had a light smile on her lips. The lamp glowed like a bean, yet it illuminated a lifetime of love, anger, obsession, and foolishness. ¡­¡­. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ancient Jade Body Refining Changes Root Bone Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ancient Jade Body Refining Changes Root Bone Jiang Sanjia¡¯s painful groan abruptly brought Mu Xiaoyun back to her senses. ¡°Madam Liu, what do you plan to do next?¡± An Jing turned his head to look at Mu Xiaoyun. Xue Chen had died, indicating that Cao Gang had been prepared for her plans all along. Now, with another assistant dead, their situation had undoubtedly gone from bad to worse. If they still intended to go to Shuangmu Forest to rescue Liu Qingshan, it could only be described as fraught with extreme difficulties. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always wanted the Ancient Jade? I can give it to you now.¡± Mu Xiaoyun lifted her head, her beautiful eyes staring intently at An Jing. The Ancient Jade was the treasure Mu Xiaoyun had once promised to An Jing, and it was also listed in the Earth Book as an item that could change An Jing¡¯s Root Bone. An Jing was slightly stunned, then said, ¡°It seems the Ancient Jade is on your person.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mu Xiaoyun nodded slightly, then took out a red cord from around her waist, with an Ancient Jade hanging on it, glowing with a gentle luster. The moment he saw the Ancient Jade, a gleam flashed in An Jing¡¯s eyes. Mu Xiaoyun looked at the Ancient Jade in her hand and calmly said, ¡°This piece of Ancient Jade is a relic from the Great Zhou Dynasty, given to me as a betrothal gift by my husband Liu Qingshan. I have always carried it on me.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Are you not afraid I might kill you to seize it?¡± Not to mention that both were injured, even without injuries she wouldn¡¯t be his match. Previously, Mu Xiaoyun had been wary of him, which was why she had given him only a painting scroll of Ancient Jade to appease him. Mu Xiaoyun said, ¡°I am afraid, but I trust Mr. Zhou¡¯s character.¡± ¡°Character? Are we that familiar?¡± An Jing touched the sword at his waist, his voice devoid of any emotion. Mu Xiaoyun wouldn¡¯t easily hand over the Ancient Jade; her taking it out now must mean she wanted An Jing to do something for her, but that something was surely more difficult than killing her. Jiang Sanjia was stunned for a moment but looked over as well. ¡°I believe in Brother Zhou¡¯s character,¡± Mu Xiaoyun repeated. ¡°Now tell me, what do you want?¡± An Jing asked indifferently. ¡°I want Xue Chen¡¯s intact corpse,¡± Mu Xiaoyun said softly. Xue Chen¡¯s corpse had already been taken away by the experts of Cao Gang and hidden somewhere. If they were to look for it, it would take time. They would have to wait until the Ullambana Festival to attempt to snatch it during the public execution. On the Ullambana Festival, with countless experts from Cao Gang and the four great families of Jiangnan Dao present, who would dare to snatch the body in such a public space? ¡°I have already died and now you want me to come back to life?¡± An Jing laughed involuntarily. Now, everyone in the world believed that mysterious swordsman was dead, which undoubtedly was a great thing for him. Someone else had taken the fall for his previous actions, and he no longer had any entanglement with Cao Gang. Mu Xiaoyun gently twirled a strand of her hair, her beautiful eyes serious as she said, ¡°If Brother Zhou is willing to make a move, Mu Xiaoyun will owe you a favor, and if there is an opportunity in the future, I will surely repay it with my life.¡± An Jing was silent for a long while, then said, ¡°This piece of Ancient Jade is only good for one use from me.¡± Originally, he could have killed Mu Xiaoyun and easily taken the Ancient Jade from her hand. ¡°Just this once.¡± Mu Xiaoyun smiled. She knew An Jing had agreed. ¡°Brother Zhou, here.¡± The Ancient Jade traced an arc through the air, then was caught by An Jing, and instantly a warm sensation spread from the palm of his hand throughout his limbs. ¡°Change locations, place the mark behind the broken temple¡¯s Buddha statue. After the deed is done, I will find you.¡± An Jing, holding the Ancient Jade, said. Mu Xiaoyun nodded heavily, aware that many forces were currently searching for them, and not just Cao Gang. This place was indeed too dangerous. ¡°Brother Zhou, next time bring some roast chicken and wine, the best being from the Wuyang Winery, and preferably roast chicken from Yutian Pavilion,¡± Jiang Sanjia reminded him. An Jing smiled faintly, ¡°Sanjia, if you are still alive, I can treat you to it.¡± Jiang Sanjia¡¯s face darkened, ¡°I¡¯ve calculated¡ªunless there¡¯s an accident, I still have thirty years of life to live.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, life is full of accidents.¡± An Jing waved his hand and walked towards the outside of the broken temple. ¡°Wait!¡± At that moment, Mu Xiaoyun called out to him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Be careful!¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but smile and slowly walked out of the broken temple. ¡­¡­ Outside Yu State City, a dense forest. Deep in the lush, densely layered forest, far removed from the official roads and bustling markets. An Jing sat on a massive rock, then took out the Ancient Jade. The crystal-clear jade seemed to have something flowing inside it. ¡°Is this the treasure that can change one¡¯s Root Bone?¡± An Jing toyed with the jade in his hand, talking to himself. As the foundation of the physical body, the Root Bone could manifest in four types: clear, strange, ancient, and odd; most martial arts prodigies typically had the clear type, with the strange type being exceedingly rare. And An Jing¡¯s Root Bone was precisely this second type, a heaven-sent rarity. If the Root Bone is high, the cultivation of Qi becomes smoother and reaches closer to perfection. The reason he managed to reach First Grade Cultivation within ten years was not only due to the help of the Earth Book but also his heaven-sent rare Root Bone. ¡°Hiss!¡± Just then, a faint, shadowy line appeared in the jade; An Jing¡¯s Qi seemed to be stirred, spontaneously beginning to circulate the Daluo Heart Method. ¡°Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!¡± Following this, the red line began to move, like a clever snake trying to break free from its cage. ¡°This is¡­..¡± An Jing blinked, and the red line burst out from the Ancient Jade and surged into his body. The moment the red line rushed in, it felt as though thousands of steel needles were stabbing his body, instantaneously spreading a stabbing pain throughout every meridian in his body. ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± An Jing clenched his teeth tightly, and in an instant, cold sweat densely covered his forehead. He did not know how much time had passed when the stabbing sensation finally began to fade, replaced by a warm touch that started to travel along his meridians. ¡°This feels somewhat strange¡­¡± An Jing opened his eyes, looked at his palm, and then his thoughts turned to the Earth Book. Cultivation: First Grade Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining Root Bone: Once in a Hundred Years Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword (Fifth Layer). Prompt One: The host¡¯s Life Fate has not yet taken root (ten months remaining); when displaying martial arts, one must not reveal the host¡¯s identity, otherwise a dark fortune will be incurred. Prompt Two: In Fa Xi Temple¡¯s Vilu Hall lies a blue fortune under the Buddha statue, sealing an unknown ancient item. Prompt Three: Fa Xi Temple harbors a dark fortune, acquiring it will bring misfortune and pursuit. ¡­. Once in a Hundred Years, a glint of light flashed in An Jing¡¯s eyes on seeing this. His Root Bone had progressed from a heaven-sent rarity to Once in a Hundred Years, an immense enhancement that had unexpectedly also elevated his Hundred-step Flying Sword. And this was just what could be seen; there were many more invisible enhancements. For instance, his sudden insights into swordsmanship seemed to have reached a new level of enhancement, a sensation immensely profound. According to the swordsmanship levels in Jianghu, An Jing was now at the peak of the Fourth Level Sword Skill, just one step away from reaching the Fifth Level. In today¡¯s world, only a handful of people had reached this level. Moreover, his swordsmanship, mental methods, and movement techniques all felt noticeably easier than before, and with each additional practice session, he gained new insights. This enhancement of the Root Bone might not seem significant in the short term, but it is a long-term strategy. ¡°In the entire Jianghu, there are definitely no more than five individuals with a Root Bone like mine.¡± An Jing slowly exhaled. Just how formidable a Root Bone of Once in a Hundred Years is, he might well be the top disciple among the Seven Factions, his talent second to none under heaven. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only He wondered if after Once in a Hundred Years his Root Bone could still enhance, perhaps Once in a Thousand Years? And then there were new prompts from the Earth Book, all centered around Fa Xi Temple, among which was also a dark fortune, warranting caution to avoid inadvertently attracting this dark fortune. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, time to head home.¡± An Jing felt the pain nearly gone, then with a leap, he sprinted towards Yu State City. ¡­¡­ Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Three People Toasting Under the Moonlight Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Three People Toasting Under the Moonlight Yu State City, Mazizi Street. Teams of constables poured out of the government office, dashing in all directions. Jiang Sanjia was a prisoner of the highest degree in the dungeon, prompting all the constables in Yu State City to spring into action to capture him. Han Wenxin commanded, ¡°Quick, Ma Liu, Shi Liang, you two take this street, and the rest of you head to that street.¡± Upon hearing his words, everyone began patrolling and searching along the streets. Seeing this, Han Wenxin exhaled, swung his blade over his shoulder, and turned to walk towards Chunfeng Alley. ¡°If those who are stronger than me are also more hardworking, what use is my effort? Why not enjoy a drink under the splendid moonlight instead of catching a bird?¡± Han Wenxin muttered to himself, then headed into the alley, directly towards Wuyang Tavern. ¡°Huh!?¡± Just then, he spotted a figure sneaking around ahead, which upon closer inspection, was also eerily familiar. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what are you doing here?¡± Han Wenxin stepped forward and patted the man¡¯s shoulder. Zhou Xianming, startled by the sudden touch, jumped and turned to see it was Han Wenxin, instantly relieving him, ¡°I thought it was someone else. It¡¯s just Officer Han.¡± Han Wenxin raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What are you doing? Sneaking around?¡± ¡°How rude.¡± Zhou Xianming straightened his robe, solemnly saying, ¡°I just walked out from my own home, why would I sneak around?¡± Han Wenxin glanced around and indeed, it was Zhou Xianming¡¯s house. Zhou Xianming shot back, ¡°What about you, Officer Han? You must be slacking off again, planning to go for a drink, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not slacking off,¡± Han Wenxin immediately retorted, ¡°Brother An once said that those who rush in first always end up covered in blood. My family lineage has been single-descendant for three generations; what if it gets cut off?¡± ¡°Twisted logic!¡± Zhou Xianming snorted lightly, not buying Han Wenxin¡¯s reasoning at all, but he thought the words of little Doctor An carried some profound meaning¡­ ¡°What do you know?¡± Han Wenxin scoffed, ¡°Do you know who we are trying to capture? Jiang Sanjia, the Calculating Master, a Second Grade Expert from Jianghu and a descendant of the Ghost Valley Sect. He has connections all over Jianghu and knows countless experts. A flick of their little finger could crush us constables to bits.¡± Zhou Xianming naturally knew who the Calculating Master Jiang Sanjia was, being a storyteller himself. Considering it, Zhou Xianming wouldn¡¯t be keen to capture him either, recognizing this task as one for the Xuanyi Guard. ¡°By the way, I heard that the unparalleled swordsman was really captured?¡± Zhou Xianming looked around and asked in a low voice. Han Wenxin replied irritatedly, ¡°Of course, Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen, a First Grade Expert. Do you even realize what First Grade means?¡± ¡°Really¡­ Is that true?¡± Zhou Xianming swallowed hard, feeling inexplicably fearful. The man in black had rarely come to see him lately, almost as if vanished. Could that man be Floating Blood Sword Xue Chen? If it really was, could he possibly get implicated in this big case? The more Zhou Xianming thought about it, the more frightened he became, his complexion turning increasingly unsightly, even causing his body to tremble slightly. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what are you so happy about?¡± Just then, a voice suddenly resonated from behind. ¡°When was I happy?¡± Zhou Xianming reflexively contradicted. ¡°Brother An?¡± Han Wenxin saw the newcomer and couldn¡¯t help but be slightly startled. The arrival was none other than An Jing, who was hurrying home. An Jing glanced at the pale-faced Zhou Xianming, curiously asking, ¡°I see you two talking, and Mr. Zhou is trembling with excitement. What exactly are you discussing?¡± ¡°Nothing, just talking about Xue Chen¡¯s matter.¡± Han Wenxin waved his hand and, with a grin, walked over to An Jing, draping an arm over his shoulder, ¡°No pressing matters today, how about we go have a drink?¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go drink.¡± Zhou Xianming nodded continuously after hearing this. Although Han Wenxin was just a minor constable, he nonetheless provided some sense of security. ¡°You go ahead, I need to head home.¡± An Jing declined. The sky was growing dark, and there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the streets; he had only come out to make a house call and had no intention of going out for drinks. ¡°An Jing, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Han Wenxin sighed. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Zhou Xianming also nodded again and again. ¡°Changed how?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Previously, when I mentioned drinking, you never hesitated.¡± Han Wenxin shook his head, lamenting, ¡°Times have changed, now you even say no.¡± Zhou Xianming too added fuel to the fire, ¡°Yes, back when we would hang out in brothels listening to music, how stylish and carefree it was, how much ¡­¡± ¡°Stop right there, where do you say you¡¯re going?¡± An Jing quickly cut him off. Zhou Xianming, this scholar, was not straightforward; his words had hidden meanings, and it seemed he might even be threatening him. ¡°Let¡¯s go! To Wuyang Tavern!¡± ¡°No return until we¡¯re drunk!¡± ¡­¡­ In Wuyang Tavern. The moonlight was like water, spilling thousands of miles, and the night wind howled past, carrying a hint of chill. The three of them sat at the wine table, pushing cups and exchanging toasts. An Jing, looking at the tipsy Zhou Xianming, remembered something and asked, ¡°Mr. Zhou, the autumn examinations are coming up soon, aren¡¯t you about to take the examination?¡± Zhou Xianming waved his hand, brimming with confidence, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just the autumn exams; I¡¯ll definitely return triumphantly this time, especially since Miss Li Yue is waiting for me.¡± Listening to this, Han Wenxin paused with the chopsticks in his hand, ¡°Mr. Zhou, the Li Yue you¡¯re talking about, is she that Oiran?¡± Li Yue was quite famous in Yu State City, and being a veteran, Han Wenxin was very well aware. Zhou Xianming raised his cup and drank it down, laughing foolishly, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s waiting for me to pass the Advanced Scholar exam and buy her freedom.¡± ¡°Forget it, buying an Oiran¡¯s freedom is extremely difficult.¡± Han Wenxin waved his hand, ¡°Besides, she¡¯s just a courtesan. After you become an Advanced Scholar, wouldn¡¯t it be better to marry a clean girl?¡± An Jing repeatedly nodded beside them, agreeing with Han Wenxin¡¯s words, and remarked, ¡°A pair of jade arms embraced by a thousand people, a bit of vermilion lips tasted by ten thousand; Mr. Zhou, you should really think this through properly.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to slander Miss Li Yue!¡± Zhou Xianming, hearing this, suddenly became furious. ¡°I¡¯m not slandering her?¡± Han Wenxin was dumbfounded and then urgently persuaded, ¡°I¡¯m telling nothing but the truth. Don¡¯t let her play with your emotions; she meets countless men every day, and her command over people¡¯s hearts is not something you, a mere young scholar, can compare with. I advise you not to get too involved lest you end up getting hurt.¡± As he spoke, Han Wenxin picked up a piece of meat and began chewing it vigorously. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing, pouring wine for the two, said, ¡°Right, I think Han brother speaks wisely; Mr. Zhou, you should not be blind to the truth. Moreover, I believe Li Yue does not regard you as you might think.¡± He noticed that lately, Zhou Xianming seemed to be evolving from a lovesick pup into a War Wolf. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face darkened, clearly not taking in a word the two said. ¡°Mr. Zhou, listen to me, she¡¯s deep waters, and you can¡¯t handle an Oiran like her.¡± Han Wenxin put down his chopsticks, proudly said, ¡°You should let me handle her; I might still have a chance.¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Divine Ingenuity, Calculations as Accurate as a Gods Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Divine Ingenuity, Calculations as Accurate as a God¡¯s ¡°Smack!¡± Zhou Xianming, upon hearing this, could no longer bear it and stared fiercely at Han Wenxin, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Would Li Yue, a lady with a blind eye, fancy a rough martial artist like you?¡± An Jing was also startled by Zhou Xianming¡¯s momentum, pausing with his chopsticks in hand. But Han Wenxin just frowned, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thick arms, and retorted, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a martial artist? I am the sole heir of a three-generation lineage of arrest officers in my family. Are you looking down on martial artists?¡± Han Wenxin was half a head taller than Zhou Xianming, and with his burly stature and intense gaze, he might not have the upper hand against Jianghu experts, but facing a mere scholar like Zhou Xianming was naturally not a problem. ¡°No¡­.no problem.¡± Zhou Xianming wilted and quickly raised his wine cup towards An Jing, ¡°Doctor An, let¡¯s drink.¡± An Jing clinked his cup and said, ¡°Mr. Zhou, actually, Brother Han is somewhat right. It¡¯s possible that Li Yue is just toying with your feelings.¡± ¡°Doctor An, that¡¯s not right of you to say.¡± Zhou Xianming glanced at Han Wenxin and argued with reason, ¡°Why would she toy with your feelings or Arrest Officer Han¡¯s feelings and only toy with mine? She must have some fondness for me to act in such a way.¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­..¡± Han Wenxin mockingly said, ¡°Brother An, stop advising him. When the truth comes out and he has nothing left, he will understand how cruel reality is.¡± Mr. Zhou also swept away with his sleeve, ¡°When the day of my wedding with Miss Li Yue comes, don¡¯t forget, Arrest Officer Han, to bring a generous gift.¡± Han Wenxin scoffed, ¡°If anyone¡¯s getting married first, it¡¯ll be me.¡± ¡°You?¡± An Jing asked in surprise, ¡°Could it be that Brother Han already has someone in mind?¡± Arrest Officer Han was slightly older than An Jing. His father had been arranging marriage prospects for him, but they always ended inconclusively. Could it be that Han Wenxin had finally seen the light? Han Wenxin rubbed his hands and chortled, ¡°Actually, Brother An, I have a somewhat presumptuous request, and I am not sure if I should speak of it.¡± Zhou Xianming paused with his wine cup mid-air, staring in astonishment at the scene unfolding before him. Could it be that Han Wenxin enjoys pederastic love, taking a liking to men over women, men atop men¡­. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t say any more.¡± An Jing was also startled and hastily said, ¡°My wife wouldn¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°What are you thinking about.¡± Han Wenxin said irritably, ¡°What I¡¯m talking about is Tan Yun.¡± ¡°Tan Yun!?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Han Wenxin nodded, looking at him eagerly, ¡°You are my half-brother from another father and mother. You have to help me out here.¡± Although Tan Yun couldn¡¯t compare to the stunning beauty of Zhao Qingmei, she was also a rare beauty, with graceful curves, a plump figure, and a lively and adorable personality. If he could marry her, it would be quite good. ¡°Pah, despicable arrest officer!¡± Zhou Xianming snuck a glance at Han Wenxin and cursed inwardly. No, I can¡¯t let this guy Han Wenxin have his way. Thinking this, Zhou Xianming subtly began to plot. An Jing paused and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that she¡¯s out of the question; the key is I don¡¯t have the final say¡ªfirst, she has to be willing¡­..¡± If Tan Yun herself was willing, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to discuss it with Zhao Qingmei. Han Wenxin quickly said, ¡°She will definitely be willing! Every time I visit, she always greets me first. Have you forgotten the last time I went to pick up medicine from your pharmacy? She insisted on handing it to me personally, and at your place for dinner, she poured wine for me, and there was also¡­.¡± Towards the end, Han Wenxin believed that Tan Yun¡¯s kindness towards him indicated a hidden affection. Watching Han Wenxin ramble on, An Jing was stunned momentarily. He really wanted to say that about the poison¡ªshe personally administered it. ¡°Arrest Officer Han, you¡¯re drinking too much; eat some more food.¡± ¡°Nonsense, I can hold a thousand cups without getting drunk. The Black Whirlwind of Yu State; for me, this is merely like rinsing my mouth.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to claim to be the Vajra of Yu State?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it all the same? In any case, it¡¯s all me.¡± ¡°When I return from the imperial examinations this autumn, by then, I will treat you all to a grand feast at Yutian Pavilion.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, just remember you once said you¡¯d be willing to wait on me hand and foot.¡± ¡­.. Night deepened, and the whole of Yu State City seemed to sink into silence. An Jing, seeing the dim lights in Jishi Hall, felt a sudden jolt in his heart. Could it be that his wife hadn¡¯t slept yet? But he wasn¡¯t perturbed because he had already arranged his story with Han Wenxin, explaining that a medical emergency in the Yu State City prison had detained him for some time. An Jing sniffed his nose and, finding no scent of alcohol on himself, he felt relieved. ¡°Creak!¡± The side door was gently pushed open. ¡°Husband, why have you come back so late?¡± A voice rang out like a silver bell. Zhao Qingmei was sitting in front of the hall, cup of tea in hand, taking a gentle sip before smiling sweetly at An Jing. An Jing shivered, then touched the sweat on his forehead, ¡°Han Wenxin, that kid, stopped me halfway, said there were a few people who had come down with a sudden illness. Faced with such a life-and-death matter, I naturally couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch.¡± ¡°By the way, madam, why haven¡¯t you gone to bed so late?¡± As he spoke, An Jing subconsciously rubbed his hands together. Zhao Qingmei put down her teacup, her voice soft, ¡°How could I possibly sleep without you being back?¡± Hidden in the backyard, Tan Yun heard this, her nose wrinkled slightly, ¡°Stinky son-in-law, you went out drinking and still claim you went to treat patients, and you didn¡¯t even bring back any pastries¡­ I really want to expose your shameless face.¡± The Human Sect spy lost track of An Jing, but in the end, he found An Jing and his two companions¡¯ whereabouts at the Wuyang Tavern and naturally reported the information back intact. An Jing felt a bit guilty, ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve really worked hard.¡± He went out for drinks, not expecting Qingmei to still care so much about him. If she knew that his cultivation was involved with people in Jianghu, she would surely be constantly worried. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let Qingmei find out about this. Zhao Qingmei picked up a small cup from the table, ¡°Husband, come drink your medicine.¡± Medicine!? An Jing paused for a moment, ¡°Madam, is there a mistake here¡­¡± Inside the cup was pitch black, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air. Zhao Qingmei had actually brewed him some medicine, did his robust body really need it? Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°No mistake, I¡¯ve brewed sobering medicine.¡± ¡°Sobering¡­ medicine, I see.¡± An Jing was startled for a moment, then let out a dry laugh, gulping down the sobering medicine. In his heart, though, he was secretly muttering, how did Zhao Qingmei know he had gone out drinking? Could there be a mole? That shouldn¡¯t be, Zhou Xianming and Han Wenxin were both crawling back. By all accounts, they shouldn¡¯t have been able to send a message. Moreover, he didn¡¯t smell of alcohol at all, which brought a sliver of doubt to An Jing¡¯s heart. ¡°Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Zhao Qingmei took back the empty cup and smiled. ¡°Anything made by madam is delicious.¡± Feeling guilty, An Jing changed the topic, ¡°By the way, madam, what do you think of Han Wenxin?¡± ¡°What about Han Wenxin, that kid?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked, clearly puzzled. ¡°How do you think he and Tan Yun would be together?¡± An Jing said, grinning. Han Wenxin, that kid!? Tan Yun, who was just about to go back to rest, perked up her pink ears when she heard this. Zhao Qingmei raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing, ¡°Are you suggesting that Han Wenxin, that kid, has taken a liking to Tan Yun?¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°He said that Tan Yun seems to fancy him¡­¡± That comment essentially summed up everything Han Wenxin meant, An Jing was just providing a recap. ¡°If Tan Yun is willing, I have no objections,¡± said Zhao Qingmei, her peach blossom eyes blinking as if her lips were smiling too. Taken a liking to him! In the backyard, Tan Yun¡¯s face darkened upon hearing this, her fists tightly clenched making a creaking sound. That Han Wenxin actually dared to slander her! It seemed she couldn¡¯t just study calligraphy in the coming days; she also had to learn some sword techniques. Sensing that An Jing and Zhao Qingmei were walking toward the backyard, Tan Yun silently made a note in her little book then returned to her room. The evening breeze gently drifted, and the starry sky was boundlessly vast. It was as if many thoughts, many melancholies, were melting into the dense night. An Jing looked up, feeling moved, ¡°Tomorrow is going to be a good day.¡± ¡°My favorite thing is good weather,¡± Zhao Qingmei also looked up, murmuring, ¡°With good weather, one¡¯s mood gets better as well.¡± Gazing at that beautiful face and those tender eyes, An Jing swore in his heart that he mustn¡¯t let her be involved in the turmoil of Jianghu like himself; he would protect her at all costs. ¡°Husband, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly, taking hold of An Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Qingmei, you¡¯re so beautiful, I just want to look at you more,¡± An Jing said earnestly, gripping her hand tightly. ¡°Silly, I¡¯m yours to look at however long you wish,¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart raced, and a flush spread across her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s getting late.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing felt the smoothness and softness in his hand. With a hint of allure in her eyes, Zhao Qingmei said, ¡°Brother, it certainly is getting late.¡± When I miss her, a day apart feels like three autumns. When she smiles at you, those three autumns feel like just a day. ¡­¡­.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 The Human Emperors Plot to Bring Buddhism to the East Chapter 56: Chapter 56 The Human Emperor¡¯s Plot to Bring Buddhism to the East September 27th, the Ullambana Festival (fabricated for the novel, please do not apply to reality). Auspicious: Starting a business, initiating construction, opening shop, cooking. Taboo: Moving house, settling into a new home, digging, traveling. With the change of seasons, the air had turned somewhat chilly. But the area outside Yu State City and around the Three Temple Mountain was bustling, with travelers visible all along the mountain roads. The Ullambana Festival, originally a festival from the Western Regions, is a day when everyone pays homage to their parents and commemorates their ancestors; it¡¯s one of Buddhism¡¯s sacrificial festivals. Because Buddhism thrived during the Great Zhou Dynasty and was valued and appreciated by successive Zhou emperors, the Ullambana Festival became widely celebrated during the Zhou Dynasty, with many eager to emulate the tradition. However, as the Zhou Dynasty fragmented and disintegrated, Buddhism¡¯s status in Great Yan gradually declined, even facing resistance from many sects, leading to the gradual decay of Buddhism. Most Buddhist sects retreated to the Western Regions, resulting in their sacrificial practices and festivals dwindling as well. But today seemed different, with throngs of pedestrians converging along the way, moving slowly like ants towards Fa Xi Temple atop Three Temple Mountain, making it much livelier than previous Ullambana Festivals. For today was not only the Buddhist Ullambana Festival but also the grand meeting called by Cao Gang to denounce the Demon Sect. Although the Ghost Swordsman of the Demon Sect had died, the campaign against the Demon Sect still had to be waged. Inside the Scripture Storage Hall, Fa Zhi sat on a meditation cushion, his eyes slightly closed as he recited the scriptures. The young monk Fa Wu, with his rosy lips and white teeth, was also deeply focused. ¡°Master Fa Zhi, long time no see.¡± Just then, a deep voice came from outside the hall. Outside the hall, the man appeared to be in his forties, with his eyes as tranquil as the abyss and a face devoid of any expression, as cold as the ice on a snowy mountain. His wide red cloak further accentuated his solitary chill. Hanging around his waist was a token made of yellow jade, engraved with the character ¡®Xuan¡¯. Upon seeing the man, Fa Wu felt an extreme chill engulf his entire body, as if he had abruptly gone from the coolness of autumn to the harsh cold of winter. Behind the icy man followed three Gold Constables clad in black cloaks, with Hong Yuanwu among them. ¡°Our first meeting was in the seventh year of Xingping; now it¡¯s the thirteenth year of Xingping. Six years have passed in the blink of an eye.¡± Feeling quite nostalgic, Fa Zhi stood up and said, ¡°Governor Gan, you are as consistent as ever. Aside from progress in martial arts, your appearance hasn¡¯t changed much.¡± In Great Yan, those involved in Jianghu must first understand the sharpest blade and weapon of the current Human Emperor, the Xuanyi Guard. Indeed, it was because of the Xuanyi Guard that the Human Emperor could sleep without worry, for it can be said that the Xuanyi Guard is like a sharp blade dangled by the Human Emperor over Jianghu. The Xuanyi Guard is divided into four tiers of experts: Jade, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Among them, the Gold tier comprises seventy-two experts, known as the Heavenly Gang Seventy Two Evil. Each one possesses Second Grade peak cultivation, and almost all have the strength to enter the Tiger List, but since they hold official positions, they are not listed on the Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List. Next are the Jade tier experts. There are thirty-six of them, collectively referred to as the Great Heavenly Gang. The Jade tier experts are even more formidable. The lowest among them possess First Grade cultivation, and many have reached the Human Flower or Earth Flower realm. Each year, the Court attracts Jianghu masters to join the Xuanyi Guard. If a member of the Heavenly Gang or Earthly Evils is killed in battle, someone immediately fills the vacancy, ensuring an abundant reserve of personnel for the Xuanyi Guard, astonishing all Jianghu forces. The reputation of the Xuanyi Guard in Jianghu is thunderous and awe-inspiring. As the Human Emperor¡¯s tool to deal with Jianghu, its significance goes without saying¡ªit eliminates those in Great Yan who are restless. Any power in Jianghu would dread a visit from the Xuanyi Guard, even the top forces of the Seven Great Sects. This cold man before them was one of the Thirty Six Great Heavenly Gang, the star of the Heavenly Prison, Gan Yue. Fa Wu looked at Gan Yue with puzzlement, wondering how his senior fellow disciple could have an old acquaintance with this chilly person. It was Xingping six back then, and he would have been only two years old. ¡°Master Fa Zhi flatters me.¡± Gan Yue said indifferently, ¡°A face is nothing more than a layer of skin.¡± Fa Zhi brought his palms together and whispered, ¡°Lord Gan has profound spiritual insights, which is extremely rare. His achievements in the future are boundless.¡± ¡°To advance even further is something I dare not think about.¡± Gan Yue waved his hand, ¡°I am here on orders to assist the master in suppressing the evil here. What is the current situation?¡± At that time, he was one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang, a top expert of the Xuanyi Guard. Placed in Jianghu, he also possessed First Grade cultivation, where advancing even a step further would be extremely difficult. Fa Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed, and then he sighed, ¡°In recent days, the Yin energy has dissipated, and with the collapse of the Buddha statue yesterday, I fear that this evil being will come into the world. In my opinion, this is merely a sign, or rather, a warning.¡± Gan Yue, seeing Fa Zhi¡¯s face so solemn, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What exactly is this evil being??¡± The monk before him was the head of the Great Sun Temple at Leiyin Temple, one of the Eighteen Arhats of the Western Regions. To be called an Arhat in the Western Regions, one must at least have reached the realm of the First Grade Human Flower, with unfathomable power. Even he might not be able to fully comprehend it, yet the person before him wore such a grave expression, which was enough to indicate the terror of the being sealed. ¡°I am not quite clear myself, as many ancient texts have been lost, and many things are not clearly recorded in them.¡± Fa Zhi shook his head, ¡°However, this seal is a relic of the Zhou Dynasty. Besides Fa Xi Temple, there are other places that also contain this evil being. Once the evil being emerges from the seal, it will bring about a disaster of epic proportions.¡± ¡°A disaster of epic proportions?!¡± Upon hearing this, Gan Yue couldn¡¯t help but recall an event from a few years ago. Back then, in the Imperial Study Room, one of the Emperor¡¯s three eunuchs in charge of swordsmen, Eunuch Guang De, inquired about how to contain the current Zhenyi Sect, and Gan Yue, as a listening attendant, had the fortune to stand on the scene. He clearly remembered what the Human Emperor said: If there are five monkeys and you have five peaches, if you give each monkey a peach, they are bound to be dissatisfied with their master. However, if you only offer four peaches, they will engage in internal strife instead, and they will treat their master with utmost respect. If An Jing were here, he would understand the deeper implications, the Human Emperor of Great Yan was merely transforming class contradictions into internal conflicts. Nowadays, the seven major sects of the world occupy the vast majority of Jianghu. Within this majority, the Zhenyi Sect, honored as the National Religion, is tremendously influential, holding sway over half of Jianghu. As the Emperor, how could he possibly be willing to see the Zhenyi Sect dominate Jianghu? While the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect contributed significantly and the number one person in the world residing in Zhenyi Mountain held a close relationship with him. But in the world of men, an Emperor remains an Emperor. Buddhism from the Western Regions withdrew from the lands of Great Yan during the chaos of the Nine Kingdoms. Now that the country is thriving and stable, if Buddhism is reintroduced, it would be like throwing a huge stone into the chaotic waters of Jianghu, stirring up a storm. The reintroduction of Buddhism carries too many advantages in various aspects. According to historical records, during the Taiping Era, Buddhism should flourish to stabilize the nation. Moreover, the return of Buddhism could curb the expansion of the Zhenyi Sect, even humble its arrogance, and resist the possible resurgence of the Demon Sect. It is said that the Western Regions boast of Three Thousand Buddha Countries, and although this might be an exaggeration, there are indeed numerous Buddhist sects there, divided into Zen and Esoteric sects, with numerous experts, not inferior even compared to the Zhenyi Sect. In addition, this could suppress the unknown seals left by the Zhou Dynasty. Even though Buddhism knows this is a deliberate strategy, for the sake of spreading Buddhist teachings in their ancestral lands, they have to jump in regardless. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only And the Human Emperor had already started planning such a sophisticated game years ago, which is truly admirable. Fa Zhi pondered for a long moment, then said, ¡°I suspect that the loosening of this seal may also be the work of someone with ulterior motives. I ask for Lord Gan to be more vigilant.¡± In his heart, Fa Zhi guessed it to be the work of the Demon Sect, but he did not say it aloud. ¡°A human cause?!¡± Gan Yue¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits as he chuckled coldly, ¡°Does someone want to disturb the peace of the world?¡± Chapter 20 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°What¡¯s going on? Could it be because of the evil energy at the river bottom?¡± After eating, An Jing felt somewhat fatigued and, lying on the bed, he felt drowsy. ¡°Husband, why did you agree to it today?¡± Zhao Qingmei walked in and saw An Jing lying on the bed and asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who told me to agree?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to agree!¡± ¡°Forget it. I already agreed. One more person, one more pair of chopsticks.¡± Zhao Qingmei wanted to say it wasn¡¯t as simple as just an extra pair of chopsticks¡­ ¡°Go to sleep early. We¡¯ve been busy all afternoon.¡± An Jing yawned and then took off his outer clothes. ¡°Going to bed this early?¡± Zhao Qingmei licked her lips, her eyes constantly glancing at An Jing. ¡°A bit tired.¡± After returning from Qinghe Dock, An Jing felt somewhat worn out. It was probably due to the evil energy entering his body, though it was expelled by the Bodhi Bead, it still made him feel very fatigued. ¡°Brother~!¡± Zhao Qingmei crawled over, her long legs clamping around An Jing¡¯s thigh, her small hand skillfully reaching into An Jing¡¯s inner clothes. ¡°My lady, tomorrow, really, I¡¯m a bit tired today.¡± An Jing felt like he was about to fall asleep. ¡°Brother, I learned a new trick you know.¡± Zhao Qingmei bit An Jing¡¯s ear and breathed hot air into it. ¡°Alright, show me tomorrow,¡± An Jing said weakly. ¡°I want to show you today.¡± Zhao Qingmei was relentless, her small hand continuing to explore downward. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± An Jing felt very comfortable but still lay there like a dead person. ¡°You ate dinner for nothing,¡± Zhao Qingmei complained as she patted An Jing¡¯s cheek. But An Jing had already fallen asleep, with only a faint sound of breathing. ¡°An Lazybones, wake up!¡± ¡­¡­ In a quiet courtyard in Yu State City. On both sides stood several men in rough clothing, each holding an orange-red lantern, lighting up the entire courtyard as if it were daytime. The Cao Gang wore rough clothing, which was well known across the land. In the center of the courtyard, an old man with a limp was waving the knife in his hand, his clothes fluttering in the fierce wind. He held a pair of curved knives, and the sound of the knives was eerie, like the wailing of ghosts, sending chills down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Tie Brother!¡± A hearty laugh sounded, and Hong Yuanwu in a heavy cloak walked into the courtyard. ¡°Master Hong!¡± The old man with the limp who was practicing his knife paused and clasped his hands to Hong Yuanwu. Hong Yuanwu sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this to alarm Brother Yunshan¡­¡± This old man was none other than one of the seven Vajras of the Cao Gang, Tieyun Mountain. The Cao Gang¡¯s thirty-six helmsmen were in charge of various regions, while the seven Vajras always stayed at the main headquarters and were even more fearsome, being top-notch experts. Some said that among the thirty-six helmsmen, some might not be very famous in the Jianghu, but any one of the seven Vajras was a master renowned in their own right in the Jianghu. Any one of them could establish a sect and dominate an area. Tieyun Mountain had roamed the Jianghu for decades with a pair of curved knives on horseback, and countless experts had died by his hand. Later, he offended the head of the Su family in Taixu Ming City and was chased down. In the end, he killed dozens of the Su family¡¯s experts, including the head, causing the Su family¡¯s elder to act personally. To save his life, he cut off one of his legs and joined the Cao Gang for protection. The Cao Gang was powerful, and Liu Qingshan was extremely tough, so the Su family had to swallow this loss. It was very rare for the Cao Gang to mobilize the seven Vajras. Speaking of their friendship, it was quite deep. Initially, Hong Yuanwu wasn¡¯t with Xuanyi Guard but was a man of the Jianghu, arrogant and swaggering. The two of them roamed the Jiangnan Dao area, and he and Tieyun Mountain became friends through fighting. Later, Hong Yuanwu joined the Divine Eagle and became a Xuanyi Guard, wearing an official uniform and living on the court¡¯s salary. When Tieyun Mountain was being hunted by the Su family, Hong Yuanwu mediated and tried to help, although in the end, he couldn¡¯t resolve the enmity, it deepened their friendship. Tieyun Mountain took a deep breath and said, ¡°This matter is no small thing. Haoping and I were close. You know my character; I couldn¡¯t not come.¡± Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly. Tieyun Mountain was very loyal, and he knew this well. Liu Haoping was his close friend and was killed in Yu State City, so he couldn¡¯t remain indifferent. Hong Yuanwu said solemnly, ¡°That mysterious swordsman is not ordinary. In my opinion, he¡¯s at least at the peak of the Second Grade¡­¡± ¡°I observed the sword skill; it¡¯s impressive,¡± Tieyun Mountain sneered, ¡°But my Moonlight Flying Arrow is no nobody, especially with Brother Hong here.¡± Moonlight Flying Arrow Tieyun Mountain, that was his name in the Jianghu. ¡°The two of us working together has a good chance,¡± Hong Yuanwu nodded slightly. Not only the Cao Gang but the court was also hunting for that mysterious swordsman. Tieyun Mountain nodded slightly, then said, ¡°I have three purposes in coming to Yu State this time, and I hope Brother Hong will aid me.¡± ¡°With our friendship, there¡¯s no need to say more. Naturally, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Hong Yuanwu asked, ¡°What are the purposes?¡± ¡°To capture two people alive.¡± ¡°Which two?¡± ¡°Jiang Sanjia and Mu Xiaoyun.¡± ¡°Mu Xiaoyun?¡± Hong Yuanwu frowned, incredulous, ¡°Her? Is there a mistake?¡± The Cao Gang wanted to capture Mu Xiaoyun!? ¡°No mistake.¡± Tieyun Mountain remained silent for a long time before speaking. ¡­¡­. The next day, An Jing got up early. ¡°My lady, didn¡¯t you put any medicine in this porridge today?¡± An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei, who was busy sorting herbs, and asked in confusion. Usually, Zhao Qingmei would put some Chinese medicine like walnuts, lotus seeds, and ba ji tian in the morning porridge, but today there was none, just plain white porridge. ¡°It has no effect on you, so I didn¡¯t make it.¡± Zhao Qingmei raised her head and said lightly. ¡°Indeed, the taste when those medicines are mixed is somewhat strange. Plain white porridge with some pickles tastes the best,¡± An Jing nodded and continued to act recklessly. ¡°Then I won¡¯t make porridge anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, change it to something else.¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at An Jing and stormed off to the backyard. An Jing didn¡¯t know what had happened, and just then, a little black puppy ran to his feet. ¡°Little thing, it seems you¡¯ve become rounder in just two days,¡± An Jing reached out to stroke the puppy. ¡°Woof¡­woof!¡± The puppy, hearing An Jing¡¯s words, swiftly ran away. ¡°This little thing! I¡¯ve fed you well, making you black and chubby.¡± The afternoon was very pleasant. Under the dense green shade of the trees, the old houses with black tiles in Jiangnan, their slightly mottled gray walls, facing the unchanging small bridges and flowing water, with countless golden willows gently swaying and shadows rippling, orioles singing and wooden boats gliding by. On Yu State River, boat shadows drifted, and the water sparkled with golden light. An Jing picked up a pipe and a small stool from the wall, planning to go to the teahouse next door to listen to storytelling and drink tea. Before he reached the door, he was told by the teahouse servant that Zhou Xianming wasn¡¯t there. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Mr. Zhou?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing thought it was strange, ¡°He rarely goes three days without coming to the teahouse. His cold should have improved by now. Could something have happened?¡± ¡°Shua!¡± The Earth Book emitted a golden light and a new prompt appeared. An Jing¡¯s heart stirred and his thoughts entered the Earth Book. ¡°Prompt: Zhou Xianming may have an unknown opportunity.¡± Chapter 21 Editor: Atlas Studios Spring Breeze Alley. An Jing arrived at Zhou Xianming¡¯s doorstep. ¡°Knock knock!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s me, An Jing,¡± An Jing called out softly. ¡°Creak!¡± As the door opened, Zhou Xianming peeked out with a slightly bruised face, looked around, and urged, ¡°Dr. An, quickly come in.¡± An Jing stepped into the house and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Zhou Xianming didn¡¯t look like he was suffering from a cold; he looked clearly beaten up! ¡°Sigh!¡± Zhou Xianming let out a heavy sigh and said, ¡°Just find a place to sit.¡± ¡°Is there even a place to sit?¡± An Jing looked around. Zhou Xianming¡¯s home wasn¡¯t large; it was rented from a middleman, only about twenty square meters. The furnishings were very simple, just a table, a few chairs, a big bed, and a stove in the corner. The room was extremely messy, with brushes and inkstones scattered on the table, and bowls and utensils piled around the stove in the corner. There seemed to be some leftover porridge in the pot. The only neatly arranged spot was a bookshelf on the west side, filled with books. ¡°What on earth happened?¡± An Jing asked curiously, wondering if Zhou Xianming was being hunted down by debt collectors from his past. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t even know what crime I¡¯ve committed.¡± Zhou Xianming sat in a chair, sighing heavily, ¡°Dr. An, please don¡¯t ask too many questions.¡± Those black-clad figures that came every night were no ordinary people, certainly not something that a doctor or a scholar with no strength to truss a chicken could deal with. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you?¡± An Jing glanced at the messy kitchen and asked. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Zhou Xianming waved his hand and then seemed to think of something. ¡°Dr. An, I know you¡¯re kind-hearted. Can you treat me?¡± An Jing laughed and said, ¡°You just have some surface wounds. Come with me to my place later, and I¡¯ll apply some medication for you.¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± Zhou Xianming quickly waved his hand, ¡°Dr. An, I¡¯m not talking about these surface wounds.¡± ¡°Not surface wounds?¡± An Jing frowned, wondering if Zhou Xianming had internal injuries that he hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°I¡¯m lovesick.¡± Zhou Xianming lowered his head, coughed dryly twice, and said. ¡°Lovesick?¡± ¡°Yes, ever since I saw Miss Li Yue on the music boat, I couldn¡¯t control myself. I can¡¯t sleep at night or eat; her image keeps replaying in my mind.¡± ¡°Then how can I treat you?¡± ¡°Dr. An, I want to go to the brothel and listen to music.¡± An Jing was stunned. He didn¡¯t expect Zhou Xianming to be so shameless as to ask him to take him to indulge in pleasures. In his impression, Zhou Xianming was a timid scholar. Yet, at the mention of going to the brothel for music, he seemed like a different person, with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. ¡°But you are a scholar!¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m a scholar?¡± Zhou Xianming stood up righteously and said, ¡°As scholars, isn¡¯t it our duty to visit brothels and listen to music? It¡¯s precisely because we study that we need to go to brothels. If we don¡¯t save these fallen women, how can we save our country in the future?¡± Just because we are scholars, we need to go to brothels and listen to music. Seeing Zhou Xianming speak so passionately, An Jing was stunned. Does this logic even exist? ¡°Dr. An, are you going or not?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡­¡­. On the Yu State River. The lanterns were starting to light up on both banks, and countless music boats were drifting on the Yu State River. On these boats, beautiful singing girls were toasting wine, and the sound of strings and melodies filled the atmosphere. ¡°Dr. An, have you been on the Red House¡¯s music boat before?¡± Zhou Xianming stood at the bow of the boat, dressed in a white robe and holding a folding fan, looking quite pleased with himself. Beside him, the boatman was rowing towards a music boat in the middle of the river. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never been to a place like this,¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡°This is my first time in such a lively place.¡± ¡°Dr. An¡¯s wife is as beautiful as a celestial being, so it¡¯s normal not to like the common makeup here.¡± Zhou Xianming nodded in understanding, then wistfully said, ¡°But Miss Li Yue is different. She is a lotus flower unstained by the mud.¡± What¡¯s different is just the price tier, An Jing rolled his eyes. Soon, the boat reached the music boat of the Red House. The music boat was luxuriously and exquisitely decorated, floating on the water, with melodious songs and laughter coming from inside. A madam with heavy makeup was warmly welcoming the guests. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Dr. An?¡± When the madam saw An Jing, her eyes lit up, ¡°You haven¡¯t been here in a while; the girls have missed you.¡± Zhou Xianming: ¡°¡­.???¡± Didn¡¯t you say you haven¡¯t been here before? Didn¡¯t you say this was your first time? An Jing righteously said, ¡°Madam Zhao, don¡¯t say such wrong things, I¡¯ve never been to a place like this.¡± ¡°Right, right, Dr. An has never been here before.¡± The madam smiled and ushered An Jing and Zhou Xianming onto the music boat. An Jing took out one tael of silver from his pocket. Entering the music boat required a seating fee; five hundred copper coins per person, exactly one tael for the two of them. This was his hard-earned money. In the past, when he was short of money, he would borrow some from the rich merchants in Yu State, but he hadn¡¯t done so recently. So, this tael of silver was his payment from Han Wenxin for a consultation a few days ago. In the middle of the boat, a woman was playing a guqin. She was beautiful, dressed in gauze, her curves graceful, and her figure faintly visible, making hearts flutter. Below were dozens of seats, most of which were already occupied. Most of the girls on the boat were pure performers, only singing and playing instruments and not accompanying guests. However, if the guests were willing to spend generously and win over these girls, they might also accompany guests. It all depended on one¡¯s abilities. An Jing and Zhou Xianming found a seat and sat down. ¡°That is Miss Li Yue.¡± Looking at the woman on stage, Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes showed a trace of infatuation. The sound of the guqin was melodious and pleasant to the ear. ¡°This music is indeed not bad,¡± An Jing nodded. At this moment, a lovely maid came over with two pots of wine, ¡°Gentlemen, please enjoy.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± An Jing took out another tael of silver from his pocket. On this music boat, both wine and women cost money, and they were very expensive. One tael of silver was equivalent to a thousand copper coins, and with three copper coins buying a string of candied fruits, this thousand copper coins could buy three hundred strings of candied fruits¡­. When the maid took the silver from An Jing, she gently stroked his palm with her fingertip, ¡°My name is Man Yue; please remember it, my lord.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only With that, she cast a flirtatious look and smiled. Such handsome and generous customers were rare. ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing nodded slightly, unfazed and unperturbed. Man Yue saw An Jing didn¡¯t say much, felt a bit disappointed, but still obediently retreated. Meanwhile, Zhou Xianming stared intently at Li Yue above, his face flushed red, seemingly entranced. Chapter 22 Editor: Atlas Studios Very soon, the performance concluded. Li Yue glanced at the audience below, stood up, and bowed, saying, ¡°Li Yue thanks everyone for your grace tonight.¡± Her voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of charm. ¡°Miss Li Yue, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°Yes, truly too kind.¡± ¡­¡­ Everyone courteously raised their glasses in response. Even though their hearts were itching immensely, they still maintained the fa?ade of gentlemen. ¡°Wonderful! Splendid! To hear Miss Li Yue¡¯s ¡®Guan Mountain Moon¡¯ is an honor for us, a blessing for our lives!¡± At this moment, a loud voice resounded in the painted boat. The speaker was none other than Zhou Xianming. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face was flushed, his expression passionate and enthusiastic. Was that reaction really necessary¡­.. An Jing was almost startled into spilling his glass by the sudden shout. To those who knew, it was clear he was cheering for a singer, but to those who didn¡¯t, it might seem like he¡¯d just become a top scholar. Li Yue covered her mouth and laughed softly, saying, ¡°Young Master Zhou, you overpraise me. I am unworthy of such praise, feeling deeply ashamed. Thank you, Young Master Zhou, for coming again. If you have time, please have a small drink with me sometime to show my gratitude.¡± Every frown and smile stirred one¡¯s heart. It made Zhou Xianming¡¯s heart race uncontrollably. ¡°Brother Zhou, she¡¯s left.¡± After a while, An Jing patted Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Doctor Xiao An.¡± Zhou Xianming came to his senses, excitedly saying, ¡°Did you hear that?¡± ¡°Hear what?¡± ¡°Among all these people, Miss Li Yue only spoke to me. Didn¡¯t you hear that?¡± ¡°I heard it.¡± An Jing gave Zhou Xianming a look. Old fool in love¡­.. He seemed unwarranted in believing in this unknown opportunity, but having spent two taels of silver, he was unwilling to leave without seeing it through. ¡°Her words definitely have a deeper meaning, definitely.¡± Zhou Xianming clenched his fists. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± An Jing sighed. ¡°This won¡¯t end well.¡± ¡°Think about it, why didn¡¯t she say it to others, why only me?¡± Zhou Xianming said solemnly. ¡°This¡­..¡± An Jing felt speechless. At that time, it was your loudest shout, the most bizarre words. What could she possibly see in you, a poor old man in his thirties? Of course, he couldn¡¯t say these things out loud. ¡°She was hinting at me.¡± Zhou Xianming suddenly slapped the table and realized something. ¡°Hinting at what?¡± ¡°Undying love, always difficult and not accepted by the world. She must be troubled; unable to openly express her feelings to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really overthinking it, Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°How much silver does it take to redeem a courtesan?¡± Zhou Xianming didn¡¯t listen to An Jing¡¯s words. His mind was filled with what Li Yue had just said to him. He felt Li Yue¡¯s words were directed solely at him. ¡°You want to use public funds for personal gain?¡± An Jing exclaimed. Indeed, the old saying holds true: love can cloud one¡¯s mind. But Zhou Xianming seemed overly clouded; it looked like his blood vessels were about to burst. Even though a courtesan¡¯s background was not good, Zhou Xianming seemed to be a scholar, if not a full-fledged examination candidate, with a title that held significant status in the Yan Dynasty. Historical records or anecdotes often spoke of scholars falling in love with courtesans, but the reality was often too scandalous to bear. ¡°What public funds for personal gain?¡± Zhou Xianming glared angrily, looking ready to overturn the table. ¡°Redeeming oneself is quite expensive. Li Yue is an Oiran, and this entire boat is supported by her. The base price would be at least several hundred strings of cash.¡± An Jing shook his head. You, a poor man, forget about it. Even if you redeem her, you won¡¯t have money to support her. ¡°Brother An, talking about money is too vulgar. Besides, that¡¯s small change.¡± Zhou Xianming shook his head, ¡°True love is priceless.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing didn¡¯t want to argue with Zhou Xianming about these futile things. ¡°Get another round, I¡¯ll repay you when I have money.¡± Zhou Xianming poured himself a drink. A man who couldn¡¯t come up with one string of cash, confidently thinking hundreds are small change¡­ An Jing took out a tael of silver and tossed it to the maid beside him, then walked out to get some fresh air. Night fell, the moonlight spread out, spilling over the river. Surrounding painted boats were bustling with lively activity. ¡°Hint three: the unknown opportunity has been unlocked. There is a green opportunity in the painted boat, acquiring it can enhance your root bone.¡± ¡°Hmm? Enhance my root bone!?¡± An Jing was greatly shocked upon hearing this. One must know, achieving first-grade cultivation in such a short time was mostly due to his extraordinary root bone, a rare gift. Such a root bone promised a future as the leader of a top sect. This root bone was one of a kind in the world, exceptional. Now, there was an opportunity to further enhance it. This was indeed a massive opportunity! An Jing¡¯s heart sank, scanning his surroundings. The Earth Book detected an ordinary-looking painted boat. An Jing returned to the boat and sought out Man Yue. ¡°Here are five taels of silver, arrange a room for me.¡± ¡°Certainly, young master, I¡¯ll do it right away.¡± Man Yue responded happily. ¡­¡­.. The boat rocked gently, flowing with the current. Inside the painted boat, there was only a table, a pot of tea, four cups, and a few cushions, quite simple. Seated at the table was a middle-aged Taoist in black. His face looked stern; if An Jing were here, he would surely recognize the person as the fortune-teller Jiang Sanjia. Opposite him was a beautiful mature woman, whom An Jing had also met. The beautiful mature woman smiled softly, ¡°It¡¯s been decades since we last met. The last time was at the Peach Garden in Yujing City; your hair wasn¡¯t so gray back then.¡± ¡°Better not to meet than to meet.¡± In contrast to the beautiful mature woman¡¯s enthusiasm, Jiang Sanjia was very aloof. ¡°Your words hurt me.¡± The beautiful mature woman pouted, ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before. You were very warm towards me for the sake of my sister, have you forgotten¡­.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned and shouted coldly, ¡°Mu Xiaoyun, just tell me what you want.¡± Mu Xiaoyun, this name was renowned in Jianghu. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Mu Xiaoyun was from the Mu Family in Jiangnan Dao. She was a famous beauty when she roamed Jianghu. Countless young heroes and vagabonds had pursued her, falling under her spell. She later married Cao Gang¡¯s gang leader Liu Qingshan, helping him manage the gang. Due to her ruthless and sinister methods, she was known as the Viper Beauty. Mu Xiaoyun was famous, but her sister was even more so, being an Imperial Concubine of the Great Yan. The Mu Family itself dominated Jiangnan¡¯s commerce. Coupled with royal connections, their influence in Jiangnan Dao was unmatched. Jiang Sanjia and Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s sister once shared a romantic relationship. It was a celebrated tale of the time; a prodigy from Ghost Valley, a rising court favorite, and a peerless beauty from a distinguished family seemed perfectly matched. But it ended with Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s sister becoming an Imperial Concubine, and Jiang Sanjia resigning and retreating into Jianghu. Chapter 23 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°You really suffered. I didn¡¯t expect those people to actually imprison you in the Yu State Dungeon,¡± Mu Xiaoyun sighed softly. ¡°You, as Liu Qingshan¡¯s pillow companion, would be unaware?¡± Jiang Sanjia sneered coldly. Everyone in the Jianghu knew that Mu Xiaoyun was Liu Qingshan¡¯s spouse, and the Mu Family and the Cao Gang were deeply allied, sharing both glory and loss. The Cao Gang had imprisoned him in the Yu State Dungeon; would the Gang Leader¡¯s wife be unaware? ¡°I truly had no idea.¡± Mu Xiaoyun bowed her head and said, ¡°You seem to have many misunderstandings about me. In fact, I stopped getting involved in the Cao Gang¡¯s affairs years ago. I really know nothing about the Cao Gang¡¯s matters in the past decade, and it has nothing to do with me.¡± Jiang Sanjia didn¡¯t believe a word from this venomous beauty before him, saying, ¡°You ¡®invited¡¯ me here just to clarify this matter. If that¡¯s the case, then I know now.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I have matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After saying that, Jiang Sanjia stood up to leave. ¡°Sanjia, why are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± Mu Xiaoyun raised her eyebrows, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking yet. Are my three words, Mu Xiaoyun, too much for you to even drink tea with me?¡± Jiang Sanjia paused, and out of respect for the past, he finally sat back down. Mu Xiaoyun smiled and said, ¡°Sanjia, you truly are a person of deep emotions, but my sister¡­¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned, ¡°Why did you seek me out this time? Just say it directly, don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± A slight smile curved Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s lips, ¡°I want you to use the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism to help me find someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Liu Qingshan.¡± ¡­¡­. The houseboat fell into silence. Jiang Sanjia¡¯s eyes flashed with suspicion, but he said nothing. Who was Liu Qingshan? He was the current Gang Leader of the Cao Gang! Mu Xiaoyun was his wife and still needed him to be found? ¡°Yes, Liu Qingshan.¡± Mu Xiaoyun squinted her eyes and said word by word, ¡°In fact, the current Cao Gang Gang Leader is not Liu Qingshan.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Sanjia¡¯s expression turned serious. If the current Cao Gang Gang Leader wasn¡¯t Liu Qingshan, then who was he? Mu Xiaoyun sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is, but I am certain that the current Liu Qingshan is not the original Liu Qingshan. I shared a bed with a man for decades; would I not know if he is real or fake?¡± ¡°Several years ago, I already noticed something strange. His every move, his demeanor when speaking, and his manner of doing things were very alike but not the same.¡± A woman¡¯s familiarity with her own man is like the left hand to the right hand. Jiang Sanjia asked solemnly, ¡°You mean that Liu Qingshan has been replaced by someone else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s roughly what you said,¡± Mu Xiaoyun nodded. ¡°How could that be?¡± Jiang Sanjia shook his head, his eyes filled with disbelief. It was known that the Cao Gang had been extremely powerful over the past decade, almost becoming the largest gang in the world. Yet their Gang Leader had been replaced? What kind of means would that require? And who were the people and forces behind this? It was almost unimaginable! ¡°I feel like you¡¯ve gone mad, completely mad,¡± Jiang Sanjia stood up and said. ¡°I have evidence.¡± Mu Xiaoyun drew an ancient token from her waist, ¡°No one else knows about this token, but you, Jiang Sanjia, should know very well.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Sanjia glanced at the token and felt a stir in his heart. ¡°You know what kind of person Liu Qingshan is, but when he touched this token, he had no reaction.¡± ¡°Did you personally verify this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Sanjia was greatly shocked. If what Mu Xiaoyun said was true, it was terrifying¡­. The Cao Gang¡¯s Gang Leader was actually a fake!? And the current Liu Qingshan, who could flip clouds and cover rain, was an imposter!? Jiang Sanjia hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Even if what you said is true, Liu Qingshan may have already met a tragic fate¡­¡± Mu Xiaoyun affirmed, ¡°No, they haven¡¯t found that thing; Liu Qingshan won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Do you have that thing?¡± ¡°No, but I know where it is.¡± Jiang Sanjia knew very well what Mu Xiaoyun was talking about. He seemed a bit moved: ¡°I¡¯m seriously injured right now, and my vitality is thin. Calculating such heavenly mechanisms would be certain death.¡± Upon hearing this, Mu Xiaoyun let out a breath, ¡°I can wait for your injuries to recover. During this time, I can even take care of you. After all, you are alone and insecure now.¡± Jiang Sanjia didn¡¯t say another word. At this moment, he was seriously injured, and receiving Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s protection would be a good thing. Besides, the Cao Gang and he had a blood sea of deep hatred. If what Mu Xiaoyun said was true, finding the real Liu Qingshan would also be helping himself. ¡°Brother Sanjia, I think this is a good opportunity.¡± A soft laugh came from the deck outside. Jiang Sanjia shouted, ¡°Who! Come out!?¡± ¡°Someone!?¡± Mu Xiaoyun squinted, her hand reaching under her skirt. Who was it,? that could sneak onto the boat without them noticing? ¡°Sanjia, long time no see. I hope you are well.¡± In fresh clothes, An Jing walked out slowly. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Both of them were shocked upon seeing the newcomer, then glanced at each other. ¡°You know each other?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked curiously. ¡°It was this Brother Zhou who rescued me from the dungeon,¡± Jiang Sanjia said, taking a deep breath. ¡°What!?¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at the person before her, her heart shaking. The incident of a single sword demolishing the dungeon and killing Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping had spread throughout the Jianghu. People speculated which unparalleled swordsman could have done it. Who knew that this unparalleled swordsman was right in front of her? An Jing looked at the two of them, following the instructions of the Earth Book. That azure opportunity was actually on this woman¡¯s body. This woman was Liu Qingshan¡¯s wife. Did she really have the opportunity on her? An Jing was puzzled. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Jiang Sanjia asked seriously. ¡°Right when that loving couple scene of Liu Qingshan began,¡± An Jing smiled faintly. ¡°So, Brother Zhou, you must have heard everything,¡± Mu Xiaoyun smiled sweetly. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This swordsman had extraordinary skills, and if they could win him over, it would be a great help. ¡°I heard everything worth hearing,¡± An Jing admitted bluntly. ¡°Then you should know that the current Liu Qingshan is an imposter?¡± ¡°If what you say is true.¡± ¡°If I can find my husband, the true Gang Leader of the Cao Gang, would you be willing to lend a hand? It would be a tremendous favor for us.¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at An Jing, ¡°Brother Zhou, you have already offended the current Cao Gang Leader. We have a common enemy¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fool me. The Cao Gang¡¯s main focus right now isn¡¯t dealing with me,¡± An Jing interrupted Mu Xiaoyun, ¡°Knowing Liu Qingshan is an imposter, you are their main target. Their goal is the object held by the real Liu Qingshan.¡± He had heard everything just now. If what Mu Xiaoyun said was true, the current Liu Qingshan had been swapped, and the object that the current Gang Leader coveted was in the true Liu Qingshan¡¯s hands, which was why he wasn¡¯t killed. Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s purpose was simple: to rescue Liu Qingshan and expose the current fake Liu Qingshan, reclaiming the Cao Gang. Mu Xiaoyun pondered for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but do you know that Liu Haoping is that person¡¯s adopted son? Liu Qingshan, who regards him as his own, can¡¯t not avenge him.¡± Liu Haoping had a transcendent status in the Cao Gang, even though he was just the Headquarters Leader. An Jing sneered, ¡°Who knows my identity? If I want to hide, would the Cao Gang find me?¡± ¡°Do you plan to hide forever?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked sharply. They were both testing each other, their words carrying sharpness. ¡°No need to beat around the bush. Just tell me what benefits I get; I don¡¯t mind helping,¡± An Jing waved his hand, ¡°But mind you, my help is very expensive, Brother Sanjia should know this.¡± He had an unresolved conflict with the current Cao Gang anyway. ¡°How expensive?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s body slowly drew closer, softly exhaling her warm breath. Touched! It was a cold sensation. Looking down, it turned out to be a sword. An Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°Give me something that satisfies me.¡± Stinking man! Mu Xiaoyun secretly took a loss, but smiled lightly, ¡°Fine, when I find my husband, I will offer you a satisfying reward.¡± ¡°Good, I await your news.¡± ¡°If this houseboat hangs a red lantern, Brother Zhou, you can come to meet.¡± ¡°When I see the red lantern raised, I will come.¡± An Jing nodded, then looked at Jiang Sanjia, ¡°Oh, I almost forgot the purpose of my visit. Sanjia, you¡¯re not being honest. The murderous aura under the river was so intense; even I nearly didn¡¯t make it back.¡± After saying that, An Jing walked out towards the deck. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Jiang Sanjia was startled by An Jing¡¯s words. He had come specifically to find him? This meant that his whereabouts were being monitored. From his tone, he had already taken the Bodhi Bead. ¡°Sanjia, is this person trustworthy?¡± After An Jing left, Mu Xiaoyun asked in a low voice. ¡°This man is cunning, greedy, and his skills are profound, unfathomable,¡± Jiang Sanjia said quietly. ¡°Unfathomable.¡± Mu Xiaoyun frowned slightly. Chapter 24 Editor: Atlas Studios The night deepened, but the Yu State River became even more bustling. A group of constables from the Yu State County Government, having changed their clothes, gathered in groups and flocked to the entertainment district. ¡°This damn curfew is killing me.¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t agree? Posting notices every day is exhausting.¡± ¡°That mysterious swordsman probably fled Jiangnan Dao long ago. What¡¯s the point of our efforts?¡± ¡°That would be for the best.¡± ¡­. Han Wenxin turned to the few who were still grumbling. ¡°Enough, enough! We¡¯re out here to have fun. Let¡¯s not bring up those bothersome things.¡± ¡°Han is right. Let¡¯s enjoy ourselves tonight.¡± Constable Qin nodded in agreement. The group skillfully entered the pleasure boat, and soon inside, the sounds of clinking glasses and flirtatious laughter could be heard. Before long, Han Wenxin emerged, holding a beautiful woman. ¡°Xiaohuan, tonight I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯m capable of,¡± Han Wenxin said, his face flushed with excitement. With An¡¯s medicine, Han Wenxin felt he could take on ten men tonight. ¡°Oh, you rogue, as if I don¡¯t already know your prowess?¡± Xiaohuan laughed and poked Han Wenxin¡¯s forehead with her finger. ¡°No craftsmanship, no ceramics. Everyone calls me the Yu State Vajra.¡± Han Wenxin laughed proudly and then retreated into a private room at the back of the pleasure boat with the woman. Just before entering, he secretly took out a pre-prepared pill¡ªsleeping pills. ¡°Slow down¡­ don¡¯t be in such a hurry¡­ uh-uh.¡± Soon, sounds of laughter came from the private room. But half an hour later, Han Wenxin felt extremely uncomfortable. ¡°Oof!¡± ¡°Oof!¡± A foul smell wafted through the air, and Han Wenxin froze. ¡°Han¡­ Constable, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know either.¡± Han Wenxin suppressed his abdominal urge, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Xiaohuan noticed something was amiss with Han Wenxin, thinking it was just getting to the crucial moment. But Han Wenxin found it increasingly unbearable. ¡°Not good!¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s body tensed, and he ran madly toward the boat¡¯s exit. ¡°Constable Han!¡± From the bed, Xiaohuan watched in shock as Han Wenxin clutched his behind while running away. ¡°Move! Move, all of you!¡± Bursting out of the private room, Han Wenxin, his eyes bloodshot, shouted at everyone ahead. Everyone, in the middle of their revelry, stared dumbfounded as Han Wenxin suddenly charged out. Wasn¡¯t Constable Han enjoying himself? What¡¯s going on? Why is he clutching his behind? ¡°Water! River water! Move aside!¡± Han Wenxin stumbled, pushing aside Constable Qin, clutching his behind, and leaped into the river like a pig being slaughtered. ¡°Splash!¡± Splashing water everywhere, causing waves that rocked the entire pleasure boat. ¡­¡­. An Jing changed his clothes and returned to the pleasure boat. By this time, Zhou Xianming was already tipsy, several wine cups in front of him, muttering to himself, ¡°The inchworm¡¯s retreat is to seek faith. The dragon and snake¡¯s hibernation is to conserve life¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, it¡¯s late. We should head back,¡± An Jing said, approaching Zhou Xianming. ¡°Late?¡± Zhou Xianming chuckled foolishly. ¡°It¡¯s not late yet, I still want to drink.¡± ¡°More drinking?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you would provide enlightenment to the school children tonight? Delaying important matters isn¡¯t good.¡± Having obtained the clue, staying here with Zhou Xianming would be a waste of time. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°Yes, we should go back.¡± An Jing nodded slightly. The two then stepped out of the pleasure boat and called over a nearby boatman. At that moment, a scream resonated in the distance, followed by a loud splash into the river, startling Zhou Xianming. ¡°Who is that!? How uncivilized!¡± Zhou Xianming furrowed his brows and scolded. An Jing whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. If it¡¯s Jianghu people, they might notice us. If we end up getting slashed by their blades, it wouldn¡¯t be worth it.¡± ¡°We should just hurry onto the boat and leave.¡± Hearing the word ¡°Jianghu,¡± Zhou Xianming shuddered, closed his mouth, and kept silent. Though he often talked about Jianghu stories in teahouses, he was, in reality, just a scholarly coward. An Jing remembered an incident where some Jianghu ruffians came to drink and listen. Zhou Xianming had gotten to a thrilling part of the story and announced a pause, intending to resume the next day. But those ruffians wouldn¡¯t let him leave. Zhou Xianming initially refused to continue, but when they placed a knife to his throat, he went weak at the knees, almost kneeling, and had to continue the story obediently. As Zhou put it himself, ¡°A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.¡± ¡°An is right. The more you talk, the more you lose. The more you speak, the more you harm others. A gentleman seals his mouth thrice. Let¡¯s leave quickly.¡± Zhou Xianming shivered and urged An Jing to hurry onto the boat. ¡­¡­. Jishi Hall, the lights were dim. Zhao Qingmei took out An Jing¡¯s old autumn clothes and was mending them. ¡°Miss, Master An and Zhou Xianming went to the Red House pleasure boat.¡± Tan Yun said quietly. Zhao Qingmei kept her head down and said nothing. ¡°And he went into a room with a songstress named Man Yue¡­.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s voice grew softer, carefully watching Zhao Qingmei¡¯s reaction. Zhao Qingmei paused, then continued mending the autumn clothes. Seeing this, Tan Yun, who knew Zhao Qingmei well, understood that the quieter she was, the angrier she was inside. ¡°Miss¡­.¡± ¡°You should rest now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun sighed softly and left the room. Even as she left, Zhao Qingmei continued to mend the autumn clothes, seemingly unaffected by Tan Yun¡¯s words. Outside the hall, Tan Yun sighed deeply and looked at the black puppy lying on the ground, saying fiercely, ¡°Indeed! Not a single man is any good!¡± ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± At that moment, An Jing entered, catching Tan Yun¡¯s words and feeling puzzled. Had Tan Yun been deceived by someone? ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m saying this stupid dog has no sense of loyalty!¡± Tan Yun ignored An Jing and pointed at the black puppy. ¡°We feed it, give it a home, yet it keeps going out to eat filth. This dog really needs a beating.¡± With that, Tan Yun kicked the black puppy. ¡°Awooo!¡± The black puppy, napping, was startled awake by the kick. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you taking it out on the dog?¡± An Jing, puzzled, poured himself a cup of tea. ¡°Were you mistreated or deceived?¡± Tan Yun, her eyes fierce, glared at the puppy. ¡°No, I just want to teach this dog a lesson. It doesn¡¯t appreciate anything. We feed it, give it water, and a safe home, yet it keeps running outside.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s infuriating?¡± ¡°Woof, woof!¡± The black puppy barked in grievance. ¡°Indeed, it is infuriating¡­.¡± An Jing nodded, thinking Tan Yun was acting strangely today. He then put down the teacup and headed inside. Chapter 25 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Back? The hot water is already prepared.¡± An Jing found it a bit strange. Usually, when he returned from a house call, Zhao Qingmei always greeted him warmly, but today she replied rather casually. ¡°Madam, I¡¯m home.¡± An Jing smiled as he walked to Zhao Qingmei¡¯s side, ¡°It¡¯s so late, and you¡¯re still mending clothes. It¡¯s really hard on you.¡± ¡°This garment is torn, it¡¯s better to replace it with a new one.¡± ¡°Then why is Madam still mending it?¡± ¡°The weather is getting colder. Many people on Beggar Street in the south of the city can¡¯t afford clothes.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± An Jing nodded, realizing something seemed off with Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Madam, what¡¯s wrong? Is something bothering you?¡± Zhao Qingmei put down the garment, looked up, and smiled, ¡°Nothing. Husband, go take a bath quickly. You smell too much like rouge, it¡¯s overwhelming.¡± Although she was still smiling, it made him feel a bit heartbroken to see. An Jing chuckled guiltily twice, silently calling himself foolish for forgetting about this. ¡°Madam¡­¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Zhao Qingmei kept her head down, continuing to mend the clothes by the light. By the time An Jing finished bathing and freshening up, Zhao Qingmei was already lying on the bed, her eyes lightly closed as if she had fallen asleep. An Jing lay down next to her carefully, afraid of waking her up. Soon, the sound of steady breathing gradually filled the room. Zhao Qingmei gently opened her eyes and looked at the man lying in front of her. ¡­¡­. Even if An Jing was dense, he could feel that his wife was angry. Although she was still cooking medicinal porridge and sun-drying herbs as usual, and still talking to An Jing with a touch of gentleness in her words. This only made An Jing feel more troubled. Going to the pleasure boat was probably discovered by Madam. How should he explain it? Could he say that he didn¡¯t misbehave? Would she believe it? An Jing leaned against the door, continuously stroking the little black cat. ¡°Tan Yun, where did Madam go?¡± ¡°She went to the south of the city early in the morning to donate clothes.¡± ¡°Tan Yun, where did I put the Fu Ling?¡± ¡°Sir, why are you looking for Fu Ling?¡± ¡°Nothing, just asking.¡± ¡°Tan Yun¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°What does your mistress look like when she¡¯s angry?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Thinking of something, Tan Yun shuddered a bit. Time passed, people occasionally came to get medicine, and An Jing became busy again. In the blink of an eye, it was noon. ¡°After you go back, remember not to eat spicy food anymore; stick to a bland diet. Boil this medicine for an hour, take it twice a day, morning and evening. After ten days, come back, and I¡¯ll check on you again,¡± An Jing said, wrapping the herbs in kraft paper and advising: ¡°Thank you, Doctor An,¡± the woman said, taking the herbs and repeatedly expressing her gratitude before slowly leaving. ¡°It¡¯s raining. Why hasn¡¯t Madam returned yet?¡± An Jing walked to the door, frowning. At this time, the drizzle fell like threads, landing on the earth, shrouding the Yu State River in a mist. Zhao Qingmei had been out since early morning. It had been nearly two hours, and she had never been out alone for such a long time without returning. ¡°I have no idea either.¡± Tan Yun also poked her little head out, glancing outside a few times. ¡°Watch the pharmacy. I¡¯ll go look for her.¡± An Jing felt a sinking feeling in his heart, picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the rack, and walked out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Just then, Zhao Qingmei, carrying a basket of groceries, walked in from afar. Seeing Zhao Qingmei, An Jing said, ¡°I saw that you had been out for over two hours and hadn¡¯t come back¡­¡± ¡°Husband, don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Qingmei covered her mouth with her hand and laughed softly, ¡°Are you afraid something might have happened to me? I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Of course I was worried.¡± ¡°Miss, you¡¯re back.¡± Tan Yun quickly stepped forward to take the basket, then noticed the white paper in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What are you holding in your hand?¡± ¡°It was being handed out at the bulletin board. It seems the masters of Cao Gang want to challenge that mysterious swordsman.¡± Zhao Qingmei handed the white paper to Tan Yun, smiling, ¡°I thought the drawing was interesting, so I took one.¡± ¡°Miss, let me see.¡± Tan Yun took the white paper and then burst out laughing, ¡°The people of Cao Gang actually use this method to challenge that peerless swordsman.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very amusing.¡± ¡°I think after this, people won¡¯t call that swordsman a peerless swordsman anymore; they should call him the pig-headed swordsman.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°What is that? Let me see,¡± An Jing said, looking at the two laughing and discussing. ¡°Tan Yun, come help me with cooking,¡± Zhao Qingmei said as she saw An Jing approaching. She handed the paper to him and walked towards the kitchen. ¡°Yes,¡± Tan Yun said, sticking her tongue out at An Jing before following her. An Jing picked up the white paper on the table. It turned out that the people of Cao Gang wanted to challenge him, searching everywhere for his whereabouts with harsh and provocative words. It seemed these papers had spread all over Yu State City. Their goal was to force him to show himself. ¡°So amateurish,¡± An Jing said, shaking his head as he looked at the white paper. This kind of goading trick only worked on some greenhorns. With that, he crumpled the paper and threw it into the wastebasket. ¡°An Jing¡­¡± Just then, someone wrapped tightly in a cloak walked in, looking very suspicious. Seeing the man, An Jing asked curiously, ¡°And you are¡­?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Zhou Xianming,¡± the man said, revealing his face from under the cloak, his voice tinged with a sob. Seeing the face of Zhou Xianming, An Jing was stunned. His face was bruised and swollen, looking almost unrecognizable, like a pig¡¯s head. Even though An Jing knew him, he could barely recognize him due to the severity of his injuries. ¡°What¡¯s¡­ what happened to you?¡± An Jing swallowed and asked. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Early in the morning, I was stuffed into a sack, then fists rained down on my head like a storm until I passed out. When I woke up, I was like this,¡± Zhou Xianming said, tears welling in his eyes. ¡°Doctor An, it hurts so much¡­ woo woo woo¡­¡± Without needing Zhou Xianming to explain, An Jing could tell just by looking at him that it must have hurt terribly. Who could be so ruthless? There seemed to be a significant grudge involved. ¡°Doctor An, who have I offended recently¡­ why is heaven so unfair to me?¡± The more Zhou Xianming spoke, the more bitter he felt, thinking of his recent unhappy life and crying even harder. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Stop crying,¡± An Jing said, patting Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder and sighing helplessly. Logically, who would have a grudge against a poor scholar like him? It must be that this old fellow had offended someone. Could it be related to those Jianghu people from last night? ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Hearing the crying, Zhao Qingmei walked out from the backyard. Chapter 26 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Madam An.¡± Zhou Xianming saw Zhao Qingmei and immediately stopped crying. He cupped his hands towards her and said, ¡°I am Zhou Xianming. My apologies for any offense.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the person in front of her, who had a face like a pig¡¯s head, and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Are you Mr. Zhou? How did you end up like this? What grudge, what hatred, drove someone to use such ruthless tactics?¡± ¡°Sigh!¡± Zhou Xianming sighed and felt even more sorrowful in his heart. ¡°It must be my carelessness in daily matters that invoked the jealousy of some petty person.¡± ¡°Truly pitiable.¡± Zhao Qingmei said with sympathy, ¡°Just looking at you makes one feel unbearable pain. The blows must have been very ¡®forceful,¡¯ weren¡¯t they?¡± Zhou Xianming felt as if salt had been rubbed into his wounds, making them hurt even more. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Mr. Zhou?¡± Tan Yun also emerged from behind, looking concerned. ¡°Who was so cruel to beat you like this? Quick, apply some ointment.¡± As she spoke, she even reached out to touch Zhou Xianming¡¯s pig-like head. ¡°Ouch¡­!¡± Zhou Xianming couldn¡¯t help but let out a piercing scream. Zhao Qingmei ordered, ¡°Tan Yun, Mr. Zhou is having trouble moving. You help him apply some bruise ointment.¡± ¡°I know, Miss. I will be very careful in applying the ointment to Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Zhou, you haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? I made some food. Let¡¯s eat together later.¡± ¡°Indeed, the dishes our Miss cooks are delicious.¡± ¡°You¡­ you are truly good people.¡± Zhou Xianming had never felt such warmth before, and tears welled up in his eyes. There is warmth in the Human World! Even in a dark world, a ray of light always finds its way into your bleak life. ¡°So pitiful.¡± An Jing sighed. For some reason, Zhou Xianming seemed very pitiable to him. ¡°An Jing! Come out here!¡± While Tan Yun was applying ointment to Zhou Xianming, a loud shout came from outside the door. Han Wenxin walked in, clutching his buttocks tightly, his gait awkward, and his eyes brimmed with visible rage. ¡°Brother Han, why are you so furious?¡± An Jing looked at Han Wenxin and had a bad premonition. ¡°Bang!¡± Han Wenxin stepped forward and slammed his longsword onto the table. ¡°Brother An, I treated you like a confidant, but you have greatly wronged me.¡± Thinking about what had happened the previous night, Han Wenxin felt utterly humiliated and wished he could dig a hole, crawl into it, and bury himself. An enormous disgrace! How could he mingle among government officials and painted boat courtesans anymore? His lifetime of glory was ruined! ¡°Brother Han, let¡¯s talk this out calmly.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart suddenly understood; it must have been Tan Yun¡¯s prank with the ground bean powder that caused this. Admittedly, that was quite unscrupulous! ¡°What do you mean, talk calmly!?¡± Han Wenxin sat heavily onto a chair. ¡°Unless you give me an explanation today, I¡¯m not leaving!¡± ¡°Dear, what did you do that made arrest officer Han so furious?¡± Tan Yun looked curious, like a pure and innocent white rabbit. An Jing glanced at Tan Yun¡¯s innocent eyes and inwardly thought, wasn¡¯t it because of you? Tan Yun¡¯s words seemed like a fuse, causing Han Wenxin to become even angrier. If looks could kill, An Jing might not have held his ground against Han Wenxin at that moment. ¡°It¡¯s almost mealtime. Brother Han, why don¡¯t we eat first? You need strength to settle matters after all.¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a smile. Han Wenxin, hearing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words, immediately softened his tone. ¡°Since Sister-in-law says so, I¡¯ll accept your hospitality.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll go prepare the food now. Tan Yun, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and led the somewhat reluctant Tan Yun towards the kitchen. As Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun left, Han Wenxin¡¯s face darkened again. ¡°Brother Han.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Brother Han!¡± ¡°Arrest officer Han, what exactly happened?¡± Zhou Xianming couldn¡¯t help but ask upon seeing Han Wenxin so angry. Han Wenxin, already fuming, turned to see who was speaking. When he saw that face, it was as if he had seen a ghost; he jumped up instantly. ¡°Holy crap! Are you¡­ are you a person or a ghost!?¡± ¡°Brother Han, stay calm!¡± ¡°Arrest¡­ arrest officer Han¡­ don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t¡­.¡± ¡­¡­ At the dining table. An Jing, Han Wenxin, Zhou Xianming, and others each sat in a corner. The table was filled with steaming dishes. Steamed bass, corn with green beans, crystal pork skin jelly, loach stir-fried with pickled beans, tofu spinach soup¡­ the fragrant aroma made one¡¯s appetite soar. ¡°Sister-in-law is truly an excellent cook.¡± Han Wenxin said, drooling at the food on the table. ¡°Brother Han, you flatter me.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly. The two of them looked enviously at An Jing on the side, envying his good fortune of having such a virtuous wife. ¡°Ding, ding, ding!¡± At that moment, Tan Yun came up carrying a large plate of crabs. ¡°I specially made these crabs.¡± ¡°Crabs too?¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°These are excellent, nourishing and strengthening, highly beneficial.¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s spirits lifted as he glared at An Jing. ¡°Brother An doesn¡¯t like these. Just place them in front of us.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, just place them in front of you two.¡± An Jing nodded repeatedly. Ever since he had eaten crabs cooked by Tan Yun, he had been cured of his preference for crabs. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what happened to you earlier? You gave me quite a fright.¡± Han Wenxin took a piece of loach and ate it. ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t know who hit me.¡± Zhou Xianming said with a bitter face. ¡°It seems that unfortunate events keep increasing lately.¡± ¡°So vicious, such cruelty is rare.¡± Han Wenxin said, sipping his wine lightly. ¡°If it¡¯s not a gang, then it must be someone from the Jianghu. You might have offended someone.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s hand shook, nearly dropping his chopsticks. ¡°Arrest officer Han, what should I do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t scare Mr. Zhou.¡± An Jing poured himself a cup of wine. Zhou Xianming had a timid heart. Scaring him might give him heart problems. Han Wenxin snatched An Jing¡¯s cup. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m not scaring him. The world is unsafe lately. Have you forgotten about Wang Zhiping and his nephew? And the mysterious swordsman recently appearing? These are all warnings.¡± ¡°You are all commonfolk with no power to defend yourselves. You don¡¯t understand the treacherous dangers of the Jianghu and the inscrutable court. It¡¯s like a single hair can affect the whole body, understand?¡± As he spoke, Han Wenxin downed the cup in one gulp. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Indeed, arrest officer Han is very capable.¡± Tan Yun obediently poured Han Wenxin another cup of wine. ¡°Thank you, Tan Yun.¡± Han Wenxin chuckled, feeling significantly lighter, and continued boasting. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen how recently Cao Gang experts are searching everywhere for that peerless swordsman? If that peerless swordsman wasn¡¯t afraid, how come he doesn¡¯t show up? Clearly, he¡¯s scared.¡± ¡°This shows something: the peerless swordsman is wary of Cao Gang. That means the power behind the peerless swordsman also fears Cao Gang.¡± Warnings? Nonsense! An Jing inwardly retorted. You¡¯re just a small, nobody arrest officer. Chapter 27 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°I certainly know that, but what does it have to do with me?¡± Zhou Xianming hesitated for a long time and cautiously asked. He was only a frail scholar, what did the chaos of the Jianghu have to do with him? ¡°You, ah.¡± Han Wenxin shook his head, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been getting close to Chief Inspector Hong. He¡¯s a member of the Xuanyi Guard and knows a lot of information. It¡¯s said that the Demon Sect, after recuperating for decades, might make a comeback soon. I suspect the recent disturbances could be related to the Demon Sect.¡± ¡°Think about it. If the Demon Sect wants to reestablish control over Great Yan, they need to gather some intelligence. And you, Zhou Xianming, often discuss Jianghu affairs. Aren¡¯t you quite knowledgeable and skilled in these matters?¡± The Demon Sect!? Zhou Xianming was taken aback and said, ¡°I mostly hear things secondhand and then fabricate them. They can¡¯t be taken seriously.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± An Jing, hearing this, felt he had foolishly treated Zhou¡¯s words as a guidebook for navigating Jianghu and an encyclopedia. ¡°You may say it¡¯s false, but some people believe it,¡± Han Wenxin said, shaking his head. Han Wenxin¡¯s words made Zhou Xianming even more uneasy. ¡°But these are just my suspicions. You don¡¯t have to take them to heart.¡± Seeing Zhou Xianming like this, Han Wenxin tried to console him. An Jing also chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. Think about it. The Demon Sect is such a massive force. How could they possibly target a small, ordinary person like you?¡± Zhou Xianming nodded, a hint of fear appearing in his eyes. He said, ¡°Demon Sect members are ruthless and bloodthirsty. They kill indiscriminately. They shouldn¡¯t be focusing on me¡­¡± Han Wenxin put down his wine cup and said indignantly, ¡°They are not just ruthless and bloodthirsty. They are utterly insane and commit all kinds of evil deeds.¡± ¡°When I master the Qiankun Blade in my hand, I¡¯ll make those small fries from the Demon Sect taste my wrath.¡± An Jing watched the two men chattering incessantly. It felt like a story of one lucky guy and two unlucky ones, making him feel isolated by them. Zhou Xianming retained some sanity, ¡°You can¡¯t. The Demon Sect members are all extremely vicious experts.¡± Han Wenxin patted the long sword at his waist and laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t seek out these vermin until my Qiankun Blade matures.¡± ¡°Just a few dishes, and you¡¯ve drunk this much?¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled, thinking to herself. ¡°You two little rascals, if our Demon Sect really makes a comeback, I¡¯ll use you two little bastards as a sacrifice to the heavens first,¡± Tan Yun snorted softly, silently taking out her beloved little black book and jotting down their names. ¡°Why does it feel a bit chilly?¡± Zhou Xianming touched his arm. ¡°Me too. Could it be that this wine is fake?¡± Han Wenxin glared at An Jing. ¡°This is fine wine, the top-quality brew from Wuyang Tavern,¡± An Jing said irritably. ¡°Miss Tan, what are you doing?¡± Han Wenxin turned to see Tan Yun writing something. ¡°Nothing, just keeping track of accounts. You guys continue drinking, don¡¯t mind me,¡± Tan Yun said casually. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes carried a hint of a smile as she said, ¡°Mr. Zhou, Brother Han, don¡¯t just drink. Have some food. Does the food not suit your taste?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Yes, these dishes are even better than those of the chefs at Tianyun Pavilion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, little sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Yes, not only are your culinary skills great, but you have a kind heart too.¡± The two men said with a smile. ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s have a drink. This is good wine¡­¡± An Jing raised his cup and finally joined the conversation. There was a brief silence at the dinner table. ¡°Mr. Zhou, where were you just now?¡± ¡°Tan Yun, go pour some wine for Brother Han and Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡­¡­. After the meal, it was already late. Han Wenxin and Zhou Xianming left. ¡°Tan Yun, where¡¯s madam?¡± After seeing them off, An Jing returned to see Tan Yun cleaning up the dishes. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Tan Yun replied without looking back. An Jing thought for a moment, then took a ladder from the yard and climbed up. Sure enough, Zhao Qingmei was sitting on the roof. In the twilight, a crescent moon was rising. The faint moonlight bathed her as if she had emerged from a painting, like a fairy of the Dao. Such a gentle and virtuous wife, and you don¡¯t cherish her. An Jing cursed himself silently, then walked over to Zhao Qingmei: ¡°Are you still mad?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the moonlight overhead. ¡°Dear, I was wrong.¡± An Jing lowered his head. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Zhao Qingmei, with her back turned, had a slight smile on her lips. ¡°I¡­¡± An Jing didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. ¡°Zhou Xianming,¡± Zhao Qingmei reminded him. There¡¯s a bad person among the crowd! An Jing was stunned. How did Zhao Qingmei know about the pleasure boat visit with Zhou Xianming? Could it be that Zhou Xianming complained first? He¡¯s so underhanded! ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have gone to the pleasure boat with Zhou Xianming. I was completely bewitched, but I remained faithful to you and did nothing. I swear to the heavens.¡± An Jing raised three fingers: ¡°If I, An Jing¡­¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t swear.¡± Zhao Qingmei turned around and grabbed An Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°My dear!¡± An Jing was deeply moved. ¡°What if it comes true?¡± Zhao Qingmei said coquettishly. ¡°Dear, I really did nothing. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can test it. My descendants are still around.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhao Qingmei couldn¡¯t help but laugh and then glared at An Jing, ¡°You¡¯re such a bad person!¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± An Jing gently squeezed Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand, knowing he had passed this hurdle, feeling as if a weight had finally been lifted, ¡°Dear, let me take you somewhere.¡± Zhao Qingmei asked curiously, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Husband, madam, where are you going?¡± Tan Yun came out after washing the dishes and saw An Jing and Zhao Qingmei heading toward the door. ¡°Going out to have fun without me.¡± Tan Yun wiped her wet hands, complaining. An Jing led Zhao Qingmei to a dock by the Yu State River, boarded a small black boat, and said to the boatman: ¡°Old Li, I need to use this boat.¡± The small black boat swayed with the river, slowly drifting toward the center of the Yu State River. ¡°Back then, I loved to wander along the Yu State River at night, holding a bamboo pole.¡± An Jing maneuvered the bamboo pole, the scenery on both sides rapidly retreating. ¡°I know¡­,¡± Zhao Qingmei said softly, gazing at the man she loved deeply. An Jing smiled, ¡°At that time, I thought about bringing her to walk along the Yu State River, rowing the boat myself while she stood at the back, drifting in the night.¡± ¡°Now, that wish is fulfilled.¡± Zhao Qingmei said nothing, but her heart was sweet like honey, feeling like her heart was going to jump out. The sky was clean after the rain, with stars sparkling brilliantly above. ¡°Husband, do you remember the story of the footless bird I told you?¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the sky and asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m that footless bird. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°I know. It means you will never leave me in this life.¡± An Jing laughed foolishly. What more could a husband ask for? ¡°Yes, we will never part,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, ¡°In Zhao Qingmei¡¯s life, there¡¯s no separation, only bereavement.¡± An Jing¡¯s smile gradually froze. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± At that moment, fireworks shot into the sky. The once-quiet night sky instantly lit up like a garden of splendid flowers, colorful fireworks filling the dark night. Near the Yu State River corner. ¡°Why are we helping that scoundrel?¡± Han Wenxin said angrily, taking out box after box of fireworks. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but he gave me two taels of silver,¡± Zhou Xianming lit the fireworks cheerfully, ¡°It¡¯s quite a lot.¡± ¡°Where did he get the silver?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a doctor. How could he not have money?¡± ¡°Jishi Hall¡¯s consultation fees are cheap, and the medicine isn¡¯t expensive either.¡± ¡°Small profits but quick returns, Brother Han. Don¡¯t mind these things. How about we go listen to some music in the pleasure house?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯ll never go there again.¡± ¡­¡­ On the Yu State River, fireworks illuminated the entire night sky. ¡°These fireworks are beautiful, aren¡¯t they?¡± An Jing smiled. ¡°Beautiful.¡± Zhao Qingmei murmured, gazing at the fireworks above. ¡°I think they¡¯re beautiful too,¡± An Jing said softly, looking at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s delicate, fair face. Vast mountains and rivers, the human world¡¯s fireworks, all are you, and none are not you. ¡°You idiot, I wasn¡¯t even angry in the first place.¡±¡±Husband!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Promise to love only me.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I promise to love only you.¡± ¡°For a lifetime.¡± ¡°Of course, for a lifetime!¡± ¡­. The small black boat floated along the river, and the sky above was filled with splendid fireworks. Chapter 28 Editor: Atlas Studios The rain had just cleared, and the peaceful days flowed like water. With the help of the Bodhi Bead, An Jing¡¯s body was filled with a large amount of Pure Yang Power. Coupled with his exceptionally gifted Root Bone, his cultivation progressed rapidly. In the Jianghu, cultivation was divided into nine grades. The Ninth to Sixth Grades were called the Lower Three Grades. Those at this level of cultivation were considered the small fry or henchmen of Jianghu, like the members of the Cao Gang, ordinary constables, escorts from escort agencies, and younger disciples. These people had some Inner Strength, which gave them a bit more prowess than ordinary folk, but in the vast expanse of the Jianghu, they were insignificant. Wang Zhiping and Wang He were among them. These types of people were the most numerous and also the most pitiable in the Jianghu. Between the Sixth and Third Grades was referred to as the Middle Third Grades. Experts at this level often had decades of Inner Strength and mastered some well-known martial arts. They were the backbone of the Jianghu. They were the primary targets for recruitment by various factions and sects. Some of them had considerable fame in the Jianghu and were respected and revered by the younger generation as experts. Cao Anmin and Liu Haoping were outstanding among them. In the eyes of ordinary people, such figures were already renowned experts, not easily seen, but in the eyes of true experts, they were nothing more than pawns, dispensable at any time. Finally, there were the Upper Three Grades. These people were regarded as true experts by those who had spent many years in the Jianghu. If someone jokingly referred to those in the Middle Third Grades as experts, then the Upper Three Grades were the experts among experts. To become an expert in the Upper Three Grades, three conditions almost had to be met. First, at least possess a Martial Arts Heart Method above the Xuanwu level. The levels of Martial Arts Heart Methods ranged from the Ninth to the First Grade. Above the First Grade were Earth Martial, Xuanwu, True Martial, and Heavenly Martial. Martial Arts Heart Method was the foundation of a person, like the quality of water in a bowl. No matter how deep the well, no matter how good the cup, without a sip of clear spring water or sweet wine, it was a pity, and this was just one condition. The second condition was to have a Root Bone that was one in a thousand. There were not many people with this Root Bone, but if searched carefully, they could still be found. The last condition was to have unwavering perseverance, the persistence to train day after day. No matter how excellent the Root Bone and Martial Arts were, without constant cultivation, it was useless. So, mental fortitude was extremely important as well. An Jing had the Earth Book, and coupled with his outstanding talent, he had painstakingly cultivated alone for ten years, finally reaching a First-Grade cultivation level. But the gap between First Grade and Grandmaster was an insurmountable chasm. Not to mention the difficulty of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top. Just the effort and cost required to condense the Human Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower would take a significant toll. An Jing had only recently condensed the Human Flower, and it would still take some time to condense the Earth Flower. In a leisurely afternoon, the soft sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Zhao Qingmei brought two small wooden stools and followed An Jing into the teahouse. The couple ordered a single cup of tea. Both remained silent and found a corner to sit in. This harmonious couple was like a ray of sunshine, warming the teahouse in the afternoon. ¡°It¡¯s been half a month, and that swordsman still hasn¡¯t appeared. In my opinion, he must be afraid of Tieyun Mountain and ran away.¡± ¡°Who is Tieyun Mountain? He is the Moonlight Flying Arrow, ranked seventy-third on the Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List.¡± ¡°That swordsman isn¡¯t weak either. I saw that his Sword Skill was concentrated and unwavering, truly a master.¡± ¡°What do you know? Who backs Tieyun Mountain? That¡¯s the flourishing Cao Gang. Who wouldn¡¯t be afraid?¡± ¡­¡­ Inside the teahouse, discussions were rife, with everyone freely talking about affairs in the Jianghu. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Zhou Xianming arrived today?¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced outside the door with a charming smile, ¡°He was talking about the Outer Heaven Human Sect yesterday, and I wanted to hear more.¡± These past few days, Zhao Qingmei had been idle and followed An Jing to the teahouse to listen to stories. Coincidentally, Zhou Xianming was talking about the Outer Heaven Demon Sect, which piqued her curiosity about how Zhou Xianming would describe her Demon Sect. An Jing said grumpily, ¡°He¡¯s just bragging. If a Demon Sect demon were to stand in front of him, he¡¯d be so scared his third leg would tremble.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing playfully. ¡°Thank you all for waiting.¡± At that moment, Zhou Xianming walked out from the back hall with a face full of joy, cupping his hands to everyone and said, ¡°Thank you all for your support these days. Some changes have occurred recently, and I plan to stop storytelling. I hope you all understand.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t had enough yet.¡± ¡°Exactly, why stop telling stories?¡± ¡­¡­ The job of a storyteller was not stable, and it was common for other storytellers to come in and replace them. However, most people in the teahouse felt that Zhou Xianming¡¯s stories were the most exciting and engaging. But Zhou Xianming said he would stop telling stories, and judging by his determined attitude, it seemed he had made up his mind long ago. Everyone looked disappointed and continued drinking tea and discussing family matters and local rumors. At this moment, Zhou Xianming walked over, and An Jing curiously asked, ¡°Old Zhou, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not telling stories anymore. I plan to make great strides and retake the imperial exams!¡± Zhou Xianming said earnestly. ¡°The imperial exams?¡± ¡°This year¡¯s provincial autumn exam is about to start. I want to participate and strive to take the top spot,¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes revealed a glimmer of hope. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with you!¡± An Jing looked at the suddenly ambitious Zhou Xianming and calmly analyzed, A person who could say that scholars should frequent brothels and listen to music suddenly wanted to make great strides and work hard to take the imperial exams. Do you believe it? An Jing certainly didn¡¯t. Hearing this, Zhou Xianming was so anxious that he almost jumped, ¡°Dr. An, why would you say that? Why, in your eyes, am I, Zhou, someone who is unambitious, unlearned, and unmotivated?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± An Jing nodded earnestly. Hearing this, Zhou Xianming¡¯s face turned dark. Zhao Qingmei nudged An Jing with her elbow and said, ¡°Husband, how can you discourage him like this? I think it¡¯s a good thing that Mr. Zhou wants to take the imperial exams.¡± An Jing said grumpily, ¡°Wife, this old chap is not trustworthy. Don¡¯t be fooled by his appearance¡­¡± ¡°Madam An, you are absolutely right,¡± Zhou Xianming hurriedly interrupted An Jing and then showed a troubled expression, ¡°Madam An, I actually have an ungracious request. I wonder if¡­¡± ¡°I knew it,¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing interrupted Zhou Xianming with a sneer, ¡°I knew you were waiting here. Come on, do you want to borrow money to go to the brothel again?¡± ¡°Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s face turned red, seemingly hit the nail on the head. ¡°Old Zhou, just admit it,¡± Zhou Xianming angrily said, ¡°You¡¯re slandering me! I¡¯m borrowing money for the imperial exams. I¡¯ve already promised Miss Li Yue that if I achieve top honors this time, I¡¯ll return and redeem her.¡± Chapter 29 Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing sneered coldly and asked, ¡°You went to take the imperial examinations just to ransom a songstress?¡± While others sought to climb the social ladder, gain wealth, and secure a bright future, Zhou Xianming actually went to take the exams for a songstress? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± A glimmer of hope shone in Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t understand Li Yue¡¯s pure heart at all. The other day when I went to the pleasure boat, she told me not to come next time. Surely, my constant presence has made her feel uneasy and guilty¡­¡± ¡°She thinks you¡¯re a poor wretch.¡± An Jing didn¡¯t mince words, ¡°She can¡¯t get any profit from you, and you pester her like a fly every day¡­¡± ¡°Husband, how can you say that.¡± Zhao Qingmei pulled An Jing back. ¡°You¡¯re just a vulgar person¡± Zhou Xianmin gave An Jing a disdainful look, then turned to Zhao Qingmei and smiled apologetically, ¡°Madam An, I¡¯ve decided to take the exams with all my heart. I swear to win the top prize this autumn. Could you lend me some silver? I¡¯ll repay it tenfold, a hundredfold in the future.¡± An Jing is a cunning and despicable trickster, but the gentle, virtuous, and kind Madam An is much easier to deal with. ¡°Since Mr. Zhou is determined to pursue the imperial examinations, I fully support it.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out a purse and handed it to Zhou Xianming, ¡°Here are ten taels of silver. If it¡¯s not enough, you can ask me for more.¡± Ten taels of silver! Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight of the silver, unable to contain his excitement. ¡°Madam, that¡¯s ten taels of silver.¡± An Jing licked his lips, almost forgetting that his wife came from a scholarly family, seemingly wealthier than himself. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, consider it a charitable deed.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled. ¡°Thank you, Madam An. I will never forget this great act of kindness. I will surely repay Madam An¡¯s favor in the future,¡± Zhou Xianming gratefully accepted the silver. ¡°Old Zhou, my wife and I are one. If you repay her, it¡¯s the same as repaying me.¡± An Jing patted Zhou Xianming¡¯s shoulder with a smile. Zhou Xianming glanced at An Jing, silently removed his hand, and brushed off the dust on his shoulder with an air of disdain. ¡°Clang! Clang!¡± ¡°Clang! Clang!¡± At that moment, footsteps rang outside the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?! Don¡¯t you know¡­¡± Someone turned toward the sound and immediately fell silent upon seeing the newcomers. A dozen rough-looking men in hemp clothing entered, each with a burly frame and fierce demeanor. Leading them was an old man in a blue robe. Only members of the Cao Gang wore hemp clothing, and among their experts, those who didn¡¯t wore hemp were even more fearsome in status and power. The old man had a calm and serene expression, his skin ruddy and his eyes sharp. This wasn¡¯t just any old man; he was Tieyun Mountain. A master! Seeing the newcomer, An Jing wore a calm face but felt alarmed inside. This man¡¯s imposing aura felt as if a mountain was looming, indicating his inner strength had reached the Upper Three Grades. Zhao Qingmei also frowned slightly, subtly gripping An Jing¡¯s arm, ready to shield him at any sign of danger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡± An Jing, thinking Zhao Qingmei was frightened, patted her small hand to reassure her. ¡°Master¡­.¡± The shopkeeper hurried down and bowed to Tieyun Mountain. ¡°Are you the shopkeeper?¡± One of the Cao Gang experts next to Tieyun Mountain stepped forward and asked sternly. This man was called Zhu Hou, the newly appointed Sect Leader of Yu State City. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. ¡°Where¡¯s the storyteller? A tea house can¡¯t be without a storyteller, right?¡± ¡°Over there, but Zhou Xianming isn¡¯t telling stories today.¡± ¡°Not telling stories?¡± Zhu Hou¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile as he scanned the surroundings, seemingly searching for the storyteller named ¡®Zhou Xianming.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll tell the story.¡± Seeing this, Zhou Xianming¡¯s legs wobbled, and he quickly spoke up. Tieyun Mountain nodded slightly and scanned the surroundings before walking slowly toward An Jing and Zhao Qingmei. ¡°You blind fools! Move aside!¡± Zhu Hou frowned and scolded harshly. ¡°Husband, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at Zhu Hou, then pulled An Jing¡¯s hand, leading him aside. An Jing didn¡¯t speak but memorized Zhu Hou¡¯s face. ¡°The young girl¡¯s quite pretty,¡± Tieyun Mountain murmured, watching Zhao Qingmei¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Elder, that¡­¡± Zhu Hou¡¯s mouth twisted into a grin, his eyes slightly narrowed. The Cao Gang, being a Jianghu faction, conducted legitimate business on the surface but engaged in usury and human trafficking in secret. Kidnapping women was routine for them. Using a cane, Tieyun Mountain said indifferently, ¡°I want to hear a story. Tell us about the history of the Nine Kingdoms.¡± ¡°You heard him, the history of the Nine Kingdoms.¡± Zhu Hou called out to Zhou Xianming, who stood nearby. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Zhou Xianming swallowed hard and headed to the high platform, gathering his thoughts before beginning to speak. ¡°After the Zhou Dynasty fell apart, the Nine Kingdoms plunged into chaos¡­.¡± The so-called history of the Nine Kingdoms refers to the era before the Yan Dynasty. After the Zhou Dynasty¡¯s collapse, nine powerful feudal states divided the land, with Yan being one of them. During that time, Zhao Country experienced severe turmoil and couldn¡¯t muster the strength to unify the realm. The world was in chaos, with warlords rising and battling incessantly. Mountains of corpses and seas of blood marked the land, and the people suffered greatly. It was a terrifyingly chaotic period. The Grand Ancestor of Great Yan fought his way out of the Nine Kingdoms and eventually established a unified Yan Dynasty, which continues to this day. Many in the Jianghu cherish the history of the Nine Kingdoms. The Jianghu of that time was even more tumultuous and dangerous than it is now, making it easier to achieve fame. Riding horses and waving spears, they roamed the world. With his eyes half-closed, Tieyun Mountain seemed to fall into a slumber, his mind wandering into the chaotic era of the Nine Kingdoms. Zhou Xianming¡¯s voice trembled, full of fear. In the presence of Tieyun Mountain, no one dared to leave. Even An Jing found the history of the Nine Kingdoms quite interesting and gradually got engrossed in it. Zhao Qingmei glanced at the motionless An Jing, her heart growing colder. What a mighty Cao Gang, scaring my husband stiff. After who knew how long, Tieyun Mountain slowly opened his eyes, ¡°That¡¯s enough for today.¡± Upon hearing Tieyun Mountain¡¯s words, the shopkeeper and Zhou Xianming both heaved a sigh of relief. As he walked out, Tieyun Mountain paused, using his cane. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this Datong Teahouse is the fastest place for news in Yu State City. Can you spread the word for me? Tell them Tieyun Mountain is guarding the headquarters in Yu State, inviting the swordsman who rescued Jiang Sanjia to come find me.¡± ¡°I want to see whether his sword is faster, or my knife is faster.¡± With that, Tieyun Mountain slowly walked out of the teahouse. Wow! A stone thrown into a quiet lake caused ripples of excitement! Everyone exchanged glances, realizing that Tieyun Mountain had come to the teahouse to challenge that legendary swordsman. Soon, the news of Tieyun Mountain¡¯s challenge spread throughout Yu State City and even further into Jiangnan Dao. Everyone was talking about whether the legendary swordsman would accept the challenge and who would win this duel of sword and knife. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Tieyun Mountain¡¯s provocation is too childish.¡± ¡°That swordsman might not be a match for Tieyun Mountain. After all, Tieyun Mountain has countless battle victories, whereas the swordsman only broke open a dungeon.¡± ¡°The key lies in the Yu State Headquarters. Who dares to go there?¡± ¡°With thousands of gang members gathered, even an Upper Three Grades expert would find it hard to leave unscathed.¡± ¡­¡­. Chapter 30 Editor: Atlas Studios Evening approached. ¡°Madam, I need to make a house call in the south of the city. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± An Jing gave a call and then left with a small medicine chest on his back. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled lightly and said, ¡°Remember to come back early.¡± Watching An Jing¡¯s departing figure, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s gentle face suddenly turned icy cold: ¡°Tan Yun.¡± ¡°Miss!¡± Tan Yun immediately jogged over. ¡°I don¡¯t want Tieyun Mountain to see the sun tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­ I understand. Even if Liu Qingshan comes, he won¡¯t be able to save him.¡± Seeing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression, Tan Yun licked her lips and walked towards the back of the house. She hadn¡¯t seen blood for quite some time. ¡­¡­.. On the Yu State River, small boats drifted by occasionally, while a finely decorated riverboat floated. ¡°Do you take guests?¡± Someone called to the riverboat. ¡°Get lost, get lost, no guests.¡± Disguised, Jiang Sanjia lay in the cabin, drowsy. Hearing these words, he naturally didn¡¯t respond kindly. No one would have thought that Jiang Sanjia, a major fugitive wanted by both the Cao Gang and the Court, was right under their noses. The customer on the small boat didn¡¯t get angry upon hearing Jiang Sanjia¡¯s response and directed the boatman to row towards another riverboat farther away. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± At this moment, Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Coming.¡± Lazily, Jiang Sanjia got up, approached the small table, and put down the chopsticks he had just picked up, complaining, ¡°Why is it salted vegetables and steamed buns again?¡± Even in the dungeon, he had better meals. All his life, Jiang Sanjia enjoyed meat; whenever there wasn¡¯t any, he wouldn¡¯t eat. Liu Haoping, afraid he¡¯d die, had no choice but to give him plenty of fish and meat daily. Though the dungeon was dark, and he had no freedom, the food wasn¡¯t bad. Now that he was out of the dungeon, the food had gotten worse. Mu Xiaoyun, not concerned, picked up a steamed bun and started gnawing it, saying, ¡°It¡¯s good enough to have food.¡± ¡°Is this the attitude of asking for help?¡± Jiang Sanjia snorted lightly. ¡°You lousy dog, don¡¯t eat, and see if I won¡¯t put you back in jail?¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s mouth curled into a cold smile. Hearing Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s words, Jiang Sanjia immediately wilted. Others might not know, but Mu Xiaoyun was a crazy woman who could do anything. What she said, she might actually do. Jiang Sanjia forced a smile and picked up a steamed bun, ¡°By the way, when you returned, you said Tieyun Mountain had issued a challenge to Brother Zhou?¡± ¡°The whole city is abuzz; Tieyun Mountain deliberately spread the news to provoke Zhou Xianming. If you find Zhou Xianming, wouldn¡¯t you find you?¡± Mu Xiaoyun shrugged. ¡°This provocation might work on youngsters, but Zhou Xianming, no way.¡± Jiang Sanjia sneered. He understood that ¡®Zhou Xianming,¡¯ that old fox, was frightfully shrewd. Such a petty provocation wouldn¡¯t make him come out. ¡°Tieyun Mountain is desperate. Since he can¡¯t find you, he naturally wants to find that swordsman.¡± Mu Xiaoyun said with a seductive smile, ¡°I¡¯m quite eager to see him respond to the challenge.¡± ¡°Thinking back, life in prison wasn¡¯t bad. Out here, it¡¯s such hardship¡­ Huh? Is that the smell of roasted chicken?¡± Jiang Sanjia suddenly sniffed a whiff of roasted chicken and began to swallow his saliva continuously. ¡°San Jia, your nose is sharp. The roasted chicken hasn¡¯t even arrived, and you already smell it?¡± As the curtain lifted, An Jing, in a dark cyan robe, walked in, holding two roasted chickens wrapped in parchment paper. ¡°Brother Zhou, why are you here?¡± Jiang Sanjia said as he reached out to touch the roasted chicken. ¡°San Jia, look at you, so impatient.¡± An Jing tossed the roasted chickens to Jiang Sanjia, ¡°For the past half-month, I haven¡¯t seen the red lanterns hanging high, so I came uninvited, fearing you had fallen into the hands of the Cao Gang.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s opportunities could enhance Root Bone, how could he not be anxious? Mu Xiaoyun sighed lightly, ¡°San Jia¡¯s injuries haven¡¯t healed yet. Only when he¡¯s almost fully recovered can he investigate my husband¡¯s whereabouts, so Brother Zhou, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait a while longer¡­¡± Jiang Sanjia seemed to have not seen a hearty meal for a long time, greedily devouring the roasted chicken. An Jing nodded; if Liu Qingshan¡¯s true whereabouts weren¡¯t known, it would indeed be tricky. But everything depended on Jiang Sanjia; when his injuries were nearly healed, he could use the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism to find Liu Qingshan. ¡°That¡¯s manageable.¡± An Jing paused and then looked at Mu Xiaoyun, ¡°I wonder, what reward did Madam promise me?¡± He needed to calculate carefully, so as not to be fooled. ¡°It will definitely satisfy Brother Zhou.¡± Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°But before that, I want to know if Brother Zhou¡¯s skills are as impressive as stated. After all, Brother Zhou will be our backbone¡­.¡± Jiang Sanjia, still feasting on the roasted chicken, paused, sensing something. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I heard Tieyun Mountain wants to challenge you. Actually, I¡¯m quite curious whether Tieyun Mountain¡¯s sword is quicker, or yours¡­¡± ¡°Are you asking for his head?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing answered simply. Tieyun Mountain was already on his must-kill list. ¡°I¡¯ll await your good news.¡± ¡°Soon.¡± With those words, An Jing walked out of the riverboat. ¡­¡­ Jiang Sanjia, munching the roasted chicken, said, ¡°You want him to kill Tieyun Mountain; that might be difficult. That old man is surely at the headquarters, and though it¡¯s said to be just Tieyun Mountain, who knows if the Cao Gang will feign an attack.¡± In his view, it wasn¡¯t wise for An Jing to go to the Yu State headquarters. This was clearly a trap set by Tieyun Mountain. Mu Xiaoyun smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because it¡¯s difficult that I want him to do it.¡± Jiang Sanjia clicked his tongue, ¡°Your strategy of killing three birds with one stone is indeed clever¡ªtesting Zhou Xianming¡¯s strength, drawing the Cao Gang¡¯s attention, and if Tieyun Mountain is killed, it sets a clear stance.¡± ¡°From your words, it seems you believe he can do it?¡± Mu Xiaoyun said softly, picking up a steamed bun. ¡°Ordinarily, I¡¯d say it¡¯s tough.¡± Jiang Sanjia pondered a bit, ¡°Tieyun Mountain has a close bond with Hong Yuanwu, and there are many experts in the headquarters. Although Zhou Xianming agreed readily, if ambushed or facing Tieyun Mountain and Hong Yuanwu together, he might fail.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Exactly.¡± Mu Xiaoyun lowered her head and smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s finish up and be ready to flee at any moment.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary.¡± Jiang Sanjia lazily leaned on the deck, his mouth greasy, ¡°I said that about an ordinary person, but my Brother Zhou is not ordinary.¡± ¡°He is incredibly cunning and only acts with certainty. He agreed to kill Tieyun Mountain so readily because Tieyun Mountain was already on his must-kill list.¡± Chapter 31 Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°`html Yu State City, South River Branch, Zhongyi Hall. Whether it was people from the Jianghu or ordinary folks, they all knew this place. This place was the headquarters of the Cao Gang in Yu State. At the entrance, there was a constant flow of carriages. From time to time, men in coarse clothes would go in and out of the South River Branch. Two night guards of the Cao Gang stood at the entrance, yawning. ¡°Hey! Exhausted from the day, and still having to stand guard at night.¡± ¡°Have you heard? Pavilion Master Liu has broken through to Fifth Grade.¡± ¡°How could I not? Elder Tie has already summoned him. It¡¯s said that Pavilion Master Liu will throw a grand banquet on the third of next month.¡± ¡°I wonder when I¡¯ll reach Sixth Grade.¡± ¡­.. The two guards chatted idly, passing the time. What is the Jianghu? Many rivers flow into it. In the Jianghu, there are great dragons soaring through the gates, as well as countless small, ordinary fish and shrimp. But not every little shrimp ultimately becomes a legendary hero. ¡°Old Liu, I haven¡¯t been home in decades.¡± Suddenly, one of the guards looked at the night sky and sighed. He remembered it was a winter day when a village bully broke into his home to assault his wife. He could bear it no longer and drew his knife to kill two bullies. To escape capture, he changed his name and joined the Cao Gang in Jiangnan Dao. ¡°I have no home. My parents have long been dead.¡± The other gang member¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent, as if discussing something unrelated to him. ¡°I wonder if my wife ran away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. She definitely ran away.¡± ¡°Damn it! Can¡¯t you wish me well for once?¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t saying that yesterday when you were toying with Zhang Mazi¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°That little punk Zhang Mazi thought he could wave a knife at me. How could I let him off that easily?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, Zhang Mazi¡¯s wife is pretty thrilling.¡± The more they talked, the more spirited they became, until a figure approached the entrance. The person was wearing a dark blue robe, his face obscured, holding only an ordinary iron sword. He walked towards the gate at an unhurried pace. It was An Jing. ¡°Stop! Who are you?¡± The two, seeing An Jing¡¯s concealed appearance, felt a chill in their hearts. An Jing did not speak and continued walking towards the headquarters of Yu State. ¡°Swoosh!¡± A faint sword light flashed! The first man to speak felt his heart stop for a moment. He couldn¡¯t catch his breath and his outstretched hand finally fell limp. With a step forward! The man was already dead on the ground! ¡°Help! Someone¡¯s intruding the headquarters! Help!¡± The other man, seeing this, felt his heart pounding wildly and hurriedly called out towards Zhongyi Hall. This call, like an arrow breaking dawn, completely ignited the night of Zhongyi Hall. ¡°Who dares to intrude on our headquarters in Yu State?¡± ¡°Such audacity!¡± ¡­. Countless members of the Cao Gang swarmed out from all directions. An Jing did not speak and continued walking forward unhurriedly. ¡°Seeking death!¡± One of the Sixth Grade members, eyes flashing with malice, took a big step, using Third Grade martial arts, Dragon Capturing Hand, aiming right at An Jing¡¯s shoulder blade. This person was also a rising star within the Cao Gang, quite young. Just as the man was about to reach An Jing, it seemed as if a sword light pierced through. ¡°Thud!¡± That member¡¯s eyes lost their light and his body fell heavily to the ground. The surrounding Cao Gang experts were all shocked. The man had only taken a step, and he was dead? What level of strength is this? How terrifying is this? ¡°Everyone, attack together!¡± At this moment, several experts from within the Cao Gang came out. These were all Fourth Grade experts, the hall masters of various halls in Yu State City, led by Zhu Hou. Hearing Zhu Hou¡¯s words, the present members of the Cao Gang also mustered their courage. An Jing did not speak, but those within a few meters of him kept falling. No sword drawing, no sword retracting, no moves. As he strolled leisurely, countless people were slain by the sword light! With each step he took, lives spilled there! He remained unhurried, without saying a word, as if simply walking in a common market or alley, just as usual, just as composed, just as calm. Terrifying! Looking at this swordman as calm as still water, the only words in everyone¡¯s mind were ¡°terrifying.¡± ¡°You¡­ who are you?¡± A Fourth Grade expert of the Cao Gang asked, trembling. Such a peerless expert, who could he be? ¡°Could it be that legendary swordsman who split open the dungeon?¡± Zhu Hou exclaimed as the thought struck him. Sparing few words, holding an ordinary longsword and exuding an aura as sharp as a blade, making people afraid to look directly at him. Killing with invisible methods! An Jing remained silent and walked forward. But with each step he took, countless people perished. This step forward created a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. He was demonstrating the Hundred-step Flying Sword! In no time, the ground was stained with blood, and the path became a bloody road, littered with one body after another. When An Jing entered Zhongyi Hall, there were no living souls within several meters around him besides himself. Zhu Hou was stunned by this scene, his body trembling. ¡°You¡­. you¡­.¡± An Jing continued walking inside, never uttering a word, his steps ever steady. ¡°Thud!¡± At the moment his tiptoe touched the ground, Zhu Hou felt a chill on his neck and fell heavily to the ground. ¡­. At an antiquated banquet. Tieyun Mountain sat high on the main seat. Below him was a young man, his body clad in a moon-white brocade robe, tailored to fit, tall and slender with elegant poise, like a noble tree or poem, radiating an indescribable grace and elegance. If Tieyun Mountain and Hong Yuanwu were dragons that crossed the river, then this young man, or rather the Mu Family behind him, were true locals with deep roots. Mu Jie of the Mu Family, ranked seventh on the Jianghu prodigy list, known as the ¡°Jade Fan Glass Prince.¡± He was the dream lover of numerous aristocratic ladies, having reached Fourth Grade last year, renowned throughout the Jianghu. Among the four major families in Jiangnan Dao, Mu Jie was the most outstanding young talent of his generation. Such a person was destined to be a towering figure in Jiangnan Dao in the future, dominating the region¡¯s trends, with a significant presence even in the Great Yan. Tieyun Mountain raised his glass with a smile, ¡°In recent years, the Mu Family¡¯s business has been flourishing. I heard your caravans have extended to Nanming Country. That is truly worthy of congratulations.¡± ¡°This is all thanks to the assistance of the Cao Gang in recent years.¡± Mu Jie replied respectfully. The Tieyun Mountain before him was a terrifying figure, a ruthless man who once killed the head of the Su Family. Although he was a prodigy on the list and the future head of the Mu Family, Mu Jie did not dare to put on airs before Tieyun Mountain. ¡°No, it¡¯s a matter of sincere cooperation.¡± Tieyun Mountain shook his head. ¡°Alright, sincere cooperation it is. For these words from Elder Tie, let us drink another cup.¡± Mu Jie said loudly. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The two raised their glasses and drank it all in one go. What is the Jianghu? The Jianghu is a battleground for fame and fortune, a place where many¡¯s dreams lie in their fastest rise to fame and quickest path to profit. This is the Jianghu dream for many people. Some drift tirelessly in the Jianghu, some indulge in revelry, and some wallow in dissipation. ¡°` Chapter 32 Editor: Atlas Studios After three rounds of drinks, Tieyun Mountain reminded, ¡°Nephew, don¡¯t forget the important matter I mentioned to you earlier.¡± ¡°Rest assured, elder, I¡¯ve already remembered it in my heart.¡± Mu Jie sighed lightly, ¡°My aunt is really too headstrong, too reckless. When I find her, I will surely discuss it with her properly.¡± Mu Jie¡¯s father was the current head of the Mu Family, Mu Delun, and Mu Delun¡¯s sister was Mu Xiaoyun, the aunt mentioned by Mu Jie. ¡°As long as you find any trace, just inform me,¡± Tieyun Mountain smiled, ¡°So I can report back to the gang leader.¡± With the assistance of the Mu Family, finding Jiang Sanjia, the mysterious swordsman, or Mu Xiaoyun would be much easier. ¡°Alright.¡± Mu Jie cupped his hands and said seriously, ¡°As for that swordsman, the Mu Family will also do our best to assist you, elder. But I have also studied that swordsman¡¯s sword skill a bit, and it is indeed extraordinary.¡± ¡°Xue Chen of the Floating Blood Sword has Second Grade Cultivation, and Gao Zixing of the Five Directions Sword is also Second Grade. Both are renowned swordsmen in Jiangnan Dao, ranking ninety-seventh and sixty-third on the Dragon and Tiger List, respectively. This swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship is completely different from these two, and I have never seen such a sword skill in Jiangnan Dao. This suggests that the person might not be from Jiangnan Dao.¡± Mu Jie was also a swordsman and had once gone to the old Yuzhou prison to observe that sword skill, feeling deeply impressed. He only knew that this person¡¯s swordsmanship was extremely superb, but the exact sect or school he belonged to was unknown to him. ¡°It is indeed too strange. Tracking this person is extremely difficult, which is why I used such a third-rate provocation method to lure him out.¡± Tieyun Mountain nodded. This swordsman seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and Jiang Sanjia had seemingly no acquaintances with such a person. Not to mention his strength, just his identity was already extremely mysterious. If it were not for Jiang Sanjia, he would not even want to investigate this swordsman further. Mu Jie laughed, ¡°That swordsman must be afraid at heart, not daring to appear again. I¡¯d bet he¡¯s sneaking away from Jiangnan Dao now. Elder, you needn¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°No, he certainly hasn¡¯t left.¡± Tieyun Mountain shook his head; his intuition told him that the man hadn¡¯t gone. ¡°Oh? Why are you so certain, elder?¡± Mu Jie asked curiously. ¡°No¡­ no good¡­¡± At this moment, a member of the Cao Gang stumbled in. ¡°The ghost¡­ the ghost¡­ has come to kill.¡± ¡°What ghost?¡± Mu Jie asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Not good!¡± Tieyun Mountain¡¯s eyes condensed as he looked into the distance. When that cold light rushed in, the bluestone slabs on the ground began to crack inch by inch, then spread to the table. The panicked gang member was pierced by the cold light and turned into a cloud of blood mist. Then that sword light continued to shoot forward, its target being Tieyun Mountain. ¡°Crack!¡± Tieyun Mountain¡¯s expression changed dramatically as he drew two arcs to block the cold light. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Under the moonlight, a figure slowly approached, its form blending into the moonlight and stone slabs as one, sword still sheathed but making people feel alarmed. ¡°That swordsman!¡± Mu Jie looked at the figure ahead and took a deep breath. Just standing there, he exuded an overwhelming aura. A peerless swordsman! This was a true peerless swordsman! Mu Jie prided himself on having seen many experts, including those in the First Grade, but few gave him the feeling this swordsman did. That confidence and sharp presence were unparalleled. ¡°Drip!¡± ¡°Drip!¡± Tieyun Mountain¡¯s grips on his twin blades were bleeding; this was caused by forcibly blocking the sword light just now. ¡°You¡¯ve finally come.¡± Tieyun Mountain¡¯s heart turned cold. Before seeing that sword light, he had thought that the swordsman was not his match. Now, seeing the person, he felt that he had been too reckless. ¡°As you wished!¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was calm and indifferent. The moonlight slowly shone down, and Mu Jie next to him started to breathe heavily. In the face of their confrontation, he felt as though he was suffocating. Who was Tieyun Mountain? One of the seven Vajra of the Cao Gang, a notorious figure in Jianghu. His twin curved blades had killed many long-established experts. Someone like him might have the potential to reach the First Grade in the future. In the absence of grandmasters, he could aspire to the summit of Jianghu experts. Yet, the peerless swordsman in front of him stirred his emotions even more, making his thoughts turbulent. Although Mu Jie was usually respected and revered as a prodigy, he still felt overwhelmed. Was this the duel between masters? Taking a deep breath, Mu Jie instinctively retreated backward, fearing he might get involved. If Mu Jie was only bearing one-tenth of the pressure, Tieyun Mountain was bearing ten or even a hundred times more. The mere clash of their auras made him realize that this swordsman was an unprecedented enemy, one whom his swift blades had no strategy to counter. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least announce your identity?¡± Tieyun Mountain asked in a low voice. He was gathering his momentum. An Jing smiled faintly, ¡°I came specially, not to answer your irrelevant questions.¡± ¡°It seems I¡¯m important to you,¡± Tieyun Mountain laughed heartily. ¡°You are only important because your absence is paramount,¡± An Jing said, shaking his head expressionlessly. The atmosphere suddenly froze, as if the air had turned to ice. Tieyun Mountain gripped his twin blades tightly. An Jing didn¡¯t speak further, as in his eyes, Tieyun Mountain was already a dead man, and he had little to say to the dead. In the next moment! Both of them moved. An Jing¡¯s longsword danced like a dragon, striking straight at Tieyun Mountain¡¯s throat. But Tieyun Mountain¡¯s curved blades were not famed for nothing. Having trained relentlessly for years, they were a part of his very bones and memory. The curved blade is among the hardest to master, and wielding two is even more difficult. Few in Jianghu could dual-wield curved blades, and those who did were all masters. Blades clashed with sword light, and the two exchanged dozens of moves rapidly. Tieyun Mountain put forth all his effort, barely withstanding the incoming sword light. Their figures flickered, moving so quickly that even Mu Jie, standing nearby, was amazed. Despite his Fourth Grade cultivation, he couldn¡¯t keep up with their duel. What did this signify? It indicated that either could kill him with a single move. Only one move was needed to pierce his throat and end his life! Before long, beads of sweat dotted Tieyun Mountain¡¯s forehead. He felt completely suppressed and had to use his full strength. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Thinking of this, he turned his twin blades, shaping them like a full moon. ¡°Swish! Swish!¡± Two arcs of blade light shone, mirroring the full moon in the sky. Full Moon Curved Blades! Unmatched Full Moon! The blade light wasn¡¯t fast, but by the time you reacted, it would be cascading down on you like moonlight. Chapter 33 Editor: Atlas Studios An Jing¡¯s longsword twirled in his hand, creating a series of sword flowers. The Nine-character Sword Technique! The Lin Character Secret! ¡°Clang clang clang clang!¡± As the blade and sword clashed, sparks flew, and a series of explosive sounds created waves of Qi force. Not far away, Mu Jie felt his heart surge, his body seemed to separate from his soul, an out-of-body experience. Was the knife or the sword faster!? Mu Jie strained to look ahead. Under the moonlight, the sword light was so dense it shielded An Jing completely. The incoming knife light, like moonlight, was wholly blocked without a trace missing. Tieyun Mountain¡¯s initial move missed, and his inner strength surged like a mighty river, all channeling into his arms. ¡°Buzz buzz!¡± ¡°Buzz buzz!¡± The powerful fluctuations of inner strength caused the surrounding Qi to emit sounds, and even the wine pots on the table began to crack. His chilling twin blades, infused with inner strength, exuded a terrifying cold light. Tieyun Mountain¡¯s clothes fluttered without wind, one knife held horizontally in front of his chest, the other behind his neck, then his hands swung out in unison. In an instant, it was as if moonlight poured out, with a blade light flashing within it. Tieyun Mountain was wild, and naturally, his knives were wild too. The experts who had perished under his blades had forged his arrogance. The Full Moon Scimitar! Moon Over the Western Tower! The wind stirred, sharpness unparalleled, in the sky and earth, a single glint of light falling from the heavens, as if to cleave the earth in two and reduce it to fragments. ¡°This¡­ this is an Upper Three Grades expert?¡± Mu Jie¡¯s face showed a moment of stupefaction. A life-and-death duel between Upper Three Grades experts! It was not often seen in Jianghu. There were many rumors in Jianghu, but few had truly witnessed them, and Mu Jie was fortunate to be one of them. Unfortunately, this knife-and-sword clash, this solitary grandeur, only he saw it. An Jing¡¯s expression was composed, like a calm well, but his sword drew out silently. The longsword¡¯s clear, crisp blade emitted a light hum, like a solitary boat drifting on vast waves. ¡°Whizz!¡± Sword light spread out like a rising sun under the night sky. The Nine-character Sword Technique! The Dou Character Secret! The longsword pointed, and the still moonlight gradually dispersed. On the ground, a long, narrow sword mark appeared, then a second, a third¡­ ¡°Bang!¡± A booming sound echoed, everything around turned to dust. Mu Jie¡¯s face became deathly pale, and he frantically retreated backward. In the midst of the smoky waves, the two figures continued their battle, blade and sword light intertwining and becoming indistinguishable, reaching a fever pitch. ¡°You have used your move, now receive my sword.¡± An Jing said calmly. Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Tieyun Mountain¡¯s heart leapt to his throat. No one understood better than him the terrifying prowess of the swordsman before him. An Jing¡¯s longsword slid like a goat¡¯s horns, elusive and deadly. His swordsmanship was peculiar, almost unmatched in the world. ¡°Whoosh whoosh!¡± Tieyun Mountain was terrified, quickly crossing his twin blades to shield his chest. Strong! Too strong! Mu Yun in the distance was profoundly shaken. A seemingly casual strike was remarkably mysterious. ¡°Clang clang!¡± The violent clash of metal echoed, like being struck by a heavy hammer. Tieyun Mountain¡¯s head spun, yet he felt a sense of near-death relief. Blocked it! ¡°Pfft!¡± But in the next moment, a sword light, from who knows where, pierced his throat. His eyes held disbelief. He had seen the sword light and firmly blocked it. Why did he still die? The Hidden Sword Skill! The Hidden Sword Skill, though seemingly an entry-level technique, was not mastered by ninety-nine percent of swordsmen. The Hidden Sword Skill hid not the sword but its sharpness and the killing intent in the heart. When others let their guard down, at the crucial moment, the concealed swordsmanship would surge out, delivering the fatal strike. This was the true essence of the Hidden Sword Skill. ¡°Gurgle¡ª!¡± ¡°Fi¡­ Fi¡­ First Grade¡­¡± Tieyun Mountain¡¯s eyes gradually lost their light, as blood flowed from his throat and he collapsed with a thud. Mu Jie, witnessing this scene, was petrified. Fast! Too fast! Moments ago, in the blink of an eye, Tieyun Mountain had fallen. Knife fast or sword fast? Mu Jie, as the witness, felt there was no comparison. He wanted to shout, but found his throat caught as if something was stuck. An Jing did not sheath his sword but looked toward a distant rooftop. ¡°You have a swift sword, sir!¡± A soft voice echoed, revealing a figure on the distant rooftop, holding a red longsword, with a faint blood glow on it. The Futu Sword! This was the famous sword of Rash in Jianghu, the Futu Sword. The figure, clad in black, hidden in the night, their shape and features obscure. This was Tan Yun. Her heart was shocked. This person had killed Tieyun Mountain and, in fighting him, still noticed her presence. This person was no ordinary expert. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are or why you¡¯re here, but I don¡¯t want to see you again,¡± An Jing said coldly, looking at the figure. ¡°Get lost!¡± He waved his longsword. The resulting sword light created terrifying waves, like a sweeping tide falling from the heavens. ¡°Clang clang!¡± Tan Yun caught the sword strike, inner strength raging within her. First Grade! This person was a First Grade expert! Tan Yun was deeply shaken, not daring to stay, and fled as a black shadow into the distance. ¡°She runs quite fast indeed!¡± An Jing silently sheathed his longsword. If she had been a moment slower, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to kill her. But Mu Jie, who had been watching, wasn¡¯t so lucky. His once fair and handsome face now bore a bloody scar. ¡°Sen¡­ Senior, I¡­ I am¡­¡± Mu Jie¡¯s heart seemed ready to leap out of his chest. ¡°This scar is my gift to you, a mark of honor for your life,¡± An Jing did not even glance at Mu Jie and walked away leisurely, just as he had come. This scar, my gift, is your honor for life¡­ these words echoed constantly in Mu Jie¡¯s ears, seemingly tearing his heart apart. An Jing walked unhurriedly, disappearing from the Yu State headquarters. It wasn¡¯t until several moments after An Jing left that Mu Jie finally reacted, collapsing to the ground like a puppet without strings. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only After a long while, he gasped and shouted, ¡°Quick! Someone come! Master Tie¡­ Tie was killed!¡± An eerie silence surrounded him, no one responded, the place felt like a desolate land. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Mu Jie froze, a horrified expression dawning on his face. The Yu State headquarters had been bloodily purged¡­ Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Calculating Qian and Kun in the Poison Masters Hall Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Calculating Qian and Kun in the Poison Master¡¯s Hall Early morning, Jishi Hall. ¡°Once a young man reaches a certain age, he must come to understand, without health, everything is nothing.¡± An Jing, content after eating the ¡®loving heart¡¯ porridge made by Zhao Qingmei, then touched his firm waistline and planned to find an excuse to go out. He had not forgotten that today was not only the Ullambana Festival but also the Cao Gang¡¯s demon-expelling convention, where he would personally display the severed head of the peerless swordsman, ¡®Xue Chen¡¯. As Tan Yun was tidying up the medicine cabinet, she said, ¡°Son-in-law, today is the Ullambana Festival, I heard there¡¯s a water and land service. Shall we go and have some fun?¡± An Jing paused, and said irritably, ¡°What¡¯s there to enjoy about the Ullambana Festival? The water and land service is just a few bald monks reciting Buddhist scriptures, you can¡¯t understand it at all.¡± The Cao Gang had summoned the four great families of Jiangnan Dao and many experts to discuss dealing with the Demon Sect. Fa Xi Temple would now certainly be swarming with people, filled with numerous experts, so it could be very dangerous if there was any chaos. If the naive girl Tan Yun were accidentally targeted by someone from the Jianghu, An Jing would have to take extra care to protect her. ¡°But son-in-law, I want to go and see,¡± Tan Yun said, looking aggrieved. ¡°Then will you listen to your son-in-law?¡± An Jing glanced at the heaving front of Tan Yun¡¯s chest. ¡°Of course, I will listen to you, son-in-law,¡± Tan Yun quickly replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to everything you say.¡± ¡°Alright then, listen to me, don¡¯t go,¡± An Jing said righteously. Tan Yun¡¯s smile froze, and her face looked somewhat stunned. ¡°Husband, I want to go too.¡± Zhao Qingmei also came out and looked at An Jing with hopeful eyes, tenderly saying, ¡°We haven¡¯t gone out to have fun for a long time.¡± ¡°If the lady also wants to go, then naturally that is fine.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing immediately smiled apologetically, ¡°Besides the water and land service, the Ullambana Festival also features lantern releasing, which can be quite interesting¡­.¡± Tan Yun: ¡°???¡± Didn¡¯t you say it was incomprehensible? How come it¡¯s suddenly interesting now? At that moment, seeing An Jing suddenly change his tune, Tan Yun pouted her lips and cursed internally, ¡°Disgusting son-in-law, rotten son-in-law, when I said we should go, you said it wasn¡¯t fun, but when the Sect Hierarch said to go, you immediately changed your face.¡± I¡¯m going to remember this, and when I catch you in a big scandal later¡­ Thinking this, Tan Yun pulled out a small notebook from her sleeve. ¡°The old man actually finds this water and land service quite interesting.¡± Li Fuzhou then walked out slowly, dressed impeccably and adjusting his sleeves, he said lightly, ¡°In the water and land service, monks and nuns set up altars to chant scriptures, worship, and confess, providing food and drinks to transfer the souls of all beings from water and land, benefiting spirits from all six paths and four states of existence, that¡¯s why it¡¯s called so. Generally, the ones who set up altars to chant the scriptures are high-ranking Buddhist monks. The abbot of this Fa Xi Temple is a high monk from the Western Regions. This water and land service is indeed worth seeing.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled, ¡°I have never seen the Buddhist water and land service before, let¡¯s go and have a look today.¡± ¡­¡­ Fa Xi Temple, behind the Great Hall. Guo Yuchun sat within the rear hall, holding a secret scroll in hand, his eyebrows alternating between furrowed and relaxed. ¡°Deputy Gang Leader Guo, everything is ready,¡± Ouyang Yu walked in slowly. ¡°Good, I know,¡± Guo Yuchun nodded slightly, ¡°Add another group of people for guards, the more the better. We cannot afford any mistakes.¡± ¡°Another group?¡± Ouyang Yu asked. The entire Fa Xi Temple, inside and out, was already filled with the Cao Gang¡¯s secret sentinels, and visibly there were many experts, truly vigilant. ¡°According to the information I received, the Demon Sect has indeed entered Great Yan,¡± Guo Yuchun stated. Guo Yuchun narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Do you think the people of the Demon Sect will let us rise on their reputation?¡± Ouyang Yu shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Now, rumors are everywhere saying that Xue Chen has joined the Demon Sect, while the Cao Gang members killed a Demon Sect expert and are planning to show their might at the anti-Demon assembly. This is clearly a provocation to the Demon Sect. If the masters of the Demon Sect found out, how could they possibly not come to disrupt this assembly? A big game requires not only enough pieces but also corresponding opponents. The anti-Demon assembly of Guo Yuchun could kill two birds with one stone. If people from the Demon Sect don¡¯t show up, then the Cao Gang having killed the Demon Sect expert and still holding the anti-Demon assembly is undoubtedly stepping on the Demon Sect to rise, which enhances the prestige of the Cao Gang in Jianghu and lays the foundation for the future Five Gangs Alliance. If the people from the Demon Sect do appear, then he would have laid a Heaven and Earth Net. Along with the help of the Xuanyi Guard and Buddhist experts, he could deal a heavy blow to the people of the Demon Sect. And with the Demon Sect being bested under his scheme, the prestige of the Cao Gang would also soar. Ouyang Yu could naturally see through Guo Yuchun¡¯s calculations, but she still did not understand why Guo Yuchun wanted to establish his reputation against the Demon Sect. Although that swordsman really did kill people from the Cao Gang and could possibly belong to the Demon Sect, the Demon Sect was not so easy to provoke. The Demon Sect was like a fierce tiger in slumber; once awakened, it would devour people. ¡°I know your doubts.¡± Guo Yuchun gave a faint smile, ¡°The Demon Sect making a comeback, do you think it¡¯s just by themselves?¡± A chill went through Ouyang Yu¡¯s heart as she said coldly, ¡°Vice Gang Leader Guo means, someone is collaborating with the Demon Sect?¡± Ouyang Yu vaguely knew there were supporters behind the Cao Gang; its rapid development over the decades had secretly shocked those in Jianghu, but few knew that the Cao Gang had backers. To support a power like the Cao Gang, there are but a few such capable hands in Great Yan. But who might be supporting the Demon Sect? At this moment, Ouyang Yun realized the Jianghu was not as simple as she had imagined. Keep in mind that she was one of the seven Vajras of the Cao Gang, a first-rate expert in Jianghu, yet she still felt that the waters were too deep and unfathomable. ¡°Not so much collusion, but rather mutual benefit,¡± Guo Yuchun said, his smile slightly fading. ¡°You might not need to know the rest, but just know one thing: the Demon Sect is our severe internal threat, and if the Demon Sect intends to make a comeback, the first they will target is our Cao Gang, and likewise, it¡¯s the same for us. To face this giant, we can only form the Five Gangs Alliance.¡± Upon hearing this, Ouyang Yu was shocked. She had always thought the Five Gangs Alliance was merely a fantasy, an impossible ambition or even wild ambition. After all, among Jianghu, each of the five major gangs was a top-tier force, occupying various corners of Great Yan. Even the weakest Sanhu Gang had tens of thousands of gang members, and the other four gangs¡¯ power was immensely larger. Such an alliance among these five gangs could instantly become a colossal power. Even among the seven major sects, only the Zhenyi Sect, Xuanyi Guard, Buddhist Western Regions, and Demon Sect, the true giants, could compete. Such daunting power, would anyone wish to see its existence? The ones with such ambitions, no need to think much, surely was someone in Yujing City, or that individual from Zhenyi Mountain, or maybe those few princely heirs. ¡°Jianghu is far from the court, yet the court is above Jianghu.¡± Guo Yuchun sighed deeply and said, ¡°To deal with the Demon Sect, relying just on our Cao Gang is far from enough; we also need the banner of great righteousness. We need to learn to ¡®ride the tiger¡¯s back.¡¯¡± Ouyang Yu also took a deep breath, ¡°Then if the Demon Sect experts really come¡­¡± She was still somewhat worried, for the name ¡®Demon Sect¡¯ had deeply etched into her heart. Guo Yuchun frowned and said, ¡°Xuanyi Guard Gan Yue, being a court official, has the main duty of eradicating the Demon Sect. He has no choice but to act. And Monk Fa Zhi, representing Leiyin Temple from the Western Regions, what does Buddhism desire the most? Besides a nod from that one in Yujing City, it is recognition, the recognition of Great Yan Martial World, and dealing with the Demon Sect is a quick way to achieve it, a method the Great Yan Martial World can¡¯t refuse.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Guo Yuchun, able to become the chief strategist of the Cao Gang, not only saw through the matters of Jianghu, but also the affairs of the court as clearly as if they were on fire, thoroughly understanding them as if they were at his fingertips. Where is the world? The world was in his heart. ¡°I understand.¡± Ouyang Yu nodded heavily and said, ¡°I will go now to call for more reinforcements.¡± Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Turmoil of the Demon-Exorcising Convention Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Turmoil of the Demon-Exorcising Convention ¡°` Fa Xi Temple, in front of the mountain gate. After climbing a thousand stone steps and winding through a hundred curves and turns, the faint tranquillity under the shade of trees was mingled with the elegant fragrance of flowers, ceaselessly adding a touch of magic to the ancient temple. In this secluded atmosphere, one could sense a hint of melancholy and a whisper of the vicissitudes of time. An Jing panted as he reached the summit, hands bracing his knees as he took deep breaths, ¡°Tan Yun, quickly hand me the water skin.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Tan Yun grumpily tossed the water skin to An Jing. The girl was still angry. Next time, I¡¯d better buy her more pastries to make up for it. An Jing unscrewed the water skin and gulped down a big mouthful of water, then turned to look back, only to see that Zhao Qingmei was following at an unhurried pace. ¡°Husband, are you tired? Let me wipe your sweat.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out her personal handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from An Jing¡¯s forehead. So fragrant. Instantly, a refreshing fragrance filled his nostrils, causing An Jing¡¯s spirit to ripple. ¡°Third Master, who would have thought you¡¯re actually in such good shape?¡± An Jing said with a laugh as he glanced at Li Fuzhou. While Three Temple Mountain was small, it took the four of them nearly half an hour to finally reach the mountain gate of Fa Xi Temple. Logically speaking, it was normal for Zhao Qingmei, a young lady from a family of officials, to have learned some basic martial arts and to be strong and vigorous without breaking a sweat. But for an old scholar like Li Fuzhou, who indulged in the nightlife of courtesans, to maintain such composure was quite abnormal. ¡°I¡¯m well-versed in the ways of nurturing my health, so naturally, my physique is not bad,¡± Li Fuzhou said indifferently. Tan Yun thought to herself: What does this little doctor know? My master can travel eight hundred li by day and a thousand li by night; what¡¯s a little mountain path to him? ¡°Indeed, enjoying the company of courtesans every night, that must be Third Master¡¯s way of nurturing your health,¡± An Jing said with a chuckle. ¡°You don¡¯t understand the affairs of scholars,¡± Li Fuzhou said, giving An Jing a look that said ¡®what do you know¡¯, ¡°There¡¯s an art to enjoying the company of courtesans, a profound knowledge in every minute detail, skill hidden within the superficial.¡± The affairs of scholars, can you call it engaging in prostitution? No, that¡¯s enjoying courtesans and music. An Jing gave Li Fuzhou a glance, thinking to himself: I used to be a scholar too, but I sure didn¡¯t say so. The group followed the mountain path toward the interior of Fa Xi Temple. ¡°This incense is for worship,¡± said a handsome young monk, offering a bundle of incense sticks to An Jing as they approached. ¡°Thank you.¡± An Jing took thirty coins from his purse and put them into the Merit Box, then swept a glance and couldn¡¯t help but be amazed, ¡°There are so many constables from the government offices; it looks like a large portion of Yu State City¡¯s constable divisions have come.¡± After entering the mountain gate was the Heavenly King Hall, and apart from the numerous tourists and pilgrims offering incense, there were scattered constables. Among these tourists were also some individuals from the Jianghu, whose purpose was not merely to visit Fa Xi Temple, but likely to attend Cao Gang¡¯s demon-exorcising meeting. ¡°It¡¯s quite lively,¡± said Tan Yun, whose nature was to enjoy such bustling scenes, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel happy at the sight of so many people. ¡°Lady, why don¡¯t you roam around? I¡¯m terribly exhausted,¡± An Jing said instinctively, supporting his waist and sighing. He still had important matters to attend to and naturally couldn¡¯t follow Zhao Qingmei and the others. ¡°Alright, Tan Yun and I will go offer some incense. Later, we¡¯ll visit the Reincarnation Hall to see the water and land ceremony,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, and then glanced at Li Fuzhou, instructing, ¡°Third Master, you just stick with our son-in-law.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll rest for a while, then go find Han Wenxin. Third Master, you wanted to see the water and land ceremony as well, didn¡¯t you? Don¡¯t interrupt his enjoyment,¡± An Jing waved his hand dismissively. Having this old man Li tagging along would only cause trouble when it came time to slip away. Zhao Qingmei insisted, ¡°After you find Han Wenxin, let Third Master go to offer incense. It¡¯s inconvenient not to have someone by your side.¡± There were countless martial arts experts within Fa Xi Temple, and if they were to harm her husband, that would be unfortunate. Zhao Qingmei headed off with Tan Yun towards the Grand Hall in the distance to offer incense. An Jing gave Li Fuzhou a sidelong glance and sighed deeply. For some reason, Zhao Qingmei always insisted on having old man Li follow him; then a thought crossed An Jing¡¯s mind¡ªcould it be that Qingmei was purposely having him watched? Little doctor, do you think I want to follow you? Li Fuzhou, seeing An Jing¡¯s look, scoffed in his heart. If the Sect Hierarch hadn¡¯t been worried about you being stewed by someone, why would I go through such trouble? Just then, An Jing spotted a familiar figure in the distance and couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Arrest Officer Qin, where¡¯s that youngster Han Wenxin?¡± That man was indeed one of the only two arrest officers of Yu State City, Qin. At that moment, he was clutching his stomach, seemingly laughing so hard that he was bent over. ¡°Oh, him? He¡¯s squatting in the side hall corridor,¡± Qin said, trying to suppress his laughter, ¡°You better go have a look.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± An Jing, upon seeing Qin¡¯s difficulty in containing his amusement, asked curiously. He was planning on having Han Wenxin look after Zhao Qingmei and the others. With him there, the riffraff of Jianghu should not dare to be too presumptuous. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you go there. I can¡¯t quite explain it,¡± Qin replied. Curious, An Jing quickly made his way to the corridor ahead. ¡°Brother Han, Brother Han!¡± At the end of the corridor, a burly man dressed in a constable uniform was squatting with his face to the wall. By his build, it would undoubtedly be Han Wenxin. Upon hearing An Jing¡¯s voice, Han Wenxin turned his body around and removed the fighting hat from his head. The moment he turned around, An Jing was startled and exclaimed, ¡°You¡­ who are you? Why are you wearing Brother Han¡¯s clothes?¡± This person¡¯s face was nothing like a human¡¯s, swollen and bruised beyond recognition, not a single part of it unmarred, looking like a pig¡¯s head¡ªan image even more exaggerated than Zhou Xianming had been. ¡°` ¡°Oh¡­ oh my goodness, Han Wenxin!¡± The person¡¯s voice carried a hint of a sob, and from the tone, one could detect a familiar note. ¡°Is that you, Han Wenxin?¡± An Jing gulped and asked somewhat uncertainly. What on earth had happened to Han Wenxin? How had things come to this? Li Fuzhou also followed and, looking astonished, exclaimed, ¡°Had you not spoken, I would have truly thought that a pig had stood up.¡± ¡°I¡­ I really am Han Wenxin,¡± Han Wenxin said with a mournful expression. ¡°Prove it,¡± An Jing frowned and said with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°How do you prove that you are Han Wenxin?¡± Han Wenxin held up three fingers, asserting solemnly, ¡°I, Han Wenxin, would rather die than touch gambling or drugs.¡± ¡°It really is you, kid.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing felt sure in his heart. This person was undoubtedly Han Wenxin¡ªthe very arrest officer who never spoke of the yellow character. ¡°What in the world happened to you?¡± Wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes, Han Wenxin said, ¡°I¡­ I might have been infected by Zhou Xianming. Last night, while I was lying in bed at home, a man in black suddenly burst in and asked, ¡®So you¡¯re the kid Han Wenxin?¡¯ We three had drinks last night, drank too much, and I was a bit confused, so I told the man yes, and what of it? Little did I know that the man in black would start beating me without another word ¡­¡± An Jing said, puzzled, ¡°This really is bizarre.¡± Zhou Xianming was a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken, whereas Han Wenxin was the chief constable of Yu State City. What sort of grudge or grievance could the man in black have with them that he would beat them so violently? Moreover, it seemed the grudge between him and Han Wenxin was deeper than with Zhou Xianming. A mysterious figure in black appeared in Yu State City, specializing in bullying the weak and beating others? Even the chief constable had suffered¡ªthis man in black must be no ordinary individual. There¡¯s an old saying that aptly fits the situation: ¡°A Daoist would rather let his comrade die than be poor himself.¡± ¡°I truly don¡¯t know what I did to offend him,¡± Han Wenxin lamented. ¡°Sigh.¡± An Jing patted Han Wenxin on the shoulder and said, ¡°Given your way of speaking, it¡¯s normal for you to unknowingly offend people.¡± Han Wenxin was about to retort when he was distracted by a beautiful sight. Han Wenxin nudged An Jing, excitedly saying, ¡°Look, that¡¯s Miss Cao of the Cao family, a famous beauty of Yu State who is said to be unmarried. Hey, she¡¯s walking towards us.¡± An Jing followed the sound and saw Cao Ling¡¯er dressed in light purple clothes that gave her an ethereal air, stepping forward in embroidered shoes with a lotus gait. He was of course familiar with Cao Ling¡¯er, whose Yin Energy he had once cured. Han Wenxin quickly donned his hat in a fluster, not wanting to be presumptuous before the young lady. ¡°Doctor An, Miss Ling¡¯er greets you,¡± Cao Ling¡¯er approached An Jing and bowed slightly before saying in a delicate voice. An Jing smiled and asked, ¡°Miss Cao, no need for formalities. I wonder if your health has improved recently?¡± Cao Ling¡¯er replied gratefully, ¡°I¡¯ve improved a lot. Without Doctor An¡¯s miraculous healing, Ling¡¯er might still be unconscious.¡± Miraculous healing? The envious fire blazed up in Han Wenxin, standing by¡ªthey shouted inside his head: Miss Cao, if Doctor An can perform miraculous healings, so can I. An Jing, curious, asked, ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. I was told by Madam Cao that you were infected with Yin Energy at Fa Xi Temple. How is it that today ¡­¡± Cao Ling¡¯er hesitated for a moment and then replied, ¡°Doctor An might not know since you aren¡¯t a member of Jianghu. Today is the gathering organized by Cao Gang to invite the four major families and powers from throughout Jiangnan Dao. It¡¯s said they¡¯re going to present the beheading of the captured legendary swordsman.¡± An Jing knew what day it was but didn¡¯t expect the Cao family to take it so seriously, even having Cao Ling¡¯er, who had recently recovered from a serious illness, attend. ¡°Doctor An, please be careful,¡± Cao Ling¡¯er said quietly, biting her tender lip. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Miss Cao. With Constable Han here, I should be fine,¡± An Jing said with a smile, even though he felt something strange deep down. Seeing the expression on Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s face, it seemed today¡¯s demon exorcising conference wasn¡¯t going to be simple. ¡°All right, Ling¡¯er must be going now. I¡¯ll thank Doctor An for saving my life another time.¡± Cao Ling¡¯er nodded and then quickly walked towards the depths of Fa Xi Temple. ¡°Brother An, there¡¯s something off about that Cao Ling¡¯er,¡± Han Wenxin said with a weird expression after she had left. ¡°Son-in-law, remember always: emotions should be restrained by etiquette. Do not commit a misstep,¡± Li Fuzhou nodded, seeming to agree with Han Wenxin¡¯s words. ¡°What¡¯s off? Isn¡¯t she perfectly fine and normal? You all are just prone to thinking too much,¡± An Jing said, eyeing Li Fuzhou guiltily, ¡°Third Master, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to go think over the Three-Life Stone? I just saw it to the left side of Heavenly King Hall.¡± ¡°Fine, in that case, you enjoy yourself,¡± Li Fuzhou said, feeling reassured seeing Han Wenxin with An Jing. An Jing was just an ordinary doctor; it was unlikely he¡¯d provoke an upper-class martial artist from Jianghu. If only some minor figures from Jianghu caused trouble, having Han Wenxin nearby should suffice to handle it. Fate had seemingly bound Han Wenxin and the minor figures of Jianghu together. With that, Li Fuzhou walked off into the distance. ¡°Where is the demon exorcising conference hosted by Cao Gang being held?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help asking as he watched Li Fuzhou leave. Han Wenxin replied, ¡°It¡¯s in the Reincarnation Hall, said to be before the water and land ritual.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I see,¡± An Jing nodded, the glint in his eyes turning deep, yet he began to worry. It seemed Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun were heading to Reincarnation Hall. ¡°What¡¯s that old man following you for?¡± Han Wenxin eyed Li Fuzhou¡¯s retreating figure and then, seeing An Jing¡¯s reaction, suddenly realized, ¡°Is he the mole?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that now. Help me out, will you?¡± An Jing wrapped his arm around Han Wenxin with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s up? If it¡¯s looking after Miss Cao or Tan Yun, I¡¯d be happy to¡ªthough I¡¯d need to think about which one to care for first.¡± ¡­¡­ Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Disputes Arise in the Reincarnation Hall Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Disputes Arise in the Reincarnation Hall Reincarnation Hall. Within the hall, golden splendor shone brilliantly, and rows of Buddha statues stood. In the center was a giant Buddha statue, six meters tall, holding Buddha beads, with eyes calm and peacefully gazing straight ahead. In the Buddhism of the Western Regions, ranks above the Arhats were Vajras and Bodhisattvas. The so-called ¡°Vajra¡¯s Furious Eyes, Bodhisattva¡¯s lowered gaze.¡± The statue revered in the Reincarnation Hall was that of a Bodhisattva from the Great Zhou Dynasty. Flanking it were dozens of other Buddhas, shining resplendently. At the same time, a waft of sandalwood drifted out, refreshing the soul. At this moment, the area around the main hall was filled with people. The upper seats were occupied by the Cao Gang, while the seats on each side were for the heads of the four major families and other masters from Jiangnan Dao. Fa Wu and the monks from Fa Xi Temple stood in a corner. Many were secretly curious, why did these monks from Fa Xi Temple seem to be led by that seven or eight-year-old little monk? What exactly was the identity of this little monk? Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun had already arrived early and stood in a corner. ¡°They actually dare to attend this Demon-Extermination Conference. I¡¯m going to remember all of them,¡± Tan Yun made a mental note of everyone¡¯s faces and names present, ready to record them in her notebook once she returned. The people marked for death in Tan Yun¡¯s notebook were mostly killed, and her thirst for revenge was strong, much like Zhao Qingmei. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes were deep, and she communicated telepathically, ¡°Has everyone arrived?¡± ¡°In Yu State City, all the masters of the Human Sect above Third Grade have come,¡± replied Tan Yun. ¡°Also, these Buddhist people¡­.¡± Surrounding this calm look of the four directions, countless Demon Sect masters lay hidden, merely awaiting an order. With but a word, this Reincarnation Hall would turn into a Blood Sea. The Cao Gang branded that unparalleled swordsman with the Demon Sect¡¯s name, then executed him. Now, they even convened a Demon-Extermination Conference, clearly showing no regard for the Demon Sect. Since the Cao Gang wished to demonstrate their authority over the Demon Sect, Zhao Qingmei, as the Demon Sect Hierarch, would naturally not stand idly by. ¡°Handle the Buddhists as well; since they allowed the Cao Gang to hold the Demon-Extermination Conference here, they intend to be adversaries of the Demon Sect.¡± A sliver of sharp murderous intent flashed in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes. Today, she would see whether the Demon Sect or the Cao Gang would establish their dominance. ¡°The head of the Su Family, Su Ze, has arrived.¡± Accompanied by a clear call, Su Ze, the head of one of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, arrived. ¡°Brother Su, you used to be so hot-tempered. I didn¡¯t expect that for such a grand gathering, you would actually be the last to arrive.¡± Before Su Ze could take his seat, someone began to tease him. The speaker was none other than the head of the Cao Family, Cao Hongkou. Between the Cao Family and the Su Family ran deep grudges and disputes. Moreover, both families engaged in similar enterprises and had been engaging in both overt and covert battles for many years. The Cao Family had hitched its fortunes to the Cao Gang¡¯s ship in recent years, subtly surpassing the Su Family, deepening the animosity to the point of outright hostility. Ordinarily, one could see either the Su Family or the Cao Family at a place, but rarely both, let alone the two family heads in person. ¡°With age comes a need to temper one¡¯s impulsiveness,¡± Su Ze neither became angry nor reacted harshly but simply waved his hand. ¡°You¡¯re not late, Head of the Su Family. Please, take your seat quickly,¡± said Ming Jinghua of the Ming Family, standing up to play the peacemaker. Ming Jinghua, present in the gathering, was the oldest in terms of seniority. As a patriarch of an old family from Jiangnan Dao, even Cao Hongkou and Su Ze had to show him some respect. Su Ze, accompanied by a host of Su family experts, also slowly took their seats. This grand assembly was something the Su family was compelled to attend due to the prevailing situation. Cao Gang spread rumors that this unparalleled swordsman was a master of the Demon Sect, and in Great Yan, the Demon Sect was regarded as something everyone had the right to eradicate. As one of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, the Su family had no choice but to come. Among the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, the Cao and Mu families were clearly aligned with Cao Gang. The Ming family was ambiguous and had not explicitly sided with Cao Gang but also had not refused their offer to cooperate. Compared to the Ming family, the Su family¡¯s stance was much clearer. Due to the incident at Tieyun Mountain, the relationship between Cao Gang and the Su family was extremely hostile. If it weren¡¯t for some remaining influence in the imperial court, the Su family might have ceased to exist. Mu Jinglun observed all this with a hint of a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. As the leaders of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, everyone was shrewd, each with their own calculations. The fiercer the struggle between the Su and Cao families, the more the other two families stood to gain. But some people were different; they wanted to be treated as virtuous while securing the benefits¡ªthey wanted to be known as good people while also receiving the praise of others. Once everyone was seated, Ming Jinghua said with a chuckle, ¡°Family Head Cao, I heard that a batch of your family¡¯s merchandise, while being transported from East River to Yu State River, was robbed by river bandits?¡± A few days before, a fleet of Cao family¡¯s merchant ships had come from East River, intending to enter the docks of Lijiang City. However, unexpectedly, they were hijacked by a group of river bandits en route, and their goods were still missing. The waterways of Jiangnan Dao were extensive, crisscrossing in all directions, essentially under the control of the Cao Gang and the Sanhu Gang. Given the deep connections between the Cao family and Cao Gang, who would dare to rob the Cao family¡¯s merchandise? Cao Hongkou¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°Those bandits really had some guts. A few days ago, my granddaughter fell ill, and I couldn¡¯t spare the time.¡± ¡°It happens that I caught a river bandit who might be of some help to Family Head Cao.¡± Ming Jinghua gestured to his grandson, Ming Fei. Mu Jinglun¡¯s eyebrows raised in surprise. Soon, a river bandit tied up from head to toe was ¡®escorted¡¯ in. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Upon seeing the man, Su Ze inwardly cursed, sensing trouble. This person was Liu Shize, a guest elder who had defected from the Su family two months ago. ¡°Father¡­¡± Su Rui was just about to speak when he was abruptly silenced by a pair of desiccated palms pulling him back. He looked up to see Su Ze shaking his head at him. ¡°Mercy, my lord!¡± As soon as the bandit was brought into the Reincarnation Hall, he fell to his knees, crying and pleading. Ming Jinghua exclaimed sternly, ¡°Just recite what you told us yesterday, otherwise I¡¯ll send you to the netherworld right now.¡± Hearing this, the bandit immediately wailed, ¡°I¡¯ll tell, I¡¯ll tell everything! I am a guest elder of the Su family. A few days ago, I was ordered to go to East River dock to rob passing merchant ships. All of this was commanded by Young Master Su Rui, I was just following orders and¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Bullshit!¡± Before the bandit could finish speaking, Su Rui, standing behind Su Ze, immediately denounced, ¡°Liu Shize is spouting nonsense!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Cao Hongkou¡¯s brow furrowed with a cold shout, ¡°This is no place for a junior like you to speak! Continue.¡± The bandit lay on the ground, trembling as he continued, ¡°It was Young Master Su Rui who said that there weren¡¯t many guards watching over the Cao family¡¯s merchant ship and that if we robbed this shipment, each person would receive fifty taels of silver. Moreover, it was he who personally beheaded Cao Wang.¡± Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Unparalleled Swordsman Finally Appears Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Unparalleled Swordsman Finally Appears Whish! As the words fell, the entire Great Hall erupted into an uproar! No one had expected that the Cao Family¡¯s merchant ship had been plundered by the Su Family. All eyes instantly turned to Cao Hongkou. Cao Hongkou¡¯s face was somber as his eyes fixed on Su Ze, ¡°Patriarch Su, do you not owe Cao an explanation?¡± The chill in Cao Hongkou¡¯s words was palpable to everyone present. ¡°Explanation?¡± Su Ze smiled faintly, calmly saying, ¡°Patriarch Cao, don¡¯t be used by someone with an agenda. Liu Shize had ceased being a guest elder of my Su Family two months ago, and as for the claim of plundering your merchant ship, it is entirely fabricated.¡± Cao Hongkou¡¯s face was like frost, ¡°You say he¡¯s no longer your Su Family¡¯s guest elder, and that¡¯s that? The witness is right here, yet you outright deny it. It seems to me that the one fabricating stories is you.¡± With these words, Cao Hongkou slowly stood up. ¡°Whoosh!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± Su Ze did not move, but Su Rui and other experts behind him all stood up in an instant. In no time at all, the atmosphere in the Great Hall became delicate. Everyone else was slightly startled, not expecting to see such a tense scene before the people from the Cao Gang even arrived. The Su Family and the Cao Family, two of Jiangnan Dao¡¯s four great families, were facing off against each other. At this moment, An Jing, wearing a dark cyan cape, walked slowly into the room, and then blended into the crowd. He sighed in relief when he saw Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun standing in the corner. Seeing this, Fa Wu stepped forward and said, ¡°Venerable guests, today is our Sect¡¯s Ullambana Festival. I implore everyone to refrain from reckless violence.¡± Those present paid no attention to the young monk. ¡°The ¡®witness¡¯ you speak of is nothing more than a guest elder who betrayed and fled my Su Family two months ago. Does that count as a witness?¡± Su Ze¡¯s figure moved, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Liu Shize, saying, ¡°Speak, who is the mastermind behind you? Otherwise, I will kill you on the spot.¡± ¡°How dare you, Su Ze!¡± An enraged Cao Hongkou shouted. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Liu Shize¡¯s throat was clutched, his voice trembling. Cao Hongkou¡¯s figure flashed, his momentum like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, his claw reaching out towards Liu Shize. Su Ze narrowed his eyes and flung Liu Shize towards him. ¡°Bang!¡± With a single palm strike from Cao Hongkou, Liu Shize¡¯s entire body turned into a mist of blood. The whole Great Hall fell silent instantly. ¡°Well, well, what a way to destroy the corpse and erase all traces.¡± Cao Hongkou laughed angrily. The people from the Cao Family behind him also stood up one after another, glaring angrily at the Su Family experts across the room. ¡°Patriarch Cao, don¡¯t be deceived by those with an ulterior motive,¡± Su Ze said indifferently. ¡°Patriarch Su, are you referring to me as someone with an ulterior motive?¡± Ming Jinghua narrowed his eyes and stood up displeasedly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Just then, a cold voice came from the back of the hall. ¡°Vice Gang Leader Guo!¡± ¡°Vice Gang Leader Guo!¡± ¡­ Seeing the newcomer, even Mu Jinglun, who had been seated, rose to his feet. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Guo Yuchun first glanced at the bloodstains on the ground and then asked. Cao Hongkou was first to speak, ¡°My Cao Family¡¯s merchant ship was plundered by the Su Family, and just now, Patriarch Su killed the witness.¡± Su Ze said mildly, ¡°Patriarch Cao is mistaken. First, that man was not a witness; he was just a guest elder who betrayed my Su Family and tried to frame us. Second, he was not killed by me; it was you who killed him. Everyone present saw it clearly.¡± ¡°Enough, we¡¯ll discuss this matter later.¡± Guo Yuchun interrupted Cao Hongkou, who wanted to continue speaking, and instead turned to the crowd, saying, ¡°Our Cao Gang didn¡¯t summon everyone here to handle such trifles. Today, we¡¯re here to discuss countermeasures against the Demon Sect.¡± Upon hearing this, Cao Hongkou huffed loudly and then sat down. ¡°Lately, those demon fiends from the Demon Sect have been continuously challenging the authority of our Cao Gang, killing our brothers. After extensive investigation, we have tracked down and killed one of these demon fiends. Come, bring out the corpse.¡± After Guo Yuchun finished speaking, two Cao Gang members carried out a body. ¡°It really is the Floating Blood Sword, Xue Chen!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Xue Chen to be that peerless swordsman.¡± ¡°The Cao Gang truly lives up to its reputation, even killing a First Grade expert.¡± ¡°This was a high-ranking expert of the Demon Sect, they¡¯re really coming.¡± ¡°The Cao Gang indeed has the bearing of a leader among the gangs in the world, even slaying a Demon Sect expert.¡± ¡­.. The moment they saw the corpse, a wave of murmuring rose among those present, like a mountain erupting into a tsunami. Even the experts from the four major families showed expressions of shock, their eyes fixed on the dead body. That top expert, who split the dungeon with a single sword strike and made Hong Yuanwu change color, that peerless swordsman who killed the ones on Tieyun Mountain, he was actually dead. Su Ze¡¯s eyes were filled with doubt and surprise as he said, ¡°Is it really the Floating Blood Sword!?¡± Initially, he hadn¡¯t fully believed the words released by the Cao Gang, since they could have been a ruse, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, he had to believe it. ¡°Sigh.¡± Su Rui¡¯s face showed no emotion, but he sighed heavily in his heart. No matter what, this peerless swordsman who had killed those on Tieyun Mountain was a benefactor to his Su Family, but now he had been killed by someone from the Cao Gang, and they planned to behead him, yet he was powerless to do anything. ¡°So, this peerless swordsman was actually Xue Chen,¡± Ming Jinghua said, her expression somewhat complex. When the peerless swordsman first gained fame, she too had sent people to investigate the swordsman¡¯s whereabouts and identity, intending to secretly recruit him to the Ming Family, but there had been no news. She didn¡¯t expect the man to be Xue Chen. ¡°No matter how powerful this peerless swordsman is, he couldn¡¯t escape Deputy Gang Leader Guo¡¯s ¡®Heaven and Earth Net,¡¯¡± said Cao Hongkou with a low, soft chuckle. Cao Ling¡¯er, standing behind the Cao Family, also couldn¡¯t help but take several more glances. After all, this peerless swordsman had been one of the most talked-about figures in Jiangnan Dao recently, and even she couldn¡¯t help but feel more curious about him. From a distant corner, Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°These fools. When did Xue Chen join our Demon Sect? Even we ourselves don¡¯t know, yet they seem so sure.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts, wondering whether this was a ruse by the Cao Gang or if they really had mistaken Xue Chen for a member of the Demon Sect. ¡°Father, I feel something¡¯s off,¡± Mu Jie said, standing behind Mu Jinglun. ¡°What¡¯s off?¡± Mu Jinglun asked indifferently, ¡°Is it because the swordsman is Xue Chen? Or is it because of your unconventional aunt?¡± Mu Jinglun¡¯s tone was very calm, certain that the corpse was indeed that of the peerless swordsman. Mu Jie hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing. The people present had varied expressions and reactions, but deep down, they all felt a greater fear towards the Cao Gang. If a peerless swordsman capable of killing those on Tieyun Mountain, a First Grade expert rumored to be, could fall in an instant under the might of the enormous Cao Gang, how could they not be surprised, or afraid? Fa Wu slightly bowed his head, his hands together in prayer. ¡°Behead him! Hang his head on the walls of Yu State City for three days and nights,¡± Guo Yuchun commanded, quite pleased with the scene. ¡°Yes.¡± Bian Fang nodded, then drew a long knife and approached the body of Xue Chen. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Many shook their heads and sighed at this sight; such a swordsman was, after all, unable to stand against the grand hand of the Cao Gang. ¡°Xue Chen, oh Xue Chen, blame yourself for offending our Cao Gang.¡± Bian Fang scoffed, and his long knife swung downward. Tan Yun took a deep breath, preparing to chant a command. And in the next moment, a cold light shot out from afar, and then spread throughout the entire Great Hall. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Broken Buddha Statue and the Released Seal Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Broken Buddha Statue and the Released Seal Vilu Hall. Compared to the bustling Reincarnation Hall, the Vilu Hall was extremely quiet at this moment, with only Monk Fa Zhi and Gan Yue present. Above the great hall, the Buddha statue was covered in dense, interwoven cracks, as if it could collapse at any moment. Meanwhile, black streams of Yin Energy were seeping from the base of the Buddha statue, resembling a spring that could burst forth at any time. If it weren¡¯t for the faint golden light holding it back, it might have overflowed long ago. Yet even so, one could see the faint golden light slowly dimming. The temperature in the entire great hall was extremely low, as if it were a harsh winter¡¯s day, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Such dense Yin Energy.¡± Gan Yue looked at the Yin Energy before him, his brows knitted into a frown. Such intense Yin Energy, not even seen outside Yujing City¡¯s chaotic graveyards, and not even the Buddhist golden light could suppress it, indicating its terrifying nature. Monk Fa Zhi murmured with lowered eyes, ¡°Once the Buddha statue breaks, the evil being sealed within will be released, so we must repress the sealed entity before today ends.¡± The Ullambana Festival was when the Buddhist essence was the richest and the Yin Energy the weakest. ¡°May I ask how Master Fa Zhi plans to suppress this Yin Energy?¡± Gan Yue asked in a grave voice. With an outstretched palm, Fa Zhi produced a purple-gold lantern, saying, ¡°The original treasure from the Western Regions, the Bodhi Bead, was full of Yang Energy and profound in Buddhist doctrine, the best object for suppressing such Yin Energy. However, it has been lost for decades. Nevertheless, I have brought the Purple Gold Glass Lamp, which is nearly as effective, but I still require the assistance of Officer Gan.¡± With the appearance of the Purple Gold Glass Lamp, the chilly great hall began to warm. ¡°Very well.¡± Gan Yue nodded. Monk Fa Zhi then sat cross-legged, placing the Purple Gold Glass Lamp in front of him. His body¡¯s surging Inner Strength madly flowed toward the wick of the Purple Gold Glass Lamp, with its wick receiving the vast Inner Strength infusion, immediately releasing a dense purple-golden flame, forming beams of golden light. Woosh! Woosh! Woosh! The golden radiance shined, illuminating the entire great hall. The originally dense Yin Energy, under the glow of this golden light, suddenly became listless. Seeing this, Gan Yue did not hesitate and directed a furious surge of Inner Strength from his hands towards the lamp wick. The Inner Strength of two First Grade Experts, combined with the Purple Gold Glass Lamp¡¯s transformation into Buddhist golden light, made the Yin Energy retract as if encountering a natural enemy, quickly shrinking. The original coldness of the great hall was also gradually replaced by rising warmth. Monk Fa Zhi exhaled softly, feeling reassured with the aid of the Purple Gold Glass Lamp; it appeared the seal could hold for several more months. ¡°Tap tap tap¡­¡± Right at that moment, footsteps were heard outside the great hall. However, as Fa Zhi and Gan Yue had their backs to the entrance, they couldn¡¯t see who was coming. ¡°Gentlemen, there¡¯s no need to go to such lengths. Leave this spirit to me to handle.¡± The person chuckled lightly and then pointed a finger forward. ¡°Not good!¡± Upon seeing this scene, Fa Zhi¡¯s brows immediately knit together. To approach Vilu Hall silently was definitely the work of an expert. A casual flicker was like a violent storm erupting, directly striking upon the golden light. ¡°Bang!¡± Upon meeting the domineering blast, the golden light instantly shattered, and without the suppression of the golden light, the Yin Energy once again became active, spreading wildly. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The Buddha statue, already full of cracks, seemed unable to bear the strain any longer and completely shattered with a loud crash. In almost the blink of an eye, a mountainous and tsunami-like wave of Yin Energy surged up from the base of the Buddha statue. Gan Yue¡¯s face grew as cold as frost as he slowly turned his head, only to see an elegant middle-aged scholar outside the great hall. This person was none other than Li Fuzhou. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°My last name is Li, and my given name Fuzhou.¡± Li Fuzhou cupped his fists in a salute, meticulously polite. ¡°Li Fuzhou!? You are the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou!?¡± A trace of astonishment flickered across Gan Yue¡¯s eyes. Beside him, the monk Fa Zhi also raised his eyebrows, a hint of shock appearing in his eyes. ¡­¡­.. Inside the Reincarnation Hall. ¡°Clang!¡± A streak of cold light traveled from afar, directly severing the long knife in Bian Fang¡¯s hand, and a piece of the blade fell to the ground. ¡°Who!?¡± A drop of cold sweat emerged on Bian Fang¡¯s forehead as he looked toward the direction from which the cold light had come. Not just him, all eyes turned in that direction. Who had such audacity!? How dare someone make a move during the Cao Gang¡¯s Demon Extermination Assembly!? A figure in a dark cyan robe stood on the hall¡¯s rafters, tall and slender, his features indiscernible, with a longsword carried on his back, indicating at first glance that this individual was undoubtedly a first-rate expert. ¡°This¡­ this is.¡± Mu Jie saw the figure, and a deep-seated fear seemed to be stimulated within him, his throat dry and icy as he struggled to squeeze out a few words, ¡°Supreme swordsman!¡± The words spoken by Mu Jie were like a boulder dropped into water. ¡°What!?¡± The many experts all had a drastic change of expression, as if they had been struck by lightning. The supreme swordsman Xue Chen was supposed to be dead, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°Sect Hierarch, he¡­ he is the swordsman from that night,¡± Tan Yun said, caught off guard at the sight of An Jing. Zhao Qingmei also raised her eyebrows and transmitted her voice, ¡°Remain calm and don¡¯t be rash.¡± For some reason, she always felt this figure was very familiar. It seemed that the Xue Chen the Cao Gang had killed had indeed posed a big problem. Since the real person had made a move, then she was not in a hurry for the moment. ¡°Mu Jie, what nonsense are you talking?¡± Mu Jinglun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he reprimanded sharply. Mu Jie, looking at An Jing on the rafters, said, trembling, ¡°Father, he is the supreme swordsman who fought against Tieyun Mountain that night, without a doubt, it is him, it is!¡± Mu Jie was the only one who had seen the supreme swordsman clash with Tieyun Mountain; he could not mistake the swordsman¡¯s silhouette. Everyone was dumbfounded as they looked at the man in the dark cyan robe, their minds in disarray. Guo Yuchun realized something, and his complexion turned extremely ugly. ¡°He¡­ he is the supreme swordsman!?¡± A voice broke the silence, and then the entire Great Hall was filled with discussion. ¡°So he is the supreme swordsman; with that said, Xue Chen is merely an impostor.¡± ¡°I thought as much; Xue Chen ranks at the bottom of the Tiger List, how could he possibly have killed the man from Tieyun Mountain.¡± ¡°The man before us is the supreme swordsman; compared to him, Xue Chen¡¯s demeanor seems several degrees inferior.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡­. Everyone suddenly realized that the body lying on the ground was not the supreme swordsman; the man before them was the one who had killed the man from Tieyun Mountain, and the Cao Gang had merely killed an impostor. For a moment, the expressions on the people¡¯s faces were extremely telling. ¡°So Xue Chen was a fake,¡± Ouyang Yu also frowned slightly. Who would have thought that the Floating Blood Sword, known for its First Grade Cultivation, would be a fake? And that the real supreme swordsman was someone else? Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Reincarnation Hall Slaughters on All Sides Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Reincarnation Hall Slaughters on All Sides ¡°Never mind whether it¡¯s real or fake, let¡¯s just kill them all,¡± Nan Ming said, his gaze icy cold, a hint of ruthlessness flickering in his eyes. ¡°Sir, your courage is truly formidable,¡± Guo Yuchun adjusted his emotions and said grimly. He hadn¡¯t expected that rather than drawing out a Demon Sect master, he had instead drawn out a truly peerless swordsman. At this moment, the Fa Xi Temple was teeming with numerous experts. To others, it was undoubtedly a dragon¡¯s den and a tiger¡¯s lair, yet this individual dared to delve deep, indicating extreme confidence within his heart. An Jing smiled faintly, ¡°Just hand over Xue Chen¡¯s body to me, and I shall turn hostility into friendship with the Cao Gang, pursuing no further grievances or grudges from then on. How about it?¡± Everyone present was stunned upon hearing this. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Nan Ming scoffed coldly, ¡°You killed my Yun Shan brothers; this enmity is irreconcilable. And you still harbor thoughts of not pursuing the Cao Gang?¡± The members of the Cao Gang all had a cold gleam in their eyes, glaring fiercely at An Jing, wishing they could tear him into pieces to vent the rage in their hearts. ¡°Then there is nothing more to say.¡± An Jing chuckled lightly, his gaze turning icy cold. ¡°Today, you won¡¯t be able to take Xue Chen¡¯s body with you, and your own body will remain here as well,¡± Guo Yuchun licked his lips, his dry voice somewhat piercing and unpleasant. An Jing had no desire to waste words with Guo Yuchun, and with a leap, he flew toward Xue Chen¡¯s body. ¡°Courting death!¡± Bian Fang bellowed, his left hand reaching for the iron whip at his waist. ¡°Hiss, hiss!¡± A whip that seemed to burst from the waist like a dart transformed into a venomous snake, snapping ferociously toward An Jing¡¯s neck. Bian Fang¡¯s attack was a killing move. An Jing extended his palm, and the longsword on his back fell into his hand, then turned into a cold arc of light. Nine-character Sword Technique! Lin Character Secret! ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± As the longsword swirled, a weird sword light formed a whirlpool, ensnaring the long snake directly. The whip cracked and fell to the ground inch by inch, while Bian Fang¡¯s face turned incredibly pale, retreating continuously. ¡°All members of the Cao Gang, attack him. We absolutely cannot let him escape today,¡± Guo Yuchun said in a low voice. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! As Guo Yuchun¡¯s voice fell, many hidden Cao Gang experts rushed out, quickly surrounding An Jing. ¡°Kill!¡± The crowd surged forward, charging at An Jing. The already crowded Great Hall became instantly impenetrable. ¡°An ambush?!¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, realizing that this must have been arranged by the Cao Gang in advance. Did they know he would come, or was the ambush meant for someone else? In a split second, An Jing had no time to think, his sword swirling in his hand. ¡°Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!¡± The moment the sword light danced, numerous dazzling sprays of blood shot out, and soon several bodies lay on the ground. ¡°Hiss¨C!¡± The experts present gasped in shock, marveling at the deadly and swift swordsmanship of the peerless swordsman. ¡°Does this Guo Yuchun still want to ambush me?¡± Zhao Qingmei seemed to realize something, her eyes narrowing slightly. It must be said, Guo Yuchun is incredibly audacious to think about ambushing the Demon Sect. ¡°All together now!¡± Ouyang Yu and Nan Ming also flew from left and right, the three forming a triad of positions, seemingly intending to encircle An Jing. ¡°This swordsman¡¯s courage is indeed vast,¡± Ming Jinghua frowned. Daring to venture alone into a place teeming with Cao Gang experts, this wasn¡¯t something just anyone with courage could accomplish. Because, in the eyes of the discerning, this was not a matter of pride or will, but a seeking of death. Cao Hongkou¡¯s gaze was profound, ¡°Let¡¯s see if he can survive first.¡± Others didn¡¯t know, but he was well aware that Guo Yuchun was also a First Grade Expert, plus the combination of Second Grade¡¯s Ouyang Yu, Bian Fang, and Nan Ming, the swordsman before them would only stand a chance if he was a master ranked higher than Human Flower or Earth Flower. Bian Fang stomped his foot. ¡°Boom!¡± The tough bluestone slab instantly cracked, displaying visible fractures, and then his body charged at An Jing like an arrow released from its bow. Bian Fang¡¯s famed fist skill was the Giant Whale Fist. Originally, he had been a tributor of Nu Jing Gang but had excellent relations with Tieyun Mountain. Later, when Nu Jing Gang began warring with Cao Gang, he sided with Cao Gang. At that time, because of his ties with Tieyun Mountain, he sided with Cao Gang, and now he was still with Cao Gang, but Tieyun Mountain had perished, which infuriated him. With a punch, the air surged like a raging whale. At that moment, An Jing appeared like a tiny boat in a violent storm, utterly insignificant. ¡°What an impressive fist skill,¡± Cao Ling¡¯er muttered, her eyes widening as she watched the fist skill that seemed like a vast ocean wave sweeping over everything. Not just Cao Ling¡¯er, everyone present felt Bian Fang¡¯s boundless momentum and were profoundly shaken. Nine-character Sword Technique! Dou Character Secret! Sword light swirled, like a streak of light slashing through heaven and earth. ¡°Ch!¡± The moment they felt the sword skill, everyone present shuddered, sensing an overwhelming force descending from the sky. As that sword fell, the terrifying waves instantly split in two. Giant waves rolled, Qi Force filled the air, a heaven-shocking sword split the immense waves. The sword light did not stop; it continued to spread, charging towards the figure standing at the center of the waves, Bian Fang. ¡°Pff!¡± A roar of a beast echoed through the heavens, and it seemed as if everyone saw a giant blue whale burst apart, splitting in two. Simultaneously, Bian Fang¡¯s body halted, and then he began to convulse. ¡°Bang!¡± Bian Fang, standing in mid-air, burst open, transforming into a cloud of blood mist, with fresh blood splashing down in the Great Hall, dyeing the floor completely red. Silence! The entire Great Hall instantly became extremely quiet, as if the sound of a needle dropping could be heard clearly. One move! Just one move! One of the Cao Gang¡¯s seven Vajras, Bian Fang, had been killed. Bian Fang was a Second Grade Expert, a well-known master in Jiangnan Dao, a formidable expert that made people fear him, yet today, he had been slain by the swordsman with a single sword stroke, which chilled everyone¡¯s spine. In the eyes of a real master, the so-called experts in ordinary people¡¯s eyes are merely ordinary people. ¡°Such¡­such a terrifying swordsmanship.¡± ¡°This is indeed a peerless swordsman; no wonder he dared to come here to kill.¡± ¡°Who exactly is he?¡± ¡­¡­ In an instant, the Great Hall was filled with voices of discussion. Mu Jie seemed as if he had seen a ghost, his teeth chattering. Mu Jinglun, Ming Jinghua, and others also had extremely solemn expressions, realizing that the sword stroke they had just witnessed would have killed them too, indicating that this swordsman needed only one move to kill them. ¡°Is this the elegance of a peerless swordsman?¡± Su Ze couldn¡¯t help but exclaim as he watched An Jing. Fa Wu watched An Jing¡¯s figure, also secretly sighing in his heart, surprised that such a powerful swordsman existed in the land of Great Yan. An Jing slapped his sword, his body like a soaring dragon. Ouyang Yu and Nan Ming felt a chill in their hearts upon seeing this, but they still came forward to meet him. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing¡¯s arm trembled, and his longsword emitted an extremely cold glint. ¡°Chich!¡± The sword light danced, like an insurmountable gorge splitting the sky. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Ouyang Yu and Nan Ming were shaken by the Qi Force, both of them turning pale, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, as their bodies were forced to retreat repeatedly. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Qingyang Wuji Liu Qingshan Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Qingyang Wuji Liu Qingshan ¡°I want to see just how sharp your sword is.¡± Guo Yuchun snorted coldly, his palm lifting as a surge of inner strength welled up within him, followed by a palm strike towards An Jing. Buzz! Buzz! As his palm descended, the air itself seemed to tremble with that sound. River Entering Dream! The rolling handprint descended from the sky like a mountain bearing down fiercely, with the ground cracking inch by inch beneath it. ¡°A First Grade Expert!?¡± Su Ze was shocked at this revelation. He had never heard that Guo Yuchun possessed cultivation, let alone at the First Grade level. Not just Su Ze, most other people present were also taken aback, having never expected the seemingly weak Guo Yuchun to actually be a genuine First Grade cultivator. In the Jianghu, a First Grade Expert was already an uncommonly seen master. It¡¯s known that among the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, three of the family heads were only at the Second Grade level, with only Mu Jinglun having stepped into the First Grade four years ago. An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, no wonder Xue Chen had died, it turned out that Guo Yuchun was actually of First Grade cultivation. But he was not Xue Chen. ¡°Shh!¡± Ghost Valley Sword Technique! Chi Heng Indiscriminate Style! An Jing¡¯s arm lifted, and within that sword light, two streams of black and white qi seemed to emerge, then intertwining and coiling together. ¡°Hundred-step Flying Sword!?¡± Seeing this swordsmanship, Guo Yuchun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed into a ¡®´¨¡¯ shape. Others beside him did not recognize this sword technique, but he was very clear that this was the distinctive sword technique of the Ghost Valley Sect. A Heavenly Martial level martial arts, among the top martial arts in the world. The mysterious sword light, black and white, shone brilliantly as it met Guo Yuchun¡¯s sky-filling palm print. ¡°Bang!¡± On closer inspection, the sword light was like an antelope hanging by its horns, striking directly at the weakest point of Guo Yuchun¡¯s defense. ¡°Tap tap tap¡­¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s face turned pale as he continually stepped backwards. Even his heart overflowed with a chilling sensation, realizing only during the brief exchange how vastly different the swordsman before him was from Xue Chen, not only in cultivation level but also in swordsmanship¡ªthere was no comparison. Such a terrifying swordsman! ¡°Boom!¡± Guo Yuchun changed his breath, pushing hard with his foot, and cracks appeared around his foot as the center. Then, his body shot forward like an arrow released from its bow. River and Moon Palm! During the turmoil of the Nine Kingdoms, there existed an organization called the Sun and Moon Hall, which wielded influence among various countries, stirring up chaos and seeking profit, enjoying a moment of fame, and River and Moon Palm was one of its martial arts. But this hand technique was far inferior when encountering the Heavenly Martial level Hundred-step Flying Sword. Their figures intersected, An Jing moved as if he were walking leisurely in his courtyard, his longsword weaving black and white qi streams, profoundly mysterious and dazzlingly confusing. Ghost Valley Horizontal Sword Technique! Star Rain Form! He lashed out with three continuous strikes, akin to a swift and fierce dragon, or meteors falling under the starry sky, heading straight for Guo Yuchun¡¯s throat, heart, and brow. The three swords moved with such speed, they seemed as if they were a single strike. ¡°What a formidable sword technique. This person¡¯s Qi Mechanism is long-winding, full of potential. Perhaps in the future, he might have a chance to step into the Fifth Level Sword Skill,¡± Zhao Qingmei noted with a gleam of appreciation in her eyes. A swordsman at the Fifth Level Sword Skill could be considered one of the very best swordsmen in the world. If she could recruit him under her command, the Demon Sect wouldn¡¯t just gain a powerful expert, but she would gain a close confidant and have enough strength to keep the Earth Sect Sect Master in check. Thinking this, she silently pondered about how to subdue this exceptional swordsman later. The rest were also amazed by An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship, but his skills were far beyond the comprehension of those present. Most could only see flashes of sword light and couldn¡¯t grasp his Sword Skill. ¡°Shshsh!¡± So fast! Guo Yuchun, engulfed in Star Light, felt his hair stand on end and a cold dread surged from within, as if he were enveloped by a massive net. His steps breezed to the side, evading in an instant. Guo Yuchun hadn¡¯t expected An Jing to be so swift. In just a moment, he felt his skin prickle with the extreme danger, avoiding the strike purely on instinct. ¡°Hissla-!¡± But just then, that snake-like blade twisted, cutting a bloody swath across Guo Yuchun¡¯s waist as the two separated. In just a few dozen breaths, Guo Yuchun, a First Grade cultivator, had already been defeated. ¡°Vice Leader Guo!¡± Ouyang Yu and Nan Ming rushed forward to assist, pressing towards An Jing. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming¡­¡± An Jing¡¯s longsword blocked their assault, but his eyebrows knit together slightly, thinking to himself, It seems I need to finish this quickly. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± The longsword in his hand spun, deploying the Hundred-step Flying Sword. Fast! Too fast! Nearly no one present could clearly see the trajectory of An Jing¡¯s sword strikes; it was like wind whistling past their ears, only vaguely sensing the direction of the attacks. ¡°Shh!¡± Ouyang Yu was pierced by a sword in the chest, his body retreating repeatedly. ¡°Die!¡± As An Jing struck Ouyang Yu, a ruthless killing intent flared in Nan Ming¡¯s eyes. He aimed a palm strike at An Jing¡¯s Heavenly Spirit. An Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he employed the Soaring Nine Heavens movement technique, his figure transforming into a phantom image, with a flash of cold light sweeping past. ¡°Pfft!¡± Blood gushed like a fountain, jetting three feet high, as a fine head soared into the sky. ¡°Thump!¡± Nan Ming¡¯s eyes lost their luster, and then he collapsed in a pool of blood. Everyone present was terrified, feeling a coldness that shot from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads. How could this peerless swordsman kill two of Cao Gang¡¯s Vajras in an instant? What kind of terrifying strength was that? An Jing leaped forward, arriving in front of Xue Chen¡¯s corpse. He scooped up the body and bolted towards the entrance of the hall. Seeing An Jing¡¯s figure darting for the exit, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. No one had expected that today, this peerless swordsman would slay two of Cao Gang¡¯s Vajras and still calmly get away with Xue Chen¡¯s corpse. Just as An Jing was about to disappear from the great hall. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A formidable handprint appeared above the great hall, carrying the force of a mountain. All present felt the whole hall shake, as if an earthquake had struck. ¡°What¡­what in the world is happening?¡± Dust filled the air, and everyone¡¯s faces paled. Their minds were unsettled, and the scene instantly became chaotic. ¡°Qingshan Palm Seal! Liu Qingshan has arrived!¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight. She was all too familiar with this hand technique: it was the famed Qingshan Palm Seal of Cao Gang¡¯s Gang Leader. Caught by the terrifying handprint, An Jing had no choice but to hastily retreat backwards. Thud! The massive handprint struck down, causing the ground to tremble. The enormous imprint of the palm was deeply engraved into the solid ground. Upon seeing this, the great hall fell silent, as if time had frozen. Everyone looked at the imprint on the ground and then swallowed hard in secret. It wasn¡¯t until a series of coughing sounds were heard that the crowd snapped back to reality. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± A middle-aged man with a pale face slowly walked in, ¡°Since you have come, why the hurry to leave?¡± He appeared to be around forty-five or forty-six, with some graying at his temples. His eyebrows were thick and neat, and his eyes shone with vitality. He watched people with great intent. Following the middle-aged man was a cold-looking young man, who seemed like a shadow of the older man. ¡°Gang Leader Liu has arrived.¡± Mu Jinglun came back to his senses from the shock and murmured softly to himself. All the experts present were stunned, their gazes instantly fixated on the coughing middle-aged man. The newcomer was none other than Liu Qingshan, the awe-inspiring Gang Leader of Cao Gang who dominated Jiangnan Dao, a top-tier expert on the Dragon List. Controlling one of the five great gangs of the world, with hundreds of thousands of Cao Gang members and experts as common as rain, he was the definitive overlord of Jiangnan Dao. ¡°Liu Qingshan!?¡± Seeing the man, An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and a chill rose within him. That man standing there exerted immense pressure on him. Expert! The person before him was without a doubt a first-rate expert! And the young man standing behind him also possessed great strength, likely to be Tian Liu, known as Soul Losing Hand, the legendary Guest Elder of Cao Gang. ¡°This peerless swordsman is probably¡­¡± ¡°Who would have thought, Gang Leader Liu has actually come to Yu State City.¡± ¡°That palm just now, it was truly terrifying.¡± ¡­¡­. Overwhelmed by Liu Qingshan¡¯s presence, everyone finally came to their senses. ¡°Gang Leader!¡± Guo Yuchun, seeing the newcomer, revealed a glimmer of joy in his eyes. All of a sudden, every Cao Gang expert seemed to have found their backbone, their eyes filled with a resolute killing intent. ¡°Alas,¡± Su Ze sighed softly, feeling a sense of powerlessness. Guo Yuchun was only a First Grade Expert with not even one flower condensed, but Liu Qingshan was a top-tier expert who had condensed both the Human Flower and Earth Flower. It seemed unlikely that the current swordsman would be able to make a move now. ¡°Sect Hierarch, should we make a move?¡± Tan Yun asked anxiously, seeming to fear for the peerless swordsman¡¯s safety. ¡°We¡¯ll take action when the swordsman can no longer hold up,¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes sparkled with a sharp gleam. This swordsman was not weak; since rumors said he was an expert of the Demon Sect, why not make those rumors true and recruit him into their ranks? Now was just missing a chance to offer timely help. Moreover, she also wanted to ¡®exchange pointers¡¯ with Cao Gang¡¯s Gang Leader Liu Qingshan and probe the depths of the current Great Yan Martial World. ¡°Since you have come today, I think it¡¯s best you don¡¯t leave.¡± Liu Qingshan watched An Jing with a smile, his aura slowly pressing down on him. Boom! Having said that, Liu Qingshan was still smiling, but those present felt a chill, as if they had suddenly entered an icehouse. ¡°Peak of Earth Flower!?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He remained composed on the surface but was inwardly tense. In the past, his strength was far superior to Liu Haoping and others from Tieyun Mountain. Now, Liu Qingshan¡¯s strength surpassed his. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see the strength of Qingyang Wuji.¡± Qingyang Wuji was the title Liu Qingshan had been known by in the Jianghu, though it had not been mentioned by anyone for many years. Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Liu Qingshan smiled, ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Today I will let you understand the ways of the Jianghu.¡± Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Sword Control Opens and Closes, Heaven and Earth Darken Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Sword Control Opens and Closes, Heaven and Earth Darken Liu Qingshan finished speaking and slapped his palm forward. ¡°Boom!¡± In the air, a cold handprint appeared and instantly shot out dozens of feet, rushing towards An Jing with an extremely fierce screeching sound. Before this palm print reached An Jing, a surge of turquoise Qi Force enveloped his body, with countless streams of turquoise Qi Force crazily rushing in from all directions. Seeing the densely packed turquoise Qi Force around him, An Jing dared not be careless and slashed forward with his longsword. Clang clang clang clang! In just the span of a breath, An Jing swung hundreds of swords, blocking all the incoming turquoise Qi Force. Suddenly, An Jing felt a chill run down his spine, as if some danger was approaching. ¡°Break for me!¡± An Jing thrust his longsword violently towards an area three feet to his left, only to hit Liu Qingshan¡¯s afterimage, and then drove it toward the ground, causing a thunderous explosion. Surrounding stone slabs and wooden furniture were blown away, shaking the entire great hall. As the two exchanged blows, it was as though two volcanoes furiously collided, shaking the earth and astounding everyone. ¡°This is a battle between top masters.¡± All onlookers stared at the two figures, amazed in their hearts. ¡°Fourth Level Sword Skill?¡± Liu Qingshan took several steps back, a hint of surprise in his eyes. This move, he had not tested An Jing but aimed to kill with a single strike, yet it was seen through by An Jing. Liu Qingshan¡¯s pupils contracted slightly; he knew that to handle this swordsman today, he had to bring out his true power. In the blink of an eye, the two collided once more. The crisscrossing figures moved so quickly that except for Tian Liu and Zhao Qingmei, hardly anyone could discern their movements; even Mu Jinglun could barely make them out. Liu Qingshan shouted lowly and waved his palm forward fiercely, the surging Qi Force instantly bursting forth as if a massive mountain ferociously fell. Boom! Boom! The terrifying sound reverberated, making many spectators¡¯ faces turn pale and forcing them to retreat repeatedly. Qingshan Palm Seal! Earth Splitting! An Jing felt a massive force lock onto him, followed by fierce winds rushing in, howling intensely. Nine-character Sword Technique! Zhen Character Secret! His longsword danced wildly, instantly forming trails of sword light that seemed connected, assembling into various sword arrays. ¡°Crack crack crack!¡± The huge handprint pressed down fiercely while the sword light formed by the arrays instantly began to fracture. Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyes gleamed with murderous intent, Inner Strength furiously surging towards his arm. ¡°Boom!¡± The sword array could no longer withstand the terrifying pressure, instantly shattering, and the remaining Qi Force rushed towards An Jing below. ¡°It¡¯s over¡­.¡± Su Ze¡¯s brow furrowed, feeling a bad premonition. Is the peerless swordsman very powerful? Indeed very powerful, but who is Liu Qingshan? That is the Gang Leader of Cao Gang, the undisputed overlord of Jiangnan Dao, an authority whose presence has deeply rooted in everyone¡¯s heart. The last time he acted was seven years ago, and he hadn¡¯t even made a move when attacking the headquarters of Nu Jing Gang. Tan Yun¡¯s expression was also extremely tense, as if his heart had leaped to his throat. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s Qi Sea was surging, already preparing to make a move. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± Just then, from within An Jing¡¯s dark blue cloak, intense golden light burst forth, instantly blocking that extremely domineering Palm Seal. But even so, An Jing still stepped back several steps, a sharp pain in his chest, followed by a sweet taste gushing from his mouth. ¡°No way, I can¡¯t keep entangling with Liu Qingshan anymore¡­.¡± An Jing¡¯s throat moved, forcibly swallowing the blood down. Once he fell into a disadvantaged position, the masters from Jiangnan Dao¡¯s four major families would likely swarm him, and it would then be troublesome to escape. Moreover, his purpose was not to compete with Liu Qingshan to decide life and death. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s actions froze, this kind of oppressive force was all too familiar to her, but how could such force possibly emanate from this swordsman? Liu Qingshan was also shaken upon seeing that golden light, and soon his expression turned grave. Tian Liu just stood there woodenly, without an order from Liu Qingshan, as if he would never make a move on his own. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± An Jing waved his longsword, and the sound of the sword¡¯s hymn echoed through heaven and earth, as if it transformed into tangible sound waves. Then he pointed his sword towards Liu Qingshan. ¡°Shhh!¡± A chilling breath enveloped the world, it was the Ghost Valley Sword Technique, the One Sword Life-taking Form. One Sword Life-taking! Liu Qingshan felt as if the world had slowed down, with only that sword tip approaching, making it impossible to evade, forcing him to meet it head-on. ¡°Ghost Valley?¡± Liu Qingshan took a deep breath, clenched his five fingers, then threw a punch forward. ¡°Bang!¡± At the moment his fist met the tip of the sword, his eyebrows furrowed. An Jing was pushed back by the force, his footsteps nearly floating off the ground as he quickly retreated backward, and with one sweep of his right arm, he hoisted Xue Chen¡¯s corpse onto his shoulder. ¡°Thinking of leaving?¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s gaze turned icy, his fingers stretched out, his inner strength unknowingly enveloped his fingertips, firm as indestructible rock. Qingshan Palm Seal! Beng Mountain! ¡°Shhh!¡± An Jing raised his longsword, massive inner strength surged into it, and then the sword seemed to come alive, breaking free from his hand. That previous strike was not a killing move, this one was. Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Technique! The ordinary longsword, at this moment, resembled a vast immortal sword, piercing the air. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A surge of sword light shone brightly, causing everyone¡¯s hearts to skip a beat, as if reaching their throats. This sword light no longer appeared earthly, but rather seemed like that of a legendary immortal¡¯s sword. The entire Buddhist Temple was filled with sword light, and the sky seemed to dim at that moment. ¡°Quick! Run!¡± ¡°Leave here quickly!¡± ¡­¡­ The heads of the four major families of Jiangnan Dao and other experts on site quickly backed away. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°Not good!¡± Upon seeing this, Fa Wu trembled inside, his inner strength circulating like a vast river. ¡°Swoosh!¡± As it got darker, the sword returned to formlessness, the ancient twilight silently closed, and the world became utterly silent. That sword¡¯s light directly pierced through the void, through the earth of the Buddhist Temple, as if it would never stop. The remaining sword light¡¯s blast swept to the sides, leaving some people¡¯s faces so pale they lacked any hint of color, just when a golden light rose, blocking all the remaining Qi Force. Everyone looked, and that rising golden light was actually a young monk with clear and handsome features, shaken by the remaining Qi Force, his complexion also looked very unwell. ¡°Thud!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyes carried a hint of astonishment, and after a long moment, a smile curled up at the corner of his mouth. The sword light split past, and his robe now had a trace of blood. ¡®Drip¡¯ ¡®Drip¡¯ The great hall was very quiet, the only sound was that of blood flowing. ¡­. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65 The Deterrence of the Grandmasters Presence Chapter 65: Chapter 65 The Deterrence of the Grandmaster¡¯s Presence Liu Qingshan was wounded by a stab from that unparalleled swordsman. In the Buddhist Temple, silence lingered for a long time. No one had imagined that after the unparalleled swordsman killed Nan Ming and Bian Fang, he fiercely battled Guo Yuchun and Liu Qingshan, and not only did he escape from Liu Qingshan¡¯s grasp, but he also left him injured. ¡°Gang leader, are you okay?¡± Guo Yuchun, with a cool head, was the first to react. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I let him go,¡± Liu Qingshan said, waving his hand and speaking in a very calm tone. Ouyang Yu¡¯s face was stupefied, and disbelief filled his eyes as if he still hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality. Only the shocked expressions on everyone¡¯s faces could be seen, along with the sounds of them swallowing hard. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°The unparalleled swordsman is truly deserving of his reputation. My goodness, even Liu Qingshan couldn¡¯t capture him.¡± ¡°Who exactly is that swordsman? With such skills, he could definitely enter the Dragon List. Who is he?¡± ¡°Is he really a master from the Demon Sect? Too frightening, does the Demon Sect have such a figure?¡± ¡­¡­.. Everyone exchanged glances as if in a dream. What kind of person is Liu Qingshan? A renowned expert above the Dragon List, one of the dominating lords of the Jianghu. Such a preeminent figure, who in the Jianghu could cause a storm, actually failed to retain that swordsman. ¡°Such an impressive swordsman, after consecutive fierce battles, he was still able to wound Liu Qingshan.¡± Su Rui muttered with a flushed face. He was amazed at the swordsman¡¯s strength, but what shook him even more was his swordsmanship. That final move, the deftness of its technique had reached the pinnacle of sword skill. It was as if Su Rui had glimpsed another world; there exists such exquisite sword forms under the sky¡­ And yet, after a series of intense battles, even with Liu Qingshan lying in ambush, the latter was still wounded, showing how extraordinary that swordsman was. ¡°A swordsman rarely seen in this world,¡± Ming Jinghua also couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Liu Qingshan didn¡¯t manage to kill him; from now on, he¡¯s likely to become famous throughout the world.¡± Cao Hongkou¡¯s face was solemn, and he remained silent. Such terrifying strength was certainly that of a master on the Dragon List, and those who could enter the Dragon List were existences striving for supremacy over the Jianghu. Even the four great families of Jiangnan Dao would have to tread carefully and not dare to provoke such beings. Jiangnan Dao has produced such a character, yet they were completely unaware; it felt like a harsh slap in his face, bringing a lot of clarity. ¡°Looks like a big change is coming.¡± Mu Jinglun snickered, then looked at the little monk with a complex expression. If it hadn¡¯t been for the little monk just now, a large part of the Reincarnation Hall might have been destroyed. It seemed he had seen him before¡­ Seeing the unparalleled swordsman finally escape, Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief, then recalled those familiar eyes. ¡°The pressure of a Grandmaster?¡± Zhao Qingmei pondered in her heart. This person was highly skilled, and his swordsmanship was outstanding, but she wondered about his identity and whether he could be recruited under the Demon Sect¡¯s banner. From that last sword strike, she even sensed a trace of a Grandmaster¡¯s pressure. Although it was just a hint, it was extremely terrifying. The likelihood of the swordsman stepping into the realm of a Grandmaster was not great, but reaching the level of a Half-step Master was certainly possible. ¡°Tap tap tap tap¡­¡± Just then, Hong Yuanwu and several other Xuanyi Guard Gold Constables rushed in hastily from outside the door. ¡°Where is the Demon Sect¡¯s swordsman?¡± Hong Yuanwu, stunned, looked at the devastation before him and couldn¡¯t help but say. He had received news that the unparalleled swordsman had not died but had appeared in the Reincarnation Hall. He hurried over as soon as he heard. The place was quiet, everyone was silent, and no one answered him. ¡°It seems this Buddhist ritual really isn¡¯t that interesting, let¡¯s go,¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled softly and then walked towards the exit of the hall. ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun, upon hearing this, reluctantly cast a glance in the direction where the peerless swordsman had departed and hurriedly followed Zhao Qingmei. ¡­¡­. Within the Vilu Hall, the Buddha statue shattered, black Yin Energy spewing forth. In an instant, the entire Great Hall felt like an icehouse, bone-chillingly cold. ¡°Amitabha!¡± Fa Zhi brought his hands together in prayer and let out a gentle sigh. Gan Yue¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed at the serene-faced old scholar in front of him. Li Fuzhou, the leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, was a name everyone in Jianghu knew. Twenty years ago, the Deputy General of the Northwest Dao armed forces had led thirty thousand men in a campaign to eradicate Li Fuzhou and his Human Sect experts. This event had once shaken the Martial World to its core, with the sandy plains of the Northwest turning into rivers of blood. More than half of the thirty thousand troops perished without even catching a glimpse of Li Fuzhou¡¯s shadow. In the end, the Deputy General of the Northwest armed forces was beheaded and hung above the gates of the fortress in the Northwest, purportedly frightening the Daoist Master of the Northwest Dao into personally making an apology. This was a severe blow to the face of the Great Yan Court, and eventually, the Daoist Master of the Northwest Dao was thoroughly investigated and reassigned to an unknown fate, a conclusion marred by extreme tragedy. In the Great Yan Martial World, the only force bold enough to challenge the Court was the Demon Sect, and within the Demon Sect, the most brazenly notorious was Li Fuzhou of the Human Sect. The Xuanyi Guard also once engaged Li Fuzhou. Two years ago in West Shu territory, four members of the Great Heavenly Gang joined forces to confront Li Fuzhou. The outcome was two dead and two fleeing, an event that alarmed both the temples and Jianghu. The Human Emperor himself was enraged by it, and subsequently, Xi Yuanjun, Deputy Marshal of the Xuanyi Guard, personally took action. The two fought from West Shu all the way to the grassland border before ceasing. One of the three great eunuchs under the current Human Emperor, Zhao Tianyi, who also held the position of Grandmaster and wielded immense power in both court and countryside, was a scholar before entering the palace. His elder academic brother was none other than Li Fuzhou, leading many to speculate that this Li Fuzhou was indeed the leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect. To Jianghu, a character like Li Fuzhou was tantamount to a living legend. Even a prominent figure like Gan Yue, one of the Great Heavenly Gang, was profoundly wary in the face of such a personage; after all, fellow Heavenly Gang members had died at his hand, a stark warning that could not be ignored. Li Fuzhou glanced at Gan Yue and said indifferently, ¡°Several of the Great Heavenly Gang have already died by my hand, and it seems today one more will be added to that number.¡± ¡°Li Fuzhou, your injuries have not yet healed, a fact known by all,¡± Gan Yue said, scoffing coldly as a member of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang, ¡°Today, it remains to be seen whose deer will be taken down.¡± The grand battle between Li Fuzhou and Xi Yuanjun had shaken the entire Great Yan, exposing his injuries to the world. Add to that, Gan Yue had an Arhat from the Western Regions by his side, someone beyond the Human Flower Realm. He knew he might not be able to overcome Li Fuzhou, but escaping should not be difficult. Fa Zhi joined his palms and said, ¡°Donor Li, if you really intend to commit such a grievous affront against the world, then I, a humble monk, will have no choice but to intervene.¡± The warning signs of this seal being broken were the harbingers of a great disaster for the world. Suddenly, Li Fuzhou¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Hiss!¡± At that moment, a Sword Light resonated from a distance. That Sword Light carried a faint golden radiance, with a kind of oppressive force emanating from within the gold, rushing towards them. Even the previously domineering Yin Energy seemed to falter briefly upon sensing that Sword Light. ¡°This is from Reincarnation Hall,¡± Fa Zhi exclaimed, looking towards the distance, ¡°Such a mighty Sword Skill, it actually bears the authority of a Grandmaster!¡± Authority of a Grandmaster? Li Fuzhou also raised an eyebrow, troubled ¨C it seemed there might be danger at the Sect Hierarch¡¯s place. ¡°Impossible!¡± Gan Yue cried out in disbelief, ¡°How could a Grandmaster appear in Reincarnation Hall?¡± A Grandmaster¡ªthat represented the pinnacle of Martial Arts. The ultimate experts of the world, their very presence commanding reverence throughout Jianghu. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Fuzhou collected himself and said lightly, ¡°With the Buddha statue that suppressed the seal shattered and the Yin Energy gushing out, the item behind this seal will emerge. At that time, I will return to take it.¡± With that, he leaped up and hurried towards the hall¡¯s exit. Only after watching Li Fuzhou leave did Gan Yue take a deep breath of relief. Then he glanced at his palm, noticing a sheen of sweat, and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. Merely standing there had exerted tremendous pressure on him, a testament to the Demon Sect¡¯s top expert¡¯s prowess. Fa Zhi, watching Li Fuzhou¡¯s figure, sighed deeply and said, ¡°It seems there is a Demon Sect expert in Reincarnation Hall, and besides destroying the Buddha statue, the Master of the Human Sect has deliberately hindered the two of us.¡± Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Earth Book Reveals the Divine Dragon Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Earth Book Reveals the Divine Dragon Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun slowly walked out of the Reincarnation Hall and came face to face with Han Wenxin, wearing a conical hat, along with a large group of Yu State City constables. ¡°Mrs. An, weren¡¯t you going to see the water and land practice ground?¡± When Han Wenxin saw Tan Yun beside Zhao Qingmei, his eyes couldn¡¯t help but brighten. This damn An Jing, he had actually done one good thing. Yet, Tan Yun still seemed to be recalling that figure from before and totally did not notice the somewhat lewd look in Han Wenxin¡¯s eyes. Zhao Qingmei gave Han Wenxin a somewhat strange look, then asked, ¡°No, I found the water and land practice ground a bit lacking. Where is my husband?¡± Didn¡¯t An Jing say he was going to find Han Wenxin? How come he¡¯s not seen him? Han Wenxin honestly replied, ¡°He just went back, apparently he remembered that today a hunter from South Mountain was coming to deliver some herbs¡­¡± ¡°I see, Officer Han, we¡¯ll take our leave first.¡± Zhao Qingmei slightly raised her brows, then turned and walked towards the mountain gate. She remembered that An Jing had indeed mentioned this in the morning, but she still felt somewhat uneasy. ¡°You few, head to the Reincarnation Hall to coordinate with the Xuanyi Guard for inspection. If the Xuanyi Guard officers inquire, tell them I went to lock down the Three Temple Mountain¡¯s gate.¡± Han Wenxin gave an order, then scurried after them, ¡°Mrs. An, Miss Tan, let me see you off.¡± ¡­¡­ In Yu State City, Western Suburb. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± An Jing, carrying the corpse of Xue Chen, dexterously tiptoed on tree branches the size of a thumb, much like a monkey in the forest. The strong wind arose, and the forest leaves rustled loudly. Soon, he arrived at the wilderness of Red Leaf Forest in the western suburb. ¡°Master Zhou, you really didn¡¯t disappoint anyone.¡± Jiang Sanjia emerged from the woods upon hearing that voice, his eyes full of complexity. As a descendant of the Ghost Valley Sect, he was naturally very familiar with the struggles within the martial world. This time, retrieving the corpse of Xue Chen was bound to be fraught with immense crisis and difficulties. An Jing had actually managed to bring back the corpse of Xue Chen, surely he had gone through an unimaginably bloody battle. Mu Xiaoyun also followed Jiang Sanjia out. An Jing quietly smiled, set the corpse he was carrying on the ground, and then extended his thumb to gently wipe away the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Madam Liu, we¡¯re even now.¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s strength was indeed a notch above his, and even though he was nearly a Half-step Golden Bone, he had still been at a disadvantage. If not for relying on Sword Control Technique, it would have been incredibly difficult to leave Fa Xi Temple. Mu Xiaoyun looked at the corpse on the ground, slightly stunned, even though she had known the outcome in advance. Sometimes, it feels like this world is too vast, so vast that just turning around can cause a person to disappear into the vast sea of humanity, never to meet again. ¡°Ah¡­..¡± It¡¯s unknown how much time had passed before Mu Xiaoyun finally heaved a deep sigh. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Jiang Sanjia furrowed his brows and asked. ¡°Just a minor injury.¡± An Jing casually remarked, ¡°I wonder what plans you two have going forward?¡± This wasn¡¯t false; because Golden Bones had already formed in his body, his injuries were indeed not severe. ¡°We¡¯ve already startled the snake, rescuing him will be extraordinarily difficult.¡± Mu Xiaoyun pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I plan to leave Jiangnan Dao first, and head to the Dongluo Desert.¡± The Dongluo Desert, vast and filled with yellow sand, is a desolate and ruined land, although named Dongluo, it is actually part of the border between the great grasslands, the Western Regions, Great Yan, and Zhao Country. Due to its special geographic location, situated at the intersection of four major forces, it sees large caravans passing through all year round, which has also brought moments of prosperity to this place, particularly at the Dongluo Pass, the meeting point of the four domains. Within Dongluo Pass, there is a convergence of numerous international caravans. The turnout each year is beyond measure, and these caravans all belong to major trading associations with vast structures and numerous experts. Over time, Dongluo Pass has developed inns, taverns, brothels¡­ Among them, the brothels have attracted beauties from various places due to their unique location, providing exotic experiences that are endlessly delightful and have become a popular topic of discussion among the people. Moreover, Dongluo Pass is filled with numerous stories of overnight riches, with countless people dreaming big dreams each year, enduring hardships to travel to Dongluo Pass in search of opportunities to strike it rich. The large flow of people, coupled with the huge business opportunities brought about by trade, has also made Dongluo Pass exceptionally prosperous. There¡¯s even a saying among the people of Great Yan: ¡°Beyond Yujing, head to Dongluo for beauty.¡± And the true master behind Dongluo Pass was none other than Outer Heaven. On one hand, due to the terrifying strength of the Demon Sect, if one were to act against it, not to mention the great difficulty involved, even a forceful success would certainly cause severe damage to one¡¯s primordial energy, inevitably allowing others to reap the benefits. On the other hand, Dongluo Pass indeed served as a buffer, and thus, the major powers seemed to tacitly agree to its existence. ¡°Could it be, you wish to collude with the Demon Sect?¡± Jiang Sanjia frowned. In the Great Yan Martial World, the Demon Sect was a notorious existence. ¡°What about the Demon Sect?¡± Mu Xiaoyun said solemnly, ¡°What is evil, and what is righteous? What is good, and what is bad?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Sanjia fell silent. Having roamed Jianghu for decades, how could one easily discern good from evil in this world? Mu Xiaoyun turned to An Jing and asked, ¡°Brother Zhou, do you have a referral letter?¡± Rumors in the streets claimed An Jing to be a man of the Demon Sect. If it was true, that would save some trouble. ¡°I have no ties whatsoever with the Demon Sect.¡± An Jing shook his head; he knew that Mu Xiaoyun seemed to intend to connect with the Demon Sect, but indeed, he was unfamiliar with them. ¡°That¡¯s truly unfortunate,¡± Mu Xiaoyun expressed her regret. She was also unclear whether Zhou Xianming did not want to expose his identity or if he truly was not a man of the Demon Sect. After all, their relationship had not reached such a thorough level of understanding. ¡°Sanjia, what about you?¡± An Jing glanced at Jiang Sanjia. ¡°First, heal your injuries. Leave Jiangnan Dao before the year¡¯s end,¡± Jiang Sanjia thought and then said. Not only was Cao Gang hunting him, but he was also a major criminal wanted by the Court. Now, with his injuries not fully healed, venturing out alone would be extremely dangerous. The contacts he had left behind in the past might no longer be reliable, so naturally, healing his injuries first was the safest course. An Jing glanced in the direction of Fa Xi Temple. While he was fighting with Liu Qingshan, he distinctly felt something in Fa Xi Temple tremble. The Earth Book hinted that the green opportunity must be about that sealing. But why did it make him feel somewhat uneasy? Usually, masters do not act on whims. If they feel a whim, there must be a reason. The next moment, An Jing¡¯s thoughts settled on the Earth Book. Whoosh! Suddenly, a streak of green light from within the Earth Book engulfed An Jing¡¯s mind. The dark underground palace was endless, with its only source of light seeping from a vast crack above. Within the light leaking from above, one could vaguely see the layout of the palace, resembling an ancient emperor¡¯s sacrificial array. Externally, eighty-one ancient bronze pillars stood firm, encircling the perimeter, intersecting methodically. Culminating deep into an obscure darkness. Internally, it was woven from cross threads, intermittently presenting four Sun God patterns, corresponding to the Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen, Kun positions. Above each of the ancient bronze pillars, burly chains were bound, making ¡®clang¡¯ and ¡®clang¡¯ sounds, all converging towards the center. An Jing focused his gaze and felt a shock in his heart. There was indeed a dragon lying on the ground, its eyes bright, its Dragon Ball gleaming, horns erect, Dragon Armor prominent, and its claws strong. It seemed to sense the presence of people, turning its head to look back, an intimidating sight. ¡°Roar!¡± The four seas submitting, the wastelands worshipping, the giant dragon bellowed in the night, shaking heaven and earth. The Divine Dragon saw An Jing floating mid-air, its eyes showing a hint of light. Its body frantically rushed towards him, but the surrounding chains tightly bound it, rendering it immobile. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only As the dragon roared, the whole world seemed to shake. Watching the dragon madly rushing towards him, and the chains making loud noises, An Jing¡¯s brows tightly furrowed. It seemed the chains were not only binding the dragon but him as well. What on earth was happening? ¡­¡­ Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Hidden Secrets of the Nine Princely States Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Hidden Secrets of the Nine Princely States The light from the Earth Book gradually faded, and An Jing¡¯s thoughts finally returned. Cultivation: First Grade Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining (Rising) Root Bone: Once in a hundred years Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword (Sixth Layer). Prompt One: The host¡¯s Life Fate has yet to take root (remaining ten months); displaying martial arts must not reveal the host¡¯s identity, otherwise black fortune will be encountered. Prompt Two: Within the Vilu Hall of the Fa Xi Temple, there is a blue fortune, and under the seal of the Buddha statue lies an unknown ancient object (a fragment of the Soul Suppressing Device). Prompt Three: Under the seals of the Fa Xi Temple, there lies a blue fortune (a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy). ¡­. An Jing clearly saw the four words following Favorable Star Shining, ¡®continuously rising.¡¯ Previously, these words were not there. Also, the five words following the ancient object, ¡®a fragment of the Soul Suppressing Device,¡¯ along with the newly mentioned blue fortune nature¡¯s spiritual energy. ¡°The Soul Suppressing Device must be something suppressing this nature¡¯s spiritual energy, but why would it suppress this nature¡¯s spiritual energy?¡± An Jing frowned slightly, starting to feel puzzled. Nature¡¯s spiritual energy, he was naturally familiar with these words, as they were recorded in some ancient texts that when cultivation reached the Grandmaster level, one could absorb nature¡¯s spiritual energy for cultivation. However, like the essence of the sun and the moon, nature¡¯s spiritual energy was an extremely rare treasure, and only masters of the Grandmaster level could refine a little bit. Still, for a master of the Grandmaster level to refine a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy was extremely difficult and mentally draining. What exactly is this sealed object? And what was the dragon that was just seen? An Jing felt very strange in his heart, as if a sudden mist had appeared before his eyes. ¡°Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou!¡± Mu Xiaoyun woke An Jing, who was still deep in thought. ¡°What is it?¡± An Jing came back to his senses and asked. With a charming glance at An Jing, Mu Xiaoyun said softly, ¡°The ancient jade I gave to Brother Zhou, you must keep it safe.¡± That jade was given to her by Liu Qingshan. Although there was no profound love between them, it held a special meaning in Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s heart. ¡°Madam Liu, since this ancient jade is so precious to you, I might as well return it,¡± An Jing said. Taking out the ancient jade, he then threw it back to Mu Xiaoyun. After all, since the ancient jade had refined his Root Bone, it was no longer of much use to him. ¡°Brother Zhou, you are¡­¡± Jiang Sanjia looked at An Jing in surprise, wondering why Zhou Xianming, who had gone through so much trouble to obtain the ancient jade, would return it to Mu Xiaoyun. Was Zhou Xianming here to perform great deeds? Perhaps he could return the Bodhi Bead to me as well? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Zhou Xianming was too cunning and self-serving, never acting without a guarantee of profit; how could he possibly return what he had obtained? The more Jiang Sanjia thought, the more he felt that something was off with the ¡®Brother Zhou¡¯ before him. Confused, Mu Xiaoyun took the ancient jade and, after a glance, exclaimed, ¡°Brother Zhou, have you refined the essence blood from the jade?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± An Jing did not deny it. ¡°The essence blood inside this Ancient Jade is¡­?¡± Jiang Sanjia seemed to think of something. ¡°Brother Zhou, are you aware that this essence blood is from the Royal Family of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which cannot be refined by anyone who is not of the royal bloodline?¡± Mu Xiaoyun said solemnly, placing great emphasis on the words ¡®Brother Zhou¡¯. Great Zhou Royal Family essence blood! Only those of the royal bloodline could refine the essence blood? Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s eyebrows immediately furrowed. If he was able to refine the essence blood within the Ancient Jade, could it be that his ancestors were from the Great Zhou Royal Family? But wasn¡¯t the Royal Family of the Great Zhou surnamed Wu? ¡°I see.¡± Jiang Sanjia suddenly realized, ¡°No wonder Zhou Xianming cared so much about that Ancient Jade, it turns out to be from a former royalty.¡± ¡°He is not surnamed Wu,¡± Mu Xiaoyun reminded from the side. Everyone knows that the Great Zhou Dynasty was surnamed Wu. ¡°No, you are wrong.¡± Jiang Sanjia shook his head, ¡°When the Great Zhou Dynasty fell apart, it faced extermination by the princes from all over. To prevent the rise of the Great Zhou Royal Family again, all those surnamed Wu were mercilessly killed. At that time, the descendants of the Great Zhou Royal Family, in order to escape the killings, frequently changed their appearances and naturally their surnames as well.¡± ¡°Moreover, after more than six hundred years of rule, the bloodline of the Great Zhou Royal Family had already spread throughout the land of the Great Zhou. It was normal for a few of these orphaned descendants to escape. Now, nearly four hundred years have passed, and there is no longer a Great Zhou; even if there is a legitimate descendant of the Great Zhou in the world, what of it?¡± Listening to Jiang Sanjia¡¯s words, An Jing was inwardly astounded. He had not expected his ancestors to be nobility of the Great Zhou Royal Family, who later might have changed their identities to avoid execution. However, this royal nobility was not that remarkable. At that time, the Great Zhou practiced a feudal system, and after six hundred years of rule, many of the Wu surnames were associated with the Great Zhou Royal Family. Nowadays, there might even be one or two people with the bloodline of the Great Zhou Royal Family walking on the street, just with a varying degree of dilution. However, no matter what, the blood of the Great Zhou Dynasty¡¯s Royal Family flows in his veins, so was his ancestry also of significant origin? It is very likely that he is a relative of the Great Zhou Dynasty¡¯s Royalty. For a moment, a strange expression appeared on An Jing¡¯s face. ¡°Why have I never heard of these pieces of information?¡± Mu Xiaoyun asked with furrowed brows. ¡°These belong to the secrets, naturally you wouldn¡¯t know, and the Mu Family is merely a martial arts family of two hundred years, with not much information preserved within the clan.¡± Jiang Sanjia said solemnly: ¡°Do you know how powerful the Great Zhou was at that time? Even today¡¯s Zhao Country was a vassal state of Great Zhou. It was said that during that period, masters were as common as clouds in the Great Zhou, and even the Royal Family had Grandmasters of the Five Qi stage.¡± ¡°A Grandmaster!?¡± In Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes flashed a hint of shock, he muttered, ¡°How could such a powerful dynasty fall?¡± Three Flowers Gathering at the Top is considered a master, and only reaching the stage of Five Qi Toward the Yuan qualifies one as a Grandmaster. A Grandmaster, throughout the whole Great Yan and Zhao Country, there hasn¡¯t been a Grandmaster-range expert for three hundred years. Nowadays, the leading figure in the Great Yan Martial World, Xiao Qianqiu from the Zhenyi Sect of five hundred years, is also merely the most hopeful candidate to achieve the Grandmaster status. But even such a hopeful for the Grandmaster status, stationed at Zhenyi Mountain, dominates the entire Jianghu. If he becomes a true Grandmaster, how frightening that would be. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Moreover, it is rumored that a Grandmaster can extend their life to three hundred years, fly through the sky, transcend the limits of human body, and even face thousands of troops as if walking on flat ground, the world is theirs to traverse. ¡°In this world, what dynasty ever lasts forever?¡± Jiang Sanjia sighed, ¡°Even the Great Zhou Dynasty, as powerful as it was, was not it also destroyed?¡± An Jing nodded, deeply agreeing with this statement, and then said, ¡°Brother Sanjia, since you are a descendant of Ghost Valley and surely know many secrets, there has always been a question in my mind, I wonder if you could clear my doubts.¡± Jiang Sanjia nodded slightly: ¡°Speak, and see if I know the answer.¡± An Jing revealed the doubt he harbored in his heart: ¡°How was the Great Zhou Dynasty destroyed?¡± Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68 The Great Zhou Turbulence Leads to Speculation Chapter 68: Chapter 68 The Great Zhou Turbulence Leads to Speculation Historical records state that before Great Yan had unified the land, there were nine major feudal states in this world. These nine states waged wars against each other, killing each other. At that time, both the court and Jianghu were in extreme chaos, giving rise to countless experts and figures of great significance. The Old Man of Lost Souls was just one of them. Aside from him, many other masters emerged, and to this day, among the seven major factions of Great Yan, the Yu Heng Sword Sect and the Blue River Sect were founded then and have continued to this day. Moving further back in time, before the chaos of the Nine Kingdoms, there reigned the immensely powerful Great Zhou Dynasty. However, the historical records only document the prosperity and glory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. As for why such a dominant dynasty fell into decay, suddenly crumbling and disintegrating, there is no record, as if out of the blue, the powerful Great Zhou Dynasty had declined. As a result, the nine major kings of the land divided it among themselves, establishing the nine great feudal states, and initiating an era of sprawling wars and warriors galloping through battlefields. What puzzled An Jing was that neither the historical records nor popular folklore detailed anything about the sudden decline of the Great Zhou Dynasty, as if this were a blank chapter in history. Although the Nine Kingdoms waged war against each other, there seemed to be an unspoken natural agreement among them to burn and bury this chapter of history. As for why the Nine Kingdoms did this, not many people knew, and perhaps those who did were no longer in this world. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure myself.¡± Jiang Sanjia shook his head. ¡°In this world, there¡¯s something even your Ghost Valley Sect doesn¡¯t know?¡± Mu Xiaoyun raised an eyebrow. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t your Ghost Valley Sect a lineage that has continued from the Great Zhou Dynasty?¡± As the oldest sect in today¡¯s Jianghu, and especially skilled at calculating the heavenly secrets and knowing many of the world¡¯s mysteries, Jiang Sanjia had previously served in the Qintian Bureau of Great Yan and had access to some of the royal secret scrolls. Logically, there should be very few things in the world that he wouldn¡¯t know. ¡°Heavenly secrets must not be fully calculated; that is the rule of our sect.¡± Jiang Sanjia pondered for a long while before speaking, ¡°All I know is a little. The decline of the Great Zhou Dynasty is definitely related to the thing sealed underground. This is stated in the Ghost Valley scrolls. There are six seals under the world to this day, and these seals have existed for a long time, back in the Great Zhou Dynasty, they were suppressed by Buddhism, and now the Human Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty has constructed the Dragon Locking Well in Yujing City, which seems to have established a new seal. So, in total, there are seven underground seals.¡± ¡°Right, Fa Xi Temple has one of the seals, and the thing sealed is nearly breaking. It¡¯s just not clear what will happen if this seal breaks.¡± Mu Xiaoyun shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of these things, but they seem to be related to the nation¡¯s fate.¡± Hearing this, An Jing became even more puzzled about the seals. The downfall of the Great Zhou Dynasty was actually related to that seal, but what exactly lay beneath that seal? And why did the feudal kings of the Nine Kingdoms erase this chapter in history? Why, as the seal in Fa Xi Temple neared rupture, was his Life Fate continually rising? And what exactly was he and that dragon, or what did they symbolize? Why did seeing himself drive the dragon mad? Could it be that his Life Fate was sealed, and hence with the breaking of the seal, his Life Fate was rising? All of these things filled An Jing¡¯s heart with doubts. After a few more brief exchanges, the three fell into a brief silence. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I plan to leave after burying Xue Chen¡¯s body.¡± Mu Xiaoyun picked up Xue Chen¡¯s corpse and rose to bid farewell to the two. An Jing watched Mu Xiaoyun leave, sighing silently in his heart. An invaluable Ancient Jade Essence Blood was exchanged for a corpse that was already dead, it was hard to imagine that was a choice made by Mu Xiaoyun, known in Jianghu as the Viper Beauty. ¡°Go ahead, leaving Great Yan might be for the best,¡± Jiang Sanjia said with a sigh. ¡°Sanjia, do not create your own prison, trapping yourself within,¡± Mu Xiaoyun looked at Jiang Sanjia seriously, then said, ¡°The mountains are high and the waters long, until we meet again in Jianghu.¡± ¡°I hope the next time, we meet not in Jianghu,¡± An Jing said with a light smile. ¡°Good, ¡®Meeting not in Jianghu¡¯.¡± Mu Xiaoyun paused, a knowing smile on her face, and then with a leap, she headed off into the distance. ¡­¡­ Yujing City, Yonghe Palace. The courtyard was vast, extending as far as the eye could see, with white stone slabs covering the ground. Grass and flowers were arranged among the trees, and pine trees stood tall and elegant. In the middle of the courtyard, a pair of Huabiao, each over ten meters tall, stood on Sumeru bases. They were made of white marble, with Flood Dragons entwined around them, and featured clouds emerging from the wind, topped with a cloud board, water-catching basin, and crouching beasts, all imposing and solemn. On a stone bench in the courtyard, a young man sat dressed in a red robe, wearing a Yishan Crown and a Jade Glass Belt around his waist. His features were not particularly handsome but had a certain appeal, with thin lips that were memorable. He held a jade birdcage in his hands, amusing himself with the spirit bird inside. ¡°Second Prince.¡± At that moment, a middle-aged man entered at a slow pace, led by a guard. The man¡¯s face was full of wrinkles, bearing the marks of years past, yet his eyes were bright. He was none other than the current Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Yue Tingchen. And the young man before him was Zhao Mengtai, the second son of the reigning Human Emperor. ¡°The tremors from the Dragon Locking Well just now, have they been investigated?¡± Second Prince Zhao Mengtai asked nonchalantly while looking at a birdcage. ¡°There¡¯s no major issue,¡± Yue Tingchen said blandly. ¡°In recent years, the tremors at the Dragon Locking Well have become more frequent. The State Preceptor once said that it¡¯s due to the loosening of other seals throughout Great Yan, but as long as the last seal of the Dragon Locking Well remains secure, we can rest easy.¡± ¡°The State Preceptor did say that,¡± Second Prince confirmed. Zhao Mengtai put down the birdcage, then clapped his hands and said, ¡°However, my father the Emperor has a different opinion. He says that not a single seal throughout the land should be missing, and no error can be afforded. This matter requires further investigation.¡± Yue Tingchen nodded and responded, ¡°You are quite right, Second Prince.¡± Zhao Mengtai nodded slightly with a smile, ¡°I have heard that there has been unrest in Jiangnan Dao recently. Have you heard about this, Mister Yue?¡± ¡°I have, it seems a master from the Demon Sect has been spotted,¡± Yue Tingchen replied, his brow furrowing. The Demon Sect had once instigated a rebellion in Great Yan, so in the courts of Great Yan, the Demon Sect was feared like a tiger. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the Demon Sect.¡± The Second Prince narrowed his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m referring to Jiang Sanjia.¡± ¡°Jiang Sanjia?¡± Yue Tingchen appeared puzzled. He was naturally very familiar with Jiang Sanjia, who had previously served in the Qintian Bureau. What kind of place was the Qintian Bureau, after all? Jiang Sanjia was a key figure who specialized in divination for the Emperor, a role not just anyone could fill. However, Jiang Sanjia was known to be quite peculiar. Various powers within the court had tried to court him, but he was uninterested. Furthermore, after a series of incidents, he lost the trust of the Human Emperor. When the Qintian Bureau was favored, it basked in utmost prestige, but once it fell from grace, the situation turned quite tragic¡ªafter all, the bureau knew many secrets, not only making the Emperor suspicious but also worrying many others in the court. Eventually, two years after Jiang Sanjia resigned, he was imprisoned on charges of corruption and bribery. Later, he seemed to have been secretly transported to Jiangnan Dao. The Daoist Master of Jiangnan, Chu Nanying, was one of the Crown Prince¡¯s men. Without a doubt, the Crown Prince must have employed certain methods to have Jiang Sanjia transferred to the Heavenly Prison in Yu State City. According to intelligence gathered through investigation, Chu Nanying, the Daoist Master of Jiangnan, also had an exceptionally close relationship with the Gang Leader of the Cao Gang, Liu Qingshan. As an old fox who had navigated the court for decades, Yue Tingchen naturally smelled something different in the air. ¡°What do you mean, Second Prince?¡± Yue Tingchen asked with a grave voice. Zhao Mengtai slowly said, ¡°The offenses Jiang Sanjia committed back then were mere trifles. Besides, wasn¡¯t it Assistant Minister of Rites Zhu Yongfang who impeached him? Now, most of the Qintian Bureau are nothing but inept bureaucrats, whereas Jiang Sanjia is a descendant of the Ghost Valley Sect. Why shouldn¡¯t we make good use of him?¡± ¡°Moreover, this brother of mine, the Crown Prince, has ambitions that are not small¡ªhe actually wants to stir up this vast expanse of Jianghu.¡± The Assistant Minister of Rites Zhu Yongfang also belonged to the Crown Prince¡¯s faction. Exonerating Jiang Sanjia would not only draw him to our side but also help eliminate and weaken the influence of the Crown Prince¡¯s faction. Most importantly, it could hinder the Crown Prince¡¯s next moves. The Five Gangs Alliance¡ªif it were to be realized, then the Crown Prince would wield a formidable force within Jianghu¡­ Upon hearing this, Yue Tingchen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. With only a hint of information revealed by Zhao Mengtai, he had guessed some of the details. He hadn¡¯t expected the Crown Prince to have such deep schemes, his hands reaching stealthily into Jianghu. By nature, Zhao Mengtai was not someone who would fail to respond. If the Crown Prince wanted to facilitate the forming of the Five Gangs Alliance and seek a sliver of support within Jianghu, then the Second Prince could not possibly remain indifferent¡­ Yue Tingchen seemed to have realized something, suddenly feeling a chill in his heart. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhao Mengtai, noticing Yue Tingchen¡¯s expression, couldn¡¯t help but ask with a smile. Zhao Mengtai¡¯s mouth curved in a smile, but his eyes were sharp as swords, making others dare not look directly at him. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only However, Yue Tingchen, after all an old fox in the court, maintained his composure and smiled, ¡°Your plan is very clever, Second Prince. Jiang Sanjia is indeed capable. If we can win him over, it would indeed be a significant aid.¡± Zhao Mengtai nodded and said, ¡°Good, then let¡¯s proceed accordingly. How should we go about arranging this, in your opinion?¡± After pondering for a while, Yue Tingchen said, ¡°Use the Dragon Locking Well as a pretext. The Emperor cannot refuse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good pretext.¡± ¡­¡­.. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Earth Sect Sect Master Jiang Renyi Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Earth Sect Sect Master Jiang Renyi ¡°` The news of the demon expelling convention at Fa Xi Temple spread through Jiangnan Dao like wildfire, and it continued to spread like sparks setting the prairie ablaze. The Cao Gang¡¯s Seven Vajras had formidable reputations in Jianghu, each able to stand against the elites of an entire faction, and were quite renowned. Yet, such masters perished at the hand of that mysterious swordsman, with three of them dead. And in the final moments of the convention, Liu Qingshan suddenly made an appearance to intercept the peerless swordsman. Who would have thought that not only did he fail to capture the peerless swordsman, but he himself was wounded in the altercation. Liu Qingshan of Qingyang Wuji, what kind of man was he? Among the five gangs, Cao Gang currently dominated, well-known in Jianghu, and even a great master listed on the Dragon List. With decades of being active, he had slain countless experts, and three First Grade experts had died at his hands over the years. As the Cao Gang¡¯s power grew day by day, opportunities to act became scarcer, but there was no one in the world who dared to underestimate Liu Qingshan, in fact, they feared him even more. Yet such a person was unable to detain the peerless swordsman. For a time, all of Jianghu was astir, everyone speculating in secret about the identity of the peerless swordsman. Some said that the Demon Sect was preparing for a resurgence in Great Yan, and that swordsman was one of the Four Seats of the Demon Sect, the leader of White Tiger Seat, because Yi Daoyun of the White Tiger Seat was a swordsman expert of the current times. The Four Seats of the Demon Sect were entities that shook Jianghu, with the leaders of the seats among the very top experts of the world. The involvement of the Demon Sect in the Great Yan Martial World was, without a doubt, momentous news. Currently, Xiao Qianqiu of the Zhenyi Sect sat atop Zhenyi Mountain, overseeing the heroes below and dominating with arrogance. Relying on the temple¡¯s support and their own foundation, they held the world¡¯s power. Common sects and factions would not dare to provoke them, and even among the Seven Sects, six and the five dominant gangs would not dare to touch them, showcasing the position of the Zhenyi Sect in Jianghu. Now, with the Demon Sect entering Great Yan, the structure of Jianghu was certain to undergo immense change. Amidst the chaos, those with ulterior motives, as well as powers holding grudges against Zhenyi Sect, were all watching for opportunities. But soon there were rumors that Yi Daoyun was in seclusion and that the peerless swordsman was not an expert from the Demon Sect. Moreover, the peerless swordsman had used the Hundred-step Flying Sword and saved Jiang Sanjia, clearly indicating that the swordsman was a disciple of the Sect Leader from Ghost Valley. The Hundred-step Flying Sword, a Heavenly Martial Level martial art. Once one reaches the True Martial Level, martial arts can no longer be mastered through mere effort. Even for a natural genius engaging in diligent study, progress would be strenuous and slow. The martial arts of the Ghost Valley Sect were known for their intricacy and mysteriousness, and the disciples they took in were all geniuses. The Sect Leader of Ghost Valley was a rare talent in a hundred years and was now one of the few in Jianghu who mastered the Fifth Level Sword Skill, among the top swordsmen. Some had said he had the opportunity to reach the Sixth Level Sword Skill, to hold the hegemony of the Sword Dao of the world in his hands. Soon, this rumor was also questioned. The current Ghost Valley Sect Leader roamed the world, his whereabouts mysterious, and there had been no news of him taking on disciples. The swordsmanship displayed by that swordsman was only similar in appearance and not the true Hundred-step Flying Sword. Ghost Valley Sect had deep connections with Zhenyi Sect and it was unlikely for them to collude with the Demon Sect. In short, the identity of the peerless swordsman was a matter of various speculations and discussions in Jianghu, yet no one knew their true identity or origin. But the more it was so, the more curious everyone in Jianghu became about this peerless swordsman. Before long, it was noticed by some observant individuals that Fa Xi Temple had started to open its gates widely, accepting worshippers and recruiting disciples extensively. ¡­¡­ Bathed in the beauty of the moon and the dim lantern lights, Tan Yun sat on the stone steps in the backyard of Jishi Hall, her small hand continuously stroking the little black pup as if lost in thought. ¡°Awoo¡­ Woof.¡± The little black pup felt its fur falling out as it struggled to escape, but no matter how hard it tried, it could not break free from those hands. ¡°Who is he, really?¡± Tan Yun reminisced about that figure, her heart still pounding wildly as if she could no longer control her breathing. In those eyes, there was both spring and autumn, surpassing all the mountains and rivers she had ever seen. ¡°Tan Yun.¡± ¡°` Just then, a faint voice rang out. ¡°Master¡­¡± Upon hearing this voice, Tan Yun quickly stood up. Li Fuzhou looked at Tan Yun with confusion, ¡°You¡¯ve been sitting here for almost half an hour, what are you thinking about?¡± Tan Yun bit her lip, ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything¡­¡± ¡°Tell the truth.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s brows furrowed. Tan Yun was his disciple, and he knew her as well as the palm of his hand. She was lively and active by nature, disliking stillness, which led to rapid progress in her martial arts in a short time. However, it also restricted her from becoming a top-notch expert. Sitting motionlessly like this for half an hour was almost unheard of for her. Lowering her head, Tan Yun said softly, ¡°Disciple was thinking about who that peerless swordsman could be. There is such a formidable expert in the Great Yan Martial World, and even with so many experts from the Human Sect searching, we still haven¡¯t found any trace of him. It¡¯s really strange.¡± Li Fuzhou spoke indifferently, ¡°His swordsmanship is indeed not bad and counts as top-tier, but he is still a bit short of the very top swordsmen in the world. The man must be over forty, his specific details are still unknown. If he is under seventy, he might still have a chance to catch up.¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was hoarse, with a touch of indifference that did not seem typical of the recklessness often found in young people. Moreover, most of the experts in today¡¯s Great Yan Martial World had started making a name for themselves from a young age. Thus, Li Fuzhou believed that this person should be over forty, very likely an old man who could not conveniently reveal his identity, hence the disguises. Tan Yun pursed her lips and said, ¡°Master, I feel that the swordsman should still be young, probably around thirty.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s mouth curved with a hint of mockery, ¡°Thirty? If someone could reach the Fourth Level Sword Skill by thirty, that person would have to be a terrifyingly extraordinary genius, even more fearsome than Yi Daoyun, those of Yujing City, and Yu Heng Sword Sect.¡± ¡°Do you think such a person would have been unknown until now?¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun opened her mouth but suddenly closed it again, swayed by Li Fuzhou¡¯s remark. She too felt it was somewhat implausible. If someone were that powerful, how could they not be famous? Typically, top-tier swordsmen would start to become famous when they are young. They would cultivate their essence, energy, spirit, and their Sword Dao, enduring decades of tempering and adversity before their Sword Dao could truly flourish. ¡°Stop worrying about that peerless swordsman. The Human Sect¡¯s experts are already investigating; whether they can find any clues will be seen in the coming days.¡± Li Fuzhou waved his hand and squinted his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m actually more worried about that son-in-law.¡± Tan Yun asked, ¡°Master, are you worried that the Sect Leader of the Earth Sect knows about this?¡± The Demon Sect is divided into Heavenly, Earth, and Human Sects. The Human Sect is responsible for theft, hiding, evasion, and gathering intelligence. They often lurk in the shadows, probing for information and acting as undercover agents. Everywhere in the world, disciples of the Human Sect can be found. The Heavenly Sect has the most experts yet the fewest members, and it receives the most resources. Each person practices the Heavenly Martial Level Martial Arts Earth Demon Technique, which is also the most mysterious force within the Demon Sect. Almost every Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect is chosen from the experts of the Heavenly Sect. A large reason for the Demon Sect¡¯s ability to stand against the Great Yan Martial World and then retreat to the East Luo land was the intervention of experts from the Heavenly Sect. Apart from the Heavenly and Human Sects, there is the Earth Sect. In the Demon Sect, the Earth Sect has the most members, nearly comprising about ninety percent of the sect, and represents the backbone of the Demon Sect with tens of thousands of people. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only It may seem that these numbers are not as many as those of the Sanhu Gang, but the Sanhu Gang counts boatmen, coachmen, Eighth Grade, and Ninth Grade commoners of Jianghu in their ranks, which is why they appear so formidable. However, the Earth Sect of the Demon Sect is different; its members have been a part of the sect for many years, practicing the sect¡¯s top-tier Martial Arts Heart Method Blood Demon Technique and adhering to strict discipline, being well-versed in killing, and having experienced the trials of blood and fire. It can be said that the Earth Sect is one of the central pillars of the Demon Sect. The current leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Earth Sect is also Zhao Qingmei¡¯s senior brother, the son of the previous Sect Hierarch Jiang Shang, Jiang Renyi. Two years after Jiang Shang perished at the hands of Great Yan, during the Demon Sect¡¯s selection for a new Hierarch, both he and Zhao Qingmei were qualified for the position. Even many elders of the Demon Sect preferred Jiang Renyi as he was the sole heir to Jiang Shang. However, during the contest between Jiang Renyi and Zhao Qingmei for the position of Sect Hierarch, he chose to step down. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Countless Stars Adorning the Spring Sky Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Countless Stars Adorning the Spring Sky ¡°He already knows.¡± Li Fuzhou said, expressionless. ¡°And then?¡± Tan Yun swallowed hard. Jiang Renyi¡¯s strengths had reached the First Grade Human Flower Realm ten years ago, a testament to his profound powers. Moreover, three years ago, Jiang Renyi and a prime Li Fuzhou had a sparring match in the desert. With no one else present to witness the fight, the outcome was unknown to all. However, Li Fuzhou was a Half-step Master Realm expert, and Jiang Renyi was only thirty-two three years ago. The fact that he could contend with Li Fuzhou was proof of his exceptional talent. And years had passed, Jiang Renyi¡¯s cultivation must have made progress. ¡°What do you think, if Sect Master Jiang killed this young doctor, what would the Sect Hierarch do?¡± Li Fuzhou seemed to be asking Tan Yun, yet it also appeared to be a question to himself. Killed the son-in-law?!? Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but think of An Jing¡¯s usual demeanor and then imagine An Jing lying in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life, and inadvertently swallowed hard again. ¡°Perhaps¡­ perhaps the Sect Hierarch would go mad with killing¡­ definitely would take action against the Earth Sect.¡± The Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect wanting to eradicate the Earth Sect? It was unimaginable! If that happened, the Demon Sect would undoubtedly be thrust into instant disarray and collapse, spelling disaster for everyone within the sect. ¡°Indeed.¡± Li Fuzhou sighed deeply, ¡°Why would the Sect Hierarch fall for an ordinary young doctor?¡± Some things didn¡¯t need to be spelled out; everyone could see them clearly. Jiang Renyi¡¯s feelings for Zhao Qingmei were certainly more than just fraternal. Tan Yun thought about Jiang Renyi, then about An Jing. In terms of cultivation, the two were incomparable; one was the master of the Earth Sect who had ¡®ceded his position¡¯ to Zhao Qingmei, while the other was just a young doctor from Yu State City, with no martial prowess to speak of. In terms of appearance, the son-in-law was good-looking, pleasant to look at, amusing, and would even bring his treats, but Jiang Renyi was extremely attractive too, and his demeanor was extraordinary. In dealing with people, he was always measured and was valued highly by the older generation of the Demon Sect. ¡°Right, where is the miss and the young doctor?¡± Li Fuzhou suddenly asked. An Jing, on several house call occasions, had given the Human Sect¡¯s experts the slip, and the time he spent with patients sometimes didn¡¯t match up with the Human Sect¡¯s investigations. Furthermore, after the incident at Fa Xi Temple, Zhao Qingmei had instructed Li Fuzhou to always ensure his safety. However, Li Fuzhou felt that this young doctor couldn¡¯t possibly provoke Jianghu experts and would sometimes take it easy, leaving other Human Sect experts to follow him. ¡°The miss hasn¡¯t had a craving for something sour in a long time and wanted some sour date cakes, the son-in-law went off somewhere.¡± Tan Yun replied earnestly. ¡°Did I hear you mention sour date cakes?¡± Just then, a crisp voice rang out from behind them. They saw Zhao Qingmei in a white garment, her phoenix eyes brimming with vitality, her long eyebrows extending into her temples. Li Fuzhou stroked his beard, ¡°Miss, we were talking about the son-in-law, not knowing where he has gone off to.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t gone out for house calls these past days since returning from Fa Xi Temple; perhaps he just went out to wander around, having nothing better to do,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, her mouth curving into a smile. Seeing this, Li Fuzhou couldn¡¯t help but shake his head: Now, only when talking about that young doctor would the Sect Hierarch smile. Hearing this, Tan Yun pouted, ¡°The son-in-law always liked to find that Han Wenxin kid. Miss, you must be on guard.¡± That Han Wenxin brat, having not learned his lesson even after a beating, dared to come back and pester. ¡°He won¡¯t go.¡± After finishing her words, Zhao Qingmei prepared to turn and head inside. ¡°Miss, aren¡¯t you the least bit worried?¡± Tan Yun asked with surprise, for she knew Zhao Qingmei very well. If Zhao Qingmei knew about An Jing¡­ ¡°I trust him, he wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s lips curled slightly. Li Fuzhou also stroked his chin, thinking to himself: With the Sect Hierarch¡¯s temperament, that young doctor must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. It was at this moment that a hurried voice came from outside the courtyard. ¡°I¡¯m back¡­..¡± The three of them looked towards the source of the voice. Just then, An Jing, catching his breath, held a grass target in his hand upon which several candied hawthorns dipped in syrup glistened under the moonlight. ¡°So many candied hawthorns!¡± Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but swallow at the sight of the shiny syrup. ¡°Did you go out late at night just to buy these?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you haven¡¯t had anything sour for a long time? These are much tastier than those sour date cakes.¡± An Jing wiped the sweat off his forehead and chuckled, ¡°Old Zhang and his wife were about to go to sleep. He was cursing when I knocked, but his eyes lit up when I showed the silver¡­¡± ¡°Silly.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing, who was soaked in sweat, her nose tingling slightly, ¡°You bought so many, I can¡¯t finish them all. Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯ll have to go sell candied hawthorns on the streets tomorrow?¡± An Jing responded cheerfully, ¡°No worries, you can take your time. If we can¡¯t finish, we can give some to Little Blackie.¡± Tan Yun seemed to understand something and couldn¡¯t help but look at Zhao Qingmei with a touch of envy. When Zhao Qingmei became a disciple of the Sect Hierarch, Tan Yun did not envy her¡ªnor when Zhao Qingmei became the Hierarch herself, but today, seeing that young man under the moonlight, she had to admit, she was envious, just like the feeling of eating these candied hawthorns. Li Fuzhou let out a soft sigh, then shook his head with a bitter smile, as if reminded of a painful memory. Mixed feelings surged in his heart as he slowly walked towards his own room. ¡°Miss¡­ I can do that job.¡± Tan Yun eyed the shiny syrup and whispered quietly. ¡°You just think about eating,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a light laugh. Seeing Zhao Qingmei in such good spirits, Tan Yun grew bolder. An Jing snorted from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. You were supposed to work today but ended up dozing off halfway through pounding the herbs, you lazy thing.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she retorted, ¡°Who says I was being lazy? I was just going to¡­just checking if Little Blackie was dead¡­¡± Little Blackie poked its head out nearby, thinking Tan Yun was calling it: ¡°??¡± ¡°You were slacking off.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, it won¡¯t happen next time, or rather, there won¡¯t be a next time. Just give me one, just one, please,¡± she begged. ¡°Call me something nice, and I might consider it.¡± ¡­. In the end, Tan Yun left contentedly with two strings of candied hawthorns, heading to her room at a brisk pace. ¡°My lady, Tan Yun took two strings; there are still a dozen or twenty left. I have bought out all of Old Zhang¡¯s stock,¡± An Jing said, smiling as he picked up the grass target and approached Zhao Qingmei. ¡°It¡¯s quite late, it¡¯s not nice to disturb others like that. Aren¡¯t you tired from running so far?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not far, and Old Zhang¡¯s eyes turned green when he saw the silver. He was snickering to himself. Besides, if my lady wants to eat them, I¡¯d fetch the stars from the sky and string them up for you.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up a stringed haw, her voice tinged with playful reprimand, ¡°Earlier, I was just saying words without thinking.¡± As she spoke, she took out her handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from An Jing¡¯s forehead, then brought the candied haw to his mouth. Because she was so close, An Jing could clearly see her expression change. ¡°I take everything you say to heart,¡± An Jing bit into a candied haw and then gazed greedily at the view before him, ¡°Even if my lady wants the stars in the sky, I can pluck them down and string them up for you.¡± ¡°Bad man, where are you looking?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes were filled with charm as she said, ¡°Your tongue gets more and more flippant. How would you even string the stars from the sky?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°As long as my lady says she wants them, they will be there.¡± ¡°This is what you have said. I want that one, and that one¡­ You have to string them up for me right now, or you¡¯re not allowed to sleep tonight.¡± ¡°Heh heh, guess we¡¯re not sleeping tonight then.¡± ¡°You bad man~!¡± ¡­. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Today, you must be fully drunk as we bid farewell Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Today, you must be fully drunk as we bid farewell It was early autumn, the scorching summer had departed, and the cool autumn wind blew from north to south. On cue, an autumn rain arrived, fine and persistent, like thousands of flying needles entering the water, causing ripples to spread in circles. At the southern dock of Yu State City, people were coming and going; it was still bustling. The Great Yan¡¯s scholarly examination was imminent, and the scholarly examination of Jiangnan Dao was being held in Lijiang City, so Zhou Xianming had to take a boat to Lijiang City to participate. An Jing, Han Wenxin, and Li Fuzhou, the three of them arrived at the dock to see Zhou Xianming off. Zhou Xianming looked at them, brimming with confidence, ¡°This time at the examination, I will certainly return as the top scorer.¡± ¡°Where does this old man get his confidence from? Could it be from the Oiran?¡± Dressed in a constable uniform, Han Wenxin, gripping a saber in one hand and digging his nose with the other, was full of doubt. All these days, Zhou Xianming had been nothing but frequenting music halls; he hadn¡¯t seen him seriously studying, and yet he dared to participate in the scholarly examination? Could it be that Zhou Xianming secretly studied while lying on the bellies of women? ¡°How rude! I¡¯m only thirty-two this year, exactly the age for a man to stand firm.¡± Zhou Xianming huffed coldly, flicking his sleeves, yet he secretly cursed in his heart: Vulgar martial artists, simple limbs, simple minds, always resorting to physical actions. There¡¯s a saying: ¡®A gentleman uses his mouth and not his fists.¡¯ I will not stoop to your level for now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not young anymore, and you still need my sister-in-law to support you financially, and you have the nerve to talk about standing firm at thirty?¡± Han Wenxin burst into laughter upon hearing that, ¡°Some people stand firm at thirty, but there are also those who fall at thirty, the former refers to me, and the latter must be referring to you, old Zhou, right?¡± Thirty and falling!? Upon hearing Han Wenxin¡¯s words, Zhou Xianming nearly passed out from anger. Bad luck! Such bad luck! He shouldn¡¯t have let this martial artist come today, such bad luck! ¡°Alright, Brother Han.¡± An Jing, seeing Zhou Xianming too angry to speak, couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°After all, Mr. Zhou is about to take his examination, we should say some auspicious words.¡± He knew well that Zhou Xianming had some tricks up his sleeve; perhaps he could really rank high in the examination. However, above the scholarly examination, there were still the imperial and palace examinations, which were key for a career. Zhou Xianming, hearing this, nodded greatly, ¡°Little An the doctor speaks nicely, unlike those crude martial artists, which is so infuriating.¡± An Jing took out a sheet of paper, seriously saying, ¡°By the way, Mr. Zhou, about the silver you borrowed yesterday, including the previous two times, it totals twenty-one taels. If you pass, remember to pay it back in full. If you don¡¯t pass, as you¡¯ve said yourself, you¡¯ll have to labor as a horse or an ox to repay. My wife and I calculated last night that it would take a year and two months to repay it all.¡± Zhou Xianming: ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°The passenger ship heading for Lijiang City is about to depart. Those heading to Lijiang City better get on the ship now. If you miss it, you will have to wait until tomorrow.¡± Just then, a clear voice came from the ferry crossing. Shadows moved on both sides, all carrying bundles and bags, hurrying toward the passenger ship. ¡°Little An the doctor, I must be going now. We can talk about this matter when I return.¡± Zhou Xianming quickly coughed lightly, then turned to Li Fuzhou, saying, ¡°Mr. Li, I take my leave.¡± Li Fuzhou spoke somewhat sadly, ¡°With this farewell, who knows when we can listen to music in the music halls again.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Zhou Xianming sighed upon hearing this, ¡°Wait for me to return, San Ye. The largest pleasure boat in Yu State City will be at your disposal. The madam there is very generous, she¡¯ll definitely make you satisfied.¡± ¡°Good, if she¡¯s generous, that¡¯s great.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes lit up. The two¡¯s eyes lingered with reluctance to part, showing a deep and meaningful friendship. It¡¯s no wonder they enjoyed the music halls together; their bond was indeed strong. An Jing spoke from the side, not too kindly, ¡°The scholarly examination takes six days, the travel four days, plus some leisure time and the announcement of results, it¡¯s only about twenty days in total, there¡¯s no need for such sentiments.¡± Zhou Xianming, carrying his pack, boarded the passenger ship, looking down at the three sending him off on the dock, feeling a surge of emotions. ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s getting cold, head back now.¡± This time at the scholarly examination, with so many people ¡®concerned¡¯ about him coming to see him off, he had to rank high to impress Miss Li Yue. Li Fuzhou¡¯s passenger boat floated, and he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°After the rain clears and the north wind chills, the path by the Yu River and Wushan is difficult. Today, as we send you off, let¡¯s drink to our heart¡¯s content, for tomorrow, remembering this journey will be long and winding.¡± ¡°What a splendid poem, Mr. Li is immensely talented!¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s eyes sparkled, and his heart felt warm. ¡°Excellent!¡± Unable to resist, Han Wenxin clapped his hands in approval at the side. ¡°You understand this poem?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. Han Wenxin¡¯s literacy was just enough to scrape by; he had barely passed the standard of being literate. How could he possibly critique poetry now? Noticing An Jing¡¯s look, Han Wenxin immediately chuckled and said, ¡°Any poem that I don¡¯t understand, I regard as good.¡± From a young age, whenever he read ancient poetry, he had discerned a principle, that if he found the verses convoluted and obscure, others would undoubtedly praise them highly, and this recognition was etched deep into his bones. ¡°Such a boy is unteachable,¡± Li Fuzhou glanced at Han Wenxin and sighed helplessly, feeling as if his poetry was pearls cast before swine. An Jing, also feeling a touch of sadness, said, ¡°Let me compose a poem to bid Mr. Zhou farewell.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone perked up their ears, with Zhou Xianming feeling so moved that tears brimmed in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, An Jing hesitated for a long while then said, ¡°The wind howls, the Yu River chills, a valiant man leaves and shall not return¡­.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming staggered, nearly losing his footing and falling off the boat. ¡°Quick! Start the boat!¡± Li Fuzhou: ¡°¡­.¡± Han Wenxin: ¡°¡­.¡± This statement was clear and understandable, and he got it. The three of them stood and watched as the passenger boat sailed away, with Zhou Xianming on board continually waving to them. ¡°That old man¡¯s arms must be about to fall off from all that waving,¡± Han Wenxin muttered as he watched the increasingly smaller speck in the distance. ¡°He¡¯s gone now; it¡¯s time for me to go make some visits,¡± An Jing stretched his limbs. Today, besides seeing Zhou Xianming off, he also needed to make some visits in Mazi Lane to the west of the city. ¡°Sir, are you sure you don¡¯t need this old man to assist you?¡± Li Fuzhou asked from the side. It had been agreed beforehand that Li Fuzhou was just there to see Zhou Xianming off. ¡°No need, I used to do it alone.¡± An Jing waved his hand. He always felt Li Fuzhou was a spy planted by Zhao Qingmei, though he hadn¡¯t done anything, it was still somewhat uncomfortable to have to always guard against him. After all, this old man had once said he wanted to eat off him for a lifetime. ¡°Very well, Sir, I¡¯ll head back first then,¡± Li Fuzhou bowed, ready to head back to Jishi Hall. ¡°Brother An, is Tan Yun at home?¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s eyes lit up slightly, his hands twitched. ¡°She is,¡± An Jing nodded. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Got it, you go on with your business, Brother,¡± Hearing this, Han Wenxin hurriedly caught up to Li Fuzhou, ¡°Wait for me, Elder, the city isn¡¯t very safe recently, I¡¯ll escort you back.¡± ¡°This kid,¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly at the sight, then he headed towards Mazi Lane in the west of the city. ¡­¡­ Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Little Black Dog Runs Away from Home Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Little Black Dog Runs Away from Home By the Yu State River, inside Jishi Hall. ¡°Lady An Jing actually knows how to prepare medicine, that¡¯s quite impressive.¡± ¡°Aunt Liu, you¡¯re really joking, my husband prepared everything for me. This medicine needs to be taken once in the morning and once at night, for a total of three days.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lady An Jing, no need to see me out.¡± ¡­. Zhao Qingmei watched the middle-aged woman leave and slowly returned inside the hall. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m back.¡± Soon after, the voice of Li Fuzhou came from outside the door. ¡°Arrest Officer Han?¡± Zhao Qingmei followed the voice and saw Li Fuzhou standing next to Han Wenxin, who was holding some pastries in his hand. ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯ve become even more beautiful after a few days.¡± Han Wenxin said with a beaming smile, and then glanced behind Zhao Qingmei a few times, as if looking for something. ¡°Are you looking for something?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked, noticing Han Wenxin¡¯s wandering gaze. ¡°This is the Ruyi Cake from my shop, just freshly baked. I bought two portions. I heard Miss Tan likes them very much; where is she?¡± Han Wenxin said, putting down a portion of the cakes. ¡°Oh, she went to wash clothes by the river,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a knowing, half-smiling expression. ¡°Alright, I understand. You go ahead with your work, sister-in-law.¡± Upon hearing this, Han Wenxin was delighted, seeing it as a good opportunity to be alone with her. After saying this, he quickly headed toward the riverbank. Watching Han Wenxin¡¯s retreating figure, Zhao Qingmei said, ¡°Third Master, you don¡¯t seem to be worried?¡± Li Fuzhou said with certainty, ¡°Tan Yun won¡¯t take a fancy to that little rascal Han Wenxin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded, seemingly struck by a thought, ¡°The Ghost-faced Buddha is following, right?¡± An Jing did not seem very willing to let Li Fuzhou follow him, so Zhao Qingmei could only resort to having an expert from the sect secretly protect him. By all logic, a Second Grade expert in Yu State City should be among the elite, and unless they encountered the Cao Gang or that peerless swordsman, there would be absolutely no danger. Even if they did encounter danger, the Ghost-faced Buddha only needed to hold out for a moment, and she and Li Fuzhou could easily arrive in no time. ¡°Miss, rest assured, the Ghost-faced Buddha will surely protect your husband completely.¡± Li Fuzhou furrowed his brow and said, ¡°The experts of the Human Sect have been dispatched to search for that swordsman. Several days have passed, and there is still no word¡­.¡± Since the demon exorcism event at Fa Xi Temple, Zhao Qingmei had been planning to recruit that peerless swordsman. The experts of the Demon Sect had spread out to gather information about the peerless swordsman, but they had come up empty. This person seemed to appear out of nowhere and then vanish just as suddenly. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s gaze was cold, and she spoke with an even tone, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; the Human Sect¡¯s network is still being deployed gradually. We shouldn¡¯t rush this matter. Moreover, that swordsman is not ordinary, and he might not be willing to join our Demon Sect.¡± As the Demon Sect began its resurgence, the first thing was for the Human Sect experts to enter Great Yan and start spreading their undercover network. Although there were some connections previously, most of them had been severed and needed to be re-established. This was one of the reasons Li Fuzhou had personally come to Great Yan. Once the network was established and a formidable intelligence network was in place, that would only be the first step in the Demon Sect¡¯s comeback. And for Zhao Qingmei to find out the cause of Jiang Shang¡¯s death, she also needed the strong intelligence network of the Human Sect. Li Fuzhou spoke in a serious tone, ¡°Also, that person in Yujing City seems rather displeased with our disrupting Fa Xi Temple¡¯s seal this time, after all, that seal was protecting his Zhao family¡¯s rule.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s tone remained very calm, showing neither happiness nor sorrow, ¡°If he has complaints, let him tell me directly. If he wants to cooperate with our Demon Sect, he has to be prepared.¡± Li Fuzhou sighed softly, ¡°Sect Hierarch, after all, it was Sect Master Jiang who personally negotiated this cooperation. Although you have some reluctance in your heart, since the matter has already been decided, we might as well take advantage of his influence to establish our foothold first, and plan further thereafter.¡± The Sect Master Jiang he mentioned was naturally Zhao Qingmei¡¯s senior brother, Earth Sect Sect Master Jiang Renyi. The cooperation between the Demon Sect and that person in Yujing City had been agreed upon four years ago, when Zhao Qingmei was not yet the Sect Hierarch. As far as Li Fuzhou was concerned, cooperation between the two sides was like negotiating with a tiger for its skin, it was just a matter of seeing which tiger was more ferocious. If that was the case, they might as well use that person¡¯s influence to plot their own course. Zhao Qingmei did not say anything. She knew in her heart that what Li Fuzhou said made sense. The Demon Sect¡¯s resurgence was not as easy as one might imagine. Without knowing how to take advantage of the situation and leverage other forces, no matter how deep the Demon Sect¡¯s foundations were, it was just wishful thinking. After pondering for a moment, Li Fuzhou said, ¡°By the way, Sect Master Jiang is already aware of everything you¡¯ve done after arriving in Great Yan¡­.¡± ¡°Jiang Renyi knows?¡± Zhao Qingmei frowned, ¡°Did you tell him?¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head, ¡°The Sect Hierarch instructed me to keep it a secret, so naturally, I wouldn¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°Then it must have been the Vermilion Bird Seat¡­.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes narrowed, her voice remaining very calm. The four Seat Masters of the Demon Sect were all top-notch experts, directly under the Demon Sect Sect Hierarch, and the Vermilion Bird Seat Master was even a personal attendant to Zhao Qingmei, just four years her senior. They had grown up together, practicing martial arts and growing up together, with a bond like sisters. Seeing this, Li Fuzhou said in a grave voice, ¡°As the personal attendant to the Sect Hierarch, the Vermilion Bird Seat Master was concerned for your safety, so it¡¯s normal that she reported the situation to Sect Master Jiang.¡± Zhao Qingmei in front of An Jing was as gentle as water, the very picture of a refined lady. However, Li Fuzhou knew that Zhao Qingmei was ruthless and resolute, and even he was secretly in awe of her. Going against her orders this time, even the sister-like Vermilion Bird Seat Master, if not killed, might be forced to resign for her mistake. Now, after years of recuperation, the Demon Sect had just begun to regain strength and was planning a resurgent comeback, a crucial time to have reliable people around. ¡°I will handle her in my own way.¡± Zhao Qingmei said calmly, ¡°If Jiang Renyi knows, then he knows. It¡¯s a matter that he¡¯d find out sooner or later, and I didn¡¯t plan to hide it from anyone.¡± With a frown, Li Fuzhou remained silent in the end. Zhao Qingmei rubbed her temples and said softly, ¡°By the way, if Jiang Renyi comes to Great Yan, you must tell me first.¡± ¡°I know, but he likely won¡¯t come in the short term,¡± Li Fuzhou was naturally aware of what she was worried about. ¡­¡­. By the Yu State River. Underneath the dense green canopy lay rows of slightly mottled greyish-white walls; tender shadows of willows danced on the water¡¯s surface, intertwined with the sounds of orioles as wooden covered boats glided by. Laughter full of teasing and banter rose from the riverside. In the simple and quiet ancient city, a tree adorned with phoenix-red flowers swayed in the wind, their petals falling into the river. ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Tan Yun squatted at the riverbank, beating clothes with a wooden bat while mumbling to herself. ¡°How can a living person just disappear?¡± Ever since her return from Fa Xi Temple, she often thought of the demon-slaying event that day, especially the peerlessly graceful figure, and those familiar-looking eyes. For some reason, she always found herself secretly comparing that unparalleled swordsman to her intended groom. ¡°My fianc¨¦ is too awful,¡± Tan Yun hurriedly shook her head, pouted, and said, ¡°He just knows how to bully me, bossing me around every day. He¡¯s nothing like that swordsman; at least the swordsman never bullies me.¡± As she said this, her cheeks turned red; she unconsciously looked around. Upon seeing no one nearby, she relaxed slightly. ¡°Bad fianc¨¦, stinky fianc¨¦!¡± Tan Yun muttered under her breath as she continued to pound the clothes, as if they were An Jing himself. ¡°Miss Tan! Miss Tan!¡± It was at that moment a voice called out from a distance. ¡°Hmm?!¡± Tan Yun followed the sound only to see Han Wenxin running towards her, excitedly holding a box of cakes. What¡¯s Han Wenxin doing here? Tan Yun frowned slightly but quickly pretended to be nonchalant. ¡°I finally found you,¡± Han Wenxin arrived, panting. ¡°Officer Han, what brings you here? Is there something you need me for?¡± Tan Yun stood up, holding her wet hands in front of her chest. So big! Han Wenxin, beholding the surging waves in front of her chest, felt his heart skip a beat uncontrollably. He believed that Tan Yun was truly blessed by nature. Even as an unmarried maiden, she was of such ample size that, in Han¡¯s experience, if she were to marry later and then¡­. Han Wenxin covertly swallowed, saying, ¡°I was on patrol just now, and as I found myself at leisure, I came by Jishi Hall. Here, I brought you these cakes on my way. From Zhu¡¯s store, freshly made Ruyi Cakes.¡± ¡°Ruyi Cakes from Zhu¡¯s?¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s eyes lit up. An Jing was right after all. Inwardly pleased with himself, Han Wenxin thought if one wanted to capture a girl¡¯s heart, the way to it was through her stomach. ¡°That Ruyi Cake from Zhu¡¯s store, my fianc¨¦ just bought some for me the day before yesterday,¡± Tan Yun said as she remembered something, then waved her hands to refuse. Eat during the day, gain weight at night. That¡¯s what the fianc¨¦ said. Eating too much and getting fat wasn¡¯t good, especially since the flesh on her chest lately seemed to be growing more abundant. What if her fianc¨¦ came to disdain her for it? With this in mind, Tan Yun felt even more resolute. Right, she absolutely couldn¡¯t eat this Ruyi Cake from Zhu¡¯s. ¡°Ah?¡± Hearing Tan Yun¡¯s response, Han Wenxin was taken aback. ¡°If you¡¯ve already had Ruyi Cake from Zhu¡¯s, how about candied fruit from the east town?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t have it, I just ate that the day before yesterday.¡± ¡°Sugar-cooked cheesecake, now this is really delicious,¡± Han Wenxin persistently said, unwilling to give up. ¡°It¡¯s too sweet; I don¡¯t want it,¡± Tan Yun, unable to bear with Han Wenxin¡¯s incessant nagging, said somewhat impatiently. Why was Han Wenxin acting like a plaster sticking to her, especially at her worst times? ¡°Alright then,¡± Seeing her reaction, Han Wenxin cautiously said, ¡°Is there anything you want to do, any place you want to go, or perhaps some small wish you have?¡± ¡°A wish? Are you going to fulfill it for me?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Tan Yun glanced at Han Wenxin, raising her eyebrows slightly. ¡°Of course, as long as it¡¯s within my power, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames,¡± Han Wenxin responded, thinking he had a chance, his voice filled with excitement. Han Wenxin looked over at Tan Yun, who gave him a once-over and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°The dog I was raising ran away from home this morning after I beat it. Can you act as my dog for a few days?¡± Han Wenxin: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­¡­ Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Body Yin Cold and Qi Blood Hot Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Body Yin Cold and Qi Blood Hot The wind in the alley blew leisurely, its high walls and carved eaves worn by the years and the elements. An Jing carried his small medicine box on his back, walking slowly through the streets. Suddenly, he halted, subconsciously touching his medicine box. ¡°Hmm?¡± A figure standing in the distance frowned slightly, ¡°Could it be that this young doctor has noticed me?¡± Upon further thought, it seemed impossible; how could this unremarkable young doctor be aware of his presence? Yet An Jing became increasingly certain, ever since his return from Fa Xi Temple, he had felt someone was following him. ¡°Why is someone tracking me? Could it be that my identity has been exposed?¡± An Jing pondered. To ascertain his identity, the power behind it must be extraordinary. Fearful of making a move and alarming the enemy, he quickly realized that the person tracking him was merely watching from a distance, seemingly monitoring him. ¡°Impossible, I couldn¡¯t possibly have been discovered¡­.¡± An Jing murmured to himself, then casually continued walking through the alley. ¡°Indeed he hasn¡¯t noticed.¡± Observing this, the expert from Human Sect couldn¡¯t help but mock himself, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been too suspicious.¡± Mazi Lane was well-known as a slum in Yu State City, with its entrance flanked by clay houses built of yellow mud, the air carrying a musty smell. At the end of the alley stood two dilapidated shacks with broken tiles. An Jing arrived at the door and knocked on the wooden gate. ¡°Thump, thump!¡± A voice came from inside. ¡°Coming.¡± The wooden door creaked open to reveal a gaunt, hunched middle-aged man. His hair was unkempt, his clothes very tattered. This man was He Ping, a dock worker who had visited the pharmacy that morning. Dock workers, who loaded and unloaded goods at the wharf, had it better if they were hired by the Cao Gang or Sanhu Gang, earning thirty percent more wages and enjoying more stable work, although they had to pay some gang dues. If they were not protected by a gang, they would make only eighty copper coins a day and were sometimes subjected to the overseer¡¯s insults and whipping. Upon seeing An Jing, a glint of hope appeared in He Ping¡¯s otherwise dim eyes: ¡°Young Doctor An, you¡¯ve finally arrived. My wife coughed up blood again just a moment ago.¡± Coughing up blood? An Jing hurried inside upon hearing this. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­..¡± As soon as he entered the room, a series of coughs assaulted his ears, and he saw a little girl with tearful eyes lying by the bedside. In the bed lay a pale-faced woman, with a piece of white cloth in her hand stained with fresh blood. An Jing approached the bed and frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was just a bit of chill this morning?¡± Upon hearing this, He Ping stammered, ¡°It¡­ it was a chill, but somehow she started coughing up blood.¡± ¡°How long has she been coughing?¡± An Jing continued to inquire. ¡°Five days,¡± He Ping replied softly. ¡°Five days?¡± An Jing furrowed his brows and couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly. After years of treating illnesses, he had come to realize that there was indeed a kind of disease called poverty. To save copper coins, they do not dare to fall ill, and even if they do, they are afraid to seek medical advice, believing these to be minor issues or simply lacking the money for a doctor. They can only lie in bed and wait for death. This not only wears down those about to die but also tortures those still alive. He did not harbor any grand desire to save the world, but felt that since he had witnessed it, he ought to save anyone he could, just so he could sleep at night with a clear conscience. As An Jing frowned, He Ping could not help but bow his head in guilt. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s that I didn¡¯t think it was a big problem, don¡¯t blame me¡­ cough, cough, cough,¡± the woman in bed coughed out. An Jing took a deep breath and shook his head slightly, then placed his fingers on the woman¡¯s pulse. As soon as he touched her pulse, a cold sensation was transmitted. ¡°So cold, but the blood is still warm¡­..¡± An Jing raised his eyebrow. ¡°` San Niang¡¯s whole body was frigid, and she kept coughing, but fortunately, her vitality was warm, retaining a trace of Yang Energy. Such a condition indicates that her body was filled with a significant amount of cold energy, resembling the situation of Miss Cao Ling¡¯er from the Cao Family. Cao Ling¡¯er was invaded by Yin Evil Qi, while San Niang¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t as bad as hers, it seemed she was only tainted by Yin Evil Qi. However, San Niang¡¯s vitality wasn¡¯t as strong as Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s, making her symptoms appear even more severe. After a while, An Jing slowly retracted his fingers. ¡°Doctor An, what¡¯s the situation?¡± He Ping asked anxiously. ¡°Doctor, please save my mother,¡± the young girl cried out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± An Jing touched the girl¡¯s head and smiled, ¡°Later, go to Jishi Hall and get some herbal medicine. However, her body is weak, she needs to recuperate for about a month¡­¡± The imbalance of Yin Yang Qi, by expelling the excess Yin Energy and then supplementing some Yang Energy, should suffice. San Niang¡¯s condition was much milder compared to Cao Ling¡¯er, so taking ordinary herbal medicine could achieve this effect. ¡°Thank you, Doctor An.¡± On hearing this, a heavy stone in He Ping¡¯s heart finally fell, and he patted the girl¡¯s back, urging, ¡°Little one, quickly thank Doctor An.¡± The girl, her heart buoyed by An Jing¡¯s words and encouraged by her father, knelt down in gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Doctor An, thank you.¡± ¡°Get up, there¡¯s no need for such formality.¡± An Jing quickly helped the girl to her feet, then asked, ¡°Has San Niang recently visited Fa Xi Temple as well?¡± He Ping was slightly stunned, then after some thought, shook his head, ¡°No, San Niang has always been working at the Bright Moon Tavern and hasn¡¯t left Yu State City much recently.¡± An Jing nodded, feeling increasingly puzzled in his heart. At that moment, He Ping instructed, ¡°Jiang Grandpa will be coming over later, you¡¯ll open the door for him then.¡± ¡°Dad, I know,¡± the girl nodded obediently. ¡°Doctor An, please wait for me for a moment. I¡¯ll ask Uncle Jiang next door to watch over things,¡± He Ping turned and said apologetically. ¡°No problem, as long as it¡¯s not too long,¡± An Jing waved his hand nonchalantly. On hearing this, He Ping dashed out the door, as if afraid of delaying Doctor An for even a second. ¡°Doctor An, please have some water.¡± Just then, the girl came over carefully with a bowl of water, her large eyes filled with childish innocence. ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing took the bowl, and spotting the chipped edge of the porcelain, he was momentarily taken aback as he looked at the girl, still so childlike. His mind couldn¡¯t help but recall an event from the third year of Xingping, when a little girl about the same age had come to him. In a flash, ten years had gone by. How time flies. ¡°Such a good girl, don¡¯t worry, your mother will be well soon,¡± An Jing said with a smile after taking a sip of water. ¡°Doctor An, I am back,¡± He Ping¡¯s voice came from outside the door, with an old man by his side. The elder¡¯s face was wrinkled, his eyes cloudy, a smile spread across his face, and his clothes were very neat. At his side, He Ping said, ¡°This is Grandpa Jiang, who lives next door to me. He usually feeds horses at the racetrack, but he¡¯s resting today. And this is Doctor An from Jishi Hall, a renowned doctor in Yu State.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met Doctor An,¡± Grandpa Jiang said with a smile, saluting An Jing with a bow. ¡°You are too kind, Grandpa Jiang.¡± An Jing returned the gesture, feeling like he had seen the old man somewhere before. Just then, the Earth Book in his mind flashed a black light. ¡°Notice: There is a black opportunity near the host.¡± On seeing the notice from the Earth Book, An Jing¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Doctor An, what is the matter?¡± Grandpa Jiang noticed the change and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just feel a sense of familiarity with Grandpa Jiang,¡± An Jing adjusted his emotions before responding. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Grandpa Jiang laughed heartily, stroking his beard, ¡°Doctor An really is a man of high status who forgets things easily. Last year, when the Sima barracks were struck with an epidemic, it was me who guided you there upon He Ping¡¯s request.¡± ¡°So it was,¡± An Jing remembered, then turned to He Ping, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I have other patients to see this afternoon.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll go get the medicine right now,¡± He Ping said hurriedly, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, I¡¯ll trouble you to look after things here for a bit.¡± Grandpa Jiang pinched the girl¡¯s cheek, his face brimming with contentment, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me here looking after things and little Ya to keep me company, I¡¯m more than happy.¡± ¡°` Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Jiang Sanjia Meets the Paper Man Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Jiang Sanjia Meets the Paper Man After seeing a patient in Mazi Lane, An Jing prepared to return to Jishi Hall when he felt a slight tremor in his sleeve. Inside his sleeve was a palm-sized paper figure with a streak of bright red on its chest. At that moment, its hands seemed to be drawn by some force, clapping open and shut as if applauding. ¡°Jiang Sanjia!?¡± With a lift of his eyebrow An Jing muttered to himself. This was the paper figure Jiang Sanjia had given him, said to contain a drop of his essence blood¡ªextremely precious. An Jing initially didn¡¯t want to accept the paper figure because he was unsure whether this essence blood was separated¡­ ¡°That old fellow has gone into hiding now, so he probably wouldn¡¯t be seeking me out unless it was for something important.¡± With this thought, An Jing casually glanced behind him and walked discreetly further into the alley. Not far away, a Human Sect expert leaped gracefully like a skilful swallow, landing on the roof and closely following An Jing into the alley. ¡°Hmm!?¡± The next time he landed, the alley was dead silent, empty. An Jing, who had just turned into the alley, seemed to have vanished into thin air. ¡°Where is he!?¡± The puzzled Human Sect expert prided himself on tracking and surveillance. It wasn¡¯t just any ordinary person, but even experts of the same realm couldn¡¯t escape his pursuit. After looking around for a moment, he was certain that An Jing had somehow disappeared all of a sudden. For some reason, he felt dizzy; his mind went blank for an instant as if he had forgotten the way he came and how to return. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± The Human Sect expert touched his douli hat, a drop of cold sweat forming on his forehead. Li Fuzhou had warned him: if An Jing was missing so much as a hair, he¡¯d have to face him head in hand, underscoring the importance of the Jishi Hall doctor. But now, he had lost track of the man. ¡­¡­. In Yu State City, Fuyang Village. Fuyang Village was not far from Qinghe Pier, with the majority of its young and strong residents earning a living on the river, leaving the village sparsely populated on regular days. Withered yellow leaves drifted in the wind, fields gleamed golden, and the farmers were busy working. Clad in a dark blue cloak, An Jing carried two jugs of wine and a roast chicken, and leisurely made his way to the end of the village, where two dilapidated thatched cottages sat by the river. At that moment, Jiang Sanjia was leaning against a rock, holding a fishing rod in his hand. ¡°Sanjia, your fish basket is empty¡­¡± An Jing walked over and shook his head at the sight of the empty fish basket. Lazily basking in the sun, Jiang Sanjia spoke indifferently, ¡°A bamboo rod, a line equal in length, a dot of crimson amidst the clear waters. All my life angling, when shall I rest? One spring departs, another returns. Fishing is a state of mind, it is also a pursuit¡­¡± Just then, the goose feather float on the water¡¯s surface stirred, and Jiang Sanjia began reeling in his line, sensing something amiss as he slightly frowned. ¡°Swoosh!¡± When he lifted the fishhook, he discovered the bait that had been on it was long gone. ¡°Whether you catch fish or not is irrelevant, you just want to feel the process of nurturing the fish every day.¡± An Jing sat down with a relaxed smile, admiring the scenic river before him, then placed the wine and roast chicken to the side. Picking up the roast chicken, Jiang Sanjia gave it a look and said, ¡°Brother Zhou, if you come again, remember to bring something different.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure whether this was a welcome banquet or a last meal¡ªit was always a jug of old wine and a chicken. ¡°Are you complaining?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. This had cost him the hundred or so coins he would have spent on his midday meal outside. ¡°Never mind, better not to change it.¡± Jiang Sanjia sat up and said slowly, ¡°Someone from the Court is preparing to vindicate me. I might have to return to Yujing City after the New Year.¡± ¡°` ¡°Exonerate?¡± An Jing frowned. ¡°Exoneration for a prisoner from the Heavenly Prison, after a jailbreak? Is that even possible?¡± ¡°Why not? As long as I am still useful, it can be done.¡± Jiang Sanjia picked up the wine jug, took a big gulp, and asked, ¡°Zhou brother, when did you manage to master the Hundred-step Flying Sword?¡± The more sophisticated the martial arts, the harder they are to cultivate, especially those of the True Martial and Heavenly Martial levels. Even if placed in front of some people, they might struggle to master them in their entire lifetime. And the Hundred-step Flying Sword is known for its complexity and mystery. Jiang Sanjia prided himself on being a genius, yet after three years of practicing this sword technique, he had made no progress at all, which spoke volumes of its difficulty. But Zhou Xianming managed to do it in just one or two months¡ªto think that even his senior brother, the legendary Ghost Valley Divine Sword practitioner, took a year to get started. ¡°Cultivation?¡± An Jing paused, then said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this swordsmanship something one can perform as long as they have hands?¡± Jiang Sanjia: ¡°¡­.¡± An Jing spoke the truth; he had barely practiced the Hundred-step Flying Sword at all. ¡°You really are a unique individual.¡± Jiang Sanjia sighed lightly. ¡°No, I am just an ordinary man.¡± An Jing tore off a chicken leg and then took a seat. Jiang Sanjia gave An Jing a baffling look, and then with a mysterious smile said, ¡°Zhou brother, I already know your identity.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows. Jiang Sanjia knew his identity? Could it be that he had calculated it using Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism? But that shouldn¡¯t be right. An Jing¡¯s cultivation was above his, and according to the information he had revealed before, it should be difficult for Jiang to calculate, the cost too great. ¡°Your cultivation of the Daluo Heart Method is correct, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jiang Sanjia asked. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± An Jing nodded, without denial. This Daluo Heart Method belonged to the True Martial level of mental methods. Back when An Jing¡¯s skills were still very basic, he would regularly go up the mountain to gather herbs. Because of the Earth Book, he was able to collect many precious herbs. One day, following the guidance of the Earth Book and what at that time was his first blue-colored opportunity, he found an elderly man who was gravely injured. An Jing had treated him, but the elder¡¯s injuries were too severe. In the end, he passed away. However, in his final moments, the old man gave An Jing a mental method but never disclosed his own name nor the specific name of the method. His only advice was for An Jing to avoid rashly revealing the Daluo Heart Method to others. An Jing had always found it strange, when he found the Unity Sword Technique¡¯s abridged version in the wilderness, the hint was only a yellow opportunity, so why was the Daluo Heart Method of the same True Martial level a blue opportunity? At the time, he didn¡¯t ponder it deeply, but now it seemed there might be more mysteries involved. ¡°Indeed.¡± Jiang Sanjia smiled. ¡°So, you are indeed a successor of the Daluo Sect. Years ago, when Yan Shaoshan was slain by the Zhenyi Sect, I thought the Daluo Sect would dissipate into nothingness. I had no idea there was still such an expert in the world.¡± ¡°Daluo Sect¡­.¡± An Jing managed to keep a neutral expression while his mind was filled with confusion. In his memory, he had no impression of the Daluo Sect whatsoever. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Jiang Sanjia¡¯s eyes twinkled as he said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need for us to conceal our identities any longer.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what Brother Sanjia is talking about,¡± An Jing looked at him. He had nothing to do with the Daluo Sect, so why should he reveal his own identity? Jiang Sanjia¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Brother Zhou, let¡¯s be honest with each other.¡± ¡°` Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 The Three Religions originally came from the same source Chapter 75: Chapter 75 The Three Religions originally came from the same source An Jing glanced at Jiang Sanjia and said, ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know!? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t recognize Yan Shaoshan?¡± Seeing An Jing¡¯s indifferent reaction, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s eyebrows twisted, seemingly becoming somewhat restless. ¡°Don¡¯t recognize.¡± An Jing shook his head. Jiang Sanjia was stunned for a moment; his original intention for coming today was to have a showdown with An Jing, yet he hadn¡¯t expected that An Jing wouldn¡¯t even know who Yan Shaoshan was. Then a thought struck him¡ªcould it be that Zhou Xianming had come upon the Daluo Heart Method of Yan Shaoshan by chance? After pondering for quite some time, Jiang Sanjia said, ¡°Brother Zhou, since that¡¯s the case, let me speak frankly. I used the Ghost Valley Heavenly Mechanism to divine your origins back when we were on the painted boats in Yu State City, but I was thwarted by a divine intervention. Just after the Ullambana Festival, I divined once more, and this time I found out that you carry the Daluo Heart Method.¡± An Jing looked him in the eyes and asked, ¡°So, you came here to ask me about this?¡± ¡°It seems Brother Zhou truly knows nothing at all.¡± Jiang Sanjia paused then asked, ¡°You must know about the Zhenyi Sect, right?¡± ¡°Who in the world does not know about it?¡± The Zhenyi Sect was not only the national religion of Great Yan but was also highly esteemed in Jianghu. No one in Yan Country would be unaware of the Zhenyi Sect. ¡°The Daluo Heart Method you practice is the core mental method of the Daluo Sect.¡± Jiang Sanjia cast his fishing line into the river and said, ¡°Before the Great Zhou Dynasty, nearly a thousand years ago, the Zhenyi Sect, Daluo Sect, and Ghost Valley Sect were one school, known as the Mystical Sect.¡± ¡°Mystical Sect!?¡± An Jing heard this and was slightly moved; this was the first time he¡¯d heard of the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s past and present. Jiang Sanjia slowly continued, ¡°Lotus leaves, white lotus roots, red lotus flowers; the Three Religions were originally one family. This refers to the Mystical Sect. Even though Buddhism flourished in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the status of the Mystical Sect was also not inferior, and the only power that could contend with Buddhism in the world was the Mystical Sect.¡± ¡°The ancestral court of the Mystical Sect is on Tianqing Mountain, on Yun Hua Dao, and the leader of the Mystical Sect is known as the Daoist Master. A thousand years ago, a great calamity befell the Mystical Sect when the Daoist Master of the time died suddenly under mysterious circumstances, leaving the Mystical Sect headless. They had to elect a new Daoist Master, but at that moment, severe discord arose within the Sect. Nobody wanted to back down, and under the instigation of some with ulterior motives, they even took up arms against each other, leading to the complete division of the Sect¡¯s three great masters. Two of the masters took numerous Mystical Sect masters with them, resulting in the establishment of what are now known as the Daluo Sect, Ghost Valley Sect, and Zhenyi Sect. Each of these two masters also took part of the Sect¡¯s supreme mental method, the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, which later evolved into the Ghost Valley Heart Method of the Ghost Valley Sect, the Daluo Heart Method of the Daluo Sect, and the Beidou Seven Stars Technique of the Zhenyi Sect.¡± ¡°The Jade Emperor Scripture!?¡± Hearing this, An Jing inwardly marveled, no wonder rumors abounded in Jianghu about the discord between the Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect, and even of Zhenyi Sect¡¯s masters attempting to move against the Ghost Valley Sect. It appears the two Sects truly have deep historical ties. If the Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect are such famously renowned forces in Jianghu, why then does the Daluo Sect seem so obscure? ¡°The Jade Emperor Scripture is the supreme mental method of the Mystical Sect, and all three powers desire the complete ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ to become the Daoist Master of the Mystical Sect.¡± Jiang Sanjia sighed and continued, ¡°For nearly a thousand years, the masters of these three Sects have engaged in overt strife and covert battles, even causing several blood-stained tempests in Jianghu, all for this ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, to become the rightful Daoist Master of the Mystical Sect. Yet until now, no master has achieved their wish.¡± An Jing, puzzled, said, ¡°Could this Heavenly Martial level mental method be so formidable? Or is there some other mystery to it?¡± He held in his hands one of the incomplete sections of the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, and if the Daluo Heart Method was of the True Martial level, then the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, if he guessed right, should belong to the top-tier Heavenly Martial level martial arts. While Heavenly Martial level martial arts were valuable, they hardly seemed worth causing a millennium-long conflict. ¡°Heavenly Martial?¡± Jiang Sanjia scoffed, ¡°Brother Zhou, this ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ is one of the three great secret scriptures of our time, not just Heavenly Martial, but above Heavenly Martial.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows shot up, his heart deeply shocked. Above Heavenly Martial? He had never heard that there was something above Heavenly Martial¡­ Could the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ really be so incredible? Jiang Sanjia glanced at An Jing, ¡°Brother Zhou, the Daluo Heart Method that you are cultivating should be at the True Martial level of martial arts. Actually, what you have is just an incomplete version of the Daluo Heart Method. Over two hundred years ago, the Daluo Sect began to decline. At that time, the Zhenyi Sect in Great Yan was already thriving. Afraid that the experts of Zhenyi Sect would snatch it away, the Sect Leader of Daluo Sect hid part of the Daluo Heart Method. Even to this day, people of Zhenyi Sect are still searching for that incomplete piece of the Daluo Heart Method, pursuing and killing members of the Daluo Sect.¡± A realization dawned on An Jing. So the Daluo Heart Method was incomplete. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, in order to get this Daluo Heart Method, Zhenyi Sect will go to any lengths to deal with me?¡± Jiang Sanjia nodded and said, ¡°Correct. The one presiding over Zhenyi Mountain today is Xiao Qianqiu, who has dominated Jianghu for decades. This person is a rare genius of Zhenyi Sect in hundreds of years. Among all the Grandmasters of the world today, he is the most likely to make a breakthrough to become a Great Grandmaster. Whether it¡¯s becoming the Mystical Sect Daoist Master or aiming for the Great Grandmaster realm, he is determined to obtain the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯. It is something he must acquire.¡± ¡°In the past, the experts of Ghost Valley Sect roamed Jianghu freely. Even if they couldn¡¯t suppress the Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, they could still hold their own. But in this generation, there emerged a person like Xiao Qianqiu.¡± An Jing did not speak, his thoughts unknown. The three words Xiao Qianqiu weighed like a mountain on all the experts of Jianghu. ¡°Do you know how fearsome Xiao Qianqiu is?¡± Jiang Sanjia smiled, ¡°My senior brother, the Ghost Valley Divine Sword, broke through his limits ten years ago. His swordsmanship reached a unity with heaven and earth, and his cultivation attained the Grandmaster Realm. Yet he doesn¡¯t even have the courage to climb up Zhenyi Mountain.¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually a Grandmaster, do you know that? The Ghost Valley Divine Sword, a swordsman whose fame echoes loudly across Jianghu, ranked among the top three swordsmen in the world. Isn¡¯t it laughable¡­ Hahaha.¡± As he spoke, Jiang Sanjia burst into laughter, a trace of mockery lacing his voice. A twinge of bitterness filled his heart. Faced with the aggressive Zhenyi Sect, his senior brother chose to hide instead, or else he wouldn¡¯t have fallen to his current plight. An Jing felt a chill in his heart. Jiang Sanjia¡¯s laughter subsided, his gaze fixed on An Jing as he said, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu wants to become the Daoist Master, and he aims to become a Great Grandmaster. If Zhenyi Sect learns that you possess the Daluo Heart Method, they will surely make a move to snatch it from you. Brother Zhou, would you willingly hand it over?¡± To become the Daoist Master, to obtain the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ ¡ª this was the goal that every Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect wished to achieve. ¡°What? He can become the Daoist Master, and I can¡¯t?¡± An Jing said with a smile. Giving up his own Daluo Heart Method was somewhat reluctant in his heart. Besides, if Xiao Qianqiu wished to cultivate the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ why couldn¡¯t he, An Jing, also cultivate it? Upon hearing this, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s expression stiffened slightly before he sighed and said, ¡°Brother Zhou, I fear that my journey to Yujing City bodes more ill than good¡­¡± ¡°Then why go at all?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I have reasons I cannot ignore.¡± An Jing nodded and asked no further. After a prolonged moment of contemplation, Jiang Sanjia finally took out a book from his chest and tossed it to An Jing, ¡°Brother Zhou, keep this. If I don¡¯t make it back, help me find someone to pass it on.¡± ¡°The ¡®Ghost Valley Heart Method¡¯!?¡± An Jing, looking at the book in his hands, was greatly shaken. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Yu State City Turned Upside Down Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Yu State City Turned Upside Down The afternoon sun was gentle and comfortable inside Jishi Hall. In the hall, there hung a wooden sign stating, ¡°Doctor outside, closed for today.¡± A medical book rested on the medicine cabinet, with Tan Yun¡¯s plump cheeks pressed against it, currently sound asleep, with saliva continuously dripping from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Ao¡­ Woo.¡± Little Blackie by his side also yawned, shook its body, and then found a comfortable position to continue sleeping. ¡°I need to give brother a surprise when I get back today.¡± In the back hall¡¯s kitchen, Zhao Qingmei held a fresh turtle ready to be slaughtered, then glanced at the other fresh ingredients on the table, her lips slightly curving upwards. After all, her brother¡¯s four favorite things were his meals each day. ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± Li Fuzhou entered hurriedly, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. His greatest fear had still come to pass. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked, her smile vanishing. She knew Li Fuzhou well; he wouldn¡¯t rush in like this without a urgent matter. ¡°The son-in-law has disappeared.¡± Li Fuzhou stated gravely. ¡°Disappeared?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s brows furrowed, and in an instant, the room went from the heat of summer to the severe cold of winter. Li Fuzhou took a deep breath and said, ¡°Huo Zhongyun has been secretly protecting the son-in-law. The son-in-law was at Mazi Lane for consultation when he suddenly vanished without a trace, and Huo Zhongyun searched the surroundings for a long time without discovering any trace of him.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°What!?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face changed, and the turtle in her hand fell to the ground. Huo Zhongyun, with his Second Grade Cultivation, would naturally not encounter an accident when secretly following a doctor with no ability to resist. There was only one possibility: An Jing was captured by a master to threaten the Demon Sect. Li Fuzhou took a deep breath and sighed, ¡°Sect Hierarch, what should we do now?¡± ¡°Search.¡± Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly, ¡°Spare no expense.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s lips parted, and finally, he nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± The Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect had just set up its network, and some of these new lines had not yet fully taken root. If they acted rashly now, there would certainly be a risk of exposure, and a large-scale search could also potentially alert the enemy. These were all Li Fuzhou¡¯s concerns, but he knew that voicing these concerns was useless. ¡°Let Tan Yun wait at home. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡­¡­ Tianxiang Street was bustling with noise and heavy traffic. ¡°Officer Qin, we will go ahead and wait for you.¡± ¡°You must come tonight, we won¡¯t stop until we¡¯re drunk.¡± ¡­. After the constables finished their roll call, they planned to go for a drink together. ¡°Hurry up, Old Qin,¡± Han Wenxin said impatiently, ¡°Chun Hua said she wants me to perform ¡®Golden Dragon Explores the Valley¡¯ tonight, don¡¯t miss my auspicious time.¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re just like a loach in East Lake. I¡¯m just going back to change my clothes, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Officer Qin cursed and then headed towards his home. After passing through two streets, he finally arrived home. ¡°Hmm!?¡± As he pushed the door open and walked in, he immediately noticed something with the flower vase in the courtyard, his eyebrows suddenly knitting together. The flower vase had been moved. He quickly walked to the vase, reached inside, and pulled out a white note with only eight vivid red characters. ¡°Find Doctor An Jing of Yu State City.¡± ¡°First Grade!?¡± The arrest officer, Qin, slightly raised his eyebrows, then stepped out of his house without even changing his clothes. ¡­¡­.. Lulin Square, at one of the stalls. ¡°A-Yin, get me a steamed cake,¡± Song Lin (Chapter 36) approached with a smile. ¡°Alright! Just a moment, I just sold out, need to make a new one.¡± The man named A-Yin chuckled as he started kneading the dough: ¡°Brother Song, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve indeed been quite busy. Didn¡¯t East Origin Road suffer a locust plague? There was a severe shortage of grain, and my uncle owns a rice shop, so I went to help out.¡± Song Lin spoke with a hint of schadenfreude in his tone and then took out four copper coins and tossed them into the nearby cash basket: ¡°Here¡¯s five copper coins, I¡¯ve thrown them in there for you.¡± East Origin Road suffered the locust plague, but he didn¡¯t; in fact, he made a fortune because of it. ¡°Ah, natural and human disasters are unstoppable,¡± A-Yin glanced at the cash basket, seemingly not noticing at all. ¡°A-Yin, I quite like you, lad. Here¡¯s what, why don¡¯t you work with me in the future and stop selling these steamed cakes, they are not lucky,¡± the shopkeeper Chen leaned on a chair next to him, picking his ear: ¡°I won¡¯t promise riches, but at least you¡¯ll have food and drink covered and won¡¯t have to run around for a few coins.¡± ¡°Brother Song, you really are saying¡­¡± Just then, A-Yin saw red lanterns rising from a two-story tavern far away and was instantly shocked. ¡°Brother Song, let¡¯s forget about the steamed cake today, I¡¯ll make it up with two more next time.¡± Song Lin¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of confusion. What does he mean by making it up with two more next time!? What is this supposed to mean!? Before he could react, he saw A-Yin packing up his stall and hurriedly pushing his stove cart, rushing towards the distance. ¡°Damn it! Where¡¯s my steamed cake!? Are you trying to con me!?¡± Song Lin was stunned for a moment before he finally came to his senses and bellowed angrily, giving chase to A-Yin for all he was worth. ¡­¡­ Yu State City, Li Mansion. The Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce was formed by several businessmen, among whom the Cao Family held the greatest power, and naturally Cao Hongkou, the head of the Cao Family, became the president of this Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce. But within the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, there were also other merchants. Although their influence was far less than that of the prestigious Cao Family, they too were wealthy. Li Xiaocun was one of them. At that moment, Li Xiaocun stood at the front of the courtyard, facing dozens of death soldiers he had fostered himself, thoroughly loyal. ¡°There is a matter I need you to handle now. Do you know Doctor An Jing of Jishi Hall? Those who do not recognize him, take a portrait,¡± Li Xiaocun surveyed the crowd and said, ¡°I won¡¯t talk nonsense; head out immediately, but remember, don¡¯t let the news leak out. Whoever finds this person first will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold, an estate, and ten beautiful maids.¡± Wow! Upon hearing Li Xiaocun¡¯s words, an uproar ensued in the courtyard. All the death soldiers were stunned by the reward. Just finding this doctor could make their fortunes, ensuring they never had to worry about their livelihoods again, live like wealthy gentlemen, and most importantly, they¡¯d own ten beautiful maids. ¡°Did you all hear me clearly?¡± Li Xiaocun said in a deep voice. ¡°We heard you,¡± everyone shouted in unison. ¡°Then go now.¡± ¡°Hustle, hustle!¡± ¡°Hustle, hustle!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only There was no need for Li Xiaocun to say more, the death soldiers ran out like they were mad. Li Xiaocun watched their backs, furrowing his brows. ¡°What does the Sect Master want with this doctor? Could it be that his injuries are truly beyond containment?¡± ¡­¡­. The Demon Sect was lurking in Yu State, and all its hidden agents in the surrounding towns were mobilized, reaching out like an invisible, massive hand in the unseen dark corners, poised to engulf the entire Yu State City before turning it inside out. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Calamity Brought by Natures Spiritual Energy Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Calamity Brought by Nature¡¯s Spiritual Energy Yu State City, South River Branch, Zhongyi Hall. Since the last time the headquarters were blood-washed by an unparalleled swordsman, not only had the Cao Gang summoned many experts, but they had also given the Yu State headquarters a fresh makeover. Dressed in a white robe, Liu Qingshan sat upright, cradling a cup of tea in his palm, while Tian Liu, expressionless, stood behind Liu Qingshan like a shadow. Below, with his left hand behind his back and a folding fan in his right, Guo Yuchun¡¯s brows were perpetually furrowed. Before long, Ouyang Yu hurried in, clasped his fists, and bowed, ¡°Gang Leader, Vice-Gang Leader, I¡¯ve found out, this power seems to be searching for someone, and it¡¯s a doctor!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Guo Yuchun¡¯s brow creased slightly, ¡°Looking for a doctor? Which doctor?¡± Yu State City, now shrouded in chaos beneath the surface, was all for a doctor!? Ouyang Yu shook his head and sighed, ¡°These undercover agents are well-trained and very hard to find. Even after capturing two, it has been difficult to pry their mouths open.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± After pondering for a while, Guo Yuchun said, ¡°Seeking a doctor usually means seeking treatment. Could it be¡­?¡± At this point, Guo Yuchun looked towards Liu Qingshan, and Liu Qingshan glanced back, both sharing a knowing look without saying a word. Within Yu State City, aside from the local Cao Gang, the only other force with such a fearsome presence that had appeared was the Demon Sect expert Li Fuzhou. They wanted to use the Demon Sect to establish fame and power, but there was no need to completely offend the Demon Sect to death. ¡°Let this matter be for now.¡± Liu Qingshan slowly said, ¡°Have you gotten any news about that swordsman I asked you to investigate?¡± Currently, finding that Demon Sect swordsman was the Cao Gang¡¯s top priority. ¡°That peerless swordsman has vanished, as if into thin air. In the past few days, my Cao Gang has turned Yu State City upside down, but still, there¡¯s been no trace of him.¡± For the past several days, the Cao Gang had been searching for any sign of that peerless swordsman, but the person was like never having existed at all. ¡°The peerless swordsman first made a move in the Yu State Dungeon, where he killed Haoping and Cao Anmin, and rescued Jiang Sanjia. His second action was at the Cao Gang headquarters, mainly because Tieyun Mountain had issued a challenge to him.¡± Stepping down, Guo Yuchun analyzed, ¡°The third time was during this Demon-Extermination Conference, aiming primarily to steal away the body of Xue Chen, who had been involved in the deaths of Jiang Sanjia and his wife. In the three times he has acted, two were directly or indirectly related to Jiang Sanjia¡­¡± Ouyang Yu realized, ¡°Vice-Gang Leader Guo is suggesting that this swordsman knows Jiang Sanjia. If we find Jiang Sanjia, we can find this person?¡± It was only after great difficulty that Jiang Sanjia¡¯s whereabouts had been found, and despite deploying so many experts, he had still slipped away. Finding him again would likely be extremely difficult. After all, he was an old fox. ¡°This is only one possibility.¡± Guo Yuchun took a deep breath and said with furrowed brows, ¡°Have you considered the possibility that this swordsman might have someone else backing him? That he could just be a pawn?¡± ¡°What!? Someone else?¡± Guo Yuchun¡¯s words made Ouyang Yu shiver, as if a chill had run down his spine. If the unparalleled swordsman was already a first-rate expert and merely a pawn, how terrifying would the person behind the scenes orchestrating the game be? Guo Yuchun said in a detailed analysis, ¡°The first time he acted, he rescued Jiang Sanjia. There are two possibilities: one is that this person has a past connection with Jiang Sanjia, possibly a friend of Jiang Sanjia. However, given the difficulty in locating this person, his exceptional skills, and not to mention whether Jiang Sanjia has ever made such a powerful ally during his life, with his strength and stealth, there was no need to wait so long to rescue Jiang Sanjia, so there is only one possibility.¡± ¡°This person must have been sent by someone else, intentionally sabotaging our plan.¡± Speaking of this, Guo Yuchun looked toward Liu Qingshan. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Liu Qingshan lightly coughed twice, then nodded his head and turned to Ouyang Yu, saying, ¡°Deputy Gang Leader Guo¡¯s words aren¡¯t without reason, proceed with the investigation as suggested.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± Ouyang Yu clasped his fists and then turned to leave. Seeing Ouyang Yu leave, Guo Yuchun pondered for a long while, saying, ¡°This person is capable of executing the Hundred-step Flying Sword, he doesn¡¯t seem like an expert from the Demon Sect.¡± The Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect originated from the same source, and although a rift has developed between them, and the Ghost Valley Sect might even be viewed with animosity by the Zhenyi Sect, perhaps to the extent of being hunted down, both schools are sworn enemies of the Demon Sect. He was not in Yu State City at the time and was unaware of An Jing¡¯s massacre at the Yu State Headquarters using the Hundred-step Flying Sword. Liu Qingshan said in a deep voice, ¡°This matter must also be set aside for now, since the peerless swordsman has not been found, our progress must¡­cough cough cough¡­not slow down.¡± A cold gleam flashed in Guo Yuchun¡¯s eyes, ¡°Yes, I will handle the affairs of the four great families of Jiangnan Dao.¡± Among the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, the Cao and Mu families lean towards the Cao Gang, but their allegiance is not sincere; they only wish to utilize the power of the Cao Gang for their advantage. The Ming Family stands by with cold indifference, not cooperating nor showing goodwill, seemingly content to sit by the riverbank and watch the waters flow. The Su family, even more so, harbors hatred towards the Cao Gang. As a core strategic location for the Cao Gang, Jiangnan Dao cannot afford to have such unstable elements within. ¡°I am still confident in your abilities.¡± Liu Qingshan took a breath and said, ¡°Keep a close watch on Fa Xi Temple as well. Given Li Fuzhou¡¯s appearance, if nothing unexpected occurs, apart from setting his network in Great Yan, it is also for the strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy beneath Fa Xi Temple¡­¡± Guo Yuchun frowned and said, ¡°It seems Li Fuzhou¡¯s injuries are indeed real.¡± It is known in the Jianghu that Li Fuzhou had an earth-shaking battle with Xi Yuanjun, after which Li Fuzhou was seriously injured. In the end, it was only with the aid of an escort from one of the four seats of the Demon Sect, the Azure Dragon Sect, that he safely returned to the Demon Sect in the Dongluo Desert. However, there are rumors that Li Fuzhou¡¯s injuries have mostly healed. Apart from the top experts of the Demon Sect, no one knows the secrets of his condition to date. ¡°According to the report just now.¡± Liu Qingshan slowly said, ¡°His injuries must be very serious. Xi Yuanjun has failed to break through to Grandmaster twice, yet he is only one step away from reaching the true Grandmaster level. After clashing with Li Fuzhou, it¡¯s impossible that he wasn¡¯t seriously wounded. Li Fuzhou¡¯s visit to Yu State this time is most likely in hopes of using the spiritual energy of the land to heal his internal injuries, but we must still be cautious. The Demon Sect is teeming with experts, and surely there are other capable individuals beside Li Fuzhou.¡± Li Fuzhou is the Sect Master of the Human Sect, and his name is indeed renowned in the Jianghu, but Xi Yuanjun is also a feared figure, the deputy commander of the Xuanyi Guard with the rank of First Grade. Bloodthirsty since his youth, he has claimed the lives of dozens of First Grade experts to date. A single swing of his Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings sends shivers down the spine of anyone who hears of them, drenched in the blood of countless victims. Ten years ago, during a diplomatic mission to the steppes, it was he who personally accompanied the envoy. Zhao Country had sent seven First Grade experts, including a top expert who had reached the Heavenly Flower Realm. This person was well-known in both Great Yan and Zhao Country, and the people of Zhao Country thought they could, at the very least, trouble Xi Yuanjun even if they couldn¡¯t kill him. Yet, in a single night, just one night, all these experts perished under the blades of the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings, dying on the vast steppe, becoming homeless ghosts without a family. This news spread quickly, and the name Xi Yuanjun once again shook the entire world. Guo Yuchun took a deep breath and said, ¡°The Demon Sect¡¯s Li Fuzhou is in the open, so what concerns me the most is not him, but the possibility of other experts lurking and waiting for an opportunity.¡± Others may not be aware, but Guo Yuchun knows that such a treasure, if word were to get out, would attract countless experts from the Jianghu. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°If the Golden Pill can¡¯t be found, then I must¡­cough cough cough¡­¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s speech was interrupted by relentless coughing. ¡°Gang Leader¡­¡± Guo Yuchun hurriedly said upon seeing this. ¡°I¡¯m all right,¡± Liu Qingshan gestured with his hand and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°If not for so many concerns that day, that swordsman might not have been able to injure me.¡± ¡°Alas,¡± sighed Guo Yuchun, no longer speaking. ¡­. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Soul Fades Before Sunset Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Soul Fades Before Sunset At dusk. A touch of crimson lingered after rain, wisps of tender green merged with the mist, fading souls perished before the sunset. An Jing changed his clothes at the alley entrance, then tucked his cloak into his small medicine box, and leisurely returned to Jishi Hall, thinking gleefully, ¡°I wonder what delicious dishes madam has prepared today.¡± As usual, Zhao Qingmei was cooking in the back hall at this moment, while Tan Yun went to gather the herbs dried in the afternoon sun. ¡°I wonder if that old rascal, Li Fuzhou, went to the brothels to listen to music again.¡± An Jing sighed at the peaceful and warm days and couldn¡¯t help humming a tune. ¡°Hmm?!¡± As he approached Jishi Hall, he noticed the sign placed at the doorstep, and Tan Yun, who was sound asleep on the table. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t resist walking over, picking up a book, and tapping her little head. ¡°Is it time to eat?¡± Tan Yun instantly sat up, her eyes shining brightly. ¡°I asked you to mind the shop, and this is how you¡¯ve done it,¡± An Jing said irritably while holding the wooden sign, ¡°All you ever do is eat and sleep, then sleep and eat.¡± ¡°Husband, I¡­.¡± Tan Yun saw the sign and wanted to explain. ¡°Forget it, your excuses are plenty, just gather the dried herbs from this morning, and I¡¯ll let it slide,¡± An Jing waved his hand. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Tan Yun looked at An Jing with puppy dog eyes and then headed towards the backyard. ¡°There might be some connection between these two¡­.¡± An Jing took out a box of pastries from the medicine box and threw it on the table, his mind filled with thoughts of the chill on He Ping¡¯s wife. Vaguely, he felt that there was a good chance it related to Cao Ling¡¯er, perhaps precisely to the sealing at Fa Xi Temple. What exactly is this sealing anyway? ¡°Beneath the sealing is a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy; if I could obtain this strand, perhaps it would help me break through to the Earth Flower Realm.¡± Since the fight with Liu Qingshan, An Jing realized the profound strength of those on the Dragon List; encountering one, he absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to be careless or underestimate them. That day at Reincarnation Hall, Tian Liu had not taken action, and the Xuanyi Guard experts also arrived belatedly; otherwise, even if he could have escaped that day, he would likely have suffered severe injuries. Also, that last time at the Cao Family, he had encountered a black-clothed expert whose strength seemed not inferior to Liu Qingshan¡¯s, but this expert seemed wary, hence didn¡¯t go all out, and they only briefly exchanged blows once. An Jing narrowed his eyes to slits and considered, ¡°When this sealing breaks, it seems I will have to visit Fa Xi Temple again. If others are unaware, it would be best to covertly take that strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy¡­.¡± ¡°Husband.¡± Just then, Tan Yun carried over a sieve and placed it on the medicine cabinet, ¡°It¡¯s all dried.¡± ¡°Good, leave it there; I¡¯ll deal with it later,¡± An Jing nodded and then said, ¡°There are pastries on the table; go ahead and eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not eating.¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun shook her head like a rattle-drum. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± An Jing suddenly became puzzled. Usually, when Tan Yun saw pastries, her eyes would light up, and she would get incredibly excited. ¡°Husband, haven¡¯t you noticed any changes in me lately?¡± Tan Yun sighed. ¡°Changes.¡± An Jing glanced at Tan Yun, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any change.¡± ¡°Look closely,¡± Tan Yun pouted, touching her slightly protruded belly, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve gained quite a bit of weight lately.¡± Stupid husband, it seems like you don¡¯t pay any attention to me at all. Since arriving in Yu State City, she had begun gaining weight at a visibly rapid pace. An Jing began to look Tan Yun over upon hearing the news. Her delicate face had indeed become plumper, but it also appeared more voluptuous, which gave her an added charm¡ªno wonder Han Wenxin that boy had lascivious thoughts. Yet, his eyes couldn¡¯t help but drift towards her full and perky figure, and he was greatly surprised inwardly, muttering, ¡°I think, it¡¯s becoming increasingly difficult to handle.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, what are you talking about?¡± Tan Yun was confused. The son-in-law¡¯s words were odd, always containing some she couldn¡¯t comprehend, mystifying her. An Jing laughed dryly twice, ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing. The mille-feuille on the table will taste bad once it cools down, you better eat it now.¡± ¡°Mille-feuille!?¡± Tan Yun¡¯s eyes brightened, her defenses instantly crumbled, and biting her lip firmly, she said, ¡°Son-in-law, my stomach is this big, but you are half responsible for it, no, more than half!¡± Saying so, Tan Yun picked up the mille-feuille and stuffed three consecutively into her mouth. ¡°No no no, I dare not take credit for this.¡± An Jing broke into a sweat on his forehead, and hastily waved his hand, while still occasionally glancing around the hall, cautiously asking, ¡°Eh, where is the lady?¡± Tan Yun feigned ignorance, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I woke up and both Miss and Third Master were gone; they probably went to listen to the opera.¡± When the two left, she had fallen asleep; Tan Yun figured that they must have been discussing matters about the sect. ¡°They must be about to return soon.¡± An Jing nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to close up. When you eat, save some, don¡¯t eat them all.¡± Saying so, he took the wooden board and walked out the front of the hall. Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but pout and said, ¡°Son-in-law, do you really think I can eat them all?¡± ¡°That¡¯s always possible.¡± An Jing smiled and prepared to latch the wooden board. It was then, a tender figure stood not far from the door. At that moment, a few strands of her hair fringed around her temples, and her eyes were slightly red, appearing quite haggard as she stared blankly at An Jing in front of her. ¡°Lady, are you back? Did you go with the Third Master to listen to the opera? Was it a tragic opera? I¡¯ve told you before, those are all fake, it¡¯s better to just study the opera techniques at home. This person was exactly Zhao Qingmei. Li Fuzhou stood not far away, looking towards the Yu State River, as if he saw no one else. ¡°It should be said that you are the one who has come back,¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing and said. Upon hearing this, An Jing sensed something was amiss and stepped forward to ask, ¡°What happened, did something happen?¡± ¡°Where did you go?¡± A teardrop emerged in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes, followed by a laugh. An Jing laughed, ¡°I went for a diagnosis and then met a former patient. He said I had saved his life, like a rebirth parent, and insisted on recognizing me as¡­ He hadn¡¯t finished his words when Zhao Qingmei embraced him. The hug was somewhat uncomfortable for him, but also strangely comforting. ¡°Lady, what¡¯s wrong? Did you think of me while watching the opera?¡± An Jing, feeling the warmth in his embrace, smiled and said, ¡°Hearing those tragic operas, did you fear that I would fail you?¡± ¡°Rest assured, although I am a simple man, but¡­¡± He felt as if something had happened, yet as if nothing had happened. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°A simple man?¡± Li Fuzhou glanced at An Jing with a hint of threat in his eyes, while An Jing acted as if he heard nothing. ¡°I was thinking of you.¡± ¡®Pfft¡¯ Zhao Qingmei laughed softly, saying, ¡°I was thinking that you¡¯ve been out all day and hadn¡¯t returned yet, I was worried you were dead somewhere out there¡­¡± Tan Yun, listening, struggled to suppress her laughter, while Li Fuzhou had no reservations and burst out laughing. While An Jing¡¯s smile gradually stiffened. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Giant Beast of the Riverbed Turns Again Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Giant Beast of the Riverbed Turns Again ¡°` Jishi Hall. ¡°Did you find out?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked in a solemn voice. ¡°It¡¯s a bit strange that a Second Grade master would lose track of an ordinary person.¡± Li Fuzhou said in a deep voice, ¡°The layout of Mazi Lane is complex, Huo Zhongyun was somewhat careless, and after entering Mazi Lane, he lost his direction¡­¡± ¡°Lost his direction!?¡± Zhao Qingmei burst into laughter upon hearing this, ¡°A master of the Human Sect actually lost his way one day.¡± The masters of the Human Sect were skilled in investigation and tracking, but to lose their way was simply too ludicrous. Could it be that there¡¯s a labyrinth beneath Mazi Lane? Li Fuzhou frowned and said, ¡°I also find this matter suspicious. Although Huo Zhongyun may not be as cautious as Shui Zhongyue, he is definitely not such a careless person.¡± There was something eerie about this. ¡°Deal with it according to the rules of the sect,¡± Zhao Qingmei waved her hand. ¡°Yes, I understand,¡± he responded. Li Fuzhou nodded, a knot forming in his heart. Mazi Lane¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Three days later, outside Yu State City, at Qinghe Ferry. The chilly water flowed slowly, and several boats docked beside the ferry. ¡°Hurry, the young master said that these goods must be delivered to the designated shops by tonight,¡± a burly man shouted loudly. At the ferry outside the city, there were many merchant ships, most of which carried contraband of Great Yan. Yu State¡¯s waterways were extensive and interconnected, resulting in strict inspections at water checkpoints. Due to the Cao Gang¡¯s influence, the Su family had poor relations with the transport officials of Yu State, which meant that most contraband had to be transported by land. Even so, it wasn¡¯t unusual for the Su family¡¯s boats to be lost or plundered occasionally. Don¡¯t think that the four great families of Jiangnan Dao can rest easy. In these crisscrossing waterways, even they fear the sudden appearance of evil spirits and expert thieves who loot and then vanish. Especially recently, as the positions of the Sanhu Gang and the Cao Gang began to intersect, friction emerged between the two powers. Even though both sides were being very restrained, there was still a smell of gunpowder over the water. Once the situation becomes complicated, it¡¯s inevitable that some will be tempted to fish in troubled waters, stir up trouble, and seek benefits¡ªan age-old truth. Early autumn was already somewhat cold. The boatmen, carrying goods and lined up neatly like ants, also exuded a pungent sweat odor. ¡°If anyone is not quick enough, watch your skin,¡± warned a Su family Guest Elder, wielding a long whip. Upon hearing this, the boatmen all felt a chill down their spine, and silently continued their work without daring to let out a big breath. Just last month, a boatman damaged a special vase from Green Garden and was beaten to death by an infuriated Guest Elder of the Su family, something they had witnessed with their own eyes. These boatmen worked exhaustingly for seven hours a day to earn only eighty to a hundred Copper Coins. At the current market prices, a pound of pork cost twenty-six Copper Coins, a jar of vinegar five Copper Coins, a bolt of brocade a hundred and fifty Copper Coins¡­ After a day¡¯s hard work, boatmen could barely make ends meet for a family of three. ¡°He Ping, how is your wife?¡± While He Ping was carrying goods, a boatman asked next to him. These past few days, he had stayed home to care for his wife. He originally wanted to take care of her for a few more days, but with little silver left at home, he had to go out and work. Wiping the sweat with the cloth around his neck, He Ping replied, ¡°I had Doctor An Jing check on her and prescribed some medicine. She should be alright now.¡± ¡°Doctor An Jing? The one from Jishi Hall by Yu State River? You made the right choice going to him. His herbs are cheaper than other drugstores.¡± ¡°Yes, not only is Doctor An Jing an excellent physician, but he¡¯s also kind-hearted. He didn¡¯t even charge me for the medicine.¡± He Ping then sighed and said, ¡°He was right. If you¡¯re sick, you should seek treatment right away. If you skimp on this, it could cost you dearly in the future.¡± ¡°What are you few over there talking about? Move it, move it!¡± Just then, the Guest Elder from the Su family shouted from a distance. Upon hearing this, He Ping and the others did not dare to speak further and diligently went back to work. The river water was ice cold, flowing gently from north to south. At the deep crevices of the riverbed, more than thirty fathoms deep, there was an abyss so deep, silent, and dark. A Thousand-year-old Black Python was slumbering, its body massive¡ªover thirty feet in length. With two big flabby lumps on its giant snake head resembling the wings of a great bird. Just lying there, it exuded a suffocating terror. What horror would it bring upon awakening? ¡°Gulp!¡± ¡°Gulp!¡± Suddenly, odd noises came from the mouth of the Thousand-year-old Black Python, and the surrounding water crazily surged into its maw. At that moment, the large lumps on both sides of its head flapped. ¡°Whush!¡± ¡°Whush!¡± The water on both sides was stirred by the massive flabs, roaring as it was pushed away to the sides, creating ripples upon ripples. After the flaps thrummed, the python twisted its body, as if awakening from its slumber. The entire riverbed churned; its massive body hitting the riverbed caused a loud noise, but it was all muffled by the unfathomable depths of the water. Then the Thousand-year-old Black Python turned over and lay back on the riverbed, continuing its deep sleep. ¡­ ¡­ At the ferry, there was a constant flow of people. Besides the Su family¡¯s cargo ships, some passenger boats also moored at the bank. The autumn sun was warm and pleasant, shining on the glittering river surface. ¡°Over here, put the goods over here.¡± ¡°He Ge, where are you headed?¡± ¡°To Fa Xi Temple to offer incense. I¡¯ve always wanted to visit this thousand-year-old temple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a nice place, it is said to be from the Western Regions¡­¡± ¡°What happened!?¡± ¡°` ¡°The river¡­ the river water¡­ ah!¡± ¡­¡­ Just then, the once calm surface of the river began to tremble wildly, as if to unleash huge waves. Suddenly, the ships moored at the bank started to rock with the waves, and some people standing on them lost their footing and fell into the river. ¡°Splash! Splash!¡± At the same time, the turbulent waters rushed towards the shore, and those standing by the river were also hit by the unexpected disaster, as they were struck by the waves. ¡°Quick! Protect the goods!¡± The guest elder of the Su family quickly shouted, his body leaping forward as he channeled his inner strength furiously to meet the onslaught of the waves. The waves surged, and the Cao Gang workers watched in astonishment as the towering waves crashed down. Upon hearing the guest elder¡¯s words, they reacted quickly, using their bodies to shield the goods. ¡°Splash! Splash!¡± The giant wave came quickly and left just as fast. Before long, the river¡¯s surface gradually calmed down again, but the port at Qing River was a complete mess, as if a water disaster had just passed. ¡°Quickly, check if any goods are missing?¡± the guest elder of the Su family ordered hastily. ¡°Yes!¡± The steward and the Cao Gang workers hurriedly checked the goods, not daring to slack off in the slightest. ¡°What¡­ what exactly happened?¡± The guest elder of the Su family said, his heart still racing as he looked at the river¡¯s surface, which was gradually returning to calm. ¡­¡­ A single leaf falls and the whole world feels the autumn; a cold wind blows, and all the trees wither away. Autumn¡¯s chill had arrived, and the air grew colder. The howling north wind came rustling, sweeping a carpet of dead leaves to the ground. An Jing held a broom in his hand, sweeping the fallen leaves in front of Jishi Hall. His cultivation had now reached the peak of Human Flower, and to make any further progress, he had to condense the Earth Flower. Although it was only one step, it seemed it couldn¡¯t be accomplished in a short time. The Earth Book hinted that the opportunity lay in that wisp of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Since it was a green opportunity, it was certainly a treasure beyond the Bodhi Bead, more than sufficient for reaching the Earth Flower stage. ¡°This nature¡¯s spiritual energy, I, Zhou, am determined to obtain it.¡± An Jing glanced at the direction of Three Temple Mountain and muttered to himself before resuming his humming tune. ¡°Son-in-law.¡± Tan Yun came running out, with little Xiao Hei trailing behind her, grunting. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± An Jing asked while continuing to sweep. Tan Yun said cheerily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you would accompany Miss Zhao to the night market to buy rouge today? My own rouge is also finished.¡± ¡°If yours is finished, then buy some,¡± replied An Jing, pausing momentarily in his sweeping. Lately, that old rascal Li Fuzhou spent two silver coins to enjoy the entertainment district. Since marrying Zhao Qingmei, An Jing had stopped borrowing money and had no spare silver. ¡°Son-in-law.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s eyes showed a hint of dissatisfaction, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to buy it for me?¡± ¡°Tan Yun, how can I, your son-in-law, buy you rouge and powder,¡± An Jing sneaked a peak at the grandeur in front of Tan Yun¡¯s chest, pondering, ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, you can buy it yourself now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have money.¡± ¡°Then why do you think I would have any?¡± ¡°Son-in-law, I don¡¯t care, I¡¯ve been helping you with chores at the pharmacy for several months now, and you haven¡¯t given me a single silver coin.¡± Tan Yun huffed, ¡°You are exploiting me, squeezing me dry.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s eyes were large and round; now, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed, she looked inexplicably cute. An Jing raised an eyebrow, arguing, ¡°Who says? Haven¡¯t you eaten all of those? Last night, you devoured three plum cakes in one go, and there are only seven in a box. You eat my food, drink my tea, sleep in my house. I am bound to be eaten out of house and home by you. Clearly, it is you who are exploiting and squeezing me dry¡­¡± If old man Li comes asking for money, I can¡¯t settle it, how could I not handle you, a little girl? No matter what, today¡¯s word is ¡®broke¡¯. ¡°I don¡¯t care; you have to give me money,¡± Tan Yun insisted. ¡°Don¡¯t have it.¡± At this, Tan Yun¡¯s face fell with disappointment, ¡°Son-in-law, that¡¯s not fair. Did I work for you for nothing all this time?¡± Worked for me for nothing¡­? An Jing was taken aback, quickly retorted, ¡°What do you mean ¡®worked for nothing¡¯? I didn¡¯t, you¡¯re making things up, talking nonsense, utter nonsense¡­¡­¡± ¡°And all the eating and drinking of mine, doesn¡¯t that cost money?¡± ¡°Give me silver coins, I don¡¯t care, I want the silver. If I don¡¯t get it, it¡¯s as if I worked for you for free,¡± Tan Yun held out her hand. ¡°Fine fine fine, I¡¯ll give it I¡¯ll give it, isn¡¯t that okay?¡± An Jing, fearing that Tan Yun would utter any more scandalous words, quickly took out two silver coins from his pouch. ¡°Here you go.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Just two silver coins!?¡± Tan Yun expressed her dissatisfaction, ¡°I have been working for you for almost three months¡­¡± ¡°Look, that¡¯s all I have; it¡¯s all my worldly possessions,¡± said An Jing, helplessly shaking his pouch. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll wait until you have more money,¡± Tan Yun conceded reluctantly and took the two silver coins before she walked towards the back courtyard with a spring in her step. An Jing let out a deep sigh; Li Fuzhou was squeezing him dry, and now Tan Yun had caught him off guard¡­ it seemed like a wealthy day was far off for him. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80 The Beautiful Woman Plays Pitch-Pot under the Night Sky Chapter 80: Chapter 80 The Beautiful Woman Plays Pitch-Pot under the Night Sky ¡°Husband, what are you sighing about?¡± Zhao Qingmei, having finished tidying up, walked over to An Jing with a face full of curiosity. Wearing a scattered-flower misty green pleated skirt, with her cherry lips naturally red without any embellishment, and alluringly delicate, two strands of hair beside her cheeks fluttered with the breeze, adding an enticing charm. ¡°Nothing, I was just thinking the weather is really nice.¡± An Jing looked up at the dimming sky. ¡°It¡¯s nearly dark now; don¡¯t lie to me.¡± Zhao Qingmei placed her palm on An Jing¡¯s arm, staring at him with unwavering eyes, and said, ¡°Tell me, are you hiding something from me? I always feel like you¡¯re keeping me in the dark.¡± Feeling the warm body temperature and the faint scent that wafted into his nose, An Jing couldn¡¯t help his mind wandering, and he chuckled, ¡°My lady, everything I¡¯ve said is true.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhao Qingmei cast a doubtful glance at An Jing. ¡°How could I possibly hide anything from you?¡± An Jing said solemnly, ¡°You know my length, and I know your depth; we are the closest of people,¡± ¡°Impudent! Mind your behavior! This is a main street; aren¡¯t you afraid of others overhearing?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart suddenly fluttered like a startled deer, a flush of red spreading to her neck, and she couldn¡¯t help but lower her voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, we are going to the night market later, and it wouldn¡¯t be good to be late.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go close up shop now,¡± An Jing said, putting away the broom upon hearing this. ¡°No need; Third Master isn¡¯t going either. Let him stay and watch the house, he can also dispense medicines.¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t going?¡± ¡°Yes, he wants to stay home and read,¡± Zhao Qingmei replied. Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s heart stirred; that old guy is truly keeping an eye on me. ¡­¡­.. Yu State City, the night market to the south of the city. The place was bright with lights, intoxicating with the spring breeze, where thousands of lights reflected the blue clouds by the bridge, ships clustered closely together, loaded with exquisite silk goods. Inside and outside the tall buildings, heavily made-up women could be seen everywhere, and pleasure-seekers kept arriving in an unending stream. The crowds were dense, and the noise of voices was bustling ¨C a scene of prosperity and excitement. ¡°It¡¯s really crowded.¡± Tan Yun glanced around and couldn¡¯t help clicking her tongue. An Jing cast a glance at the high-rise buildings in the distance, saying, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s crowded. This is the liveliest place in Yu State City at night¡­¡± ¡°With some luck, we might even see Han Wenxin.¡± He clearly remembered that at the beginning of this summer, Han Wenxin used to come to this night market every evening on time. Then punch in, and start his shift. Zhao Qingmei chuckled beside him, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen Han Wenxin for several days now, don¡¯t know what¡¯s up. After the last time he brought two boxes of Ruyi Cakes, he has never come again.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart also found it strange. Before, Han Wenxin would come to drink with him every now and then, but during this period indeed, he had not been seen. ¡°Han Wenxin, that guy? He wouldn¡¯t even want to be a dog for a few days.¡± Tan Yun muttered, then seemed to see something, ¡°Miss, young master, over there they¡¯re pitching pots.¡± Not far away there was a stall with several coarse cloth cushions placed in front, and behind them three porcelain pots were lined up at increasing distances from near to far. At that moment, a crowd had gathered around the pot-pitching stall, watching a young woman in the center pitch pots. Seeing the face of the woman who was pitching pots, An Jing instantly understood why she had attracted so many onlookers. The woman had skin as white as snow, a slightly upturned delicate nose, and red lips against white teeth. She was quite beautiful but gave off an air of pride and coldness. The woman, kneeling on the cushion, held feathered arrows in her hand, continuously throwing them towards the pots. ¡°Ah, what a pity.¡± ¡°Just missed it by a little.¡± ¡­¡­ The crowd around watched intently; they had never watched someone playing pitch-pot as seriously as they did today, even feeling sorry for the player. Dozens of feathered arrows, without a single exception, all misfired, and the stall owner was beaming with joy early on but still kept consoling. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s a knack to pitch-pot, you might succeed if you try a few more times.¡± The woman seemed not to hear the stall owner or the pitying comments around her, just focusing on the target in front of her and continuously shooting, and when she ran out of arrows, she reached into her purse and decisively bought ten more. ¡°This woman is an expert,¡± An Jing thought to himself as he watched her shoot. From the moment the woman started to play pitch-pot, the agility with which her wrist moved could not be achieved so naturally by someone who was not a martial arts expert. However, why did such an expert miss every single shot? ¡°Miss Dai, I play pitch-pot quite often; maybe I could teach you.¡± Just then, a familiar voice sounded. There stood Han Wenxin, with a naive smile, rubbing his hands on his chest. ¡°That really is Han Wenxin, the lad,¡± Tan Yun said with surprise. Witnessing this scene, An Jing felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu and couldn¡¯t help but startle. How had Han Wenxin become more and more like Zhou Dynasty? Or could it be that everyone in this world is¡­.. ¡°Husband, do you think she¡¯s prettier, or am I?¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a sweet smile and a gentle voice. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s my wife who is prettier,¡± An Jing quickly responded with a chill in his heart. ¡°Then why are you so engrossed?¡± Zhao Qingmei continued with her smile. An Jing laughed awkwardly, ¡°No, I was looking at Brother Han¡­¡± Tan Yun looked at An Jing strangely, ¡°What¡¯s there to look at about Han Wenxin?¡± An Jing smiled meaningfully, ¡°No, I¡¯m waiting for Brother Han¡¯s performance.¡± Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun were both somewhat puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind An Jing¡¯s words. At the stall, Han Wenxin patted his chest and declared, ¡°Not to brag, but when it comes to pitch-pot in Yu State City, I might rank second, but no one dares to claim the first.¡± An Jing became instantly interested upon hearing this; he felt he understood Han Wenxin well. ¡°No need, thank you,¡± the woman spoke her first sentence, somewhat coldly. After speaking, she shot her last feathered arrow, and sure enough, she missed again. ¡°How about that, pitch-pot is quite interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Just then, a sharp voice came from afar, sounding as if hair was stuck in the throat, which was extremely uncomfortable to hear. Looking toward the source of the voice, there was a man in black clothes with a conical hat. The man¡¯s features and age were unclear, but the sleeves of his robe were wide, and upon closer inspection, no hands were sticking out; obviously, they were disabled. A glazed jade pendant hung around his waist, such attire was common among the martial world¡¯s Jianghu inhabitants. When Tan Yun saw that man, his eyes narrowed, and he transmitted a message telepathically, ¡°Sect Hierarch, this man might be Tian Cansou of the Five Poison Sect, born with disabled hands but famous in Jianghu for his Wu Hook Crescent Leg Technique. According to our Human Sect¡¯s intelligence, he indeed came to Jiangnan Dao.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong about the woman beside him, she should be Dai Ling, the daughter of Dai Danshu. I didn¡¯t expect to encounter them here.¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Dark Clouds Obscure the Moon Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Dark Clouds Obscure the Moon Five Poison Sect, one of the seven sects of the Great Yan. The Five Poison Sect is a mysterious and sinister sect in Jianghu, renowned for their expertise in poisoning, yet that is not what they are most famous for. The reason they are famous is due to the multitude of experts and extremely ruthless methods within the sect, possessing five martial arts training methods modeled after the centipede, venomous snake, toad, gecko, and scorpion, known collectively as the Five Poison Technique. Each training method is a True Martial Level martial arts, and together, they achieve the existence of the Heavenly Martial Level. Nowadays, Sect Leader Dai Danshu, known as the Five Poison Young Master, is revered in Jianghu for his ruthless and venomous strategies, and is also a well-known expert listed on the Dragon List. The man before them, Tian Cansou, was the leader of the Heavenly Centipede Technique and the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect. ¡°I understand now,¡± Zhao Qingmei narrowed her eyes slightly, pondering the purpose of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s visit to Yu State City. Among the seven sects of the Great Yan, the Five Poison Sect and the Demon Sect had inextricably linked relationships. When the Demon Sect was besieged by many forces years ago, it was the Five Poison Sect that first raised the banner of crusade. And tracing back to the history of the Five Poison Sect, two hundred years ago, it was not known as the Five Poison Sect but as the Five Poison Banner. The Five Poison Banner was a branch of the Demon Sect. However, later the Five Poison Banner united as one and, dissatisfied with the status quo and with the emergence of an exceptional expert within their ranks, they broke away from the Demon Sect to establish their own sect. Under the ¡°careful attention¡± of the Great Yan Dynasty, their power surged rapidly and soon became a significant force in Jianghu that could not be ignored. This scene was naturally welcomed and appreciated by the forces within Jianghu. Latterly, although the Demon Sect tried several times to crusade against the Five Poison Sect, these attempts were neutralized by other forces such as the Zhenyi Sect and the Xuanyi Guard. The grudges between the Five Poison Sect and the Demon Sect grew even deeper. Dai Ling said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s not bad, I¡¯ve grown tired of it as well, let¡¯s go.¡± The stall owner sighed regretfully as he saw his big spender preparing to leave. Han Wenxin nearby incessantly said, ¡°Miss Dai, is there anything else you want to play? Over there they are playing a game of tossing coins, which is also very interesting¡­ ¡± Suddenly, he caught sight of a few familiar figures and couldn¡¯t help but pause, ¡°An¡­ Brother An, what brings you here?¡± ¡°My wife has run out of rouge, so we came out for a stroll,¡± An Jing replied with a gentle smile. ¡°Are you patrolling the city alone, Brother Han?¡± Upon hearing this voice, Dai Ling glanced over and when she saw Zhao Qingmei, she couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra glances, noting that such a striking appearance was indeed rare. ¡°Yes, all alone,¡± Han Wenxin replied with a wry smile and a dry chuckle toward Tan Yun. ¡°Who might these two be?¡± An Jing looked toward Tian Cansou and Dai Ling standing behind Han Wenxin. Han Wenxin hastily responded, ¡°This is Miss Dai and Mr. Zhang, who have come from the southwest. They were asking me directions to Fa Xi Temple, and I happened to be free, so I planned to guide them there.¡± Fa Xi Temple? Could it be for the purpose of suppressing and sealing the strand of spiritual energy beneath it? An Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he inwardly frowned, nearly convinced that this nature¡¯s spiritual energy was his own, but now suddenly two experts had appeared, raising his suspicions. Han Wenxin added, ¡°This is An Jing, the youngest and most promising doctor in Yu State City, and this is his wife.¡± Dai Ling remained silent, her eyes flashing with a touch of arrogance. Tian Cansou barely gave An Jing a glance. He was utterly disinterested in meeting the doctor of Yu State City. If it were not for the need to remain low-profile on this trip, he wouldn¡¯t even deem the doctor worthy of meeting him. This aloof demeanor was not contemptuous but rather a natural disposition. His eyes, however, lingered on Zhao Qingmei for a moment before moving away, internally commenting on the little doctor¡¯s good fortune. An Jing maintained a calm exterior but began to feel slightly displeased inside, finding the two to be rather disrespectful. Zhao Qingmei appeared nonchalant, but she privately transmitted a message to Tan Yun, ¡°Inform the Third Elder tonight that I do not want Tian Cansou to leave Yu State City alive.¡± ¡°Yes, Sect Hierarch, rest assured,¡± Tan Yun replied. Tan Yun could also sense the disdain from the two opposite them and couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly internally: The elder of the Five Poison Sect looks down on whom? ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Dai Ling said coldly. ¡°Hold on!¡± Tian Cansou slightly raised an eyebrow and looked ahead. As the lanterns were just being lit, figures bustled about. One tall and one short monk walked among the crowd. These were none other than Fa Zhi and Fa Wu. ¡°Benefactor, meeting again amidst this sea of people, it seems we are truly fated.¡± Fa Zhi stepped in front of An Jing and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I pay my respects, Master,¡± An Jing also returned the gesture. Unexpectedly, in this night market, not only had he encountered two masters, but also the abbot of Fa Xi Temple; it was indeed a surprise. This old man was the abbot of Fa Xi Temple, and moreover, he had come from the Western Regions; his abilities were certainly extraordinary. With this thought, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but glance at the young monk beside Huizhi. That day in the Reincarnation Hall, he clearly remembered that most of his Qi Force from the Sword Control Technique was blocked by Liu Qingshan, and the remaining small fraction was stopped by this young monk. Although it was only a small part, it was not something a Second Grade expert could withstand. This young monk with rosy lips and white teeth could possibly be a First Grade Expert. It is known that countless experts struggle with the barrier of the First Grade level, unable to break through in their lifetime; yet this seven or eight-year-old monk had already reached the First Grade, which was astonishing indeed. However, An Jing was certain that the inner strength within this young monk was not self-cultivated but must have been due to some Buddhist secret technique involving transplanted inner strength. Despite Fa Wu¡¯s young age, his demeanor was calm and serene, almost giving the impression of an elder monk deep in meditation if one did not look at his face. Fa Zhi made a pun, ¡°Benefactor is connected with Buddha, and the gates of Fa Xi Temple are always open for you.¡± The individual before him possessed Buddha Nature and a Great Wisdom Root; if he were to become a monk and worship Buddha, his future achievements would be limitless, harboring a sliver of hope in Fa Zhi¡¯s heart. Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingmei, with a smile, said, ¡°Master, I wonder if Fa Xi Temple might also open its convenient gates wide for me?¡± Fa Wu glanced at Zhao Qingmei, who radiated peerless beauty, then quickly lowered his head. ¡°The benefactor jests.¡± Fa Zhi placed his palms together in front of his chest and then spoke no further. ¡°You must be Masters Fa Zhi and Fa Wu? Zhang Zhixing greets you.¡± Just then, Tian Cansou stepped forward slowly. ¡°Zhang benefactor greets you,¡± Fa Zhi replied, palms together in front of his chest. Zhang Zhixing, known as the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, might not elicit any reaction from some younger members of Jianghu, but mentioning Tian Cansou would certainly cause a stir. ¡°Fa Zhi!?¡± An Jing slightly raised his eyebrows; this old monk had previously told me it was Huizhi. He wasn¡¯t very familiar with the Buddha Country of the Western Regions, so naturally, he was unclear about Fa Zhi¡¯s Buddhist name. Tian Cansou said with a chuckle, ¡°This humble one was just about to visit Fa Xi Temple to worship Buddha, and unexpectedly, I¡¯ve encountered Master Fa Zhi; it seems I too am fated with Buddha.¡± ¡°Fate, wonderfully indescribable,¡± Fa Zhi remarked. Upon hearing this, Fa Wu instantly realized that these two might also be here for the sealing of Vilu Hall, wanting to seize some opportunities from that seal which was about to break. However, he did not understand why, if the seal were to break, a catastrophe might descend from the heavens, yet some people sought to gain opportunities from this endless calamity. Could this catastrophic event actually signify a blessing for certain individuals? With a smile still on his face, Tian Cansou said, ¡°Arriving at Yu State City for the first time, I haven¡¯t yet found Fa Xi Temple, but since I¡¯ve met the Master, I would trouble you to lead this humble one there.¡± He spoke of wanting to worship Buddha, but his true intentions were clearly unsaid. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Fa Zhi sighed softly, ¡°Since the benefactor wishes to worship Buddha, Fa Xi Temple naturally welcomes you.¡± This was indeed an opportunity! Next to him, Han Wenxin¡¯s eyes darted about, ¡°Just so happens, I¡¯ve been thinking about worshipping Buddha as well¡­..¡± Before Han Wenxin could finish speaking, An Jing frowned slightly. Just then, it was as if a black cloud floated by, covering the moonlight above, and the world seemed to dim. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Sword Intent Arises, Storming the City Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Sword Intent Arises, Storming the City ¡°What is happening?!¡± ¡°My sword!¡± ¡­. Buzz! Buzz! Suddenly, a series of sword chants rang out, followed by cries of alarm. Only to see in the night market all the swords soaring towards the sky, densely packed, forming a torrent of sword rain. That sound, crisp and lingering, seemed as if it reached directly into the heart. The entire night market became a scene of chaos, with everyone staring in astonishment at this shocking sight. Then, the sword chanting sound grew louder and louder, and it seemed as if all the swords in Yu State City had flown out of their scabbards towards the heavens, majestic and vast, forming a sea of swords. The sword light crisscrossed, filling the night sky, as if etched into the vast starry space, creating a scene of boundless grandeur. ¡°This¡­ what is happening?¡± Han Wenxin saw it, and he was completely stunned. The other people present did not speak, all furrowing their brows tightly. An Jing silently moved Zhao Qingmei behind him, and then pulled Han Wenxin next to him. ¡°Senior brother!¡± Fa Wu suddenly said in a low voice. ¡°Evil is about to break through the soil.¡± Fa Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, his tone extremely grave. ¡°Swoosh!¡± At the next moment, a radiant brilliance emerged from the distant horizon. That brilliance shone between heaven and earth, transforming into threads and strands of sword intent. ¡°Hmm?!¡± An Jing felt that sword intent, and his heart suddenly shook, as if it had resonated in some way. Only to see the sea of swords in the sky, seemingly guided, the horizon filled with a roaring as the swords broke through the air, and then that sword intent seemed to point out something specifically. Within the vastness of the sword intent, a golden-red streak of light could be vaguely seen. And the direction that the sword intent pointed was exactly towards An Jing. The golden-red light flashed across like a shooting star, fleeting, yet everyone present felt an intense pressure and a suffocating sensation, which disappeared instantly as the light vanished. ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡± Almost in an instant, the myriad swords fell to the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± ¡­.. Everyone looked bewildered, unclear about what had just occurred. ¡°Just now, there seemed to be sword intent guiding¡­.¡± Tian Cansou said in surprise, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it should be searching for something.¡± The swords of the entire Yu State City had flown into the sky, that vast ocean-like sword light was a rare sight. Fa Zhi said solemnly, ¡°The sword intent was vast and powerful, it was probably the suppression and sealing of Ye Tai¡¯e, it must have sensed a Qi mechanism opportunity, thus causing the resonance.¡± ¡°Resonance!?¡± Zhao Qingmei heard this, her heart secretly creased. Others might not know the origin of that suppressing and sealing sword, but she was very clear, the direction pointed by that sword intent just now¡­. An Jing looked at Han Wenxin with a bewildered face, exclaiming, ¡°Brother Han, could it be that you are a Sword Dao master!?¡± At this moment, the eyes of several people present turned towards Han Wenxin. The direction indicated by that sword intent earlier seemed to be exactly where Han Wenxin was. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s face flushed, and his tone also became somewhat stammering, ¡°Regarding the Sword Dao, since youth Han has also practiced, and naturally, is very proficient in swordsmanship¡­¡± Han Wenxin liked to boast, but he knew in his heart that boasting had to be done in moderation; if it was too exaggerated, others would sense the falsehood¡­ this boast was too big, he couldn¡¯t back it up. ¡°Could this arrest officer be hiding his skills?!¡± Tian Cansou frowned deeply upon seeing this. Just now, he distinctly remembered that the Sword Intent was directed exactly towards where Han Wenxin was. Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun looked at Han Wenxin, a hint of suspicion flashing in their eyes. ¡°Just now it was merely the monk¡¯s speculation, this gentleman need not worry about just now, the temple has many matters, the monk will take his leave first. If the two donors are sincere in their worship, the monk is willing to show the way.¡± Fa Zhi took a deep breath, clasped his hands together towards everyone, and hurriedly left. Tian Cansou and Dai Ling saw this and followed Fa Zhi. ¡°Brother Han, what are you going to do?¡± An Jing noticed that Han Wenxin seemed to want to follow too, and grabbed him. Clearly, Zhang Zhixing was a Jianghu expert, and Han Wenxin was just a regular arrest officer; if the two were to interact, Han Wenxin would definitely suffer. ¡°I¡­¡± Han Wenxin glanced at Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun, chuckled dryly, then pulled An Jing to the side and said discontentedly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to escort Miss Dai to Fa Xi Temple, do you even need to ask?¡± An Jing frowned and said, ¡°I think that Miss Dai seems like someone from the Jianghu and doesn¡¯t need your escort. You¡¯re completely making an unnecessary move, plus she might not appreciate your intentions.¡± ¡°Brother An, didn¡¯t you see how beautiful Miss Dai is?¡± Han Wenxin seemed quite aggrieved, ¡°But ever since Brother An picked this beautiful flower as a sister-in-law, I also wanted to try getting a beautiful flower myself¡­¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­.¡± Han Wenxin chuckled and said, ¡°Brother An, you know me, I won¡¯t be as foolish as Zhou Xianming, even if Miss Dai isn¡¯t interested, there are still Miss Li, Miss Wang, just like you once said about the fishpond, I want to fill this pond with fish¡­¡± Wanting to be the sea king yet becoming the lick dog, Zhou Xianming licks one, you want to lick ten, a hundred¡­. An Jing thought for a while and said, ¡°What about Tan Yun? Didn¡¯t you say¡­¡± ¡°As for Miss Tan¡­¡± Han Wenxin stealthily glanced at Tan Yun, who was far away, and said seriously, ¡°I think I and Miss Tan aren¡¯t quite compatible.¡± An Jing looked at Han Wenxin, somewhat perplexed by the pronounced change in his attitude in just a few days. ¡°Alright, no more talking, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Han Wenxin finished speaking and hurriedly chased after the others. ¡­¡­ ¡°Where is that rascal Han Wenxin off to?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked as she watched the back of Han Wenxin. Tan Yun also looked puzzled, as if she was still pondering the earlier incident of Sword Intent ¡®pointing¡¯ towards Han Wenxin. ¡°He¡¯s off looking for a beautiful flower, let him be,¡± An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go buy some rouge.¡± Han Wenxin was just trying to make a small thing turn into something big, simply put, he was hormone-driven. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled lightly. The night market was bustling like brocade, with many people congregating and numerous small stalls on both sides of the road. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Rouge, Flying Swallow brand¡¯s rouge, would this lady like to take a look?¡± The vendor saw Zhao Qingmei coming over and quickly came forward to shout. The Flying Swallow brand was very famous in Great Yan, backed by the Yujing City Chamber of Commerce, and not many people knew exactly who was behind that Yujing City Chamber of Commerce, but it was definitely someone from within Yujing City. The big shots and grand families of Yujing City, they were not something Jiangnan Dao could compare with. Flying Swallow brand¡¯s rouge was highly praised for its quality, and the high-end rouge could cost several dozen silver for a box; mostly used by ladies from grand families and noble ladies. And rouges like these at a stall were relatively cheaper, costing just a few coins, but the quality was also quite good, loved by many women. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Your Smile is Springtime Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Your Smile is Springtime ¡°Which rouge should I pick, darling?¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at the rouge on the stall, a hint of a smile on her lips. Tan Yun looked left and right, and upon hearing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s question, he too turned his gaze. Could the son-in-law even know about rouge? ¡°I think¡­¡± An Jing looked carefully for a moment, then mused, ¡°Shopkeeper, which of these rouges smells nice?¡± Tan Yun became puzzled: ¡°???¡± Had the son-in-law lost his mind? Could rouge even be eaten as a side dish? Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face flushed at this, and she glared fiercely at An Jing. She didn¡¯t behave as recklessly as An Jing did in public, speaking without restraint. ¡°Sir, if it¡¯s about the scent, the Golden Flower Rouge is the best. It not only smells floral but also has a sweet note.¡± The vendor smiled knowingly, then turned to Zhao Qingmei and said, ¡°Madam, all our rouges are of the finest quality, made from the best squeezed rouge juice, purified and steamed with floral essence. Just a tiny probe with a hairpin is enough to dab on the lips, and when diluted with water, it¡¯s enough for the whole face.¡± ¡°That being said, the quality must be very good,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, picking up a box of rouge and examining it closely. ¡°The quality is definitely excellent, and if it lightens upon contact with water, we won¡¯t charge for it,¡± the vendor quickly added. An Jing then said, ¡°Then give me a lighter color.¡± The vendor¡¯s hands paused, and his smile froze. ¡°Pfft!¡± Tan Yun couldn¡¯t hold back upon hearing her son-in-law¡¯s words and teased, ¡°I¡¯ll take a lighter color too, as you said, it¡¯s free if the color fades. The son-in-law is so bad! It¡¯s all what the son-in-law said. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their nonsense, just take these two boxes of rouge,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, rolling her eyes at An Jing and pointing to two wooden rouge boxes on the stall. ¡°Alright.¡± The vendor heaved a sigh of relief and quickly wrapped the two boxes of rouge, ¡°One box of Golden Flower Rouge and one box of Brocade Rouge together are three hundred copper coins.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyebrows rose, ¡°Three hundred copper coins? Isn¡¯t that a bit expensive?¡± ¡°Madam, this is the finest Golden Flower and Brocade Rouge. Truly, it¡¯s not expensive. How about for two hundred ninety copper coins?¡± The vendor asked with a hopeful smile, as he thought the beautiful lady in front of him would be the easiest to deal with. ¡°It¡¯s still too expensive, can it be cheaper?¡± Zhao Qingmei said regretfully shaking her head. ¡°Two hundred eighty-five copper coins, I really can¡¯t go lower,¡± the vendor said, biting his lip and feigning a pained expression. Zhao Qingmei sighed, ¡°Forget it, my husband doesn¡¯t earn much silver in a year; this rouge would be too much of a burden for him.¡± As she spoke, Zhao Qingmei led a hesitant An Jing away. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t go, two hundred eighty copper coins, I¡¯ll give it to you for two hundred eighty copper coins,¡± the vendor called out urgently. Zhao Qingmei, pulling An Jing along as if she hadn¡¯t heard, continued walking ahead. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t go, what¡¯s your price?¡± the vendor became desperate. ¡°Two hundred fifty copper coins,¡± Zhao Qingmei said after a thought. ¡°Two hundred fifty copper coins is unlucky in our hometown, how about two hundred forty copper coins?¡± An Jing chimed in with a laugh. ¡°Then, two hundred forty copper coins it is, I¡¯ll listen to my husband,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, looking at the vendor. ¡°Two hundred forty coins is impossible,¡± the vendor exclaimed, his eyes widening, shaking his head repeatedly, ¡°The lowest I can go is two hundred fifty copper coins, absolutely no lower.¡± Tan Yun was moved by what she heard, just as she was about to speak, Zhao Qingmei said. ¡°Then forget it, let¡¯s go check over there.¡± Zhao Qingmei started pulling An Jing towards the southwest night market. One step. Two steps. Three steps. ¡­. ¡°Madam, hold on, two hundred forty copper coins then!¡± The vendor sighed and called out. Having endured the cold wind for the duration of two cups of tea and having called out for half a day, this was still the only customer of the day. Upon hearing this, the corners of Zhao Qingmei¡¯s mouth revealed a smug smile. Seeing this, Tan Yun¡¯s eyes widened, and she then gave Zhao Qingmei a thumbs-up. An Jing had not expected that Zhao Qingmei possessed such a skill. The vendor sighed and said, ¡°Madam, you are as beautiful as a goddess, and I had no idea you were also a master at haggling. It has been a long time since I have encountered an opponent as formidable as you. Today, I will sell to you at a loss just to seek good fortune from your unparalleled beauty.¡± ¡°Then please pack it up for me,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a light chuckle. ¡°Alright, Madam, please take care.¡± The vendor swiftly packed the two boxes of rouge. ¡°Here is the money, count it.¡± Zhao Qingmei placed the Copper Coins on the stall and looked at An Jing, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing promptly picked up the rouge. The vendor crouched down and counted the Copper Coins on the stall, then looked up, slightly startled. ¡°Oh¡­ This is three hundred Copper Coins? Madam! You¡¯ve given too much!¡± ¡­.. Under the dim lights and the gentle breeze, ¡°Miss, you were really amazing just now,¡± Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but remark in admiration, ¡°That vendor was even ready to sell at a loss to you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s merely a psychological game,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with a light smile, ¡°He claimed he was selling at a loss, just to deceive you. If he were really losing money, why would he sell? This rouge won¡¯t go bad anytime soon.¡± An Jing nodded in agreement, finding Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words utterly convincing. Everyone in the world acts for profit; nobody conducts a losing business. Only Tan Yun believed the vendor¡¯s words. ¡°Husband, do you think I look good now?¡± Zhao Qingmei took out a box of rouge, then gently dabbed some on her lips. Her eyes shimmered like dewy flowers, tempting one to steal a kiss and uncover the mysteries. ¡°Beautiful, my wife is always beautiful,¡± An Jing replied without a second thought, expertly. ¡°So I am always beautiful, but when do you like me the best?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously. This was a tricky question. An Jing¡¯s heart stirred, looking at those red lips, he said, ¡°My favorite is when you hesitate.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s face flushed red to the base of her neck. Like a curious kitten, Tan Yun leaned in, then with a puzzled face, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to eat? See if it¡¯s tasty now.¡± Zhao Qingmei, feeling both embarrassed and angry, flicked her finger, then dabbed a blob of rouge onto An Jing¡¯s lips. An Jing subconsciously pursed his lips, instantly turning them as bright as blood. Tan Yun clapped her hands in amusement, ¡°The son-in-law looks beautiful indeed; no wonder Han Wenxin likes to drink with son-in-law. If I were Han Wenxin, I¡¯d also like to drink with son-in-law.¡± ¡°You must not talk nonsense like that.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing urgently said, Just thinking about Han Wenxin¡¯s vulgar and obscene demeanor was almost unbearable to witness. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei also burst into laughter, bending over. Her bright eyes sparkled teasingly through the hazy veil, and her lips curled sweetly, revealing her dimples, while her laugh was crisp and delightful. Tan Yun, too, was biting her lip, trying to suppress her laughter. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°If you want to laugh, then laugh,¡± An Jing said irritably. ¡°Geese, geese, geese, geese, geese¡­¡± Tan Yun laughed unrestrainedly, her laughter like honking geese. Seeing them laughing so heartily, An Jing¡¯s lips curled slightly upward, and he, too, began to laugh. Having searched for springtime all my life, it appeared completely when you laughed. ¡­.. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Famous Sword of the Former Dynasty, Ye Taie Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Famous Sword of the Former Dynasty, Ye Tai¡¯e Outside Yu State City, at the foot of Three Temple Mountain. Han Wenxin pointed to the mountain, smiled, and said, ¡°The scenery of Three Temple Mountain is quite remarkable, especially the Bright Moon Pavilion on the north peak. At night, one can see the entire night scene of Yu State City. I wonder if Miss Dai would be interested?¡± Throughout the journey, Han Wenxin had been talking nonstop, introducing everything along the way. Fa Wu watched this scene, somewhat puzzled as to why Han Wenxin was so persistent. Could it be that the arrest officer was trying to scheme for the young lady¡¯s silver? If Han Wenxin knew what Fa Wu was thinking, he would feel wronged. Was he scheming for silver? What kind of person did they take him, Han Wenxin, for? Dai Ling shook her head, her expression cold and indifferent. Tian Cansou could no longer hold back and said, ¡°Arrest Officer Han, we might need to stay at Fa Xi Temple for a few days, so you don¡¯t need to see us off.¡± Fa Zhi stood by with his hands clasped together, not saying a word. Han Wenxin waved his hand, smiled, and said, ¡°No worries. I¡¯m responsible for the night patrol and curfew tonight. Since we¡¯ve met by fate, let me accompany you a bit longer.¡± Tian Cansou frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased. ¡°Arrest officer Han, come here, I have something to tell you.¡± Dai Ling called to Han Wenxin, then walked towards a distant tree. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming.¡± Seeing this, Han Wenxin quickly followed. Under the hazy moonlight, shadows of trees swayed eerily. Dai Ling stood in the moonlight, graceful and enchanting, like a fairy. The thought of being able to embrace such a beauty made Han Wenxin¡¯s heart skip wildly. Zhou Xianming, oh Zhou Xianming, when you return and see me embracing such a beauty, I wonder what you old fellow would think. With that thought, a smile involuntarily formed on his lips. Dai Ling said indifferently, ¡°Arrest Officer Han, do you have improper thoughts about me?¡± Upon hearing this, Han Wenxin¡¯s heart leapt with joy. He hadn¡¯t expected Dai Ling to be so forthright and get straight to the point. He immediately replied, ¡°Miss Dai, my feelings for you are sincere. My father is the retired arrest officer, we have two ancestral homes on Tianxiang Street and two shops in Chunxi Square, and thirty acres of land¡­¡± Before An Jing was married, matchmaker Wang would go to his house every day to propose matches, almost wearing out his doorstep. In his view, if he just showed a bit of skill, this beauty would be easily within his grasp. This was how he always succeeded in the brothels. After all, Han Wenxin believed that he was no worse than his half-brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, An Jing did not know Han Wenxin¡¯s true intentions; otherwise, he would certainly have scoffed in disdain. One was soliciting, the other was soliciting without spending a penny¡ªtwo fundamentally different realms. ¡°No need to say more; we¡¯re not suitable.¡± Dai Ling cut off what Han Wenxin was saying. ¡°Not¡­ suitable?¡± Han Wenxin, as if he had heard wrong, stammered, ¡°Miss¡­. Miss Dai¡­¡± ¡°You are good, but you deserve better, not someone like me who is the best.¡± With those words, Dai Ling left, leaving Han Wenxin with a stunned expression. ¡­¡­. Fa Xi Temple, side room. The candlelight was faint but shimmering. ¡°Uncle, the sword intent today must have been caused by the legendary Evil Suppressing Sword, right?¡± Dai Ling whispered as she poured two cups of tea. Tian Cansou took a deep breath and slowly said, ¡°Yes, the only thing in Yu State City that could cause such a spectacle today is Ye Tai¡¯e.¡± ¡°Ye Tai¡¯e?¡± Dai Ling raised her eyebrows slightly. She knew of the Evil Suppressing Sword, but she was not familiar with Ye Tai¡¯e. ¡°The Evil Suppressing Sword is Ye Tai¡¯e.¡± Tian Cansou nodded and sighed, ¡°This sword was forged by the seventh generation Human Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, named Ye Tai¡¯e. It is rumored to be made from Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Iron, weighing three thousand pounds, folded and reforged a hundred times, and then mixed with copper mother ore. Finally, all essence was depleted, and it was quenched in the flames of the Volcano with the Endless Flame. At that time, Great Zhou gathered all skilled craftsmen and took fifty years to finish. The sword is bloodthirsty and consumes the essence blood of the Sword Masters each time it was forged, resulting in the deaths of over three hundred swordsmiths.¡± ¡°Such a massive expenditure of manpower, resources, and emotional energy, yet the sword was still not successfully forged. Ultimately, the seventh generation Human Emperor had to give up its crafting, and Ye Tai¡¯e lay dormant under the Volcano for hundreds of years, until the ninth generation Emperor of Great Zhou explored the volcano to discover that Ye Tai¡¯e had started to reveal its edge, floating in midair above the volcano.¡± ¡°It is said that when the ninth generation Human Emperor grasped Ye Tai¡¯e, the sword began to consume his essence blood and was thus brought into the world. On the day Ye Tai¡¯e appeared, dark clouds filled the sky, thunder and lightning fell, and anomalous phenomena occurred everywhere. Within thousands of miles, all swords quivered and trembled, shaking people¡¯s hearts. However, the essence blood of that ninth generation Emperor was drained, and he died as a result. Afterward, the experts from the Royal Family of Great Zhou tried to subdue the sword but were all drained of their essence blood, unable to conquer the sword. Finally, they split the sword into six pieces to use as a sealing artifact for the Earth Veins.¡± ¡°Thus, the sword is named Ye Tai¡¯e, also known as the Evil Suppressing Sword. To this day, no one has been able to subdue it.¡± Dai Ling furrowed her brows, ¡°I see, the sword intent I felt today seemed to have some specific target.¡± ¡°It is indeed strange, the seal is damaged, and the sword may also emerge into the world.¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s face grew stern, his eyes carrying a hint of fear, ¡°But remember, this is a demonic object, and should not be touched.¡± The Five Poison Sect is a branch of the Demon Sect with profound heritage. They have some understanding of these ancient records and are naturally aware of the terror of Ye Tai¡¯e. Even if the Emperors of Great Zhou were not the absolute top masters of their times, they still ranked within the top five, and the ninth generation Emperor even possessed the peak strength of a Grandmaster, just one step away from becoming a Great Grandmaster. Yet, even so, the ninth Emperor still died by having his essence blood consumed by Ye Tai¡¯e, which speaks volumes about the ferocity of the sword. ¡°I understand.¡± Dai Ling nodded her head and took a deep breath, ¡°Our only goal is to obtain the suppressed nature¡¯s spiritual energy.¡± Their purpose in coming here was not for the sword, but for the spiritual energy sealed beneath the earth. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Tian Cansou nodded, ¡°Exactly, just by obtaining that strand of spiritual energy, your cultivation could directly reach First Grade, and you might even reach the stage of forming the Human Flower. With your innate talent and age, your chances of reaching the realm of Grandmaster will also be greatly increased.¡± Dai Ling nodded emphatically, her voice laced with concern, ¡°My worry now is how we would handle the multitude of masters drawn here by tonight¡¯s surge of sword intent.¡± Tonight, the surge of Ye Tai¡¯e¡¯s sword intent has caused such a tremor, undoubtedly attracting attention from various quarters. Originally intending to quietly take away the spiritual energy, it now seemed much more difficult. Tian Cansou smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Buddha statue was broken by Li Fuzhou, and the seal is already mostly broken. In three days, the seal will break entirely, and the spiritual energy will disperse overnight. Anyone thinking they can reach Yu State City in that time is merely dreaming.¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: No More Lin Mianhong in the World Chapter 85: Chapter 85: No More Lin Mianhong in the World Above the Yu State River, the exquisite pleasure boat drifted slowly across the water in the evening breeze. In the Red House pleasure boat, Li Yue sat in a chair, her delicate beauty and eyes like autumn water captivating the soul, her slender jade hands holding a teacup. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡± At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside the curtain. The curtain was then lifted, and a plain-looking old woman appeared before Li Yue. ¡°The seal in the Earth Veins will shatter the day after tomorrow,¡± the old woman said in a deep voice. Li Yue nodded, then asked, ¡°Was that Sword Intent just now from the Evil Suppressing Sword?¡± Sword Intent and Sword Skill are different; Skill gives one a sense of oppression. Although it¡¯s intangible, it can still make people feel a tangible pressure, but Intent is different. Intent is like a delicate painting, with endless mysteries hidden inside. The true meaning is the enigma for one to comprehend and suddenly understand the essence of its Skill. The old woman nodded, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it should be that sword. The Evil Suppressing Sword was consecrated by the Human Emperor of Great Zhou, then used to suppress the sealing. This sword is a peerless famous sword, ranked third on the Famous Sword List by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.¡± ¡°This sword is also known as the Great Zhou Cloud Dragon, Ye Tai¡¯e, Demon Sword, but most people only know it as the Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± Li Yue chuckled lightly and said, ¡°It seems this sword has quite the history.¡± ¡°You say quite? It¡¯s shockingly so,¡± the old woman replied, shaking her head with a heavy tone. ¡°Rumor has it that this sword incurred the jealousy of the heavens. Anyone who tries to subdue it faces heavenly retribution. Three Human Emperors perished because of this sword, and to date, it has yet to acknowledge a master.¡± ¡°Seeing that it released that Sword Intent, the breaking of the seal is imminent.¡± Li Yue fell silent for a while, then said, ¡°Liu Qingshan, Li Fuzhou, and that group of experts?¡± ¡°So far, only these two are known. It¡¯s uncertain if the monks Fa Zhi and Fa Wu from the Buddhist Sect will intervene, but I suspect other experts will take the opportunity to act,¡± said the old woman, frowning. ¡°Originally, we thought we could directly obtain this strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy when the seal broke. It seems all were vain hopes. No wonder the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion sold such important information so cheaply. It turns out that Liu Qingshan from the Demon Sect and the Cao Gang had already noticed the nature¡¯s spiritual energy beneath this seal¡­¡± The Wind and Rain Tower learned about the spiritual energy beneath this seal through information bought at a great cost from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. It was one of the reasons why Li Yue was lying low in Yu State City, and another was to search for the lost Bodhi Bead. However, it now seemed that the information bought from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion wasn¡¯t highly confidential. Li Yue said indifferently, ¡°As long as the information is true, I will obtain this spiritual energy no matter who comes for it.¡± The old woman heard this and her eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°You must understand, practicing the Blood Spirit Technique means you are burning your Essence Blood. Now that your cultivation has reached the Earth Flower Realm, it shows you don¡¯t have long to live. If you continue using the Blood Spirit Technique in the struggle, you won¡¯t last two years¡­¡± In the vast world of Jianghu, there are countless Martial Arts Heart Methods, among which there are some strange and mysterious ones, and the Blood Spirit Technique is one of them. What truly made the Blood Spirit Technique notorious was several hundred years ago in the Nine Kingdoms. At that time, wars between kingdoms were rife, and naturally, Jianghu was also in chaos. Top experts from Jianghu colluded with the kingdoms, killing each other in an unrest not seen in a millennium, and numerous Sects emerged like bamboo shoots after a rain, including a Sect called the Blood Spirit Sect which appeared in the Jianghu of You Country. At first, this Sect was so insignificant that it didn¡¯t stand out in the vastness of Jianghu. Even You Country itself knew little about it, but in the following three years, the Blood Spirit Sect rose at an astonishing speed, shocking all in the land. At the time, the Sect Leader of Blood Spirit Sect, known as the Blood Spirit Son, used his formidable strength to continuously expand his territory and consolidate his base. He swept through the Jianghu of You Country, defeating all the top experts there. In just two years, it became the premier Sect of You Country, with a momentum so swift that it even began to spread to other countries, astonishing everyone with its rate of expansion. Apart from the strong power of Blood Spirit Son, the Sect Elders and disciples were also formidable. Even the ordinary disciples had mostly reached the Middle Third Grades of cultivation, with hardly any below the Lower Third Grades. Suddenly, countless individuals flocked to join the Blood Spirit Sect, and even prodigies from other countries traveled to You Country to enter the Blood Spirit Sect and learn its Heart Method. The Blood Spirit Sect, for a time, became the most eye-catching entity in the world. It caught the attention of many great sects and prominent martial factions, including the overlord of the Jianghu in the Nine Kingdoms, Outer Heaven, and Zhenyi Sect, among others. Generally, a sect would need to develop over hundreds of years to secure a foothold in the vast Jianghu, yet the Blood Spirit Sect had done so in just three years, how could this not draw the attention and the gaze of others? If they continued to grow at such a speed, wouldn¡¯t the Jianghu of the Nine Kingdoms be unified by the Blood Spirit Sect? At that time, the Zhenyi Sect and other forces such as the Unborn Sect united, and even Outer Heaven and the Zhenyi Sect temporarily put aside their grudges, all to uncover the secrets of the Blood Spirit Sect. Many experts directly stormed the Blood Spirit Sect, demanding the secret of the Blood Spirit Technique from Blood Spirit Zi, and some even asked him to hand over the Blood Spirit Technique, which naturally Blood Spirit Zi would not divulge such critical secrets. On that very night, countless experts poured into You Country, where the Blood Spirit Sect¡¯s headquarters turned into a battlefield of slaughter, and rivers of blood were shed. The Blood Spirit Sect¡¯s Sect Master, Blood Spirit Zi, met his demise, his path to the Dao extinguished, and many of the sect¡¯s experts perished. It wasn¡¯t until the Blood Spirit Sect was utterly annihilated, with only a few core disciples of the Blood Spirit Sect barely clinging to life, that one core disciple, in a desperate bid for survival, revealed to everyone the reason behind the Blood Spirit Sect¡¯s rapid development. This was not far from what everyone had speculated; the Blood Spirit Sect was able to train so many experts in such a short time because of the Blood Spirit Technique. The Blood Spirit Technique was a Xuanwu-level heart method, but its cultivation speed was faster than any martial arts heart method known, because the Blood Spirit Technique could foster a Blood Spirit in one¡¯s Dantian. This Blood Spirit could absorb the human body¡¯s essence blood and then nourish the user in return, allowing for cultivation to grow exponentially in a short time. Essence blood originates from the Innate Essence and is produced in the Acquired Water Valley; the formation of essence also depends on the body¡¯s internal energy, thus the saying ¡°essence blood shares the same origin.¡± With essence blood being vastly consumed, the body needs a long time and large amounts of herbs, food, and supplements, and it also greatly diminishes one¡¯s lifespan. The more essence blood the Blood Spirit absorbs, the more it can return to the user, resulting in even faster cultivation. The experts of the Blood Spirit Sect would rapidly cultivate by continually burning their own essence blood to nourish the Blood Spirit within them. This method not only required vast resources but also cost a great deal of lifespan. Even if many experts had not attacked the Blood Spirit Sect, Blood Spirit Zi wouldn¡¯t have lived for many more years. After the fall of the Blood Spirit Sect, the Blood Spirit Technique was burned by the Sect Leader of the Unborn Sect, to prevent another detrimental sect from arising in the Jianghu. Thus, the notorious Blood Spirit Technique completely vanished from the Jianghu. However, at a moment unnoticed by all, the Sect Leader of the Unborn Sect did not actually burn the Blood Spirit Technique, but used a sleight-of-hand, carefully hiding it away, allowing the legendary Blood Spirit Technique to be passed on to future generations. The Sect Leader of the Unborn Sect was a top expert with an exceedingly high reputation in Jianghu, an elder of the martial community, so none of the many experts present suspected him. And it was this Blood Spirit Technique that Li Yue had been practicing. ¡°To live is but a grain in the ocean, to die is merely to turn to dust,¡± Li Yue said indifferently, her eyes carrying a touch of casualness, elegance, and unruliness, ¡°Do you think a person like me cares about life or death?¡± ¡°Mianhong, it seems now your heart is filled only with hatred,¡± the old woman sighed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only It¡¯s a curious thing sometimes; when there¡¯s nothing left in this world for you, the very thing that can keep you going might be your enemy. ¡°Mianhong is already dead, Granny, please don¡¯t mention her again.¡± Li Yue stood up, her jade hand gracefully pulling aside the wooden curtain, and chuckled, ¡°I wonder which handsome young master has come. Finding someone to relieve boredom wouldn¡¯t be too bad.¡± Saying so, she carefully adjusted her attire and walked out with graceful steps. ¡­¡­. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Eighty-sixth Chapter: Whispering Under the Starry Moonlit Night Chapter 86: Eighty-sixth Chapter: Whispering Under the Starry Moonlit Night Two days later, Jishi Hall. By late autumn, the howling north wind traveled south, and the weather gradually became colder. The leaves on the old locust tree had nearly all fallen, leaving the bare trunk appearing somewhat desolate and bleak. An Jing sat in front of the medicine cabinet, and the light from the Earth Book was becoming increasingly intense. The likelihood of the sealing breaking tonight was high, and when that happened, nature¡¯s spiritual energy would gush forth. Nature¡¯s spiritual energy, as recorded in ancient texts, was refined by Grandmasters. Without the guidance of a Grandmaster¡¯s True Qi, it would quickly dissipate into the environment. So if today was the day the seal broke, he must seize this opportunity. As long as he obtained this strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, he could accelerate his progress on condensing the Earth Flower. ¡°That old codger, Li Fuzhou, has been following me around these past few days. I need to think of a plan tonight.¡± An Jing looked down in thought, then glanced at the little black pup lying at his feet, ¡°Little Blackie, come, help me think of¡­¡± ¡°Woof~~Woof!¡± Little Blackie instantly bristled and quickly walked toward the back hall, as if afraid of hearing something he shouldn¡¯t. Just then, Li Fuzhou came out holding a large jar, and Little Blackie bumped into Li Fuzhou¡¯s legs, tumbling over in the process. ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Li Fuzhou raised an eyebrow and scolded Little Blackie, ¡°You often listen to me reading books; you¡¯ve picked up some knowledge. I have cautioned you time and again, in situations like this, one must not be too impetuous or panicky. What state are you in now!?¡± ¡°Woof~wuu!¡± Little Blackie whimpered and then sat down on the ground, tilting his head to look at Li Fuzhou. An Jing, seeing Li Fuzhou¡¯s serious demeanor, suddenly found it amusing. This old man was actually taking such trouble with a dog. ¡°What¡¯s in this jar?¡± Li Fuzhou gave a faint smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s medicinal wine brewed by the young lady for your son-in-law; she said it can be used by year-end.¡± ¡°That sounds good; it has everything it should have in it, right?¡± An Jing peeked into the jar. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Li Fuzhou placed the jar on the ground, smiling amiably, ¡°Young Master, I heard you don¡¯t like drinking medicinal wine?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s been spouting nonsense? Was it Tan Yun again?¡± An Jing gazed at the medicinal wine Zhao Qingmei had brewed for him and said, ¡°This is a fine thing; how could I not love it? Besides, my wife brewed this for me; I¡¯ll make sure to finish it all.¡± This isn¡¯t just medicinal wine; it¡¯s my wife¡¯s love for me. ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Li Fuzhou coughed a few times, ¡°This medicinal wine is too potent; you won¡¯t be able to finish it alone. I can help share some of that burden, young master.¡± Damn! An Jing finally understood. This old fellow wanted his medicinal wine. Sure enough, no man would ever refuse something that benefits vitality and vigor. Seeing An Jing¡¯s reluctance, Li Fuzhou sighed and said, ¡°Madam Zhao has been asking me¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right; I definitely can¡¯t finish this wine alone.¡± An Jing quickly interrupted Li Fuzhou. ¡°That¡¯s right, Young Master.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded in satisfaction, ¡°I have to attend to something tonight, so I won¡¯t be keeping accounts for young master. Also, Zhou Xianming is coming back soon; remember to give me some ¡®wages¡¯ when the time comes.¡± Having said that, Li Fuzhou walked away chuckling. An Jing watched Li Fuzhou¡¯s retreating figure, knowing his so-called business was nothing more than frequenting brothels. With Li Fuzhou not following him, it was a good opportunity for An Jing to slip out. Thinking this, An Jing quickly began closing up the shop. ¡°Husband, isn¡¯t it too early to be closing up?¡± Zhao Qingmei came out and saw An Jing boarding up, she couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously. ¡°Han Wenxin told me there¡¯s a prisoner suffering from a chill in jail; he asked me to take a look.¡± An Jing had already thought of an excuse. ¡°That youngster, Han Wenxin?¡± Zhao Qingmei raised an eyebrow and then gave An Jing a suspicious look, ¡°Is that for real?¡± ¡°For real, of course, it is. I need to hurry and check it out.¡± An Jing said with a straight face. ¡°Alright then, it¡¯s cold tonight so wear more clothes,¡± Zhao Qingmei, seeing An Jing¡¯s serious face, finally nodded her head. After all, with a Demon Sect master by his side, he should be safe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my wife. Just wait for my return.¡± An Jing smiled, secured the wooden planks, picked up the small medical kit, and walked out of Jishi Hall. ¡­¡­. At the wine tavern in Wuyang, in a private room on the second floor. Han Wenxin looked at An Jing with a sense of lament, ¡°Brother An, it has been a long time since we¡¯ve enjoyed wine and cheerful conversation like today.¡± Since An Jing got married, he had rarely come out to drink with him, and Han Wenxin wondered why today he had asked him out for drinks. ¡°Indeed.¡± An Jing sighed and said, ¡°There¡¯s no more surplus grain at home.¡± ¡°Brother An, let¡¯s not talk about that now. Let¡¯s drink.¡± Han Wenxin raised his glass, ¡°I hope this cup can dispel the recent sorrows and troubles.¡± ¡°Sorrows and troubles?¡± An Jing looked at Han Wenxin and asked, ¡°Is it because of Miss Dai?¡± ¡°Let the past be carried away by the wind, let¡¯s not bring it up again.¡± Han Wenxin said with a profound look. ¡°What happened? Were you rejected?¡± ¡°How could I be!?¡± Han Wenxin said seriously, ¡°That day, after I took her to the Three Temples Mountain Faxi Temple, I planned to return home. But Miss Dai insisted on keeping me there, inviting me to watch the stars. In the end, it was I who resolutely refused.¡± An Jing, full of questions, said, ¡°Watch the stars? She invited you? And you refused?¡± An Jing felt like he was listening to a fairy tale, everything was fake except for the names. ¡°I swear every word I said is true, if not, may Zhou Xianming that old fellow get the top mark in this autumn¡¯s examination.¡± Seeing An Jing¡¯s expression, Han Wenxin quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, just yesterday she asked me to join her for a trip along the Yu State River. Unable to decline such earnestness, I reluctantly went. The journey was utterly dull, and when I came back, I had old Master from Mazi Lane calculate our compatibility.¡± ¡°I found out that our horoscopes are incompatible.¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°Horoscopes do not match?¡± ¡°Yes, our horoscopes do not match.¡± Han Wenxin sighed and said, ¡°My father said it would create conflicts. Moreover, she came to see me again today, and I straightforwardly rejected her feelings. I told her that I am a man like the wind, not meant to stay for her. You don¡¯t understand, seeing her utterly heartbroken nearly made me relent. But then I remembered your words, Brother An, and that firmly decided my resolve.¡± After finishing, Han Wenxin still appeared contemplative and relieved. An Jing, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, ¡°Brother Han, what did I say?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten? It was you who once told me,¡± Han Wenxin threw an arm around An Jing¡¯s shoulders, declaiming spiritedly, ¡°We should use the time it takes to chase a horse to cultivate a prairie, instead of giving up a whole forest for one tree.¡± An Jing wondered, ¡°Did I say that?¡± He used to enjoy chatting about various trivial things with Han Wenxin, but he had mostly forgotten them. However, that was all in the past. Now he was a respectable man¡­. ¡°You did.¡± Han Wenxin, excitedly pointing at a distant high rise, said, ¡°Brother An, you are like a bright lamp on my life¡¯s path, guiding me forward, straight to the brothel.¡± Damn! I don¡¯t want to be that kind of lamp. An Jing¡¯s face darkened upon hearing this. ¡°Come, Brother An, let¡¯s heartily drink this cup!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s drink!¡± ¡­. After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes. ¡°Come¡­ let¡¯s drink.¡± Han Wenxin was so drunk he was unconscious, mumbling as he lay on the table, still holding a wine jug in his hand. An Jing stretched a bit and nonchalantly took out a dark blue cloak from a small medicine box. ¡°Brother Han, you keep drinking here for a while.¡± He had important matters to attend to, and inviting Han Wenxin for a drink was just a cover. By then, Han Wenxin had lost his senses, his hand subconsciously bringing the jug to his mouth, but as he took a sip, he furrowed his brows and couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°This doesn¡¯t taste right¡­.¡± An Jing, having changed his clothes, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This tavern¡¯s wine was the most famous in Yu State City, noted not only for its reasonable price but also for its exceptional taste. ¡°Not¡­ not salty enough.¡± Han Wenxin murmured softly, then leaned on the table and licked his lips. Upon hearing this, An Jing paused for a while, then said with a faint voice, ¡°So, Brother Han likes the taste of pickled vegetables.¡± ¡­¡­ Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: No Return from the Boundless Sea of Suffering Chapter 87: Chapter 87: No Return from the Boundless Sea of Suffering Outside the tavern, the moonlight spills like water, flowing for thousands of miles. Shui Zhongyue stood atop a distant roof, his eyes fixed intently on the private room¡¯s entrance of the Wuyang Tavern. Having lost track of the young doctor last time, Huo Zhongyun had been punished according to the Demon Sect¡¯s rules, and to this day, he¡¯s still bedridden. Shui Zhongyue knew he absolutely must not follow in his footsteps and needed to keep a close watch on that young doctor. ¡°I really don¡¯t know why we have to keep an eye on, protect this young doctor,¡± Shui Zhongyue muttered to himself. Yet, as Shui Zhongyue watched the private room, a shadow silently flew out of the window without him noticing at all. That person was none other than An Jing, who had concealed his Qi. ¡­¡­. Three Temple Mountain, the northern peak at Bright Moon Pavilion. The peak was shrouded in mist and cloud, with winding mountain paths, and the moon seemed to hang just before one¡¯s eyes. At this moment, the mountain path was filled with experts, each with a blade at their waist and a waist badge¡ªupon closer inspection, all were Xuanyi Guard badges, and even the lowest rank among them was Silver. Moreover, standing beside the pavilion were five Gold Constables, each in a posture of obedient readiness. With Gold Constables standing guard outside the pavilion, naturally, the one inside had to be the Jade Constable of the Xuanyi Guard, also known as the Great Heavenly Gang. Three Great Heavenly Gang members stood within the pavilion, one of whom was Gan Yue. The person standing in the chief position had graying temples and bright eyes, his left hand resting on the hilt of the blade at his waist. His face was as still as calm waters, and the other Great Heavenly Gang member was a woman. The woman appeared to be in her forties, with fairly unremarkable looks, and with the passage of time, she began to show some signs of aging. These two were the Heavenly Kill Star Xi Jikui and the Heavenly Skill Star Zhang Shuang of the Xuanyi Guard. ¡°Master Xi, Master Zhang, all the hands have been deployed,¡± Gan Yue declared with a clasped fist. Xi Jikui nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you for your efforts, Master Gan.¡± Gan Yue replied indifferently, ¡°Master Xi jests, we are all but sharing His Majesty¡¯s worries.¡± ¡°Those from the Demon Sect, truly hateful!¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, a trace of cold light emerging, ¡°Li Fuzhou broke the seal this time for merely a wisp of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, but he completely disregards the safety of the world.¡± ¡°This time, I will ensure Li Fuzhou does not return.¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s tone was very mild, yet it concealed a thick intent to kill. Gan Yue and Zhang Shuang felt a tremor in their hearts upon hearing this. Who was Li Fuzhou? He was the Sect Master of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, an unmatched expert who in his prime stood against four Great Heavenly Gang members alone. Even Xi Yuanjun couldn¡¯t slay him when he was at his peak. Today, however, they had to ambush this man. Zhang Shuang chuckled beside them, ¡°If Master Xi manages to kill Li Fuzhou by hand, you¡¯re sure to become celebrated across Jianghu, and His Majesty will be greatly pleased.¡± Li Fuzhou was the Sect Master of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect. If they were lucky enough to kill him this time, although they would gain a great reputation, they would also be marked for vengeance and retaliation by the Demon Sect. This was not a title just anyone could bear. Xi Jikui naturally understood Zhang Shuang¡¯s intentions, but of course, he was not afraid of offending the Demon Sect. After all, his father was Xi Yuanjun, the Deputy Governor of the Xuanyi Guard. If someone like him feared the Demon Sect¡¯s retaliation, then who in the world would dare to kill the experts of the Demon Sect? Gan Yue pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Apart from the Demon Sect, I¡¯m certain other experts will want to vie for nature¡¯s spiritual energy. We must be cautious. According to information from the Heaven and Earth Net, people from the Five Poison Sect seem to have also arrived¡­¡± ¡°If they can be killed, kill them all!¡± Xi Jikui declared icily, ¡°This nature¡¯s spiritual energy is an asset of the Dynasty; anyone who dares to covet it deserves to die.¡± Even Gan Yue frowned upon hearing this remark. After all, many formidable opponents may have come this time, and if it really came to a fight, the Xuanyi Guard might not necessarily hold an advantage. Furthermore, what he referred to as an asset of the Dynasty, that statement seemed somewhat off; evidently, he wanted the spiritual energy for himself. Xi Jikui stated expressionlessly, ¡°These people are all parasites of our Great Yan, only thinking of fishing in troubled waters for their own gain. What use is there in keeping them around?¡± Gan Yue nodded upon hearing this and no longer spoke. ¡­¡­.. Dusk descended, and the entire Three Temple Mountain was shrouded in darkness. In the Vilu Hall, the sound of a wooden fish being struck could be heard. At this moment, the statue of Buddha in Vilu Hall had been shattered, and the ground was covered with broken fragments, which, despite being broken, still emanated a faint golden glow. It was precisely because these fragments still carried Buddha¡¯s light that the seal did not break immediately. ¡°Sizzle!¡± ¡°Sizzle!¡± Dark currents of air spread out around the great hall, seemingly trying to burst forth from the hall, but they appeared to be restrained by some sort of shackles. ¡°Senior Brother, the moon is almost full.¡± Fa Wu looked up at the moon outside the hall. The rounder the moon, the heavier the Yin Energy, which was a bad omen. ¡°What must come will always come,¡± Fa Zhi sighed, ¡°Suffering is inherent in the human world, not just for common folk.¡± ¡°Senior Brother?¡± Fa Wu asked, ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand.¡± ¡°What don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°Why do we protect the seal? Yet some people want to destroy it? Who is right and who is wrong?¡± ¡°Each person has their own destiny; right and wrong lie within a single thought of yours. If you believe it¡¯s right, then it is right. If you think it¡¯s wrong, then it¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°Each person has their own destiny? Do I have one too?¡± ¡°Yes, your destiny and mine are the same as all beings. All beings suffer, and you must seek liberation from this suffering sea.¡± Fa Wu became even more baffled, as his Senior Brother always spoke of the suffering of all beings, yet he couldn¡¯t feel it, ¡°Why do all beings suffer, the world is not at peace, yet they do not turn towards our Buddha?¡± Hearing this, Fa Zhi said, ¡°Do you think that if more people turn towards our Buddha, all the people in the world will be able to escape the sea of suffering and the world will be at peace?¡± Fa Wu asked in confusion, ¡°Senior Brother, is it not so? Isn¡¯t our journey here to fulfill the Bodhisattva¡¯s decree to preach the scriptures?¡± ¡°Fa Wu, you are mistaken,¡± Fa Zhi shook his head. ¡°Mistaken?¡± ¡°We did not leave our homes merely to preach the scriptures.¡± ¡°If not to preach, then what for?¡± ¡°We left home so that there would be no more monks in the world.¡± Upon hearing these words from Fa Zhi, Fa Wu was completely stunned, ¡°We left home just so that there would be no more monks in the world¡­¡± At that moment, it was as if he had been enlightened, realizing the profound truth. Fa Zhi nodded and slowly said, ¡°Leaving home is but a way to help sentient beings escape the sea of suffering. Should the sentient beings truly escape it, what use would we have then?¡± Indeed, if all beings are universally saved and people escape the sea of suffering, then what purpose do we serve? Fa Zhi looked towards the wall where the evil Yin energy was nearly bursting forth, ¡°Is the evening drum prepared?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ready,¡± Fa Wu nodded. ¡°Good,¡± Fa Zhi sighed softly, ¡°Fa Wu, remember always that you are a monk, but you are also one of the countless sentient beings. When they escape the sea of suffering, so will you.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Senior Brother, Fa Wu will bear this in his heart, never to forget,¡± said Fa Wu. Fa Wu felt that today his Senior Brother was unusually talkative. In the past, he too asked many things, but his Senior Brother often told him to listen and to perceive. Today, however, Fa Zhi seemed willing to explain everything, word by word. Fa Zhi, in a rare gesture, patted Fa Wu on the head and said wistfully, ¡°In fact, for some people, leaving their homes to become monks is the greatest sea of suffering.¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Peerless Swordsman Strikes the Scorpion Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Peerless Swordsman Strikes the Scorpion ¡°Master, since the seal is about to break, why don¡¯t we lend it a helping hand? After all, once the seal is broken, Master will also be freed from many troubles.¡± Just then, a laugh came from behind. Under the moonlight outside the hall, a figure stood at the doorway, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, his skin as wrinkled as tree bark, his sinister eyes looking at Fa Zhi. ¡°Benefactor Zhang,¡± Fa Zhi saw the person and sighed, ¡°Once the seal is broken, there will be calamities across the world. Are you aware of this?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Zhang Zhixing took a deep breath and said, ¡°Beneath this seal lies the spiritual energy of nature. What calamities could there be? Besides, if I acquire this spiritual energy, why should I care about others?¡± ¡°Amitabha.¡± Fa Wu glanced at Zhang Zhixing and then pressed his hands together in prayer. Fa Zhi put down the wooden fish he was holding and slowly said, ¡°Benefactor Zhang, have you forgotten that you too are among the people of this world?¡± Zhang Zhixing sneered, ¡°Master Fa Zhi, I¡¯m not ignorant of the grand principles, but today I¡¯m not here to debate with you. I must obtain this strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy.¡± Having said that, Zhang Zhixing stepped forward. ¡°Boom!¡± What seemed like a casual step contained extremely violent inner strength; the moment his toe touched the ground, ripples emanated from the center, causing the entire hall to shake violently. ¡°Such powerful inner strength!¡± Fa Wu felt a chill in his heart and his heart began to pound uncontrollably. Keep in mind he was a First Grade cultivator, yet facing Zhang Zhixing¡¯s probing step, he felt utterly powerless ¡ª a testament to Zhang Zhixing¡¯s terrifying strength. ¡°Benefactor, why do you cling to your delusions?¡± Fa Zhi pressed his hands together and then placed them in front of his chest. ¡°Buzz, buzz!¡± As Fa Zhi pressed his hands together, beams of golden light suddenly pierced forth behind him, as dazzling and blinding as the sun in the night, unbearable to the eyes. ¡°Bang, bang, bang, bang!¡± The two Qi Forces collided fiercely, sending violent shockwaves spreading crazily in all directions. ¡­¡­. An Jing, dressed in a cyan robe, dashed through the foliage with great speed. Although it was only his second visit, he was already quite familiar with Fa Xi Temple. Soon, he arrived at the mountain gate of Fa Xi Temple. The last visit was during Buddhism¡¯s Ullambana Festival, and it was daytime, bustling with people; now, however, the temple was utterly silent, with only the breeze and the low chirping of nocturnal insects. An Jing leaped, easily scaling the over ten-meter-high courtyard wall, and landed on the ground as swiftly as a swallow. ¡°Hm!?¡± Suddenly, the ground shook violently. ¡°A master?!¡± An Jing slightly raised his brows and quickly moved towards the source of the vibration. Merely from the sound of the vibrating inner strength, he knew the two fighters were definitely not low-level cultivators. An Jing stepped on the eaves and soon arrived in front of the grand doors of Vilu Hall. ¡°Hm!?¡± Just as he was about to step in, a dark shadow swiftly struck towards his lower leg. Clang¡ª! An Jing¡¯s palm reflexively reached for the hilt of his sword, and with a swing, cold light flashed, imprinting a trail of frost on the ground. ¡°Pfft!¡± The shadow split in two, blood spraying everywhere; upon closer inspection, it was a thumb-sized poisonous snake. After being sliced in half by the sword Qi, the snake¡¯s body still twitched continuously. ¡°These snakes¡­¡± An Jing felt odd. Fa Xi Temple was located in the deep mountains; it was normal for poisonous snakes to appear. An Jing had also gone herb gathering in the mountains. As long as one did not invade the snakes¡¯ territory, they usually wouldn¡¯t attack. Before he could collect his thoughts, several more poisonous snakes appeared around him, rushing towards him. ¡°Seems like there is a snake-handling expert here.¡± An Jing narrowed his eyes, and his sword swept through the air. The cold sword light spit out from his blade. ¡°Shick!¡± The several snakes were instantly split in half. ¡°Impressive swordsmanship!¡± A chilly voice came from a distance. An Jing followed the voice and saw, under the moonlight, a graceful woman whose beauty was celestial, yet her eyes carried a hint of cold light. This person was none other than Miss Dai, whom An Jing had encountered at the night market. An Jing, seeing Dai Ling, muttered to himself, ¡°As expected, these two indeed came for nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Perhaps, Zhang Zhixing is currently within Vilu Hall.¡± ¡°You flatter me,¡± An Jing said indifferently. ¡°Sir, the Five Poison Sect will claim this strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy,¡± Dai Ling stated, her voice somewhat cold. Five Poison Sect!? An Jing then recalled, it seemed Zhou Xianming had once mentioned that the Five Poison Sect had a member named Zhang Zhixing, who possessed extremely great strength. Additionally, the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect was Dai Danshu, a highly skilled and ruthlessly cunning individual. Knowing that this Miss Dai hailed from the Five Poison Sect, it was clear she had close ties with Dai Danshu. The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion had ranked the entire Great Yan Martial World into seven gangs and five sects, also establishing the Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List. Although somewhat biased, they were generally somewhat credible, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have been so popular among the people of Jianghu. The most controversial were the rankings on the Dragon and Tiger List. Every year, masters rose to fame in Jianghu, and these individuals were not recorded on the list, appearing as if out of thin air, mingling among the old Jianghu folks who knew that some highly skilled masters were extremely strong but not listed in the Dragon and Tiger List¡ªthese were the hidden masters of the current age. Comparatively, there was much less controversy about the seven gangs and five sects, although Zhenyi Sect was an exception. In the eyes of the world, it should be termed as six sects instead of five because Zhenyi Sect¡¯s strength was so formidable that it was not on the same level as the other six sects. Besides Zhenyi Sect and the highly esteemed Xuanyi Guard, the six major sects were the top forces in the Great Yan Martial World, an indisputable fact. The strength of these six sects was in some respects even greater than the five gangs, as each sect had centuries of history, profound heritage, and reclusive experts that ordinary Jianghu people dared not provoke. ¡°So what if it¡¯s the Five Poison Sect?¡± An Jing¡¯s tone was dismissive. He had come to retrieve his own blue opportunity, so how could he possibly leave just because of a few words from Dai Ling. ¡°Then don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Dai Ling¡¯s gaze chilled as she thrust her palm forward. The two were several meters apart when Dai Ling¡¯s palm strike surged forward, filling the air with its whistling sound. An Jing stood his ground. He felt as if the palm strike was not just coming from directly in front of him but from all directions, as if he were caught in a vast spider web, becoming prey trapped in this web. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± He shifted his body, easily dodging the palm strike, then like an arrow, he shot toward Dai Ling, his longsword aimed straight at her throat. The moment An Jing sprung up, Dai Ling¡¯s hair stood on end, and her heart raced to her throat. Such a sensation only occurred when facing a swordsman with an extremely high realm in Sword Dao. She dared not be careless, and her inner strength started circulating at full force. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The temperature around them plummeted suddenly. Then, strands of ice appeared, shimmering under the moonlight, and solidified into chunks of ice, gradually forming an indestructible wall of ice. Ice Scorpion City! Dai Ling practiced the Scorpion Martial Arts and the Heavenly Scorpion Technique. With the help of her father, Dai Danshu, she had consumed a millennium-old piece of Frost Jade from a young age, making her inner strength contain Ice Breath. When executing the Heavenly Hand, her inner strength could condense into strands of Ice Breath, greatly enhancing its power. An Jing¡¯s expression remained indifferent, his longsword continuing to pierce forward. Just as the sword tip collided with the ice wall, at the very center where the sword tip was, dense cracks formed, spreading out like a spider web. ¡°Bang!¡± The seemingly indestructible ice wall failed to stop An Jing even for a moment. His sword tip continued to thrust forward, straight toward Dai Ling¡¯s throat. Dai Ling was greatly alarmed and repeatedly stepped to the side in a panic. As Dai Ling hastily moved aside, An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship had already reached an advanced level. Although he missed her throat, his sword tip flicked directly toward Dai Ling¡¯s heart. ¡°Shh!¡± The sword stroke was as nimble as an antelope hanging its horns, incredibly clever and precise as it struck right at Dai Ling¡¯s chest. Then, the sword tip seemed to encounter something extremely hard and could not advance any further. ¡°Hm! Inner Armor?¡± An Jing paused, thinking to himself. Typically, Inner Armor was worn inside one¡¯s clothing, mostly woven from precious metals and millennium-old vines, not only impervious to blades and spears but also able to withstand some of the impact of Qi Force, making it a life-saving treasure rarely seen in Jianghu. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t pierced through Dai Ling¡¯s body, the force still shook her, causing her to stagger back repeatedly. Once she steadied herself, her face turned deathly pale, then flushed red, her eyes fiercely fixed on the swordsman in the dark blue cloak before her. ¡°Such hardness? But I prefer them soft,¡± An Jing coldly sneered. ¡°Are you that peerless swordsman!?¡± Dai Ling, both angry and annoyed, suddenly recalled the recently famous Sword Dao master from Jiangnan Dao. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Initially, she had scoffed at this swordsman, wondering how an unknown could turn Jiangnan Dao upside down and even leave the Cao Gang and the Xuanyi Guard helpless against him. Now, witnessing the swordsman¡¯s strength herself, she realized that the rumors within Jianghu were not all exaggerated. With her Second Grade cultivation, if she hadn¡¯t had her Inner Armor, she might have been pierced through by the swordsman¡¯s blade just now. ¡­¡­ Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89 Wu Hook Double Moon Tian Cansou Chapter 89: Chapter 89 Wu Hook Double Moon Tian Cansou In Vilu Hall, there was chaos. Tian Cansou was pushed back by a golden light, speaking coldly, ¡°Fate progresses as it must; why must you be so obstinate, Great Master?¡± What is fate? Fate is like a torrential flood surging forth. ¡°In this world, only two things make one clench their fists in frustration¡ªone is the wrong dedication, the other is giving up too easily.¡± Speaking in a deep voice, Fa Zhi said, ¡°As the abbot of Fa Xi Temple, I naturally will not let the sealing be easily broken, subjecting all creatures to suffering, even if it means persisting in error, I must do it today.¡± ¡°Foolish!¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s face turned completely grim as the Inner Strength within him surged like a rushing river, flowing through his meridians; soon after, two stunningly glamorous flowers appeared behind him. The Human Flower and Earth Flower! Tian Cansou had pushed his Cultivation to the limit, intending to repel Fa Zhi in the shortest time possible, fully aided by the full moon tonight, to destroy the sealing beneath the Buddha statue and then seize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. With a shudder, Tian Cansou pressed towards Fa Zhi like Mount Tai bearing down. Fa Zhi clasped his hands in front of his chest, with a golden light surfacing on his body. ¡°Boom!¡± Upon clashing, it was like mountains colliding, shaking the entire Great Hall; then, the blue stone slabs under Fa Zhi¡¯s feet began to crack, eventually shattering entirely. Tian Cansou¡¯s father had been a swordsman, living a life of licking blood off knife-edges in Jianghu, accustomed to life and death, which made him volatile and extremely irritable. When Zhang Zhixing was born without hands, just feet, everyone who saw his congenital disability was terribly frightened. His father thought it was a family curse and despised him immensely, even wanting to strangle him to death. Fortunately, his mother intervened, allowing him to survive. Although he was not strangled by his father, Zhang Zhixing grew up isolated and humiliated. With his mother¡¯s comfort and help, Zhang Zhixing did not succumb to despair. He diligently practiced leg techniques day after day, regardless of harsh cold or scorching heat. With his extraordinary willpower, he successfully entered one of the top seven sects, Five Poison Sect, learned the Heavenly Centipede Technique, and mastered its leg techniques to perfection, establishing a formidable reputation in Jianghu, and was even known as the Double Moon Hooks. Hence, his two legs were referred to as paired moon hooks¡ªhis moves were unpredictable and varied, leaving his foes entirely unable to guard against him. Inside the hall, the figures of the two men flickered, exchanging dozens of moves in just moments. The Double Moon Hooks-like legs of Tian Cansou, whose attacks were swift and relentless like a tide, were all met by Fa Zhi. ¡°Indeed, a Pure Land Arhat!¡± Seeing this, Tian Cansou frowned heavily. The Pure Land, claiming to contain Three Thousand Buddha Countries, had numerous experts, but only eighteen could be called Arhats, meeting two major conditions: one must have profound Cultivation and the other, profound Buddhist Law. It seemed unlikely he would be able to repel him in a short time. ¡°This is bad!¡± Just then, sounds of fighting came from outside the hall. Tian Cansou felt a stir in his heart, fearing for Dai Ling¡¯s safety. After repelling Fa Zhi with one kick, he rushed towards the hall entrance. ¡­¡­. Outside Vilu Hall. Dai Ling stared tensely ahead, her heart pounding. At this moment, she was extremely nervous. An Jing, without responding to her, twirled his longsword, creating a sword blossom. The fierce, ice-cold blade shone with a chilling murderous aura. ¡°Shush!¡± The sword blade spat out a streak of cold light that abruptly lunged towards Dai Ling¡¯s graceful waist. Fast! Too fast! The streak of Sword Light was like a whistling gale. Dai Ling clearly saw it coming but was completely unable to react, standing there dumbstruck, her mind going blank. Just at this critical moment, a Qi Force surged from afar and blocked the Sword Light. Having missed his strike, An Jing¡¯s body hurriedly moved backward. ¡°Sir, your sword is very fast.¡± Tian Cansou landed in front of Dai Ling and spoke slowly. ¡°Old man, you¡¯re not slow yourself.¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was hoarse, evident from his internal strength vibrating within his abdominal cavity. A pity, had the old man not arrived, that miss would have perished just now. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Tian Cansou asked in a low voice. ¡°Fortunately, the Great Elder was in time,¡± Dai Ling finally recovered her senses, thinking of the surging Sword Qi, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a lingering fear. She knew that if Tian Cansou had not appeared just now to block that sword light, she might have been cut in half at the waist by it. This peerless swordsman, seemingly calm, harbored an extremely intense murderous aura. In the Great Yan Martial World, many swordsmen are like this¡ªthey strike to kill, and their swords become sharper only when drenched in blood, advancing their swordsmanship relentlessly. If put in plain words, killing becomes a habit, and the sword becomes sharp. Thus, when An Jing killed, his actions were never slow, nor did he hesitate. Where his sword pointed, there was either life or death. ¡°It seems you have come today for that strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy as well,¡± Tian Cansou said narrowing his eyes slightly. ¡°And you have not?¡± An Jing pondered silently. Tian Cansou¡¯s strength was unfathomable, and he might not be able to win, especially not knowing if others were watching. ¡°Then, I must kill you first before retrieving the spiritual energy.¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s sinister eyes flickered with a hint of killing intent. What is Jianghu? Jianghu is both the affairs of human emotion and the clashes of combat. If human emotions do not work, then combat prevails, and if combat is useless, then it resorts back to human affairs. ¡°Liu Qingshan couldn¡¯t kill me, do you think you can?¡± An Jing burst into laughter upon hearing Tian Cansou¡¯s words. ¡°What Liu Qingshan can¡¯t kill, I, Zhang Zhixing, can.¡± Tian Cansou bellowed and swept his leg across, the shadow flickering at a bizarre angle. An Jing shifted his body to the side to dodge the leg, only to realize that the kick was a probing move; Tian Cansou pressed down with another strike as if carrying thousands of pounds of force, the sound of tearing air buzzing loudly. ¡°Bang!¡± An Jing could only cross his arms to block the leg. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± Immediately, centered around the two of them, the Qi Force exploded like bursts, emitting a series of roars. And An Jing, right at the center, felt his organs tremble, a shock going through his heart¡ªTian Cansou¡¯s strength was on par with Liu Qingshan, both being in the Earth Flower Realm. Sword light danced, unmatched leg shadows. The two exchanged dozens of moves continuously; Tian Cansou¡¯s offensive was like tide, relentless, leaving no breathing space for An Jing. ¡°Senior Brother, what should we do now?¡± Fa Wu asked. ¡°Let¡¯s just watch for now,¡± Fa Zhi fell silent for a long while, then looked towards the flying eaves atop the Grand Hall. At this moment, several figures had already gathered on the flying eaves of the Grand Hall, their faces obscured by the moonlight. ¡°Unexpectedly, this swordsman has appeared again,¡± Liu Qingshan looked at the two fiercely fighting below and chuckled lightly. Beneath the seal lies nature¡¯s spiritual energy, not a widely known secret, only a few people and powers are aware, and this swordsman¡¯s knowledge of it shows he¡¯s not merely a lone wanderer. Guo Yuchun¡¯s murderous intent was almost impossible to hide, ¡°When these two have fought enough, it won¡¯t be too late for us to make a move.¡± ¡°This swordsman should not be easily killed; we need to properly entertain him,¡± Guo Yuchun, known as a Poison Master, had ruthless methods. Even the Cao Gang masters greatly feared him. This was a rare occasion where he encountered a setback; if he caught this swordsman, how could he easily let go? Liu Qingshan did not speak, seemingly watching the battle between the two, but also observing the seal on Vilu Hall. Guo Yuchun then glanced at Dai Ling, who was watching the fight nearby, and sneered, ¡°When the time comes, capturing this Dai Ling and making the rice into a done dish will give the Five Poison Young Master a grandchild next year, won¡¯t it?¡± Dai Danshu, also a prominent figure in Jianghu, had been a rare young talent of the Great Yan Martial World in his youth. Rumor had it that even the Human Emperor had tried to recruit him, even offering the position of Deputy Governor of the Xuanyi Guard, but he rejected it. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Moreover, Dai Ling was extremely beautiful and, combined with his cold demeanor, ignited a desire to conquer in many. Tian Liu remained silent all along, much like a shadow standing beside Liu Qingshan. ¡°What do you think about these two¡­ cough cough¡­ who could win?¡± Liu Qingshan felt a pain in his chest, constantly coughing. ¡°Both will be injured,¡± Guo Yuchun replied after a long silence. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Dusk Drums Reverberate, Suppressing the Evil Shadows Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Dusk Drums Reverberate, Suppressing the Evil Shadows Fa Xi Temple, a faint green light weak. The seemingly calm temple buildings were, in fact, teeming with undercurrents, and killing intent lurked everywhere. Atop the pagoda to the southwest of the Vilu Hall, the night wind was slightly cold, and two people stood suspended in the air. ¡°There really are people!¡± Li Yue looked at the distant sword light that emerged and spoke faintly. ¡°The sword light¡¯s momentum is like an abyss, the blade¡¯s light carries cold, it must be the work of a great swordsman, possibly the notorious Ghost Swordsman recently making waves in Jiangnan Dao.¡± The old woman slowly said. The Ghost Swordsman was what the people of Jianghu called that unrivaled swordsman. Moving without a shadow, killing without form, his whereabouts and words unknown, he was like a ghost. ¡°And the person battling him has even greater Inner Strength, truly frightening.¡± In ordinary times in Jiangnan Dao, First Grade Experts were rare sights, most of them lay dormant, secretly cultivating, but in these past months, Jiangnan Dao was experiencing rapid changes, tumultuous waves, and several First Grade Experts had emerged. Xue Chen, Guo Yuchun, the extremely mysterious unparalleled swordsman, Sect Master Li Fuzhou of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, Liu Qingshan, Tian Liu, and several other First Grade Experts gathered, and now there was another expert whose Cultivation was even above that of the unparalleled swordsman, how could one not be moved? ¡°Earth Flower¡­ Five Poison Sect.¡± The old woman, sensing the fluctuations of Qi Force, said, ¡°This person should be Zhang Zhixing from the Five Poison Sect, according to the information from within the tower, he indeed descended the mountain.¡± ¡°Let them fight, we will head straight to the Vilu Hall.¡± A cold light flashed in Li Yue¡¯s eyes. In her view, with many experts engaged in fierce battle, the Vilu Hall was unguarded, presenting the best opportunity to seize that strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. The old woman nodded slightly, ¡°Be careful of that monk Fa Zhi, he is at the peak of the Earth Flower Realm, and the Buddha Arhat Body from the Western Regions has been cultivated to the Eighth Layer, with protective Buddha light that is impregnable, not to be underestimated.¡± ¡­¡­ In front of the Vilu Hall. An Jing was exchanging moves with Tian Cansou, their figures intertwining, dizzyingly fast. Dai Ling¡¯s eyebrows, however, were deeply furrowed. Although Tian Cansou held the advantage, the swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship was sharp, and he was not at a complete disadvantage. To thoroughly defeat him, Tian Cansou would surely have to expend a great deal of Inner Strength. Not to mention whether other experts would take action, dealing with the monk Fa Zhi would be extremely difficult. ¡°This swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship is formidable, and his movement technique is also exceedingly troublesome; I need to finish the battle quickly.¡± Tian Cansou thought to himself, no longer holding back. With a stamp of his foot, another leg chopped down fiercely as if countless leg shadows were attacking. Thousand Legs Ascending to Heaven! An Jing narrowed his eyes, also aware of the sophistication of Tian Cansou¡¯s move, not daring to be distracted, his longsword traced an arc. Countless sword shadows flew about, like a tempestuous downpour. Nine-character Sword Technique! Bing Character Secret! In midair, nothing else could be seen except for the sky filled with swords and leg shadows. It was impossible to distinguish the real from the fake within these shadows. If either of the two were struck by one hit, they would sustain serious injury, possibly even be slain by the opponent. An Jing¡¯s heart also rose to his throat, then suddenly his eyes brightened, and he thrust his longsword towards one of the leg shadows. ¡°Nicely done!¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp glint, not retreating but advancing instead, and his leg swept fiercely toward the opponent. ¡°Boom!¡± Their Qi Forces collided, immediately erupting with a sound like a mountain roar and a tsunami, and the violent wave of Qi was relentless like an ongoing tide. An Jing felt numbness in his arm and nearly dropped his longsword. ¡°Hiss!¡± As he raised his arm again, an inconspicuous sword light howled towards its target. Hidden Sword Skill! The Unity Sword Technique had only three moves, but each of these moves was the quintessence of the sword technique, among which the Sword Control Technique was the most exquisite, almost the art at the peak of swordsmanship skills. In contrast, the Sword Drawing Skill required a swordsman¡¯s essence, Qi, and spirit to converge, necessitating a long time to nurture and harmonize. The Hidden Sword Skill, however, was the ace in the hole hidden within the swordsmanship. Just three moves encapsulated nearly ninety percent of the essence of swordsmanship. Tian Cansou felt a chill in his heart and his scalp tingled, a sense of extreme danger welling up within him as he hastily retreated backwards. ¡°Puchi!¡± In the darkness of the night, that faint glint of cold light arrived with the wind, directly slashing across Tian Cansou¡¯s chest, with blood instantly soaking through his clothes. Tian Cansou¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, with a layer of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. If he hadn¡¯t instinctively retreated, he might have had his heart pierced by that sword light by now. All was quiet between heaven and earth, except for the sound of their breathing. ¡°What an impressive swordsman! What impressive swordsmanship!¡± Fa Zhi couldn¡¯t help but take another look at An Jing. ¡°Huff¡­!¡± An Jing gasped for air, his right arm holding the sword trembling slightly. Truly, a master of the Earth Flower Realm had been able to dodge his Hidden Sword Skill. It seems his sword wasn¡¯t fast enough; had it been, Tian Cansou might have already become a ghost beneath his blade. ¡°Great Elder, there are other experts around, my Three-tailed Scorpion has been killed¡­¡± Just then, the voice of Dai Ling reached the ears of Zhang Zhixing. Zhang Zhixing¡¯s brows tensed. At that moment, the entire Vilu Hall shook violently, as if a severe earthquake had occurred. An Jing also felt his body shaking. After stabilizing himself, he immediately turned his eyes towards Vilu Hall. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± ¡°Something terrible has happened; it seems there¡¯s been a disturbance at Vilu Hall.¡± ¡­¡­.. Meanwhile, the monks in the dormitory began to walk out. A surge of black Qi mechanism soared up to the sky, as if trying to break free from Vilu Hall, the prison that contained it. ¡°Such dense, sinister evil energy!?¡± An Jing¡¯s brow abruptly furrowed. The black and evil energy was extremely dense. He watched as the light golden glow on the broken Buddha statues inside Vilu Hall began to fade bit by bit, as if devoured by the evil energy. For the average person, this evil energy was a disaster. Even as an expert from a prominent family, Cao Ling¡¯er was powerless against the invasion of this evil energy, and a regular person could fall seriously ill with just a brief contact. ¡°Could it be that beneath the seal lies a mass of evil energy?¡± An Jing¡¯s heart shook as he muttered to himself, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then this seal indeed cannot be broken¡­¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Just as the evil energy was about to break through its barriers, a tremendous drumming sound erupted. The sound of the drum seemed to transform into tangible soundwaves, spreading outwards in all directions. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Fa Zhi, holding a drum mallet in his hands, faced a massive drum. As he brought the mallet down forcefully, the evil energy trembled with each strike, retracting slightly downwards. However, every time the evil energy was pushed down, it immediately surged back up with even greater ferocity, becoming more fierce, more dreadful, and more unstoppable. An Jing knew Fa Zhi was using the evening drum to combat the surging evil energy. Although the evening drum was a Buddhist treasure, its effect against the evil energy did not seem to be significant. ¡°The seal is about to break!¡± Zhang Zhixing said coldly, ¡°The monk is merely engaging in a futile exercise.¡± Dai Ling didn¡¯t speak; instead, she watched as the black Qi mechanism continued to roil upwards. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Bodhisattva Bows His Head to Help Sentient Beings Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Bodhisattva Bows His Head to Help Sentient Beings Fa Wu pressed his palms together and whispered lowly, ¡°Senior brother¡­¡± As Fa Zhi¡¯s Inner Strength surged into his arms like a tide, his drum mallet heavily struck the drumskin. Seeing the increasingly forceful evil spirit, he infused more and more Inner Strength. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± The frequency of Fa Zhi beating the evening drum gradually increased. As the drum mallet fell like raindrops, a deafening sound arose, followed by faint golden ripples trembling outward, seemingly pressing down the forcefully surging evil spirits. Under the impact of the faint golden ripples, the evil spirits appeared somewhat deflated, seemingly beginning to retreat downward. An Jing and Tian Cansou also stopped fighting, standing at a distance watching this scene. Tian Cansou was waiting for the evil spirits to surge out, the sealing forbiddance to break, and then to take the Spiritual Energy from beneath the ground. However, his eyes were constantly sweeping towards An Jing beside him, seemingly ready to strike at any moment. Meanwhile, An Jing stared at the scene in front of him, seemingly deep in thought. ¡°Hm?!¡± An Jing suddenly raised his eyebrows, looking towards the distant flying eaves of the Grand Hall. ¡°Since you¡¯ve come, don¡¯t skulk around revealing only your tail and not your head.¡± He and Tian Cansou were fiercely battling, fully focused, and along with others deliberately concealing themselves, he indeed hadn¡¯t noticed the figure in the distance. ¡°The one skulking around should be your Excellency, I suppose?¡± Liu Qingshan chuckled lightly, and his figure slowly descended from the distant flying eaves. Tian Liu, like a shadow, inseparably followed behind him, with Guo Yuchun being the last to descend. Guo Yuchun¡¯s eyes fixated dead on An Jing, brimming with killing intent. The Cao Gang disciples who died by An Jing¡¯s hand were not few, and both Guo Yuchun and Liu Qingshan had been injured by An Jing¡ªit could be said that when enemies meet, their eyes burn red. ¡°So it¡¯s Brother Liu,¡± Tian Cansou said with a feigned smile. ¡°We don¡¯t have much friendship to speak of.¡± Liu Qingshan waved his hand, then coughed, ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ This time you silently came to Jiangnan Dao, just for the Spiritual Energy beneath the seal, and I likewise. Since that is so, there¡¯s no need to pretend to be friends.¡± Tian Cansou still wanted to save face, but Liu Qingshan, disregarding that, directly tore it apart. ¡°As you wish.¡± Tian Cansou coldly said, his heart secretly starting to consider whether to pull the Swordsman together to face off against Liu Qingshan and other high-ranking Cao Gang experts. After all, the Cao Gang brought many superior fighters this time, amounting to three with First Grade Cultivation. Dai Ling frowned tightly, realizing that his chance to acquire that Spiritual Energy today was getting slimmer. With the three from Cao Gang and that Swordsman, who were no easy opponents, there would inevitably be a contest. It was a pity that his own Cultivation was only Second Grade. Thinking of this, Dai Ling couldn¡¯t help but remember how that Swordsman had stabbed his chest earlier. He immediately felt both shame and anger, noting this grudge to be avenged later. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± The drum sound roared on, still suppressing the overflowing evil spirits. Fa Zhi, drenched in sweat, swung the drum mallet with all his might each time. Such enormous exhaustion, even for a high-ranking expert of the Earth Flower Realm, was difficult to sustain. Before long, Fa Zhi¡¯s kasaya was also thoroughly soaked, and his movements slowed down a bit. Without the drum¡¯s vibrations, the evil spirits grew even more unrestrained, faintly showing signs of a strong comeback. Seeing this, Fa Zhi lifted his spirits, his parched hands tightly gripping the drum mallet as he fiercely struck down. ¡°Boom!¡± That thunderous sound once again pushed back the evil spirits, but Fa Zhi¡¯s face flushed red, and his movements paused. ¡°Pfft!¡± Fa Zhi suddenly sprayed out a stream of blood, his body swaying, nearly collapsing to the ground. ¡°Abbot!¡± The monks of Fa Xi Temple were all shocked. ¡°Senior brother, are you alright?¡± Fa Wu supported Fa Zhi, hurriedly asking, ¡°This evening drum consumes too much Inner Strength, senior brother, you¡­.¡± This evening drum, a relic of the thousand-year-old Fa Xi Temple, was no ordinary drum. Although it could suppress the evil spirits, beating this drum consumed a tremendous amount of Inner Strength. If one forcibly continued without sufficient power, it could damage the foundation. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­..¡± Fa Zhi pushed away Fa Wu and then picked up the drum mallet. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Fa Zhi struck the evening drum again, and the robust sound vibrated forth. ¡°Pfft!¡± But not even two strikes later, he sprayed another mouthful of fresh blood, which directly splashed onto the drumskin. ¡°Senior brother!¡± Fa Wu couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Let me do it.¡± ¡°No need¡­..¡± Fa Zhi paused only momentarily; his actions continued uninterrupted. Each moment the drum mallet dropped, golden ripples trembled outwards, suppressing the evil spirits down. Fa Wu, seeing that bright red startling blood, felt his own breath catch. In front of Vilu Hall, everyone watched as Fa Zhi continuously struck the evening drum. They all waited, waiting for Monk Fa Zhi to fall, for the evil spirits to surge forth completely. Initially, the evil spirits could still be suppressed, but soon the overflowing evil spirits grew more intense, the black streams evolving from mere trickles into a vast swamp, atmosphere spreading, as if to even overshadow the Full Moon. Originally, the golden ripples could subdue the evil spirits, then they reached a standstill, equally sharing the territory, each occupying half the battlefield, but now it was the evil spirits gaining the upper hand. An Jing raised his head to look at the evil spirits, his eyebrows twisted into a character for ¡®river¡¯. ¡°Pfft!¡± Fa Zhi¡¯s hand on the drum mallet paused again, another stream of blood spraying forth. His originally parched face grew even more aged, his eyes seemingly losing their light. Blood drenched the drum mallet, slippery yet grasped, loudly calling to suppress the evil! ¡°Senior brother¡­..¡±Fa Wu gazed at the gradually bending figure ahead. ¡°The Buddha said, ¡®Compassion is to provide joy. Mercy is to remove suffering.¡¯ To eradicate the pain of sentient beings and provide them with happiness is compassion,¡± It seemed as if Fa Zhi was speaking to Fa Wu, to everyone present, and to himself. ¡°Dong¡­.¡± As he spoke, he struck the drum skin with the drum mallet in his hand, but with little force, the sound significantly quieter. Fa Wu paused, then took a seat cross-legged. ¡°Namo Hearta Dharaniya Youraya, Namo Arya Avalokiteshvara,¡± He uttered these snippets of Buddhist scripture under his breath. ¡°Amitabha Buddha!¡± Following this, other monks from Fa Xi Temple in front of Vilu Hall also sat down cross-legged, chanting Buddhist scriptures following Fa Wu. The golden light was dim, like flowing waves. Apart from the sound of the drum, only the chant¡¯s echo pervaded the ears of all present. An Jing saw it clearly; he knew Fa Zhi wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Fa Zhi¡¯s eyes had lost their luster, and the drum mallet in his hand became increasingly feeble. ¡°Dong¡­.¡± Fa Zhi could not lift the drum mallet any longer; blood dripped from the corner of his mouth to the ground. The malevolent energy surged powerfully, transforming into a vast expanse of lake and marsh. ¡°The seal is about to break.¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s gaze sharpened, a thought crossing his mind. Liu Qingshan looked at the figure of Fa Zhi, sighing deeply, ¡°Master Fa Zhi, do you realize this is merely futile attachment?¡± The living are but passersby; the dead are the returning. ¡°Boom!¡± Three Temple Mountain seemed to tremble as the towering malevolent energy could no longer be contained, rushing forth tumultuously as though it would devour the entire mountain. This astonishing surge of Qi Mechanism made An Jing recall the sinister energy formed by countless buried soldier spirits below Lengping, which still hadn¡¯t dissipated after a long time. Where sinister energy ascends, there must be bloodshed. The malevolent energy was no different. It might not lead to complete devastation, but a calamity was certain within tens of miles around Three Temple Mountain. Only the pieces of Buddhist statues that still retained traces of spirituality in front of Vilu Hall disintegrated into gravel in an instant, and soon after, the golden light emanating from the drum was devoured as well. The malevolent energy, after swallowing the golden light, swept toward Fa Zhi and the evening drum like a roaring flood. Fa Zhi lifted his head, watching the malevolent energy fill the sky, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful, ¡°Conditioned arising ceases, conditions once arisen are empty, loss and gain follow conditions, the mind neither increases nor decreases¡­.¡± He stood beneath the evening drum, left his final verse, and his body gradually dissolved into the malevolent energy like a small boat in a storm. ¡°Brother!¡± Fa Wu opened his eyes in dismay and cried out. Fa Zhi was completely engulfed by the malevolent energy, merging into the darkness. ¡°Brother, what does nirvana mean?¡± ¡°Nirvana is the return path.¡± ¡°The return path?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the beginning of life.¡± ¡­.. Fa Wu¡¯s heart trembled; Fa Zhi¡¯s words still echoing in his mind. All the monks from Fa Xi Temple present bowed their heads, their expressions full of grief. ¡°That monk was too attached,¡± sighed Tian Cansou. ¡°Knowing the outcome yet still persisting, how many in this world could do so?¡± Dai Ling also sighed, ¡°This Fa Zhi truly was a great monk among the Eighteen Arhats.¡± Master Fa Zhi of Fa Xi Temple, one of the Eighteen Arhats proficient in the Earth Flower skills, revered by countless admirers, died just like that. The people present all felt somewhat wistful. ¡°Wait!¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing also felt a stir in his heart as he watched the black Qi Mechanism. The next moment, bright golden light burst forth within the black Qi Mechanism, stark as the blinding sun in the night, causing everyone to instinctively channel their Inner Strength to shield themselves. ¡°Is this¡­..¡± Seeing this, surprise flashed in Fa Wu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Could it be that my brother not only did not die but also gained sudden enlightenment?¡± In the Buddhist Law of the Zen Sect, practicing Martial Arts and Buddhist Law are interconnected, and studying corresponding Martial Arts naturally requires a profound understanding of Buddhist Law. Arhat is a spiritual level in the Western Pure Land, and only those who have advanced sufficiently in Buddhist Law and strength can be called Arhats. Above the Arhat level are the Vajra and Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva bows gently, showing compassion towards all beings. The Vajra, with fierce eyes, subdues demons. To reach a higher spiritual level requires even more profound Buddhist Law. Even amongst the many experts and great monks of the Pure Land, only every few decades does a Bodhisattva or a Vajra appear. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Feeling the emerging golden light, the next moment, the malevolent energy rapidly receded into the ground. As the tide of malevolent energy withdrew, clarity returned to heaven and earth, leaving only a moment¡¯s golden relic shining brightly in mid-air. Today, The Bodhisattva bows gently, widely delivering all sentient beings! ¡­.. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Love Letters Sent to the Mountain Ghost Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Love Letters Sent to the Mountain Ghost All those present raised their heads to look at the Relic. In Buddhism, only a Bodhisattva could condense a Relic, and the high monks who managed to condense Relics, as long as they diligently cultivated Buddhist Martial Arts, their Cultivation mostly reached the Grandmaster Realm. That is to say, to suppress this malevolent energy, a future Buddhist Grandmaster had completely perished from the world. A Grandmaster, this is the true pinnacle of Jianghu. Compared to Second Grade experts who were active, First Grade experts rarely showed themselves in Jianghu, only appearing during major events or contesting for legacy treasures; otherwise, it was quite rare to see a First Grade Cultivation expert. And Grandmasters were even more elusive like Divine Dragons, with legend of their prowess scattered throughout Jianghu, yet actual sightings of them were exceedingly rare. Grandmasters, for the most part, devoted themselves to profound cultivation, seeking to take one more step to reach the undaunted realm of a Great Grandmaster. The realm of Great Grandmaster extended one¡¯s Life Span by three hundred years, an undeniably fatal temptation for those in the Grandmaster Realm, which was why it was almost impossible to see Grandmasters. ¡°Senior brother¡­.¡± Fa Wu reached out to receive the Relic, his voice trembling. The one who was both a teacher and a father, his senior brother Fa Zhi, had entered Nirvana, leaving behind this as his final existence in the world. ¡°A single thought transcends life, saving others and oneself.¡± As if enlightened, Fa Wu looked at the Relic in his hand and said, ¡°Senior brother, your junior has understood.¡± ¡°Fa Zhi could also be considered a true high monk.¡± An Jing thought to himself as he looked at the luminescent Relic. Such an immense surge of malevolent energy, if not speaking of Yu State City, then the villages around Three Temple Mountain would certainly be affected, and whether there would be further harm was still unknown. ¡°Buddhism lost a Bodhisattva.¡± Liu Qingshan spoke somberly as he gazed at Vilu Hall. ¡°A Bodhisattva¡­.¡± Guo Yuchun seemed slightly moved, for Buddhism¡¯s Zen Sect advocated the dual cultivation of Buddhism and Martial Arts, with Buddhist Law being more difficult than Martial Arts. During the turmoil of the Nine Kingdoms, the Jianghu of that time was extremely hostile towards Buddhism, even more so than towards the Demon Sect nowadays. Back then, in Yue Country, there were still supporters of Buddhism, and most Buddhist temples were left standing. It wasn¡¯t until the iron cavalry of Yan Country crossed into the territory of Yue Country and broke into its capital, with the Buddhist ancient temple Lianhua Temple located beside the capital of Yue Country. The head of Lianhua Temple was a Zen Sect master who spent his life exploring Buddhist Law, seeking to enlighten the masses, with only a superficial understanding of Martial Arts, and so it was for the other monks in the temple. When the iron cavalry of Yan Country entered, all monks of Lianhua Temple still recited sutras inside the temple and did not go out. Unknown to all, the Human Emperor of Yue Country had hidden his only daughter in the temple, and she was the sole surviving royal bloodline of Yue Country. The head of Lianhua Temple remained silent, merely striking the wooden fish. After the iron cavalry of Yan Country turned the capital city upside down without finding the girl, they began to search the temples. The events of that year were etched into the history books of Great Yan. Statues of Bodhisattvas in Lianhua Temple were destroyed and toppled; the head of the temple and all monks silently shed tears. It wasn¡¯t until a member of Yan¡¯s iron cavalry struck a Novice Monk with his sword. The head of Lianhua Temple hurled himself forward, his Kasaya drenched in blood. That day, all monks of the temple violated their oath against killing, reducing the three thousand iron cavalry of Great Yan to dust. This was Vajra¡¯s Furious Eyes! Dai Ling¡¯s cold eyes gazed at the faint golden light, remaining silent. ¡°Ling¡¯er, you should withdraw first, there will surely be a ferocious battle soon,¡± Tian Cansou transmitted his voice. The seal had already been broken, and it seemed the malevolent energy was also suppressed by the body of Fa Zhi, now was the time to collect that trace of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. ¡°Great Elder¡­.¡± Dai Ling stopped short, wanting to say more. ¡°This place is filled with top-notch experts, you are not their match,¡± Tian Cansou breathed deeply and said. ¡°I understand,¡± Dai Ling nodded and retreated several steps toward the back. In the vast expanse of Jianghu, with her cultivation, she was a well-known figure. But now, in front of Vilu Hall, she was not an opponent that anyone here would need more than one move to defeat¡ªexcept, of course, for that Guo Yuchun. The monks present continued to sit cross-legged on the ground, reciting the Buddhist scriptures, seemingly conducting rites for the late Fa Zhi. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± Just then, two dark shadows leapt from afar, rushing towards Vilu Hall. These two people were none other than Li Yue and that old crone. ¡°Huh!? There are intruders!¡± All the people present frowned simultaneously. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Liu Qingshan was the first to make a move, concentrating his inner strength into his palm, and struck out towards the front. ¡°Boom!¡± A gigantic handprint pushed forth horizontally, and the air emitted a thunderous roar. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± The old crone paused in her steps, twisted her wrist, and from her fingertips emerged several Flying Needles. The force of the needles was soft and persistent, specifically designed to counteract the fierce and overbearing handprint. The Flying Needles pierced through, and Liu Qingshan¡¯s handprint dissipated into nothing in an instant. The needles themselves also stuck into the stone slabs, faintly glimmering in the moonlight. Li Yue and the old crone then stood atop Vilu Hall, looking down at the crowd below. ¡°When the One-Leaf Flying Needle passes, peace remains in the world.¡± Tian Cansou looked up at the old crone with knitted brows, ¡°Pavilion Master of the Moon Pavilion from Wind and Rain Tower?¡± Of the five factions, Wind and Rain Tower was undoubtedly the most mysterious. To this day, no one knew exactly where the main base of Wind and Rain Tower was, only that they communicated with their assassins through extremely secretive means. These assassins were either recruits along the way or trained by Wind and Rain Tower itself. Wind and Rain Tower had the Sun and Moon Pavilion, all under their command were assassins of the highest order. Pavilion Master Ling Yuhua of the Moon Pavilion was known in Jianghu as ¡®Meng Po of The Mortal World¡¯. Rumor had it that she was incredibly beautiful when she was young, with countless young and promising men in Jianghu falling at her feet. However, she was treacherously scheming, and it was unknown in Jianghu why she remained unmarried all her life with such beauty. Later, she joined the infamous Wind and Rain Tower, becoming a top assassin. Her Flying Needles took a life with each strike, terrifying to the point of chilling one¡¯s heart, and among First Grade Experts who fell to her assassination attempts, she succeeded more often than not. An Jing had never seen Ling Yuhua before, but he had heard of her notorious name. The reputation of ¡®Meng Po of The Mortal World¡¯ was no trivial matter¡ªher strength was definitely not inferior to Tian Cansou¡¯s. What surprised him, though, was the woman with a black veil next to Ling Yihua; she looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to come and join the excitement,¡± said Liu Qingshan impassively. The appearance of Wind and Rain Tower was somewhat unexpected to him. Ling Yuhua stood on the eaves, with the moon haloing behind her, lending her an aura of vague mystique, ¡°Brother Liu, you want this nature¡¯s spiritual energy, but coincidentally, so do I.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s see if you have the ability,¡± Liu Qingshan said indifferently. ¡°I have many abilities, especially when it comes to killing¡ªas for that, I am unmatched under heaven,¡± replied Ling Yuhua. If someone else had said these words, they would certainly be scoffed at, but the woman before them was the Pavilion Master of the Moon Pavilion of Wind and Rain Tower¡ªwho in the world would dare to laugh at her words? Tian Cansou¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knit. More and more high-level experts were showing up, which meant that the struggle for the strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy was becoming increasingly fierce. Just how many more experts would come? ¡°In the past, love letters were sent to mountain ghosts; the heart¡¯s affairs, to the western winds.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Just at that moment, a languid voice came from the front of Vilu Hall. ¡°Huh!?¡± Upon hearing this voice, An Jing felt as if he was in a dream¡ªit was too familiar! So familiar that it was a bit unbelievable. ¡°What a shame the mountain ghost couldn¡¯t read, and the western winds blow eastward.¡± One saw an old scholar, smiling and amiable, ascending the steps, and said, ¡°Yuhua, it has been a while.¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Masters Gather, Winds and Clouds Arise Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Masters Gather, Winds and Clouds Arise An Jing was stunned when he saw the person, as if struck by thunder on a sunny day. The middle-aged Confucian scholar in front of him was none other than the Third Master, Li Fuzhou. Li Fuzhou!? How could he be here!? An Jing thought he must have seen wrong and couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, but indeed it was Li Fuzhou¡¯s¡­ord face. The one who was always serious and humorless, rigid and old-fashioned. The one who would be a thorn in his side for a lifetime, Li Fuzhou. What¡¯s going on!? An Jing felt as though he was dreaming. Standing behind Li Fuzhou was a man of about forty, with sharp eyes and a huge blade without an edge slung over his shoulder, seemingly as heavy as a thousand catties. With a glance, An Jing could sense that the swordsman¡¯s strength was extremely high, definitely not below his own. ¡°Li Fuzhou! You old undead.¡± The moment Ling Yuhua saw Li Fuzhou, a profound killing intent surfaced in his eyes. Those present felt a chill in their spirits when they saw Li Fuzhou appear. ¡°Good timing.¡± Tian Cansou saw this, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. The more masters gathered at this moment, the easier it would be to fish in troubled waters. Dai Ling, who was standing at a distance, also looked over and couldn¡¯t help but take a second glance. In the Great Yan Martial World, there were many legendary stories about the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou, a man who was on the cusp of breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm. Li Fuzhou!? Li Fuzhou!? An Jing mulled over the name, and his heart began to shake wildly! Could it be the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou!? F*ck! With this realization, An Jing¡¯s heart was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of shock. Could it be that Li Fuzhou¡¯s Zhou was this Zhou, An Jing had naturally heard of the Sect Master of the Human Sect, but he had never linked the Third Master with this before. All along, An Jing had thought that the two were just namesakes. After all, one was the Sect Master of one of the Three Sects of the Demon Sect, rumored to kill without blinking and possessing unfathomably high strength, having reached the Grandmaster Realm, while the Third Master at home was just a stubborn, old-fashioned scholar who liked to buy abalone when he had nothing else to do. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed impossible for them to be the same person. If it hadn¡¯t been seen with his own eyes, An Jing would have never believed the Third Master at home was actually the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou. So that¡¯s why this old guy¡¯s waist is so sturdy!? All of a sudden, An Jing understood why the old guy was the Sect Master of the Demon Sect; perhaps he had cultivated some Demon Sect secret technique, a martial art of Yin Yang replenishment¡­ This could be valuable. ¡°This Li Fuzhou, the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, has been hiding in my home. Could there be some unspeakable secret?¡± An Jing¡¯s brows furrowed tightly as he suddenly came to alert. He never dreamed that his family had been harboring a demon sect giant; it was utterly terrifying. If Li Fuzhou was Tan Yun¡¯s Third Master, could it be that Tan Yun had some issue as well!? But then thinking of Tan Yun, An Jing felt that it was unlikely. However, it was definite that Li Fuzhou was a member of the Demon Sect, and both he and Zhao Qingmei had been kept in the dark, what if one day his homicidal urge surged, and he decided to silence them¡­ wouldn¡¯t Zhao Qingmei be in danger? Or if he were to be exposed, wouldn¡¯t his family become capital offenders of the court for colluding with the Demon Sect? No wonder he had felt someone following him lately. Should he¡­ just eliminate this hidden danger right here, today? In an instant, tumultuous changes were going on in An Jing¡¯s heart, his complexion also became somewhat unsettled, and his hand unconsciously gripped his sword tighter. ¡°Yuhua, after so many years, it seems that you still can¡¯t stop thinking about me.¡± Li Fuzhou took two steps forward, saying in all seriousness, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®where there¡¯s a persistent thought, there¡¯s a response.¡¯ Now, haven¡¯t you seen me?¡± At that moment, he completely failed to notice the swordsman at his side, whose inner world was a riot of colors. Ling Yuhua took a deep breath and adjusted his breathing, ¡°Li Fuzhou, I have to say, you really have some nerve to come to Great Yan with your injuries not yet healed.¡± Among the many experts of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou was known to be the most flamboyant, and also the most arrogant, which is why the Xuanyi Guard was so keen on dealing with him swiftly¡ªin fact, that¡¯s why the four Great Heavenly Gang members had joined forces to besiege him, followed by Xi Yuanjun making a move to kill him. His appearance in Great Yan meant that the Xuanyi Guard would by no means let it go easily. Li Fuzhou said with a smile, ¡°Yuhua, are you worried about this old man?¡± Ling Yuhua didn¡¯t respond to Li Fuzhou¡¯s words. He had been slick with words when he was young, able to speak eloquently and effortlessly, and now that he was old, he was still not respectable or serious¡ªindeed confirming the old saying that while the world may change, one¡¯s nature does not. ¡°Old man, you¡¯re having quite the fun, aren¡¯t you?¡± Standing aside, An Jing snickered coldly and remained silent. Li Fuzhou¡¯s smile faded, ¡°Since you¡¯re not in the mood for reminiscing, I won¡¯t be polite to you all.¡± After speaking, Li Fuzhou¡¯s Qi mechanism within his body shook violently. ¡°Boom!¡± His robe flapped wildly with the gusting wind, and a stream of black and white energies roared out from behind him like a raging river. With a slap of his palm forward, the black and white energies surged overwhelmingly toward their target. A colossal handprint descended from the sky, like a mountain crashing down onto Vilu Hall, making even the bystanders feel a suffocating pressure. ¡°Quick, get out of here!¡± Seeing this, Ling Yuhua felt a chill in his heart and shouted in a low voice. Subsequently, Ling Yuhua and Li Yue both leaped up high, swiftly avoiding the path of the handprint. ¡°Thump!¡± The handprint struck Vilu Hall viciously, and the great hall disintegrated in an instant. Countless wooden pillars turned to dust, kicking up thick clouds of dust. ¡°Such terrifying strength!¡± An Jing watched as Li Fuzhou, with a mere gesture, reduced Vilu Hall to ruins, his heart filled with shock. This old guy is too good at playing it cool¡­ But why did he still have to extort my private savings? The Li Fuzhou seen now was completely different from the usual stern, rigid old man¡ªit was a striking contrast that had the strongest impact on An Jing¡¯s senses. His eyes were bright and piercing. With one hand behind his back, he looked down at all the masters present with a domineering gaze and casually surveyed them. How could this be someone suffering from severe injuries? Within the collapsed ruins, a black cavern emerged before everyone¡¯s eyes¡ªit was precisely the site where the Vilu Hall statue had been constructed, the very Sealing Land itself. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A beam of light, as eerie as the netherworld and bright blue-green, shot out from the cave, illuminating the boundless night. ¡°Hint three: A blue-green opportunity (nature¡¯s spiritual energy) is near the host.¡± ¡°Hint four: A blue-green opportunity (nature¡¯s spiritual energy) is near the host.¡± ¡°Hint five: A blue opportunity (Remnant Evil Suppression Device) is near the host.¡± ¡°Hint six: A black opportunity is near the host.¡± ¡°Hint seven: A black opportunity is near the host.¡± ¡­.. The Earth Book within An Jing¡¯s mind began flashing incessantly, but at this moment there was no time for him to focus on the book. ¡°Nature¡¯s spiritual energy!?¡± Seeing that bright blue-green light, everyone present revealed a gleam of eagerness in their eyes. ¡°This nature¡¯s spiritual energy, I, Li Fuzhou, claim it for myself.¡± After speaking, Li Fuzhou stomped his foot and charged towards the black cavern. But at the very next instant, a figure rushed towards the cavern even faster than Li Fuzhou. ¡°Liu Qingshan!?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes flashed, and he swung his hand, slapping out with his palm. Heavenly Demon Qi! Li Fuzhou was a supreme genius back in the day, combining the Demon Sect¡¯s martial arts with the Confucian Vast Righteous Qi, creating his unique Heavenly Demon Qi. His mental method could compare to the Heavenly Martial Heart Method, resulting in an inner strength that was both fierce and tyrannical, without a hint of the eccentricities typically found in Demon Sect techniques. ¡°Good, come at me! I¡¯ve long wanted to experience the prowess of a Demon Sect expert,¡± smiled Liu Qingshan. His inner strength surged within him, with three radiant beams shooting into the sky from behind him. The Human Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower all appeared at the same time. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Undercurrents and Hidden Killing Intent Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Undercurrents and Hidden Killing Intent ¡°Hmm!?¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. Qingshan Palm Seal! Liu Qingshan met the attack with a palm strike of his own. The moment the two palms collided, the entire Three Temple Mountain seemed to momentarily freeze. ¡°Bang bang bang bang!¡± The alarming sound reverberated, and the heavens and the earth seemed to plunge into emptiness, as astonishing waves of energy spread out like a tide in every direction. ¡°Heavenly Flower Realm!?¡± Tian Cansou looked at Liu Qingshan in shock. ¡°Has Liu Qingshan actually reached the Heavenly Flower Realm?¡± Ling Yuhua also frowned deeply. ¡°He¡¯s been hiding his skill all this time, the old fox,¡± Li Yue said with interest as she watched Liu Qingshan. According to all intelligence reports, Liu Qingshan had always been at the peak of the Earth Flower Realm, having remained at this layer for several years. The intelligence from the Wind and Rain Tower was not incorrect. It turned out that all of this was a facade. Liu Qingshan¡¯s cultivation had long reached the Heavenly Flower Realm, but it had been kept a secret. ¡°His injuries¡­¡± Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed even more¡ªthis was definitely not as simple as Liu Qingshan feigning incompetence. Liu Qingshan was injured, and severely so. His strength must be related to this injury; otherwise, that day at the Reincarnation Hall, he wouldn¡¯t have let me go. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Li Fuzhou smiled, ¡°Your Excellency is valued for good reason.¡± ¡°Sect Master Li is over¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± Liu Qingshan hadn¡¯t finished his words when he suddenly began coughing violently, ¡°Today, this nature¡¯s spiritual energy, Liu will claim it.¡± After speaking, inner strength surged within Liu Qingshan¡¯s body as he directly faced Li Fuzhou. As two top experts engaged in battle, the rest naturally could not stand idle; they all rushed towards the spiritual energy. Ling Yuhua and Li Yue were the quickest to dash forward. But just as they were about to approach, a sword light swift as flying silk instantly blocked their path. Where the sword light passed, mountains and rivers shook. It was the swordsman beside Li Fuzhou, ¡°This way is blocked!¡± Ling Yuhua whispered, ¡°Gu Renwo, a top expert of the Demon Sect Human Sect, other than Li Fuzhou, is the second-highest expert of the Human Sect, with an exceptional sword technique. Be careful.¡± ¡°Who cares who he is, just kill and it¡¯s done,¡± Li Yue said, frowning as a sword light met the assault. ¡°Clang!¡± Sword and blade collided, force qi bursting in all directions, causing nearby trees and side halls to shatter apart. ¡°Fourth Realm!?¡± After clashing with one move, both felt a shock in their hearts. To Gu Renwo¡¯s greater disbelief, he could clearly sense that his opponent was considerably young. Not only was her swordsmanship exceptional, but her strength was profound as well. Li Yue¡¯s surprise was fleeting. After all, as the second-highest expert of the Human Sect reaching the Fourth Realm was normal. Her longsword turned, emitting a bone-chilling coldness from the blade, as though a trail of blood light surged forth. ¡°So it¡¯s the Blood Spirit Sword!¡± Upon seeing this, Gu Renwo realized. If one were to talk about the most prominent assassin in the Wind and Rain Tower over the past five years, it was undoubtedly the wielder of the Blood Spirit Sword. Rumors said this person practiced the lost Blood Spirit Technique, with profound and inscrutable cultivation, having reached the First Grade before the age of thirty. Reaching the First Grade by thirty, if it were not for practicing the Blood Spirit Technique, challenging the Grandmaster Realm wouldn¡¯t have been impossible in the future. But unfortunately, it was precisely because of practicing the Blood Spirit Technique. Everyone in the Martial World knows the Blood Spirit Technique¡¯s aftereffects, the higher the cultivation, the quicker the death. As the two engaged in a fierce duel, their blades sang a perilous tune, chilling to the onlookers, with the slightest mistake leading to death and the end of one¡¯s Dao. An Jing wanted to take advantage of the chaos, but just as he was about to take a step, a figure rushed toward him and aimed a palm strike at his Heavenly Spirit. Soul Losing Hand, Tian Liu! Last time at the Reincarnation Hall, he had stood behind Liu Qingshan and hadn¡¯t engaged An Jing in combat. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, as he thrust his sword forward. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The Sword Qi turned cold, causing the surrounding Force Qi to scatter in avoidance. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Soul Losing Hand Tian Liu¡¯s expression became slightly cold, his footsteps retreating continuously toward the back. Seeing his retreat, An Jing naturally would not give him a chance to catch his breath. His longsword twisted in his hand, dancing wildly like a dragon or serpent. Nine-character Sword Technique! The ¡°Jie¡± character secret! The Soul Losing Hand was the ultimate hand technique of the renowned Ghost of Loss from the Nine Kingdoms of years past, and after inheriting it, Tian Liu devoted himself entirely to its mastery, having cultivated it to the Eighth Layer. Soul Losing Hand! Indeterminate Form! His feet stamped on the ground, halting his retreat, then a palm covered the skies as it came down. ¡°Bang!¡± The vicinity erupted into fierce winds, as if the wails of ghosts resounded. Compared to the Qingshan Palm Seal, the Soul Losing Hand was not outright overpowering or domineering but sinister and chilling, even capable of disturbing one¡¯s mind. An Jing felt a biting cold envelop him, his ears filled with those strange sounds, instantly sinking his mind as his sword continued to thrust forward. His sword pierced through the palm imprint, but it did not strike Tian Liu, who, after launching his palm, had already leapt to a distance, landing atop some shattered rocks. ¡°Hum! Hum!¡± An Jing¡¯s sword rang with a clear tone as he deployed the Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, dashing rapidly towards Tian Liu. ¡°What an impressive swordsman!¡± Tian Liu¡¯s brows furrowed, a chill in his heart as the Human Flower rose behind him. Both hands struck out, Inner Strength surging like a tide. Soul Losing Hand! Evil Spirit Emergence! Whoosh! The Qi Mechanism in the air began to violently change, gradually condensing and taking the form of ghostly faces. Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! The ghostly faces were menacingly grotesque, terrifying and cruel, emitting a series of sharp and ear-piercing noises. A thought crossed An Jing¡¯s mind as he stamped his foot, dodging the palm imprint. ¡°Thud!¡± The massive ghostly face crashed heavily onto the ground, causing it to tremble, and upon closer inspection, a ghostly face imprint appeared on the surface. At that moment, An Jing realized that among the experts who had reached the First Grade Realm, there were none with unfounded reputations. This Tian Liu, before him, not only had cultivation on par with his own, but he also practiced the Soul Losing Hand to a highly proficient level. He had gained a slight advantage, yet he found it difficult to kill Tian Liu in a short period of time. In front of the Vilu Hall, a chaotic battle was unfolding. Numerous high-level masters were restraining each other, none willing to let an opponent gain the advantage of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. The Qi Mechanism vibrated, making Three Temple Mountain look bizarre and fantastical, the ground itself trembling. In the distance, atop the Bright Moon Pavilion. ¡°This is truly intense,¡± Xi Jikui said, massaging his fingers with a light smile, ¡°Li Fuzhou, Zhang Zhixing, Liu Qingshan, supreme swordsmen, Ling Yuhua with the Blood Spirit Sword, Gu Renwo, Tian Liu, Guo Yuchun¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to see so many high-level masters gathered,¡± Zhang Shuang remarked. It had been many years since so many First Grade Experts had converged within the Great Yan Martial World. ¡°This Liu Qingshan¡­¡± Gan Yue¡¯s brows gave a slight twitch. As a member of the Great Heavenly Gang, Gan Yue naturally heard rumors from the court. It seemed Liu Qingshan could be a key piece for some important figure. Xi Jikui spoke indifferently, ¡°The orders from above are clear. Kill all those who foolishly seek to profit here to serve as a warning to others.¡± Upon hearing this, Gan Yue fell silent. The so-called ¡°orders from above¡± were quite evident, but if there were truly matters to be dealt with, it would fall to Xi Jikui to shoulder the responsibility, not him. A cold glint appeared in Xi Jikui¡¯s eyes, ¡°When they¡¯re both weakened after their fight, that¡¯s when we¡¯ll make our move. The first ones I want taken down are Li Fuzhou and Gu Renwo.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Securing Li Fuzhou and Gu Renwo would mean dismantling a significant part of the Human Sect¡¯s strength, effectively blinding the Demon Sect. Killing Li Fuzhou in particular would deal a severe blow to the Demon Sect¡¯s vitality. It appeared the Demon Sect hadn¡¯t suffered such a heavy blow for many years. At this thought, Xi Jikui¡¯s heart surged with heat. ¡­¡­. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Everyone is Shocked by the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Everyone is Shocked by the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence Guo Yuchun saw the fierce battle and hastened towards the cave. At this moment, the masters were locked in intense combat, and no one paid him any attention. ¡°Vice Gang Leader Guo, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Just then, Tian Cansou¡¯s leg swept in an attack. ¡°Not good!¡± Guo Yuchun inwardly cursed, his inner strength surged around him as he braced to withstand the kick. ¡°Bang!¡± The shadow of the kick came fiercely, like a hammer weighing thousands of pounds. Although Guo Yuchun was at the First Grade Realm, he hadn¡¯t condensed any of the ¡°Three Flowers,¡± so naturally he couldn¡¯t withstand Tian Cansou¡¯s kick. ¡°Ugh!¡± A jet of blood sprayed out as Guo Yuchun¡¯s body flew like an arrow released from a bow, crashing toward the cave. ¡°Not good, it¡¯s a trap!¡± Seeing this, Tian Cansou cursed under his breath. Guo Yuchun really had the guts to use his own body as bait, exploiting the force of his kick to enter the cave. The next moment, just as Guo Yuchun was about to rush into the cave, a bad premonition arose in his heart; his footsteps suddenly came to a halt. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The ground below began to crack inch by inch, and the whole of Three Temple Mountain shook as if struck by an earthquake. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± The ground fissures immediately drew the attention of everyone present, and they all stopped fighting to watch the ground in front of them continue to split open. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!¡± As the ground continued to crack, a green brilliance emerged above the world and in the darkness of the night, it looked incredibly magnificent and heart-pounding. ¡°What is that!?¡± Tian Cansou looked towards the crack, his spirit shaking. Underground, there was a dry corpse, decayed and darkened beyond recognition of face or gender, its human form barely discernible. A simple ancient sword was plunged in the corpse, still bearing dark bloodstains. At the moment, a vast amount of sinister energy was converging on the corpse, incredibly dense as if all the sinister energy that had just been repelled had gathered in its body. And the flickering green light was right next to it. On closer inspection, what was that but a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy? The fist-sized green light flickered, radiating a captivating light. This was clearly several strands of nature¡¯s spiritual energy forming the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. The shimmering light glowed dazzlingly, confusing the mind. ¡°It¡¯s actually Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence¡­..¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s pupils slightly constricted upon seeing it. Nature¡¯s spiritual energy is something that Grandmaster experts refine, so Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence is the essence formed from the gathering of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. If the people of Jianghu knew there was Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence inside Fa Xi Temple, perhaps even some half-step Grandmasters would be tempted. ¡°Only the residual essence formed after a Grandmaster passes away in meditation can create this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Could it be that the corpse was a Grandmaster?¡± Li Yue murmured to himself as he glanced at the sword-pierced body. A Grandmaster has reached the Three Flowers Fusing, where essence, qi, and spirit are all gathered at one point, capable not only of refining nature¡¯s spiritual energy but also of transforming it into True Qi. When a Grandmaster dies and their Dao dissolves, the remaining nature¡¯s spiritual energy within their body disperses, leaving behind a blessing for the mortal world. The deeper the cultivation of a Grandmaster, the richer the blessing left behind. Apart from nature¡¯s spiritual energy, there might even be Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. ¡°What a treasure!¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s heart was also moved. ¡°Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence¡­¡± Tian Cansou began to breathe more rapidly. With his talent and age, reaching the Earth Flower was already his limit, but if he acquired this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, condensing the Heavenly Flower was not just a dream; he could even near the realm of a half-step Grandmaster. The masters present all gazed at the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, their eyes burning with fervor. This was a rarity in Jianghu. An Jing¡¯s heart also began to beat violently, but not because of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, it was because of the sword thrust into the dry corpse. He knew that it was the ¡°Sword Intent¡± that the sword had emitted that night in the night market. It was as if there was a rhythm on the blade itself, pulling at his heart, forming a peculiar resonance. ¡°Gang Leader, that sword is the Evil Suppressing Sword!¡± Guo Yuchun, being the closest to the Evil Suppressing Sword, didn¡¯t know why his face turned pale suddenly, and he kept stepping back. Only then did everyone notice the corpse and the sword. The corpse was indistinguishable as human or ghost, let alone its gender, but the rich evil energy around it was alarming even to the experts present. It turned out that the evil energy Fa Zhi had suppressed earlier had all gathered on this corpse, and now it was so dense that it gave one the feeling of thorns on one¡¯s back. Liu Qingshan frowned and said, ¡°All this evil energy has gathered on that corpse¡­¡± ¡°Could it possibly mutate?¡± Tian Cansou let out a cold laugh. No one in the crowd took up the conversation. ¡°That old man Li is so cunning¡­¡± An Jing¡¯s brows suddenly shot up. ¡°Be careful, Li Fuzhou!¡± Just then, Li Yue of the Mortal World couldn¡¯t help but shout loudly. Everyone then realized what was happening, only to see Li Fuzhou¡¯s body leap forward, already in front of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Li Fuzhou took the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in his palm, ¡°Everyone, this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence is Li¡¯s today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Ling Yuhua shouted coldly, both hands striking out, and suddenly dozens of flying needles surged from her fingertips. ¡°Swish, swish, swish!¡± The icy flying needles vibrated in the air, emitting a faint glow. Li Fuzhou didn¡¯t try to catch these flying needles; now that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was in hand, of course, he needed to make a run for it. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± With a step of his foot and a turn of his body, he rushed into mid-air. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The flying needles contained extremely formidable inner strength, exploding the ground and breaking it apart, making a deafening noise. And just then, Liu Qingshan also made his move, flipping his hand and suddenly, a mountainous handprint appeared in the sky. The Qingshan Palm Seal! Among those present, Li Fuzhou¡¯s cultivation was the highest, but he was heavily injured and could only exert strength between Earth Flower and Heavenly Flower realms. Meanwhile, Liu Qingshan was at the Heavenly Flower Realm and seemed to be able to use his full power. This palm strike showed the terrifying strength of the Heavenly Flower Realm to its limit. The wild wind was like blades, making the faces of novice monks in the distance sting. The handprint descended from the sky, completely sealing off Li Fuzhou¡¯s retreat. At this moment, he had no way out but to meet it with a palm strike of his own. Withered Bone Demon Palm! The Withered Bone Demon Palm was one of the Demon Sect¡¯s supreme hand techniques that required a corresponding Magic Technique to unleash its strength. Li Fuzhou was exceptionally gifted, and with the Heavenly Demon Qi driving the Withered Bone Demon Palm, its force was not weaker but even stronger. ¡°Boom!¡± The moment the two palms collided, it was as if two volcanoes had violently crashed together, the earth itself shaking. Liu Qingshan used the rebound force to propel his body away. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only But Li Fuzhou¡¯s complexion changed, and he fell rapidly toward the ground. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± However, the next moment, a terrifying shadow of a leg came sweeping over like a gust of wind through falling leaves. Tian Cansou! He naturally wouldn¡¯t let Li Fuzhou take the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and leave so easily. Kicking a man when he¡¯s down, beating the drowning dog, was something he enjoyed the most. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Chaos Ensues as Everyone Fights on All Sides Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Chaos Ensues as Everyone Fights on All Sides Li Fuzhou cursed under his breath and fiercely slapped the ground, hastily dodging Tian Cansou¡¯s strike. At that moment, not far away, Li Yue raised her arm, about to make her move, but Gu Renwo blocked it with a slash of his blade. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± However, this did not allow Li Fuzhou any respite, as Ling Yuhua¡¯s flying needles shot out from her hand, each one aimed precisely at Li Fuzhou¡¯s throat, chest, and forehead. At the same time, a massive ghostly hand also attacked. Soul Losing Hand! Doom to the underworld! Tian Liu and Guo Yuchun also joined the battle. Li Fuzhou roared furiously, displaying the Heavenly Demon Qi to its utmost, and slapped down fiercely with his palm. In an instant, Li Fuzhou was besieged by five top masters simultaneously. One must know that any one of these masters, if placed in Jianghu, could provoke a major storm. Even in his prime, he would not dare to underestimate them, let alone now when he was yet to recover from serious injuries. If his injuries were of no concern, he might have had the strength to fight, but at this moment, his wounds were far from healed. Forced to retreat continuously, he encountered one peril after another. This was still under the circumstance where An Jing did not make a move. ¡°Bang!¡± In a rush, and exchanging another palm strike with Liu Qingshan, Li Fuzhou kept retreating, his every internal organ shook, his complexion turning deathly pale. ¡°Hand over the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!¡± Ling Yuhua demanded in a low voice. ¡°Yuhua, must you oppose me? Is it because you blame me for betraying you in those days? You can¡¯t blame me; who made you unwilling to share a husband back then¡­..¡± Li Fuzhou adjusted his breath and shouted. ¡°Courting death! You still dare to spout nonsense at this point!¡± Ling Yuhua¡¯s eyes flashed sharply, and the flying needles in her hand shot out again. The needle pierced the air, silent, as if floating in the darkness. ¡°Bang!¡± The flying needle came hurriedly and stopped half a zhang in front of Li Fuzhou, as if it had hit something. At the tip of the needle, a spiral Qi Force emerged, which was Li Fuzhou¡¯s Heavenly Demon Qi. ¡°My Heavenly Demon Qi is not so easily broken.¡± ¡°Is it? Break for me!¡± Ling Yuhua shot out another needle, which struck the tail of the previous needle. The force of two needles combined! It was not as simple as one plus one. Li Fuzhou frowned, the Qi Mechanism within his body erupted again, his hair dancing with the wild wind, and the Heavenly Demon Qi in front of him became even more turbulent. ¡°Bang!¡± The needle in front, boosted by this force, pierced directly through Li Fuzhou¡¯s Heavenly Demon Qi, but it lost its momentum after that, dropping straight to the ground. The technique was soft yet combined force; it specialized in overcoming the forceful and overpowering Martial Arts, and the Heavenly Demon Qi, even being top among the overpowering Martial Arts, was naturally restrained by it. ¡°Zzz! Zzz!¡± The needles hit the ground, still emitting white smoke, slowly rising into mid-air. Ling Yuhua sneered and said, ¡°Li Fuzhou¡¯s Heavenly Demon Qi is broken, and now he is nothing but a plucked pig¡­.¡± A bead of cold sweat appeared on Li Fuzhou¡¯s forehead, ¡°The heart of a woman is most venomous, especially that of an old woman.¡± With his Heavenly Demon Qi broken, his strength had fallen by more than thirty percent. Moreover, with the other top masters around eyeing him covetously, thinking of escaping was nothing short of a fool¡¯s dream. ¡°Li Fuzhou, you should have died long ago.¡± Ling Yuhua, upon hearing this, was not agitated but instead said coldly, ¡°Dying today atop this ancient temple is letting you off easy.¡± The surrounding top masters also closed in, swiftly sealing off all of Li Fuzhou¡¯s routes of retreat. ¡°Li Fuzhou, you can¡¯t handle the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence¡­.¡± An Jing spoke indifferently, ¡°Just give it to me.¡± An Jing naturally wouldn¡¯t help Li Fuzhou; what he cared about was just the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Upon hearing this, Li Fuzhou was struck with an idea and shouted loudly, ¡°If you can help me block Liu Qingshan, once I am out of this trap, I will share the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence with you.¡± Ha! You really are cunning. Upon hearing this, An Jing sneered and fell silent. Not to mention Liu Qingshan¡¯s formidable strength, whether one could stop him or not, just Li Fuzhou¡¯s words alone were enough to make one distrust him. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± Just then, Tian Cansou attacked Li Fuzhou once again. Moonlight Inversion! A kick descended, and due to its high speed, the afterimage resembled moonlight spilling over, spreading boundless Qi Force. ¡°Bang!¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s Heavenly Demon Qi was broken, and he could only parry with one hand. The fierce Qi Force forced him to continuously retreat, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in his hand also flew into mid-air. ¡°Perfect opportunity!¡± Ling Yuhua and Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyes lit up, and they both rushed toward the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Liu Qingshan was the fastest. His body flashed towards the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, then he captured it in his arms. With another palm strike, he fiercely pushed back Ling Yuhua. Seeing this, a trace of joy appeared in Guo Yuchun¡¯s eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t let him escape!¡± Tian Cansou saw this and immediately bellowed. Li Yue and Gu Renwo, who were still in fierce battle, also ceased fighting and surrounded him. Now, the predicament Li Fuzhou had faced had shifted to Liu Qingshan. All the experts once again closed in on him. ¡°Gang Leader, you go first, Tian Liu and I can cover the rear.¡± Guo Yuchun furrowed his brows and shouted. ¡°You go first¡­..cough, cough, cough¡­go.¡± Liu Qingshan coughed, then lowered his head to see the fresh blood on his palm, his pupils slightly dilating. Guo Yuchun and Tian Liu staying behind was undoubtedly a death sentence. ¡°Then none of us will leave.¡± Li Yue said indifferently, thrusting a sword forward first. As the sword surged, it seemed to carry a bloodthirsty sharpness, wielding an unstoppable and menacing force. ¡°Blood Spirit Technique!?¡± Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed, recognizing the Cultivation Technique. The other experts also rushed forward, all vying for the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. The Qi Mechanism shook violently, figures interweaving, the three Cao Gang experts battled other experts but were clearly at a disadvantage, especially Guo Yuchun, whose Cultivation was merely First Grade. Among Jianghu, he is considered top-notch, but in the eyes of true experts, he seemed somewhat inadequate. ¡°Huff¡­.¡± An Jing exhaled lightly, his eyes fixed on the sword embedded in the decaying corpse, then he slowly walked over. He always felt as if the sword was beckoning him over. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± And as he approached the sword, a series of clear sword chants resounded, carrying a hint of lightness and joy. ¡­.. Atop the Grand Hall, Dai Ling watched the distant battle. After seeing Li Fuzhou enter the scene and Liu Qingshan display his real strength, her heart was filled with many uncertainties. These two were undoubtedly among the strongest present, but if neither of them could secure the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, did Zhang Zhixing have a chance? Suddenly, her eyebrows slightly lifted. ¡°Is there someone else?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Dai Ling seemed to sense something and looked towards the source of the disturbance. Beneath the thick tree shadows, it appeared that figures were flickering, and hidden within the gaps of the branches and leaves was a sharp coldness. Dai Ling moved stealthily towards it and was greatly alarmed upon seeing the figure. ¡°Xuanyi Guard!?¡± ¡­¡­.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Evil Suppressing Emergence Shocks the Eight Directions Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Evil Suppressing Emergence Shocks the Eight Directions Li Fuzhou was meditating when he looked up and saw the peerless swordsman walking toward the Evil Suppressing Sword, his eyebrows slightly raised. This Evil Suppressing Sword, known as a Demon Sword, after being forged by the Great Zhou Dynasty, caused the death of three emperors of the Great Zhou atop its blade. Countless experts from the royal family tried to subdue the sword but ultimately died drained of their blood, making the sword a taboo in the world ever since. The Great Zhou eventually split it into six pieces to suppress the Earth Veins and seal it away. Nonetheless, the sword¡¯s reputation continued to circulate among the common folk and throughout history. Ranked third on the Famous Sword List, swordsmen love and pursue renowned swords. Since ancient times, whenever a famous sword emerged, it would inevitably bring about a storm of carnage. However, all swordsmen are as terrified of the Evil Suppressing Sword as if facing a tiger, with none willing to die for this one blade. ¡°Could this person not be aware of the strangeness of the Evil Suppressing Sword, or does he not believe in the curse?¡± Li Fuzhou thought to himself. In his view, that swordsman¡¯s attempt to subdue the Evil Suppressing Sword was nothing but a fool¡¯s dream. Some evils must be believed, even if you do not believe in them. Above the sky, Liu Qingshan, Tian Liu, Guo Yuchun, and others were battling four other top experts. Qi Force burst forth, creating a dazzling display that was even more intense than Li Fuzhou¡¯s previous battle by a third. But even the inner strength of First Grade Experts would deplete after a prolonged battle, especially for Tian Cansou who had been continuously fighting. He had already dueled with An Jing earlier and then was involved in the melee until now. His Inner Strength was nearly exhausted, so he had to retreat and begin meditating. Tian Cansou naturally noticed An Jing¡¯s movements as well, his brows furrowing as a result. Even the emperors of the Great Zhou, who were all Grandmasters, died by this Evil Suppressing Sword, which shows just how sinister and terrifying the sword was. An Jing walked next to the dried corpse and suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold enveloping him. His breath turned into white mist, and a massive amount of sinister and evil energy gathered around the corpse. The piercing cold was something even a First Grade Expert would find hard to withstand. ¡°This dried corpse¡­¡± A question arose in An Jing¡¯s mind. Who was this dried corpse!? And why was the Evil Suppressing Sword thrust into this corpse!? ¡°Hum! Hum!¡± The broken Evil Suppressing Sword seemed to sense An Jing¡¯s approach, emitting a pleasant, clear humming sound. An Jing instinctively grabbed the sword hilt of the Evil Suppressing Sword. The next moment, he felt a blur before his eyes, and everything became murky and dark. In the darkness, a series of blood appeared, seemingly filling up the void, and the glaring redness was reflected in An Jing¡¯s pupils. Afterward, the blood gradually disappeared, revealing a desolate and barren landscape. ¡°Roar!¡± A terrifying roar echoed in his mind, and upon hearing it, he instinctively felt a wave of fear. This fear stemmed from instinct, as if he was naturally afraid of the roaring sound and terrified of its formidable might. An Jing stood between heaven and earth, the unnatural fear nearly consuming his entire body as if it were going to devour him whole. His heart began to tremble uncontrollably, and he found himself breathless as if unable to draw breath into his chest, subsequently causing his mind to go blank. An Jing fiercely bit the tip of his tongue, feeling a flash of pain that abruptly brought him back to a semblance of consciousness, and at this moment, his body was drenched in sweat, much like he had just gone through a fierce battle. The roaring sound gradually dissipated. An Jing gasped for air, and then, his eyes sharply narrowed as he looked ahead. On that barren land, something that hadn¡¯t appeared before now came into view. He saw it. Swords broken, people dead¡­ ¡°That is¡­¡± Before he could grasp what was happening, An Jing¡¯s vision darkened again, and he found himself staring at the hilt of the Evil Suppressing Sword. A Qi Mechanism surged from the sword hilt, as if the roar of a dragon resonated between heaven and earth. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The entire Three Temple Mountain began to shake violently as if an earthquake had struck. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± All the esteemed swordsmen present showed a look of horrified disbelief, their hearts trembling violently. Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes widened in incredulity as he stared at the swordsman¡¯s figure, ¡°Evil Suppressing Sword!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s that swordsman!¡± Ling Yuhua looked over, then cried out in shock. ¡°Is he drawing the Evil Suppressing Sword?¡± Guo Yuchun was also full of surprise. In the previous dynasty, the Evil Suppressing Sword was a forbidden weapon, and even in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it had become an existence that changed the color of conversations, symbolizing dark omens and misfortune. ¡°Can there really be someone in this world who could be recognized as the master of the Evil Suppressing Sword?¡± Liu Qingshan murmured to himself. Three generations of the Human Emperor of the Great Zhou and many royal family experts had not been recognized by this legendary sword, but now, this swordsman had made the Evil Suppressing Sword acknowledge him. Could there be some mysterious reason behind it? ¡°Evil Suppressing Sword¡­.¡± Compared to the others, Li Yue was even more shocked and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Who exactly is this swordsman? Why can he draw out the Evil Suppressing Sword!?¡± ¡°Shick!¡± An Jing clasped the hilt with one hand and yanked fiercely. ¡°Shick!¡± A sword qi, soaring to the sky, erupted, rushing towards the profound darkness as if viciously tearing open a gap. The sword light, like the morning sun piercing through the pitch-black night, illuminated everyone¡¯s faces. Ye Tai¡¯e had come into the world! At the same time, the silhouette of Earth Flower behind An Jing began to appear more and more substantial, as if gradually condensing. What would it feel like when night suddenly turns into day? That piercing sensation was as if the earth¡¯s light itself had shattered. The turbulent sword qi swept across, carrying endless sharpness, surging forward. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± All the experts present used their full strength to block, with Tian Cansou and Li Yue being the closest to the action. Both of their bodies were injured by the piercing cold qi, repeatedly retreating. The waves of air churned, and dust rose in all directions. The legendary sword, silent for a thousand years, had met its sword master. ¡°Is this the broken Evil Suppressing Sword?¡± Li Yue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, astonishment in his eyes. ¡°Worthy of being a legendary sword, even though the blade is split into six parts, it still possesses such astonishing Sword Intent.¡± Tian Cansou also stared fixedly at the Evil Suppressing Sword in An Jing¡¯s hand, exclaiming in amazement. All the experts present were shaken to their core. No one had expected that there would be a day when the Evil Suppressing Sword would recognize a master. Who in the world was this swordsman?! Why did the Evil Suppressing Sword acknowledge him as its master? ¡°Tat tat tat¡­.¡± Just then, a series of noises came from the woods beside the Great Hall. ¡°Someone¡¯s here!?¡± All present were first-grade experts and could see through the surroundings as if they were the clearest of flames, as though sensing something, they looked towards the shadows of distant trees. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The next instant, a rain of arrows came from the moonlit sky. The rain of arrows was dense, with each arrowhead carrying specks of green light. ¡°Quick, retreat! All monks of Fa Xi Temple, evacuate this place.¡± Fa Wu urgently called out. The monks of Fa Xi Temple dared not take any chances and quickly retreated to a distance. Fortunately, the target of this rain of arrows was not them but the group of Jianghu experts at the center. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Siege of Black Robes Leads to Chaos Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Siege of Black Robes Leads to Chaos ¡°Xuanyi Guard!?¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s sleeve swept through the air, gathering all the arrows flying within three zhang around him, and then his brow furrowed. The Xuanyi Guard was a knife that the Great Yan Emperor hung over the Great Yan Martial World, their fame so immense, it could not be disregarded or unheard of. These were the characteristic Breaking Strength Flying Crossbows of the Xuanyi Guard, the arrowheads not only had deadly poison but also child-mother mysterious sun iron, specially designed to counteract the Qi Force of those within Jianghu. The sight of those arrows shooting through the air and forcefully nailing halfway into the ground where they missed showed just how powerful their momentum was. The arrows fell like rain, dense and without leaving the slightest gap. ¡°Whiz whiz whiz!¡± ¡°Whiz whiz whiz!¡± The arrow rain pouring down from the sky trembled the air itself; the experts present either dodged or used their Martial Arts, not a single one was injured in the slightest. These arrows were naturally more than enough for ordinary martial artists, but for these First Grade Cultivation experts, they were slightly less effective. Xi Jikui wasn¡¯t trying to kill these experts with the arrow rain but rather wanted to deplete the limited Inner Strength within their bodies. ¡°Since when did the Xuanyi Guard only resort to these petty tricks?¡± Li Fuzhou crushed the approaching arrow rain and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. ¡°To deal with a bunch of rats that hide their heads and show their tails, indeed, extraordinary measures must be used.¡± As a voice rang out, the arrow rain suddenly ceased. Xi Jikui slowly walked forward from the distance, followed closely by Zhang Shuang and Gan Yue, with dozens of Xuanyi Guard experts behind them, each holding a strong crossbow. ¡°Heavenly Kill Star! Xi Jikui!?¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s brows tightened. In Jianghu, Xi Jikui was infamous, not because of his father Xi Yuanjun, but his own ruthless methods and formidable strength. He destroyed not less than three or five Sects. This person¡¯s temperament was gloomy and his methods vicious; among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang, he was particularly troublesome. Not only that, but behind Xi Jikui were two other Great Heavenly Gang members, the lowest Cultivation of the Great Heavenly Gang being First Grade, a well-known fact in Jianghu. However, as Great Yan¡¯s national strength continued to rise steadily, the power of the Great Heavenly Gang was also quietly improving. The Great Heavenly Gang seen now was not only at the First Grade Cultivation level; most had condensed the Human Flower, a few had the Earth Flower, and the top members of the Great Heavenly Gang had even reached the Heavenly Flower Realm. Moreover, should any of the Great Heavenly Gang members fall, the Xuanyi Guard would immediately have new members of the Great Heavenly Gang to replace them. What did this imply? It signified the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s terrifyingly strong reserves and unfathomable foundations. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Xi Jikui to come as well.¡± Ling Yuhua spoke softly, ¡°This adds another variable.¡± Li Yue took a deep breath and nodded without speaking. Theoretically, it was normal for the Xuanyi Guard experts to appear, but as the seal had already broken and was irreparable, the Xuanyi Guard still dispatched a top First Grade expert like Xi Jikui, which clearly indicated deeper plotting. With more and more great masters appearing today, no one was assured of who could take the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. An Jing watched the three people who appeared. Although he did not recognize them, he knew from the aura they radiated that all three were First Grade experts, likely the Great Heavenly Gang of the Xuanyi Guard. ¡°So it¡¯s you.¡± Li Fuzhou glanced at Xi Jikui, ¡°It would only be you who plays these despicable tricks. This is different from your father. He is quite the iron man.¡± ¡°Speaking of my father, it reminded me,¡± Xi Jikui, looking to be in his forties, was called a youngster by Li Fuzhou but didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he smiled and said, ¡°My father¡¯s birthday is coming up, and I have yet to prepare a birthday gift. I would like to ask Sect Master Li to do me a great favor.¡± Li Fuzhou sneered, ¡°You want me to do you a great favor?¡± The Xuanyi Guard and the Demon Sect had considerable enmity, especially Demon Sect Sect Master Li Fuzhou, who had deep-seated hatred towards the Xuanyi Guard. Xi Jikui nodded, then with a serious expression said, ¡°That¡¯s right, I would like to use Sect Master Li¡¯s head as a gift.¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s words were very calm, but they sent chills down one¡¯s spine, a coldness that seemed to rush from the soles of the feet straight to the heavens. An Jing felt coldness overflowing all around him, his eyebrows unconsciously furrowing. ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Li Fuzhou, upon hearing this, laughed as if it were the funniest joke in the world. Xi Jikui turned his head to look at Liu Qingshan, who was holding the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and said, ¡°Before that, I would like to ask for Gang Leader Liu¡¯s help with a matter.¡± ¡°Liu might not be able to help with that, Master Xi.¡± Liu Qingshan coughed lightly twice and smiled, ¡°Helping others might earn me a meal, but helping Master Xi could cost me my head.¡± ¡°Seems like Gang Leader Liu is not willing to hand over the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence?¡± asked Xi Jikui. Liu Qingshan smiled without answering, remaining silent. It was well-known in Jianghu that Xi Jikui was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, and if nothing unexpected happened, it would be difficult for him to surpass his father, Xi Yuanjun, in this lifetime. The Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in front of him was a chance. It is extremely rare for the student to surpass the master. Most of the time, if the previous generation is powerful, the next generation would do well just to maintain that strength, let alone surpass it. Such is the cruel reality. Xi Jikui nodded slightly, ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to say.¡± Having said that, Xi Jikui stretched out both hands. Under the moonlight, a cold light appeared in each hand. Upon closer inspection, they were two rings ¨C in the night, they resembled moons hanging on his hands. The Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings, Xi Yuanjun¡¯s famed weapon. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh!¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s body leaped forward like a brisk wind sweeping across the land, and in an instant, he was right in front of Liu Qingshan. So fast! Liu Qingshan¡¯s eyebrows rose abruptly, and he quickly moved to dodge to the side. The Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings were bizarre and domineering; they were a highly unusual type of weapon. In Jianghu, there were not many experts who practiced with ring weapons, which were not as common as knives, spears, swords, and clubs. But if one encountered a person who practiced with rings, they must be extremely cautious, for such a person was likely a master. Xi Jikui¡¯s momentum was soaring, and his attacks were like tidal waves. Liu Qingshan, having already been in a tough fight and with much of his Inner Strength depleted, did not dare to clash head-on and naturally, could not match Xi Jikui. Xikui¡¯s hands danced continuously with the Double Rings, as if untamed beasts were howling, with an astonishing momentum. The Double Rings danced! It seemed like a single move, yet it contained eighteen variations, each more deadly than the last. Qingshan Palm Seal! Beng Mountain! Liu Qingshan concentrated his Inner Strength in his left palm and struck out fiercely. The Double Rings cut through the air like knives, effortlessly tearing through the handprint, and then relentlessly continued forward, slashing a bloody mark across Liu Qingshan¡¯s waist. Then the Phoenix Ring turned, aiming for Liu Qingshan¡¯s right hand that held the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. ¡°Since you want it so much, I might as well give it to you,¡± Liu Qingshan said. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only No sooner had he spoken than done, Liu Qingshan tossed the object from his palm and quickly retreated backwards. He knew very well that with so many masters around, holding the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was like holding a hot potato. To be a man, the most important thing is rationality. ¡°A good opportunity!¡± An Jing, who had been waiting for the right moment, had a glint of light in his eyes. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Alone Against Many Enemies Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Alone Against Many Enemies The Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, which was flickering with faint green light, rushed to midair, dazzlingly bright. A hint of keenness flashed in Xi Jikui¡¯s eyes, and then he stomped his foot and charged directly toward the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± At that moment, several shadows pierced through, with two people seemingly prepared beforehand, even faster than Xi Jikui by a margin. These two were none other than Tian Cansou and An Jing, who had been lying in wait for an opportunity. Tian Cansou, who cultivated in leg techniques and whose cultivation was at the Earth Flower level, was fast indeed. Perhaps no one present, except for Li Fuzhou in his prime, could match him in speed, and An Jing had been biding his time. An Jing let out a cold snort, and his hand turned the Evil Suppressing Sword forward. ¡°Hiss! Hiss!¡± Sword Qi suddenly spat out from the blade, peerless in sharpness and ominously threatening. Such a sharp Sword Qi! Tian Cansou felt a stabbing pain in his heart and quickly turned his body, not daring to compete with An Jing for fear of being injured by the Sword Qi. An Jing caught the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and then landed lightly on the ground. ¡°Hand over the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!¡± Xi Jikui had missed his target and, upon landing, stared straight at the swordsman in front of him, holding the Evil Suppressing Sword. ¡°Sir Xi, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be of much help to you,¡± An Jing said indifferently. Xi Jikui, with a greedy and opportunistic look, clearly intended to seize the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence at all costs, even putting his ambition of eliminating Li Fuzhou in second place because concrete benefits were, undoubtedly, more attractive than vacant honors. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, hand over the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.¡± A hint of coldness flitted across Xi Jikui¡¯s eyes. At the same time, other martial arts experts also looked over, much like beasts sighting bloodied prey. ¡°I have important matters to attend to; I won¡¯t be staying to enjoy the moon with you all.¡± An Jing, alone, had now obtained the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and naturally wasn¡¯t going to linger. He leaped, darting rapidly into the distance. ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away.¡± ¡°He¡¯s trying to run off with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!¡± ¡­. The many experts present changed expression at this sight. This swordsman! He plays no fair! Those who had been waiting to watch the battle unfold became anxious. After all, if An Jing ran off with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, their long efforts would be for naught. Numerous experts rushed toward An Jing, sealing off all his paths of retreat. ¡°Slice!¡± An Jing waved the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand and launched an attack on Liu Qingshan, who was charging at him. The Sword Qi struck, rolling with icy radiance. It felt like a thorn in the back! Even though it was just the remnants of the blade, the Evil Suppressing Sword still lived up to its reputation as the third greatest sword of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. ¡°Not good!¡± Liu Qingshan, facing the edge of the sword, immediately sensed danger, and with his Inner Strength depleted and An Jing¡¯s cultivation having risen, he hastily dodged the blade. ¡°Be careful of his Evil Suppressing Sword!¡± Guo Yuchun warned solemnly. ¡°Laughable.¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword in An Jing¡¯s hand trembled, and he swept it toward Guo Yuchun. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Sword Qi flickered, extending three yards in length, as if even the ground was being lifted by the Sword Qi, layer by layer billowing in the air. Rivers flow like dreams! Guo Yuchun clenched his teeth, extended his hands, and his Qi Mechanism surged like a broad river, his body standing atop a wave several yards high, his robe flapping in the fierce wind. Guo Yuchun was not his match to begin with, and now with the Evil Suppressing Sword, An Jing was even more formidable. The Sword Light tore right through the surging Qi waves, and the remaining Sword Light skimmed past Guo Yuchun¡¯s neck, missing his throat by just an inch. ¡°Stamp! Stamp! Stare¡­..¡± Landing on the ground, Guo Yuchun¡¯s face turned deathly pale, still in great shock. He felt he had just walked through the Gates of Hell with that strike ¨C had it been off by an inch, he might have already breathed his last. What a terrifying Evil Suppressing Sword! With a wave of his hand, An Jing, relying on his exquisite swordsmanship and the power of the Evil Suppressing Sword, repelled two masters, instantly sending a chill down the spines of all the experts present. ¡°You all didn¡¯t hold back when you were obstructing this old man earlier, but now facing that swordsman, you¡¯re like eggplants hit by frost?¡± Li Fuzhou had just been through a group attack and was recuperating, but seeing An Jing about to run off with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, he couldn¡¯t help but add fuel to the fire. Now these people besieging that peerless swordsman was exactly what he wished for. It was a perfect chance to sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight; all he had to do was to make his move at the last moment and snatch away the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. ¡°What a sly old fox!¡± An Jing glanced at Li Fuzhou and etched this grudge in his heart. He always felt that Li Fuzhou hadn¡¯t fully demonstrated his strength, seemingly holding back his skills, or rather, waiting for the last moment. This inevitably gave An Jing a headache, facing so many masters, he was already at his wit¡¯s end, and there was also the covetous Li Fuzhou beside him. ¡°Let¡¯s attack together!¡± Tian Cansou shouted loudly, sweeping his leg towards An Jing. ¡°Good!¡± Li Yue, Ling Yuehua, Gu Renwo, Li Fuzhou, Tian Liu, and the others also rose to the occasion, fearing that if they continued to scheme against each other, they would really let the swordsman escape. The first to rush forward were Li Yue and Gu Renwo. Each of them wielded a saber in one hand and a sword in the other, their levels of sword and saber mastery both at the Fourth Level. Especially Gu Renwo, with his saber technique being thick and steady, obviously having delved into the art for decades. Saber Qi and Sword Qi crisscrossed, whirling above and below. The Sword Qi of Ye Tai¡¯e was extremely sharp, and it even seemed to carry a trace of sword hum, disturbing one¡¯s mind. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± The Sword Qi surged like a torrential river. ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!¡± At the moment of collision between the swords, the sound of metal striking resonated, echoing in all directions, deafening and resounding. Li Yue felt her arm go numb and saw her superior Treasure Sword had developed a nick, clearly unable to withstand the sharpness of Ye Tai¡¯e¡¯s Sword Qi. As Gu Renwo crossed paths with An Jing, he too was forced to take several steps back, his expression seemingly indifferent but his heart exceedingly grave. That bone-chilling coldness went straight to the heart, and combined with the swordsman¡¯s exquisite techniques, it was truly formidable. An Jing¡¯s footsteps stuck close to the ground as he swiftly drifted backward, leaving a long mark on the ground. ¡°Sir, let Li take care of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence for you.¡± Li Fuzhou was quick and reached An Jing in an instant, his fingers stretching out toward the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. ¡°Old thing, don¡¯t even think about it!¡± An Jing sneered, twirling the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand at a remarkably clever angle, aiming straight for Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re quite hot-tempered, brother¡­¡± Watching the Evil Suppressing Sword emit a terrifying Sword Light, Li Fuzhou frowned and quickly floated back. It seemed this swordsman harbored great hostility towards him. An Jing leapt forward, continuing to dash into the distance. ¡°Trying to leave?¡± Tian Cansou immediately leaped up, swinging his leg viciously. Wind Curling Scorched Leaves! Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, and tornadoes started to merge from all directions. An Jing saw the tornadoes coming and reflected a gleam of sharp light in his black pupils. Centering on him, waves of sharp and boundless Sword Qi emanated. Nine-character Sword Technique! Zi-word Seal! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only With a slash of his sword, it seemed as if the night sky itself had been cleaved open, revealing a strange, eerie seam. Then suddenly, countless Sword Lights burst from within that seam, so sharp that they seemed to pierce everyone¡¯s eyes, making the onlookers shut their eyes, unable to look directly. Numerous Sword Lights fell from the sky, with the force of an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. This was the true power of the Evil Suppressing Sword, now in full strength in An Jing¡¯s grasp, as he wielded his sword techniques to their utmost. Both parties unleashed their moves without any reservations, displaying the full might of true masters. Countless Sword Lights swept across, finally colliding head-on with the incoming whirlwind, and at that moment, the earth itself shuddered. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 100 The Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence Beckons the Demon Sword Chapter 100: Chapter 100 The Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence Beckons the Demon Sword Whoosh! Just as the dragon tornado shattered abruptly, it transformed into a massive yellow rain that poured down, and at that moment, countless golden lights scattered, piercing through everything like unparalleledly sharp blades. The pouring yellow rain fell fiercely to the ground, and the earth was instantly corroded by the yellow liquid, forming deep pits. Poison Skill! As the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, Tian Cansou¡¯s poison techniques were naturally top-notch. The sword light, just as sharp and dreadful, flickered with a chill that would freeze one¡¯s heart, and continued to sweep towards Tian Cansou. Just as An Jing was about to continue his onslaught, a sharp cry suddenly emerged from the side, prompting him to look over reflexively. Thud! Thud! Thud! Liu Qingshan stepped into mid-air, and instantly compressed the air with a powerful force, emitting a terrifying sound of an air explosion. Boom! Liu Qingshan stretched his arm out, with boundless inner strength continuously poured into it. Qingshan Palm Seal! Shatter the River! With a sweep of Liu Qingshan¡¯s arm forward, a palm print descended from the murky night sky with an overwhelmingly domineering aura. In an instant, the space ahead filled with resonating sounds. An Jing¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold gleam as he took a deep breath, and the black and white sword light surged. Hundred-step Flying Sword! Boom! The sword light that soared into the sky fell like a meteor, unmercifully meeting the palm print head-on, with an earth-shattering noise reverberating around Vilu Hall, almost as if it could rupture one¡¯s eardrums. The colossal palm print was torn asunder and then dispersed into force qi to both sides. The crowd watched An Jing wield his sword, clashing with each move; the sheer magnitude of the attack left them utterly astounded. ¡°After obtaining the incomplete Evil Suppressing Sword, this swordsman has greatly increased in strength!¡± Tian Cansou had just caught his breath, heaving with great gasps. An Jing also retreated continuously, his arm slightly trembling as a trickle of fresh blood flowed down the arm of his left hand. ¡°Everyone, we can¡¯t afford to give this swordsman any chance to catch his breath. If he truly gets away, I believe none of you would like to see that happen,¡± said Ling Yuhua, her eyebrows deeply furrowed as she extended a finger, summoning several silver-white flying needles. ¡°Sss! Sss!¡± Under the moonlight, several flying needles swiftly approached. An Jing felt a surge of coldness rise spontaneously and instinctively raised the Evil Suppressing Sword to block. ¡°Ting! Ting! Ting!¡± The flying needles struck the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword, emitting a series of crisp sounds before falling to the ground. Gu Renwo let out a cold shout, the inner strength in his body converging on the blade, turning into numerous streams of black dark energy. These streams, like enormous black pythons, exuded a terrifying sense of absorption, as if even the moonlight scattered on their bodies would be devoured and absorbed. Black Python Breaking Sun! The numerous black streams, resembling black pythons, burst from the blade and crazily charged towards An Jing, their speed ghostly fast. An Jing watched the several black pythons surge towards him, his eyes gradually showing a tide of coldness. In his hand, the Evil Suppressing Sword turned, meeting them with an incredibly precise angle. ¡°If you think you can defeat me with this move, your Hundred-step Flying Sword needs to be at least at the Ninth Layer,¡± Gu Renwo sneered coldly as the Sword Qi surged in all directions, unleashing a full force strike. ¡°Is that so?¡± In the next moment, An Jing channeled the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence into his chest, and then with his left hand he drew the ordinary longsword from his waist. A circular arc undulated from the blade, forming a reverse flow of Sword Light that surged forth energetically. Gu Renwo¡¯s brow furrowed sharply, and his heart trembled uncontrollably. Not only had this person cultivated the Hundred-step Flying Sword to the Eighth Layer, but could he also be ambidextrous, casting it simultaneously with both hands!? In the night sky above, the Sword Light fell rapidly, charging towards the large black python ahead. The moment the two collided, a whirlwind of force swept out wildly around them. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes reflected the tumultuous Qi Force as they quickly retreated backwards to avoid being affected and to conserve some Inner Strength. Gu Renwo felt as if his body had been struck by a heavy hammer, his complexion paler than paper, as he floated away. Compared to Gu Renwo, An Jing didn¡¯t feel much better; he could clearly sense a burning pain in his chest. If it weren¡¯t for the Evil Suppressing Sword, this strong attack would have been too much for him to suppress against the expert from the Demon Sect. Just then, another wave of violent Qi surged in, sweeping over like autumn winds through fallen leaves, attacking from the flank. An Jing pressed down the shock in his heart, gathering his Inner Strength again. The Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand abruptly shot out a cold gleam like a flying piece of satin. Bang! In the night sky, a silhouette of a leg collided with the Sword Radiance, emitting a muffled sound. ¡°Thump!¡± An Jing stomped his foot down, transferring all the aftershocks into the ground, which instantly cracked. ¡°Just who the hell are you!?¡± Tian Cansou stepped back a bit, his face bearing an intent to kill as he looked at An Jing in front of him. Many masters were fighting against An Jing, but he was still holding on for so long; who among the onlookers wouldn¡¯t be moved? Even though he was relying on the power of the Evil Suppressing Sword, who was he, and how had he managed to tame it? Not only Tian Cansou, but all the masters present furrowed their brows tightly, staring intently at An Jing. ¡°Who I am is not important,¡± An Jing scoffed coldly, adjusting his breath slightly before his body flashed. ¡°Don¡¯t let this swordsman get away.¡± Xi Jikui also barked coldly. After speaking, the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings in his hands vibrated, with two Qi Forces shooting out, aiming directly at An Jing¡¯s neck and waist. ¡°Clang!¡± ¡°Clang!¡± With a move of An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword, he instantly felt a violent surge of Qi Force, causing his body to shake violently. This Xi Jikui was indeed a master of the Heavenly Flower Realm, with profound Inner Strength. Zhang Shuang and Gan Yue, seeing the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, naturally yearned for it in their hearts and would not easily let An Jing leave. In an instant, many masters made their moves, cutting through An Jing¡¯s Sword Qi, each seeking to put him to death. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Even as An Jing relied on the advantage of the Evil Suppressing Sword, after seven or eight rounds, he felt an immense pressure. A single mistake could result in death at any moment. ¡°There are too many masters here.¡± An Jing inwardly cursed his luck, realizing that even with the sharpness of the Evil Suppressing Sword, it was becoming exceedingly difficult to seize the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence with so many masters around. If the masters were determined to stop him, his chances of breaking through were extremely low. At that moment, An Jing suddenly felt the Evil Suppressing Sword stirring as if it was absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in his arms. At the same time, the Evil Suppressing Sword seemed to be emitting a strange whistling sound. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 101 Everyone Surprised by Sword Control Flying Immortal Chapter 101: Chapter 101 Everyone Surprised by Sword Control Flying Immortal ¡°Hmm?¡± An Jing¡¯s heart jolted at this realization. The Evil Suppressing Sword could actually absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence? ¡°Today, this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence will be left behind, and so will your life.¡± Xi Jikui let out a clear shout and rushed toward An Jing, moving swiftly like a gust of wind, the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings in his hand dancing and casting cold glints under the moonlight, aiming straight for An Jing¡¯s Heavenly Spirit cover. ¡°Then we shall see if you have the skills,¡± An Jing retorted, his eyes growing colder as he countered with the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand. ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!¡± A series of collisions sparked flares in the night. Xi Jikui was one of the highest-level cultivators present and still full of vigor. As he made his move, An Jing immediately felt the pressure on him double. At that moment, Liu Qingshan also leaped into action, with a palm strike aiming for An Jing¡¯s back heart. ¡°Boom!¡± The roaring palm wind was fierce and domineering, carrying the potential to shatter gold and break stones. It had to be said that the experts present were highly skilled. Liu Qingshan¡¯s palm strike came at the precise moment when An Jing and Xi Jikui clashed, during the transition of their Qi Mechanisms. In a hurry, An Jing drew his longsword, sending a chilling Sword Light trembling away. ¡°Bang Bang!¡± The Sword Light was directly shattered by the handprint, and the remaining force surged like a tidal wave, engulfing An Jing¡¯s body. An Jing felt a shock to his chest and stumbled several steps backwards. Had it not been for the Bodhi Bead refining his Half-step Golden Bone, that palm might have inflicted severe damage on him. The numerous experts present were plotting against each other. Although they did not use their trump cards against An Jing, their relentless assaults gave him no chance to catch his breath. Xi Jikui narrowed his eyes, and with a flourish of the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings in his hands, he exuded a terrifying cold light. Eerie! Phenomenally eerie! This was the power of the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings! ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± A faint whistling sound drifted by as the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings, carrying the falling moonlight, rushed towards An Jing. An Jing felt a chill in his heart, and his hairs stood on end as he tightly gripped the Evil Suppressing Sword in his right hand. Throughout the heavens and earth, fierce winds rose and howled, dispersing the Qi Mechanism around An Jing to the sides. The Evil Suppressing Sword seemed to have absorbed a tremendous amount of Qi Mechanism, flickering with an extremely dazzling brilliance as if it was about to split the night sky above Three Temple Mountain. An Jing¡¯s Human Flower appeared vividly behind him, and the Earth Flower was faintly visible, indicating he was pushing his cultivation to its limits. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± Li Fuzhou was about to make a move when suddenly he stopped in his tracks. Everyone felt a chilling coldness surge forth as an earth-shattering Sword Intent burst from the damaged body of the Evil Suppressing Sword, as if to cleave the night apart. All they saw was An Jing¡¯s thrust with the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand. In that moment, the Qi Mechanism was mighty and torrential, the earth and sky shook, as if everything were converging on the sword and accompanying it in its journey. ¡°Such formidable Sword Intent¡­¡± Li Yue¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed as she involuntarily took several steps back. The several experts present dared not advance any further, their eyes filled with apprehension. An unspeakably sharp coldness pained the hearts and minds of all present. Sword Control Flying Immortal! The Unity Sword Technique, named ¡°Unity,¡± the combination of three forms is the last move of the Unity Sword Technique. It was also the first time An Jing had executed this move. The fact that the Unity Sword Technique is only of True Martial Level can largely be attributed to the restrictions of the Sword Control Flying Immortal. Even An Jing, with First Grade cultivation, had difficulty unleashing it. If Sword Control Flying Immortal were considered a normal move, then the Unity Sword Technique might not be inferior to the Hundred-step Flying Sword. ¡°Boom! Boom!¡± The air vibrated, rippling in waves, and then the Evil Suppressing Sword seemed to transform into a colossal sword, soaring through the air, charging directly at Xi Jikui. ¡°What kind of swordsmanship is this!?¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s eyebrows knit together, with no time for further thought, he raised the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings in his hands. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The moment the colossal sword collided with the Double Rings, the surrounding area of Vilu Hall began to shake violently, the ground centered around Xi Jikui started to crack endlessly, spreading far into the distance. A streak of heaven and earth light suddenly appeared at the peak of the mountain. As if to split the entire mountain in two. ¡°This¡­?¡± Guo Yuchun was utterly shocked. If the swordsmanship that day at Reincarnation Hall was already considered exquisitely superb, then this move seemed to qualify as an Immortal Sword Technique. ¡°Descendant of the Sword Demon?¡± Li Fuzhou was also astonished, ¡°No, impossible. The Sword Dao of the Sword Demon is not so elegant. Could it be the old head of Yu Heng Sword Sect¡¯s successor? But that shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± The colossal sword swept across the sky, its downward sweep startling all the experts present into a drastic change of expression. ¡°Quick, help me!¡± Xi Jikui¡¯s chest heaved, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth, as he urgently shouted, ¡°If he escapes, none of you will reap any benefits.¡± Under the night sky, Qi Force vibrated, Xi Jikui was forced to retreat repeatedly by the colossal sword, seemingly about to be engulfed by it. Hearing this, the others also quickly leaped into action, all attacking the colossal sword together. Li Fuzhou, Liu Qingshan, Ling Yuhua, and many other experts charged up together, their inner strength as surging as a tide, targeting the mighty colossal sword. The colossal sword met the onslaught of the ten experts. Its momentum slowed slightly, but the sword light swirling around it remained dazzling. For a moment, heaven and earth seemed to split in two, each side holding its own, neither victorious nor defeated. In the night sky, the many experts and An Jing faced off, with sword Qi colliding and transforming into extreme colors, a bizarre and dazzling display. Time seemed to have come to a standstill! Such a confrontation was exceedingly rare throughout Yan Country¡¯s Jianghu. ¡°Is there really such a formidable swordsman in the world? Could it be Tian Jian, one of the five great Sword Immortals?¡± From afar, Dai Ling witnessed this scene and was intensely shocked in his heart. Ten First Grade experts joined forces, and yet they could only fight to a draw with him. The swordsman¡¯s strength was terrifying. Whether it was the Xuanyi Guard experts or the monks curled up in the distance, everyone was dumbstruck, their hearts trembling incessantly. Ling Yuhua¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as she spoke in a low voice, ¡°How is this possible? This swordsman is merely at the pinnacle of Human Flower and about to reach Earth Flower cultivation. Even with the assistance of the Evil Suppressing Sword, how could he possibly withstand our combined inner strength?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Fuzhou, Liu Qingshan, Tian Liu, Guo Yuchun, Ling Yuhua, Li Yue, Tian Cansou, Xi Jikui, Zhang Shuang, and Gan Yue, a total of ten First Grade experts, even a Half-step Master wouldn¡¯t possess such formidable inner strength, yet that swordsman showed no sign of decline. The other few also frowned deeply. Although the swordsman was about to condense Earth Flower, relying on the sharpness of the supreme famous sword in his hand, it was after all incomplete. Even a whole Evil Suppressing Sword couldn¡¯t possibly help a swordsman at the pinnacle of Human Flower withstand so many experts. Clearly, there was something strange at play! ¡°It¡¯s the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence! That swordsman is burning Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!¡± Li Fuzhou suddenly noticed the light emitting continuously from An Jing¡¯s chest, recognizing it as the burning of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and couldn¡¯t help but cry out in alarm. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102 The Grandmaster Expert Makes Their First Appearance Chapter 102: Chapter 102 The Grandmaster Expert Makes Their First Appearance It turned out that after An Jing executed the Sword Control Flying Immortal technique, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was unceasingly pouring its nature¡¯s spiritual energy into the Evil Suppressing Sword. ¡°What a cunning swordsman!¡± Ling Yuhua couldn¡¯t help but curse. Xi Jikui¡¯s face turned extremely grim, especially as he saw that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was gradually dissipating, shrinking by a layer in just a moment. Above the sky, the giant sword spanned across the heavens, with its sword intent soaring to the skies. Meanwhile, the combined Inner Strength of the other ten First Grade Experts stirred up enormous waves, shaking the entirety of Three Temple Mountain, nearly submerging it into the furious oceanic tides. ¡°Too powerful!¡± Looking up at the battle above, Fa Wu and the distant Dai Ling both went blank in their minds, feeling as if the swordsman before them was not of the same breed, but rather a Sword Immortal who could turn the world upside down and stir the wind and clouds. ¡°Any one of these ten First Grade Experts is a famous master in the Jianghu, and even a master in the Half-step Master Realm would be crushed by their boundless Inner Strength.¡± ¡°Who exactly is this swordsman!? What is his background!?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of the five great Sword Immortals in the Jianghu, but from today onwards, there might appear a sixth Sword Immortal in Jianghu.¡± ¡­.. Everyone present was tremendously shaken, speculating the identity of the swordsman. ¡°Why can this swordsman burn Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!?¡± Li Yue frowned tightly, thinking to herself. Only a master in the Grandmaster Realm could harness nature¡¯s spiritual energy, and Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence is the quintessence of that spiritual energy, such that even ordinary Grandmasters would find it difficult to burn and utilize directly. ¡°This swordsman¡¯s identity is too mysterious, and his strength is extremely formidable; he will certainly become a Half-step Master in the future. If he could join the Demon Sect, it would undoubtedly enhance our sect¡¯s prestige,¡± Li Fuzhou thought to himself as he watched the awe-inspiring swordsman before him. ¡°We can¡¯t continue fighting like this. If we keep going, it will only lead to mutual destruction, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence will be depleted by that swordsman.¡± Liu Qingshan said with furrowed brows. Even if they were to win in the end, there wouldn¡¯t be much of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence left. The rest of the masters also nodded in agreement, clearly concurring with Liu Qingshan¡¯s words. ¡°Clang!¡± Upon hearing this, Xi Jikui turned the Dragon and Phoenix Double Rings in his hands, and the previously deadlocked situation suddenly changed. A tremendous sound of metal clashing echoed forth, and immediately after the giant sword came to an abrupt halt, the other masters swiftly retreated. The giant sword transformed into a streak of light across the heaven and earth and then flew towards the night sky before finally dispersing. An Jing quickly retracted his Qi Mechanism, but a domineering rebound of force came through, causing his body to plummet like a kite with a broken string, eventually smashing into the walls of the hall, where he was finally able to arrest his momentum. After that, he felt a sweet taste in his mouth, followed by blood still trickling down the corner of his lips. ¡°No good, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence is about to scatter.¡± Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence gathered from nature¡¯s spiritual energy and was originally refined by Grandmaster level masters. After being left for a long time, it would dissipate into nothingness. Nature¡¯s spiritual energy could still be harnessed into the Dantian, but the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was so pure that if absorbed into the Dantian, it would require a tremendous amount of Inner Strength to suppress the essence, limiting one¡¯s strength to only fifty percent. This was undoubtedly akin to becoming a lamb to the slaughter. Naturally, An Jing would not do such a foolish thing. The ten great masters, too, were shaken by the aftershock of the giant sword and retreated backward, each with a particularly ugly expression on their faces. Good opportunity! When they saw An Jing spitting out blood, a glint appeared in everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Since you all want this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± An Jing tossed the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in his hand. ¡°Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence!¡± Seeing the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, everyone¡¯s eyes lit up, and they rushed towards it. ¡°Slash!¡± In the next moment, a ruthless sword light slashed down, targeting the Spirit Essence. This sword light shot through heaven and earth! The one who drew the sword was An Jing himself. The sword light was incredibly fast, falling in an instant, and before anyone could react, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence directly shattered, turning into several faint, tiny sparks. The swordsman actually destroyed the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence! Such a malicious swordsman! What an unscrupulous swordsman! The collective masters were shocked and angry! ¡°Thief¡­.¡± Just as Tian Cansou was about to curse in anger, his expression suddenly changed drastically. He saw that as the sword struck, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence instantly split, turning into six fine streaks of blue light. Nature¡¯s spiritual energy! The Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was split by a single sword strike, not dissipating directly, but transforming into six streams of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. The spiritual energy began to spread out, drifting toward the night sky, seemingly ready to vanish into the cosmos. The numerous masters present, like madmen, rushed towards the spiritual energy. Liu Qingshan, Li Fuzhou, Xi Jikui, Tian Liu, and Guo Yuchun were among those who caught up with three of the streams, while Ling Yuhua, Li Yue, and Gu Renwo chased after one of them. An Jing was taken aback by this as well. He had wanted to obliterate the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, but to his surprise, it had split apart. With a swift movement, he rushed towards the nearest piece of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Another person was after the same target, and that was Zhang Shuang. Relying on the sharpness of the Evil Suppressing Sword, An Jing brandished his longsword, forcing Zhang Shuang to hastily retreat. He grasped the strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy in his hand and then directly channeled it into his Dantian. ¡°You!¡± Seeing this, Zhang Shuang¡¯s face immediately changed dramatically. ¡°If we join forces now, he is heavily injured and relying on the damaged Evil Suppressing Sword, he might not be a match for the two of us.¡± Just then, Gan Yue spoke from the side. Since An Jing had been able to fight against a number of higher-ups just before, it was clear that he relied on the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Now that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was gone, and he had taken a heavy hit, it was an excellent opportunity. ¡°Good!¡± After speaking, the two of them charged towards An Jing. ¡°It¡¯s nature¡¯s will for rain to fall and for a woman to marry, since you seek death, don¡¯t blame me for what comes next.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes were like torches, and his longsword slashed out in his hand. The Nine-character Sword Technique! The Lin Character Secret! With the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand, its sword light was unmatched in sharpness. Gan Yue¡¯s fist force was split in two, and his body was forced to retreat again and again. Zhang Shuang swung her long whip in her hands, the sound of the wind howling forth, a cold gleam thrusting straight at An Jing¡¯s eyebrow. Just at that critical moment, An Jing leapt, avoiding the whip shadow. ¡°Bang!¡± The tip of the whip struck the ground fiercely, and the ground exploded open. Gan Yue advanced with large steps once again, this time his moves were not as fierce and overbearing, but instead contained a bit of cunning, clearly aiming to evade the sword light of An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword. Both of these Great Heavenly Gang members were at the Human Flower Realm, with cultivation just a notch below An Jing¡¯s, but their combined forces made it difficult for the injured An Jing wielding the Evil Suppressing Sword to overcome them. ¡°Gentlemen, stay calm and don¡¯t be rash. Zhang is here to lend you a hand.¡± Just as the fight among the three became indistinguishable, a figure dashed forward. This person was none other than Tian Cansou. An Jing had seen it clearly before; the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence had turned into six strands of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, and Tian Cansou, with his swift movement skills, had already claimed one of those strands first. Among such a fierce combat of many high-level experts, it was already extremely difficult to seize one strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Yet, having obtained a strand and not leaving evidently showed that he still coveted the strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy that An Jing held. Although Tian Cansou spoke in such a way, he clearly had no intention of making a move, obviously waiting for An Jing and the other two to injure each other seriously before he would strike. Facing the two of them, An Jing advanced instead of retreating, the cold light from the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand flaring in all directions. ¡°Go away!¡± Seeing this, Zhang Shuang¡¯s long whip swept out, like the vast Yellow River, its momentum fierce and overwhelming. ¡°Sss!¡± The sword light shifted, the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword was incredibly sharp, wielded by An Jing to extremes. Zhang Shuang¡¯s whip was instantly cut into several pieces. At this moment, behind An Jing, the Human Flower and Earth Flower emerged, swaying in the night sky. ¡°Not good!¡± Zhang Shuang¡¯s face showed panic, and she quickly retreated towards the distance. ¡°The Earth Flower Realm, did he break through just now?¡± Gan Yue was also taken aback. No one had expected that, although the swordsman was indeed injured, with the help of the traveling Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence within his body, his cultivation had broken through to the Earth Flower Realm. The peak of the Human Flower and Earth Flower, though seemingly just a step apart, represent an immeasurable increase in cultivation. Add to that the swordsman¡¯s exquisite swordsmanship and the exceptional Evil Suppressing Sword in hand. ¡°It¡¯s too late to retreat now!¡± An Jing sneered coldly, the Evil Suppressing Sword pointing forward. ¡°Shiick!¡± The sword light was extremely fast, its edge so sharp it seemed it could pierce the air itself. ¡°Gurgle¨C!¡± Zhang Shuang¡¯s body faltered, the Evil Suppressing Sword piercing her chest, then with a ¡°thud!¡± she fell to the ground. ¡°Run quickly!¡± Seeing this, Gan Yue felt a chill rush to the top of his head. ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± An Jing¡¯s Qi Force turned in his hand, and the Evil Suppressing Sword flew out straight away. The sword light surged, tearing a rift in the night sky, light and darkness intertwining, creating a sense of confusion. The Sword Control Technique! The sword light charged forward, the world fell silent, as if only the longsword reverberated in the air. ¡°Pfft!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword penetrated Gan Yue¡¯s body. In an instant, two Great Heavenly Gang members lay deceased. ¡°Two Great Heavenly Gang members are dead!¡± The Gold Constables who were still intending to rush forward all halted, each gasping in cold air. Great Heavenly Gang! Those were the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Jade Constables, almost the very top warriors of the Xuanyi Guard. Usually, losing one Great Heavenly Gang member required a death notice to be sent out to the whole world, but now two had been lost within a few breaths. ¡°Run fast!¡± The high-level experts of the Xuanyi Guard, fearing that the swordsman¡¯s point would turn on them next, each fled toward the distant forest, like startled birds. ¡°This swordsman has been promoted to the Earth Flower Realm, his strength is comparable to mine, and with the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand, he is certainly not my match.¡± Tian Cansou felt as if his heart were about to leap out upon seeing this scene. He had originally thought of taking advantage of the chaos to gain another strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, but now it seemed completely like a fool¡¯s dream. With that thought, Tian Cansou retreated towards the back. ¡°Zhang Zhixing, I need your head for a moment!¡± Tian Cansou just thought of escaping, but Li Fuzhou had already rushed over, blocking his path. ¡°` The Sect Hierarch has decreed that Tian Cansou cannot leave Yu State City alive. An Jing also stood, sword in hand, behind him, his gaze icy cold, not speaking but emitting an aura of murderous intent. ¡°Both of you have already obtained nature¡¯s spiritual energy, why make things difficult for me?¡± Tian Cansou laughed softly. ¡°Then why not obtain a bit more if we can?¡± An Jing said indifferently. Just now, when Zhang Shuang and Gan Yue were attacking him together, if he had shown any weakness, Tian Cansou would surely have dealt him a fatal blow. ¡°You must die,¡± Li Fuzhou said calmly. ¡°Good, very good!¡± Tian Cansou laughed in furious mockery, ¡°Since you both insist on pushing me to a dead end, then Zhang will dispense with the pleasantries.¡± With that, Tian Cansou stomped his foot and a leg lashed out fiercely towards An Jing. An Jing raised his Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, and the sword light became chaotic. Unexpectedly, Tian Cansou¡¯s attack was a feint, and as he withdrew his attack, he turned and fled into the distance. ¡°You think you can escape!?¡± An Jing was slightly startled, then quickly sprang after him in pursuit. Tian Cansou relied on his leg technique, hence his movement technique was also excellent, extremely fast; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to take away that wisp of nature¡¯s spiritual energy amidst the earlier chaos. Li Fuzhou also hurried in pursuit, as the Sect Hierarch had said that this man must not be allowed to leave Yu State City. ¡°Great Elder!¡± Just then, a figure appeared ahead. It was Dai Ling. ¡°Quick, run!¡± Seeing Dai Ling suddenly appear, Tian Cansou quickly shouted. Upon hearing this, Dai Ling tensed up and, without any carelessness, followed Tian Cansou and leaped towards the distance. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± Li Fuzhou sneered, and a palm struck towards Dai Ling. Compared to Tian Cansou, Dai Ling¡¯s speed was without a doubt much slower. Seeing this, Tian Cansou had no choice but to turn back and meet Li Fuzhou¡¯s palm head-on. ¡°Thud!¡± The collision unleashed violent forces all around. Tian Cansou staggered backward, then suddenly kicked Dai Ling away, ¡°This is the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, you must go.¡± He forced out the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence from within his dantian and infused it into Dai Ling¡¯s body. ¡°What about you, Great Elder?¡± Dai Ling frowned and asked. ¡°Go! Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Tian Cansou shouted lowly. ¡°He can¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± Just then, An Jing¡¯s sword light arrived with the wind. Tian Cansou could only meet An Jing again, his legs moving in a blur like a whirlwind. ¡°Great Elder¡­¡± ¡°Run!¡± Tian Cansou bellowed. ¡°She can¡¯t escape¡­¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s gaze carried an intent to kill. Killing the daughter of Dai Danshu, Dai Danshu would probably go mad, right? He wanted to see what it would look like when Dai Danshu lost his mind. With that thought, he dashed forward with large strides, his palm mercilessly striking towards Dai Ling. Tian Cansou was still unsteady but managed to step forward, blocking the way in front of Dai Ling. ¡°Bang!¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s palm hit Tian Cansou squarely on the body. ¡°Great Elder!¡± Dai Ling¡¯s heart trembled. ¡°Go¡­quickly¡­¡± Blood streamed from Tian Cansou¡¯s mouth as he spoke. With tears in her eyes, Dai Ling clenched her teeth and dashed off into the distance. An Jing wanted to follow and eliminate the roots, but Tian Cansou fought with desperate strength, launching a leg attack at him. ¡°Seeking death!¡± Both An Jing and Li Fuzhou were entangled by him; even a few sword marks on their bodies didn¡¯t make them retreat. ¡°Then I¡¯ll grant you your death wish,¡± An Jing declared, his eyes filled with murderous intent, as his Evil Suppressing Sword swept forward. Tian Cansou had just engaged Li Fuzhou and had no opportunity to block this swift strike. ¡°Pffft!¡± Tian Cansou¡¯s body was split in two, severed at the waist, blood soaking through the skewed floorboards. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Gurgle¡­ gurgle¡­¡± ¡°Go¡­ go¡­¡± ¡°` Tian Cansou lay on the ground, his pupils wide open, staring fixedly at Dai Ling¡¯s disappearing figure, with half of his body struggling incessantly as if trying to rise again. In the end, he couldn¡¯t muster the strength to breathe, and his life extinguished completely. ¡°Chi!¡± Li Fuzhou extended a finger, and a streak of black-and-white light shot out. The finger light pierced through heaven and earth, aiming straight for Dai Ling¡¯s back. ¡°Wow!¡± Dai Ling¡¯s body stumbled, rolling forward before struggling to her feet and desperately running away into the distance. In the blink of an eye, she had already covered several dozen feet. Li Fuzhou¡¯s brows deeply furrowed; he pondered for a moment but did not pursue her. ¡°Inner Armor is indeed a good thing, saving her life twice.¡± An Jing did not chase after Dai Ling. His Inner Strength was nearly depleted, and his repeated intense battles had left him seriously injured. Most likely, he wouldn¡¯t catch up; with this in mind, he turned his attention to Li Fuzhou. The person before him was certainly a hidden threat! ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn.¡± Li Fuzhou raised an eyebrow, ¡°My good sir, we bear no grudges against each other, yes? Besides, I helped you block that Zhang¡­¡± ¡°There was none before, but there is now.¡± An Jing shouted coldly, his longsword swiping towards Li Fuzhou. Even with little Inner Strength left, the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s edge was unmatched, terrifyingly formidable. Li Fuzhou could only retreat repeatedly. Since when had he made an enemy of this swordsman? Was it during the struggle for the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence just now? ¡°My good sir, think carefully. You¡¯ve killed a Xuanyi Guard¡¯s expert and now seek to make an enemy of my Demon Sect. This is an extremely unwise choice.¡± The two men, one after the other, with Li Fuzhou having absorbed nature¡¯s spiritual energy, did not wish to entangle with the swordsman at the moment and simply dodged the strikes of the Evil Suppressing Sword. An Jing paid no heed to anything else, his only desire at the moment was to eliminate this hidden threat within his house. ¡°Bang bang bang bang!¡± Under the night sky, there were only the sounds of the two figures crossing and their Inner Strength clashing. Li Fuzhou, intimidated by An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword, felt his Inner Strength bottoming out after repeated intense battles and became somewhat timid. Unwittingly, the two had fought their way to the front of Vilu Hall. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± Just then, a dark shadow flashed by rapidly. Fast! Too fast! The shadow stopped over the dried cadaver, leaving behind a string of afterimages. ¡°That person!?¡± Both An Jing and Li Fuzhou were shaken; neither could see the shadow clearly. To elude the vision of both men, this shadow must belong to a grandmaster. Both paused their fight, but in the blink of an eye, the shadow had already reached the dried corpse, lifted the sinister body filled with evil energy, and soared away into the distance. It all happened in a flash! Nearly in the blink of an eye, neither man had recovered from the shock. ¡°Grandmaster¡­?¡± An Jing¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The fleeting figure had moved so quickly that even he failed to capture its shadow, it must have been a grandmaster of the Jianghu, the only one capable of such power. Had there been a grandmaster lurking around this whole time? What was the intention of this grandmaster? An Jing¡¯s mind swirled with chaos and confusion. Li Fuzhou, too, felt a chill in his heart. To think such a formidable figure was hiding nearby was terrifying. But why did this person not take the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence but instead took the cadaver filled with evil energy? Questions flooded their minds. Their hearts surged, unable to calm down. ¡°My good sir, we shall meet again.¡± Li Fuzhou, having realized something, no longer tangled with An Jing. He leaped away, swiftly vanishing above Vilu Hall. ¡°It¡¯s best to leave this place quickly.¡± An Jing glanced at the direction where the dark shadow disappeared, then looked at the way Li Fuzhou left. Carrying the Evil Suppressing Sword, he hurriedly departed. ¡­ The night deepened over the path outside Yu State City. An Jing, in his dark green robe, sailed through the trees, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the Chaotic Tomb Mound to the north of the city. ¡°Clang!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword, under the moonlight, revealed a stream of silvery light, with a torrent of sword intent flowing gently. This was no ordinary sword. An Jing could not possibly hide it inside the medicine box compartment, and after realizing Li Fuzhou¡¯s identity, he was even less likely to keep the Evil Suppressing Sword at home. Therefore, he decided to find a place to bury the Evil Suppressing Sword. Chaotic Tomb Mound was undoubtedly the best place, as hardly anyone came here. After an intense struggle for possession, An Jing realized the true worth of the Evil Suppressing Sword. To think that the piece he held was only one of six incomplete blades but allowed his power to visibly increase so markedly. What terror would the complete Evil Suppressing Sword wield? ¡°There¡¯s still fresh blood on the sword¡­¡± ¡°` At this moment, An Jing noticed there was still fresh blood on the body of the Evil Suppressing Sword. ¡°Could it be left from earlier?¡± Thinking of this, his Inner Strength vibrated, converging like a tide onto the blade, attempting to shake off the blood on it. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± When the Inner Strength was infused into the sword, the Evil Suppressing Sword emitted a crisp sound of sword singing. However, the blood on it did not show the slightest ripple. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing looked at the blood on the blade. At this glance, he immediately frowned deeply. The blood on the blade was blackish-red, and at this moment, not only did it not scatter, but it instead clung to the blade, flowing incessantly. It was as if parasitic on the blade. ¡°This blood is odd¡­¡± An Jing stared at the blackish-red blood on the blade, his fingers involuntarily touching it. The moment his finger touched the blood, it was as if there was a sound in his brain, and An Jing felt violence, cruelty, terror, malevolence, fear¡­ These evil, negative emotions surged like tumultuous waves, violently crashing in, as if trying to fill his mind. The next moment, the Daluo Heart Method operated, and a cool breath reached his mind. It took a good while before he came to his senses, afterward staring solemnly at the blackish-red blood on the sword. ¡°What exactly is this blood on the Evil Suppressing Sword? Why can¡¯t it be expelled, and why does it bring such severe negative emotions¡­¡± Under the moonlight, the blackish-red blood appeared eerie and seductively charming. Although the Evil Suppressing Sword possessed supreme sharpness, it seemed to also harbor an unknown terror. When he pulled out the Evil Suppressing Sword, what was that roaring sound that could evoke an instinctive fear in him? And who was that dried corpse? And who was the master expert that appeared at the end? What was the purpose of the master expert taking away the dried corpse? Considering a master expert¡¯s involvement, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence would have nothing to do with those present on the scene. Could it be that the dried corpse was more precious than the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence? ¡°Forget it, don¡¯t think about it now.¡± An Jing pondered for a moment, finding that he hardly had any clues. He suppressed the doubts in his heart and came to a locust tree in the Chaotic Burial Ground, quickly dug a small hole, and buried the Evil Suppressing Sword. Three feet in front of the tree, the famous sword is hidden here. If it proves useful one day, it will be unearthed then. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this Evil Suppressing Sword is a blessing or a curse; I hope there won¡¯t be a chance to use it in the future.¡± An Jing sighed softly, ¡°However, that spiritual energy of heaven and earth is indeed a good thing. Once I completely absorb this spiritual energy, the Earth Flower Realm should be able to stabilize completely.¡± As the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence circulated into the Evil Suppressing Sword, it had also traveled through his body once, and the residual presence helped him condense his Earth Flower. Although the Earth Flower was already condensed, it was not yet stable. After all, it usually took others years or even decades of cultivation to reach the Earth Flower Realm, to polish and then stabilize it. But a wisp of spiritual energy from heaven and earth could save many years of effort, indeed a rare treasure. ¡­¡­ Outside Wuyang Tavern. Shui Zhongyue leaned on the eaves in the distance, holding a jug of fine wine bought from the tavern, looking indescribably carefree and relaxed. ¡°This young doctor and the arrest officer can really hold their liquor. They are not so drunk as to be insensible, are they?¡± Shui Zhongyue sipped the wine while murmuring to herself. As an expert of the Human Sect, specifically responsible for inspection, tracking, and thievery, they naturally have techniques for concealing their presence. In addition to this, they possess extremely strong minds and willpower. Therefore, there are not many experts in the Human Sect, but every one of them is an elite of the elite. Especially Shui Zhongyue and Huo Zhongyun, they are the elite of the elite within the Human Sect¡ªraised by the Demon Sect since childhood, growing up in the Demon Sect Main Hall, not only are their strengths profound, but their loyalty to the Demon Sect is also absolute. ¡°Forget it, why should I care about such trivial matters? Just keep an eye on this young doctor.¡± Shui Zhongyue muttered to herself, then raised her head for another swig of wine. The moment she tilted her head back, a figure silently slipped into the private room. The room was a mess. Han Wenxin lay sprawled across the table, mumbling incoherently, unclear as to what he was saying. An Jing picked up the medicine box, planning to place the medical cape into it. ¡°Brother An!?¡± At that moment, Han Wenxin abruptly sat upright, looking at An Jing with bleary, confused eyes. An Jing blinked, somewhat astonished as he looked at the now wide-eyed Han Wenxin. Could it be that the boy had awoken at this time? Did he realize something? ¡°Give me change¡­ change¡­ This young master is not short of money¡­ thunk.¡± Han Wenxin¡¯s words trailed off as his head once again heavily fell onto the table. An Jing breathed a sigh of relief, then took off his robe, and patted Han Wenxin¡¯s cheek, ¡°Brother Han? Brother Han, wake up.¡± Han Wenxin lay there like a dead pig, without the slightest response. ¡°It seems I¡¯m overly concerned.¡± An Jing shook his head, then jokingly said, ¡°Brother Han, I treated you to a meal? It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you to pay, right?¡± As he spoke, his hand reached out to take Han Wenxin¡¯s money bag. Though the prices at Wuyang Tavern were relatively fair, the two had drunk at least five jin of liquor today, plus the delicious meals on the table. When An Jing offered to treat, Han Wenxin did not hesitate in the least; he ordered all of Wuyang Tavern¡¯s signature dishes, especially the saut¨¦ed kidney slices for which he called for three plates¡­ Calculating all these together, that would surely require quite a bit of silver. The moment An Jing picked up his purse, he immediately felt something was amiss. Then, he stretched out his hand and turned the purse upside down. ¡°Clatter! Clatter!¡± A few dozen copper coins fell into his palm, not even amounting to one tael of silver. ¡°Fuck! This is me not lacking money?!¡± Angrily, An Jing flung the purse at Han Wenxin¡¯s head. ¡­.. Yu State City, Mazi Lane. The entire Yu State City had fallen into slumber, immersed in silence. ¡°The second watch of the Hai hour, close your doors and windows to prevent theft.¡± At this moment, the sound of the night watchman¡¯s gong echoed through the lane. ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t this young Doctor An?¡± The night watchman spotted An Jing carrying Han Wenxin on his back and hurriedly greeted him. The manpower of Yu State Prefecture was generally divided into three shifts, a crude categorization. Station shift attendants: Maintain vigilance and order, stand at both sides of the hall during trials to uphold discipline, escort criminals, and execute torture and flogging punishments. Arrest shift constables: Briefly known as constables, they mainly rush about on the orders of the county officials, conducting secret investigations, patrolling at night, and carrying out summons and arrests during incidents, with the constable shift often filled by people who are alert and quick on their feet. Han Wenxin was a constable and even among them an arresting officer, a position in the middle hierarchy. Labor shift workers: Responsible for guarding city gates, government offices, warehouses, prisons, and other critical locations. Forensic doctors who inspect bodies and injuries, night watchmen who patrol, winnowers who guard the warehouses, timekeeping drummers, coachmen who care for horses, cooks who prepare meals, and other various servants of the government office are all referred to as government officials. ¡°Has Lord Han gotten drunk again?¡± The night watchman glanced at Han Wenxin on An Jing¡¯s back, seeming to have long become accustomed to such events. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m taking him home now.¡± An Jing nodded, then asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it the Hai hour yet?¡± An Jing had been delayed on Three Temple Mountain for at least an hour or two. By rights, it should have been past the Hai hour by now. ¡°The Hai hour is almost over.¡± The night watchman chuckled heh-heh, guiltily adding, ¡°Old Jiang from the Sima Supervision was just chatting and shooting the breeze with me, which caused the delay.¡± An Jing nodded slightly, but inwardly he cursed: Damn, the Hai hour is almost over. Thinking this, he called out and then hurriedly made his way toward Han Wenxin¡¯s home. After crossing Mazi Lane and reaching Tianxiang Street, An Jing came to Han Wenxin¡¯s home and knocked on the door. ¡°Thump thump!¡± ¡°You little bastard, you still know to come back?¡± The door slowly opened, revealing a man around fifty years old, clad in an overcoat, stepping out. The man was tall and burly, with two tufts of white at his temples, and his facial features bore a seventy percent resemblance to Han Wenxin¡¯s. This was Han Wenxin¡¯s father, Han Ju. Han Ju was a retired arresting officer from Yu State City, and it was said that at the time of his retirement he was at the peak of the Fifth Grade. Han Wenxin was able to become an arresting officer of Yu State City at such a young age partly because of his own competence and partly because of his father. Wang He¡¯s cultivation was also Fifth Grade, but he was younger than Han Ju and had a glimmer of a chance to advance to the Fourth Grade. Moreover, since Han Ju had retired and lost his power, Wang Zhiping was not afraid of Han Wenxin. ¡°Uncle Han.¡± Upon seeing Han Ju step out, An Jing set Han Wenxin down from his back, ¡°Today, Brother Han drank a bit too much¡­¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s young Doctor An, I¡¯m sorry to trouble you.¡± Han Ju¡¯s brows relaxed slightly, then he looked reproachfully at Han Wenxin, scolding him, ¡°This damnable brat thinks of nothing but frolicking every day, never diligent in his cultivation. I might as well have splattered him against the wall back then¡­¡± As he spoke, Han Ju picked up Han Wenxin as easily as one would a chick. An Jing chuckled dryly on the side. Ever since An Jing helped Han Wenxin treat the horse of the Sima Supervision, he not only became friendly with Han Wenxin, but the Han Family also took good care of him. In both the marketplace and the jianghu, as well as in the corridors of power, a doctor with superior medical skills is always in demand. Of course, that is provided one doesn¡¯t flip the table. Once the table is flipped, it all comes down to fists. Connections are often intangible; when useful, connections can reach the heavens, but when useless, they are truly of no use at all. An Jing was familiar with Han Ju and was not surprised that he could say such things. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, the hour is late, Uncle Han, I should head back now.¡± An Jing bowed and prepared to leave. After all, the Hai hour was almost over, and it was very late. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Han Ju hesitated for a while and eventually couldn¡¯t help but call out. ¡°Uncle Han, is there something else?¡± An Jing turned back to look at Han Ju, who seemed hesitant to speak. Han Ju chuckled lightly, ¡°Young Doctor An, I¡¯ve heard from that rascal that you have a certain medicine that¡¯s quite good. I have a friend¡­¡± A friend!? An Jing immediately understood, ¡°Uncle Han, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll prepare it for you by tomorrow. Then you can send someone to my pharmacy to pick it up.¡± ¡°Good, good, then I¡¯ll trouble you with that.¡± Han Ju¡¯s face glowed with delight upon hearing this. ¡­¡­. Jishi Hall, the candlelight flickered, casting a faint glow. By the light of the candles, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s delicate hands worked with needle and thread, sewing winter clothing. Tan Yun walked in, ¡°Miss, the master has obtained the nature¡¯s spiritual energy and is now looking for a place to retreat and recover from his injuries.¡± The news of the Human Sect spread very quickly, especially around Jiangnan Dao. By now, Li Fuzhou¡¯s network had been gradually set up. Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly, then continued sewing the clothes. ¡°The qi mechanism on Three Temple Mountain is violently fluctuating; it seems there are many experts on the mountain tonight. We¡¯ll talk about it when Third Master returns tomorrow morning.¡± She wasn¡¯t surprised that Li Fuzhou had obtained that heaven and earth spiritual energy. Tan Yun hesitated, then bit her lip and said, ¡°Miss, the young master has run off to drink again. You might as well rest early today.¡± The young master dared to deceive the miss and run off to drink; his courage is getting bigger and fatter¡­ ¡°Him?¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled softly and whispered, ¡°Let him go out to drink if he wants to. He might have something on his mind. I¡¯ll ask him when he comes back.¡± In her heart, Tan Yun scorned, What worries could that stinking young master have? I see he¡¯s happy every day. Anyway, I don¡¯t know what he thinks about all day long. After an unknown period, Zhao Qingmei finally raised her head. ¡°Alright, you go back and rest.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± Tan Yun stuck out her tongue playfully, then picked up the little black pup from the ground and headed to the back courtyard. Time passed, and footsteps were heard from outside the door. ¡°Tap tap tap¡­¡± A glint of light flashed in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes, and she put down the winter clothes in her hands. ¡°Madam, I¡¯m back.¡± An Jing walked in through the side door carrying a medicine chest, exhaling deeply, ¡°The weather is getting colder and colder.¡± He knew that, even so late, Zhao Qingmei was still not resting and waiting for him. ¡°Why are you so late today? Are you hungry?¡± Zhao Qingmei took An Jing¡¯s medicine chest and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go cook a bowl of noodles for you.¡± An Jing nodded and smiled, ¡°Sure, put more lard in it.¡± ¡°Mhm, got it.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled, then headed to the kitchen. Watching Zhao Qingmei¡¯s retreating figure, a tinge of guilt rose in An Jing¡¯s heart, ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t have come back so late and made Qingmei worry¡­¡± ¡­¡­ Jishi Hall, bedroom. An Jing sat at the desk, engrossed in a book he was holding. ¡°Husband, the noodles are ready.¡± Soon after, a crisp voice sounded, and Zhao Qingmei walked in with a bowl of noodles. The noodles steamed hotly, mixed with lard shining on top, and two poached eggs on the side. ¡°Smells delicious.¡± An Jing smiled, took the chopsticks, and couldn¡¯t help but feel his mouth water. ¡°Go ahead and eat.¡± Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei felt a surge of satisfaction. ¡°Slurp¡­ Madam, have you noticed, Third Master is quite strange?¡± After taking a bite of the noodles, An Jing casually remarked. ¡°What¡¯s strange about Third Master?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart stirred slightly, but she kept a calm face as she spoke. Could it be that the husband has discovered something? But that shouldn¡¯t be possible. Li Fuzhou, the Sect Master of the Human Sect, would absolutely not make such a small mistake to let the husband see through him. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± An Jing paused, ¡°He always goes out at night. Do you think an old man can handle that?¡± Recently, Li Fuzhou was going out more and more frequently, even more than Zhou Xianming did when he was around. Hearing this, Zhao Qingmei gave An Jing a glare, ¡°Why do you care about him so much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m concerned about him. Look, he¡¯s no longer young, but he keeps carousing¡ªit¡¯s not good.¡± An Jing laughed and then continued to probe, ¡°By the way, you said Third Master used to be the accountant in your family. How long had he been there?¡± Zhao Qingmei once mentioned that Li Fuzhou had been an accountant in her family, and she told him they weren¡¯t very familiar with each other. For the Sect Master of the Demon Sect to hide in a common household, could there be some purpose behind it? Zhao Qingmei¡¯s beautiful eyes blinked and she said, ¡°As I¡¯ve told you before, I¡¯m not too familiar with him, it wasn¡¯t for long, just a bit over a year.¡± Indeed, she hadn¡¯t been the Sect Hierarch for long, and Li Fuzhou had been working for her for about the same amount of time. An Jing nodded nonchalantly, but his brows furrowed in thought. It seems the Demon Sect experts following me these days are acting on Li Fuzhou¡¯s orders. Judging by tonight, Li Fuzhou definitely doesn¡¯t know my true identity. So, what could be the reason he¡¯s tracking me? To monitor me? The Sect Master of the Demon Sect, doing menial jobs right in my own house¡ªif this were to be told, nobody would believe it. It¡¯s just too absurd! For An Jing, this is definitely a huge hidden danger. He just wants to live an ordinary life, at least until his Life Fate fully takes root. He doesn¡¯t want to stir up too much trouble, and Li Fuzhou is a big problem even if he does nothing at all. And that Tan Yun, does she know anything? ¡°Husband, what are you thinking about?¡± Seeing An Jing lost in thought with his noodle eating paused, Zhao Qingmei couldn¡¯t help but ask. An Jing laughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just think it¡¯s so late now, Third Master definitely won¡¯t be coming back tonight.¡± ¡°You know as well as I do that Third Master is just like that,¡± Zhao Qingmei peeled garlic as she spoke, ¡°I heard he was quite the charmer when he was young.¡± An Jing nodded but his eyebrows involuntarily furrowed. That old man Li Fuzhou was too good at pretending. From his words tonight, it seemed he also had a dubious relationship with Ling Yuhua. This old man was not only ugly, but also a player! It seemed that Zhao Qingmei was completely in the dark now, hoodwinked, although Li Fuzhou hadn¡¯t made any dangerous moves yet. Likely, Li Fuzhou was just using this identity to hide in the market streets of Great Yan, facilitating his actions in the shadows. Perhaps his trip to Yu State City also involved some other unspeakable secrets. But if his cover was blown, then An Jing and Zhao Qingmei might end up being labeled as remnants of the Demon Sect¡­ Demon Sect remnants¡­ They would have to spend their lives hiding and running all over Great Yan. The more An Jing thought about it, the more frightened he felt, thinking to himself, ¡°Tan Yun won¡¯t leave until after the new year. I should find him in the next few days to ask about the situation since he is well-informed. Then, I¡¯ll probe into that old man Li Fuzhou.¡± ¡°My husband.¡± Just then, Zhao Qingmei pulled out a jar of wine from under the bed. ¡°My lady, this is¡­?¡± An Jing looked at the jar of wine before him, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes. Zhao Qingmei opened up the seal on the jar, her fair face flushing red as she said, ¡°Since we had the wedding wine, it¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had a drink together.¡± With that, she placed a jar of wine across from An Jing. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± An Jing subconsciously nodded. Aside from medicinal wine, he seldom drank. Zhao Qingmei broke open the seal and then sat opposite An Jing, her eyes full of tender affection: ¡°Husband, today I shall join you for a good drink and to talk about some recent troubles.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing took the wine jar from Zhao Qingmei and filled the cups to the brim. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s red lips touched the cup¡¯s edge, and she tilted her pale neck back, letting the wine flow smoothly down her throat in a way that held a certain heroic air, afterwards, her cheeks turned slightly red. An Jing gave a thumbs up, ¡°You truly are magnanimous, heroine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a heroine; I only want to be your wife,¡± Zhao Qingmei said petulantly, ¡°It¡¯s your turn to drink.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing raised his cup to Zhao Qingmei, gave a toast, and then drank it all in one gulp. In the dim glow of the candles, the couple sipped and exchanged cups, chatting quietly now and then, with Zhao Qingmei bursting into laughter at An Jing¡¯s jokes. It was as if even the night had taken on a more wonderful hue. ¡°Husband, are you worried about something?¡± Zhao Qingmei casually asked as she poured another two cups. An Jing paused mid-gesture, but quickly smoothed his expression and said beamingly, ¡°What could I possibly be worried about? Being able to marry such a flower-like wife is the fortune of eight lifetimes for me.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes were watery as she looked at An Jing, ¡°Is that so? I feel like you¡¯re always hiding something from me.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± An Jing, feeling guilty, immediately emptied his cup in one gulp. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Truly, I haven¡¯t lied to you.¡± ¡°If you ever have any troubles, remember to tell me.¡± Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly, unconcerned about An Jing having gone out with Han Wenxin for drinks. After all, they hadn¡¯t been drinking flower wine. ¡°I really don¡¯t have any troubles.¡± An Jing poured two more small cups and then stood up, looking out the window with a sense of longing, ¡°When spring comes next year, I¡¯m going to plant the whole yard with chrysanthemums, which should bloom by summer time.¡± Zhao Qingmei came over to An Jing¡¯s side, filled with aspiration, ¡°A yard full of chrysanthemums would be so beautiful.¡± ¡°If we plant red roses around them, it would be even prettier.¡± ¡°Why plant red roses, they have so many thorns.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, red roses have other meanings.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand, but you can tell me.¡± ¡­¡­.. The moonlight was hazy, and the two of them kept pouring drinks for each other, one after another. ¡°My lady, you truly are a good drinker¡­¡± An Jing also felt slightly tipsy, leaning against the chair, a little lightheaded. The wine Zhao Qingmei had brought out felt incredibly potent, even stronger than the Fire Blade wine from the Wuyang Restaurant by three degrees¡ªand that was after already having several drinks with Han Wenxin. ¡°Brother, why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± Zhao Qingmei poured another two cups and then came over to An Jing, smiling as she said. ¡°I can¡¯t drink anymore¡­¡± An Jing shook his head, as drinking any more would mean using his inner strength to expel the alcohol. ¡°Brother, if you ever want to drink to relieve your worries, Qingmei is available anytime, anywhere,¡± said Zhao Qingmei, her cheeks flushed red like the clouds at sunset, sitting on An Jing¡¯s thigh, her seductive eyes shimmering, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be your red rose, I just want to be your wild grass, that which cannot be burned away and sprouts anew upon the wind¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only As she spoke, her red lips gently moved to An Jing¡¯s ear, a warm breeze wafting with them. ¡°Is that so? My wild grass?¡± An Jing felt a flame ignite in his heart, and then he wrapped his arms around that slender waist. Zhao Qingmei let out a soft moan, and soon closed her watery eyes. Indeed, the warmth of the wine deepened as spring thoughts stirred, and the loving couple turned the red quilt into rolling waves. ¡­.. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Who is the Champion Swordsman Under the Heavens chapter 103: chapter 103: who is the champion swordsman under the heavens late at night, the moonlight was hazy. the surroundings of three temple mountain had fallen into a deep slumber, deathly quiet. the night was chilling, and the sound of the wind was bleak with a touch of coolness. on the rugged mountain path, a figure staggered forward. this person was none other than dai ling, who had luckily escaped from vilu hall. at this moment, her expression was extremely panicked, her hair disheveled and in a mess, not knowing how far she had run. perhaps it was because of her injuries, or perhaps she was too tired. eventually, dai ling leaned against a branch, gasping for air, still cautiously looking back, fearing someone had followed her. although li fuzhou¡¯s last strike didn¡¯t kill her, with some of the force blocked by the inner armor, li fuzhou¡¯s strength was that of a half-step master. even with severe injuries, only able to exert less than twenty percent of his strength, he was still too much for her, a second grade, to withstand. dai ling had three broken ribs, especially one that had broken and pierced into her organs. had it been an ordinary person, they might have died long ago. suddenly, dense sweat covered dai ling¡¯s forehead. ¡°gurgle¡­¡± blood constantly spilled from the corner of her mouth. ¡°uncle zhang¡­¡± thinking of zhang zhixing, who had covered her retreat, dai ling¡¯s nose tingled with sourness. under the joint hands of that peerless swordsman and li fuzhou, it was absolutely impossible for zhang zhixing to survive. tian cansou had never married in his life, was reclusive by nature, and had always been grateful for the five poison sect¡¯s past hospitality. he had a deep relationship with dai danshu and treated dai ling, the daughter of the five poison young master, as his own. ¡°i would rather not have this nature¡¯s spiritual energy,¡± dai ling felt the spiritual energy within her, her eyes reddening, and finally, she couldn¡¯t hold back as tears trembled in her eyes. zhang zhixing¡¯s life had been exchanged for a strand of heaven and earth spirit essence, for the possibility of dai ling¡¯s future. but he had died. death meant being forever parted by the yin and yang, never to appear again, never to speak again¡­ thinking of this, dai ling¡¯s heart filled with even more regret. she hated herself, angry at her own strength for being just second grade. if she were of the first grade realm, she might have been able to help some. ¡°li fuzhou! and that swordsman!¡± dai ling¡¯s fingers fiercely embedded into the branches, as if she couldn¡¯t feel any pain at all. because physical pain couldn¡¯t compare to the pain inside her heart. ¡°i must leave this place quickly¡­¡± dai ling took a deep breath, gritted her teeth. she wasn¡¯t sure if li fuzhou and that swordsman would pursue her again, nor was she clear if there were any demon sect experts around. ¡°uncle zhang, i will definitely kill the both of them,¡± she walked a few steps, paused, then turned and looked back at three temple mountain once more. finally, enduring the pain, she knelt down, knocked her head three times towards the direction of three temple mountain, and then hurriedly walked away into the distance. ¡­¡­ at the south river branch, in the hall, liu qingshan sat on a chair, holding a teacup, and said lightly, ¡°tian liu was struck by a palm from li fuzhou. he will need to recover for at least a month.¡± the moment an jing split open the heaven and earth spirit essence, it split into six strands, several experts fought for it, and tian liu was hit by a palm strike from li fuzhou. li fuzhou practiced the heavenly demon qi he created, which was formidable, overpowering and extremely tyrannical. the residual heavenly demon qi within the body was very difficult to cleanse. if it hadn¡¯t been for liu qingshan¡¯s timely arrival, tian liu might have died at the hands of li fuzhou. guo yuchun said with lingering fear, ¡°i didn¡¯t expect this night at three temple mountain to be so perilous. fortunately, it was all worth it in the end, as our leader also obtained a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy.¡± the night¡¯s events had taken him by surprise. even if he had anticipated li fuzhou, and the xuanyi guard, he had not accounted for that peerless swordsman. ¡°with this strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy, my cultivation can be completely stabilized at the heavenly flower realm, and i might even have the chance to break through to the¡­ cough cough¡­ half-step master realm,¡± liu qingshan coughed violently, then said somberly, ¡°ling yuhua and the blood spirit sword also took a strand, li fuzhou took one, the swordsman and tian cansou, gan yue, and zhang shuang fought over two more, and the last one should have been taken by xi jikui.¡± after pondering for a moment, guo yuchun said, ¡°now that the blood spirit sword has obtained this strand of spiritual energy, her strength will likely soar. this is also a good thing for us. she has a heavy say in the wind and rain tower, and she supports the five gangs alliance¡­¡± ¡°sanhu gang¡¯s he yunkai is just a weathervane, only adept at playing it smart; the five gangs alliance is good for him, so he definitely won¡¯t refuse. the golden corner alliance had also agreed in advance. now only the people from wangjing sea are difficult to deal with.¡± liu qingshan pondered for a long while and said, ¡°no need to worry about wangjing sea for now; once i¡¯ve assimilated the spiritual energy and completely cleared obstacles from my path, we¡¯ll talk.¡± haste makes waste, especially with a big issue like the five gangs alliance aiming for control over the world, which was bound to attract attention from various parties. with his current strength, it was not yet time for rash actions. furthermore, among the five major gangs, there were individuals of profound strength, and he might not be able to suppress them all. one needs to be strong themselves to forge ahead; this is the unchanging truth throughout the ages. guo yuchun nodded, then frowned and said, ¡°based on reliable information, it seems someone is working on rehabilitating jiang sanjia, and the xuanyi guard¡¯s efforts to capture him are becoming weaker¡­¡± ¡°seek redress!?¡± liu qingshan heard this and scoffed, ¡°rehabilitating him is just a pretense. i bet they want to make use of him.¡± jiang sanjia was stubborn, proud, and arrogant. in the towering temple halls, he was absolutely an uncompromising purist. such a person is the least welcome presence in the temple halls. guo yuchun nodded slightly. ¡°the gang leader is right. jiang sanjia does have some capabilities. moreover, his senior brother is one of the five great sword immortals of our time, so there is naturally some sentimental regard¡­¡± when mentioning ¡®senior brother,¡¯ guo yuchun¡¯s expression undeniably turned grave. the ghost valley divine sword is one of the five great sword immortals of this era. ¡°as for his senior brother, let¡¯s forget about him¡­ cough cough¡­ it¡¯s probably the case that even if jiang sanjia dies, he won¡¯t intervene. after all, that person from the zhenyi sect is always watching him.¡± liu qingshan waved his hand dismissively, ¡°i¡¯m actually curious about that swordsman¡­¡± upon hearing this, guo yuchun grew solemn as well. one must know that the unparalleled swordsman had intervened to assist jiang sanjia on more than one occasion¡ªhis relationship with jiang sanjia was absolutely out of the ordinary. if jiang sanjia were vindicated and returned to the temple halls, then the identity of the unparalleled swordsman might also be exposed. ¡°gang leader.¡± guo yuchun suddenly spoke seriously. ¡°that swordsman was able to make the evil suppressing sword recognize him as its owner. there must be profound mysteries involved. moreover, his strength is extraordinary. for the greater good, perhaps we should put aside our grudges against him for now and withdraw the order to hunt him down within the gang¡­¡± liu qingshan¡¯s eyebrows tightened, and he slowly stood up, silent for a long while before letting out a sigh, and then said, ¡°now that xi jikui has appeared in yu state city, we¡¯ll have to watch the clash between xi jikui and the demon sect.¡± ¡°xi jikui is no match for li fuzhou.¡± guo yuchun nodded in agreement. ¡°xi jikui has both good abilities and strength. but if he faces li fuzhou, his chances of winning are slim. if he persists stubbornly, he might even die in yu state city.¡± guo yuchun was somewhat familiar with the terror of li fuzhou. ¡°if xi jikui dies, wouldn¡¯t that be a good thing?¡± liu qingshan¡¯s mouth turned up slightly at the corners. ¡­. in the early morning, by the side of yu state river. shops stood in close ranks on both sides as the morning sun cast its radiance on red bricks and green tiles, as well as on the brilliant eaves of lofty pavilions, adding a vibrant vitality to the bustling yu state city. ¡°another fine day.¡± as usual, an jing started his day by putting away wooden boards and opening his clinic. ¡°good morning, doctor an.¡± the attendant from the neighboring teahouse called out, ¡°you seem to lack spirit today. didn¡¯t someone knock on your door for a consultation again last night?¡± the teahouse attendants all knew that there were frequently night-time patients knocking on the door, so doctor an was not only very busy during the day but also tirelessly overworked come night. ¡°yes.¡± an jing nodded and sighed. ¡°i only returned home at the hour of hai last night.¡± time does not necessarily lead to affection, but it is sure to be tiring. ¡°you really work hard, doctor an.¡± upon hearing this, the attendant looked at an jing with solemn respect. ¡°truly a physician with a compassionate heart.¡± after an jing secured the wooden boards, he took goji berries, black tea, and lindera aggregate from the medicine scale on the wall cabinet, added them to a teapot according to the prepared ratio. although he was a rough man, he paid great attention to these details. after all, he was a doctor, and the precision of the medicinal herbs always had to be well maintained. ¡°son-in-law, i¡¯m back.¡± just then, a voice came from outside the door. the person was none other than li fuzhou. an jing looked up, greeted him as usual. ¡°third master, you¡¯re back.¡± this old guy, really good at pretending! if you¡¯re going to act, then i¡¯ll act too. ¡°i¡¯m back.¡± li fuzhou made himself comfortable in a chair, took the freshly brewed teapot poured by an jing, and took a greedy sniff of the ethereal aroma. ¡°orchid-like on the tongue, refreshing to the heart, fragrant and pleasingly astringent, nice.¡± with a double meaning, an jing said, ¡°you had a tough night, third master?¡± ¡°now i just feel clear and refreshed.¡± li fuzhou gently blew on the tea before taking a small sip. his words were actually sincere. with a trace of nature¡¯s spiritual energy absorbed into his body, he was a half-step master in cultivation. although he had not reached the grandmaster realm and couldn¡¯t refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy, his speed in assimilating it was still much faster than that of a first grade expert. even though the trace of spiritual energy had not been fully assimilated yet, his injuries were gradually healing. once he had completely assimilated it, regaining his full strength was naturally not an issue. as his injuries fully healed, li fuzhou naturally felt much better. an jing sneered inwardly and began to ponder secretly. what exactly were li fuzhou¡¯s intentions? he wondered if that foolish girl tan yun was aware of them. at the moment, it seemed that tan yun¡¯s intelligence, no, her cunning, was far inferior to li fuzhou¡¯s. she might be a source of clues. ¡°son-in-law, isn¡¯t it time to hand out the wages?¡± li fuzhou said with a smiling face. ¡°here you go.¡± an jing, with a flourish, took out more than a tael of silver from his pocket and thought to himself, ¡°old timer, are you extorting me? you¡¯re clearly toying with me. one day i¡¯ll make you spew it all out tenfold, a hundredfold.¡± would the sect hierarch of the demon sect lack the silver for visiting brothels and listening to music? an jing didn¡¯t believe the demon sect could be so destitute. this was clearly treating me, an jing, like a monkey being played with. ¡°hm?!¡± li fuzhou started to have his doubts, and while it had been extremely difficult to get silver from an jing in the past, today he was surprisingly willing. ¡°i¡¯ve nearly finished negotiating with the hunters. today i also need to go buy some herbs. i¡¯ll leave the pharmacy in your care for now.¡± an jing called out, picked up his medicine box, and then headed for the door. ¡°understood, son-in-law.¡± li fuzhou watched an jing leave and then glanced at the tea on the table: ¡°this tea is authentic! very meticulous! the young doctor does indeed have some decent skills.¡± soon after, zhao qingmei walked out from the back hall. ¡°sect hierarch!¡± li fuzhou quickly stood up and gave zhao qingmei a fist salute. ¡°did my husband go out?¡± zhao qingmei asked indifferently, nodding her head. ¡°son-in-law has left. here¡¯s the silver.¡± li fuzhou took out all of the silver he had just received from an jing. zhao qingmei¡¯s brows rose slightly, ¡°he gave you all of it? didn¡¯t i say to leave some for him?¡± ¡°son-in-law gave it himself. he was very straightforward today.¡± after explaining, li fuzhou thought to himself: young doctor, oh young doctor, you can¡¯t put these bad debts on my head. when i go to brothels and listen to music, i use my own silver. i haven¡¯t dared to touch yours¡­ ¡°let it be.¡± zhao qingmei waved her hand and said, ¡°tan yun told me everything went relatively smoothly last night?¡± ¡°this matter is a long story. please sit down, sect hierarch.¡± li fuzhou took a deep breath, then frowned, his expression growing somber. zhao qingmei, observing li fuzhou¡¯s demeanor, became even more curious. li fuzhou inhaled deeply and said, ¡°last night was a gathering of masters. first was the great abbot of leiyin temple¡¯s great sun temple, fa zhi, who had a profound realization and saw his true nature, raising his fruit position once again. but in the end, he sacrificed himself for the dharma, ultimately suppressing the pervasive yin evil and turned into a relic.¡± zhao qingmei¡¯s brows raised slightly, ¡°monk fa zhi?¡± the bodhisattva fruit position, she knew very well what it signified. if nothing unexpected happened, fa zhi could become a grandmaster within ten years. in the pure land¡¯s three thousand buddha countries, only two or three bodhisattvas had appeared in the last hundred years. with the world¡¯s top forces vying for power, a grandmaster could have a significant impact. this event might even shake the entire world. ¡°it¡¯s a pity that he has already entered parinirvana.¡± li fuzhou continued, ¡°extraordinary swordsmen like ling yuhua, liu qingshan, and tian cansou also appeared to compete for the heaven and earth spirit essence. these individuals were all strong, and in the ensuing chaos, xuanyi guard xi jikui led two great heavenly gang experts. with all masters vying for power, they all showed their skills.¡± ¡°at the crucial moment, that extraordinary swordsman drew the evil suppressing sword.¡± just then, li fuzhou looked towards the back hall, only to see tan yun holding a little black puppy. seemingly hearing something important, she hurriedly asked, ¡°master, did you say that extraordinary swordsman drew the evil suppressing sword?¡± ¡°extraordinary swordsman?¡± zhao qingmei¡¯s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly; she was very aware of the rumors surrounding the evil suppressing sword. if before, the title of an extraordinary swordsman was merely a compliment from the ordinary martial world, then the one who drew the evil suppressing sword truly deserved it. ¡°yes, that swordsman is truly cunning, despicable.¡± li fuzhou¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°after he seized the heaven and earth spirit essence, he used the incomplete evil suppressing sword and the essence to battle many experts. certainly, he was formidable, but taking on ten top masters was too much for him. in a fury, he shattered the heaven and earth spirit essence, turning it into six wisps of heaven and earth spiritual energy. i managed to snatch one wisp, while the others took one each.¡± ¡°in the end, the swordsman killed both great heavenly gang warriors of the xuanyi guard. i joined forces with him to kill the five poison sect¡¯s tian cansou.¡± tan yun¡¯s heart skipped a beat hearing this, and her large eyes filled with curiosity as she imagined the scene of the swordsman clashing with many top masters. what a magnificent scene that must have been, battling ten top experts! killing two great heavenly gang warriors was a remarkable achievement. if word got out in the martial world, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar. after all, no one in the great yan martial world, no force, had ever dared to openly kill a xuanyi guard. this was a blatant challenge to the xuanyi guard, a provocation to the great yan emperor. having offended the great yan court, there was a good chance this swordsman could be recruited to their demon sect. thinking of this, tan yun bit her lip, her face turning as red as if it would bleed. zhao qingmei, with lips slightly parted, let out a breath, ¡°why was he able to draw the evil suppressing sword, and what exactly is his identity?¡± the strength of that peerless swordsman was surprising, but what she was more concerned about was why the swordsman could pull out the evil suppressing sword. ¡°i¡¯m not clear on that either, but that swordsman is cunning and strong,¡± li fuzhou paused, then said, ¡°it seems that swordsman has some grievances with our demon sect. when i crossed swords with him yesterday, i could feel the surging murderous aura from his sword.¡± thinking about the swordsman¡¯s attitude towards him, and the ruthlessness of his swordplay, li fuzhou felt that the swordsman must have had significant grievances with the demon sect, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been like that. ¡°he has grievances with our demon sect?¡± zhao qingmei said indifferently, ¡°that¡¯s not surprising. there are too many people in the great yan martial world who have grievances with our demon sect.¡± initially, the demon sect in great yan could command the wind and summon the rain, and countless sects were annihilated by the demon sect, causing the entire great yan martial world to be full of resentment and anger. even the top-notch xuanyi guards didn¡¯t take them seriously, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have been attacked by a coalition of many forces. tan yun, who was beside them, didn¡¯t know what she was thinking, and she had already stopped listening to li fuzhou¡¯s words that followed. ¡°actually, after my exchange with that swordsman, there¡¯s another major matter. that¡¯s what i really wanted to discuss with the sect hierarch.¡± li fuzhou said with a serious face. ¡°speak.¡± ¡°there appeared a master who is suspected to be a grandmaster. he snatched away the dried corpse that was gathering yin energy,¡± ¡°a grandmaster!? are you sure?¡± zhao qingmei¡¯s expression tightened upon hearing this. a grandmaster-level expert represents the true pinnacle of jianghu, the top-tier among all masters. in a world where great grandmasters have withered, a grandmaster is an unstoppable force. such experts often live secluded in some place, searching for the secrets to break through to the realm of great grandmaster, and it¡¯s not that there are no grandmaster-level experts in the demon sect. the previous leader of the demon sect and the present sect leader of the heavenly sect were both in the grandmaster realm. underneath the sealing demon platform in the dongluo desert, there were also several reclusive old monsters from the demon sect, their cultivation unknown, but at the very least they were all at the heavenly flower realm, and the grandmaster realm was not necessarily beyond reach. these individuals had essentially departed from the ordinary martial world; to them, the current fighting and conflicts over interests simply didn¡¯t matter. they had little care or regard for such things. they valued the grandmaster realm, they valued the lifespan of three hundred years, they valued what they saw as the dao. during the struggles between the demon sect and various forces, the experts from the demon sect¡¯s sealing demon platform did not show up, and neither did old monsters from the zhenyi sect, the royal family, or other major sects. the worldly benefits were like fleeting clouds in their eyes, and they would not make a move unless the very foundation of their sect was threatened. tan yun was also greatly shocked, clearly not expecting that a grandmaster-level expert would be nearby yu state city. ¡°almost certainly.¡± li fuzhou took a deep breath and said. ¡°he took that dried corpse; what exactly is that body?¡± zhao qingmei also had doubts. convergence of yin energy, a dried corpse, a grandmaster-level expert¡­ what could be the connection between these? ¡­¡­ outside yu state city. the autumn was crisp, and the gentle sunlight was spilling down. shui zhongyue, just like yesterday, was closely following that young doctor, as he had a lesson from the past in front of him. soon, shui zhongyue followed an jing into a secluded mountain forest. ¡°following this little doctor every day is truly boring. could this little doctor be that descendant from the sealing demon platform?¡± shui zhongyue thought to himself as he watched an jing¡¯s figure from behind. ever since huo zhongyun lay in bed, the task of protecting this little doctor had fallen to him. ¡°whoosh! whoosh!¡± suddenly, his vision blurred, and a figure appeared in front of him; then, a black and white flow of energy emerged in a peculiar posture. shui zhongyue felt his head grow heavy with dizziness, and he lost all sense of direction. this man was an jing, and at this moment, what he was displaying was the ghost valley heart method. the ghost valley sect, among the three mystical sects, calculated the secrets of heaven, divined the dao, and their heart method was deeply profound. it not only had the effect of slightly shielding against the secrets of heaven but also could be used to enchant and disrupt the mind. ¡°what is your name? what is your status?¡± an jing asked indifferently. shui zhongyue¡¯s expression struggled, and then he slowly opened his mouth, ¡°i¡­ am one of the four protectors of the demon sect¡¯s human sect, shui zhongyue.¡± indeed, a demon sect expert! an jing¡¯s eyes narrowed as he spoke solemnly, ¡°why are you following me? what is your purpose?¡± ¡°i¡­ i¡­¡± shui zhongyue¡¯s mouth opened and closed, and his expression became extremely pained, as if he was caught in a struggle. an jing frowned, it seemed this demon sect expert had an extraordinary mind. perhaps it was also because his own mastery of the ghost valley heart method had not yet reached a certain level. if jiang sanjia were here, perhaps he could have completely enchanted the man. continuing the inquiry would only result in two outcomes: either shui zhongyue would wake up from the enchanted state, or he would become completely foolish. either outcome would alarm the grass and startle the snake, letting li fuzhou notice something was amiss. an jing twisted his eyebrows and then stretched out his hands. the black and white flow of energy surged out from his fingertips and then imprinted into shui zhongyue¡¯s eyes. in a daze, shui zhongyue awoke. ¡°hm!?¡± shui zhongyue hastily scanned his surroundings, looking for the young doctor. where was she? he saw a figure in the distance that seemed to be crouching under a tree, apparently searching for something. as he focused his gaze, he realized it was indeed the young doctor. ¡°could it be that the young doctor has come to the mountains to search for herbs?¡± shui zhongyue muttered to himself but didn¡¯t pay it much mind, as his task was to protect the young doctor. however, to the eyes of a normal person, shui zhongyue at this moment was standing on a distant branch, observing none other than a toad. having fallen under an jing¡¯s enchanting technique, he mistook the toad squatting on the ground for an jing. the real an jing was standing atop a large rock not too far away. ¡°this expert from the demon sect has fallen into an enchanted state. he will probably wake up soon. i need to quickly refine this nature¡¯s spiritual energy,¡± an jing mused to himself as he sat cross-legged, ready to refine the spiritual energy within him. although he had condensed the earth flower, it wasn¡¯t completely stabilized due to the hasty efforts of the previous night. his foundation was shaky, and falling realms was not unheard of. the three flowers of heaven, earth, and man represent the essence, energy, and spirit. with energy diminished, breaching the body¡¯s baseline could risk the earth flower shattering¡ªan extremely dangerous state. an jing took a deep breath before activating both the ghost valley heart method and daluo heart method simultaneously. these two mental methods shared the same origin with many similarities. using them together proved much more effective than using either alone, the only caveat being it required immensely high aptitude and comprehension. but for him, this naturally wasn¡¯t a problem. the spiritual energy of the world entered an jing, and a faint green glow surged into his body. an jing¡¯s mind sank, and he began to immerse himself completely in cultivation. the spiritual energy, now a faint green stream, poured into an jing, relentlessly infiltrating every part of his body, whether it was his bones, meridians, or even his pores. an jing quickly steadied his mind, aware that the most difficult step of refining was upon him. as expected, a qi mechanism ten times more fierce than before suddenly spread throughout his body from his meridians and bones. in that instant, an jing felt as if thrown into a blazing inferno, the intense flames seemingly determined to reduce his body to ashes without any mercy, releasing an increasingly fiery heat. a moment later, wisps of white mist seeped from the top of his head, carrying a peculiar fragrance. an jing clenched his teeth tightly. the spiritual energy, born of the world itself, could directly enhance a person¡¯s cultivation. as the saying goes, with every gain comes a loss. to fully enjoy the benefits, one must pay a price. ¡°whoosh whoosh!¡± just then, the phantom of the earth flower emerged behind an jing. he could clearly feel, as the burning pain spread throughout his body, a powerful flow of qi causing the earth flower behind him to become more and more solidified. once the earth flower solidified completely, he would reach the peak of the earth flower realm. the spiritual energy dissipated bit by bit, integrating into his body, and the faint green light gradually merged into his pale golden bones. the originally subtle golden glow, bolstered by the spiritual energy, deepened slightly, almost imperceptible unless looked at closely. the three flowers gathering at the top and golden bone are the marks of a grandmaster. in the world, it is rare to see someone who can refine golden bones before reaching the grandmaster realm, unless they possess exceptional heavenly materials and earthly treasures or practice the most exquisite body refining martial arts of the heavenly martial level. such martial arts are extremely precious, with those of the heavenly martial level more the stuff of legends than reality. shui zhongyue was still diligently keeping an eye on that toad. the rich, surging qi winded crazily through an jing¡¯s body like the force of a river spilling over. whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! as the air gathered around him, it seemed to transform into streams of fire. an jing appeared oblivious to the changes around him. for two hours, his body was still as stone, his breathing so faint that, had there not been a trace of vitality still wrapping around him, anyone might have mistaken him for a lifeless corpse. as he sat in stillness resembling a monk¡¯s final serenity, thin green streams of qi began to seep from his pores, winding around his body like creeping vines. this was the return to tranquility as described in the ghost valley heart method. accompanying this tranquil state, it seemed as though the entire world merged with his breathing. each breath he took caused the surrounding air to churn, and as his breathing steadied, the air would quiet down, and the woodlands would once again fall silent. under this cycle of breathing, time slipped away like sand through one¡¯s fingers. in the woodlands, silence prevailed as usual. occasionally, the sound of air sweeping through broke the hush, but these sounds were so eerie they made the place feel even more desolate. after an indefinite amount of time, everything calmed down. only then did an jing slowly open his eyes and let out a heavy breath. ¡°the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been completely refined, and the earth flower has solidified quite a bit.¡± after speaking to himself, he looked over to shui zhongyue and couldn¡¯t help but be impressed, ¡°this demon sect is truly worthy of being an opponent of the zhenyi sect. the caliber of their experts is not something ordinary forces can match. very useful indeed.¡± at this moment, shui zhongyue was still staring at that toad as if he were a statue, fearful of any slip-up. ¡­¡­. in fuyang village, within the two thatched cottages, the houses were nothing more than thatched roofs and simplicity with straw beds and tile stoves, yet a faint fragrance wafted through the air. on the table, a dish of stir-fried green vegetables, steamed grass carp, and two sets of chopsticks and bowls. jiang sanjia glanced at the dishes on the table and took a seat without any fuss, opposite him was another empty set of chopsticks and bowls. all of sudden, he broke into laughter at the sight of the empty utensils, then lowered his head, as his smile gradually turned bitter. thirty years ago, he was a spirited young man, vibrant and full of life, dreaming of riding the tides of the times to become a playmaker of the world. he never imagined he would end up in his current state thirty years ago. every day, from the moment he opened his eyes to the time he closed them, he was alone. he always felt an emptiness in his heart. in the past several days, he had drifted off to his homeland countless times, only to wake up startled from his dreams. maybe he took a wrong step, but he also felt it wasn¡¯t a mistake. what exactly was the mistake? that left him in the end, without even a single person to talk to. ¡°no one questions my right or wrong, no one questions my truth or error, no one whispers in my ear, no one hears my couple of words¡­.¡± jiang sanjia picked up his chopsticks and couldn¡¯t help beating them against the broken bowl, making a clinking and clanking sound. ¡°could it be that sanjia knew i would visit today?¡± just then, a voice came from outside the door. at the door stood an jing, clad in a dark cyan robe. upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared on jiang sanjia¡¯s weathered face, ¡°brother zhou, why didn¡¯t you bring wine today?¡± ¡°i was in such a hurry that i forgot,¡± an jing explained, seating himself across from jiang sanjia and said with a laugh, ¡°sanjia, it seems like you anticipated my visit today?¡± in jiang sanjia¡¯s eyes, an jing could sense a fleeting trace of desolation. an jing wasn¡¯t very familiar with jiang sanjia. it was mostly rumors from jianghu and a bit of recent interaction; perhaps everyone who wanders jianghu has a story of their own. after a long pause, jiang sanjia finally spoke, ¡°brother zhou, you must have a reason for visiting me today?¡± if there was nothing important, zhou xianming would certainly not come looking for him. ¡°sort of, but let¡¯s not talk about it for now.¡± an jing smiled noncommittally, then inquired, ¡°sanjia, do you have family or relatives in yujing city?¡± jiang sanjia was silent for a long while, took a bite of rice, then said, ¡°they¡¯re all dead.¡± those three short words carried a shiver of desolation. he did not elaborate, seemingly reluctant to delve into his past. everyone has their own secrets, and an jing was no exception. ¡°not true, i have an elder martial brother, he¡¯s not dead yet.¡± suddenly, jiang sanjia let out a self-deprecating laugh. of the ghost valley sect¡¯s current two great successors, one is the diviner jiang sanjia, while the other is the ghost valley divine sword, lou xiangzhen. an jing undoubtedly knew of lou xiangzhen. not only was he the sect leader of the ghost valley sect, but he was also an old swordsman. fifty years earlier, amongst all swordsmen in the world, two unparalleled, supernatural swordsmen, sword demon and sword god, vied for supremacy, with every other swordsman lagging behind, in awe. it is rare to find even one exceptional swordsman every few hundred years, yet that era saw the rise of two top-tier swordsmen simultaneously. both were at the peak of the fifth realm and in the prime of their lives, with the potential to break through to the sixth realm. their starkly different swordsmanship styles were both at the pinnacle of the world, thus earning them the titles sword demon and sword god. sword demon¡¯s origins were little known, shrouded in mixed tales on jianghu, making it hard to distinguish truth from rumor. however, his exploits were well-noted; his blood tears sword, when used to kill and drink blood, would emit a weeping sound, ranking it ninth among the famous swords in the sword manual. however, sword demon disappeared from jianghu decades ago. some say he died, others say he attained the sixth realm and sought the higher, seventh realm. since then, there was no sign of him, leaving only his legend reverberating throughout jianghu to this day. as sword demon has yet to reveal himself recently, most have come to believe he might have passed away in some unknown place. after all, those who don¡¯t reach the grandmaster realm typically don¡¯t live beyond one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty years. judging by age, sword demon might have reached his life¡¯s limit. as for the sword god, he was the sect leader of the yu heng sword sect, who later secluded himself within the sect. thirty years ago, the rumor spread that sword god had failed to break through his shackles and died as a result. yet, some believed that was just a clever ruse by the yu heng sword sect, suspecting that sword god was still alive, secluded at the top of yu heng peak. whether he is still alive remains an unsolved mystery to this day. and what people found regrettable was that the two of them had never crossed swords in their lifetimes. no one knew whose swordsmanship was stronger or weaker, which couldn¡¯t help but be a matter of regret. at that time, there were only two types of swordsmen in the world: the first type was that of the sword demon and sword god, the second type was all other swordsmen. back then, lou xiangzhen, in his thirties, although he had not reached the pinnacle of cultivation, had a sword dao that was quite renowned. especially at the age of thirty-eight, when he reached the fifth realm, he was considered a peerless figure, a leading figure among the younger generation. after lou xiangzhen reached the fifth realm, he went to the yu heng sword sect to challenge the sword god of the age, an event that caused a sensation. after all, there were many swordsmen who wanted to challenge the sword god, but one had to defeat the sword guard of the yu heng sword sect to get the chance to challenge the sword god. most swordsmen, let alone challenging the sword god, could not even defeat the sword guard. lou xiangzhen was the only swordsman who defeated the sword guard of the yu heng sword sect at the age of forty. on the day of the great battle, the yu heng sword sect and many other sword dao masters gathered to watch, all eager to see the style of the sword god, given that the sword god had not made a move for decades. the title of sword god was an exception in jianghu. however, the battle at that time took everyone by surprise. lou xiangzhen, a genius swordsman and the sect leader of the ghost valley sect, was defeated by the sword god in just three moves. this event caused a stir in jianghu. after all, lou xiangzhen was also a top-notch swordsman, a master of the heavenly flower realm. how could such a master be defeated by the sword god in merely three moves without causing surprise? as time flew by, the era of the two great masters, the sword demon and sword god, had passed. and new swordsmen emerged in jianghu. in a jianghu without the two unmatched sword immortals, lou xiangzhen became the top swordsman in the world, but he never received the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman. perhaps it had been unknown how many years since anyone had claimed that title. in this world, four exceptionally talented and beautiful swordsmen emerged, and rumors even had it that their aptitude was no less than that of the sword demon and sword god. these four swordsmen, together with lou xiangzhen, were known as the top five swordsmen in the world. at his peak, lou xiangzhen encountered the sword god and sword demon, but when the two retired and vanished, a younger generation rose to challenge him. it was a source of sighs that he never became the number one swordsman in the world throughout his life. regardless, he was still a top swordsman who spanned two great eras, a grandmaster renowned across the world. over the years, there have been many rumors about the other swordsmen, but those concerning lou xiangzhen have diminished significantly. word in jianghu had it that lou xiangzhen was pursuing the true sword dao, hence traveling all around and being hard to trace, but in reality, he was afraid of zhenyi sect leader xiao qianqiu coming down from the mountain and chose to live in seclusion. as for the specific reasons, perhaps only lou xiangzhen himself knows. an jing only knew of lou xiangzhen by hearsay and had never met the man. however, from jiang sanjia¡¯s words, one could sense that he seemed to harbor some resentment, some indignation. if all of jiang sanjia¡¯s relatives had died, wouldn¡¯t lou xiangzhen, as his senior brother, be the closest person to him? ¡°lou xiangzhen is an extremely selfish and self-serving person. whether he is alive or dead makes no difference. that is his sword dao, and also the reason why he cannot become the world¡¯s number one swordsman,¡± jiang sanjia gave a cold snort before turning to look at an jing, ¡°although brother zhou¡¯s swordsmanship is grand and profound, he still falls short of the current top five swordsmen in the world. if he could take it a step further, perhaps he could become the sixth great swordsman.¡± an jing waved his hand dismissively, ¡°these are just empty titles.¡± he had no interest in being the world¡¯s sixth swordsman. an jing aimed to be the world¡¯s number one swordsman. jiang sanjia put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, ¡°brother zhou, if you have something to ask me, just say it directly.¡± ¡°then i won¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± an jing nodded and got straight to the point, ¡°in fact, my main reason for coming here is to ask about outer heaven, especially the leader of the human sect, li fuzhou.¡± he had largely learned about the demon sect and li fuzhou through zhou xianming¡¯s storytelling, but compared to zhou xianming, jiang sanjia should have a deeper understanding. jiang sanjia¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°li fuzhou, you say? speaking of this li fuzhou, he indeed is a character. you¡¯ve probably heard of some of his deeds. what you want to find out is the stuff that can¡¯t be heard in the jianghu, right?¡± an jing nodded, he wanted to understand what kind of person li fuzhou truly was. ¡°li fuzhou, his life has been quite complicated, and i don¡¯t know too much, but since brother zhou wants to know, i will tell you everything i do know,¡± jiang sanjia said. jiang sanjia poured two cups of tea and continued, ¡°he was an advanced scholar in the third year of hongwu and, although he didn¡¯t become the top scholar in the final imperial examinations, he did place third. afterwards, he was taken on as a student by the grand secretary lv guoyong, an elder who only took in two students in his lifetime; one was li fuzhou, and the other is now zhao tianyi, the scribe eunuch for the human emperor. both men were once exceptional talents of the confucian path, yet it¡¯s a pity¡ªone joined the demon sect while the other became a eunuch.¡± if the zhenyi sect is considered the stabilizer of the great yan martial world, then confucianism is one of the pillars of the great yan dynasty. lv guoyong¡¯s standing in confucianism is like that of xiao qianqiu, or even deeper than xiao qianqiu¡¯s. lv guoyong, a veteran of three dynasties, also served as the grand secretary for over sixty years, holding regency power and wielding immense influence. the previous human emperor li ping was one he had helped rise to power. in that era, he was an unchallenged figure. having been in such a position for many years, it could be said that every piece of land in great yan had some connection to his students or had ties to him in countless ways. he was the current role model of confucianism in the world. even the current human emperor, known to be the strongest in great yan history, had to show him a degree of respect, which illustrated his high status. an jing was taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting that the old man had once been a student of lv guoyong. jiang sanjia went on, ¡°originally of confucian heritage, li fuzhou nurtured a vast righteous qi within his inner palace. if one day he had a moment of enlightenment, this vast righteous qi could be absorbed back into his body, greatly assisting his martial arts cultivation. li fuzhou, a genius of his time, managed to embody this righteous qi of confucianism, advancing his cultivation by leaps and bounds with astonishing speed. he caught the eye of the demon sect hierarch jiang shang. after integrating the demon sect¡¯s earth demon technique, he created a unique combination of heavenly demon righteous qi that gained him great fame. following the death of the previous human sect leader at the hands of xiao qianqiu, and with the demon sect in need of leadership, li fuzhou became the human sect leader.¡± ¡°after becoming the human sect leader within the demon sect, he indeed made substantial contributions to the sect¡¯s cause. you can find out about these deeds by inquiring within the martial community,¡± added jiang sanjia. ¡°oh, and there¡¯s some seldom-heard news about the demon sect. rumor has it that the sect hierarch jiang shang disappeared without a trace three years ago. some say he died somewhere within great yan, leaving the demon sect headless and forced to choose a new leader. the new hierarch is jiang shang¡¯s last disciple, whose origins are unclear but appears to be young and quite capable. this ambitious new leader of the demon sect seems eager to regain their former power. from what i¡¯ve seen recently, with the movements of demon sect experts, it is likely they are preparing for this very reason.¡± an jing cast a glance at jiang sanjia and remarked, ¡°brother sanjia, to be aware of the affairs of the jianghu even from a dungeon, that is quite remarkable.¡± after all, jiang sanjia had been imprisoned in a dungeon for two years and yet was aware of events from these past years. jiang sanjia let out a light laugh, seemingly without further comment. an jing nodded, his mind stirring as he said, ¡°so, does this mean that li fuzhou appeared in great yan to pave the way for the sect hierarch of the demon sect?¡± jiang sanjia slightly nodded in agreement, ¡°this should be the case. when the demon sect was expelled from great yan, although the experts of the demon sect¡¯s human sect lay dormant, they suffered heavy losses. despite some recovery over the years, compared to the heaven and earth net, which was once on par with the human emperor, they are likely lacking. thus, it¡¯s only natural that they would set up these covert networks.¡± spies and covert networks are the eyes and ears; they are, of course, extremely important. ¡°thank you, brother sanjia, for clearing up my confusion.¡± an jing bowed with his hands clasped, his gratitude genuinely from the heart. if jiang sanjia had not spoken, he truly would have no idea where to get this kind of information about the jianghu. picking up his bowl and chopsticks, jiang sanjia said, ¡°no need to be polite. after all, brother zhou also has a life-saving grace towards me. if zhou brother really wants to thank me, just join me for a simple meal.¡± actually, the fact that jiang sanjia willingly informed an jing of this information was not only because of the dungeon rescue in the past. after all, he had also told an jing about the bodhi bead. the reason he was helping an jing was precisely because of what an jing had said before. ¡°then zhou must not refuse such kindness,¡± an jing said with a light chuckle, picking up his chopsticks. ¡°hahaha, it has been many years since anyone has tasted my cooking,¡± jiang sanjia said. ¡°fortune favors the timely as much as the well-prepared.¡± ¡°brother zhou always has witty remarks, surely a clever man.¡± ¡°no, i am but a simple man,¡± an jing demurred. ¡°a simple man, brother zhou jests. i fear if you come here again next time, you may not be able to find me.¡± ¡°why is that?¡± an jing asked. ¡°as soon as the year passes, in five days, i plan to set off for yujing city,¡± jiang sanjia revealed. ¡­.. in a quiet courtyard within yu state city, xi jikui, clad in black, stood before a stone table, his brow tightly furrowed. on the table was a war map. ¡°both minister zhang and minister gan are dead, and their bodies have been brought back. the murderer is that ghost swordsman,¡± said hong yuanwu as he bowed with clasped hands. at this moment, he couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat relieved. when the ghost swordsman had broken into the dungeon, it was he who had been investigating the incident. initially, hong yuanwu had thought the swordsman was at most at the first grade realm, yet to consolidate the human flower. although he was wary, he didn¡¯t feel any fear. now, thinking about it carefully, had he encountered the swordsman at that time, he probably couldn¡¯t have escaped a death by the sword. xi jikui¡¯s expression was as calm as still water, and though he didn¡¯t speak, the several gold constables in the room felt a heavy oppressive atmosphere. zhang shuang and gan yue, how expert were they? they were both from the great heavenly gang of the xuanyi guard, elite experts of the court. even if the xuanyi guard could replenish its great heavenly gang, they could not endlessly supplement experts of the first grade realm. now, both these experts had been killed by that swordsman. if someone must bear the responsibility for this, it would undoubtedly fall on xi jikui, who was in charge of the operation to encircle and suppress li fuzhou. ¡°can¡¯t the identity of that swordsman be found out?¡± xi jikui asked, frowning. ¡°we can¡¯t find out, not even the operatives of the heaven and earth net have been able to detect any clues,¡± hong yuanwu thought for a moment and said, ¡°the only person closely associated with this man is jiang sanjia, but so far, none of us have been able to locate him.¡± ¡°jiang sanjia?!¡± xi jikui¡¯s heart stirred, and his eyes narrowed into slits. lately, the second prince¡¯s faction has been preparing to exonerate jiang sanjia, seemingly intending to reinstate him. if the swordsman¡¯s identity cannot be found out, it might be possible to gain insights from jiang sanjia¡¯s situation. however, this would have to wait until jiang sanjia was exonerated. ¡°let¡¯s set aside the matter of the unparalleled swordsman for the moment,¡± xi jikui decided, saying, ¡°we failed to capture li fuzhou this time, allowing him to obtain a strand of heaven and earth¡¯s spiritual essence, which will inevitably aid in the recovery of his cultivation. still, taking advantage of this time, we have some chance to bring him down¡­¡± killing li fuzhou would be even more important than the death of the ghost swordsman. should he truly succeed in killing li fuzhou, not only would he not bear responsibility, but he might even be credited with a great achievement. hong yuanwu said gravely, ¡°the experts of the demon sect¡¯s human sect are all skilled at hiding and escaping; it would be extremely difficult to find their whereabouts, especially li fuzhou, whose heavenly demon qi is inherently deceptive¡­¡± when they were pursuing li fuzhou previously, the four great heavenly gang members clearly brushed past li fuzhou without even realizing it, indicating the prowess of this heavenly demon qi. ¡°it¡¯s difficult to find li fuzhou¡¯s whereabouts,¡± xi jikui commented, ¡°but why don¡¯t we change our approach? for instance, we could wait for him to deliver himself to us.¡± ¡°wait for him to deliver himself to us?¡± hong yuanwu sounded somewhat puzzled. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only would a man like li fuzhou allow himself to be easily apprehended? xi jikui narrowed his eyes, saying ominously, ¡°we need to lay bait. if the bait is alluring enough, even a cunning fish like li fuzhou will bite.¡± ¡°bait?!¡± the several gold constables, including hong yuanwu, looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure of xi jikui¡¯s plans. ¡­¡­.. Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Watertight Li Fuzhou chapter 104: chapter 104: watertight li fuzhou outside yu state city, at the foot of a deep mountain. shui zhongyue felt an intense headache, as if his head was about to explode. ¡°what on earth is going on? why has this young doctor been pushing the grinding stone next to the millstone all afternoon, making such strange noises?¡± he rubbed his head with both hands, frowning slightly as he looked at an jing in the distance conversing with a hunter, ¡°i always feel there¡¯s something odd about this young doctor.¡± he felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. his entire brain felt foggy and heavy. ¡°could it be the signs of deviating into madness due to the consecutive failures in breaking through the first grade shackles recently?¡± shui zhongyue murmured to himself with a sinking heart. further away, beside the houses. a donkey was pulling a grinding stone, occasionally making cheerful noises. no need to say, shui zhongyue had been observing this donkey all afternoon until an jing returned from jiang sanjia¡¯s house, which brought shui zhongyue back to his senses. ¡°these medicinal herbs total eight hundred and seventy-two copper coins, take care of it.¡± an jing handed over the copper coins to the hunter with a big smile. ¡°thank you, doctor an, thank you so much.¡± the hunter extended his calloused hands to receive the copper coins and then began to thank him repeatedly. you should know that when other medicine shops came to purchase herbs in the past, they would press down the prices extremely low, but doctor an from jishi hall never haggled over prices, nor did he ever defer or default on payments. ¡°ghost valley enchantment¡­¡± an jing picked up the hemp sack from the ground, then glanced at shui zhongyue in the distance out of the corner of his eye, his lips curling into a faint smile. ¡­¡­. in yu state city, at jishi hall. the autumn wind was gentle, and the sunlight was pleasant, warming this old city. under the red walls and grey tiles, the streets were bustling with people, and the painted boats on the yu state river floated on the sparkling lake surface with the breeze. an jing, carrying a medical kit on his back and a snakeskin bag filled with herbs, made his way home. he had now firmly stabilized his cultivation at the first grade earth flower realm. to reach the pinnacle of the first grade earth flower, he still needed a large amount of precious essence. an jing did not intend to make a move shortly but instead focused on consolidating his current cultivation. after all, the upcoming battle on three temple mountain would surely stir up a new storm, and acting rashly might expose him to hidden dangers, resulting in more loss than gain. ¡°the first issue to resolve is still li fuzhou.¡± as an jing walked in the direction of jishi hall, he passed by a river wharf and immediately noticed tan yun hammering clothes with a mallet. little black obediently squatted by her side, wagging his tail continuously. ¡°what identity does that swordsman hold, and why can he draw the evil suppressing sword? is there a chance for him to join our demon sect in the future?¡± tan yun stared at the sparkling water in front of her but was still thinking about what li fuzhou had said that morning. the more she thought about it, the more curious she became about that swordsman. just then, little black ran to tan yun¡¯s side, extending its pink tongue to lick her embroidered shoes. tan yun pointed the mallet in her hand fiercely at little black and said, ¡°scram, if you dare to lick my shoes again, i¡¯ll make you into sweet and sour meat.¡± ¡°howl¡­ woof.¡± little black cocked its head, looking at tan yun with big watery eyes. ¡°the saying goes, if a dog meats roils a few times in the pot, even immortals won¡¯t sit still.¡± just at that moment, a voice came from behind. ¡°madam, have you come back?¡± upon hearing this, tan yun turned her head and saw an jing standing not far away with a hearty smile. ¡°woof, woof!¡± ¡°howl¡­ woof!¡± little black seemed to understand and barked at an jing excitedly. ¡°i¡¯m back. i saw you washing clothes, so i came over to check how you were doing and if you were seriously working or just lazing about again,¡± said an jing with a smile. ¡°i¡¯m working for free for you, and you don¡¯t even pay me,¡± tan yun retorted with a slight pout and turned back to continue pounding her laundry. while she was in the demon sect, she seldom lacked silver, but after coming to yu state city, zhao qingmei had cut off all her monetary expenditures. besides not worrying about food and drink, she truly had no silver to her name. an jing raised an eyebrow subtly, ¡°do you really want silver?¡± ¡°of course,¡± tan yun replied without turning back. ¡°what do you need silver for?¡± ¡°a new yulan square just opened in the east of the city. their pastries are said to be very tasty.¡± ¡°aren¡¯t you trying to lose weight?¡± an jing glanced at tan yun¡¯s enviable curves. ever since he heard the term ¡®surging waves,¡¯ he could no longer associate it with the sea. ¡°tell me, do only ugly and fat people need to lose weight?¡± tan yun said to an jing. ¡°that¡¯s the principle.¡± ¡°so, husband, are you saying i¡¯m ugly?¡± ¡°actually, not ugly.¡± an jing shook his head. although tan yun might not be considered a stunning beauty, she was lively and cute, with quite an attractive appearance. ¡°right, that¡¯s why i don¡¯t need to lose any weight,¡± tan yun said with a chuckle, ¡°i¡¯ve thought it through. maybe i¡¯ll consider it again next spring.¡± women! an jing took a closer look at tan yun and casually asked, ¡°tan yun, you always call li fuzhou ¡®third uncle.¡¯ what exactly is he to you?¡± tan yun replied irritably, ¡°he¡¯s my third uncle, of course. do you even need to ask?¡± an jing raised an eyebrow. ¡°no, i mean, are you related to him? i see you¡¯re always so scared of him.¡± an jing had always assumed that tan yun¡¯s grandfather and li fuzhou were brothers, with li fuzhou being the third oldest, which was why he was called third uncle. but now it seemed the matter was not that simple. ¡°who am i afraid of?¡± upon hearing this, tan yun turned her head to look at the young doctor behind her and, waving the mallet in her hand, said, ¡°tan yun fears neither the heavens nor the earth.¡± do you think i am blind? normally, when tan yun saw li fuzhou, she acted like a mouse who had seen a cat¡ªall this, he had seen with his own eyes. an jing did not want to haggle over this matter with her. nodding repeatedly, he said, ¡°right, right, right, you¡¯re not afraid. but are you related to third uncle or not?¡± ¡°you don¡¯t believe me?¡± after hearing this, tan yun looked around and then raised her eyebrows. this young doctor seems to look down on her? although she acted as docile as a rabbit in front of li fuzhou and zhao qingmei, in the demon sect she was somebody important. as li fuzhou¡¯s only disciple, who would dare not show her a little respect? ¡°i do believe you,¡± an jing opened and closed his mouth, helplessly saying, ¡°every word you say is true ¨C how could i not believe it? i just wanted to¡­¡± ¡°you just don¡¯t believe it.¡± tan yun interrupted an jing¡¯s words and said haughtily, ¡°my demeanor is all out of respect for third uncle, you get that?¡± he felt that tan yun was a total tsundere; even faced with death, she would maintain her haughty attitude right to the end. an jing took a deep breath and asked undisturbed, ¡°you said before that you¡¯ve been in the manor since you were young. if you¡¯re not related by blood or marriage, why do you respect him so much?¡± zhao qingmei had mentioned that li fuzhou had only been in charge of the accounts for about a year. tan yun¡¯s interaction time with li fuzhou logically shouldn¡¯t have been long, yet from her words, she seemed very familiar with li fuzhou. ¡°why¡­¡± when tan yun heard an jing¡¯s question, her movements paused, and she couldn¡¯t help but fall into reminiscence. ¡­¡­ ten years ago, in lingnan dao. thousands of miles covered with flying snow, the cold wind sharp as a knife, the earth a desolate expanse. in the silent and bitterly cold forest, the sound of footsteps crushing the snow could be heard, light as a whisper. following the sound, one could see a six- or seven-year-old girl. she was dressed in very thin clothes, patched all over. her little face was red with cold as she kept blowing on her little hands for warmth. when she stretched out her small hands, the shocking sight were the cracks from the cold. on the ground was a small bundle of twigs. little tan yun had already been on the mountain for nearly two hours, but today she had only managed to gather such a small amount of twigs. ¡°this batch of twigs can only be exchanged for one bun¡­¡± she bit her lip, carefully bundling up the twigs, then hugged them tightly to her chest as she started to walk down the mountain. the mountain path was rough and difficult to traverse, especially in the depths of winter. although it was just a small mountain, her tiny body was almost submerged in the snowstorm. ¡°mother is waiting for me to go back, i must let her eat a bun today.¡± the howling wind seemed to numb her ears completely. not knowing how long she had walked, little tan yun felt her hands and feet go numb. at last, she saw the tooth trader at the foot of the mountain. ¡°uncle zhu¡­¡± little tan yun¡¯s eyes brightened, and she called out loudly, but her voice was drowned out by the wind and snow. she gritted her teeth and, taking small steps, finally ran up to the tooth trader, and asked cautiously, ¡°uncle zhu, this is the firewood i chopped today, do you think it¡¯s okay?¡± his companion frowned and said coldly, ¡°little girl, is this what you call firewood? clearly, you¡¯ve just picked up some damp twigs.¡± upon hearing this, little tan yun¡¯s heart dropped into an abyss, and she felt a chill within. ¡°i¡­ i¡­ i only picked these¡­¡± ¡°at such a young age, and you¡¯ve already learned to swindle?¡± the companion snorted, ¡°off with you, go away. these damp twigs aren¡¯t worth a penny, and we don¡¯t have time to waste on a little girl like you.¡± ¡°i¡­ i¡­¡± hearing this, little tan yun¡¯s eyes reddened, and she was so anxious that she could not utter a single word. the tooth trader named uncle zhu waved his hand and took out ten copper coins from his pocket, saying, ¡°i¡¯ll take the firewood you chopped, here¡¯s ten copper coins.¡± ¡°hey, zhu houyou, you are giving ten copper coins for these twigs? have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°really, have you taken a fancy to this little girl¡¯s bedridden mother?¡± ¡°don¡¯t mention it, although her mother is sickly, she indeed looks quite good.¡± ¡­¡­.. seeing this, several people around laughed. ¡°shut your mouths!¡± zhu houyou frowned and said, ¡°this little girl is about to freeze to death, all for a few copper coins. she¡¯s only six years old. do none of you have any conscience? can you really stand by and watch her die right before your eyes without feeling anything?¡± tan yun stood still, not daring to breathe. the crowd was silenced by zhu houyou¡¯s words. after a while, one of them laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°conscience? our conscience was eaten by dogs a long time ago.¡± ¡°yes, she doesn¡¯t have it easy. in these times, do we have it any easier?¡± ¡°this damn cursed world!¡± someone muttered sadly. in times of chaos, human life is as cheap as grass. it seems like just a sentence, but one who hasn¡¯t experienced it can hardly imagine its cruelty. to compare human life with worthless grass. ¡°take it.¡± zhu houyou placed ten copper coins in tan yun¡¯s hands, then glanced at her chapped hands and couldn¡¯t help feeling a pang, ¡°does it hurt?¡± she was still just a six-year-old child. ¡°it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± clutching the hot copper coins tightly, tan yun shook her head and trembled, ¡°uncle zhu, i will repay you, i will definitely return these ten copper coins to you.¡± zhu houyou smiled, he didn¡¯t need the gratitude of this six-year-old girl, ¡°go on, your mother is waiting for you.¡± clutching the ten copper coins, tan yun bowed to zhu houyou and then ran towards the distance. ¡°old zhu, you¡­¡± ¡°it¡¯s just one less meal tonight, that¡¯s all.¡± seeing this, his companions sighed and said no more. tan yun ran all the way, her heart filled with ecstasy. ten copper coins! that could buy five buns! today, she and her mother could have a full meal. about half an hour later, tan yun finally arrived at the bun shop in the town, panting heavily. ¡°buns, delicious and big buns!¡± ¡°how fragrant!¡± tan yun smelled the fragrance and felt her stomach growling instantly, almost wishing she could bite off her tongue. ¡°i need to hurry back, mother is waiting for me.¡± with that thought, tan yun stretched tiptoe and carefully placed the ten copper coins next to the steamer, ¡°boss, give me five buns.¡± ¡°little girl, five buns cost fifteen copper coins,¡± the bun shop owner frowned upon seeing the coins on the counter. ¡°isn¡¯t it two copper coins each?¡± tan yun asked anxiously, ¡°the day before yesterday it was two copper coins each, i bought some¡­¡± ¡°currently, we are at war with zhao country and the southern barbarians, and with the flood and epidemic in yun hua dao and jiangnan dao this year, there just isn¡¯t enough grain. two copper coins each was yesterday¡¯s price. now it¡¯s three copper coins each,¡± the bun shop owner sighed. ¡°then¡­ then give me three, please,¡± tan yun bit her lip and said. ¡°all right, that will be nine copper coins, and you have one left,¡± the bun shop owner said as he handed the paper containing the buns to tan yun. ¡°thank you.¡± tan yun picked up the paper and hurried home. ¡°oh, be careful, don¡¯t drop them,¡± the bun shop owner called out as he watched the slender figure, then shook his head, ¡°that poor little girl.¡± the icy wind howled through the frozen land. tan yun trudged on, panting hard and desperately running home. after passing the sparsely populated market, she finally arrived at a row of small, dilapidated houses. ¡°mother, i¡¯m back¡­ ah!¡± tan yun called out, but because she was running too fast, she tripped over a piece of broken stone on the ground. she fell to the ground, clutching the paper tightly, but the buns inside rolled out onto the ground. ¡°my buns, my buns¡­¡± tan yun, ignoring the pain, quickly got up to pick up the buns that had fallen to the ground. however, the buns had rolled through snow and mud and were stained with dirt. seeing this, tan yun¡¯s nose twitched, but she bit her lip hard, holding back the tears swirling in her eyes. ¡°it¡¯s okay, i¡¯ll just tear a bit off, the rest is still clean,¡± she reasoned. tan yun, with her frostbitten hands, carefully peeled the muddy parts off the buns. it took about enough time to burn half an incense stick for her to remove all the mud from the buns, ensuring they were clean. the wind cut like a knife. not only did tan yun feel bone-chilling cold, but a fire seemed to rise in her stomach, bending her over and spreading throughout her body. choking on a surge in her throat and looking at the mud-stained bun skins, she struggled to hold it down. in the end, she swallowed hard and stuffed all the bun skins and mud stains into her mouth. with each chew, there was the soft fragrance of the bun skins, mixed with the astringent taste of the mud, but she ate with great satisfaction. after eating, she felt even hungrier. she couldn¡¯t help looking at the buns wrapped in the oil paper, then swallowed again and quickly picked up the oil paper to run towards the two thatched cottages not far away. ¡°mother, i¡¯m back, i brought back three buns today.¡± little tan yun exclaimed with excitement. but there was no response from inside the house; every other time she came back, her mother would always respond with, ¡°it¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± little tan yun, holding the oil paper, approached the inside of the room. she saw the room, empty on all four sides, with only a bed inside. on the bed lay a woman with a pale face, her eyes closed as if in meditation, holding in one hand an ¡°east wing record.¡± the ¡°east wing record¡± was very worn, as if it had been flipped through countless times. ¡°mother, stop sleeping, i brought three big buns.¡± little tan yun walked up to the woman and whispered. the room was quiet, and the woman did not respond to her. ¡°bun. this is a bun. uncle zhu gave me ten copper coins; i bought them. i didn¡¯t steal them¡­¡± ¡°mother, please wake up.¡± little tan yun quickly stretched out her hand that was rough from being on the ground, ¡°mother, yun¡¯er¡¯s hand hurts, blow on it¡­¡± every time she got a skin wound in the past, the woman would gently blow on it for her. the woman on the bed was motionless and didn¡¯t respond at all. a tremor ran through little tan yun¡¯s heart, and she could no longer hold back, bursting into tears. in the empty and shabby house, there was only her heart-wrenching crying. little tan yun cried until she was out of strength, stunned in place for a long time, before she finally took out the buns from the oil paper. ¡°mother, eat the bun quickly, after eating this bun you won¡¯t be hungry, and you won¡¯t be sleepy anymore.¡± ¡°mother, eat the bun, please wake up.¡± ¡°wuuu¡­ mother, yun¡¯er won¡¯t let you teach me writing anymore, i won¡¯t make you angry again, please wake up, wake up¡­¡± little tan yun cried bitterly over the body, then devoid of energy, she continued sobbing and lay on the corpse motionless. at that moment, a poignant sigh came from outside the door. ¡°she has already left.¡± little tan yun turned around to look and saw a middle-aged scholar standing at the door, handsome in appearance, with sharp brows and piercing eyes, though his expression was somewhat desolate. ¡°sir, save my mother, i have buns¡­¡± ¡°i cannot save the dead. all i can do is to ensure she rests in peace.¡± ¡­¡­ on the river dock. an jing looked at tan yun who had been silent, and said, ¡°tan yun, how did you enter the residence?¡± tan yun came back to her senses and said, ¡°when i was six years old, my mother was unwell and didn¡¯t survive that winter. i was seen by a passing steward and brought into the residence¡­¡± as tan yun spoke, her expression couldn¡¯t help but lower. six years old? upon hearing this, an jing¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, asking, ¡°what about your father?¡± tan yun calmly said, ¡°my mother told me he died before i was born.¡± as she said this, tan yun¡¯s face still showed no emotion, even as she kept pounding the clothes with her mallet. ¡°do you still feel sad now?¡± an jing paused before speaking. ¡°sad? what¡¯s there to be sad about?¡± tan yun paused in her movements, then looked at the glaring sunlight and said, ¡°my mother definitely wouldn¡¯t want me to be sad and crying all day, so i¡¯m not going to be sad.¡± the mild sunlight spilled down, casting a gentle glow on her delicate face, adding a bit of softness. as if struck by a thought, tan yun looked at an jing curiously, ¡°master, why are you asking me so many questions today?¡± in the past although the master was strange, always saying odd things, he never asked so many questions. ¡°nothing, i¡¯m just taking an interest in you,¡± an jing said with an awkward smile. ¡°taking an interest in me? you never cared about me before.¡± tan yun thought of something, her eyes moving quickly, ¡°master, you¡¯re not here because of that young lad han wenxin, are you?¡± ¡°how could that be? how would you have grown up if i didn¡¯t care about you?¡± an jing gave tan yun an exasperated look at her full bust, saying, ¡°enough, you¡¯re almost done washing the clothes, let¡¯s go back.¡± it appears tan yun and li fuzhou didn¡¯t have a special relationship, but that¡¯s understandable. li fuzhou, that old fox, probably wouldn¡¯t fancy a ¡®beauty without brains¡¯ like tan yun. ¡°understood, master.¡± tan yun nodded her head, then picked up the wooden basin and followed behind an jing. ¡°it seems i need to have a good talk with han wenxin, that kid. ever since zhou xianming left, i haven¡¯t really practiced any boxing or martial skills,¡± tan yun murmured to himself as he watched an jing¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°hurry up, have you turned into a statue?¡± an jing couldn¡¯t help calling out when he saw tan yun standing motionless. ¡°i¡¯m coming, i¡¯m coming.¡± tan yun quickly followed, laughing, ¡°son-in-law, actually, when i think about it, you¡¯ve been pretty nice to me. you¡¯re also fun to talk to.¡± the young doctor wasn¡¯t particularly capable on ordinary days, only knowing how to treat and heal people, but he not only bought himself some pastries, he could also cheer one up¡­ ¡°of course.¡± an jing didn¡¯t even turn his head back as he replied, ¡°i have a few good points about me, being a ladies¡¯ man might be one of them.¡± ¡°son-in-law, i want to repay you,¡± tan yun said earnestly. ¡°repay? how do you plan to repay?¡± ¡°now it¡¯s autumn, the crabs are really fatty. i heard from a teahouse worker that a new batch of crabs has arrived, and they¡¯re not too expensive¡­¡± ¡°are you trying to repay me, or take revenge on me?¡± ¡­¡­ lijiang city. recently, with the autumn examinations happening in lijiang city, throngs of scholars from jiangnan dao gather here, making the city even livelier and noisier. especially at night on the lakes of lijiang city, heavily made-up women stand at the prows of boats, beckoning scholars with their handkerchiefs. the middle of the lake is filled with people toasting and changing seats, the sounds of cheerful singing and dancing all around. among them, a delicate painted pleasure boat slowly drifted over, with crisp and pleasing voices wafting into the ears. at this moment, a middle-aged scholar tried to board the pleasure boat, only to be blocked by the old madam at the boat¡¯s head. the two of them tugged back and forth, the old madam with a scowl on her face, while the middle-aged scholar continued to smile apologetically. this was not just anyone; it was zhou xianming. finally, seemingly impatient, the old madam pushed zhou xianming¡¯s hand away and barked angrily, ¡°you¡¯re dreaming in broad daylight!¡± ¡°dreaming¡­ in broad daylight!?¡± as soon as these words came out, countless people around turned to look, their eyes filled with surprise. even zhou xianming¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, and he awkwardly retreated from the boat. watching zhou xianming¡¯s retreating figure, the old madam sneered, ¡°you can¡¯t see these wealthy young masters boarding the boat with their fortunes, dressed in brocades, used to fine dining. with your gaunt face and mean appearance, you don¡¯t even have the decency to take a look at yourself in a puddle of urine. you¡¯re neither here nor there, dreaming of eating swan meat. better snap out of it early¡­¡± zhou xianming dared not look back, afraid that the old madam would summon a few brutes to beat him up, but he kept muttering to himself. ¡°¡­insisting on five hundred copper coins, wouldn¡¯t three hundred copper coins for half an hour be fine? no sense of doing business at all, this old madam won¡¯t eat four dishes in her entire life.¡± zhou xianming had been in lijiang city for quite some days, and the few taels of silver he had borrowed from zhao qingmei and han wenxin, despite his ¡®frugality,¡¯ had mostly been spent. now he only had five hundred copper coins left, which he needed to save for the boat fare back to yu state city after tomorrow¡¯s announcement of examination results. ¡°sigh.¡± shaking his head and swaying along the lake¡¯s edge, zhou xianming looked at the nearby pleasure boat, which he couldn¡¯t board, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply, ¡°the greatest distance in the world is this two hundred copper coins¡¯ distance.¡± after wandering for half an hour, the cold evening wind was biting to the bone, causing him to sniffle and shiver, and only then did he reluctantly return to his lodgings. to save some silver, zhou xianming didn¡¯t stay in an inn but instead at the house of a poor family in the slums of lijiang city. in that household, there was only an old man called bian plait by the neighborhood. bian plait had two sons conscripted to the border at jishi pass, and now only a fourteen or fifteen-year-old granddaughter remained at home. ¡°mr. zhou, are you back?¡± seeing zhou xianming sneaking back in during the middle of the night, bian plait couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°back. i was just attending a poetry gathering with a few friends, so i¡¯m late,¡± zhou xianming chuckled awkwardly. ¡°mr. zhou, you are quite the busy man. surely you will perform excellently at this autumn examination. i¡¯ve boiled a few eggs ¨C xiao huan, the little girl, had two, and i had one. no one¡¯s eaten the remaining two, so give me a moment¡­¡± bian plait said, unable to contain himself. ¡°no need¡­¡± just as zhou xianming was about to refuse, he saw bian plait go into the house, take out two boiled eggs, and then return to hand them to him. ¡°mr. zhou, go ahead and eat them. they¡¯ve been kept in the pot, still warm,¡± bian plait said with a simple smile. ¡°then thank you very much,¡± zhou xianming said gratefully, looking at the boiled eggs in his hands. bian plait¡¯s family lived in the slums, always struggling to make ends meet, dependent solely on the meager earnings bian plait made from selling fried silverfish at the market. ¡°i won¡¯t disturb mr. zhou any longer,¡± bian plait said then. after speaking, bian plait returned to the house. ¡°bian plait, in the latter part of your life, you will surely enjoy eight dishes,¡± zhou xianming said to himself, moved by bian plait¡¯s back, before also returning to his own room. the room was dilapidated, with only a bed, a table, and windows that were patched up with rags, offering no resistance to the wind that would sometimes howl through them. after eating the two eggs, zhou xianming drank a large glass of water, then sat at the table and lit a candle, pulling out a map from his chest. the map showed mountains, rivers, and roads with extreme clarity, and some places were even specially annotated. centered around the territories of great yan and the thirteen prefectures of zhao country, there were numerous passes, trade routes, and the surroundings radiated out to the dongluo desert, the great mountains of the southern barbarians, the three thousand buddha countries of pure land, the vast endless steppe, and the countless islands of the east sea. the detail of the map was unparalleled. ¡°a myriad of snakes devouring the dragon, the winds and clouds are stirring, this great yan¡­¡± zhou xianming took a deep breath and furrowed his brows. he had studied ancient texts and discovered a pattern: what rises must fall. when a dynasty reaches its peak, it inevitably starts to decline, an inescapable trend no one can withstand. now, after decades of peaceful development between great yan and zhao country, various forces have also been seeking to grow and strengthen. there¡¯s quietness amidst the strife; such is the state of the world¡¯s affairs. yan country lays claim to the dragon¡¯s ascendant land, the ancient capital of the great zhou dynasty, with millions of armored soldiers, yet its borders are stretched thin; while it appears to have a profound heritage, it faces enemies on all sides. to the northeast lay the overwhelmingly powerful zhao country, to the south sat the southern barbarians with their hundred thousand great mountains, to the west was the western pure land, and to the northwest even more so loomed the houjin dynasty that had unified the grasslands. from ancient times to the present, the grasslands have been difficult to unify, not even the great zhou dynasty had completely conquered the great grasslands, and now, with the grasslands partitioned between yan country and zhao country, they had achieved unification and had been recuperating for twenty years. this tiger, itching to move and sharpening its claws and teeth for so long, was poised to hunt the moment it emerged, it just remained to be seen who the tiger had prepared to devour. zhao country and yan country have waged war against each other for decades, developing a profound enmity, almost as if they were fire and water. with the nation in such a state, even the halls of great yan were filled with open and secret struggles; scholars, eunuchs, and the military factions were all vying for power and wealth, while the human emperor sat high upon his royal platform. below the temple hall, the jianghu was unfathomable¡ªdemon sect had risen from the dust, buddhism sought to spread eastward, and zhenyi sect was not just a local snake but a dragon, and how could he turn a blind eye. at this critical junction, the world¡¯s landscape, the fate of the nation, the temple halls, and jianghu, all hung by a single thread that could move the whole body. ¡°there will hardly come a day of unification under heaven¡­.¡± under the flickering candlelight, zhou xianming gazed at the map in his hands and, after a long while, he shook his head and muttered to himself. after flipping through the map for a while, zhou xianming felt a touch of sleepiness, and then he laid down on the wooden bed and fell asleep. the night was like water, and after an uncertain amount of time had passed, he heard a quarrel by his ear. ¡°no, i won¡¯t go with you!¡± ¡°butcher liu, i¡¯ve paid off all the debts i owe you, so please spare my granddaughter.¡± ¡­.. zhou xianming opened his eyes, then got up, donned an overcoat, and walked out. he saw that the rickety yard door was wide open, a corpulent man with a face full of horizontal flesh incessantly pulling at a girl about fourteen or fifteen years old. the girl¡¯s hands clenched the wooden door desperately, but how could her strength compare to that of the corpulent man? old man bai paced anxiously by the side, like an ant on a hot pan; he neither dared to stop the man physically nor to scold him angrily. ¡°old man bai, you¡¯ve only paid back the principal. what about the interest? with an exchange of nine for thirteen, that¡¯s the rule,¡± butcher liu snorted coldly, ¡°if you don¡¯t pay the interest today, i¡¯m going to take this girl, bai huan, away.¡± ¡°grandpa, save me, save me¡­¡± bai huan became frantic upon hearing this. butcher liu was no good man; he was rumored to be in cahoots with the tooth collectors of the sanhu gang, specifically dealing in women and children. ¡°thud!¡± old man bai¡¯s knees buckled, and he knelt straight down, ¡°butcher liu, please give me a few days to gather the interest¡­¡± ¡°it¡¯s no use giving you more time.¡± butcher liu kicked over and sent old man bai flying a good distance, ¡°when will you old codger make up for the blasted silverfish debt?¡± old man bai rolled on the ground, hitting his nose on the earth, and immediately blood began flowing freely. ¡°grandpa!¡± bai huan called out desperately upon seeing this. ¡°stop shouting, or i¡¯ll beat old man bai to death.¡± butcher liu grabbed bai huan¡¯s arm and started dragging her towards the street. the surrounding neighbors also heard this commotion and poked their heads out, but upon seeing butcher liu¡¯s face, each one instinctively retracted their head. butcher liu was a famously nefarious tyrant far and wide, often loan-sharking to the poor nearby. the interest was first agreed upon with black ink on white paper, but in the end, he would demand triple the amount. some had reported him to the officials, but in the end, not only were they beaten severely, they also had to pay up without fail. he claimed his uncle was a government official and an underling of chu huai¡¯s heart. and who was chu huai? he was none other than the son of chu nanying, the daoist master of jiangnan dao, who held great military and political power, commanding tens of thousands of troops. even the heroes of jianghu, the experts of sects, and the great clans did not dare to act too recklessly in face of chu nanying. chu huai, a prodigal son dressed in exquisite finery, was notorious for his lack of talents throughout jiangnan dao, especially in lijiang city where he was mockingly called ¡®the young master.¡¯ if he took a fancy to chaste local women on the streets, he would inquire about their backgrounds and then forcibly take them to his linhu lake villa to indulge in his pleasures. if their husbands came looking, he would even molest them in front of their husbands for his own gratification. in the end, he would kill both the husband and wife and then bury them in the villa grounds. who knows how many lonely souls and vengeful spirits lay buried beneath the linhu lake villa. one particularly sensational case was when he captured a pair of beautiful mother and daughter, unbeknownst to him that they were the wife and daughter of feng shuimu, the fortress master of the jiangnan dao¡¯s feiying fort. feiying fort held some sway in jiangnan dao, and its fortress master, feng shuimu, himself boasted third grade cultivation. when feng shuimu received the news, how could he endure it? he immediately led several feiying fort experts to storm the linhu lake villa, intending to administer justice to chu huai on the spot. who would have thought that chu huai had two third grade experts defending him, and the fort was filled with elite military warriors? the experts from feiying fort not only died without a trace but even feng shuimu himself was killed on the spot. subsequently, feiying fort was completely eradicated from jianghu in jiangnan dao, as if it had never existed at all. this incident caused a huge stir at the time and was a major sensation both in jianghu and among the common folk. latterly, although chu huai was rumored to be under house arrest in linhu lake villa, people in jianghu still noticed that numerous young women were secretly brought into the villa, and the shady dealings were a secret to no one. now, the mention of chu huai¡¯s name still terrifies many women. ¡°wait!¡± just at that moment, a cold shout came from a distance. butcher liu¡¯s hand paused subconsciously, his brows furrowing as he looked over and couldn¡¯t help but yell, ¡°who¡¯s this old pedant coming from?¡± ¡°impertinent! zhou has only just reached the prime of life!¡± zhou xianming responded, ¡°you may call zhou a pedant, but if you call him old, zhou cannot tolerate it.¡± ¡°get lost.¡± butcher liu extended his left fist, then clenched it hard, making a crackling sound. ¡°creak! creak!¡± zhou xianming shrank his neck instinctively and retreated several steps back when he heard the noise. ¡°you call that courage? you want to be a hero?¡± the butcher liu sneered and then picked up bai huan, intending to leave. ¡°no, i don¡¯t want this¡­¡± bai huan cried out. ¡°butcher liu, i beg you, please show mercy.¡± old man bai was also kowtowing non-stop on the ground. but butcher liu simply didn¡¯t care about anything and walked out with bai huan. ¡°don¡¯t you dare leave!¡± zhou xianming gathered his courage and grabbed butcher liu¡¯s thigh. ¡°you damned cur!¡± butcher liu¡¯s leg was seized, and he instantly became angry, trying to kick zhou xianming away, but zhou stuck to him like a plaster, impossible to shake off. ¡°seeking death!¡± seeing this, butcher liu released his grip and aimed a punch at zhou xianming¡¯s body. the punch was powerful, and zhou xianming immediately began to cry out, but his hands clung desperately to butcher liu¡¯s thigh. butcher liu was unsympathetic, his fists as big as bowls raining down like a storm and landing fiercely on zhou xianming¡¯s body. soon, zhou xianming released his hold. ¡°old fool, is this all you¡¯ve got, pretending to be a hero?¡± butcher liu cursed, and even though zhou xianming had let go, he didn¡¯t stop hitting. punch after punch landed on zhou xianming¡¯s body. zhou xianming screamed while protecting the vital parts of his body with his hands. he held his groin area tightly and curled up, resembling a cooked shrimp. ¡°ah! it hurts to death¡­..¡± with each punch, only ear-piercing cries could be heard. before long, zhou xianming lay still on the ground, barely making any noise. ¡°stop hitting him, you could kill someone!¡± old man bai shouted urgently. ¡°master zhou is a scholar participating in the imperial examination, a favorite candidate. if you damage him, and the chief examiner investigates, you won¡¯t be able to escape the consequences.¡± bai huan also said anxiously from the side. ¡°a scholar participating in the imperial examination?¡± butcher liu cooled down, looking at the motionless zhou xianming on the ground, and started to feel afraid. he bragged about his uncle, but if a man really died, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape responsibility, especially not a scholar attending the exam. chu nanying was also a disciple of the confucian sect, and confucian disciples, in general, were held in high esteem; killing one wouldn¡¯t be silenced by a mere few silver coins, especially with so many witnesses around. noticing that butcher liu had stopped, bai huan rushed forward to check on zhou xianming and found him lying motionless on the ground, no breath when they checked his nose. ¡°dead¡­.. he¡¯s dead¡­.¡± ¡°he¡¯s dead?¡± butcher liu was also taken aback, ¡°i didn¡¯t even use much force, and this old scholar died?¡± ¡°a dead man?¡± ¡°and he was a scholar attending the exam.¡± ¡­.. the neighboring spectators began murmuring to each other when they heard this. ¡°i¡¯ll let go of the interest.¡± cold sweat formed on butcher liu¡¯s forehead, ¡°it was this old¡­ scholar who insisted on clinging to my leg. he hit my fist with his face, this has nothing to do with me, you all saw it¡­¡± there was silence among the crowd; no one spoke, but their eyes seemed to say that it was he who had killed the scholar. ¡°it¡¯s not my fault, not at all.¡± butcher liu declared and rushed out the door. after butcher liu left, the neighbors slowly stepped out. ¡°this scholar isn¡¯t really dead, is he?¡± ¡°butcher liu learned some martial arts; he¡¯s very strong. he might have indeed hammered the scholar to death.¡± ¡°that¡¯s truly pitiable.¡± ¡­¡­ old man bai and bai huan were also slightly startled, feeling a bit saddened in their hearts. ¡°so¡­ butcher liu left?¡± just then, a weak voice sounded. zhou xianming slowly opened his eyes and with great effort propped himself up. ¡°look, the scholar isn¡¯t dead yet.¡± everyone was astonished. mr. zhou, are you all right?¡± bai huan asked with a hint of joy in his eyes upon seeing this. ¡°nothing serious, but the injuries aren¡¯t light either.¡± zhou xianming, his face bruised and swollen, couldn¡¯t care less as he sighed, ¡°the beatings i took during this time weren¡¯t for nothing.¡± ¡°mr. zhou, you should go inside and rest,¡± old sun hurriedly suggested. ¡°no need, old master sun, girl xiao huan, i must be going.¡± something occurred to zhou xianming, and with lingering fear, he said, ¡°if that butcher liu regains his senses, who knows if he will come back or not.¡± ¡°tomorrow is the day the examination results are announced, are you planning to return home today?¡± ¡°forget it, i, zhou, will surely rank high. whether i check or not makes no difference.¡± upon hearing zhou xianming¡¯s words, everyone present looked at each other with puzzled expressions. supported by old bai and bai huan, zhou xianming went to his room to pack his belongings, preparing to flee; his bruised and swollen face still carried a hint of regret: ¡°it¡¯s a pity that the customs and culture of lijiang city are too costly.¡± ¡­¡­ yu state city, yulan square in the eastern part of the city. the streets were flanked by shops, and small vendors arranged their stalls in an orderly manner on both sides. up ahead, yulan square was bustling with noisy crowds and converging guests. ¡°don¡¯t push, don¡¯t push, the freshly made chestnut cakes are ten copper coins each today,¡± a clerk from yulan square called out loudly. ¡°how many portions?¡± someone couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°exactly! yesterday i waited for the time of three tea sessions, only to be told they were sold out in the end,¡± another chimed in. ¡°there are over three hundred portions today, that¡¯s more than enough,¡± replied the clerk with a smile. upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. an jing, clad in a teal outfit, stood behind the crowd with a small medicine box strapped over his shoulder. li fuzhou, on the other hand, stood nearby, engrossed in a book, seemingly unable to extricate himself from its content. for today¡¯s medical visits, an jing had specifically invited li fuzhou to join him. ¡°this place is indeed lively.¡± li fuzhou looked around for a moment before closing his book. ¡°this is a new pastry shop that has opened. the cakes are delicious and quite unique,¡± an jing said, glancing ahead. ¡°it must be that gourmand tan yun who prompted little miss to bring you here, right?¡± li fuzhou said, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°she only mentioned it in passing; i was also quite curious, and we had nothing else to do.¡± an jing exhaled, casually asking, ¡°third master, you¡¯re not like mr. zhou, who needs to study for the examination, so why do you read books every day?¡± old li, just keep pretending. are you really reading a book, or are you viewing some secret correspondence from the demon sect? ¡°it¡¯s just a hobby,¡± li fuzhou glanced at an jing. ¡°besides reading, does third master have any other hobbies?¡± an jing asked with a grin. ¡°listening to music in the pleasure quarters,¡± li fuzhou carefully tucked the book into his sleeve as he spoke. an jing: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°as for why i read books, have you ever heard?¡± li fuzhou patted an jing¡¯s shoulder, ¡°shallow understanding from books, one must truly experience it to know.¡± the two men looked at each other, and it seemed like they both understood. ¡°ahem ahem¡­¡± an jing cleared his throat and said, ¡°third master, actually, i¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something.¡± li fuzhou stood hands behind his back, indifferently said, ¡°ask away, about the arts of the pleasure quarters, i have no secrets, i can tell you everything. for other matters, i may not be able to teach you.¡± do i need you to teach me the secrets of the pleasure quarters? an jing inwardly sneered, but outwardly, he asked cheerfully, ¡°suppose, third master, that you were a supreme martial artist of the jianghu, what would you do?¡± ¡°oh?¡± li fuzhou glanced at an jing, ¡°it seems like i have asked you this before?¡± ¡°i¡¯m also curious about third master¡¯s thoughts and whether i might gain some insight from them.¡± ¡°how supreme? how does it compare to that young han wenxin?¡± do you really dare to compare yourself to han wenxin? an jing laughed and said, ¡°that kid han wenxin is but a small fry in the jianghu. third master, you must be much higher than him. could he even compare with you?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only li fuzhou¡¯s brows furrowed, he pondered and said, ¡°if i were a supreme martial artist of the jianghu, i would surely travel through mountains and foreign lands, read countless books, traverse thousands of miles, and visit a myriad of pleasure quarters¡­.¡± visiting a myriad of pleasure quarters¡­ an jing raised his eyebrows and gave a thumbs-up, ¡°third master truly lives up to being a scholar; your words are impeccable.¡± this old rascal li fuzhou is indeed worthy of being the leader of the demon sect. if an jing hadn¡¯t witnessed his true nature, he probably would never have guessed that this unassuming old man was actually the leader of the demon sect. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 112: Demon Sect Hierarchs Intent to Kill chapter 111: chapter 112: demon sect hierarch¡¯s intent to kill dusk¡¯s smoke rose, and the darkening sky stretched vast and boundless. a bright moon hung in the air, its chilling radiance piercing, reflecting off the brows and hair of those it touched. outside lijiang city. by this moment, huo zhongyun, whose injuries had completely healed, stood beneath the city wall, gazing at the distant towering pagoda, and slowly said, ¡°i truly did not expect the heavenly demon order to appear in chu huai¡¯s hands.¡± by his side, ghost-faced buddha joined his hands and said solemnly, ¡°this matter seems somewhat peculiar.¡± ¡°what do you mean by that?¡± huo zhongyun¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised. ghost-faced buddha¡¯s expression was grave as he said, ¡°the heavenly demon order is a legacy item of our demon sect, apart from the treasure sunk beneath the sealing demon well for a thousand years, this item is a token of faith for the sect hierarch, absolutely critical.¡± ¡°but after sect master jiang disappeared, the heavenly demon order likewise vanished without a trace. over the years, our human sect has spent considerable effort and energy searching for this heavenly demon order, always with no news. how could it suddenly appear in chu huai¡¯s hands?¡± ghost-faced buddha always felt something was amiss about this. huo zhongyun slightly nodded, ¡°what you said is right; however, the sect master ordered us to investigate this matter, and i feel we should rather believe it mistakenly than miss out on it.¡± the importance of the heavenly demon order to the demon sect went without saying. a sect hierarch of the demon sect without the heavenly demon order invariably lacks some legitimacy, just as the current human emperor lacks the great yan jade seal. ghost-faced buddha nodded; he too understood the importance of the heavenly demon order, and this matter must be thoroughly investigated. whether what chu huai holds is indeed the heavenly demon order is crucial, and even if it is fake, how he managed to replicate this heavenly demon order, all are related to information about jiang shang. huo zhongyun smiled and said, ¡°first, let¡¯s investigate the situation, then act accordingly. surely this small linhu lake villa doesn¡¯t have a first grade expert, does it?¡± chu nanying, chu huai¡¯s father and the daoist master of jiangnan dao, likely doesn¡¯t even have a first grade expert for personal protection, let alone chu huai. both ghost-faced buddha and huo zhongyun are second grade peak cultivators, especially ghost-faced buddha, who ranks thirty-seventh on the tiger list. after talking, the two leapt toward the interior of lijiang city. ¡­.. linhu lake villa. outside the villa, the pink walls encircled, willows drooped all around, with six flower hanging gatehouses and covered verandas on all four sides. paths in the courtyard interconnected, extending in all directions, dotted with rugged rocks, and on the embracing structure hung the plaque ¡°restrain desires and impatience.¡± the entire compound was rich and splendid, regally luxurious, the garden lush and exquisite, the back courtyard filled with verdant willows, alongside a slender stream flowing into a pool. above lay a path of white stone slabs, displaying elegance and luxury. deep within the villa¡¯s bedroom. a young man in lavish attire, pale-faced, licking his lips, a hint of keenness flashed in his eyes as he watched the woman darting and dodging before him. ¡°my dear, this place is all mine; where can you run to?¡± ¡°young master chu, this lowly one is already married, and with a frail body, how could i possibly serve you¡­¡± the woman¡¯s body curled up, eyes filled with fright. the man before her was none other than chu nanying¡¯s son, chu huai, well-known in lijiang city as a playboy. chu nanying had a great relationship with his wife. unfortunately, she passed away after giving birth to chu huai. although chu nanying later took concubines, none could bear him another child. hence, he doted extremely on his only son, chu huai, leading him to live an indulgent and luxuriant life, sunk in hedonism. his profligacy and lustfulness were known to every household in jiangnan dao. chu huai had a penchant for women and frequently abducted beautiful married women to amuse himself. chu nanying had cleaned up after him numerous times. thus, there hadn¡¯t been any significant troubles. until the incident at feiying fort blew up, causing a storm across the city. the uproar was too great, and chu nanying had no choice but to confine him to linhu lake villa. but chu huai didn¡¯t mend his ways and continued to behave capriciously, sending his cronies to abduct married women. chu huai chuckled, ¡°what i like is precisely your kind of beauty, plump and graceful. if you yield to me, you will be happy, and i will be happier. if you don¡¯t yield to me, i will be even happier, and you will inevitably suffer¡­¡± the woman, upon hearing chu huai¡¯s words, turned deathly pale, ¡°my family¡­ if my husband finds out¡­¡± ¡°so what if he finds out?¡± chu huai sneered, ¡°if he comes looking for you, then it¡¯s even better; i¡¯ll let him see with his own eyes, so what?¡± as he spoke, chu huai, seemingly unable to contain his desire, advanced to grab the woman. ¡°no, don¡¯t!¡± seeing this, the woman screamed and ran towards a distant place. ¡°where are you running to?!¡± chu huai laughed loudly and quickly chased after her. noises of stumbling rose within the room, mixed with unbridled laughter and pleas for mercy. ¡°i hadn¡¯t expected chu huai to have such a predilection,¡± huo zhongyun remarked, standing on the roof ridge, a cold smirk playing at his lips. through the hazy window, they clearly saw what was happening inside the bedroom. ghost-faced buddha said, ¡°chu nanying can¡¯t escape this blight.¡± chu huai could be so brazen; the fault wasn¡¯t on anyone else but chu nanying. in jiangnan dao, chu nanying might still be able to shelter him once or twice, but had it been in yujing city, the center of great yan¡¯s administration, not only might chu nanying be unable to protect his son, but he himself might also be implicated. ¡°hm!?¡± just then, as chu huai chased the woman, a token appeared on his waist in front of them both. ¡°the heavenly demon order!?¡± seeing this, both were shocked. as two experts of the demon sect, although they had never had the chance to approach jiang shang closely, they had seen him from a distance and naturally had seen the heavenly demon order at his waist. the token before them was identical in shape and size to the heavenly demon order, even the style was nearly the same. those who had never seen the heavenly demon order surely could not have replicated it to such an extent. even if chu huai¡¯s token was a replica, it meant he had truly seen the heavenly demon order before, and he might even know the current whereabouts of jiang shang. ghost-faced buddha and huo zhongyun exchanged glances. ¡°swoosh! swoosh!¡± huo zhongyun, impulsive by nature, burst with force qi in his hands. with a lift of his palm, he suddenly raised it high. ¡°rustle! rustle!¡± the roof of the bedroom above suddenly lifted off and flipped backward, raising a cloud of dust. ¡°who!? who dares such audacity!?¡± chu huai paused in his actions, his eyes wide with astonishment at the scene unfolding before him. while he was engaged in that sordid affair, the roof had been flipped from above him? in the next moment, ghost-faced buddha leaped up, a palm thrusting towards him. ghost-faced buddha was a second grade summit expert and also on the dragon and tiger list, the closest to a first grade expert. his speed was so fast that chu huai could not catch a clear glimpse. ¡°stop!¡± just then, a thunderous shout came from the distance. immediately afterwards, a palm met ghost-faced buddha¡¯s. ¡°bang!¡± ¡°crack! crack!¡± the sound of bones breaking in the arm was clear, the newcomer¡¯s face paled, sweat dotted his forehead, and he steadily retreated backward. the person was none other than one of the third grade experts chu nanying had tasked with protecting chu huai, white palm cui yong. being a third grade expert made him a formidable figure in the martial world, but against ghost-faced buddha, a second grade summit expert, he was no match. at the same time, two other third grade experts appeared, hurriedly taking positions in front of a shaken chu huai. ¡°quick, kill them, quickly!¡± chu huai¡¯s feet scrambled backwards on the ground, his expression filled with sheer panic. ¡°anyone who obstructs me dies!¡± huo zhongyun twisted his wrist, and a long spear appeared in his hand, transforming into a streak of cold gleam as it shot out. the spear was as swift as a dragon, its force unstoppable. huo zhongyun! the newcomer was huo zhongyun, an expert of the demon sect! the two third grade experts exerted their full strength but were still forced to retreat repeatedly, deeply shocked; was this the strength of a demon sect guardian? the demon sect, just one of the branches of the larger sectarian force, had guardians so formidable. then how much more profound might the other experts of the sect be? no wonder they could stir a storm of blood and violence in the great yan martial world years ago. although they had been prepared, they were still forced into retreat by huo zhongyun¡¯s relentless attacks. from afar, atop a pavilion watchtower. ¡°brother xi, the demon sect experts have shown themselves, isn¡¯t it time to wrap this up?¡± chu nanying asked anxiously. after all, chu huai was now in the midst of the chaos, and it was unclear if he might be mistakenly killed by the qi force. ¡°don¡¯t worry, li fuzhou has not yet made his move,¡± said xi jikui in a deep voice. he did not care about chu huai¡¯s life or death. in his view, chu huai, a useless fool, better off dead than alive, might commit more disgraceful acts if he lived. xi jikui was more concerned about whether other experts from the demon sect would appear today. chu nanying said gravely, ¡°my men are clearly no match for those two from the demon sect. if we don¡¯t press them now, how will the others show themselves?¡± xi jikui slightly nodded, finding chu nanying¡¯s point reasonable. he then looked towards the five golden dragons arrest officers including hong yuanwu behind him. hong yuanwu¡¯s eyes hardened, understanding the cue, and he quickly charged towards huo zhongyun and ghost-faced buddha. huo zhongyun¡¯s spear was swift and fierce like thunder, overpowering the two third grade experts effortlessly. spear under heaven! the spear tip swirled, turning into countless chilling currents surging forward, stabbing out with the speed of lightning and directly piercing through the throat of the man in front.¡± ¡°gurgle~!¡± the third grade expert¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, then his life faded. ¡°thump!¡± as huo zhongyun pulled back his spear, blood spurted across the ground, and the body likewise fell. seeing this, chu huai¡¯s eyes widened. he was very aware of the strength of the experts chu nanying had sent to protect him. the spear-wielding mighty man had impaled one completely; this spear-welder must be an even more formidable expert, which terrified him to his core. ¡°you¡­ don¡¯t kill me, my father is chu nanying, the daoist master of jiangnan,¡± he pleaded. ¡°even if i were your father, you would still die today.¡± huo zhongyun sneered coldly and strode forward. just then, a sense of foreboding arose in his heart, the hairs on his arms standing on end as he quickly raised his spear to block. ¡°hiss! hiss!¡± the multiple blade lights met his spear, and huo zhongyun felt numbness in his arm, almost losing grip of his spear. an expert is here! huo zhongyun¡¯s heart startled, and he hurriedly looked over and exclaimed, ¡°xuanyi guards!?¡± the ghost-faced buddha also furrowed his eyebrows and thought to himself, this is bad. ahead, five gold constables of the xuanyi guard clearly came prepared, suggesting they had fallen into an ambush. although not all the gold constables of the xuanyi guard were at the second grade peak, their strength was mostly in the upper tiers of the second grade. together with the five of them, huo zhongyun and the ghost-faced buddha might not be able to handle them. moreover, there were definitely silver constables and bronze constables nearby, whose arrow rains were extremely troublesome. ¡°let¡¯s go first!¡± the ghost-faced buddha immediately shouted. ¡°where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± hong yuanwu sneered coldly, and swung his sword down at them. the sword light was as fast as a gust of wind, its force enormous and heavy. the other four gold constables also leaped forward, blocking the paths of huo zhongyun and the ghost-faced buddha. as the saying goes, even a strong tiger can¡¯t fight off a pack of wolves. although huo zhongyun and the ghost-faced buddha held a slight advantage in cultivation, they were now severely pressured facing the five gold constables. within moments, huo zhongyun was injured by the sword qi, his sleeve soaked with blood. ¡°old ghost, you go first, i¡¯ll cover our retreat!¡± huo zhongyun once again blocked the fierce attacks and shouted, ¡°we must inform the sect master of this news.¡± the ghost-faced buddha hadn¡¯t responded yet when he was immediately pushed back by hong yuanwu and two other gold constables. ¡°today, none of you will escape.¡± a cruel smile appeared on hong yuanwu¡¯s lips, his murderous intent intensified. killing experts of the demon sect would shake the martial world and they could also receive rewards from the chief governor; they couldn¡¯t possibly let this opportunity slip by. as time dragged on, huo zhongyun and the ghost-faced buddha were like a small boat in a storm, teetering on the edge of collapse. ¡°shh!¡± at that moment, the moonlight tipped over. a cold and fierce sword qi surged forth, as if it would swallow the entire courtyard. ¡°bang!¡± ¡°bang!¡± ¡°bang!¡± ¡°bang!¡± the exploding sword qi swept through, forcing all five gold constables back, their faces showing unmistakable horror. who is it? to actually force back five gold constables with one strike. as the fierce wind gradually ceased, a man holding a huge sword slowly advanced, each step seemingly landing on everyone¡¯s hearts, thumping loudly. the giant sword still had white vapor swirling around it. the man¡¯s face showed no expression. ¡°gu renwo!?¡± hong yuanwu exclaimed. gu renwo of the demon sect, the second most formidable expert next to li fuzhou. in his hand was a giant sword that had killed countless renowned experts. ¡°you guys go! i¡¯ll cover our retreat!¡± gu renwo¡¯s voice was deep and resonant, then he looked towards the distance, ¡°xi jikui, do you really only have these lowly tricks?¡± xi jikui!? hearing this name, both huo zhongyun and the ghost-faced buddha¡¯s expressions slightly changed; so the person who ambushed them was xi jikui. xi jikui¡¯s body flashed and he instantly appeared at the front of the courtyard, ¡°li fuzhou didn¡¯t come, truly disappointing. however, your head is also an acceptable trophy.¡± as he spoke, the dragon and phoenix double rings in his hand stretched out, under the moonlight, casting mesmerizing glows. ¡°if you want my head, you¡¯ll have to see if you¡¯re skilled enough.¡± gu renwo, expressionless, slashed with his giant sword. ¡°whoosh!¡± under the night sky, the giant sword descended abruptly, the sword qi overflowing while the air on either side parted like the tide. xi jikui swayed his dragon and phoenix double rings, turning them into moonlight. ¡°bang! bang! bang! bang!¡± the qi force vibrated, the violent aftermath surging to the sides. the next moment, both men come close together, clashing with distinct flashes from the sword light and the double rings. fast! too fast! one was at the peak of the earth flower realm, and the other at the heavenly flower realm, the speed of their moves was so fast that no one could clearly see their techniques. amidst the flashing sword lights, it seemed as if dragons and phoenixes were singing in harmony. ¡°such terrifying power!¡± chu nanying, watching from a distance, was greatly shocked by this scene. was this the power of a first grade expert in jianghu? it was indeed terrifying. even though great yan had established the zhenyi sect, and the human emperor had formed the xuanyi guard, there seemed to be good reasons for these actions. if someone truly unified jianghu, it was not impossible for them to overthrow the entire great yan dynasty. court and jianghu, inseparable. ¡°whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!¡± meanwhile, several breaking strength flying arrows shot from the sky, forcing huo zhongyun and ghost-faced buddha to desperately defend themselves. these breaking strength flying crossbows were extremely powerful, and with silver and bronze constables shooting them, if it were their heyday, they would not fear, but now with five gold constables watching them fiercely, how could they not be anxious? after a round of arrow rain, hong yuanwu and others charged again toward huo zhongyun and ghost-faced buddha. the scene was chaotic. then, the ground began to tremble. ¡°not good, more people are coming this way.¡± the ghost-faced buddha¡¯s heart sank. huo zhongyun¡¯s face also turned extremely ugly. ¡°today, none of you will escape.¡± xi jikui¡¯s hands, wielding the dragon and phoenix double rings, moved eerily fast and his steps were ingenious. with his advantage in realm, even gu renwo was forced to keep retreating. ¡°break!¡± suddenly, a sound of dragon¡¯s roar exploded, and the double rings in xi jikui¡¯s hands seemingly transformed into a golden dragon, furiously lunging at gu renwo. ¡°boom!¡± gu renwo infused his inner strength into his great sword, holding it horizontally in front of his chest, and immediately a violent force struck him. ¡°wow!¡± he spat out a mouthful of blood, his step showing some instability. ¡°kill!¡± hong yuanwu¡¯s eyes beamed with murderous intent, and he slashed horizontally with his sword. huo zhongyun, too weak to defend, could only watch helplessly as the sword light approached. the next moment, ghost-faced buddha stepped in front of him, repelling hong yuanwu. ¡°pshhh!¡± before they could catch their breath, another blade light came slashing through, and ghost-faced buddha¡¯s head flew off, rolling on the ground several times. seeing the blood spurting from the neck, and then the headless body ¡®thump¡¯ falling to the ground, ¡°old ghost!¡± huo zhongyun, seeing this, immediately felt a surge of anger and drove his long spear ferociously towards the people in front of him. ¡°but it¡¯s just the last flicker of an oil lamp, a fleeting resurgence.¡± hong yuanwu snorted with disdain. a trace of chill appeared in the eyes of the others. the five gold constables launched a combined attack, and after huo zhongyun barely blocked two moves, he was stabbed directly in the heart by a sword, after which he unwillingly collapsed. in an instant, two guardians of the demon sect perished. gu renwo, catching this from the corner of his eye, saw a crimson flash across his vision. ¡°they are dead. now it¡¯s your turn to go.¡± xi jikui laughed, his hands wielding the dragon and phoenix double rings, which shook like two auroras descending from the sky. sword turning mountains and rivers! gu renwo, knowing he was not a match for xi jikui, raised his long sword, and his sword qi rolled up waves like the river. bang! bang! the auroras stabbed towards the river-like sword qi, and then transformed into a luminous attack. ¡°shick!¡± the blade¡¯s light, too fast to track, pierced through the enormous arm held by gu renwo. xi jikui¡¯s expression changed, and he repeatedly stepped back. ¡°stomp!¡± after retreating about three steps, he violently shook his right foot, dispersing the remaining force through the ground, finally stopping his retreat. ¡°swoosh, swoosh!¡± gu renwo, however, transformed into a blurred shadow, darting away into the distance in an instant. ¡°escape technique!?¡± xi jikui narrowed his eyes, somewhat surprised. he hadn¡¯t expected gu renwo, a swordsman, to possess such a lost martial art. ¡°sir xi!¡± hong yuanwu and others hurriedly approached, ¡°should we pursue gu renwo¡­¡± ¡°forget it, we can¡¯t catch him now, but gu renwo¡¯s right arm is broken, his strength is hardly twenty or thirty percent of what it was; he will hardly amount to anything in the future.¡± xi jikui waved his hand, his eyes flashing coldly, ¡°it¡¯s a pity that li fuzhou didn¡¯t come. if he had been here today, i would have made sure he too perished here.¡± after assimilating the nature¡¯s spiritual energy, his cultivation had reached the peak of the heavenly flower realm. together with five gold constables, a group of silver constables, and two second grade military experts close to chu nanying, as well as a group of local soldiers, even an unhealed li fuzhou would probably be slain if he came here today. this was the best opportunity to kill li fuzhou; once his injuries fully healed, it would become difficult. thinking this, xi jikui couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°pah! this is a demon sect expert!?¡± just then, a voice of mockery and scorn came. all one could see was chu huai stepping on the head of the ghost-faced buddha, his eyes filled with a trace of pride and arrogance. ¡°people from the demon sect dare to trouble this young master? don¡¯t they weigh their own strength?¡± hong yuanwu frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing. chu nanying approached, laughing, ¡°brother xi, today we¡¯ve killed two great experts of the demon sect, and severely injured gu renwo, effectively severing one of li fuzhou¡¯s arms, a truly joyous and congratulatory event indeed.¡± xi jikui shook his head, ¡°li fuzhou isn¡¯t dead, there¡¯s nothing to celebrate.¡± his arrangements were specifically for killing li fuzhou. unfortunately, gan yue and zhang shuang perished on three temple mountain; otherwise, with them here today, even gu renwo¡¯s escape technique wouldn¡¯t have saved him. chu nanying took a deep breath, ¡°brother xi, don¡¯t joke about it. with two of the four guardians dead, along with gu renwo¡¯s crippling, the demon sect hasn¡¯t suffered such losses in many years.¡± the last severe damage to the demon sect masters happened ten years ago. the news of today¡¯s battle when spread will definitely shake the entire great yan martial world. xi jikui was silent for a long while, then said, ¡°it¡¯s almost dawn. hong yuanwu, ride a fast horse now and send these two men¡¯s heads and this huge sword to yujing city for me.¡± ¡°yes.¡± hong yuanwu bowed and complied. ¡­¡­. jishi hall. the morning sun shone down, and it was slowly becoming winter, the chill gradually rising. an jing sat in front of the medicine cabinet, examining the list of newly delivered herbs. besides buying some herbs from medicinal farmers and hunters, these were still far from enough to meet jishi hall¡¯s consumption, so he had to buy herbs from the pharmacy gardens around yu state city as well. the best plantation near yu state city was called green garden, which was one of cao gang¡¯s businesses. initially, wang he had forced an jing to raise the price of the herbs by thirty percent. following his mysterious death, the new pavilion master had returned the prices to their original levels. at this moment, the list in an jing¡¯s hand was from the new batch of herbs delivered by cao gang. ¡°we still need some earth flower, mention it to them next time.¡± an jing carefully scanned the list, then took out a stamp from beside and sealed it. after sealing the stamp, he couldn¡¯t help but notice a palm-sized, black square stamp beside it. picking it up, he carefully toyed with it, unable to resist saying, ¡°this must be an antique.¡± this black square stamp was very ancient-looking, engraved with patterns an jing couldn¡¯t recognize, resembling both flora and fauna and mountains and sun. the carving was exquisitely done, and the imprint of the red ink was bright as blood, very clear, yet it bore no words. this was part of zhao qingmei¡¯s dowry, which she said was used by her grandfather. ¡°from a prestigious family, it must have been a private seal of some high official. a hundred years later, as an antique, it may indeed be worth some money.¡± an jing toyed with it for a while, then threw it to the side. ¡°son-in-law, son-in-law.¡± just then, tan yun hurried in from outside. ¡°what happened?¡± seeing this, an jing couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°i¡¯ve heard some news.¡± tan yun quickly walked in, ¡°it¡¯s related to ren yi pavilion in the west of the city and hundred herbs hall in the south.¡± ¡°what about them?¡± an jing raised an eyebrow. could it be they were planning to make trouble again? lately, because jishi hall¡¯s medicinal price was fair and had a heart for healing, it had unknowingly become the most famous medical hall in yu state city. as the saying goes, professionals are jealous of one another. seeing how successful jishi hall was, how could other medical halls not be envious? tan yun slightly raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°i heard that if you go to these two medical halls to buy medicine, they are now giving away vegetable oil or eggs. many people heard about it and went early in the morning.¡± ¡°son-in-law, do you think they are competing with us for business?¡± vegetable oil? eggs? upon hearing this, an jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh. wasn¡¯t this just a promotion from his previous life? tan yun blinked her big eyes and said, ¡°son-in-law, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? should we also¡­¡± ¡°let them give it if they want to, it¡¯s good for the common folks anyway.¡± an jing waved his hand, ¡°our medical hall is for treating patients, not for making profits.¡± as long as they don¡¯t cause any trouble, everything is negotiable. tan yun, upon hearing this, suddenly nodded her head, then raised her thumb and said, ¡°brother-in-law, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± the enlightenment of brother-in-law is really profound. ¡°it¡¯s good to have some downtime during this period as well.¡± an jing stretched lazily. this period had been incredibly busy, toiling day and night, and now, having the opportunity to rest was truly welcome. ¡°husband, didn¡¯t you promise to take me out for a stroll in the spring countryside?¡± at this moment, zhao qingmei also walked out from the back hall, a slight smile gracing her lips. today, she was wearing a light pink dress that trailed along the floor, and a silver coral hairpin nestled in her hair made her complexion as fair as a lotus, with her phoenix eyes naturally charming and her beautiful eyes glinting like stars. an jing couldn¡¯t help but brighten up, saying, ¡°sure, i think today¡­¡± ¡°doctor an, doctor an!¡± just then, an urgent voice came from outside the door. a maid, around fourteen or fifteen, in the throes of youth, rushed in. ¡°my young miss is ill again, please come to see her now.¡± zhao qingmei remembered clearly, the maid in front was cao ling¡¯er¡¯s personal attendant. an jing stood up and soothingly said, ¡°don¡¯t worry, take it slowly, what exactly happened?¡± the young maid glanced at an jing and quickly said, ¡°when my young miss woke up this morning, somehow, she felt weak all over, her limbs limp¡­¡± tan yun, with a skeptical face, said, ¡°is this true or false? isn¡¯t your miss trained in martial arts? i¡¯ve heard those martial experts are all very robust.¡± families like jiangnan dao¡¯s four great families were all half martial arts families, whose clan members also practiced martial arts and were extremely skilled. could such minor ailments even be considered sickness? ¡°it¡¯s definitely true; how could i make up something about my young miss?¡± upon hearing this, the maid¡¯s face flushed with red. no matter what the maid said, tan yun remained unconvinced. ¡°let¡¯s do this, i¡¯ll go and see for myself.¡± an jing contemplated aloud. after all, treating and saving people is the most important. ¡°i¡¯ve got nothing else to do, i might as well accompany brother-in-law there.¡± just then, li fuzhou¡¯s lazy voice came from the rear hall. ¡°that sounds good.¡± an jing glanced at li fuzhou. suddenly, he remembered that time at the cao family, when they competed for the vermilion fruit and encountered a suspected expert from the demon sect, it seemed to have been old man li. was this old man li planning to fleece the cao family again? but if there¡¯s good fleece to be had, he would definitely get to it before him. ¡°wife, wait for me to return.¡± then an jing picked up the medical box and went off with li fuzhou and the young maid toward the cao family. seeing an jing completely gone, tan yun turned to look at zhao qingmei, ¡°miss¡­¡± the sect hierarch is good in all respects but possesses a heavy jealousy and killing intent. if that cao ling¡¯er was truly sick, it was okay to say, but if it was a ruse, that would be troublesome. ¡°let¡¯s talk about it when brother-in-law returns.¡± zhao qingmei said lightly. ¡­¡­ the cao family, backyard. the maid hurried ahead, with an jing and li fuzhou closely following behind. shortly after, they arrived at cao ling¡¯er¡¯s courtyard. the maid said, ¡°the young miss is inside, doctor an, please go in.¡± ¡°thank you.¡± an jing bowed his fists, then slowly walked inside. ¡°hm?!¡± just as li fuzhou was about to follow, the maid stopped him. the maid whispered, ¡°sir, it¡¯s better if you wait outside.¡± ¡°that¡¯s fine, could you brew me a pot of tea?¡± li fuzhou said with a light smile. ¡°sir, please wait a moment.¡± with that, the maid hurried off toward the main hall. li fuzhou found a stone chair nearby and sat down by himself. an jing approached the inside of the house, and immediately, a gentle fragrance assailed his nose. ¡°doctor an, you¡¯re here?¡± a crisp voice sounded, and cao ling¡¯er emerged at a leisurely pace. today, she seemed to have dressed up, wearing a cyan robe, her complexion radiant, her skin luminous as snow. at this moment, she looked radiant, hardly resembling someone who had been ill. seeing this, an jing slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°miss cao, what is this?¡± ¡°it¡¯s truly not easy to have a chance to meet doctor an.¡± cao ling¡¯er smiled and gestured invitingly, ¡°doctor an, please have a seat and drink some tea.¡± ¡°miss cao, i am here to see patients, not to drink tea.¡± an jing bowed to cao ling¡¯er. in this world, not all teas are drinkable. cao ling¡¯er chuckled, saying, ¡°doctor an, the people from the mu family have already arrived, and the engagement has taken place.¡± the engagement, an jing was naturally familiar with, being one step in the betrothal process. an jing thought for a moment and said, ¡°so, this means, for miss cao and the mu family¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°mu jie,¡± said cao ling¡¯er. it was him! upon hearing this, an jing remembered clearly, he had been present when the attack on tieyun mountain occurred. however, at that time, in order not to cause too much trouble, an jing had not taken action against him, although he had accidentally injured him. mu jie was also quite famous as a young talent in jiangnan dao; an jing had often heard people mention him in the teahouse. his impression of the man was neither particularly good nor particularly bad. ¡°a young talent unsurpassed in natural ability, he and miss cao are truly a perfect match.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± cao ling¡¯er smiled, ¡°now, can doctor an please sit down and join me for a tea, just considering i have had many troubles lately and no one to talk to about them.¡± an jing could feel cao ling¡¯er¡¯s anguish. some matters must be buried deep within the heart, unspoken to anyone, even to one¡¯s closest confidant. an jing sighed deeply and said, ¡°since miss cao has repeatedly invited me, i shall not refuse, but i cannot stay too long¡­ ¡± ¡°doctor an, i¡¯ve been wanting to ask you a question for a long time.¡± cao ling¡¯er slightly fluttered her eyelashes and then poured a cup of tea. ¡°please, miss cao,¡± an jing accepted the tea and said. after a long pause, cao ling¡¯er parted her red lips slightly and asked, ¡°i heard that you and mrs. an have not been married for long?¡± ¡°that is true.¡± upon hearing cao ling¡¯er ask this question, an jing subconsciously let a slight smile curl up at the corner of his mouth. ¡°it seems that doctor an is quite satisfied,¡± cao ling¡¯er clearly saw the smile on an jing¡¯s face. ¡°with such a beautiful wife, what could i be unsatisfied with?¡± ¡°indeed, mrs. an is truly beautiful,¡± cao ling¡¯er seemed a bit sorrowful as she said this. this is the thought that occurs to anyone who sees zhao qingmei, whether man or woman, even a woman as beautiful as cao ling¡¯er herself. ¡°about her¡­¡± an jing gently lifted his cup of tea, his smile deepening. he couldn¡¯t help but recall the first time he saw zhao qingmei¡¯s portrait and the first time he saw her in the teahouse. back then, he was indeed astounded by her beauty and attracted by her gentle and intelligent nature. but after spending so much time together¡­ he enjoyed sitting with zhao qingmei under the eaves, admiring the moon or gazing at the stars, liked taking leisurely walks along the yu state river, and enjoyed watching her quietly reading at the table. leaving the house, he would often think about the home-cooked meals zhao qingmei prepared, remember her playful complaints, and also recall her beautiful eyelashes as she slept. it seemed as though he had become accustomed to all this. only zhao qingmei, regardless of how late he returned, would always prepare a bowl of noodles and always helped peel the garlic for him, knowing even when he was drinking tea, just to quietly watch him. life passes slowly, and only then can it be happy. ¡°doctor an, doctor an.¡± at that moment, cao ling¡¯er interrupted an jing¡¯s reverie. ¡°hmm.¡± an jing abruptly came back to his senses. cao ling¡¯er bit her lip and asked, ¡°what kind of person do you think one must find to be happy?¡± ¡°what kind of person would one be happy with?¡± an jing pondered for a long while before slowly saying, ¡°someone who smiles when they see you and someone who smiles when they see you.¡± ¡°someone who smiles when they see you and someone who smiles when you see them¡­¡± cao ling¡¯er murmured in a low voice, yet her heart was somewhat lost. ¡°perhaps, that¡¯s the reasoning,¡± she mused. an jing picked up the small medicine kit and said, ¡°miss cao, it¡¯s getting late and i have other matters to attend to, so i¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± with that, he strode toward the door. ¡°what if, i say what if, i had appeared before miss zhao?¡± cao ling¡¯er stood up, and then, gathering her courage, she asked. an jing¡¯s steps faltered slightly. if zhao qingmei hadn¡¯t appeared, what choice would he have made? perhaps he would continue to keep jishi hall, waiting until cao ling¡¯er appeared and become the zhao family¡¯s son-in-law? it seemed like another story altogether. ¡°life has no ¡®what ifs.¡¯¡± an jing said softly, and after finishing, he walked out of the house. ¡°life has no ¡®what ifs.¡¯¡± watching an jing¡¯s departing figure, cao ling¡¯er murmured to herself, then sat down dejectedly. when an jing stepped out, li fuzhou was serenely sitting on a stone chair, drinking tea, unfazed by the cold wind. ¡°old man li, it seems the third grade has reached perfection, and he is currently waiting for his injuries to heal.¡± somehow, looking at li fuzhou at the moment, an jing felt a sense of natural integration he had felt before, though at that time he was unaware of li fuzhou¡¯s true identity¡­ this feeling, if not observed carefully, would not be noticeable; but if one immerses oneself wholeheartedly, one can perceive its true essence. ¡°son-in-law, have you come out?¡± li fuzhou set down his teacup and smiled. an jing nodded, ¡°let¡¯s go back, miss cao¡¯s illness should recover by tomorrow.¡± ¡­¡­ the cold wind stirred, raising thousands of ripples across the yu state river. in front of jishi hall. zhao qingmei chuckled, ¡°these are five days¡¯ worth of medicine. if it¡¯s not enough, come back for more.¡± ¡°alright, then thank you, madam an,¡± said an old man with a tottering gait, happily carrying a package wrapped in cowhide paper. ¡°terrible news! terrible news!¡± before zhao qingmei could react, she heard tan yun¡¯s alarmed cry from behind. ¡°what¡¯s all this fuss about?¡± zhao qingmei said calmly. despite zhao qingmei¡¯s tranquil tone, tan yun felt a chill in her heart and quickly bowed her head, ¡°miss, this servant understands.¡± she knew zhao qingmei disliked subordinates who overreacted. once, she had said that even if the sky were falling, she would hold it up herself. zhao qingmei walked to the counter with her lotus steps, sat down, started to log books, and said, ¡°speak.¡± ¡°elder huo and the ghost-faced elder are dead, and gu renwo has been severely injured¡­¡± tan yun quickly relayed the news she had just received. even though zhao qingmei was stoic and unflappable, upon hearing this news, her brow furrowed, and her hand holding the pen paused. the whole pharmacy seemed to fall silent, except for tan yun¡¯s panting. after a long while, zhao qingmei said, ¡°explain everything in detail.¡± tan yun clenched her teeth and said, ¡°elder huo and the ghost-faced elder went to lijiang city to investigate the heavenly demon order. unexpectedly, they fell into an ambush set by xi jikui and chu nanying. the two were unable to withstand it, and gu renwo rushed over hoping to rescue them, but after xi jikui obtained the nature¡¯s spiritual energy, his strength grew further. combined with other high-level experts like the xuanyi guard, elder huo and the ghost-faced elder were killed, and gu renwo¡¯s arm was severed¡­¡± the ghost-faced buddha had joined the demon sect halfway, contributing significantly enough to be entrusted with important tasks. huo zhongyun, much like tan yun, was a top expert nurtured by the main hall of the demon sect, known for his passionate and righteous character, which made him hugely popular within the sect. both were second grade experts on the brink of reaching first grade, and both were among the four main guardians of the human sect of the demon sect. however, now they were dead. this was undeniably a severe blow to the human sect of the demon sect, even potentially tarnishing the sect¡¯s reputation. in the world of jianghu, what is most important? of course, it¡¯s the reputation. the notoriety of the demon sect could deter many, partly due to their fearsome reputation. ¡°xi jikui?¡± zhao qingmei¡¯s expression remained blank as she said, ¡°it seems he has indeed seen the heavenly demon order.¡± tan yun¡¯s eyes showed a hint of sorrow, ¡°he must have seen it, to create a convincing fake. otherwise, the ghost-faced elder, who is usually so cautious, would not have been ambushed.¡± ¡°miss, we must avenge this,¡± she said. zhao qingmei nodded slightly, ¡°elder li¡¯s strength hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and even when it does, he plans to break through a barrier. it¡¯s not advisable to act now, dealing with xi jikui might be difficult.¡± ¡°moreover, xi jikui is in yu state city, and yu state city seems to have another grandmaster¡­¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only li fuzhou was mostly recovered from his injuries. fighting xi jikui wasn¡¯t impossible, but there was no complete assurance of killing xi jikui. besides, during the battle at three temple mountain, li fuzhou had mentioned a grandmaster who had appeared but had not yet shown himself. tan yun bit her lip and asked, ¡°what should we do then? miss, should we summon more experts? what if xi jikui returns to the capital?¡± ¡°so¡­¡± zhao qingmei waved her hand, toying with the black seal in her hand, and said lightly. ¡°xi jikui, i¡¯ll kill him myself.¡± Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Jishi Hall Conceals a Murderous Trap Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Jishi Hall Conceals a Murderous Trap The experts in the Great Hall had all dispersed, leaving only Duanmu Xinghua, Yu Qiurong, and the Xuanwu Sect¡¯s leader, who had been standing silently in the corner. The leader of the Xuanwu Sect was clad in black. He appeared young, and even somewhat ugly, especially with the black moles that covered his face. His Cultivation was unremarkable among the many experts of the Demon Sect, merely at the Third Grade Realm. He was also one of the only two people whom Zhao Qingmei promoted after she became the Sect Hierarch. Zhao Qingmei, sitting on the high platform, said, ¡°Sect Leader Duanmu, tell us about the Golden Eagle Banner issue.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Duanmu Xinghua clasped his hands together and then slowly began, ¡°A few months ago, Chief Yu discovered spies of the Golden Eagle Banner near Dongluo Pass. Moreover, in recent years, Houjin has been aggressively purchasing food, iron mines, and even fire oil. In my opinion, the spies from Houjin have appeared beyond the Pass, and there¡¯s something wrong with that¡­¡± Houjin¡¯s clandestine acquisitions are all essentials for war, which has been going on for some time. Any insightful person could see that it was preparation for war on one hand and a deception strategy on the other, imposing an invisible pressure on all parties. If the string of a bow is kept taut all the time, it will eventually snap one day. Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly and looked towards the Xuanwu Sect leader. The Xuanwu Sect leader clasped his fist and replied, ¡°Reporting to the Sect Hierarch, indeed I found spies from the Golden Eagle Banner, but in my humble opinion, this is normal. Houjin has been recuperating for over twenty years, their claws have become sharp, and naturally, they would send out spies to gather intelligence about the surrounding areas. This is not the first encounter.¡± ¡°Rumors say that the Great Yan Emperor is gravely ill, and the internal strife in the court is severe. Marquis, wielding the power of 300,000 troops, is noble and aloof, having already attracted the enmity of many in the court. If Houjin truly intends to act, then Great Yan is their primary target.¡± Wars have never been just about battles on the field; politics is the core of war. The battlefield is just a manifestation of politics. A truly great general excels not only in arranging formations on the field and brandishing weapons but is also keenly sensitive to politics. The Marquis, although commanding an army of 300,000 on the border, does not get along with the court officials. Coupled with the current chaos within Great Yan and the factions within the court, the people are in a state of unease ¡ª it¡¯s a great opportunity indeed. But whether the Great Yan Emperor truly failed to break his shackles and is hiding a conspiracy remains a doubt in people¡¯s minds, which is why the world remains at peace for the moment. ¡°However, we must not let our guard down.¡± Duanmu Xinghua said slowly from the side. The Xuanwu Sect leader nodded and said no more. ¡°Let the Xuanwu Sect leader take care of this matter,¡± Zhao Qingmei decided after some thought. ¡°The Human Sect experts hidden in Houjin will cooperate with you. Pay close attention to the movements of the Thirteen Banner of Houjin, and if there are any anomalies, you are allowed to take command on the spot.¡± She continued, ¡°Also, spread the word to Great Yan, especially to the Marquis.¡± Rumors were that the Marquis was divine in warfare, having fought for a long time and being the only Yan general to have penetrated Zhao Country¡¯s borders. However, his character has been widely criticized. With the life of the Emperor uncertain and the loss of intelligence from the Heaven and Earth Net, it is unknown whether he will be able to react in time. If the Marquis¡¯s army of 300,000 were to be defeated by Houjin, Zhao Country would certainly not miss such an opportunity from heaven. At that point, Great Yan would be in a situation of being attacked on all fronts¡­ The tide of the world is vast and unstoppable. Those who go with it thrive, and those who go against it perish. Once the situation in the world is stabilized, stirring Heaven and Earth would be exceedingly difficult. ¡°I understand,¡± responded the Xuanwu Sect leader, standing tall, then clasped his fists and turned to leave. Zhao Qingmei inquired, ¡°Sect Leader Duanmu, your message surely isn¡¯t just about this matter, is it?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± After pondering for a moment, Duanmu Xinghua clasped his fists and said, ¡°Sect Hierarch, several Elders of the Sealing Demon Platform wish to summon you.¡± The Sealing Demon Platform! The most mysterious place in the Demon Sect, a place that outsiders would not easily know of. Many people knew of the formidable strength of the Demon Sect Heavenly Sect experts, but few were aware that these experts ultimately belong to the Sealing Demon Platform, which is the Demon Sect¡¯s greatest foundation and the key to controlling Dongluo Pass. After all, not many in this world know of the Sealing Demon Platform, let alone the masters that lie beneath it within the Demon Sect. Even Zhao Qingmei, much less outsiders, did not know the true details of the Sealing Demon Platform. All she knew was that when she entered the Sealing Demon Well, she saw a Grandmaster of the Demon Sect and another at the Half-step Master Realm. Mysterious and powerful ¡ª that was the impression the Sealing Demon Platform left on her. The Sealing Demon Platform? Zhao Qingmei sneered in her heart; she couldn¡¯t stand the feeling of being unable to control it, like a sword hanging over her head. Sooner or later, she would have to take control of the Sealing Demon Platform. ¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Qingmei said with an easy grace, ¡°When?¡± ¡°It might take around a month,¡± Duanmu Xinghua replied. ¡°That¡¯s too long, the day after tomorrow will do,¡± Zhao Qingmei waved her hand. ¡°The Sect Hierarch has countless affairs to manage; I don¡¯t have so much time.¡± She could not wait that long; she needed to return to Yu State City and reunite with her husband. Duanmu Xinghua said gravely, ¡°Sect Hierarch, many Elders will be present this time, including the Great Elder, who will only leave seclusion in a month.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°It has to be the day after tomorrow!¡± ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± Upon hearing this, Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, ¡°It¡¯s only a month; it passes in the blink of an eye. Why cause displeasure with the Elders over this? After all, we must still prioritize the bigger picture.¡± ¡°Since the founding of our Demon Sect, there has rarely been any conflict with the Sealing Demon Platform.¡± Yu Qiurong was also anxious as she said, ¡°Yes, Sect Hierarch.¡± She seemed to have faintly guessed why Zhao Qingmei was in such a hurry to leave. However, the Sealing Demon Platform was no trivial matter, not to be neglected. Ancient Demon Sect records mention that a dispute arose between the thirteenth Demon Sect Hierarch and the Great Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform, resulting in the thirteenth Hierarch¡¯s death. In the eyes of the top experts of the Demon Sect, the Sealing Demon Platform is sacred ground; their commands must be obeyed without question. Fortunately, the Sealing Demon Platform hardly interferes in worldly affairs, only acting when the very survival of the Demon Sect is at stake. Thus, all past Hierarchs of the Demon Sect held the Sealing Demon Platform in high esteem. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s thoughts raced. ¡°Fine, I will wait for this Great Elder for one month.¡± She couldn¡¯t deal with the Sealing Demon Platform with her current strength, but it was something that needed to be under her control in the future. This was an opportunity to probe the depths of the Sealing Demon Platform. Duanmu Xinghua breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and then gave a respectful bow. ¡°Then I shall take my leave,¡± he said. After saying this, he slowly stepped out of the Great Hall. Now in the spacious Great Hall, only Yu Qiurong and Zhao Qingmei were left. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s gaze was calm as still water, as she turned her eyes towards Yu Qiurong. ¡°Sect Hierarch¡­..¡± Yu Qiurong¡¯s heart tightened, biting her lip, ¡°I¡­ I was also considering the Sect Hierarch¡¯s well-being.¡± ¡­.. In Lingnan Dao, Bo City. The courtyard of the Liao family. If the four major families of Jiangnan Dao were said to hold sway without a clear leader, then in Lingnan Dao, the Liao family stood unchallenged, with no other family able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. The Liao family managed two tenths of Great Yan¡¯s textile, tobacco, and porcelain business, much of which was traded with Houjin and the Pure Land, bringing in unimaginable revenue for Great Yan. Furthermore, Liao Fangqi of the Liao family was a famous Great Scholar and currently served as the Crown Prince¡¯s tutor. A fair-faced young man in white quietly sat at a table, reading a secret letter in his hand. As he read the secret letter, his expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said after a long while, setting aside the letter and idly playing with a piece of jade hanging from his waist. ¡°Chongyin, what¡¯s in the content of this secret letter?¡± a plain-looking woman in her forties asked out of curiosity. In Great Yan, no one would not know of Zhao Chongyin, the Crown Prince¡¯s given name. Zhao Chongyin spoke slowly, ¡°Liu Qingshan was attacked by experts from the Demon Sect and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, Nurse, what do you think will happen?¡± The woman¡¯s face changed slightly when she heard this, ¡°With Liu Qingshan¡¯s cultivation at the Heavenly Flower Realm, it would be difficult to withstand the attack.¡± Although Liu Qingshan was quite powerful, he was one step away from the true apex. If the Demon Sect and Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion were to join forces, the consequences would be unimaginable. And the Five Gangs Alliance was an extremely important chess piece; its loss would be like losing an arm for the Crown Prince. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Chongyin concurred, eyes gleaming with amusement, ¡°but just then, the Ghost Swordsman and the forces behind him appeared, repelling the experts from the Demon Sect and Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion with a single move.¡± The woman¡¯s brows raised, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman?¡± Since the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s battle with the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, many great masters had taken notice of this swordsman from Jiangnan Dao. Although he defeated the severely injured Bodhisattva, this swordsman¡¯s strength was definitely above the Heavenly Flower Realm, possibly reaching the Half-step Master or even Grandmaster Realm. No one from the various factions around the world knew his true strength; most were merely speculating. Many were searching for any news of him, but to no avail; it was as if the man had appeared out of thin air. After a moment of contemplation, the woman said in a serious tone, ¡°What is his intention¡­? The Ghost Swordsman wouldn¡¯t make a move for no reason. Zhao Chongyin replied, ¡°He wants my help to clear his ¡®red name¡¯ from the records of the Xuanyi Guard.¡± ¡°What does the Crown Prince intend?¡± she asked. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman certainly is no ordinary character.¡± A hint of curiosity shone in Zhao Chongyin¡¯s refined eyes, ¡°I¡¯m actually curious about the identity of the Grandmaster backing him.¡± Grandmasters held a pivotal status in Jianghu, wherever they went. Aunt Bai nodded, ¡°If there really is a Grandmaster, it would be worth making a connection, even attracting him to our side.¡± ¡°The Ghost Swordsman is different from others,¡± Zhao Chongyin declared with a gleam of sharpness in his eyes, ¡°He has an old grudge with the Zhenyi Sect, which makes him suitable for forming an alliance with; there¡¯s no need to attract him.¡± Despite being the Crown Prince, attracting a master with Grandmaster strength wasn¡¯t easy, and Zhao Chongyin wasn¡¯t keen on expending so much effort. ¡°` ¡°Old grudges?¡± Aunt Bai felt a jolt in her heart, ¡°Has the Crown Prince already discovered this person¡¯s identity?¡± The Ghost Swordsman and the Zhenyi Sect have old grudges? There doesn¡¯t seem to be such a rumor in Jianghu, does there!? ¡°This person¡¯s identity is mysterious and unfathomable; it¡¯s not easy to discover his identity,¡± Zhao Chongyin shook his head and asked, ¡°The Heaven and Earth Net, where has it locked on to?¡± Aunt Bai slowly said, ¡°The Heaven and Earth Net has already locked onto Linhe Street in Yu State City. According to the information we have, it¡¯s difficult to pinpoint more precisely. We can only wait for the Ghost Swordsman to make another move and reveal more information.¡± Zhao Chongyin thought for a moment and said, ¡°You should return to Yujing City now and inform Elder Tang that the red name warrant for the Ghost Swordsman has been canceled. There¡¯s also no need to investigate his identity any longer.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Since this person does not wish to expose his identity, we should not investigate it and instead cause displeasure. By taking no action, we are making goodwill gestures. Since this person harbors old grudges against the Zhenyi Sect, let them investigate instead. Let Mengtai look into it; he has been rather idle lately.¡± Zhao Chongyin¡¯s smile was gentle and warm as jade as he said, ¡°By the way, Mengtai still doesn¡¯t know that there¡¯s a Grandmaster backing the Ghost Swordsman.¡± Since they had conflicts of interest, it was better to let them fight it out. ¡°I understand,¡± Aunt Bai said. Her heart was somewhat tempted, not understanding what this matter had to do with Zhao Mengtai, but she had immense faith in the man before her, who had never let her down. ¡­.. As night gradually fell, Jishi Hall. ¡°Huh!¡± ¡°Judging by the time, the lady might be returning in a little over a month,¡± An Jing said as he saw off the last customer who had come to buy medicine. He then walked into the hall and took out a paper figure from his sleeve, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips. The north wind blows south, the southern geese fly north. ¡°The chrysanthemum seeds have already been sown; now it¡¯s just waiting for the moment they bloom.¡± Humming a tune, An Jing headed towards the backyard. When the chrysanthemums filled the courtyard, the lady would surely be overjoyed upon seeing them. ¡°Son-in-law,¡± just then, Tan Yun walked over quickly, ¡°Miss has sent a message.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing perked up upon hearing this, ¡°Bring it here for me to see.¡± Tan Yun took out a letter and handed it over. An Jing eagerly opened the letter, then his eyes fixed tightly on the page, and the joy in his heart suddenly lessened a great deal. ¡°Son-in-law¡­?¡± Tan Yun noticed An Jing¡¯s frown deepening and couldn¡¯t help but ask. This was a letter urgently sent through the Human Sect¡¯s intelligence network by Zhao Qingmei, and she herself was unaware of its contents. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± An Jing put away the letter and sighed, ¡°The lady says she¡¯s been held up by trifles at home, and there are some relatives she needs to visit, so she might come back later than expected. She told me not to worry about her.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Tan Yun was not surprised; after all, Zhao Qingmei was the Sect Hierarch and was very busy, naturally dealing with innumerable matters. Offhandedly, An Jing asked, ¡°Tan Yun, does the lady have many relatives?¡± Zhao Qingmei had said she would return as soon as possible, but the reply now mentioned a delay of a month. Could it be ordinary trifles? Or had she run into some trouble? With that thought, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit worried. Upon hearing this, Tan Yun hastily gave a noncommittal response, ¡°Not too many, but not a few either.¡± An Jing nodded. ¡°Son-in-law, it¡¯s time for me to close up shop,¡± Tan Yun, fearing further questions from An Jing, immediately started heading towards the front hall. ¡°Could it be that the lady¡¯s family estates have fallen, and someone is demanding repayment?¡± An Jing muttered to himself, ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. The lady sold off the family assets and though not wealthy, she does have some property. If she owed debts, others wouldn¡¯t have let her leave.¡± ¡°Could it be because of a dispute over family assets?¡± With a wealthy family, it was inevitable to encounter financial disputes. If Zhao Qingmei had relatives come to demand money¡­ An Jing knew Zhao Qingmei¡¯s character quite well. She was kind-hearted, gentle, and virtuous, but she also had a streak of toughness and a bit of tyranny. With Zhao Qingmei around, the little black dog behaved like a ¡®grandson¡¯, never daring to go on a rampage. But since she had been gone, it had been howling viciously, as wild as an unleashed stray. And then there was the time Song Lin came to cause trouble in the medical hall, and Zhao Qingmei lifted the curtain and walked out from the backyard, seemingly fearless, her eyes always calm. The most memorable thing for An Jing was when he and Zhou Xianming went to the painting boat to listen to music and were accidentally discovered by Zhao Qingmei. Although it ended without incident, the words Zhao Qingmei said at the time left a deep impression on him. ¡°` The heart holds a fierce tiger, yet delicately sniffs the rose. If not born into a family of scholars, then Zhao Qingmei would undoubtedly be the most famous, most assertive woman in all the nearby villages. Forcing her to hand over her family fortune would be nearly impossible. Thinking of this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat worried. The lady might have really encountered some trouble, or perhaps those relatives pressured her so much she couldn¡¯t return. After dinner, he lay in his bed but couldn¡¯t sleep; his mind was filled with worries, and he started to have all sorts of wild thoughts. Now the night had deepened, and the earth was engulfed in silence. After much tossing and turning, An Jing really couldn¡¯t sleep, and decided to get up for a glass of water. ¡°There¡¯s no water.¡± An Jing walked over to the table and discovered the teapot on it was empty. ¡°With the lady gone, there¡¯s not even water to drink.¡± With this lament, An Jing donned a coat and slowly walked out. Just then, he noticed a candle flickering in the front hall. This piqued his interest. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Tan Yun to still be awake so late, to be so diligent in her studies.¡± With this in mind, An Jing headed towards the front hall. He saw Tan Yun in a light purple dress, sitting in the spot where Li Fuzhou often read, engrossed in a book. An Jing tiptoed over, getting close to Tan Yun¡¯s back, afraid to disturb her studies. Tan Yun hadn¡¯t noticed his approach, so focused was she on her reading. ¡°Hm?!¡± But when An Jing caught a glimpse of the depraved content of the book, his expression changed drastically. Tan Yun finally heard a sound from behind and quickly closed the book she was holding. An Jing was holding a kettle, and Tan Yun had a figurine in her hands; both were slightly taken aback. The whole room seemed to freeze in that moment. Just then, little Heizi came trotting over, curiously looking at the odd pair. ¡°Son-in-law¡­ Umm, it¡¯s just two little figures fighting, there really isn¡¯t¡­¡± Tan Yun¡¯s face heated up to the base of her neck, as if water was about to drip from her red face; she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Because of her nervousness, her voice shook. How could she have expected An Jing to get up in the middle of the night, just as she was getting to the interesting part of the book, and catch her red-handed? It was her own fault for sealing her meridians and dulling her six senses, not even hearing his footsteps. What would the son-in-law think of me after discovering I was reading this? Would he think this is the kind of person I am? At this thought, Tan Yun felt so ashamed she wished she could just die. ¡°Tan Yun¡­ you!¡± An Jing looked at her angrily, ¡°How can you read such books? And you still want to lie to me?¡± He had thought that Tan Yun was relentlessly poring over her studies, deepening her culinary knowledge, but she was actually immersed in such filth!? And upon being caught, she even tried to deceive him, but who did An Jing think he was!? ¡°It¡¯s my¡­my fault, I was wrong.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s head was lowered to her chest, her fair neck flushed; she looked like a child who had been caught doing something wrong. Seeing the Tan Yun in front of him, An Jing sighed internally. It seems, indeed, she has grown up. Tan Yun hastily said, ¡°Son-in-law, I just happened to take a look, no, no, I mean today is my first time. ¡°The first time!?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrow, his eyes conveying disbelief. ¡°Son-in-law, it truly is my first time today, really, you have to believe me, I¡¯m not that kind of person,¡± Tan Yun said biting her lip, ¡°I swear, if I¡¯m lying, then let little Heizi be struck by lightning and meet a terrible end.¡± Little Heizi wagged its tail at her side: ¡°??¡± ¡°Alright, I believe you,¡± An Jing nodded. Tan Yun, even the act of lying eludes you. ¡°Son-in-law, I really am here for the first time, you must believe me, I¡¯m not that sort of person,¡± Tan Yun, seeing the look in An Jing¡¯s eyes, hurriedly said. An Jing quickly reassured her, ¡°I believe, I believe you. When have I ever not believed you?¡± ¡°Son-in-law, if you believe me that¡¯s enough.¡± Tan Yun lowered her head, pleading, ¡°This matter must absolutely not be mentioned to Third Master or the young lady.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± he replied. An Jing, his face serious, followed up, ¡°But you should look at this less, you understand?¡± As he spoke, An Jing snatched away the comic book from Tan Yun¡¯s hands. Was this something Tan Yun should be looking at? Seeing her beloved comic book taken away, Tan Yun said in a low voice, ¡°Son-in-law, don¡¯t you also read them?¡± ¡°Me? I am not the same as you,¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡°What, what¡¯s different?¡± Tan Yun seemed to have grown bolder and argued, ¡°You won¡¯t let me read, yet you sneak peeks yourself, what is this¡­. Do not do to others what you¡­. do not desire.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking back? Alright, have it your way with the smart mouth, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being smart-mouthed, my mouth is soft,¡± she replied. Tan Yun even touched her own lips. ¡°Enough nonsense.¡± An Jing huffed lightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m confiscating this; you¡¯re not allowed to read it anymore. It¡¯s late; go to bed now.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Tan Yun glanced at the comic book in An Jing¡¯s hand, feeling a bit regretful. After all, it was a new release she hadn¡¯t finished reading yet. Watching Tan Yun¡¯s retreating figure, An Jing couldn¡¯t help shaking his head, ¡°Really not learning anything good. Can¡¯t manage to read books and learn characters, and now this?¡± You think too little of people, stinking son-in-law! Naturally, Tan Yun heard An Jing¡¯s murmur and her face turned even redder. An Jing examined the book in his hand, wondering to himself, ¡°This is a collector¡¯s edition; I didn¡¯t even manage to buy one back then. How did Tan Yun get her hands on it?¡± With that, he filled a pot with water and quickly stepped into his own room. Soon, a candle was lit in the room. Providing a semblance of solace in the long night. The little black puppy lay in the yard, looked up at the sky, and after letting out a breath, continued sleeping. ¡­ In Yu State City, Wuliang Temple. In a quiet chamber, Ling Yuanjing sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. ¡°Peak Master Ling, Grandmaster Yu Huai is in the Heavenly Sun Hall and says there is an important matter to discuss with you,¡± Just then, a crisp voice rang from outside the door. Ling Yuanjing opened his eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Having spoken, Ling Yuanjing slowly rose and headed out of the chamber towards the Heavenly Sun Hall. In no time, he arrived at the main hall of Wuliang Daoist Temple. At this moment, Grandmaster Yu Huai was sitting cross-legged in the center of the Great Hall. Upon seeing Ling Yuanjing enter, he hurried to his feet, ¡°Brother Ling.¡± ¡°Greetings to Uncle-Master Ling.¡± ¡°Greetings to Elder Ancestor Ling.¡± The temple master of Wuliang Daoist Temple and its disciples promptly gave their respectful greetings. Ling Yuanjing gestured with his hand and asked, ¡°What has happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the Ghost Swordsman.¡± Grandmaster Yu Huai slowly replied. ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Ling Yuanjing raised his hand to stop Grandmaster Yu Huai, who wished to keep speaking, and looked around, ¡°The rest of you may leave now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Following Ling Yuanjing¡¯s words, everyone from Wuliang Daoist Temple stood and withdrew. ¡°The Ghost Swordsman matters greatly to our sect¡¯s century-long plan!¡± Ling Yuanjing said solemnly. The Ghost Swordsman was related to the ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture¡±; the matter was an urgent priority for the Zhenyi Sect. Naturally, it required extreme caution, as no one knew if there were spies from other factions within Wuliang Daoist Temple. ¡°Junior brother understands,¡± Grandmaster Yu Huai replied, nodding gravely upon hearing this. ¡°Good, tell me, what has happened?¡± Ling Yuanjing motioned with his hand. Grandmaster Yu Huai spoke in a solemn tone, ¡°I¡¯ve received intelligence from Qing Feng Hall. The Red Notice on the Ghost Swordsman issued by the Xuanyi Guard has disappeared, and the Heaven and Earth Net that¡¯s been pursuing him has also begun to withdraw.¡± Ling Yujing, upon hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat astonished, ¡°Oh?!¡± Once listed in the handbook of the Xuanyi Guard and annotated with a red name, it was basically extremely difficult to eliminate, especially the first-class red name, because the only people who could remove a red name were the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Deputy Governor or the Great Commander, if not the current Human Emperor himself. Those who could persuade these people must hold extraordinary status in Jianghu. ¡°It seems that this Ghost Swordsman is no ordinary individual, and there might be a capable person behind him,¡± Ling Yuanjing said with a grave expression. The Real Person Yu Huai sighed, ¡°Without the Heaven and Earth Net, it will be even harder for us to find his whereabouts.¡± Initially, they had hoped to rely on the Heaven and Earth Net to locate the Ghost Swordsman, but now it seemed that this method was unfeasible. Although the Zhenyi Sect also had its own intelligence organization, it was completely insufficient compared to the Heaven and Earth Net. After all, the Zhenyi Sect had never thought to plot a rebellion, so naturally, they didn¡¯t brazenly develop their intelligence organization. Moreover, the Zhenyi Sect had already grown too prominent, leading to the dissatisfaction of the imperial court, so they had to be even more cautious in expanding the Qing Feng Hall. ¡°This really is troublesome.¡± Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent out an invitation, but the Ghost Swordsman has yet to show up. It seems this person is also quite cunning.¡± The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s refusal to come to the meeting clearly meant he was unwilling to hand over his ¡°Daluo Heart Method¡± so easily, and given his previous raid on Liumu Villa with the intent to capture Qi Yun, he was obviously eager to obtain the ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture.¡± ¡°Hmph, he dares to covet the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯?¡± A cold smirk appeared at the corner of Real Person Yu Huai¡¯s mouth. The ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture¡± is one of the three great secret scriptures of this era; without strength, even if one obtains it, it¡¯s but a death sentence. ¡°In any case, we must strive to find him.¡± Ling Yuanjing pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Tomorrow, you shall personally make a trip to the Sky Scraping Cave at Tianku Mountain and invite the Reverend Mocloud to come out of seclusion.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Real Person Yu Huai asked with some doubt, ¡°But isn¡¯t it that the spirit-seeking rat needs to absorb the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s Qi Mechanism to trace his whereabouts?¡± In this Jianghu, replete with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, talents emerge in great numbers, unfathomable in depth. At Sky Scraping Cave on Tianku Mountain, there resided a supreme master known as Reverend Mocloud. Not only was his cultivation profound, but he also raised an Exotic Beast¡ªa spirit-seeking rat that could follow the traces of Qi Mechanism residue to find its possessor. Ling Yuanjing smiled, ¡°Exactly, the next time the Ghost Swordsman makes a move, he will leave behind his Qi Mechanism. Then we can let the spirit-seeking rat absorb it to trace the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s whereabouts. Reverend Mocloud frequently does this to great effect.¡± Real Person Yu Huai said, ¡°But the price for inviting him out of seclusion is substantial.¡± ¡°There is no other way,¡± Ling Yuanjing replied slowly, ¡°As long as we can obtain the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ it¡¯s only a matter of time before our Sect Leader breaks through to the Great Grandmaster level, then the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s hundred-year plan can come to fruition.¡± Real Person Yu Huai nodded heavily, ¡°We must not underestimate the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s strength; although it is far from being as exaggerated as the rumors suggest, his cultivation is also at the peak of the Heavenly Flower Realm.¡± Ling Yuanjing said indifferently, ¡°If it¡¯s only the Heavenly Flower Realm, capturing him shouldn¡¯t be difficult. When the time comes, I will speak to my martial uncle and ask the other three senior brothers to take action together, to ensure there is no room for error.¡± Ling Yuanjing was known for acting with composure and sagacity, and despite being one of the four Peak Masters of the Zhenyi Sect with high status and great power, he remained neither arrogant nor impetuous. This earned him the high regard of Xiao Qianqiu, otherwise, he would not have been entrusted with the full authority to handle the Sect¡¯s major affairs while Xiao Qianqiu was in seclusion. Upon hearing this, Real Person Yu Huai felt a jolt in his spirit, ¡°The collaboration of several real people descending from their peaks is a treatment that the Demon Sect could have once enjoyed.¡± The Zhenyi Sect was making such a major movement; for hundreds of years, it was only during the campaign against the Demon Sect that such a grand occasion had occurred, with three of the four Peak Masters and all six Real People descending from the mountains, causing a sensation throughout the world. ¡°The lion uses all its strength even when catching a rabbit.¡± Ling Yuanjing said mysteriously, ¡°Moreover, in my view, the Ghost Swordsman is not a docile rabbit but a volatile and terrifying one.¡± Real Person Yu Huai nodded, feeling a surge of excitement, ¡°Tomorrow, I will set out for Tianku Mountain.¡± Ling Yuanjing smiled, ¡°No need to hurry, brother. Tomorrow, I will personally write a letter. Reverend Mocloud and I have met before, and with my letter in hand, it will add a touch of personal affection to the request.¡± ¡°Very well. Real Person Yu Huai nodded in agreement. ¡­.. Mazi Lane. In a dark room, there was an eerie silence. The mummified corpse was suspended in the middle of the room, below it a vast ocean of surging True Qi. At the center of the mummy was a crimson patch that seemed about to boil over under the billowing True Qi. True Qi! Since ancient times, only Grandmasters could transform the Qi Mechanism inside their bodies into the profound True Qi, and only True Qi could refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy. And naturally, True Qi was the hallmark of a Grandmaster. ¡°It¡¯s almost time¡­¡± The person felt the boiling of their blood and was ecstatic. Their True Qi then surged wildly, like the rolling waters of a river, rushing towards the mummified body. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°` I do not know how much time had passed, but the crimson blood quivered more fiercely, as if it was about to surge out from the corpse. ¡°Swish swish!¡± The next moment, the blood began to converge. What was once a mass of crimson blood turned into several drops in the blink of an eye, and then those drops merged back into a single drop. That one drop of blood was not only vivid as blood, but also carried an extremely brutal and fierce aura, as if it was not a drop of blood but a wildly ferocious beast. ¡°Undying Blood!¡± The person seeing that scarlet blood, had a glint of frenzy in his eyes. The single drop of blood was drawn out by the pull of True Qi, stripping away from the corpse before finally suspending in mid-air. ¡°Undying Blood, I can finally glimpse the secret of immortality.¡± Seeing this, the man waved his sleeve, his True Qi holding up that drop of fresh blood. ¡°Roar!¡± At that moment, an astounding roar emanated from the blood, a deafening sound. Even with the person¡¯s cultivation at the Grandmaster Realm, his heart turned cold at that moment. Following that explosive roar, the blood began to dissipate. In just the blink of an eye, it vanished into the darkness of the room. The Undying Blood disappeared!? ¡°This!?¡± Seeing this scene, the person was completely dumbfounded, his features twisted in extreme distortion. The Undying Blood was so close at hand, yet in the end, it evaporated, turning into a mere illusion? ¡°How can this be? How is this possible!?¡± The person clenched his fists, his eyes filled with astonishment, and then he grabbed the dry corpse laying on the ground. At this moment, there was nothing but emptiness within the dry corpse, as if the Undying Blood had completely evaporated as well. ¡°Creak!¡± ¡°Creak!¡± Bones made crisp sounds as his palms grasped too tightly. ¡°My Undying Blood!¡± Seeing this, his eyes filled with a trace of blood. He had struggled for years, just to obtain that drop of Undying Blood, but just as the Undying Blood was within reach, it collapsed and disappeared. If everything had been merely an illusion, he might have accepted it, but the Undying Blood was right before his eyes, almost within his grasp. How could he possibly bear this!? He felt his heart trembling. Not knowing how much time had passed, the person finally exhaled slowly, calming down, ¡°Indeed, obtaining this Undying Blood is not easy.¡± ¡°The Undying Blood was right before my eyes this time, truly unbearable to think about. Next time, next time I must obtain the Undying Blood and find the mystery of longevity.¡± With that thought, he adjusted his emotions and walked slowly out of the house. It was dawn with a ray of sunlight shining on the land. It shone upon his withered, old face. This person was none other than Elder Jiang. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, Grandpa Jiang.¡± Just then, a youthful voice came from afar. A little girl in coarse clothing, with a joyful smile in her eyes and on her lips, ran toward him. ¡°What is it, Xiao Ya?¡± Elder Jiang¡¯s mouth carried a slight smile as he lifted the girl who ran into his arms. Xiao Ya voiced her concern, ¡°Grandpa Jiang, I heard some noise from your place just now, so I ran over to check on you.¡± He Ping and his wife were both busy with work, often leaving Xiao Ya alone at home. Although she was young, she was very well-behaved, not only keeping her own home clean but sometimes she would also help the destitute Elder Jiang with his cleaning. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Elder Jiang laughed upon hearing this. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, you seem to be in a bad mood?¡± Xiao Ya asked curiously. ¡°Can you tell?¡± Elder Jiang responded in surprise. ¡°` ¡°Yes, I can feel it,¡± the young girl said seriously. ¡°It¡¯s like standing in the cold wind.¡± ¡°Yes, my mood is very bad.¡± Jiang Ye stroked the young girl¡¯s face and sighed deeply. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, if there¡¯s anything upsetting you, you can talk to me about it,¡± the young girl said with concern. ¡°My Undying Blood is gone,¡± Jiang Ye said despondently. ¡°What¡¯s Undying Blood?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a treasure that can grant people longevity. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, can people really achieve immortality?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± The young girl was puzzled, quite skeptical about the longevity Jiang Ye spoke of. ¡°If only I could stay as young as you.¡± Jiang Ye pinched the young girl¡¯s cheek and smiled. ¡°Pity that time doesn¡¯t turn back.¡± The young girl always felt that there was something odd about Jiang Ye today, especially when he smiled, which gave her a chilling feeling. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, I should get going now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± At this, Jiang Ye smiled and said, ¡°Young girl, would you like to stay with Grandpa Jiang forever?¡± The young girl pressed her lips together and said softly, ¡°Although I¡¯d like to, my parents still need me.¡± ¡°It seems you don¡¯t agree then?¡± Jiang Ye¡¯s smile deepened, but the young girl felt even colder. ¡°I want to go home now.¡± The young girl quickly tried to break free from Jiang Ye¡¯s embrace, but no matter how hard she struggled, it was in vain. ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ Grandpa Jiang, I want to go home,¡± the young girl cried out. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, young girl.¡± Seeing her cry, Jiang Ye promptly wiped away the tears from her eyes and said, ¡°If you promise to stay with Grandpa Jiang, I will let you go back.¡± The young girl, hearing this, sobbed, ¡°Okay, I will stay with Grandpa Jiang whenever I have time in the future.¡± ¡°Very good, very good.¡± Jiang Ye, delighted at her words, said, ¡°Young girl, do you know? Grandpa Jiang likes you the most, and I¡¯m especially happy when you¡¯re with me.¡± The young girl, looking at Grandpa Jiang in front of her, felt both shocked and scared. ¡°Grandpa Jiang, can you let me go back now?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve said you would stay with Grandpa Jiang, why talk about going back home?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Ye suddenly showed discontent. ¡°I¡­¡± Before the young girl could finish her words, she felt a blur before her eyes and an immense pain surging within her, as if she was being consumed by flames. The intense pain did not last long, just a moment, and then she closed her eyes. Looking affectionately at the young girl in his arms, Jiang Ye said softly, ¡°Young girl, you said you¡¯d stay with Grandpa Jiang, so go ahead and wait for me.¡± The girl in his arms appeared to be fast asleep, giving no response whatsoever. Jiang Ye then carefully laid down the girl, as if fearful of hurting her, and then walked out of the house with measured steps. As spring arrived, the weather gradually warmed. At this time, Yu State City was bustling with pedestrians and traffic, a scene of prosperity. Jiang Ye walked in the streets, stepping into the gentle sunshine. ¡°Jiang Ye, long time no see,¡± said a patrolling constable upon catching sight of Jiang Ye. ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± Jiang Ye chuckled lightly, ¡°Indeed, it has been a while. I¡¯m feeling unwell, and I¡¯m about to go check in at Jishi Hall.¡± ¡°Then you better hurry, Doctor An is still quite skillful,¡± the constable said promptly. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Along the way, people would occasionally greet Jiang Ye, and he courteously responded to everyone. Having been in the area for two or three years and being approachable and easygoing, he had made a very positive impression on everyone. After walking through two or three streets, Jiang Ye finally reached the street market by the Yu State River and then arrived at the entrance of Jishi Hall. Suddenly, he paused, his eyes fixated on the brand-new plaque above the door with a trace of distraction. ¡°Yu State City is really a good place; I wonder why I¡¯m finding it hard to leave.¡± Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 132 The Moment of Death in Yu State City Chapter 132: Chapter 132 The Moment of Death in Yu State City ¡°` Jishi Hall interior. Tan Yun, holding a feather duster, was dusting the table and humming a tune as she cleaned. Looking at the counters and tables she had wiped spotlessly clean, she suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of achievement. ¡°Tan Yun, oh Tan Yun, you are getting more and more diligent. Whoever marries you will indeed be lucky for eight generations.¡± As she said this, she paused, ¡°No, make that sixteen generations.¡± Little Black lay on the ground asleep when suddenly it lifted its head, looking towards the entrance of Jishi Hall. Tan Yun also heard footsteps and looked over. At that moment, the curtain was slightly lifted, and a figure walked in slowly. This person was none other than Mr. Jiang. ¡°Are you here for a consultation or to buy medicine?¡± Tan Yun put down the feather duster and asked, ¡°The doctor is out, you will have to wait if you¡¯re here for a consultation.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here for a consultation, not here to buy medicine,¡± Mr. Jiang shook his head. Not here for a consultation, not here to buy medicine!? At this, Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled, ¡°Then what brings you here?¡± ¡°I came to kill someone,¡± Mr. Jiang said indifferently. His tone was very calm, as if killing someone was nothing more than a trivial matter for him. And indeed it was. Many who indulged in killing sought pleasure from it, but he no longer found any pleasure in killing. It had made him somewhat numb. Instead of being scared, Tan Yun burst into laughter upon hearing this, ¡°Then, dear guest, it seems you¡¯ve come to the wrong place. This is a medical hall, a place for healing and saving lives, not for killing.¡± Although Tan Yun had not been in the Jianghu for long, she wasn¡¯t someone unfamiliar with bloodshed. Otherwise, she would not have earned the nickname ¡°Frost Rash¡± in the Jianghu with only her Futu Sword. However, in the Jianghu, only a handful knew that one of the four guardians of the Demon Sect was known as Frost Rash, but as for her real name and appearance, very few were aware. Mr. Jiang shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no mistake. The person I want to kill is right here.¡± ¡°Who!?¡± Seeing that the man did not seem to be joking, Tan Yun discreetly unlocked the sealing within her body. ¡°The doctor here,¡± Mr. Jiang smiled. ¡°Tan Yun, whether you unlock the Life Gate Seal or not makes no difference. Today, whoever comes here must die.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Tan Yun¡¯s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. The Life Gate Seal was a Concealing Method of the Demon Sect that hid one¡¯s Qi Mechanism. In the Jianghu, there were numerous methods for concealing one¡¯s Qi Mechanism, most of which were quite elementary. Any expert with profound cultivation and sensitive Qi Mechanism could sense them. There were also relatively advanced Concealing Methods, including the Demon Sect¡¯s Heavenly Demon Secret of Heavenly Demon Myriad Forms, Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Unity of One, and the Buddhist¡¯s Formless and Selfless. These were extremely difficult to detect. The Human Sect was mainly responsible for investigation and intelligence. They were the top spies of the Demon Sect. While their Cultivation and strength might not be the peak, their methods of concealment were among the best in the Jianghu. The Life Gate Seal, in particular, cut off one¡¯s own Qi Mechanism and meridians, making the person appear like an ordinary person with absolutely no Qi Mechanism day to day. The only drawback was that one needed to unlock this seal before its use. How could this person see through her Life Gate Seal!? How was this possible? She knew that with her Second Grade Cultivation, even a Half-step Master couldn¡¯t sense the Life Gate Seal within her. And most importantly, the person before her knew her name. She did not recall ever meeting him. ¡°Who exactly are you!?¡± Tan Yun took a slight step back. ¡°Who am I?!¡± Mr. Jiang muttered to himself, then black mists surged from within him, one after another. ¡°Heavenly Demon Myriad Forms!?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Upon seeing this, Tan Yun¡¯s heart trembled, her eyes filled with disbelief. The ¡°Heavenly Demon Secret¡± and its ¡°Heavenly Demon Myriad Forms¡± were all too familiar to her, a technique within the Demon Sect that could only be cultivated by the Sect Hierarch. There was little doubt about the identity of the person before her eyes. The black fog gradually dissipated, revealing an old man with a kind face and youthful appearance, even bearing a semblance of an immortal or a Daoist master in front of her. She had seen this face before. ¡°O¡­Old Sect Hierarch!¡± Tan Yun cried out in shock. The person before her was none other than Jiang Shang, the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect who had disappeared for many years. Who was Jiang Shang? This name carried an intimidating presence in the Great Yan martial world, no less terrifying than Xiao Qianqiu, and even more profound and unforgettable. Back when the Demon Sect dominated the Great Yan martial world, Xiao Qianqiu did not possess the formidable strength he has today. At that time, the Sect Hierarch of the Zhenyi Sect was still Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s master, Great Heavenly Yang Ye Ding, and the Human Emperor of Taiping had only just ascended to the throne. Jiang Shang proclaimed himself the number one person in the Great Yan martial world, and the Demon Sect¡¯s arrogance and despotism were extreme, wielding power over the elements at will in the Great Yan martial world. The Pavilion Master of the Youyun Pavilion was decapitated and his pavilion destroyed by Jiang Shang for arriving late to a banquet held by the Demon Sect. Brutal and oppressive, ruthless and murderous, with an overwhelming aura¡­ This was the impression of the Demon Sect amongst the martial world, where almost everyone respected and feared the Demon Sect, yet dared not to speak out against them. Meanwhile, numerous talented youths joined the Demon Sect, which had its own methods of nurturing talent. With the infusion of fresh blood, the Demon Sect did not decline but grew even more powerful, casting a shadow over the entire Great Yan martial world. The rampant rise of the Demon Sect was largely thanks to Jiang Shang. This man was ferocious and volatile, causing chills in the hearts of those both outside and within the Demon Sect. In order to eradicate this scourge, the Sect Hierarch of the Zhenyi Sect, Ye Ding, challenged Jiang Shang to a duel. The agreed-upon location was the ancestral court of the Mystical Sect, atop Mount Xuanqing. This event, naturally, became a sensation, with countless experts flocking to witness the clash between two of the era¡¯s top masters. Aside from the Demon Sect, everyone hoped that Ye Ding would settle the matter in one decisive battle, eliminating Jiang Shang and restoring clarity to the Great Yan martial world. But the result was unexpected. Ye Ding fought Jiang Shang for an entire day, and as their inner strengths nearly ran out, neither emerged victorious. Subsequently, they could only agree to fight again once they had recovered from their injuries. After this battle, the Human Emperor of Taiping could no longer tolerate the rampant Demon Sect and decided to eradicate the Demon Sect forces in Great Yan. He dispatched the Xuanyi Guard and the Zhenyi Sect, together with several major powers in the Jianghu including the Five Poison Sect and the Blue River Sect, initiating a large-scale campaign against the Demon Sect. Far from being subdued, Jiang Shang let the leader of the Xuanwu Sect lead a force from Dongluo Pass to strike at Great Yan and even organized a rebellion within Great Yan to resist the Great Yan Dynasty. This shocked the world, as nobody expected Jiang Shang to be so daring. Although the Demon Sect¡¯s army was quickly annihilated by the Great Yan Dynasty, and the Demon Sect was forced to retreat, it revealed the extent of Jiang Shang¡¯s crazed nature. Afterward, as the Demon Sect fell back to Dongluo Pass, Xiao Qianqiu, Ye Ding¡¯s disciple, rose rapidly. His strength increased dramatically, and even Ye Ding admitted he was no match for him. Within just over thirty years, Xiao Qianqiu grew to become the number one person in the Great Yan martial world, looking down upon all in Great Yan. ¡°Who would have thought, who would have thought,¡± Jiang Shang chuckled softly, then took a seat on his own accord. Tan Yun¡¯s fear peaked, ¡°The¡­ The young lady, she has returned.¡± Even within the sect, Jiang Shang was someone who made everyone inwardly shudder. Those in power often rule with a combination of kindness and severity, balancing strictness with leniency, but Jiang Shang governed by wielding immense strength and employing ruthless measures to instill fear among his followers, causing great oppression within the hearts of the Demon Sect disciples. One moment his lips might bear a smile, praising you, and the next, you could be beheaded and destroyed. Capricious and unpredictable ¨C this was Jiang Shang, the thirty-first Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°` Jiang Shang¡¯s eyes were calm as the abyss, ¡°I know Qingmei has returned. It was I who had Duanmu Xinghua send her a letter to ask her to go back.¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s heart grew even colder, ¡°Jiang Sect¡­ Sect Hierarch.¡± So the Sect Hierarch had returned just for¡­ The old Sect Hierarch came here today with a resolve to kill the groom! ¡°Qingmei is a very talented and ambitious person, her future is boundless.¡± Jiang Shang sat in the chair, saying, ¡°Moreover, she is the present day Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. Such a person should not have weaknesses, should not be hindered, not for her own sake, nor for the Demon Sect. It is a misfortune.¡± Tan Yun took a deep breath and mustered the courage to say, ¡°But¡­ But if Jiang Sect Hierarch were to kill the groom¡­¡± ¡°She will hate me, but one day she will come to understand. Either be mediocre, or be lonely.¡± Jiang Shang smiled faintly, ¡°When she stands on the peak of that mountain one day, she will understand, she might even thank me. Loneliness and solitude are the first steps to reaching the pinnacle of this world, it has always been so throughout history.¡± His coming today was for this purpose. Tan Yun stood to one side, as cold sweat quickly beaded on her forehead. ¡­.. In Yu State City, on Fulu Street. An Jing carried his medicine box, his brows tightly furrowed. For some reason, since he went out this morning, he had felt restless, even more so than when he faced the Thousand-year-old Black Python beneath Qinghe Pier. His heart was beating incessantly, as if it was about to jump out of his throat. ¡°Could it be because of Qingmei?¡± An Jing muttered to himself, ¡°Or is it that black opportunity¡­¡± Just then, a burst of firecrackers erupted ahead, and the beating of drums and gongs filled the air with festivity. ¡°Hurry, go have a look, today is Mu Jie¡¯s big day at the Mu Family, they laid out eighty-eight tables for the feast.¡± ¡°Really? Eighty-eight tables!?¡± ¡°Could this be false? Of course, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°The Mu Family truly lives up to being one of the great four families, so very generous.¡± ¡°The bride Mu Jie is marrying is no ordinary woman either; she¡¯s Cao Ling¡¯er from the Cao Family, famously beautiful.¡± ¡°Here they come, let¡¯s go and share in the joy.¡± ¡­.. The people on the street were all discussing animatedly. The wedding procession slowly made its way forward, brimming with jubilation. In the lead rode a handsome man on a tall horse, his lips curved in a smile, receiving congratulations from the people around him. The only fault, if it could be called that, was a light scar on that beautiful face. This man was Mu Jie. Two maids carrying bamboo baskets followed by his side, continually throwing wedding coins into the streets. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± An Jing, watching the man atop the horse, could not help remembering. When he had gone to the Cao Gang¡¯s Yu State City branch to kill the men from Tieyun Mountain, he had crossed paths with this young man, but since he didn¡¯t want to attract unnecessary trouble, he did not kill him to silence him. Unexpectedly, this young man was Mu Jie of the Mu Family. At this moment, Mu Jie rode atop a tall horse, a faint smile hanging on his lips. He was very pleased with the alliance between the Mu and Cao families. Cao Ling¡¯er was not only attractive but also gentle in nature. He believed she would undoubtedly be a wise and good wife in the future. After all, a man of his status usually marries a principal wife mostly for a marriage of convenience. Being able to marry a woman like Cao Ling¡¯er was indeed fortunate. Just then, his eyes spotted a young man in the crowd. For some reason, looking at that youth, Mu Jie felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. The tall horse moved quickly, and the clamour of cheers soon pulled his mind back to reality. ¡°How strange.¡± Mu Jie thought nothing more of it and rode the horse into the distance. The bearers followed with the palanquin, and the sounds of celebration echoed in all directions. Sitting inside the palanquin, Cao Ling¡¯er¡¯s face bore a hint of sorrow. She wasn¡¯t unsatisfied with Mu Jie ¨C the proud talent of Jiangnan Dao, he was astute, highly intelligent, and treated her with great courtesy and respect. But looking at Mu Jie, she couldn¡¯t understand why she didn¡¯t feel that true joy and pleasure from her heart. ¡°Alas!¡± Cao Ling¡¯er let out a sigh, then peered outside through the red wedding veil covering the palanquin window. Suddenly, the figure of a man who had appeared in her dreams countless times suddenly appeared before her eyes. ¡°An Jing!¡± Even though his face and majority of his body were obscured by the crowd, she recognized him instantly amid the sea of people. Somehow, seeing him at that moment, Cao Ling¡¯er felt as if her heart was being twisted by a knife. It hurt! It was a wrenching pain. Cao Ling¡¯er clutched her chest tightly, and by the time she regained her composure, that silhouette had already disappeared with the tide of people. She hurriedly lifted the curtain, looking all around amidst the throng, but he was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Has he left? Did he come today to wish me well?¡± Lowering the curtain, Cao Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but recall the first time she saw An Jing in her boudoir. The image of his strong, reliable back and the smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he turned to face her seemed so vivid as if it were right before her eyes. Thinking of this, Cao Ling¡¯er chuckled softly to herself, her eyes brimming with bittersweet tears. Your arrival was like a storm I couldn¡¯t avoid; your departure threw my seasons into disarray, leaving me with a lingering illness beyond cure. ¡­¡­ ¡°I should go see the patients first.¡± An Jing stood among the crowd, watching the wedding procession depart. He sighed, then started walking towards the distance. Soon, he arrived at Sesame Oil Street. ¡°Thump thump!¡± An Jing stepped up and knocked on the door. ¡°Coming.¡± ¡°Squeak.¡± Shortly after, a voice came from behind the door. As the door opened, there appeared an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman with an honest and simple demeanor. ¡°Aunt Liu!¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but let out a light chuckle upon seeing her. The person who had opened the door was none other than the wife of his benefactor, Niu Fu. It was Niu Fu who had played matchmaker, introducing him to Zhao Qingmei, so An Jing had always felt grateful to Niu Fu. Aunt Liu hastily said, ¡°Come in quickly.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Has Uncle Niu¡¯s chronic condition flared up again?¡± Aunt Liu, with a worried expression, replied, ¡°Yes. I told him not to go fishing, but he insisted on going. In such cold weather, he still thinks he¡¯s in his twenties.¡± The two walked through the main hall and arrived at the bedroom. There they saw a middle-aged man lying prone on the bed, his face showing signs of pain and his forehead covered in beads of sweat. This man was Niu Fu. ¡°Doctor An, you¡¯re finally here,¡± said Niu Fu with a hint of joy in his eyes as he saw An Jing enter. ¡°Uncle Niu, don¡¯t worry, let me take a look at you first,¡± An Jing said as he placed his medicine box on the table and took out several silver needles. Niu Fu was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. When the weather suddenly turned cold or during rainy days, his joints would be in extreme pain, to the point where they could become numb or even cramp up. To cure such symptoms completely would require a significant amount of time resting and could not be done overnight. Niu Fu¡¯s condition had flared up again after he had gone into the water to catch fish. An Jing picked up the silver needles and pricked them into Niu Fu¡¯s body several times, then infused a faint trace of inner strength to draw out the cold and damp energy within him. As the cold and damp energy dissipated, Niu Fu¡¯s expression became more relaxed. After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the chill and dampness in his body were entirely absorbed. To prevent the exposure of his cultivation, An Jing could only use a small amount of inner strength. Otherwise, the cold and damp energy within Niu Fu could have been easily absorbed in just a few breaths. ¡°All done,¡± An Jing said, exhaling. ¡°Doctor An, your medical skills are truly miraculous,¡± Niu Fu exclaimed, feeling the absence of discomfort in his body. Aunt Liu also seemed relieved and then scolded lightly, ¡°You old fool, it would serve you right if the pain killed you. Hurry up and thank Doctor An.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Niu Fu smiled and said, ¡°It was a bother for you to come here personally, Doctor An.¡± An Jing quickly waved his hand and replied, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, this is what I should do. If anyone should be thankful, it¡¯s me who should be thanking Uncle Niu¡ªif it weren¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t have married such a virtuous wife.¡± An Jing felt genuine gratitude toward Niu Fu. Hearing this, Niu Fu chuckled awkwardly. Aunt Liu also seemed hesitant to speak. ¡°Ahem!¡± Seeing this, Niu Fu quickly coughed and said, ¡°Hurry and give Doctor An the consultation fee.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Aunt Liu quickly took out her purse and retrieved a tael of silver. ¡°A consultation doesn¡¯t cost a tael of silver. Let¡¯s forget about it this time,¡± An Jing said as he put away the silver needles and prepared to stand up and walk towards the door. ¡°Wait a moment, Doctor An!¡± Aunt Liu became anxious, grabbing An Jing¡¯s clothes and saying, ¡°We can¡¯t just forget about the consultation fee. You must take it. If you don¡¯t, we won¡¯t feel right.¡± With that, she placed the tael of silver into An Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°This¡­¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°Aunt Liu, the consultation fee you¡¯re offering is too much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too much, just take it,¡± Aunt Liu said, waving her hand. Seeing this, Niu Fu immediately felt a pang of distress and exclaimed, ¡°The consultation and treatment only cost one hundred copper coins, why are you giving so much?¡± That was an entire tael of silver! Aunt Liu glared fiercely at Niu Fu and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a tael of silver, not even worth one-tenth of what you take!¡± Upon hearing this, Niu Fu¡¯s neck shrank, and he suddenly looked like a crestfallen quail. Looking at the silver in his hand, An Jing asked curiously, ¡°What one-tenth?¡± He felt something was off with Aunt Liu and Niu Fu today. Niu Fu quickly said, ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s nothing. Just take the tael of silver and go.¡± An Jing insisted, ¡°No, this tael of silver is really too much.¡± Such an amount would make others think he was taking advantage, when he prided himself on honesty. Moreover, Niu Fu was not from a wealthy family. He made a living as a small-time merchant, known to be stingy but also very credible. The tael of silver must have been saved from the narrowest margins, and An Jing wouldn¡¯t feel right accepting it. Aunt Liu said, ¡°Doctor An, just take it. If you don¡¯t, we won¡¯t feel at ease.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± An Jing was puzzled; why would they feel uneasy if he didn¡¯t take the money? ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Niu Fu, hearing this, quickly shouted, ¡°Doctor An, the silver is a gift from us, to express our gratitude for curing my ailment.¡± An Jing became even more bewildered, ¡°A gift for me?¡± Niu Fu was famously as tight-fisted as a scalded chicken, never parting with a single feather. He was known in Yu State City as a notorious miser, and now he was giving silver to someone else? ¡°You should leave now,¡± said Niu Fu, his heart aching at the sight of the silver. ¡°No, I can¡¯t take this silver,¡± An Jing insisted, turning to Aunt Liu, ¡°What¡¯s the real story behind this silver?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Aunt Liu suddenly looked troubled. Niu Fu was like an ant on a hot pan, ¡°We can¡¯t say, I¡¯ve sworn not to let it slip.¡± That was the equivalent of a hundred strings of copper coins! Seeing this, An Jing felt even more certain that Niu Fu was hiding something from him. An Jing turned to Aunt Liu and said, ¡°Aunt Liu, you are an honest person, and deep down, you¡¯re kind-hearted. I trust what you say.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a hundred guan of money!¡± Niu Fu became frantic. ¡°Silence!¡± Aunt Liu sharply reprimanded, then turned to An Jing, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll just tell you, Dr. An. In fact, Miss Zhao spent a hundred guan for Niu Fu to make this match¡­¡± A hundred guan of money!? Upon hearing this, An Jing was shocked; his wife actually had so much money. A hundred guan was equal to a hundred taels of silver, and when converted to copper coins, it amounted to a hundred thousand pieces, while a string of candied haws cost only three copper coins¡­¡­ ¡°The hundred guan is gone!¡± Seeing this, Niu Fu sat down on the chair, muttering to himself in a daze. Aunt Liu continued, ¡°At first, Niu Fu and I thought the hundred guan was for that young master, but Miss Zhao insisted she would have no one but the doctor from Jishi Hall.¡± ¡°No one but me!?¡± An Jing felt like he had been struck by lightning. He had thought that he just caught Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eye or that it was some kind of miraculous fate, that he simply appeared during her most difficult time, giving her a sense of dependency. But he never expected that Zhao Qingmei had been determined to choose him from the start. ¡°Yes, she gave far too much,¡± Aunt Liu sighed, ¡°Moreover, her family fell on hard times, sold all their property, and she, a delicate woman, traveled over mountains and waters from Ping County. I had been against accepting the hundred guan from the start, and you, Dr. An, are such a kind-hearted person. I think you two are truly well-matched.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu! Wuu wuu!¡± Niu Fu burst into tears upon hearing this, ¡°My hundred guan is gone.¡± ¡°You cur!¡± Aunt Liu kicked hard at Niu Fu¡¯s leg, ¡°Stop embarrassing yourself in front of Dr. An. It¡¯s just a hundred guan, can¡¯t you show a little backbone?¡± Niu Fu sighed, wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes, ¡°Dr. An, just wait a moment, the remaining ninety-eight guan is under the bed, I¡¯ll get it for you now; I didn¡¯t dare to spend any of it.¡± An Jing stopped Niu Fu, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Aunt Liu interjected. An Jing smiled, ¡°Since it was given by my wife to you, naturally there¡¯s no reason to take it back.¡± Niu Fu was also surprised, ¡°Dr. An, do you truly think this way? Actually, thirty guan of it was a bribe; I can give it to you.¡± Saying this, Niu Fu¡¯s face showed great distress. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± An Jing placed a handful of silver coins on the table, then strode towards the exit. Niu Fu and Aunt Liu looked at each other. ¡°Old Niu, what should we do with this silver?¡± Aunt Liu glanced under the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s use this money to buy some clothes and food for the beggar children in the south of the city,¡± Niu Fu thought for a moment and sighed, ¡°This winter has passed, I don¡¯t even know how many are left. I had never dared to spend this money before, but now that Dr. An has said his piece, I won¡¯t be polite any longer.¡± Aunt Liu smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± ¡­¡­. An Jing left the Sesame Oil Street and glanced at the sky, unable to help but think of Zhao Qingmei, his lips curling up slightly. For some reason, after hearing the news from Aunt Liu, he urgently wanted to see Zhao Qingmei. Looking up at the clear blue sky, every white cloud seemed to take on the shape of Zhao Qingmei. Thinking of this, he couldn¡¯t help but take out the paper figurine from his sleeve and gave it a slight twist. The next moment, the paper figurine responded. It seemed that at any time, Zhao Qingmei could respond to him the fastest, as if she was always guarding that paper figurine. ¡°Time is passing too slowly.¡± After a while, An Jing reluctantly put away the paper figurine and quickly headed towards Jishi Hall. From Sesame Oil Street to Jishi Hall was neither far nor close. After passing through two or three streets and a stone bridge, with his feet on the cobblestones, An Jing saw the signboard of Jishi Hall, but for some reason, his heart gave a sudden throb. Impulse! Such a strong impulse was something he had never experienced before. Footsteps entered Jishi Hall. Jiang Shang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them. ¡°Not good!¡± Tan Yun¡¯s breath hitched. She knew that if Jiang Shang made a move, An Jing would have no chance of survival. ¡°Son-in-law, run!¡± Just as An Jing was about to lift the curtain and step in, he suddenly heard Tan Yun¡¯s loud shout. Upon hearing her voice, An Jing felt a surge of cold air rush towards him. Almost instinctively, he retreated backward. ¡°Tan Yun!¡± Jiang Shang glanced at Tan Yun. ¡°Bang!¡± Tan Yun felt an immense pressure assault her, and her body immediately knelt on the ground, her knees hitting the hard floor with a loud noise, creating a spider-web-like crack. Blood seeped from the corner of Tan Yun¡¯s mouth. ¡°You should thank Li Fuzhou for your survival today,¡± Jiang Shang said indifferently, before walking towards the exit. An Jing also heard the noise inside and instinctively felt a great danger, and he began to sprint away into the distance. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Planning to run?¡± Jiang Shang watched An Jing bolt away with a mild smile at the corner of his mouth. He enjoyed watching the spectacle of others frantically fleeing, the exhilarating sensation of tension and the pleasure of holding life and death in his hands, which intoxicated him. ¡°Run¡­ run fast! Get away from here!¡± Tan Yun, seeing Jiang Shang chasing after An Jing, suddenly felt her heart sink to the bottom, her voice carrying a sob. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 135 The First Swordsman Lou Xiangzhen Chapter 135: Chapter 135 The First Swordsman Lou Xiangzhen Lijiang City, there¡¯s a tavern. ¡°Have you heard? Zhenyi Sect has started issuing bounties for the Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°That has already spread throughout Jianghu. Who isn¡¯t aware of it? Just report the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s whereabouts to the people of Qing Feng Hall. If accurate, you could receive fifty thousand silver.¡± ¡°Fifty thousand silver! Really?¡± ¡°Zhenyi Sect¡¯s pill workshop is not short of money; for them, fifty thousand silver is but a drop in the bucket.¡± ¡°But placing a bounty of fifty thousand silver shows that Zhenyi Sect is indeed taking this matter very seriously.¡± ¡°What grudge does Zhenyi Sect have with the Ghost Swordsman?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the death of Qi Yun was due to that Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°There¡¯s even bigger news. Do you know about Dongluo Pass? A Grandmaster level expert recently emerged there, but it¡¯s still not clear who it is.¡± ¡°Then, the Demon Sect¡¯s power has grown by another notch.¡± ¡­¡­. Amid the tavern, discussions buzzed as some people from Jianghu talked about significant events happening within Jianghu. In a corner, a man dressed in a black robe sat, his expression as indifferent as water. This man was An Jing, who had hurried from Yu State City to Lijiang City. ¡°Zhenyi Sect¡­¡± An Jing took a deep breath, his brow slightly furrowed. Zhenyi Sect had begun their search for him due to the Daluo Heart Method. It looked like he had to be more wary of Zhenyi Sect now. Being the national religion of Great Yan, Zhenyi Sect had numerous experts under their command, including the Four Peaks and the Seven True Masters. Xiao Qianqiu, who had been seated in Jianghu for decades, was probably stronger than that Lord Jiang. ¡°Hm!?¡± Just then, a dusty figure entered through the doorway. It was an elderly man, dressed in grey clothes that had been washed to a white hue, holding a longsword in his hand, his face showing a bitter expression, his eyes seeming cloudy yet hiding a gleam of sharpness. The old man walked in, looking for something as his gaze swept around before finally finding an empty seat. He sat down and called out loudly, ¡°Waiter, bring some good dishes and a pot of fine wine.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The waiter responded with a clear shout. The old man looked ordinary, but An Jing felt a familiar aura emanating from him. Jiang Sanjia!? An Jing¡¯s brow twisted, sensing the same qi from this old man as he felt from Jiang Sanjia. It seemed the old man was releasing it on purpose. This was none other than the old man from the border, Xiang. The two men sat at separate tables, eating their own food and drink, occasionally locking eyes, but neither one spoke first. Suddenly, a loud commotion came from outside the tavern. ¡°Help¡­ Help¡­ ¡± A beautiful woman stumbled into the tavern, rolling and crawling. Several figures followed her, leading them was a man with a pointed face and the demeanor of a scholar. With his lips licked, the man sneered, ¡°Little beauty, your husband has already sold you to my young master. You¡¯re helpless even if you run to the ends of the earth.¡± ¡°Save me¡­ Please save me,¡± the woman cried as she ran. ¡°Move along, move along. That¡¯s Master Wang from Linhu Lake Villa, Chu Huai¡¯s man.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s him. Let¡¯s leave this place quickly; we shouldn¡¯t draw unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡­.. Upon seeing this, everyone¡¯s faces changed, and they all started to move away. Just as a young swordsman was about to stand up, his companion pressed a palm down on him. In a low voice, the companion said, ¡°Have you forgotten about the Feiying Fortress¡­¡± The young swordsman¡¯s face suddenly changed, and after a heavy sigh, he remained silent. Everyone in Jiangnan knew Feng Shuimu of Feiying Fortress, who was a skilled fighter at the Third Grade Realm. However, Feng Shuimu¡¯s wife and daughter caught the eye of Chu Huai, who then sent men to abduct them directly from his home to amuse himself. When Feng Shuimu learned of this, he led the Feiying Fortress¡¯s skilled fighters to surround Linhu Lake Villa. Ultimately, he failed to kill Chu Huai and instead died himself at Linhu Lake Villa, leading to the destruction of Feiying Fortress. The incident caused a huge uproar in Jiangnan¡¯s Jianghu, with countless people supporting Feng Shuimu. Eventually, Chu Huai was confined to house arrest, forbidden to leave Linhu Lake Villa. However, Chu Huai did not mend his ways but instead continued to send his underlings to gather beauties from around Lijiang City for his amusement. And Master Wang, present now, was one of Chu Huai¡¯s most trusted underlings. ¡°Little beauty, keep running,¡± he taunted. Wang Sire watched the woman with a smirking smile. ¡°Save me¡­ please, I beg you.¡± The woman felt a chill in her heart when she saw Wang Sire¡¯s gaze, continuously kneeling and begging the people around, tears glimmering in her eyes. Everyone knew that those who entered Linhu Lake Villa would definitely be ravaged to death by Chu Huai, not even leaving a body behind. Was the infamous rogue of Lijiang City undeservedly notorious? The expressions on many surrounding faces were extremely ugly, but no one dared to intervene. The pitiful cries continuously strung everyone¡¯s heartstrings. Wang Sire stepped forward, grabbed the woman¡¯s wrist, and sneered, ¡°Just enjoy the young master¡¯s flogging.¡± ¡°Stop!¡± A harsh shout resounded. Wang Sire looked in the direction of the voice, seeing a young man with a flushed face, carrying a long sword on his back. The young man shouted loudly, ¡°Under the broad daylight, you dare abduct a civilian girl!? Is there no law anymore?¡± ¡°Yo!¡± Hearing this, Wang Sire couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Where did this greenhorn come from, lecturing me about the law?¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± The experts from Linhu Lake Villa behind him also laughed, their laughter laced with mockery. ¡°Damn it!¡± Seeing this, the young man was even more infuriated, drew the long sword from behind, ¡°Since you dare commit such heinous acts, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± The sword light turned cold, piercing towards Wang Sire¡¯s throat. ¡°A thread of red, this is the Yijian Thirteen Form from the Yijian Sect!¡± ¡°This young man¡¯s swordsmanship has already reached the realm of momentum, it seems he must be a distinguished disciple of the Yijian Sect.¡± ¡­.. The crowd around saw this and their eyes gleamed with a sharp light. An Jing was drinking by himself, his complexion utterly serene. In the Great Yan Martial World, the most formidable were these five gangs and seven sects, but beneath these, there were various other sects scattered across every region of Great Yan. These sects had received the Great Yan Mountain Opening Order, considered official and orthodox sects, possessing the right to recruit disciples and continue their lineages. And the Yijian Sect was among these numerous sects. A hundred years ago, the Yijian Sect had produced a swordsman of the Fifth Realm, who had shaken the martial world of Great Yan, but since then, no prominent swordsmen had emerged from the Yijian Sect, and its fame had gradually dwindled. ¡°To think he dares to play the hero, saving the beauty with just the cultivation of the sixth-grade peak?¡± Wang Sire sneered, and with a stretch of his hand, he grabbed the young man¡¯s long sword directly, followed by a slap on the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Bang!¡± The young man let go of his long sword, his body heavily crashing onto an old man¡¯s table. With just one move, the young man was defeated by Wang Sire. The old man supported the young man with his palm, saying, ¡°Is there nothing that can¡¯t be resolved peacefully, must you resort to such violence?¡± ¡°Old man, I advise you to mind your own business.¡± Wang Sire sneered again, then looked at the young man, ¡°Kid, it seems you haven¡¯t figured out how things work in Jianghu, yet you dare to wander it and speak to me, Wang De, about the law?¡± ¡°You!¡± The young man, covering his arm, unsuccessful in his attempt and instead receiving a lesson, his face turned the color of liver. ¡°First, teach this kid a lesson.¡± Wang Sire waved his hand. ¡°Yes!¡± Several people quickly surrounded the Yijian Sect disciple and launched an attack, not holding back at all, striking as if aiming to kill. After all, they had Chu Huai backing them, he would take care of any consequences. The sound of things breaking, tables and chairs being smashed, echoed around. The manager stood by with a mournful face, continuously shaking his head and sighing, not daring to speak loudly. The surrounding people also stood up, fearing they would be affected. Yet in the entire tavern, only An Jing and the old man continued to eat and drink on their own, always completely calm. ¡°Snap!¡± The youth was slapped hard across the face and then staggered to fall onto An Jing¡¯s table, a jet of blood spraying forth. ¡°Brother, this was good wine,¡± he said. An Jing, seeing this, was immediately displeased. The youth looked at the robed man in front of him and felt a surge of grievance inside. I¡¯m almost beaten to death by these bullies, and you actually care about your wine? Master Wang took a quick step forward, ready to grab the youth by the collar. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± An Jing quickly stopped Master Wang. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Master Wang looked at the robed figure in front of him, his brow furrowing. An Jing said displeased, ¡°He¡¯s spoiled my drink. Let him compensate before anything else.¡± ¡°Are you asking for death?¡± Master Wang was not a fool. Immediate asked sternly. An Jing pointed to the wine pot stained with blood, looked at the attendant and the manager, ¡°This was good wine, right? It costs five silver per pot, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­yes¡­¡± The attendant and the manager could only awkwardly agree, then thought to themselves: You¡¯re worried about the five silver worth of wine, beware you don¡¯t lose your life over it. The bystanders all secretly sweated cold sweat for An Jing. Old Xu beside them pitifully said, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a pity this wine was spoiled. He should compensate.¡± ¡°Are you also looking for trouble?¡± Master Wang, enraged to the point of laughter, murderous intent appeared in his eyes. ¡°Good, very good, kill them all.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A few men behind Master Wang sneered and charged towards Old Xu. An Jing shook his head, saying nothing. ¡°Always resorting to violence and killing,¡± Old Xu sighed, pointing forward. ¡°Shick!¡± ¡°Shick!¡± ¡°Shick!¡± What seemed like a casual flicker split into countless rays of sword light. ¡°Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!¡± The men who rushed forward were instantly struck by the sword light, the life fading from their eyes as they all fell to the ground. Old Xu¡¯s expression remained supremely calm. Killing these men seemed as natural to him as eating or drinking. Silence! The entire tavern suddenly became extremely quiet. Everyone was dumbstruck, not expecting the seemingly ordinary old man to be a master. The young man from the Yijian Sect was even more shocked, his heart seemingly shouting crazily: This is swordsmanship, this is a true Sword Dao master! Hundred-step Flying Sword!? Seeing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, now certain of the old man¡¯s identity. This move was clearly meant for him to witness. ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± Master Wang looked at the old man in astonishment, his voice trembling. ¡°Shall we change the location?¡± An Jing said blandly. ¡°Okay.¡± Old Xu nodded his head. An Jing nodded slightly, then with a sweep of his robe, ¡°Shick!¡± A flash of sword light, too quick to catch, burst forth, piercing straight into Master Wang¡¯s brow. ¡°Thud!¡± The light faded from Master Wang¡¯s eyes, and he then heavily fell to the ground. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± An Jing and the old man leaped, and the next moment they disappeared within the restaurant. The restaurant fell deathly silent. No one knew how much time had passed before voices of discussion erupted like a sudden flood. ¡°Master Wang has really kicked an iron plate this time,¡± someone said. ¡°Those two must also be experts from Jianghu, truly fearsome,¡± another remarked. ¡°Such fierce swordsmanship, definitely top-notch swordsmen,¡± commented another. ¡­¡­ The young disciple of Yijian Sect watched their departing figures, lost in thought for a long time. ¡°In the future, no, I must become a swordsman like them,¡± the youth whispered to himself, clenching his fist. ¡°Thank you, young hero, for your life-saving grace.¡± At that moment, the woman walked up to the youth and bowed deeply. The youth shook his head, saying, ¡°No need, it wasn¡¯t I who saved you, but those two seniors just now. You¡¯d better leave quickly.¡± ¡°Where can I go?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes held a trace of misery, ¡°My husband has already been driven to his death by him, and I am now homeless. Besides, that tyrant in Lijiang City has an extensive reach; I cannot escape. You should leave quickly¡­¡± Hearing this, the youth sighed deeply, remaining silent for a long time before touching his longsword and recalling his master¡¯s admonition to always be extremely careful in Jianghu, and not to act rashly on impulse, lest he invite great trouble. ¡­¡­ Outside Lijiang City. Two figures passed through the woods and then landed in a dense forest. The old man stood on a branch and said lightly, ¡°You must be the Ghost Swordsman from the Daluo Sect, right?¡± ¡°Suppose so,¡± An Jing nodded. Yan Shaoshan had passed the Daluo Heart Method to him, and Jiang Sanjia had told him that Yan Shaoshan was the only successor of the Daluo Sect. Since he had already practiced the Daluo Heart Method, he could not sever ties with the Daluo Sect no matter what. The old man had observed all along the way and thought to himself, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman¡¯s sword technique is not bad, but his cultivation is somewhat lacking.¡± The cultivation of the Earth Flower Realm was already considered extremely high in the Jianghu, yet it was still insignificant in the face of the colossal Zhenyi Sect. ¡°Hiss¡ª!¡± At this moment, a strange noise sounded behind the old man. The old man frowned deeply and swiftly turned around. A huge, fierce snake head appeared in front of him, its massive triangular eyes coldly staring at him as if they wanted to tear him apart. The gigantic body exuded an imposing pressure like a mountain, making a normal person appear very small in its presence. ¡°A Thousand-year-old Black Python!?¡± Seeing this, the old man was greatly shaken. He recognized the origin of this exotic beast at a glance¡ªa Black Python about to transform into a Jiao dragon, which, once transformed, would likely be an opponent beyond even his own abilities. The Thousand-year-old Black Python flicked its tongue and then quickly slithered in front of An Jing, who leaped onto the snake¡¯s head in one bound. Seeing this, the old man was even more astonished. Knowing well that the Thousand-year-old Black Python was an extremely ferocious creature, with a heart filled only with a desire for slaughter, how could it possibly submit to a human? An Jing smiled and said, ¡°Senior must be from the Ghost Valley Sect, right?¡± ¡°The World¡¯s First Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen,¡± the old man responded with a slight lift of his chin. The title ¡®The World¡¯s First Swordsman¡¯ sounded very ordinary coming from his mouth. Before the Sword God and Sword Demon, no swordsman had ever earned the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman. The ones with the best chance were the Sword God and Sword Demon, but they lived during the same era. Since these two top swordsmen had never crossed swords in their lifetimes, no one knew who truly was the number one swordsman in the world. With five generations of sword immortals standing powerfully, all with impressive combat records and all reaching the Fifth Realm in sword dao, Lou Xiangzhen, although a prominent and highly skilled figure, was up against Lin Yiyang and Zhong Binru who could rival the Sword God and Sword Demon, placing limitless prospects before them, and thus the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman remained unclaimed. An Jing nodded slightly: ¡°Indeed, Senior Lou.¡± Jiang Sanjia had mentioned in letters that should he die, his senior brother would not stay silent and would definitely take action. Lou Xiangzhen was a top expert in the Great Yan Martial World with cultivation that had long reached the Grandmaster Realm. If he was willing to protect An Jing on this journey, then it would likely be much safer, whether facing Jiang Ye or the Zhenyi Sect. With deep eyes, Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing, ¡°This time, I came to see for myself what kind of elegance the swordsman praised by my junior brother possesses.¡± An Jing, standing atop the Thousand-year-old Black Python, appeared calm and collected: ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°So-so.¡± Lou Xiangzhen unmercifully said, ¡°With your strength, to challenge Xiao Qianqiu, you will need at least decades of hard cultivation.¡± An Jing nodded, acknowledging that with his current strength, he indeed was no match for Xiao Qianqiu; this statement was not false. If Xiao Qianqiu were in front of him, he would definitely hand over the Daluo Heart Method without any hesitation. However, he disagreed with the idea of decades of arduous cultivation. ¡°Junior Brother said you are a person of great destiny, with a chance to revive the glory of the Mystical Sect in the future.¡± Lou Xiangzhen solemnly said, ¡°He asked me to protect your Dao for three years.¡± ¡°Jiang Sanjia is considerate.¡± An Jing sighed lightly, Jiang Sanjia had placed all his hopes on him, hoping he could defeat Xiao Qianqiu and bring down the Zhenyi Sect. ¡°I was originally unwilling, but since he is dead, this was his last instruction to himself, and I will fulfill it no matter what.¡± As Lou Xiangzhen said this, he paused and his tone turned a bit colder, saying, ¡°I also want to take the opportunity to see the strength of the Zhenyi Sect, and whether it can really cover the sky with one hand in the Great Yan Martial World.¡± Others might not know, but how could Lou Xiangzhen not know the cause of Jiang Sanjia¡¯s death? It was undeniably related to the Zhenyi Sect. Previously, Lou Xiangzhen believed that the Zhenyi Sect represented the prevailing trend, especially with someone as formidable as Xiao Qianqiu emerging from it. Even if he emerged from seclusion, it was unlikely that he could shake the foundation of the Zhenyi Sect or compete with Xiao Qianqiu for the role of Daoist Master. Therefore, Lou Xiangzhen wanted to stay away from conflicts and preserve the heritage of the Ghost Valley Sect. He did so, and he advised Jiang Sanjia to do the same. Even when Jiang Sanjia was trapped in the dungeon of Yu State City, he still did not intervene, which was his compromise to the Zhenyi Sect, his compromise to Xiao Qianqiu. But the Zhenyi Sect thought Lou Xiangzhen was compromising because he was afraid, so they became increasingly reckless in their actions. Liu Qingshan perhaps only wanted to ask Jiang Sanjia to help him calculate, but the Zhenyi Sect wanted Jiang Sanjia¡¯s life. And now they had even forced him to his death. An Jing could feel a noticeable disturbance in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words. Certainly, he was not as Jiang Sanjia described¡ªcruel and heartless, timid and scared. Thinking about it now, Jiang Sanjia understood his senior brother well; his words after drinking were clearly spoken in anger. ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± An Jing took a deep breath and bowed with his fists. ¡°Don¡¯t rush to thank me, I will not protect your Dao for three years, I will only intervene once on your behalf.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and said, ¡°If someone from the Zhenyi Sect attacks you, I can intervene once on your behalf, including Xiao Qianqiu.¡± At the end, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s voice carried a hint of determination. Even facing the man known as the world¡¯s greatest today, his eyes held no fear or retreat. Hearing this, An Jing felt greatly reassured. Knowing that Xiao Qianqiu was still in seclusion and the time of his emergence was not set, unless a hidden grandmaster of the Zhenyi Sect came after him, he had nothing to fear from the Zhenyi Sect with Lou Xiangzhen and the Thousand-year-old Black Boa by his side. ¡°Great kindness goes unspoken in words.¡± An Jing said solemnly, his mind inevitably recalling Jiang Sanjia. Having a grandmaster willing to protect his Dao was not a common thing; even Qi Yun of the Zhenyi Sect did not have a grandmaster expert by his side. ¡°I wonder what your plans are now?¡± Lou Xiangzhen thought for a moment and asked. ¡°Senior Lou, have you heard this saying?¡± ¡°What saying?¡± ¡°If you do not remove the roots when cutting weeds, the spring breeze will bring them back to life!¡± Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, a slight smile appeared on Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s lips. ¡­.. Lijiang City, Linhu Lake Villa. The villa was surrounded by pink walls, the green willows still hanging around, the six-roomed gate tower had been renewed, and the surrounding galleries hid watchmen. Paths in the courtyard connected in every direction, interspersed with robust rocks. The placard reading ¡®Curb Desire and Impatience¡¯ still hung. The courtyard remained beautiful, with few changes. At that moment, sounds of crashing and animalistic growls could be heard from a bedroom in the back courtyard. ¡°Who in Lijiang City does not know the great name of Chu Huai, and yet dares to spoil my good deeds!?¡± Chu Huai¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he coldly looked at the man kneeling on the ground below. The man was Cui Yong, a Third Grade expert who had fortuitously survived the hands of the Ghost-faced Buddha. Cui Yong hastily said, ¡°I have already sent guards to check, but those two swordsmen disappeared after leaving the tavern.¡± ¡°Trash! You are just trash!¡± The flames inside Chu Huai seemed to have moved to his brain as he hysterically roared at Cui Yong. Cui Yong hung his head low, a trace of darkness in his expression, yet his eyes were gleaming coldly. Trash!? If it weren¡¯t for your dear father, you would have died eight hundred times over. Chu Huai coldly said, ¡°You go and check personally. I refuse to believe that the two of them could have just flown away.¡± Cui Yong suddenly became embarrassed, ¡°But, Sir Chu, you ordered me to never leave the young master¡¯s side.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Chu Huai sneered, ¡°Weren¡¯t you there last time? Even Shui Zhongyue, the Guardian of the Demon Sect, came to my Linhu Lake Villa and still ended up dead, right?¡± Thinking of last time, Chu Huai still felt a residual thrill, his expression also carried a hint of pride. How about it, a feared master of the Demon Sect in the Jianghu? Wasn¡¯t his head ruthlessly crushed under my foot? Cui Yong¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly, still hesitating. Seeing this, Chu Huai harshly glared at Cui Yong, ¡°Go and investigate, and bring that young lady back while you¡¯re at it. If you don¡¯t bring her back, I¡¯ll flay your skin!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Left with no choice, Cui Yong had to stand up and walk out of the house. The night was waning, yet the entire villa was brightly lit. ¡°Damn it.¡± As Cui Yong stepped out of the house, he glanced back and spat fiercely, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a lucky bastard. What¡¯s there to be arrogant about?¡± His heart hoped for Chu Huai¡¯s speedy death, yet he also feared the repercussions of Chu Huai¡¯s death on himself. His heart was incredibly complex and conflicted. After adjusting his mood, Cui Yong slowly walked out of the yard. At that moment, above the flying eaves of the Linhu Lake Villa, two figures descended. It was An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen. An Jing looked at the placid lake below and said, ¡°There are rumors that countless bodies are buried under Tianxin Lake. I wonder if it¡¯s true.¡± It was said that Chu Huai was very fond of Linhu City on East Lin Road. Later, he dug a small lake here and built a villa, naming it Linhu Lake Villa. Later, rumors had it that every time Chu Huai kidnapped a woman to play with, after her death, he would throw her into Tianxin Lake. If the woman¡¯s husband came looking, Chu Huai would first torture him, then kill and throw him in as well. Thus, Tianxin Lake also became known locally as Black Heart Lake. ¡°Oh?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let¡¯s take a closer look.¡± ¡°How shall we look?¡± An Jing asked in a firm tone. Lou Xiangzhen didn¡¯t speak. His true qi surged like tidal waves, and then he pointed with his arm. ¡°Hiss!¡± ¡°Splash! Splash!¡± A qi force rushed out, like a sword light descending from the sky, slicing the lake water in two. An Jing was thoroughly shocked by this sight. Even knowing that grandmasters possess unimaginable strength beyond ordinary people, seeing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s maneuver still seemed incredible. Is this what a grandmaster is capable of? Using a finger as a sword, he split the lake with one stroke! The tumultuous lake water gradually parted, and the scenery at the bottom became increasingly visible. Aside from water grass and huge rocks, countless bones were scattered all over, almost covering the lakebed. At that moment, about fifty fish were bouncing over those whitish skeletons. A horrifying sight! Each set of bones represented a body, each a dark chapter of the past. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± At this moment, the guards of the villa seeing this scene, were utterly horrified. ¡°Splash! Splash!¡± The next moment, the lake water crashed down again, causing a huge splash, soaking the lakeside pavilions with water stains. ¡°This man must be killed!¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, ¡°To kill him would dirty my sword. You shall take him down.¡± An Jing: ¡°?? ¡± ¡°He dirtied your sword, did he not dirty mine as well?¡± Of course, these words naturally remained unspoken by An Jing. The next moment, An Jing¡¯s body leaped, and he instantly descended into Chu Huai¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Trash, nothing but trash!¡± Chu Huai was still in a rage, venting his boundless fury. ¡°Who?¡± Suddenly, he heard a sound of footsteps, and quickly turned his head. He saw a figure in a black robe appearing not far away, walking towards him. ¡°You¡­ who are you?¡± Seeing the approaching figure, Chu Huai also felt a hint of foreboding, his heart beginning to palpitate violently. It was a sensation he had never experienced before; he had a bad feeling and repeatedly stepped backwards. An Jing said nothing, merely watching the Chu Huai in front of him. Chu Huai growled, ¡°My father is Chu Nanying, I¡¯m telling you, if you dare touch me¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking, I¡¯m sending you on your way.¡± An Jing brought his fingers together, then swiped forward. ¡°Puchi!¡± A sword light emitted from his fingertips, then floated to Chu Huai¡¯s neck. ¡°Gurgle¨C¡± Chu Huai was about to cry out in alarm, but then felt his entire body weaken; instinctively, he touched his neck and found it covered in blood. ¡°Blood¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t have imagined that, while he had survived an attack by a master of the Demon Sect in this villa before, today, unsuspecting, a man in a black robe would enter and kill him. ¡°Thump!¡± Chu Huai¡¯s body stiffened, then heavily collapsed to the floor. An Jing ended his sin-filled life and glanced around the room, sighing. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The next instant, his figure appeared above the flying eaves. ¡°Your swordsmanship must have just entered the Fifth Realm, right?¡± Lou Xiangzhen narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered. During the day, he had discerned that the Ghost Swordsman in front of him was in the Fifth Realm, but that move of using a finger as a sword made him realize the true depth of An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship, which must have just entered the Fifth Realm. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± An Jing nodded, acknowledging. Lou Xiangzhen, puzzled, said, ¡°It¡¯s really strange, your cultivation is only at the Earth Flower Realm, yet your swordsmanship is so high¡­¡± He had to admit that the Ghost Swordsman his junior brother admired indeed had some skill, first the Thousand-year-old Black Python guarding him, and then the swordsmanship of the Fifth Realm, but these, in his view, were not enough to contend against Xiao Qianqiu. Especially since the Thousand-year-old Black Python was an external influence. As for what Jiang Sanjia mentioned about Qi destiny, Lou Xiangzhen felt these things were intangible, and he did not believe in them much. An Jing did not speak, just stood on the flying eaves looking down at the still calm villa below, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Chu Huai was dead, but so far, no one had noticed. Lou Xiangzhen asked in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯ve practiced the Hundred-step Flying Sword, which layer have you reached now?¡± An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°The eighth layer.¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Really, the eighth layer?¡± Jiang Sanjia had described in his letter how he had met the Ghost Swordsman; the two had only known each other for six months, and the Ghost Swordsman had not had the Hundred-step Flying Sword for long, yet had reached the eighth layer? In the entire world, no one knew better than he how formidable the sword technique of the Hundred-step Flying Sword was. Reaching the eighth layer in just six months was nearly impossible. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had no time to practice,¡± An Jing responded somewhat regretfully. The Hundred-step Flying Sword was a Heavenly Martial Level martial arts technique, much more difficult to master than a True Martial Level technique. Plus, since getting married, he indeed hadn¡¯t had much time at night to delve into martial arts, causing the progress of the Hundred-step Flying Sword to be very slow, especially now that it had stalled at the eighth layer. Lou Xiangzhen: ¡°??¡± In his opinion, what the Ghost Swordsman said could not possibly be true; it had taken him three years to reach the eighth layer, and yet this Ghost Swordsman was claiming to have nearly not practiced and reached the eighth layer in half a year. How could that be possible? An Jing subconsciously asked, ¡°Senior, how long did it take you to reach the eighth layer?¡± Lou Xiangzhen sighed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s been a few days, because my master only gave me the first eight layers of the sword manual, he didn¡¯t give me the rest.¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­..¡± Both of them remained silent, falling into a brief moment of silence. Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°Should we also kill Chu Nanying from Jiangnan Dao?¡± An Jing looked up, his hands clasped behind his back, ¡°This person took over as the Daoist Master of Jiangnan Dao during the year of the great disaster, and he has contributed significantly here, besides that unfilial son, he is otherwise not bad¡­¡± In the third year of Xingping, Jiangnan Dao experienced a great disaster, a plague. At that time, Jiangnan Dao was a mess, like hell on earth, leaving a deep impression on An Jing. After Chu Nanying came to this place, he made considerable achievements, and the development of Jiangnan Dao over the decades was indeed due to his hard work. People are sometimes complex. Chu Nanying was indeed a character, but he made an unforgivable mistake regarding the matter of Chu Huai. However, killing Chu Huai and killing Chu Nanying are two different matters in terms of impact. Chu Nanying is the Daoist Master of Jiangnan Dao, and his status is extraordinary. A sharp gleam appeared in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes, ¡°I have also heard. Among the Nine Daos of Great Yan, Chu Nanying is indeed regarded as a clear stream, but this has also made it difficult for him to advance in his career.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± An Jing prepared to leave the Linhu Lake Villa. After all, Chu Huai¡¯s death would soon be discovered, and he did not want to make things worse. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Lou Xiangzhen pondered for a while. An Jing curiously said, ¡°Senior Lou, please feel free to speak.¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°Your cultivation is still at the Earth Flower Realm, how long until you reach the Heavenly Flower Realm?¡± An Jing responded, ¡°It¡¯s still a distance away.¡± He had not been at the Earth Flower Realm for long. Although cultivating the Ghost Valley Heart Method to the Second Profound had enhanced his cultivation somewhat, he was still lacking some accumulation. On this journey to find Zhao Qingmei, he planned to use the Earth Book to find some heavenly materials and earthly treasures or other opportunities to rapidly increase his strength. Lou Xiangzhen narrowed his eyes, feigning profundity, ¡°I know a method that could instantly elevate you to the Heavenly Flower Realm.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, ¡°Senior, please tell.¡± He was currently at the Earth Flower Realm, but when facing a master of the Heavenly Flower Realm, he was very competitive. However, if he faced a Half-step Grandmaster, he was at his wit¡¯s end. If he could reach the Heavenly Flower Realm, he would have the strength to fight even a Half-step Grandmaster. Moreover, for anyone, advancing from Earth Flower to Heavenly Flower was a significant enhancement. Lou Xiangzhen spoke slowly, ¡°Have you heard of the Golden Pill?¡± ¡°Golden Pill!?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh. If it was some obscure secret, he might not have heard of it, but Jiang Sanjia had once mentioned this Golden Pill to him. It was concocted by an extraordinary person from the Great Zhou, comprising nine pieces in total, which upon consumption could instantly cause Three Flowers Unification, elevating one from Half-step Grandmaster to Grandmaster Realm. ¡°It seems my junior brother has told you,¡± Hearing this tone, Lou Xiangzhen knew that Jiang Sanjia must have discussed it with the Ghost Swordsman, and continued, ¡°This Golden Pill was concocted by that extraordinary person using a unique method. Initially, it used many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, including some rare hundred-year-old items, and failed three times. It was only on the fourth attempt that he successfully concocted a batch.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Failed before?¡± Jiang Sanjia had not mentioned to him that the extraordinary person from the Great Zhou Dynasty had ever failed in concocting this elixir. ¡°Indeed, he failed,¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded and said, ¡°I think this extraordinary person is very likely related to the Zhenyi Sect.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Mystical Sect is divided into three, Ghost Valley inherited the Divination Swordsmanship, Daluo inherited the medical and life Dao, and Zhenyi Sect received the Alchemy Dao. When that extraordinary person of the Great Zhou Dynasty concocted the elixirs, if he wasn¡¯t a person of Zhenyi Sect, then he was a reclusive person of Mystical Sect, definitely not ordinary.¡± An Jing nodded upon hearing this. Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°That extraordinary person from the Great Zhou Dynasty has long passed, so we need not mention him any further. However, a few of those Golden Pills are still remaining in this world, surviving the changes of time. Their effect might not be as initial, but to solidify your Heavenly Flower, I think it shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± Elixirs are made from the essence of flora, and even if properly stored, some of the essence will leak over time. An Jing said, ¡°Senior Lou means to suggest that I find this Golden Pill and consume it, and in an instant, it will solidify my Heavenly Flower?¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly, ¡°Exactly.¡± An Jing laughed bitterly, ¡°But I have no idea where this Golden Pill is, and countless people in the martial world are searching for it. How could I possibly find it?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The Golden Pill was indeed valuable; otherwise, Liu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t have imprisoned Jiang Sanjia in the dungeon to extort the location of the Golden Pill. Liu Qingshan commanded tens of thousands of members in the Cao Gang and yet couldn¡¯t find the Golden Pill. How could he possibly succeed? Lou Xiangzhen chuckled and said, ¡°Since I¡¯ve told you about it, naturally I know the whereabouts of this Golden Pill. It depends on whether you have the courage to obtain it.¡± ¡°Courage?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows, ¡°Senior, please continue.¡± Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Heartbeat Murderous Sword Intent Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Heartbeat Murderous Sword Intent Lou Xiangzhen thought for a moment and said, ¡°You should know about Nanhua Palace, right?¡± Nanhua Palace!? Upon hearing this, An Jing began to think rapidly; he naturally knew of it. In the Great Yan, Nanping Dao neighbored the territory of the Southern Barbarians, thereby boasting numerous majestic, towering mountain ranges with countless famous mountains, among which the most famous one was called Nanhua Mountain. Rumors had it that this mountain soared into the clouds, ranking as the tallest under the heavens. Standing atop it, one could overlook all the realms of mankind. During the time of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was a sect on Nanhua Mountain known as the Nanhua Sect. This sect was considered first-rate in the world at the time, boasting a legacy nearly a thousand years old, with strength on par with the likes of the Zhenyi Sect of that era. Later, there was great chaos under the heavens; the Nine Kingdoms vied for supremacy, the local rulers co-opted Jianghu forces to strengthen themselves, leading to the division and continuous confrontations and killings within Jianghu. At that time, the Nanhua Sect supported one of the most significant princely states, South Shu, but the ruler of South Shu did not harbor great ambition and only wished to secure a peaceful corner defended by hard-to-surpass passes, content to rule as the King of Shu. However, the Sect Master of the Nanhua Sect was indeed of the radical faction, wholeheartedly seeking to vie for supremacy with South Shu and thus strengthen the Nanhua Sect to dominate the entire Jianghu. At this time, Great Yan was robust, having swallowed three nations and seemingly poised to sweep across the world. The countries formed alliances against the mighty cavalry of Great Yan. The Sect Master of the Nanhua Sect even went personally to the allied camps, standing guard close to the Marshal of Yue Country. This was not just a struggle among nations but also a fight within Jianghu, involving top Jianghu forces including the Zhenyi Sect, the Demon Sect, the Nanhua Sect, and the Lifeless Sect. In one major battle, the Sect Master of the Nanhua Sect slew several high-rank experts from the Zhenyi Sect but was ultimately surrounded and severely wounded by the experts of the Zhenyi Sect and the Yu Heng Sword Sect. Furthermore, at that time, Youfeng Valley and the Blue River Sect turned coats during the battle, and Great Yan¡¯s unmatched iron cavalry broke into the city, crushing the military camp of the five-nation alliance. The Five-Nation Alliance collapsed in moments, severely weakened, and their national strength gradually declined; this battle definitively showcased the momentum of Great Yan, causing other nations to tremble in fear and anxiety. In the following decade or so, Great Yan began to recover its vitality, gradually annexing the other five nations. The first target of the Great Yan iron cavalry heading south was South Shu. Historical records describe the King of South Shu being so frightened by the news of the approaching Great Yan iron cavalry that he fled barefoot in the night, loudly calling for protection, even having the Forbidden Army guard by his dragon couch while he slept. The Great Yan iron cavalry swept through like a storm and quickly besieged the capital of South Shu. The ruler of South Shu had already given up and wanted to surrender, while the Nanhua Sect was in favor of war, waiting for aid from the other four countries. Amidst this disunity, South Shu was ultimately annihilated. The Nanhua Sect too was completely eradicated, turned to ashes. The books and martial arts on Nanhua Mountain were thoroughly plundered by the Great Yan Royal Family, but the architectural complex of the Nanhua Sect was still preserved on the mountain. After the establishment of Great Yan, various sects wanted to establish gateways on Nanhua Mountain, which was full of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and widely recruit disciples. However, Great Yan had not issued a Mountain Opening Order. It was not until over a hundred years ago that the increasingly powerful Seven Evils Sect wanted to relocate their sect gate, and the Sect Master of the Seven Evils Sect proposed this request to the Human Emperor at the time. At the same time, the Unrivaled Palace also coveted the gateway of Nanhua Mountain. The Human Emperor devised a plan and issued a Mountain Gate Order. This Mountain Gate Order had only a twenty-year usage right. Representatives from the Seven Evils Sect and the Unrivaled Palace were to compete, and whoever won would gain the right to use Nanhua Mountain for twenty years. Since then, the centuries-old struggle between the two major sects began. However, the Unrivaled Palace won only the first time; over the past century, they had not won a single competition, so the Seven Evils Sect had occupied Nanhua Mountain for hundreds of years already. With slight hesitation, An Jing said, ¡°I naturally know this. What does the golden pill have to do with Nanhua Palace?¡± Lou Xiangzhen slowly said, ¡°Within a stone statue in the library of Nanhua Palace, there lies a golden pill.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows, shocked. That a golden pill was hidden within a stone statue of Nanhua Palace¡ªwho could have expected that? Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°This golden pill was concealed by a master of Nanhua Palace, originally prepared for his progeny. However, the Great Yan iron cavalry arrived too quickly, and he never managed to retrieve the golden pill¡­¡± An Jing suddenly realized, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°My junior brother instructed me to retrieve this golden pill for you.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing, his eyes bearing a trace of depth, ¡°But I want to see your strength and tactics.¡± Now, Nanhua Palace was managed by the Seven Evils Sect. What kind of force is the Seven Evils Sect!? In the Great Yan Martial World, the Seven Evils Sect is a sect whose strength surpasses its fame. Additionally, because the experts of this sect are exceptionally low-key, few in Jianghu mention this sect. But among the true masters of Jianghu, this Seven Evils Sect is a sect no weaker than the seven major sects. In their sect, they cultivate the Seven Evils and breed various toxic gu, incredibly sinister and ruthless, not in the least inferior to the Five Poison Sect. It is rumored that the Seven Evils Sect originated from the Southern Barbarians and even today maintains myriad connections with the large clans of the Southern Barbarians. This is also the reason the Human Emperor is on guard against the Seven Evils Sect. Initially, he wanted the Unrivaled Palace to act as a check against the Seven Evils Sect, but the Unrivaled Palace was not a match for the Seven Evils Sect and had always been suppressed by them. To date, the Unrivaled Palace had only managed the usufruct of Nanhua Mountain for twenty years, and if not for the support of the Court, the Unrivaled Palace might have been eliminated from Jianghu long ago. Latterly, the Seven Evils Sect has been behaving properly, exceptionally restrained. Generations of Human Emperors have gradually lost their wariness, yet the Seven Evils Sect has quietly grown vastly in strength, already not inferior to the other major sects overtly. Others might not know these secretive messages, but both Lou Xiangzhen and Jiang Sanjia were well aware of them. In a letter that Jiang Sanjia sent to Lou Xiangzhen, he mentioned retrieving the golden pill for An Jing to help his cultivation reach the Heavenly Flower Realm. However, Lou Xiangzhen was not willing to make his move so easily; he wanted to gauge the strength of the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Is the Seven Evils Sect very dangerous?¡± An Jing inquired. Lou Xiangzhen indifferently responded, ¡°For me, it¡¯s merely like reaching into a bag to retrieve something.¡± An Jing nodded slightly without uttering a word. Lou Xiangzhen was at the Grandmaster Realm, and with extremely high swordsmanship and profound strength, there were very few in the world who could match him. Nanping Dao was next to Jiangnan Dao, and going there might delay some time, which was why An Jing was hesitant. But enhancing his strength was also of paramount importance at the moment. With a hint of amusement in his eyes, Lou Xiangzhen thought that although the Seven Evils Sect was quite powerful, it naturally couldn¡¯t compare to the Zhenyi Sect. If the Ghost Swordsman was afraid of this challenge, how would he face the overwhelming power of the Zhenyi Sect? ¡°Since it¡¯s something in the bag, let¡¯s make a trip then,¡± An Jing softly said. Hearing this, Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Good.¡± ¡­.. The next day, at the Daoist Mansion in Lijiang City. The corpse of Chu Huai was laid out in the main hall, covered with a brand-new white cloth. ¡°Huai¡¯er!¡± Chu Nanying hurried in and upon seeing the body under the sheet of white cloth, felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his body trembling violently. Following behind him was a middle-aged man clad in armor, none other than Qiu Dekun, the commanding officer of the Jiangnan Dao army. By the side of the corpse, Cui Yong¡¯s complexion was as white as ghost; he couldn¡¯t believe that in just a brief moment he had been away, Chu Huai had been murdered so silently, with no traces of Qi mechanism to be found. Chu Nanying, trembling, lifted the white cloth, and Chu Huai¡¯s face came into view. Streams of old tears flowed down his cheeks. ¡°Cui Yong¡­¡± ¡°Your subordinate is here,¡± Cui Yong hastily replied. Chu Nanying in a low voice asked, ¡°What exactly happened here?¡± Hearing this, Cui Yong quickly recounted the events of the previous night, naturally omitting the real purpose Chu Huai had sent him out for, and mentioned just buying some pastries and items instead. Chu Nanying¡¯s voice sounded slightly hoarse, ¡°Cui Yong, tell me the truth.¡± Although he rarely interfered with Chu Huai, he knew his son¡¯s character well¡ªwhy would he suddenly crave pastries in the middle of the night? ¡°This¡­¡± Cui Yong immediately hesitated. ¡°Speak.¡± Chu Nanying¡¯s words were not forceful but carried a hint of weariness. ¡°Sigh.¡± Cui Yong sighed, then eventually revealed the recent actions of Chu Huai. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I knew his nature was unchangeable.¡± Chu Nanying, upon hearing this, heaved a heavy sigh, ¡°Dekun, do you think I¡¯ve been too indulgent with him?¡± Qiu Dekun spoke softly, ¡°Young Master Huai lost his mother at a young age, and the time spent with the Daoist Master was also sparse, making some eccentric behaviors somewhat normal, yet not deserving of death¡­¡± ¡°Not deserving of death?¡± Chu Nanying muttered to himself sarcastically, then looked at the sword wound on Chu Huai¡¯s neck. The sword mark was only as thin as a line; the blood on it had been completely wiped clean, and without extremely keen eyesight, one would not have noticed it at all. The next moment, Chu Nanying felt his heart begin to pound rapidly, and then his complexion turned flush red. ¡°Thump!¡± ¡°Thump!¡± His heartbeats grew even more intense, and his blood crazily surged throughout his body. Chu Nanying stepped backward repeatedly, then clutched his chest tightly with both hands. ¡°Thump, thump, thump, thump!¡± The heartbeats became increasingly fierce, like the beating of a drum, and Chu Nanying¡¯s complexion also turned the color of liver. ¡°Be careful!¡± Qiu Dekun, seeing this, shouted out. Hearing the shout, Chu Nanying slowly came to his senses, then began to gasp for air heavily. At that moment, he felt as if he had walked out from the Ghost Gate itself, harboring a sense of surviving a calamity. ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± Qiu Dekun hurriedly asked. ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± Chu Nanying pointed at the wound on the neck. ¡°Don¡¯t look, this might be residual Sword Intent!¡± Qiu Dekun hurriedly said. ¡°Sword Intent!?¡± The surrounding crowd¡¯s expressions dramatically changed, and they dared not look further at the fine lines on Chu Huai¡¯s neck. Sword Intent, only the top swordsmen can leave behind traces of residual Sword Intent when they strike. Chu Nanying knew about Sword Intent and had seen many swordsmen¡¯s Sword Intent, including Lin Yiyang¡¯s, but he had never seen such a bizarre Sword Intent before. It could even control his heartbeat, causing his blood to boil. If it weren¡¯t for Qiu Dekun¡¯s loud shout just now, he might have become a corpse by now. Chu Nanying muttered to himself, ¡°Dekun, is there a Sword Intent in this world that can control others¡¯ heartbeats?¡± ¡°Control the heartbeat?¡± Qiu Dekun heard this and shook his head, ¡°Such a bizarre Sword Intent, I have never heard of it.¡± Cui Yong and the other experts also shook their heads repeatedly. Sword Intent is not Sword Skill; it¡¯s just the true essence of Sword Dao left behind by a swordsman, and it has no lethal force. Even the Sword Intent left by Lin Yiyang, one of the five great Sword Immortals, only carries a magnificent momentum and cannot harm a person. Chu Nanying did not speak; he knew that whoever had silently killed Chu Huai must be a master. Just then, the sound of gongs and drums and the cracking of firecrackers came from outside, generating a lot of noise. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chu Nanying asked. ¡°I¡¯ll go out and check.¡± Cui Yong hurriedly went outside. Qiu Dekun asked, ¡°Sir, should we start searching Lijiang City now? I feel the murderer hasn¡¯t gone far¡­..¡± Chu Nanying silently stared at the body in front of him, and after a long while, he said, ¡°Dekun, do you think I should search for the murderer?¡± Qiu Dekun¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed as he said, ¡°Murder to repay a life, debts to be paid; these are only natural.¡± ¡°Murder to repay a life?¡± Chu Nanying gave a bitter laugh, ¡°Then how many people did Huai¡¯er kill? How can I repay so many people¡¯s lives?¡± ¡°This¡­.¡± Chu Nanying continued, ¡°The one who actually killed Huai¡¯er is not someone else; it¡¯s me. If not for my poor parenting, how could he have ended up this way?¡± ¡°Sir¡­..¡± Before long, Cui Yong hurriedly ran back in. Chu Nanying, staring at the body, numbly asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Cui Yong swallowed and said, ¡°It¡¯s the people of Lijiang City; every household is celebrating¡­¡± ¡°Celebrating?¡± Chu Nanying was stunned and asked, ¡°Celebrating what?¡± Cui Yong cautiously said, ¡°Celebrating the young master¡¯s death¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Chu Nanying suddenly froze, then burst out laughing after a long pause. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The laughter stopped abruptly as a jet of blood spurted out; Chu Nanying¡¯s body heavily fell to the ground. ¡°Daoist Master!¡± ¡°Master!¡± ¡­¡­ East Lin Road, Sky Cave Mountain, Sky Scraping Cave. Sky Cave Mountain, one of the five famous mountains of Great Yan, is known for its rugged, steep trails as sharp as swords, a place rarely visited for leisure. However, it is very famous in Jianghu. It is because this place conceals a peerless master, the Sky Scraping Hermit. This individual has extremely high cultivation, ranking fifth on the Dragon List in Jianghu, and he keeps a unique exotic beast, the Spirit Seeking Mouse. The Spirit Seeking Mouse can locate a person¡¯s tracks through their Qi mechanism. Yu Huai, the Great True Master, led his two disciples and arrived in front of the Sky Scraping Cave at Heavenly Cave Mountain. ¡°Master, does this Sky Scraping master really live deep in these mountains?¡± asked Song Nian, who was standing by his side. Song Nian was originally a disciple of the Infinite Daoist Temple but had later been taken in by the Great True Master Yu Huai. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Yu Huai, the Great True Master, shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with this Sky Scraping master either.¡± Song Nian muttered quietly, ¡°Such deep forests with no village ahead and no shop behind, how could someone without great perseverance cultivate in seclusion here? It seems this Sky Scraping master is indeed a distinguished individual.¡± ¡°Who goes there!?¡± Just then, a cold shout rang out. Shortly after, a graceful and seductive woman appeared before the three of them. Yu Huai, the Great True Master, clasped his hands together and said, ¡°I am Yu Huai from the Zhenyi Sect, here to visit Master Sky Scraping.¡± ¡°The Great True Master Yu Huai of the Zhenyi Sect?¡± The beautiful woman¡¯s brows relaxed slightly, and then she said, ¡°Please come inside.¡± As she spoke, the beautiful woman twisted her slender waist and walked toward the cave with lotus steps, every movement radiating charm that irresistibly ignited desire. Yu Huai, the Great True Master, kept his eyes straightforward, whereas the two disciples beside him blushed and began to experience rapid heartbeats. Walking into the cave, they discovered it was brightly lit; the three of them realized the cave was luxuriously decorated with tables, chairs, paintings, bookshelves, flower vases, among other items. Moreover, several beautiful women stood to the side, each with a spring-like look in their eyes and smiles on their lips. ¡°Please come inside,¡± the beautiful woman gestured as she moved forward. The cave meandered and was divided into several rooms, each arranged and decorated meticulously and tastefully. This was hardly a cave; it was clearly a mansion inside the mountain. After a short while, the group arrived at the entrance of a quiet room. ¡°Master, Yu Huai, the Great True Master from the Zhenyi Sect has arrived,¡± the beautiful woman said respectfully to the quiet room. ¡°I know,¡± came a dry and unpleasant voice from inside. ¡°Click!¡± ¡°Click!¡± Shortly after, the stone door rose, and a figure appeared before the three of them. Not tall, about the size of a seven- or eight-year-old child, with an ugly face, the person wore a white robe that seemed completely out of place. It was a dwarf! Song Nian was greatly surprised in his heart, never expecting the Sky Scraping master to be such an ugly dwarf. Yu Huai, however, remained composed and clasped his fists, ¡°Yu Huai pays respects to Master Sky Scraping.¡± Master Sky Scraping said with a forced smile, ¡°No need for formalities, I received Brother Ling¡¯s letter. Before I consider leaving the mountains, I have a few questions.¡± Yu Huai, the Great True Master, nodded, ¡°Please ask, Master Sky Scraping.¡± Before coming, he had already learned about Master Sky Scraping¡¯s temperament from Ling Yuanjing. Master Sky Scraping asked, ¡°Has the Ghost Swordsman reached the Grandmaster Realm?¡± Yu Huai, the Great True Master, clasped his fists, ¡°His strength is inconsistent, but at most, he is at the Half-step Master Realm, certainly not a Grandmaster.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Master Sky Scraping nodded slightly, then continued, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, how are your preparations going?¡± Due to the Spirit-Seeking Rat, many people in the Martial World had sought his intervention, but his first condition was never to confront anyone from the Grandmaster Realm, and the second was that he must receive benefits beforehand. Without these two conditions met, he would not make an effort. ¡°Here are three Hundred Yuan Pills.¡± Yu Huai, the Great True Master, took out a porcelain bottle and then threw it to Master Sky Scraping. ¡°Good.¡± Master Sky Scraping took the porcelain bottle, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light. Hundred Yuan Pills were renowned for being potent healing holy medicines that could regenerate flesh and mend bones, rumored even to revive the dying. This elixir, crafted by the Zhenyi Sect, required a massive amount of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, with only two batches produced every thirty years, making a single pill exceedingly difficult to obtain. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Master Sky Scraping chuckled, ¡°In that case, I will accompany the Great True Master Yu Huai to Jiangnan Dao.¡± Seeing this, the beautiful woman beside him squat down, her eyes showing a hint of reluctance, ¡°My lord, how long will your journey be before you return?¡± Gently stroking the beautiful woman¡¯s jade leg, Master Sky Scraping, his ugly face contorted into a grimace more pained than a cry, said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as soon as I find the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s whereabouts, I will return immediately.¡± ¡°Then I will wait in the cave mansion for my lord to return triumphantly.¡± Her eyes filled with allure, the beautiful woman teased with a playful smile. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Trouble Arises at the Foot of Nanhua Mountain Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Trouble Arises at the Foot of Nanhua Mountain Nanping Dao, outside Nanhua City. Nanhua City is only thirty li from Nanhua Mountain. Although the city is not large, it thrives as it sits under Nanhua Mountain. An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen rode the Thousand-year-old Black Python all night and arrived in Nanping Dao¡¯s territory after three days of travel, and it took them another two days to reach the base of Nanhua Mountain. Upon entering Nanping Dao, they could feel the temperature gradually rising. The attire of the people on the streets also changed, with more colors compared to the monochromatic styles of Jiangnan Dao, and there were fewer refugees and beggars along the way. It¡¯s important to note that Nanping Dao is considered very poor among the nine daos of Great Yan, and its geographical location at the edge next to the Southern Barbarians makes it a mixed and tumultuous area, with the Great Yan Court having relatively weaker control here. Along the way, they even saw a few Southern Barbarians merchants wearing strange attire with various bizarre weapons at their waist and a lean stature, slightly different in appearance from the citizens of Great Yan. Next to a small hill, the Thousand-year-old Black Python coiled itself on the ground. An Jing leaned against the back of the Black Python, playing with a paperman in his hand, shouting loudly, ¡°Are you done yet?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Soon, Lou Xiangzhen shook his hands, walked out of the bushes, and said with a dark face, ¡°This is supposed to be a pleasurable affair, but your rushing made it less enjoyable for me.¡± An Jing smiled and said, ¡°I was just worried that you might have had an accident since Nanping Dao is filled with many mountains, including some miasmatic and venomous insects.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and then looked puzzled at the paperman in An Jing¡¯s hands, ¡°Who are you in contact with?¡± He was well aware of the Ghost Valley Paperman and could also make them himself, but ever since he retired from Jianghu, he had destroyed all his papermen, leaving only Jiang Sanjia¡¯s contact paperman. However, they hardly ever contacted each other. All the way from Jiangnan Dao, Lou Xiangzhen often saw An Jing playing with the paperman. ¡°I¡¯m communicating with my wife.¡± An Jing put away the paperman and sighed deeply. He did not know when he would see his wife again; this trip to Nanping Dao was going to delay them further, and he hoped he could find her before she returned to Jiangnan Dao. An Jing still didn¡¯t understand why that Mister Jiang wanted to kill him. But one thing he was sure of was that Mister Jiang definitely did not know he was the Ghost Swordsman. Had he unintentionally offended this master? ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes lit up; he hadn¡¯t thought that the paperman could also be used for communication between the two. An Jing glanced at Lou Xiangzhen and asked, ¡°Elder Lou, what do you think of this method?¡± ¡°Indeed not bad.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly and said, ¡°If I were to use it, I¡¯d have to mark the paperman to tell them apart; otherwise, it would be too confusing since there are so many¡­.¡± An Jing smiled outwardly, but inside, he didn¡¯t believe Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words at all. Old Man Li, when young, was also a handsome and imposing man; however, Lou Xiangzhen always seemed like a sleazy old man no matter how one looked at him. Moreover, their time spent together had taught An Jing that although Lou Xiangzhen was a Grandmaster, he was an extremely unreliable talker who always had to compete over everything. If An Jing ate one roast chicken, he insisted on eating two; if An Jing drank one pot of wine, he insisted on drinking two¡­. It seemed as if he never wanted to lose in anything, and he wasn¡¯t targeting others, just him. An Jing urged the Thousand-year-old Black Python to open its mouth. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A streak of cold light emerged, and then the Evil Suppressing Sword turned into a beam of cold light and landed in his palm. Blood was still flowing on the blade. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Just then, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly, ¡°This must be the Evil Suppressing Sword, right?¡± ¡°Yes, this is the Evil Suppressing Sword,¡± An Jing nodded. His acquisition of the Evil Suppressing Sword was no secret in Jianghu, and there was no need to hide it from Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen somersaulted onto the head of the Thousand-year-old Black Python and said gravely, ¡°Lend me this sword for a look.¡± ¡°Here.¡± An Jing directly handed the Evil Suppressing Sword to Lou Xiangzhen, knowing that since the sword was spiritually bonded to him, it would only be an ordinary treasure sword when used by anyone else. Lou Xiangzhen extended his fingers, as if he was caressing the blade, then touched the blood on it, soon exclaimed, ¡°What strange blood this is, it doesn¡¯t look like human blood at all.¡± An Jing asked doubtfully, ¡°Could it be that even our senior doesn¡¯t know what kind of blood this is?¡± Originally when he acquired the Evil Suppressing Sword, he had tried to remove the fresh blood on the blade but was completely unable to find a way to clean it off, no matter what he did. Unexpectedly, even Lou Xiangzhen from the Ghost Valley Sect didn¡¯t know the origin of this blood. ¡°Not really sure,¡± Lou Xiangzhen hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, ¡°But this blood is definitely not ordinary. I¡¯ll try now to see if I can draw this fresh blood out of the sword.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± Lou Xiangzhen clapped his hands together, and a surge of True Qi flowed out from his palms. ¡°Sizzle! Sizzle!¡± The next moment, the fresh blood on the sword emitted a strange sound, beginning to divide into countless strands of blood that wrapped around the Evil Suppressing Sword, as if resisting the True Qi from Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°It won¡¯t work.¡± Lou Xiangzhen only tried once before shaking his head and speaking. An Jing felt even more curious in his heart. Why was this blood on the sword unknown to someone like Lou Xiangzhen who was a Grandmaster, and he could not remove it either? What exactly was this blood? Lou Xiangzhen pondered and then said, ¡°This might be the blood of an Exotic Beast, possibly even more ferocious and violent than the Thousand-year-old Black Boa beneath you, but it could also be¡­¡± Speaking to this point, his tone suddenly paused. An Jing also furrowed his brows, his mind involuntarily recalling Grandpa Jiang. Originally, he too had appeared atop Three Temple Mountain and had taken away that mummified corpse. The Evil Suppressing Sword was embedded in that corpse, and he had also mentioned his need to find Undying Blood. Could it be that this blood on the sword was Undying Blood!? At that thought, An Jing was inwardly shaken. According to what Grandpa Jiang had said, this Undying Blood was connected to longevity, something that even top Grandmasters coveted. ¡°Never mind, for now, it¡¯s more important to enhance my own strength.¡± After that, An Jing took over the Evil Suppressing Sword, his mind fully immersing in it as he delved into his Sword Dao. Every top Swordsman¡¯s Sword Intent is unique, each having their own Dao, and An Jing was no exception. Chu Nanying feeling the heartbeat within the Sword Intent was actually the essence of An Jing¡¯s Sword Intent, also marking An Jing¡¯s first attempt at condensing his Sword Intent. However, recently, he felt he had hit a bottleneck. Glancing at Lou Xiangzhen beside him, an idea struck An Jing. Although Lou Xiangzhen was also in the Fifth Realm, his foundation was undoubtedly much deeper than his own. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to seek some advice from him; if he could reach the Sixth Realm sooner, his strength would also increase a lot. ¡°Senior Lou, my Sword Intent seems to have hit some bottlenecks. I wonder if you could give me some guidance.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lou Xiangzhen saw An Jing lowering his stance, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, ¡°Although I dare not speak of other skills, I can give you some pointers on swordsmanship. Show me your Sword Intent first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing nodded, then extended his arm. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± A Sword Light surged towards Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression remained unimpressed; to him, An Jing¡¯s Sword Skill seemed rather bland, the oppressive force of the Fifth Realm¡¯s Sword Intent having no effect. But the next moment, he felt his heart starting to beat rapidly, though very faint and only for an instant, it still disrupted his rhythm. ¡°Crack!¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his arm, dispersing the Sword Light, then his expression changed, ¡°Was that your Sword Intent controlling my heartbeat just now?¡± ¡°Sort of,¡± An Jing admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m still just trying it out, controlling the heartbeat to slay opponents¡­¡± When Lou Xiangzhen heard An Jing¡¯s calm tone, a surge of emotion rose within him. Heartbeat Killing! This Sword Intent was extremely bizarre, almost describable as magical. Especially since a moment ago, he even felt a slight panic. This was truly terrifying. If Ghost Swordsman¡¯s cultivation reached the Grandmaster Realm, and his Sword Skill deepened a bit, Lou Xiangzhen might actually not be his match. In that moment, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s respect for this Ghost Swordsman increased significantly. ¡°Not bad.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s heart trembled, but his face remained utterly calm as he said, ¡°Your Sword Intent and my Peach Blossom Sword Intent are not much different, we could indeed exchange some insights.¡± Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on An Jing¡¯s lips, ¡°That would indeed be excellent.¡± He then began to share his own thoughts on Sword Intent and his understanding of the Sword Dao. Even Lou Xiangzhen felt enlightened by some of these insights and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°May I know who your master is?¡± He naturally recognized Yan Shaoshan, whose strength was in the Heavenly Flower Realm, and who wasn¡¯t a master of cultivating the Sword Dao, so he couldn¡¯t possibly be teaching a Ghost Swordsman of such caliber. ¡°I don¡¯t have a master, I enjoy reading this normally.¡± An Jing took out two books from his bosom and then pulled one out. It was indeed the ¡°Sword Dao Tao General Outline.¡± However, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes were unbearably focused on the other comic book An Jing had. The next moment, An Jing subtly put it away. ¡°The ¡®Sword Dao Tao General Outline¡¯!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen coughed once and said. He was naturally familiar with the ¡°Sword Dao Tao General Outline,¡± as it could be found in any book stall, and was considered a beginner¡¯s book for practicing swordsmanship. An Jing nodded and said, ¡°As the saying goes, governing a great country is like cooking small fish, great joy must come simply, so I believe the deeper Sword Dao is within these basic foundations. I have read this ¡®Sword Dao Tao General Outline¡¯ no less than ten thousand times.¡± His statement was no exaggeration; he had indeed read the booklet that many times, or else An Jing¡¯s Sword Skill would not have reached the Fifth Realm. Lou Xiangzhen, realizing this, responded, ¡°You¡¯re right, the profound Sword Dao is indeed within these basic swordsmanship practices. I have some feelings about your Sword Intent as well, listen and see if they are helpful.¡± Seeing An Jing sharing his understanding of the Sword Dao without any reservation, Lou Xiangzhen did not keep any secrets either. He shared all his insights and understanding of An Jing¡¯s deadly Sword Intent. Upon hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s insights, An Jing experienced a moment of sudden clarity and gained a new layer of perception. An hour later, both of them had reaped significant benefits. Lou Xiangzhen took out a booklet and said, ¡°This is my collection of sword drawings, which contains the insights of my lifetime in Sword Dao; you can take a look.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, Elder Lou.¡± An Jing gratefully said. The sword diagrams, created from the lifetime insights of a swordsman like Lou Xiangzhen, were extraordinarily unique, something truly not accessible to anyone but his direct disciples. Yet, Lou Xiangzhen was willing to let him take a look, which was unquestionably a great token of trust. Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand nonchalantly, ¡°No matter, just remember to return it to me when you¡¯re done, as I need to keep it to find a successor for my Ghost Valley Sect.¡± An Jing¡¯s Sword Intent had also benefited him greatly, and Lou Xiangzhen did not want to take advantage of An Jing. The two chatted leisurely for a while and then made plans to find a place to stay. After five continuous days of rushing, they were quite fatigued. Soon, they spotted what seemed to be an inn up ahead, its large flag whistling in the fierce wind. ¡°Within dozens of miles, this seems to be the only tavern,¡± Lou Xiangzhen stated, relying on his experience. ¡°Let¡¯s spend the night here, and I¡¯ll head into Nanhua Mountain later tonight to check out the situation,¡± An Jing suggested before making the Thousand-year-old Black Python conceal itself and following Lou Xiangzhen into the inn. Upon entering, the inn felt peculiar. Night had fallen, and the inn was dimly lit, eerily quiet, resembling the mystic ambiance of the Underworld, which sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Candles burned around the room, casting faint light, the air was damp and cold, carrying a hint of a rotting smell. Observing the surroundings, it felt like countless insects were crawling on one¡¯s skin, creating an unbearable and uncomfortable feeling. ¡°Are you guests here to stop for a meal or to stay overnight?¡± Just then, a woman in her thirties approached. Her dress was peculiar, wearing a hat typical of the Southern Barbarians, and her accent was also slightly different from that of Jiangnan Dao. Her features were charming and vulgar, her body voluptuous, seductively enchanting. ¡°This might be an inn run by people from the Southern Barbarians,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with a faint smile, ¡°Let¡¯s eat something first, then stay overnight.¡± ¡°Good eye, sir,¡± The flamboyant woman grinned and said, ¡°My husband and I are from the Southern Barbarians. It has been seven years now. Yesterday, we received a new batch of our Southern Barbarians¡¯ specialty, king snake. I wonder if you gentlemen would be interested?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°Snake meat?¡± In his impression, snake meat was not particularly delicious; he did not like it much. Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand, ¡°Then let¡¯s have two. I haven¡¯t tasted the Southern Barbarians¡¯ King Python in many years either. Bring up two jars of good wine as well.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The woman revealed a sinister smile and quickly walked toward the counter, ¡°Boss, get some snake meat.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Next to the counter was a one-eyed man whose voice was somewhat unusual. Having said that, he headed toward the kitchen. Lou Xiangzhen sat down and said indifferently, ¡°The King Python is a Southern Barbarian specialty. It is said that adult King Pythons are seven meters long. Their meat is tender and considered a delicacy.¡± An Jing sat down and habitually touched the table top, which was spotlessly clean, impeccably so. Lou Xiangzhen poured himself a cup of tea and said, ¡°The Southern Barbarians were civilized later, and most tribes live deep in the mountains. Some tribes still live primitively to this day. If you have time, you should visit the Southern Barbarians.¡± Through their interactions over the past few days, Lou Xiangzhen had clearly perceived that An Jing lacked experience traveling in Jianghu. A true swordsman is forged through countless bloodshed. A comfortable, tranquil life simply cannot hone a true swordsmanship master. This was Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s understanding. ¡°Come help me sharpen my knife.¡± Soon, a man¡¯s voice came from the kitchen. The enchanting woman nodded at An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen and then headed toward the kitchen. An Jing also got up and took a few steps, peering into the kitchen through a crack. The inn¡¯s floor was very clean, but the kitchen behind was frighteningly dirty. Grease and stains were everywhere; the floor was littered with trash, bits of meat, and bone scraps, the air filled with a strong scent of blood. At that moment, the enchanting woman seemed to sense something and instinctively looked out of the kitchen. The hall outside was empty, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen were sitting at the table having tea and chatting, which made her sigh in relief. The serving was quick, and soon a plate of equally fragrant meat arrived, exuding an irresistible smell. After serving the King Python meat, the enchanting woman left. An Jing glanced at the snake meat, then transmitted his voice, ¡°It¡¯s not poisoned.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded, then picked up his chopsticks and put some snake meat in his mouth. However, he did not chew more than a few bites before frowning deeply and spitting it out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± An Jing asked. ¡°This meat tastes strange¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem like King Python meat, but it¡¯s even more delicious than King Python meat,¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression became exceedingly odd. The two exchanged glances, neither speaking further, not even touching the wine on the table. An Jing casually stirred the meat with bamboo chopsticks and called out loudly, ¡°We are done eating. Is there a place to rest?¡± Upon hearing this, the enchanting woman emerged from the kitchen and asked incredulously, ¡°That fast?¡± An Jing smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, we always eat quickly.¡± The enchanting woman shrugged, wiped her hands on a cloth, and approached them. She bent down to look at the meat on the table and asked in a grave tone, ¡°Sir, does the taste not suit you?¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently at the side, ¡°I have a poor appetite.¡± The enchanting woman stared at them for a moment, then laughed out loud, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take you to your room to rest.¡± The enchanting woman then led An Jing to the back house, which had a row of guest rooms. ¡°All the rooms here have been cleaned. Please,¡± The room felt stuffy and smelled musty, but it was still fairly clean. ¡°That didn¡¯t seem like snake meat.¡± An Jing sat in a chair inside the room, surveying his surroundings as he spoke quietly. ¡°Definitely not.¡± Lou Xiangzhen cautioned, ¡°Let¡¯s rest first. These two have some skill, but they can¡¯t cause any serious trouble. Aren¡¯t you still planning to explore Nanhua Mountain tonight? There are skilled masters in the mountains.¡± An Jing nodded. When the time came, he would take the Thousand-year-old Black Python with him up the mountain. As long as he didn¡¯t encounter a master of the Grandmaster Realm, there would be no danger to his life. The Seven Evils Sect couldn¡¯t even be counted as one of Great Yan¡¯s seven sects, so it was unlikely they had a Grandmaster Realm master. Soon afterward, Lou Xiangzhen returned to his own room. An Jing then took out the sword chart of Lou Xiangzhen and began to study it. At this moment, he was eagerly wanting to enhance his own strength. ¡°Heartbeat Murder¡­.¡± ¡­¡­ Yu State City, Datong Tea House. The night was growing deeper, and Datong Tea House was about to close. The manager of Datong Tea House said to the waiter, ¡°Lai Fu, go pour some leftover food for that little black pup. It truly is a loyal dog.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Hearing this, Lai Fu poured all the leftover food from the kitchen and quickly headed to the door of Jishi Hall. There lay the little black pup at the entrance, drowsy, and seeming to hear the footsteps, it slowly lifted its head to look. ¡°Eat up, poor little fella.¡± Lai Fu looked at the little black pup and shook his head, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s only been about ten days, and it has already lost so much weight.¡± He clearly remembered, when Doctor An¡¯s family was around, this black dog used to jump around so happily and was fattened up nicely, its belly almost touching the ground. Now, in just ten days, the black dog had noticeably lost weight. ¡°Awoo!¡± The little black pup barked at Lai Fu, then slowly approached the food bowl and licked it a few times. Lai Fu, feeling emotional, said, ¡°Life is so unpredictable. Jishi Hall used to be so bustling, and Doctor An and his wife were so kind-hearted, alas!¡± ¡°Even though they are gone, you must take care of yourself.¡± The little black pup licked a bit and then slowly laid down far away, seemingly unwilling to eat more. ¡°Not eating more?¡± Lai Fu couldn¡¯t help but say when he saw this. The little black pup lay listlessly on the ground, paying no attention to Lai Fu. ¡°I¡¯ll just leave this here, eat some more if you want.¡± Lai Fu sighed and then walked away. The little black pup still lay there, its glistening eyes looking into the distance, as if waiting for something. Before long, two sneaky figures appeared not far away. One of them was the bully Song Lin. Song Lin stood in the distance, staring at the little black pup, ¡°That¡¯s the black dog, it¡¯s lost a lot of weight now, somewhat a pity.¡± ¡°Brother Lin, should we really be doing this?¡± A hesitant young man at his side said, ¡°I heard that this dog was left behind by Doctor An. It lies in front of Jishi Hall every day and is a good dog.¡± Since An Jing¡¯s death, the little black pup had been lying at Jishi Hall; passersby were deeply moved, and some even threw food to the little black pup, making it quite renowned. Song Lin slapped the young man on the head, ¡°Others keep a dog and know it¡¯s loyal, I keep you, and when it comes to doing something simple, you can¡¯t even manage that.¡± Am I worse than a dog!? the young man thought to himself, but he dared not speak out loud. ¡°The dog is thin now; the taste might even be better. If it loses more weight, there¡¯ll be no meat left.¡± Song Lin stared at the little black pup, chuckling, ¡°We¡¯ll catch it later and take it to Chef Wang at the Wuyang Tavern. His dog meat is peerless.¡± As he spoke, Song Lin took out a cloth bag from his waist and handed it to the young man. ¡°Okay¡­ okay then.¡± The young man sighed and cautiously approached the little black pup. The little black pup seemed to smell something, its ears twitching as it looked into the distance, seeing a young man with a cloth bag carefully approaching it. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The little black pup suddenly stood alert and began to bark furiously at the young man. ¡°Hurry up, don¡¯t waste time,¡± Song Lin shouted urgently when he saw this, ¡°It would be troublesome if other people come.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The young man, hearing this, opened the cloth bag and charged forward, only to dive into nothing but air, accidentally spilling the leftovers. How clever was the little black one? Seeing the bag open for an instant, it bolted straight for the distance. The young man fell flat, but in the process, he accidentally knocked over the leftover food. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re running!?¡± At this point, Song Lin also rushed over, trying to block the little black one¡¯s path. The little black one sped up, trying to dash between Song Lin¡¯s legs. But Song Lin was quick and nimble, stretching out his hand to grab the little black one¡¯s tail, then smirked triumphantly. ¡°Hahaha, you think you can outsmart me, Song Lin?¡± ¡°Bro Lin is Bro Lin.¡± Seeing this, the nearby youth burst into laughter. ¡°Ouch!¡± Just then, the little black one flipped over and bit Song Lin right on the arm. Song Lin felt a sharp pain and instinctively let go. The little black one rolled on the ground a couple of times before quickly running away into the distance. ¡°Bro Lin, are you okay?¡± the youth hurried over to ask. ¡°Damn it!¡± Song Lin glanced at his wrist; because spring was coming, he had just switched to a thinner shirt, and the little black one had bitten him hard enough to draw blood. ¡°Bro¡­ Bro Lin, you¡¯re not going to get rabies, are you?¡± The youth turned pale upon seeing this. Commoners all knew that being bitten by a dog could either mean nothing or, with bad luck, lead to rabies, which, if untreated, could even result in death. Heard the youth¡¯s words, a chill went down Song Lin¡¯s spine. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± Just then, the little black one stood by the Yu State River bank and, seeing that the two hadn¡¯t followed, began to bark furiously at them. ¡°Motherfucker! This dog is taunting us!¡± Song Lin saw this and seemed ready to breathe fire. A mere dog, daring to challenge him. ¡°Bro Lin, what do we do now?¡± the youth stammered. Song Lin roared, ¡°Are you dumb? Help me get to a doctor. If I can¡¯t be cured, I¡¯ll bite you before I go.¡± Upon hearing this, the youth¡¯s face fell. It was the dog that bit you. If you¡¯re thinking of revenge, shouldn¡¯t you bite the dog? Why bite me? Besides, the dog bit your hand, not your leg; you need help to walk? ¡°Hurry up, hurry up,¡± Song Lin urged. ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± The youth quickly supported Song Lin, and they quickly disappeared into the night. After the two men completely vanished, the little black one, appearing tired, made his way to the doorstep of Jishi Hall and licked the cold leftovers on the ground. ¡­¡­ Nanping Dao, inn. As time slowly passed, it soon reached deep into the night. An Jing was sitting cross-legged on the bed, single-mindedly cultivating, when he suddenly felt something move below him. ¡°The floorboard!?¡± In the darkness, An Jing¡¯s expression remained stoic. With a creaking sound, it seemed like a secret door was opened beneath the bed. Then, faint panting sounds were heard. Before long, the shadow under the bed began to move, and slowly a person in black clothes emerged. An Jing saw it clearly but remained motionless. The man in black carefully straightened up, standing silently by the bed like a ghost, his hand clutching a pitch-black iron hammer. An Jing squinted his eyes, sizing up the other person secretly. Since the man in black was standing with his back to the window, backlit by the light, An could not clearly see his face. However, from his feeling, he had never seen this person before. Though he couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face clearly, An Jing clearly knew the person was smiling ¨C from his wide-open mouth, he could see the ghastly white teeth. The man in black reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to touch An Jing¡¯s face. His hand was black and rough, even his fingernails were black, and carried a strong scent of blood. An Jing could see clearly, and he smelled it clearly too; the odor caused his stomach to churn, nearly making him vomit out the gastric acid. But just as his hand was about to reach An Jing¡¯s face, his right hand wielding the iron hammer suddenly lifted, his mouth curling into a cruel smile as he swung it towards An Jing¡¯s head. That hammer carried a terrifying force. At that moment, An Jing¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open, and his body moved as fast as lightning, grabbing the man¡¯s wrist. ¡°You!¡± The man in black showed an expression of great shock. This man was the innkeeper, and his cultivation had reached the Third Grade, barely considered among the Upper Three Grades. An Jing sneered coldly, his inner strength gathering entirely in his palm. ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± ¡°Aah¨C!¡± The innkeeper only felt an intense, piercing pain, followed immediately by his whole arm being dislocated. He couldn¡¯t help but let out a wail. However, the sound seemed as if it were cut off from the outside; absolutely no noise could be heard outside the room. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± An Jing asked coldly. The innkeeper¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat, ¡°I am a member of the Seven Evils Sect. Today I misjudged; I hope you might grant me a path of life and perhaps form a good connection.¡± He could never have expected that this unremarkable man in a black robe had such high cultivation. With his Third Grade skill, he had almost never failed, yet today he was subdued with just one move. No, it was not even one move. ¡°Too late.¡± At that moment, the door opened, and a figure slowly walked in. It was Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°You¡­¡± The innkeeper felt a chill in his heart upon seeing him, ¡°You killed Elder Zhang?¡± Elder Zhang was of Second Grade, but he had been silently killed by this old man. He had kicked an iron mountain¡­ no, a mountain of iron! ¡°Are you talking about that despicable woman?¡± Lou Xiangzhen spoke indifferently, ¡°If so, she¡¯s already gone below.¡± Despicable woman!? Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit puzzled. Lou Xiangzhen turned towards An Jing, saying, ¡°They must be people of the Seven Evils Sect, this inn must have harmed many people, just kill them all.¡± An Jing nodded, then placed a palm on the innkeeper¡¯s heavenly spirit cover. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud, violent sound was heard, and the innkeeper instantly stopped breathing. An Jing asked, ¡°Senior Lou, did you kill that woman?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly. An Jing, puzzled, said, ¡°She wasn¡¯t planning to do something to you, was she?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression shifted slightly, then he snorted coldly, ¡°Such a filthy woman, wanting to engage with me?¡± An Jing blinked his eyes and then touched his own cheek. Has the world changed? An Jing thought back to the daytime when he had pulled out the ¡°Sword Dao Tao General Outline¡± and a comic book, and recalled Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s peculiar expression. ¡°Elder Lou, you wouldn¡¯t still be a virgin, would you? That¡¯s a real pity for that woman¡¯s graceful figure¡­.¡± An Jing examined Lou Xiangzhen closely. ¡°Nonsense! Utter rubbish! Making things up out of thin air!¡± As if struck by pain, Lou Xiangzhen pointed at An Jing, angrily saying, ¡°If you mention this matter again, I will go to Qing Feng Hall right now and claim tens of thousands of silver.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s face rapidly changed, quite a sight to behold. An Jing felt a jolt in his heart, realizing that he had inadvertently spoken a truth. The two of them stared at each other, neither speaking. Time seemed to stand still. After a long while, An Jing finally soothed, ¡°Elder Lou is highly ethical and pure, untainted by worldly hatred, wholly devoted to the arduous practice of swordsmanship¡ªa true model for our generation.¡± He still needed Lou Xiangzhen to safeguard and guide him; he absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to offend this person at this moment. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression fluctuated, only calming down somewhat after hearing An Jing¡¯s words. An Jing changed the subject, ¡°From what I see, the people from the Seven Evils Sect running this dark inn must have other motives; it seems there¡¯s a tunnel beneath this bed.¡± He vividly remembered that the innkeeper had just run out from this tunnel. ¡°Let¡¯s go down to see, a shady inn in Nanhua City is certainly not ordinary.¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a deep breath, saying, ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking to probe the bottom line of the Seven Evils Sect? This is a good opportunity.¡± An Jing nodded, aware in his heart: this old virgin didn¡¯t want to follow him. Afterward, An Jing quickly prepared himself and opened the secret compartment beneath the bed. Thud! With a crisp sound, An Jing landed on the ground; he looked downward only to find a tunnel half a zhang high. The tunnel was narrow, allowing only one person to pass through; An Jing bent over and walked towards the deeper end of the tunnel. The air inside the tunnel was moist, a mix of stench and mildew, nauseating. An Jing¡¯s brows furrowed, feeling that this place extended very long. The tunnel had many branches, clearly leading to different rooms; An Jing ignored them, focusing on moving deeper. The further he went, the stronger the smell of blood in the air; after slowly advancing for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, the way ahead was blocked, and there was no path forward. An Jing hurried forward and saw that it was an iron door blocking the way; he placed his hand on it, and instantly, a chill spread from the iron door to his palm. It was a coldness that chilled to the bone. He gently pushed, but the iron door did not budge. An Jing took a deep breath, his inner strength circulating due to his injury, and pushed hard again. With a quiet sound, the iron door opened. An Jing didn¡¯t immediately leap forward but quickly retreated a few steps backward, and after seeing no danger, he quietly looked outward. The iron door led to an ice cellar. The ice cellar was not large, narrow and long, and very dim, and in this not-so-large ice cellar, hung more than a dozen garments, hanging like pork on iron hooks; but what was inside the garments was not pork¡ªit was people. Ghastly naked corpses, both male and female, many of which were so mutilated that their flesh had turned eerily pale. This was the first time An Jing had seen such a scene, and he felt a chill surge to his heart, shivering involuntarily. Stupefied, he slowly walked out of the tunnel, staring at the hanging corpses, his heart feeling hairy with dread. The scene was terrifyingly appalling. Suddenly, a black shadow crawled out from among the corpses. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only It was a palm-sized insect, snow-white and translucent, seemingly connected by blood vessels inside. A gu insect!? An Jing saw this and his brow furrowed tightly. ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡± The next moment, a cold shout, sharp like a sword, came from a distance. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 138: The Taboo Sect, Seven Evils Sect Chapter 138: Chapter 138: The Taboo Sect, Seven Evils Sect Hearing this voice, An Jing¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and he looked over. From the dark passage ahead, a tall and burly figure approached, with bushy eyebrows and large eyes, holding a longsword that flickered with a cold light. Around him gathered a strong force qi, majestic like a tide. ¡°How bold of you to dare trespass into the Forbidden Land of the Seven Evils Sect!¡± The tall figure watched An Jing with a cold gaze. ¡°Forbidden Land!?¡± An Jing scoffed coldly, ¡°Using human flesh and blood to feed Gu Insects, this is a major taboo of the Great Yan Court¡­.¡± Clearly, this was a place for raising Gu Insects, and uniquely, the feed was human flesh and blood. The Great Yan Court had strict laws, especially concerning sects that practiced forbidden martial arts. Even the notorious Demon Sect would not dare to use humans to practice martial arts and enhance their cultivation. Cold lights flashed in the large figure¡¯s eyes as he clearly recognized An Jing¡¯s extraordinary strength and said in a low, cold voice, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± As he spoke, his inner strength surged through his meridians, gathering onto the blade. ¡°And who are you?¡± An Jing seemed to ignore him and said faintly. The tall figure¡¯s tone began to slow down, saying, ¡°Second Elder of the Seven Evils Sect, Gou Feng; have you ever heard of him?¡± Gou Feng!? In Jianghu, new masters from the younger generation emerged like carp crossing the river, compounded by some masters who practiced in seclusion and did not gain fame in Jianghu. Therefore, new masters popped up every year in Jianghu. An Jing was unfamiliar with these grand masters of such a vast Jianghu, let alone with an elder from a humble sect like the Seven Evils Sect. However, he could sense that Gou Feng¡¯s cultivation was at the Second Grade Realm. At the peak of Second Grade, he would already be considered a guardian in the Demon Sect, a testament to the extraordinary strength of the Seven Evils Sect. ¡°No.¡± An Jing said indifferently. ¡°No!?¡± A cruel smile appeared on Gou Feng¡¯s lips, ¡°Then that really is a pity.¡± As he spoke, his longsword lifted. ¡°Shi!¡± A cold blade light surged out, too fast to detect. An Jing, from beginning to end, seemed to have not seen the blade light and did not move. Frozen in fear!? Gou Feng smiled even deeper at this. But at the next moment, An Jing¡¯s arm suddenly shot up. Fast! Too fast! Gou Feng completely missed how An Jing moved, as if he was just a gust of wind brushing past the face. ¡°Gu gu!¡± A red line appeared on Gou Feng¡¯s neck, and blood continuously flowed out. Because it was too fast, the smile remained on Gou Feng¡¯s face, creating a bizarre and eerie appearance. ¡°Thud!¡± Soon afterward, the large body heavily fell to the ground, stirring up a wave. The moment Gou Feng¡¯s body fell, the white Gu Insect swiftly crawled over and began to eat the flesh and blood from Gou Feng¡¯s body. As the flesh and blood entered its mouth, the blood lines on the Gu Insect¡¯s body appeared even rounder and more vivid. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing pointed his finger. A cold light heavily struck the Gu insect. ¡°Bang!¡± Blood burst forth, and the Gu insect perished instantly. An Jing stepped forward and rummaged through Gou Feng¡¯s corpse, finding some broken silver and a few manuals on Gu refining, but nothing else. He couldn¡¯t help but look in the direction from which Gou Feng had come. The dark passage ahead, with a hint of icy chill and Yin evil Qi, involuntarily made one¡¯s spine shiver. An Jing¡¯s expression remained calm as he walked forward. The passage was dark and narrow. After walking for about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, he finally saw a glimmer of light ahead. It was an open area with a chair in the center, made entirely of iron, utterly black and looking ancient, already rusty and spotted. Beside the pitch-black chair, there was also a bed and a square platform. On the platform, several jars were placed, looking just like the jars ordinary people use for pickling. However, inside these jars were not vegetables but human internal organs, hearts, lungs, livers, etc., with jars¡¯ mouths coated in fresh and dried blood. Other jars contained chunks of human flesh. At this moment, dense masses of white Gu insects were beside the jars, feeding on the blood nearby. ¡°This Seven Evils Sect¡­¡± An Jing felt a chill surge through his heart upon seeing this. The Seven Evils Sect had secretly killed countless people from the Jianghu to feed these Gu insects. If this matter were to leak out into the Jianghu, it would certainly cause a huge uproar. This kind of evil sect is a forbidden sect within the Great Yan Court, and if discovered, the entire Seven Evils Sect would be wanted by the Xuanyi Guard. Previously, there was a sect called Joyful Union Sect in the Great Yan, which delved into the method of dual cultivation. Originally, the sect recruited both male and female disciples equally, and members within the sect chose partners for dual cultivation. However, after a scheming sect leader came to power, in order to increase his strength, he massively exploited the female disciples of his sect, and after nearly depleting his own disciples, he then turned his attention to other people in the Jianghu. With many experts in Joyful Union Sect setting a bad example, dual cultivation and exploitation became chaotic; not only did members exploit each other but it also spread throughout the Jianghu. The people of the Jianghu suffered as well; once they were exploited by the Joyful Union Sect, their Essence would drain massively, especially since the sect¡¯s female disciples were alluring and skilled, some First Grade Cultivation experts couldn¡¯t withstand the exploitation and their cultivation even regressed. At that time, the Jianghu was in utter chaos, and the overall strength of the Great Yan Martial World declined because of the mess caused by the Joyful Union Sect. What a terrifying matter this was! Since ancient times, the Jianghu and the Court have been intricately linked; if there is trouble in the Jianghu, the Court will surely be affected as well. Seeing this, the Great Yan Emperor could no longer sit idly by. An Imperial Decree was issued, and the Joyful Union Sect instantly became a forbidden sect, with those practicing the Joyful Union Sect methods in the Jianghu becoming prime targets of the Xuanyi Guard. Simultaneously, the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect also declared an order to eradicate the Joyful Union Sect. In no time, both the Great Yan Martial World and the Great Yan Court issued a kill order against the Joyful Union Sect. In just half a month¡¯s time, the Xuanyi Guard breached the Joyful Union Sect¡¯s mountain gate, and its Sect Leader was slain by a great real person of the Zhenyi Sect, with all other skilled fighters within the sect dead, and the younger disciples were eradicated, erasing the sect from the history of the Great Yan. A glimpse into a small part reveals the bigger picture. If the secrets of this Forbidden Land were to be exposed, even if the Seven Evils Sect has formidable strength, it might not withstand the combined siege of the Xuanyi Guard and the Zhenyi Sect. ¡°Maybe not necessarily.¡± An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as currently, the Houjin Dynasty¡¯s momentum was surging, eyeing hungrily, and both the Demon Sect and the Buddhist sect had entered the Great Yan. If the Seven Evils Sect¡¯s strength was significant, other variables might indeed emerge. After all, the current situation was complex and entangled, and no one knew how the mastermind behind the scenes would make their move. Furthermore, it seemed that the Seven Evils Sect had some connections with the Southern Barbarians, which was somewhat puzzling. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s stop thinking about these things. Taking the Golden Pill and leaving this place quickly is what matters most right now.¡± An Jing pondered for a moment and then quickly walked towards the distance. His main purpose for this trip was for that Golden Pill; this was of paramount importance. In the passage, darkness and lack of light prevailed, filled with the stench of blood. He continued walking forward for about the time taken to burn half a stick of incense. Based on his steps, he should have covered a distance of three to four li, and along the path, aside from bloodstains, there were also many bodies and shells of Gu insects. Suddenly, An Jing¡¯s eyebrows twitched sharply as a ladder appeared in front of him. Looking up along the ladder, it stretched upwards continuously, without an end in sight. ¡°Could this secret passage lead to the summit of Nanhua Mountain?¡± An Jing looked up. Above the ground, the Thousand-year-old Black Python coiled at the base of the mountain. The Living Puppet Technique had its limitations; if the distance was too great, it would no longer be under control. Ever since the incident with Elder Jiang, An Jing always maintained a certain distance from the Thousand-year-old Black Python. In the event of a crisis, he could immediately command the Thousand-year-old Black Python to protect himself. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­.¡± An Jing stomped his foot and stepped onto the ladder, rushing upwards. At the same time, the enormous body of the Thousand-year-old Black Python also wound around the mountain of Nanhua as it surged upwards. The huge body twisted around the rocks, moving rapidly without making a sound. ¡°Is this the top of the mountain?¡± Not knowing how much time had passed, An Jing felt that he had arrived at the end of the ladder, his palm touching the exit of the secret compartment. ¡°Thud!¡± An Jing slightly lifted his arm and opened the wooden door of the secret compartment. Moonlight poured down like water, illuminating An Jing¡¯s handsome face while a fresh scent of blood emerged. ¡°Huh?!¡± An Jing was greatly shocked and quickly looked around. He saw that he was in a pitch-black, enclosed room, surrounded not only by Gu Insect shells but also several disheveled corpses. ¡°Has someone gotten here before me!?¡± A chill ran through An Jing¡¯s heart. The corpses in front of him were all killed with a single sword strike, showing that the person was a highly skilled swordsman. In the moment An Jing turned around, a silent blade of light attacked, aiming straight for his throat. Sleeve Sword!? An Jing saw the sword light and his heart chilled instantly. In the Martial World, there were rumors of a top Sword Dao master whose sword attacks were silent and could mask their murderous intent. The swordsmanship was not much different from the Hidden Sword Skill. This sword light was extraordinary. An Jing knew that the person who made the move was formidable and did not dare to be careless at all. He brought his fingers together and faced the oncoming sword light. Bang! The moment the two sword lights collided. Waves of Qi spread out to the surroundings, instantly turning tables, chairs, stools, and corpses into dust. ¡°Who!?¡± An Jing snorted coldly and looked in the direction from which the sword light had surged. In the dark night, a graceful and moving figure stood at the doorway, her hand holding a cold sword that flickered with glimmering frost. ¡°All members of the Seven Evils Sect must die.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was crisp, carrying a hint of cold murderous intent. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Before An Jing could finish his words, the woman¡¯s furious sword light had already attacked. ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss!¡± The sword light danced, drastically dropping the temperature within the entire room, and a compelling chill surged out. An Jing leaped forward, his five fingers reaching out, with light surging behind him in the darkness, shining brightly as he pressed forward towards the oncoming sword light. Brahma Heart Sees Me! This was exactly the Body Refining Martial Arts that An Jing practiced. Although it was only at the Third Layer, it was still of the Heavenly Martial Level Instantly, the air around his palm swirled like ripples, emitting a piercing sound as it broke through the air. The moment the enormous palm surged forward, the sword light wielded by the woman directly shattered and then dissolved into a tide of qi mechanism that disappeared around the room. The woman in black raised her eyebrows and took several steps back towards the earth sphere behind her to steady herself, just as An Jing¡¯s onslaught came sweeping in like raging waves, blocking all paths of retreat. Seeing this, the woman in black was greatly shocked and couldn¡¯t help thinking to herself, ¡°Could there be a Buddhist expert among the tributors of the Seven Evils Sect?¡± Knowing An Jing was extraordinarily strong, she dared not hold back anymore. The sword light that burst forth from the longsword seemed to surge with a chilling cold light. In an instant, the room was filled with nothing but the exploding qi mechanism and the elusive, faintly discernible sword radiance. Nine Yang Divine Finger! Pointing Qiankun! Golden light surged behind An Jing, and then he pointed his finger forward. The Nine Yang Divine Finger, combined with Brahma Heart Sees Me, immediately unleashed a mountainous pressure, and a column of dazzling golden light descended. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Countless streaks of sword light met the golden column. Bang bang bang bang bang! The sword light struck relentlessly and within moments, a crack startlingly appeared on the golden column. Seeing this, the woman in black snorted coldly, and the Human Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower appeared behind her, as her inner strength crazily surged into the sword. A Heavenly Flower Realm expert!? An Jing¡¯s heart stirred when he saw this. He hadn¡¯t expected the expert who suddenly appeared to possess the cultivation of the Heavenly Flower Realm. It was well known in the Jianghu that most experts at the Heavenly Flower Realm were not unknown figures. Because once one reached this realm, hiding was no longer an option. Moreover, the woman was dressed in a nightwalker¡¯s outfit, clearly not wanting to reveal her identity. Boom! The sword light, infused with inner strength, generated numerous strong gusts of wind. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised as his inner strength surged like the tide, and instantly, the golden glow behind him grew even more intense, as dazzling as the harsh sunlight. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss!¡± The sword light struck like a violent storm, fiercely chopping at the golden light and emitting a series of dull sounds. The woman in black looked towards the golden light, then her heart leapt suddenly. In that golden glow, the person in the black robe gradually dispersed his golden light, yet his body remained unflinchingly still, with no sign of any abnormality. ¡°How is this possible?¡± The woman in the black cloak was shocked, understanding her own swordsmanship well enough to know that not even an expert at the Heavenly Flower Realm would dare to stand still and take on her blade. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A chilling light surged forward. ¡°Not good!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The woman in black hurriedly moved away to the distance. The Evil Suppressing Sword came rushing forward, slicing directly across her back, and her clothing tore open, revealing a slash mark on her snowy back. An Jing gripped the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly and said indifferently, ¡°I am not a person from the Seven Evils Sect, it seems you have targeted the wrong person.¡± ¡°The Evil Suppressing Sword!?¡± The woman in black recognized the Evil Suppressing Sword at a glance, a serious look appearing in her eyes, ¡°Could it be that you are the Ghost Swordsman?¡± Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Thousand-Year-Old Black Python Swallows the Wizard Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Thousand-Year-Old Black Python Swallows the Wizard An Jing looked at the woman in surprise; he had not expected her to recognize the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand at first glance. The Evil Suppressing Sword was forged by the Emperor Yan of the Great Zhou, seen only by the masters of the Great Zhou Royal Family. Although copies of its blueprint had circulated in later times, the ability to recognize the Evil Suppressing Sword at a glance was extraordinary. An Jing, touching the hilt of the sword in his hand, said indifferently, ¡°I do not know you, so why did you attack me fatally upon meeting?¡± ¡°It seems that this must have been a misunderstanding,¡± said the woman in black, her eyebrows lifting slightly. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± An Jing sneered, ¡°Your ¡®misunderstanding¡¯ almost cost me my life.¡± The woman in black laughed lightly: ¡°You jest, sir. It was your Evil Suppressing Sword flying towards me from afar that nearly ended my life. Since we both have other purposes for coming to Nanhua Mountain, why waste time on such trivial matters?¡± An Jing heard this but showed no change on his face, though he was pondering deeply in his heart. His main purpose for coming to Nanhua Mountain today was for the Golden Pill, and there was no need to waste time with the woman before him. Seeing that An Jing did not speak, the woman in black continued, ¡°If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely visit to apologize to you. Although I do not know why you have come to Nanhua Mountain, I can tell you one piece of news¡ªthere are masters behind the Seven Evils Sect whose cultivation is even higher than mine; it¡¯s just not clear whether they are here on Nanhua Mountain.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose. To know that the woman in black was of the Heavenly Flower Realm, and yet there were those on Nanhua Mountain beyond the Heavenly Flower Realm¡ªthat could only be the masters of the Half-step Master Realm or the Grandmaster Realm. Not to mention the elusive Grandmaster Realm experts, those in the Half-step Master Realm were also renowned and feared in the Jianghu¡ªlike Li Fuzhou who was a Half-step Master Realm expert, and the four peak masters of the Zhenyi Sect were also Half-step Master experts. For the Seven Evils Sect, which didn¡¯t even rank among the top seven sects in the Great Yan Martial World, to have Half-step Master Realm experts was astonishing indeed. However, An Jing was not here to challenge the hidden masters of the Seven Evils Sect, so he was not afraid in his heart. After pondering for a long while, An Jing asked, ¡°Do you know where the Seven Evils Sect¡¯s Book Storage Tower is located?¡± ¡°Go out of this door and turn left,¡± said the woman in black. ¡°I have important matters to attend to, so I must take my leave,¡± she said, and with that, her body sprang up and she headed into the distance. ¡°Out the door, turn left¡­¡± An Jing did not hesitate either and quickly walked out the door. The peaks of Nanhua Mountain were stacked on top of each other, bathed in moonlight that shone like water, and the jade towers loomed, creating a landscape akin to a celestial realm. Most of it were remnants of South Shu architecture, which had been maintained in their original state through hundreds of years of repairs. An Jing walked out of the house and looked around to find himself as if in a heavenly realm on Earth. Both had greatly restrained their moves and suppressed their Qi Mechanisms just now, apparently unnoticed by the experts of the Seven Evils Sect. An Jing left the small house with its secret compartments and then headed to the left. On the way, he saw only a few disciples of the Seven Evils Sect, each with considerable cultivation, some of whom had even reached the Fourth Grade Realm. He then came across several separate courtyards. Passing through these courtyards, he saw a tall tower with three large characters inscribed on it¡ª¡±Book Storage Tower.¡± Next to it was a small wooden hut, where a Seven Evils Sect expert of the Third Grade Realm sat inside. Lou Xiangzhen had told him that the Golden Pill was inside a white jade statue in the Book Storage Tower of Nanhua Mountain. ¡°Better get the Golden Pill quickly,¡± An Jing took a deep breath, his body flitted, and he slipped into the Book Storage Tower, while the expert in the wooden hut did not notice that someone had sneaked into the Book Storage Tower at all. The Book Storage Tower of Nanhua Palace was built with elegance and grandeur, stunningly beautiful. It was once said to contain hundreds of thousands of books, but after Nanhua Palace was destroyed, most of the books were taken by the Great Yan Royal Family. Later, when the Seven Evils Sect moved in, they refurbished the Book Storage Tower and added the sect¡¯s martial arts, as well as their books, to its collection. In any sect, the place where martial arts were stored was of the utmost importance, let alone in a major sect like the Seven Evils Sect. Shelves upon shelves were filled with books including tales of strange occurrences, historical volumes, martial arts, encyclopedias, and crafting manuals. An Jing walked to the inner area, seeking the white jade statue that Lou Xiangzhen had mentioned, but he quickly realized that there were only rows of books here and no statue to be found. ¡°It can¡¯t be, Lou Xiangzhen shouldn¡¯t have deceived me,¡± An Jing¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and after searching once more without finding the statue, he wondered, ¡°Could the Seven Evils Sect have discovered the secret of the Golden Pill in the statue?¡± Just then, a piercing scream spread throughout Nanhua Mountain. ¡°This is bad!¡± ¡°The Life Gu of Elder Gou Feng and Elder Meng Dong has shattered.¡± ¡°Someone has intruded into the Forbidden Land.¡± ¡°Quick, to the Seven Evils Hall, someone is attempting to assassinate the Sect Leader.¡± ¡­. A cacophony of noises arose, and the entirety of Nanhua Mountain descended into chaos. An Jing hurried to the top floor of the Book Storage Tower, and upon seeing the disarray below within Nanhua Mountain, he was startled. He knew he had killed Gou Feng, and he was clear about that. But he hadn¡¯t tried to assassinate the Sect Leader of the Seven Evils Sect. Could it have been the woman in black from before? Hadn¡¯t she said there were experts within the Seven Evils Sect with cultivation surpassing her own? How dare she make a move? And why did she want to kill the Sect Leader of the Seven Evils Sect? An Jing took a deep breath and continued to search for the statue. Suddenly, atop a square platform on the top floor of the Book Storage Tower, there appeared two statues as clear and lustrous as white jade, depicting a boy and a girl. ¡°Reminder: There is a green opportunity nearby (left statue).¡± ¡°Reminder: There is a blue opportunity nearby (right statue).¡± At the same time, the long-missed reminders from the Earth Book sounded. ¡°Found it.¡± Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s eyes lit up with a flicker of brightness. He stomped his foot on the ground, leapt up, and grabbed the two white jade statues with his hands. ¡°One green opportunity, one blue opportunity, what¡¯s going on here?¡± An Jing picked up one of the white jade statues for a closer look, then suddenly realized that the one on the right was exceptionally heavy. Though it did not appear large, it seemed to weigh tens of pounds. ¡°Hm!?¡± Looking through the white jade statue, it seemed like something was pulsating inside. Upon closer inspection, it was clearly a cocoon, and something inside appeared to be throbbing. And just as the white jade statue was lifted from the platform, a thread suddenly snapped. ¡°Sssss! Sssss!¡± The next moment, a strange noise sounded. An Jing scanned his surroundings. He saw multiple black Gu insects swarming from all directions, rushing towards him, or more precisely, towards the white jade statue in his hands. ¡°There are so many Gu insects here?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows knitted together tightly the moment he saw the insects. The black Gu insects were dense and numerous, forming a swathe of blackness on the ground. Clang! An Jing pointed a finger toward the swarm of Gu insects. Explosive Qi Mechanism surged and crashed upon the insects, instantly creating a cacophony of loud noises. Despite their tough exteriors, the black Gu insects were shattered by the powerful force. These Gu insects were stronger than those encountered underground; not only were they significantly larger, but their carapaces were also sturdier. ¡­. At Nanhua Mountain, in the rear hall of Nanhua Palace. In a quiet chamber. A white-haired man was sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat, surrounded by dozens of red Gu insects. Each insect was the size of a fist, with sharp mouthparts that looked incredibly bloodthirsty. Their mere appearance was unnerving and chilling to the bone. This man was the Sect Hierarch of the Seven Evils Sect, Feng Xiu. Feng Xiu looked at the Gu insects in front of him with a hint of infatuation in his eyes and whispered, ¡°I wonder if these twelve red Bloodthirsty Gu can evolve into a purple Bone-eating Gu by next year.¡± He had put countless effort and energy into these twelve Bloodthirsty Gu, longing for the day when he could cultivate a purple Bone-eating Gu. Then he could use the Bone-eating Gu in combination with the special Body Refining martial arts techniques of the Southern Barbarians. Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this Bone-eating Gu would require the blood of many people, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Who!?¡± Feng Xiu felt a sudden tremor in his heart and looked toward the source of the sound, only to see a woman in black standing not far away, holding a cold longsword in her hand. To enter his meditation room without a trace, her cultivation was truly terrifying. Seeing this, Feng Xiu spoke with a grave tone, ¡°You are¡­ ¡± The woman in black coldly asked, ¡°Feng Xiu, three years ago you killed my disciple Bai Yu¡¯er. Do you remember?¡± ¡°Bai Yu¡¯er!?¡± Feng Xiu was suddenly startled, ¡°You are Wang Ningshui?¡± Bai Yu¡¯er, this name he would naturally not forget. Three years ago, it was during the struggle for control of Nanhua Mountain twenty years ago between the Unrivaled Palace and the Seven Evils Sect that he led a group to assassinate the then Palace Master of the Unrivaled Palace, Bai Yu¡¯er, in secret. Because Feng Xiu¡¯s cultivation was only at the Human Flower Realm, and Bai Yu¡¯er was also at the Human Flower Realm, he did not have the confidence to kill Bai Yu¡¯er, so he had to resort to such a despicable strategy. And Bai Yu¡¯er¡¯s master was none other than the renowned Unrivaled Sword King Wang Ningshui from the Great Yan martial world of that time. ¡°It seems you still remember.¡± The woman in black nodded after hearing this. Feng Xiu felt a chill in his heart and said in a low voice, ¡°Senior, haven¡¯t you retired from Jianghu?¡± Wang Ningshui sighed lightly, ¡°I originally thought I could see through worldly affairs and leave Jianghu behind, but reality has shown me that Jianghu is not something I can just leave whenever I wish.¡± Only those who have truly stepped into Jianghu know that it¡¯s not a place one can simply walk away from. Feng Xiu seemed to sense Wang Ningshui¡¯s murderous intent and began to manipulate the Gu insects around him. ¡°Hiss!¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as she drew her longsword. ¡°Bang bang bang bang!¡± As the sword was lifted, a chilling light cast an icy coldness in the room, and the dozens of Gu insects instantly turned into a mist of blood. Feng Xiu¡¯s face was also splattered with blood, a look of fear appearing in his eyes. ¡°Do not move.¡± Wang Ningshui said indifferently, ¡°Tell me all about how the Seven Evils Sect has been colluding with the Southern Barbarians over the years, and perhaps I can offer you a swift death.¡± Feng Xiu wiped the blood from his face, his heart seized up, ¡°I don¡¯t know what Senior Wang is talking about.¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s eyes narrowed to a slit, ¡°Still not willing to talk? For example, you trafficking women to the Southern Barbarians, and feeding human flesh to Southern Barbarian Gu insects, practicing taboo martial arts.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Xiu could no longer sit still, a look of shock appeared in his eyes. He had carried out these acts in absolute secrecy, even some of the Seven Evils Sect¡¯s elders were unaware that he was behind them, so how did Wang Ningshui come to know? Seeing Feng Xiu¡¯s expression, Wang Ningshui became even more certain, then couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°The Southern Barbarians are uncivilized tribes, some of which still live on raw meat and blood to this day. Yet, you dare to sell off the common people of Great Yan to the Southern Barbarians, and even use the flesh and blood of our Great Yan people to feed Southern Barbarian Gu insects¡­ don¡¯t you have any conscience at all?¡± The conflict between the Seven Evils Sect and the Unrivaled Palace was over interests, which Feng Xiu could understand. But she couldn¡¯t understand how Feng Xiu, a person of Great Yan, could do something so universally abhorrent and utterly devoid of conscience. Do some people really have no bottom line at all? ¡°Conscience?¡± Feng Xiu¡¯s inner terror gradually subsided, and he said coldly, ¡°Is conscience useful? How much money can buy a pound of it?¡± Wang Ningshui didn¡¯t speak, just quietly watched the white-haired man in front of her. ¡°Without strength, you¡¯re fucking nothing, who would even give a damn about you?¡± Feng Xiu¡¯s audacity grew as he spoke, his voice ferocious, ¡°When I had a conscience, everyone despised me, insulted me, everyone wished they could defecate and urinate on the head of our Seven Evils Sect. Tell me, which of the current seven major factions isn¡¯t sanctimonious, sordid behind closed doors? The Zhenyi Sect¡¯s deacons and temple masters raising serving girls to entertain guests. And the nobility, which one of them does not have blood on their hands, with piles of bones beneath their feet? In their eyes, the common folks of this world are nothing but livestock they rear. Why don¡¯t you ask them where their conscience is? Who really has a conscience?¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s gaze turned icy, ¡°You have fallen into devilry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fallen into devilry?¡± Feng Xiu laughed mockingly, ¡°Senior Wang, you must have grown senile from withdrawing from Jianghu. In this world, unwavering since ancient times, only strong power is fundamental. Everything else, like conscience and the like, they¡¯re all worthless crap.¡± ¡°Only those who live well and enjoy themselves have a conscience. Someone like me doesn¡¯t deserve one.¡± Wang Ningshui looked at Feng Xiu, not interrupting him. ¡°Liang Mo, Senior¡­¡± Just then, Feng Xiu saw someone behind Wang Ningshui, a look of joyful surprise on his face. Liang Mo!? Wang Ningshui naturally was familiar with that name¡ªit was the wizard from the Southern Barbarians. In the Southern Barbarians, those who are called wizards are figures with unfathomable strength and high status. In any tribe, they hold great authority and are often the spiritual leaders. In the Southern Barbarians, the title of wizard is a symbol of power and authority, supreme and unassailable. With the development of the Southern Barbarians over the past few centuries, the tribes had grown stronger and the number of martial experts had gradually increased. However, the number of witch doctors had not increased much at all. If a Southern Barbarian witch doctor were present today, not to mention killing An Jing, whether I could even walk away alive would be questionable. Wang Ningshui furrowed her brows and looked behind her, her hand going to her back which was empty, void of any human shadow. ¡°What an opportunity!¡± Seeing this, a cold light flashed in An Jing¡¯s eyes, and he immediately struck his palm towards Wang Ningshui¡¯s back. He used all his strength for this palm strike, not holding back in the slightest. But just as his hand was about to reach Wang Ningshui, his arm suddenly halted, unable to advance even an inch further, as if it was bound by some kind of shackle. ¡°The Heavenly Flower Realm!?¡± An Jing felt the Qi mechanism and a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes. Wang Ningshui spoke coldly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen to be a dog for the Southern Barbarians, I can only send you on your way.¡± ¡°Puchi!¡± Wang Ningshui didn¡¯t hold back either, thrusting her sword fiercely forward, piercing directly through An Jing¡¯s throat. ¡°Gurgling¡ª!¡± Blood flowed down from his neck. An Jing felt his life force rapidly fading, his strength draining away from his hands, and then with a thud, he collapsed to the ground, his body even beginning to convulse: ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I have the Southern Barbarians¡¯ Gu insect inside me, if I die, you will be exposed too, that Liang Mo is truly inside the sect, I advise you to leave quickly before he notices.¡± ¡°The Southern Barbarians¡¯ Gu insect?¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s heart shook when she heard this, and she quickly asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you mean you¡¯re being controlled by the Southern Barbarians?¡± An Jing, lying on the ground, cracked a feeble smile, ¡°I, An Jing, acted of my own free will, who could control me? I wanted to make Seven Evils Sect the national religion of Great Yan, the religion of the whole world, and I, An Jing, would be remembered for thousands of years¡­¡± An Jing hadn¡¯t finished speaking when his breath stopped. ¡°What controls you is your own desire.¡± Looking at An Jing lying in a pool of blood, Wang Ningshui sighed deeply. She knew that An Jing had intentionally told her this. ¡°Leave quickly.¡± Wang Ningshui took a deep breath and walked towards the outside of the chamber. But just as she stepped out of the chamber, a figure appeared in front of her. The person stood under the moonlight, seemingly merging with the moon¡¯s glow, tranquil and natural, dressed in the Southern Barbarians¡¯ ancient attire, wearing a strange hat. Because he was against the moonlight, his face was unclear. But Wang Ningshui¡¯s brows tightened. ¡°Unrivaled Sword, Wang Ningshui?¡± The figure inquired. The voice was somewhat hoarse and dry, showing great age. Wang Ningshui clenched her longsword tightly and asked, ¡°Witch Doctor Liang Mo?¡± Liang Mo nodded, saying with emotion, ¡°I have long heard of the great name of Unrivaled Sword; seeing you today, I can confirm you are indeed extraordinary. You managed to silently infiltrate Seven Evils Sect and even slay its Sect Leader.¡± Wang Ningshui responded calmly, ¡°Compared to Witch Doctor Liang Mo, I am but an amateur in the presence of a master. Witch Doctor Liang Mo himself has slipped into Great Yan, slaughtering many in the Martial World of Great Yan, nurturing Southern Barbarian Gu insects, all unbeknownst to us.¡± Liang Mo chuckled, which, despite the laughter, felt chilling, ¡°One should be careful with what they eat, but even more so with what they say. I am a tributor of the Seven Evils Sect, how could it be sneaking in? Besides, since my arrival in Great Yan years ago, I have never killed a single person from Great Yan.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Wang Ningshui gripped her longsword tightly and spoke, ¡°I wonder since when the Southern Barbarians have adopted Buddhism?¡± ¡°Whether the Southern Barbarians have Buddhism, I am not sure, but today, for you, I am willing to break my vow of non-killing.¡± After Liang Mo finished speaking, he reached forward with his palm. An overwhelming surge of Qi Force came rushing forth like a tidal wave toward Wang Ningshui, carrying with it the sounds of wind thunder. Half-step Master! With just one move, Liang Mo had revealed his formidable strength. Aside from practicing Gu Technique, the Southern Barbarians¡¯ Body Refining Martial Arts were also extremely powerful, second only to the contemporary Great Snow Mountain and Buddhism, ranking third in the world. ¡°Indeed, the witch doctors of the Southern Barbarians are extraordinary.¡± Wang Ningshui narrowed his eyes slightly, and his longsword swung out. Hiss! A streak of cold light surged forward, and in an instant, the two figures crossed paths. Under the moonlight, silhouettes became chaotic, indistinguishable from one another. Even though Wang Ningshui was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, Liang Mo was a Half-step Master, his fist force surging and turbulent, with an imposing momentum that was shocking. In just a few dozen exchanges, Wang Ningshui had already fallen into a disadvantage, and that was even without Liang Mo using his full strength. ¡°Thump!¡± With a casual punch from Liang Mo, the air seemed to shatter, emitting a deafening sound. Wang Ningshui¡¯s complexion turned pale, and he quickly crossed his longsword in front of his chest. Countless streams of airflow surged forward, forming a spiraling vortex. Thousand-Change Sword Technique! Soul Leaving Cone! Wang Ningshui was extremely talented in the sword dao, but he wasn¡¯t considered top-tier in the current era. Although he had not reached the Fifth Realm, he was now at the peak of the Fourth Realm. After the collision, Wang Ningshui staggered as if severely stricken, continuously retreating towards the back. And their battle, of course, alarmed the disciples of the Seven Evils Sect on Nanhua Mountain. The death of Sect Leader Feng Xiu was discovered, and immediately dozens of Seven Evils Sect experts rushed over. Liang Mo looked toward Wang Ningshui and said indifferently, ¡°The person before you is the murderer who killed Sect Leader Feng. You all back me up while I capture this person.¡± Instantly, all the members of the Seven Evils Sect glared fiercely at Wang Ningshui. The expression of the Great Elder of the Seven Evils Sect also fluctuated uncertainly. On ordinary days, it seemed like the Sect Hierarch gave the orders, but those who truly understood the situation knew that it was actually the wizard Liang Mo from the Southern Barbarians who had the real say. If he could curry favor with Wizard Liang Mo today, he might even gain the position of Sect Hierarch. ¡°Quick, run!¡± Wang Ningshui, knowing that he was no match for Liang Mo and seeing the threatening aura of the other disciples from the Seven Evils Sect, couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in his heart. Waving his longsword, he leaped toward the distance. ¡°Wizard Liang Mo, don¡¯t let the criminal escape,¡± the Great Elder of the Seven Evils Sect immediately shouted. He had just received news that someone had broken into the ¡®Forbidden Land¡¯, and it was likely the expert before them. If it became known that the Seven Evils Sect was colluding with the Southern Barbarians, the Sect might very well be exterminated. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t get away,¡± Liang Mo said as his body soared, following in pursuit. ¡­¡­.. Book Storage Tower. An Jing, after slaying dozens of Gu Insects, realized he might have been exposed. He stowed away the White Jade Statue and began to fly down the mountain. Just then, a familiar figure appeared ahead. ¡°Hurry!¡± Wang Ningshui saw the Ghost Swordsman ahead and immediately called out sharply. An Jing, upon seeing Wang Ningshui, was momentarily stunned. Before he could react, Liang Mo¡¯s figure appeared behind him. ¡°Holy Essence Gu!?¡± Seeing An Jing holding two White Jade Statues, Liang Mo¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and then he spoke gravely, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but I advise you, don¡¯t take what you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Compared with the Holy Essence Gu before him, the matter of killing Feng Xiu and entering the Forbidden Land involving Wang Ningshui was not worth mentioning. The Holy Essence Gu was the work of half his lifetime. From the Qi Mechanism released by Liang Mo, An Jing sensed that this person¡¯s cultivation was roughly around the Half-step Master Realm. Having obtained the statues, he had no desire to entangle with him and headed toward the foothills below. ¡°Think you can leave!?¡± Liang Mo¡¯s foot stomped fiercely, and the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracked, while his figure turned into a black light and instantly disappeared from where he was. ¡°Is he chasing after me? Could it be for the White Jade Statue?¡± As Liang Mo¡¯s figure vanished, An Jing felt a chill at his back and hurriedly executed the Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique. Boom! A fist shadow struck, hitting precisely where An Jing had just been standing, and immediately a massive noise echoed, shaking the surroundings. A punch missed its target, and Liang Mo¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he launched another two punches that thundered like drums. An Jing¡¯s figure retreated once more, as if avoiding the sharp edge. ¡°Who is this person, to be no weaker than Wang Ningshui?¡± Seeing An Jing continuously dodging his punches, Liang Mo couldn¡¯t help but be shaken. It is known that the grandmasters of the Great Yan Martial World haven¡¯t come out of seclusion, and Half-step Masters are also rarely seen in Jianghu. Therefore, experts of the Heavenly Flower Realm are already considered the peak. The arrival of someone like Wang Ningshui from Nanhua Mountain had already been astonishing enough, but now there was someone not weaker than Wang Ningshui. How could Liang Mo not be surprised? An Jing, who was darting back rapidly, suddenly stopped. In the depths of his black eyes, there was a trace of solemnity. Golden light surged behind him. Brahma Heart Sees Me! Before him, dark light emerged, and Liang Mo¡¯s figure appeared once again. His punches, like mountains, enveloped him as if wanting to crush him in one blow. Yet facing Liang Mo¡¯s punch, An Jing no longer retreated. An Jing¡¯s expression was as undisturbed as an ancient well, then he pointed forward. The two ferocious and domineering Qi Forces heavily collided with each other. Boom! The wild light swept over heaven and earth like a sun rising from the point of their fists¡¯ collision. The terrible current of Qi Mechanism blast waves wreaked havoc, and under the impact, the ground itself began to collapse layer by layer. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Liang Mo a Half-step Master in terms of cultivation?¡± ¡°Can someone actually fight on par with Master Liang Mo and not be at a disadvantage?¡± ¡­¡­ The several Seven Evils Sect experts following Liang Mo hurried over. They were all trembling inwardly at the sight. They stared intently at the center of the rampaging Qi Mechanism. Bang! Qi Mechanism swept over, and the two figures clashed with each other again. An Jing¡¯s feet repeatedly stomped on the ground, and each step left a dent in the ground below, indicating the strength of Liang Mo¡¯s force. After retreating dozens of steps like this, he finally managed to stabilize his body. A golden Buddhist light surged and radiated from behind him. ¡°What on earth?¡± Wang Ningshui also noticed that Liang Mo stopped chasing her and instead went after that Ghost Swordsman, which caused her eyebrows to furrow. Meanwhile, Liang Mo took three steps back, his eyes filled with disbelief. The might of a Grandmaster! After that one confrontation, he actually felt a trace of a Grandmaster¡¯s might. ¡°Golden Bone?¡± Liang Mo looked at An Jing and said indifferently, ¡°If you are willing to relinquish the white jade in your possession, I can pretend this never happened.¡± Naturally, he did not intend to let the two of them go¡ªafter all, both could be accomplices and might have entered the Forbidden Land. But now, with the man in the black robe holding the Holy Essence Gu, he felt somewhat constrained. Wang Ningshui interjected, ¡°This person is Liang Mo from the Southern Barbarians. You can¡¯t trust his words.¡± Liang Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked toward the distant Wang Ningshui, and his urge to kill grew. An Jing played with the white jade statue in his hand, ¡°This was never an item belonging to your Southern Barbarians to begin with, so why should I give it to you?¡± He naturally did not believe Liang Mo¡¯s words, and besides, the two statues contained one green and one blue opportunity, so there was no way he would hand them over. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s nothing more to say.¡± As Liang Mo¡¯s voice fell, the Inner Strength within his body surged forth like the vast waters of a river or lake. A powerful Qi Mechanism pressure spread out from within. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try taking another punch from me?!¡± Liang Mo launched another punch, but this time when the Fist Force howled out, it was not only the terrible strength of the body and the formidable force but also the overwhelming Qi Mechanism that billowed out like a torrential mountain flood. It seemed like a flood that pierced through heaven and earth, and anything blocking its path would be utterly destroyed. Liang Mo¡¯s punch could inflict serious injuries on any regular Heavenly Flower Realm expert if it landed directly. The Qi Mechanism piercing through heaven and earth was reflected in An Jing¡¯s pupils. His expression at this moment was also quite solemn. However, within his solemnity, there was no sense of fear. An Jing¡¯s palm extended, and he slashed the Evil Suppressing Sword toward the front. ¡°` Boom! Boom! Two shadows crisscrossed, their Qi mechanisms fiercely colliding, each impact akin to an earthquake shaking the very earth and sky. Below, the experts of the Seven Evils Sect watched with grave expressions as the harsh clashes in the sky sent shockwaves that dispersed the surrounding houses and trees. In just a few dozen breaths¡¯ time, the two figures in the sky had already exchanged dozens of rounds. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is indeed formidable; his sword technique is beyond what I can match,¡± one observed. And Wang Ningshui could see that An Jing¡¯s sword skill was likely at the Fifth Realm, which prompted a sigh of sentiment within her. Watching the two combatants, the experts of the Seven Evils Sect had looks of utter shock, causing an uproar. ¡°Who is this person?¡± ¡°A half-step Master Realm expert does not wander the Jianghu without renown.¡± ¡­¡­. After exchanging several dozen moves, An Jing was gasping for air, his sword-wielding arm numb and tingling, blood flowing from his palm. Although this Southern Barbarian wizard wasn¡¯t as strong as the Half-step Master he had encountered at Liumu Villa, he was still of the Half-step Master Realm and exerted tremendous pressure on An Jing. If not for his Golden Bone being refined to Perfection, he might have already been defeated. Liang Mo¡¯s eyes flickered with a cold light, seemingly at the limit of his patience. The Inner Strength within his body converged into his meridians, while a massive phantom formed behind him, slowly emanating a chilling dominance that instilled fear. ¡°Since my arrival in Great Yan, I haven¡¯t displayed my Southern Barbarian Martial Arts,¡± Liang Mo said, his gaze filled with bloodlust as he slowly spoke, staring at An Jing. An Jing, with an equally solemn look in his eyes, stared at the phantom behind Liang Mo. That oppressive feeling was not something any ordinary person could sense. The next instant, his hand moved the Evil Suppressing Sword. Nine-character Sword Technique! Lin Character Secret! The sword moved forth like the vast water of a river, cascading down from the heavens, continuous and eternal. Liang Mo let out a cold snort, and punched forward with overwhelming Fist Force that seemed to pierce the very air. The punch sent a shiver through everyone present. Even Wang Ningshui, standing some distance away, unconsciously retreated several steps. As the Sword Light and Fist Force collided, everything around them trembled, the tide of Qi mechanism rampaging outwards. An Jing stepped back three paces, feeling an odd sense in his heart. His gaze pierced through the vast tide of Qi mechanism, looking towards Liang Mo, who seemed to have a cold smile on his lips. Liang Mo¡¯s fist was launched once more. Soaring Snake Technique! The world dimmed for a moment as a gigantic yellow python burst from his hands, a strange noise echoing across the horizon. With a punch, a terrifying dominance swept across the world. The surging python opened its gaping maw as if to swallow An Jing whole. As the punch was struck, An Jing felt a violent tremor in his heart, his skin prickling with pain. Bang! The protective Qi mechanism around An Jing shattered in an instant, clearly overpowered by the surging python. Liang Mo watched An Jing with indifferent eyes, his gaze reminiscent of looking at a man about to die. The violent Qi mechanism crushed all Sword Light, proving that An Jing, despite his skill, still fell short against a Half-step Master. The remaining force assailed him viciously, like a small boat in the tempest. Then, a brilliant golden light refracted, deflecting all the Fist Force. ¡°What a formidable swordsman!¡± Wang Ningshui exclaimed in surprise, knowing if she had been in the place of the Ghost Swordsman, that punch would have either killed or gravely injured her. ¡°Perfection in Golden Bone? Body Refining Martial Arts at the Heavenly Martial Level!?¡± Liang Mo was shaken by this realization, followed by a sudden, inexplicable sense of panic. ¡°Thump!¡± ¡°Thump!¡± His heart began to beat wildly, an uncontrollable pounding, as his blood started to circulate rapidly. ¡°What is going on?¡± Liang Mo bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to calm down. ¡°` Below, the members of the Seven Evils Sect were terrified beyond belief, as if they had witnessed the most horrifying thing in the world. Behind Liang Mo, a gigantic and fearsome snake¡¯s head emerged, its triangular eyes emitting a cold gleam. The massive head of the snake was like a small mountain, and beneath its huge body, Liang Mo seemed so insignificant. ¡°Hiss¡ª!¡± Liang Mo seemed to sense something too and turned around to look, completely taken aback. All he saw was a snake¡¯s head, its mouth agape, rushing towards him, and then all sight was swallowed by boundless darkness, leaving him unable to move at all. Liang Mo didn¡¯t have any time to react before he was directly swallowed by the gigantic snake. All was quiet between heaven and earth, except for the swallowing sounds of the thousand-year-old Black Python. All members of the Seven Evils Sect had stupefied expressions, having been scared senseless. The Half-step Master, Liang Mo, was swallowed whole by the Black Python. That was a Half-step Master. There were not many experts like that in the Southern Barbarians, and yet, he perished in the jaws of the Black Python, becoming its food. An Jing let out a slight breath, leapt onto the back of the thousand-year-old Black Python, and transformed into a streak of light heading down the mountain. Only a long while after the Black Python had departed did the people of the Seven Evils Sect come back to their senses. ¡°That was¡­ too terrifying.¡± ¡°Who exactly is that person?¡± ¡°Was that an exotic, mysterious beast just now?¡± ¡°A Half-step Master dies just like that?¡± ¡­¡­ The experts of the Seven Evils Sect gulped, still immersed in the scene of the exotic beast devouring the Half-step Master. It was truly too terrifying, too shocking. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that a Half-step Master could just perish like that? The powerful visual impact of that moment would be something they¡¯d never forget for the rest of their lives. ¡°My God, who on earth is that sacred figure?¡± The Great Elder of the Seven Evils Sect had a pale complexion, looking at the far-off figure in a daze. Wang Ningshui was also deeply shaken. Then, thinking of something, she quickly followed. ¡­¡­ In the early morning, at Dongluo Pass, Dongluo Tower. Zhao Qingmei sat in front of the dressing table, holding the Golden Flower Rouge in her hands, seemingly reminiscing about her days in Yu State City, and couldn¡¯t help but let out a light chuckle. ¡°I wonder if the husband has gotten up yet.¡± With a light laugh, Zhao Qingmei used a hairpin to delicately lift some rouge and, after mixing it properly on her hand, applied it to her lips. The sandalwood exuded a faint, cool fragrance, and the copper mirror inlaid with mutton-fat jade reflected carved hollow flowers, showcasing her unparalleled beauty, enthralling and bewitching. As she raised her eyes and smiled, it was as if all the beauty in the world paled in comparison. ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± Just then, the voice of Yu Qiurong came from outside the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Qingmei said indifferently. ¡°Creak!¡± The room door opened, and Yu Qiurong walked in carefully. It was not easy to enter Zhao Qingmei¡¯s boudoir, even she rarely had the chance, so it seemed that the Sect Hierarch was in a good mood today. After thinking for a moment, Yu Qiurong said, ¡°A secret letter has arrived from Yu State City.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingmei instinctively asked, ¡°Who sent it from Yu State City?¡± ¡°Protector Tan.¡± Yu Qiurong took out the secret letter and presented it with both hands. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Qingmei took the secret letter immediately and couldn¡¯t wait to open it. Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Holy Essence Gu Stirs Ghost Valleys Heart Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Holy Essence Gu Stirs Ghost Valley¡¯s Heart Duanmu Xinghua finished speaking, her boundless True Qi emerging from within her, enveloping and surrounding her entirely. Magnificent and endless, it transformed into a vast sea of True Qi. Above the sky, the two adversaries each occupied half the domain in a face-off. On one side was a black golden lotus, and on the other was the tidal sea of True Qi. Following that, Duanmu Xinghua walked on air, as if she were strolling amidst clouds. When the black golden lotus collided with the majestic True Qi, everyone felt their vision starting to blur. Even Geng Tianchou and Lin Tianhai could only see fleeting afterimages, unable to discern the specifics of the battle. All onlookers held their breath, not daring to make a sound. This was a duel between two Grandmasters! Even if they could only catch glimpses of it, the battle was nonetheless thrilling for everyone present. ¡°Who will win between Sect Master Duanmu and the Sect Hierarch?¡± Lin Tianhai¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. No matter who wins or loses, it would be extremely detrimental for the overall strength of the Demon Sect. If Zhao Qingmei wins, Duanmu Xinghua is unlikely to remain the master of the Heavenly Sect. If Duanmu Xinghua wins, it would be a tremendous blow to Zhao Qingmei¡¯s prestige. How would she then lead the Demon Sect? At this moment, the Qi mechanisms in the sky interweaved, creating a dazzling spectacle. The battle had reached an intense climax. After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the Qi mechanisms began to retract, with the black golden lotus rushing towards the sea of True Qi. The next moment, the sea of True Qi rapidly shrank as well. All masters of the Demon Sect felt their hearts rise to their throats. ¡°The outcome has been decided.¡± Geng Tianchou couldn¡¯t help but sigh when he saw this. As his words fell, everyone looked up at the sky, not daring to blink. The Qi gradually dissipated, and the swirling black mist started to fade away, revealing the figure of Zhao Qingmei, her expression as calm as ever. Seeing this scene, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and then looked towards the other side. Duanmu Xinghua, on the other hand, had a somewhat pale complexion. It was a long while before she slowly spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± Her voice was not loud, but it echoed in all directions. The crowd fell into silence, each harboring an indescribable shock. It was known that Zhao Qingmei had become a Grandmaster only a few days ago, whereas Duanmu Xinghua had been a Grandmaster for decades, yet today she was defeated by Zhao Qingmei. Even the masters of the Heavenly Sect were deeply shocked. ¡°Did the Sect Hierarch really win?¡± Lin Tianhai approached, seemingly still in disbelief. Yu Qiurong, looking up at the silent Zhao Qingmei in the sky, was breathing erratically. Zhao Qingmei asked in a firm voice, ¡°Duanmu Xinghua, what else did Jiang Shang tell you in his secret letter?¡± Duanmu Xinghua closed her eyes slightly and responded, ¡°The old Sect Hierarch said he would return to the sect. At that time, he plans to enter the Sealing Demon Platform for secluded cultivation, and will no longer concern himself with the matters of the Demon Sect. All issues within the Demon Sect will be handled by the Sect Hierarch.¡± She had anticipated that Zhao Qingmei¡¯s strength would exceed her own, but she never expected it to happen so swiftly. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s brows furrowed, and she unconsciously clenched her fists, ¡°Is he coming back?¡± She was crazed with the desire to go to Jiangnan Dao¡¯s Yu State City, but she knew she must not act rashly. As long as she was absent, and if Jiang Shang were to return, the Demon Sect might be completely turned upside down by then. Moreover, because the paper man had responded, the situation might not be as bad as she imagined. She wanted to see Jiang Shang immediately, to inquire about the true outcome in Yu State City. How exactly was An Jing!? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait for him to return,¡± Zhao Qingmei said coldly, taking a deep breath. Duanmu Xinghua sighed deeply and said, ¡°Please, Sect Hierarch, punish me. I have no complaints.¡± ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± Lin Tianhai, Geng Tianchou, and several other masters hurriedly knelt down. Duanmu Xinghua was a Grandmaster, a rare force in Jianghu. Now that the Demon Sect was really about to infiltrate Great Yan, dispensing with Duanmu Xinghua was tantamount to crippling oneself. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s brows were tightly knitted as she thought for a moment and said, ¡°You will continue to stay in the Heavenly Sect, and the position of Heavenly Sect Master will be temporarily assumed by Yu Qiurong.¡± Duanmu Xinghua, being a master with Grandmaster-level cultivation, was essential for subduing the masses in the Heavenly Sect. Currently, Zhao Qingmei had no more masters by her side, so she had to entrust Yu Qiurong with the temporary role. ¡°Yes!¡± On hearing this, Yu Qiurong quickly bowed and accepted. Hearing this, Duanmu Xinghua fell silent, knowing that this was probably the best outcome for her. ¡°What about the Vermilion Bird Seat then?¡± asked Lin Tianhai. The four seats of the Demon Sect each had different responsibilities, and the Vermilion Bird Seat, responsible for the sect¡¯s livelihood, was extremely important. Now that Yu Qiurong had become the master of the Heavenly Sect, wouldn¡¯t the Vermilion Bird Seat be left unmanaged? Zhao Qingmei had already made plans, ¡°Mu Xiaoyun has been handling affairs under Yu Qiurong for a while now, and she is quite familiar with the operations under the Vermilion Bird Seat. Moreover, her abilities are outstanding, so let her take charge of the Vermilion Bird Seat.¡± ¡°Does anyone object?¡± Zhao Qingmei looked around after she spoke. The masters of the Demon Sect exchanged glances, and no one spoke up. ¡°` Geng Tianchou and the other Demon Sect Heavenly Sect experts knew that this might already be the best outcome. Duanmu Xinghua was still in the Heavenly Sect, and although she was no longer the Sect Master, she could still exercise the rights of one, while Zhao Qingmei¡¯s prestige in the Demon Sect had risen several notches again. Zhao Qingmei brushed off her sleeves and walked towards the distance. Yu Qiurong hurriedly followed. ¡°Sigh.¡± Lin Tianhai let out a long sigh, ¡°The old Sect Hierarch is coming back, and that¡¯s when the real test for the Demon Sect will begin.¡± Although Jiang Shang¡¯s letter to Duanmu Xinghua said that he was ceding power, Zhao Qingmei seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Shang from her expression. ¡°Sect¡­ Master¡­¡± Geng Tianchou looked at Duanmu Xinghua, who had been silent all along, and said, ¡°Xinghua, you should go and rest.¡± Duanmu Xinghua, staring at Zhao Qingmei¡¯s retreating figure, felt a vague sense of loss, and after a long while, she deeply sighed and said, ¡°Our Jianghu has aged.¡± ¡­¡­ Outside the ravaged and chaotic great hall. Yu Qiurong cautiously asked, ¡°Sect Leader, are you really appointing me as the master of the Heavenly Sect?¡± What Duanmu Xinghua said was indeed true; Yu Qiurong, whether in seniority, prestige, or power, was far from being able to suppress the group of demons in the Heavenly Sect. Moreover, the experts of the Heavenly Sect were all old-timers from the Demon Sect, who usually held themselves in high esteem. Some of them had even watched Yu Qiurong and Zhao Qingmei grow up. They might follow Zhao Qingmei¡¯s orders to some extent, but it would be nearly impossible for Yu Qiurong to command them. Zhao Qingmei spoke with a heavy voice, ¡°Jiang Renyi of the Earth Sect has already been sent to the Dongluo Desert; the Heavenly Sect cannot be disturbed for now. Although Duanmu Xinghua no longer holds the position of Sect Master, her strength and prestige remain unshaken, and the Demon Sect truly needs its people now.¡± The last disturbance in the Earth Sect not only resulted in the dismissal of the Earth Sect Master Jiang Renyi but also the death and dismemberment of many Earth Sect experts. To this day, the Demon Sect has not yet recovered its primordial energy. Her primary purpose this time was to test Duanmu Xinghua, to see if she was aware of the deeds of her teacher. Seeing Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s expression today, she must have been unaware, and this was also the reason why Zhao Qingmei gave Duanmu Xinghua a chance. ¡°I understand, Sect Leader.¡± Hearing this, Yu Qiurong immediately grasped the implication behind Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words. ¡°There¡¯s another matter that you need to attend to personally. I can¡¯t trust anyone else with this; I only trust you,¡± Zhao Qingmei said, taking a deep breath. ¡°Please give your commands, Sect Leader,¡± Yu Qiurong said as she clasped her fists, ¡°Your subordinate will not disappoint your expectations.¡± ¡°You go to Great Yan, now,¡± said Zhao Qingmei, with a glint of cold light in her eyes. Jiang Shang was about to return to the Demon Sect, and she was waiting for him. What she feared the most now was that An Jing was in Jiang Shang¡¯s hands. At the same time, she wanted Yu Qiurong to look for the missing Tan Yun and investigate the situation at that time. ¡­¡­.. In Nanping Dao, at the foot of Nanhua Mountain, the morning light bathed the lush mountains. The massive body of the Thousand-year-old Black Python spiraled down, hissing loudly. An Jing, holding two White Jade Stone statues, stood on the head of the Thousand-year-old Black Python. It did not take long before he landed on the mountainside. At this moment, Lou Xiangzhen was sitting cross-legged on a tall pine tree, his eyes shut tightly. ¡°Senior Lou, I¡¯ve obtained the items,¡± said An Jing, holding out the White Jade Stone statues. Lou Xiangzhen gave a slight nod and said, ¡°He¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t he?¡± It seemed that An Jing¡¯s acquisition of the White Jade Stone statues was within his expectations. ¡°Are you referring to Liang Mo?¡± asked An Jing, his eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem like a master from my Great Yan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s a Southern Barbarian Wizard. You¡¯re probably unfamiliar with the Southern Barbarians. There are ten major tribes, and they occupy all the mountain ranges of the Southern Territory. Because the mountains are filled with miasma and rampant with tigers, leopards, and wolves, and as they¡¯re far from our ancestral lands, the Human Emperors of previous eras never tried to conquer the Southern Territory. In the past few hundred years, the Southern Barbarians have learned some things, and their actions have become increasingly bold. In the last few decades, they¡¯ve even sent many masters to infiltrate Great Yan.¡± ¡°The Seven Evils Sect is one of the biggest forces among them and is directly controlled by the Southern Barbarian Royal Family. With Great Yan now in turmoil and constant disturbances, the Court can¡¯t spare the effort to deal with them. The Jianghu people and commoners in the Nanping Dao have suffered at the hands of the Seven Evils Sect for nearly a decade now.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Did Senior Lou also want me to kill that Liang Mo?¡± ¡°Would I let mere Southern Barbarians invade and harm our ancestral land and people?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked towards Nanhua Mountain and said, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t taken action, I would have done it myself; I would definitely not have let that Southern Barbarian Wizard leave Great Yan alive.¡± An Jing remained silent; the Gu insects reared by the Southern Barbarians were indeed cruel. He had seen them in the underground passages, those insects consuming human flesh, hearts, stomachs¡­ Such people indeed deserved to die. An Jing may not have grand ambitions like saving the world, but he did not wish to engage in actions harmful to others for his own benefit. Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°Although Liang Mo¡¯s death won¡¯t completely root out the problem, it can serve as a warning to the Southern Barbarians.¡± At that moment, both of them stopped talking and looked into the distance. ¡°Someone is following us?¡± An Jing frowned, thinking of the woman he met in the mountains. Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°Someone from the Unrivaled Palace.¡± Before long, Wang Ningshui caught up. She had rushed over with all her might. If the Thousand-year-old Black Python hadn¡¯t stopped, she would never have been able to catch up with her pace. An Jing looked at Wang Ningshui and said coldly, ¡°Do you still wish to lead me to my death?¡± ¡°My lord jests, that was all a misunderstanding earlier,¡± she replied. ¡°` Wang Ningshui clasped her fists and said with a bitter smile, ¡°Your strength is profound and inscrutable, and you have such an exotic beast by your side, how could I possibly be your opponent?¡± Then, she glanced at the old man behind the Ghost Swordsman and noticed no fluctuations of qi mechanism, but she knew that anyone capable of following the Ghost Swordsman could not be an ordinary person. Somehow, looking at the old man, she felt a sense of familiarity. An Jing frowned and said, ¡°Then why did you follow us? I have no acquaintance with you.¡± Behind him, the Thousand-year-old Black Python had opened its giant mouth, its massive tongue dripping with mucus, carrying an intense threat. Even though Wang Ningshui was an experienced practitioner of the Heavenly Flower Realm, looking at the Thousand-year-old Black Python, her heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble. ¡°I am Wang Ningshui from Unrivaled Palace, I have seen you two brothers.¡± Wang Ningshui became cautious, ¡°Observing that your strength is profound and inscrutable, and you carry justice in your heart, I would like to invite you to join the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall.¡± Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall!? An Jing¡¯s brows furrowed as he transmitted his voice to Lou Xiangzhen beside him, ¡°Senior, do you know what this Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall is?¡± Lou Xiangzhen did not conceal anything and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it and seen some of it. It¡¯s an organization spontaneously formed by experts of Great Yan to combat the forces of Houjin, Zhao Country, and the Southern Barbarians. They have intervened in the battles between Zhao Country and Great Yan, once thwarting the generals of Zhao Country. The specifics are not very clear to me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hearing this, An Jing nodded. Great Yan had been established for several hundred years; its powerful influence had taken deep root, whether in the marketplaces or in Jianghu. Therefore, within this vast Jianghu, there were no lack of patriotic individuals with generous hearts, and the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall was their organization, aimed specifically at combating foreign enemies. Whether it was truly a spontaneous formation, only those behind the scenes knew. An Jing laughed softly and said, ¡°Now Zhenyi Sect is searching for me, can the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall protect me?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Wang Ningshui suddenly showed a hint of hesitation, ¡°That¡¯s not possible, the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall does not interfere in Jianghu grudges, only taking action in times of national peril to combat external threats.¡± The original intention of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall was just to protect the country and guard the homeland. Among them, experts from various sects were present, and apart from a small number of individuals, the priorities of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall were not high. For instance, she, Wang Ningshui, as the Palace Master of Unrivaled Palace, would certainly prioritize her own sect before considering the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall. Of course, within the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, there were some real experts who placed the interests of family and country above all else. Besides, Zhenyi Sect was the National Religion of Great Yan, and within the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, there were experts from Zhenyi Sect; how could they possibly turn against Zhenyi Sect for the Ghost Swordsman? An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°Then there is nothing more to discuss. I currently have no plans to join the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall.¡± What he was currently thinking about was strengthening his own power, protecting himself, and protecting his wife. As for these issues of family and country, it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care; he simply thought that with his current level of power, he would at most be a pawn for others. It was better not to get involved. Though he had already killed Liang Mo, perhaps he had already offended the Southern Barbarians. Hearing this, Wang Ningshui did not show surprise. Over the years, she had recruited many experts. Very few were genuinely willing to join the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, and some who were willing to join even harbored ulterior motives. ¡°In that case, I will not force you,¡± she said. Wang Ningshui clasped her fists once more and then turned towards Lou Xiangzhen, ¡°I do find this gentleman somewhat familiar. I don¡¯t know if¡­ If it is inconvenient to disclose, you need not reveal it.¡± From the first glance at Lou Xiangzhen, she felt familiar with him, and the longer she looked, the more she felt as though she had seen him somewhere before. ¡°During the second year of the Taiping era, that time at the Yu Heng Sword Sect, you were about this tall.¡± Lou Xiangzhen held his hand at his waist to illustrate and seemed to fall into memory, ¡°I remember that time, your master was still a great beauty, but now she has turned into a handful of yellow sand.¡± Upon hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, a look of shock flashed in Wang Ningshui¡¯s eyes. ¡°Senior¡­ who are you?¡± She had not visited Yu Heng Sword Sect many times in her life, from when she was seven or eight years old till her teens, only to watch the competition between the Sword God and the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen. That event had taken place over fifty years ago. The Sword God has since passed away, and her own master has died as well. At that time, those present were all top swordsman experts, some of whom are still alive, either secluded in retreat or shut away in closed-door cultivation. That this person in front of her could remember so clearly, who was he? Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen.¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s heart jolted, and she promptly bowed, saying, ¡°Junior pays respects to Senior Lou! I never thought I would have the fortune to witness the grandeur of Senior once again.¡± Wang Ningshui¡¯s expression was filled with utmost respect, and even a tremor of awe. The young individuals of Jianghu, upon seeing this, would be immensely shocked. Who was Wang Ningshui, to be able to be considered an ancestor of the Unrivaled Palace, yet she faced this old man in such a manner. However, the younger generation of today could hardly imagine the awe and prestige of Lou Xiangzhen in the past! ¡°You need not be so formal; do I still have any grandeur now?¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and laughed, ¡°Nowadays in Jianghu, I, Lou Xiangzhen, am ridiculed as a coward, the second-best swordsman in the world. You must remember not to speak such words again, lest you become the subject of mockery.¡± Since Lou Xiangzhen chose to live away from the world, most Jianghu experts thought he was afraid of Zhenyi Sect. After all, the animosity between Ghost Valley Sect and Zhenyi Sect was not a secret among true Jianghu experts. Moreover, with Jiang Sanjia being persecuted and stripped of his official rank, forced to wander Jianghu, and Lou Xiangzhen remaining indifferent, anyone could guess that Jiang Sanjia¡¯s persecution was surely the doing of Zhenyi Sect. Seeing her own junior brother treated in such a way, and Lou Xiangzhen, the senior brother, staying out of sight, could that be anything but fear? Wang Ningshui earnestly said, ¡°In my heart, I will always remember the match between Senior and the Sword God, an unparalleled grandeur I dare not forget to this day.¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied self-deprecatingly, ¡°What¡¯s there to remember about a defeat, a shame that spurred on effort?¡± Wang Ningshui hesitated to speak; indeed, Lou Xiangzhen had lost at that time, and in the following years, many young swordsmen rose above him. The once famous Ghost Valley Sword Immortal had become the second-best swordsman for life. ¡°Senior Lou¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lou Xiangzhen interrupted Wang Ningshui¡¯s words, looking towards An Jing at his side, ¡°Aren¡¯t you in a hurry?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing gave Wang Ningshui a fist and palm salute, ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Elder Lou, I bid you farewell.¡± Wang Ningshui nodded, then bowed with hands clasped towards Lou Xiangzhen. Afterward, the two mounted the back of the Thousand-Year-Old Black Python. With the massive creature stirring, they swiftly made for the distance. Watching the receding figure of Lou Xiangzhen, Wang Ningshui let out a sigh. He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen, in this place. ¡­¡­.. As evening approached, in the dense forests of Nanping Dao. After a night of relentless travel, the two had put several hundred li between themselves and Nanhua Mountain. An Jing sat cross-legged on a huge rock, holding in his hands two white jade statues. ¡°Senior, in which of these white jade statues is the Golden Pill?¡± Standing atop a tree, Lou Xiangzhen suddenly noticed the white jade statues in An Jing¡¯s hands, ¡°Throw the one in your right hand to me for a look.¡± The right-hand white jade statue contained the cocoon that pulsed incessantly, as if something would leap out at any moment. An Jing didn¡¯t hesitate and threw it directly to Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen took the white jade statue and inspected it closely, ¡°This seems to be a Gu Insect from the Southern Barbarians.¡± ¡°Gu Insect?¡± An Jing asked, puzzled. He remembered that when he obtained the white jade statue, Liang Mo had forsaken chasing Wang Ningshui and had instead aimed directly at him, urgently wanting him to hand over the white jade statue. Now, An Jing finally understood that Liang Mo possibly wasn¡¯t after the Golden Pill, but rather the Gu Insect in his hand. If he had truly known that there was a Golden Pill inside the other statue, he would have surely taken it out already. ¡°This Gu is like a cocoon, throbbing like a heartbeat, fond of white jade, with its insides like blood threads.¡± Lou Xiangzhen muttered to himself as if thinking of something, ¡°Could this be the Holy Essence Gu? You lad, you might have struck it big.¡± ¡°What is the Holy Essence Gu?¡± An Jing inquired. This was surely a blue-chip opportunity, not bad at all. Lou Xiangzhen continued to examine the white jade statue in his hand, ¡°You should know, after reaching the Grandmaster Realm, the Inner Strength inside one¡¯s body can be transformed into True Qi, and Grandmasters can also refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy for their cultivation.¡± ¡°In this world, it¡¯s not only Grandmasters who can refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Some exotic species can do it too, such as the Fire Bird beneath Beili Volcano and other exotic beasts, as well as this Holy Essence Gu right here.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart stirred, ¡°Do you mean this Holy Essence Gu can refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy?¡± Having absorbed nature¡¯s spiritual energy before, An Jing was well aware of its benefits. If he could endlessly obtain nature¡¯s spiritual energy, his cultivation would surely grow at a remarkable pace. Lou Xiangzhen nodded, ¡°Precisely. Ancient texts record that the Holy Essence Gu can refine nature¡¯s spiritual energy, and once mature, it can match a Great Grandmaster, even directly extracting Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart skipped as he heard this. What was Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence? It was the essence of nature¡¯s spiritual energy. Lou Xiangzhen sat down cross-legged, touching the White Jade Statue as he said, ¡°This Holy Essence Gu is extremely rare, and it might be scarce even among the Southern Barbarians. Don¡¯t get too excited; this Gu Insect is very fragile. Not to mention whether it can survive to adulthood, just the incubation and raising process is extremely difficult. In the Southern Barbarians, the mortality rate during cultivation reaches eight out of ten, and it¡¯s even rarer for them to reach maturity¨Cone in ten, or even lower.¡± An Jing actually agreed with Lou Xiangzhen; he himself didn¡¯t know how to raise Gu, and this Holy Essence Gu was extremely rare, and there was a good chance he¡¯d just end up killing it. Lou Xiangzhen chuckled and said, ¡°How about this: you give me the Holy Essence Gu, and I¡¯ll lend you the ancient scriptures left by the previous Sect Leaders of my Ghost Valley Sect.¡± ¡°Think about it¨Cif you kill it, you¡¯ll only be left holding its corpse and bawling your eyes out. But if you trade it for the ancient scriptures of my Ghost Valley Sect, you can learn many secrets you never knew.¡± As for the Holy Essence Gu, he was quite tempted, although Lou Xiangzhen didn¡¯t know how to raise Gu either. An Jing shook his head, ¡°How can that be done? Senior, you don¡¯t seem to know how to raise Gu either. If it dies in your care, that would be a huge loss. I can¡¯t let Senior suffer that loss.¡± What a sly one! Lou Xiangzhen inwardly exclaimed, then tossed the White Jade Statue back to An Jing, ¡°You think I really care about your corpse? I just wanted to test you. What hasn¡¯t my Ghost Valley Sect seen? Leave alone this Holy Essence Gu, I¡¯ve even seen Exotic Beasts on par with a Great Grandmaster.¡± An Jing perked up at this, ¡°An Exotic Beast with the strength of a Great Grandmaster!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen smiled and said, ¡°But those things are all recorded in the ancient scriptures of my Ghost Valley Sect. If you want to know¡­¡± Old sly one! An Jing shook his head like a rattle-drum, ¡°Forget it, knowing these things won¡¯t be of any use to me.¡± ¡°That may not be the case.¡± Lou Xiangzhen glanced at the Thousand-year-old Black Boa lying on the ground in the distance; without An Jing¡¯s control, it was like a dead snake, ¡°If you don¡¯t use some methods on this Black Boa, I¡¯m afraid even after another hundred years, it will still just be a Black Boa.¡± An Jing also glanced at the Thousand-year-old Black Boa. Having controlled it, he was naturally aware of the physical strength of the Thousand-year-old Black Boa. Initially, when he had first used the Living Puppet Technique on the Thousand-year-old Black Boa, its physical strength was still increasing, albeit very slightly, but he could indeed feel it. However, in recent days, he found that the physique of the Thousand-year-old Black Boa had basically stopped changing. An Jing had thought it was close to undergoing the Jiao Transformation and hadn¡¯t paid it much mind, but now Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words made him have second thoughts. ¡°Are you saying the reason my Thousand-year-old Black Boa hasn¡¯t transformed into a Flood Dragon is that it lacks something?¡± An Jing asked. Lou Xiangzhen nodded and explained, ¡°The Black Python is a creature destined for the Jiao Transformation into a dragon, savage and unpredictable. The body of the Black Flood Dragon is even more powerful. As the old saying goes: ¡®Waves churn as the Black Jiao leaps, and the sunrise shimmers in the yellow mist.¡¯ The strength of such a Flood Dragon would be comparable to a Master of the Three Qi, even to Masters at the Four Qi Level. They are some of the fiercest creatures in the world. If this Thousand-year-old Black Python truly transforms into a Black Flood Dragon, you could go anywhere in the vast world.¡± ¡°And your Black Flood Dragon can be passed down to your descendants for generations to come. With several thousand years of cultivation, perhaps it really could transform into a true Black Dragon.¡± As he said this, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes sparked with a fervent light. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Throughout history, in the annals of time, a True Dragon has appeared only once, and when it did, it brought calamity upon the land, devouring countless people. Eventually, the Qin Dynasty summoned numerous experts from across the realm to kill it together. It is said that the Qin Dynasty dispatched a million-strong army, dozens of Masters, and even three Grandmasters, and even then, they only barely managed to slay the True Dragon. They sacrificed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and several Masters in the process, and two of the Grandmasters fell as well. Such was the severity of the battle that it nearly drained all the strength of the Great Qin Dynasty. But the Royal Family of Qin did not come out at a loss, as they acquired the True Dragon Essence Blood. For generations, they consumed the True Dragon Essence Blood, ensuring that each Human Emperor was a top-tier expert who commanded respect across the world¨Cthis is how the Qin Dynasty lasted for a thousand years. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Zhenyi, the Expert, Approaches Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Zhenyi, the Expert, Approaches The land rejuvenated, and all things revived. That gentle wind swept across the world, softening a fraction of the sorrow. On Yun Hua Daoist Officer¡¯s Way, there was a small tavern. Five or six tables, sporadically occupied by diverse figures from the martial world, merchants, and armed escorts, were murmur amongst themselves in hushed tones. A man in a black robe straddled a long wooden bench, noisily cracking open the melon seeds in his hand. Opposite him sat a white-haired elder, whose face was as withered as tree bark and eyes as cloudy as murky waters. A treasure sword rested by the table, and a wine gourd was fastened at his waist. These two were none other than An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Guest, your wine is here.¡± At this moment, a limping cripple approached unsteadily, carrying a jar of wine in his hand. Fine wine! Even before the wine was served, An Jing detected a refreshing fragrance that delighted the heart and the senses. ¡°Gulp!¡± Lou Xiangzhen took the wine jar, impatiently took a sip, ¡°Delightful, this Song Lao Wine truly deserves its reputation.¡± ¡°This is Song Lao Wine?¡± A flicker of curiosity flashed in An Jing¡¯s eyes upon hearing this. Full goblets of golden liquid, amidst courtyards of white jade dust. Although An Jing had never tasted Song Lao Wine, he was familiar with its celebrated name. The wine was one of Great Yan¡¯s famous brews. Later, the winery vanished for unknown reasons, and the technique for making Song Lao Wine gradually became lost. Since then, Song Lao Wine never reappeared in the rivers and lakes. If it did, it was mostly counterfeit. Lou Xiangzhen, gazing at the wine jar in his hands, lamented, ¡°Its color is tenderer than cool syrup, its aroma as perpetual as sweet dew.¡± The limping cripple brightened up at this, ¡°It seems the gentleman knows his wine.¡± Although the small tavern had seen its share of patrons, few truly understood the essence of wine. This elder was one such discerning connoisseur, having described the characteristics of Song Lao Wine perfectly. Lou Xiangzhen took out his wine gourd, ¡°Bring two more jars, and fill up this gourd of mine.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll prepare it right now.¡± The limping cripple nodded and then slowly made his way toward the back hall. Lou Xiangzhen, watching the man walk away, said, ¡°That limping cripple is the former junior manager of the Song Lao Winery.¡± On hearing this, An Jing looked toward the hobbling cripple, surprised, not expecting this disheveled, middle-aged man to have such a background. Perhaps everyone has their own story, their own choices in life. ¡°Here.¡± Lou Xiangzhen handed his wine jar to An Jing, ¡°It would be a pity not to taste such fine wine.¡± ¡°Gulp!¡± An Jing didn¡¯t speak, instead taking a big sip of the wine, ¡°Elder Lou, how far are you from reaching the Sixth Realm in your swordsmanship?¡± In their travels together, the two of them would discuss swordsmanship and share experiences daily, both benefitting from these exchanges. Lou Xiangzhen set down the wine jar, ¡°It¡¯s within arm¡¯s reach yet as distant as the ends of heaven.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing chuckled, ¡°Oh? Lin Yiyang claims he will reach the Sixth Realm within three years.¡± ¡°Lin Yiyang? The one who looks down on people through his nostrils?¡± Lou Xiangzhen glanced at An Jing, ¡°I admit he does possess some talent, but reaching the Sixth Realm is not so easily achieved. I genuinely believe his claim of reaching it within three years, for he wouldn¡¯t likely boast to the entire world if it weren¡¯t true. However, it¡¯s utterly impossible for him to reach the Sixth Realm solely by his own efforts.¡± As one advances in sword skill, each realm seems like a chasm as vast as the sky, especially between the Fifth and Sixth Realms. Through the ages, swordsmen who have reached these realms are all renowned masters in the martial world. And in today¡¯s world, not a single swordsman is known to be of the Sixth Realm, at least not publicly. ¡°` One can see how difficult it is to improve this sword skill. Hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but nod, ¡°He is the Sect Leader of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, and the Yu Heng Sword Sect is one of the top Sword Dao Holy Lands in the world. They must have some special methods.¡± In today¡¯s world, among the seven major sects, the Ghost Valley Sect is definitely a very unusual existence, with basically one or two disciples, but all are famous experts in the Jianghu. The other major sects all have large families and businesses and hold enormous influence in the Jianghu. As for the Yu Heng Sword Sect, it goes without saying that within the seven major sects, their strength is second only to the Zhenyi Sect. With the support of such vast resources and power, plus Lin Yiyang¡¯s talent, reaching the Sixth Realm is indeed possible for him. Lou Xiangzhen said with a smile, ¡°Rest assured, I will reach the Sixth Realm before him, do you believe me?¡± In today¡¯s world, the first one to reach the Sixth Realm would be the top swordsman, a well-known fact to all. An Jing raised his wine jug and declared boldly, ¡°Predecessor might get there before him, but I might even get there before you.¡± Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Lou Xiangzhen paused slightly and then burst out laughing, ¡°Hahaha, if that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s make a bet, shall we?¡± An Jing asked, ¡°What bet?¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied, ¡°Let¡¯s see which one of us two reaches the Sixth Realm first.¡± An Jing, looking at the wine on the table, had a thought, ¡°Good, let¡¯s bet ten jars of fine wine, each of the ten jars must be top-notch and of different varieties.¡± In truth, he knew that with his current realm, it would be extremely difficult to reach the Sixth Realm before Lou Xiangzhen. Especially after their recent exchanges, An Jing knew that Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Fifth Realm was nearing Perfection, just one step away from achieving ¡®no sword in the hand, no sword in the heart¡¯. Lou Xiangzhen had a passion for wine, and preparing ten jars of fine wine for him would also serve as thanks for his protection. Beyond that, An Jing didn¡¯t know how else to express his gratitude for this favor. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Then you better prepare yourself, the wine I drink can¡¯t be worse than Song Lao Wine.¡± ¡°Who will win and who will lose is still uncertain.¡± An Jing, unwilling to admit defeat, said, ¡°Come on, drink!¡± Come drink! Lou Xiangzhen, hearing these words, felt an eerie sense of familiarity, as if he had heard them just yesterday, and was slightly dazed for a moment. ¡­¡­. Seventy years ago, in the Peach Blossom Forest of the Blue River Sect. A teenager clad in plain clothes held a longsword in his hand. The peach blossoms fell, resplendent in their beauty, and the sword light danced through them like the petals drifting in the wind, now gentle, now explosive. ¡°Senior brother, senior brother,¡± a young voice called out. A snotty, four or five-year-old child with excitement on his face came running out. ¡°Master bought me sugar figurines, look!¡± the child extended his hand, showing off the sugar figurine in his grasp. This child was none other than Jiang Sanjia, while the teenager was Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Go play by yourself,¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s brows raised as he eyed the little runny-nosed kid, ¡°I need to practice my swordsmanship.¡± Jiang Sanjia blinked and said, ¡°Senior brother, you¡¯ve been practicing all day. Master says that you have to balance work and rest with anything you do.¡± ¡°Senior brother, play with me for a while, and I¡¯ll give you my sugar figurine.¡± As he spoke, Jiang Sanjia offered his sugar figurine to Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± Lou Xiangzhen scoffed lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb my sword practice.¡± At that moment, his heart was filled with one thought alone: to make a name for himself in the Jianghu, to carve out his own domain, and to become the greatest swordsman under the heavens. ¡°Senior brother¡­¡± ¡°Out of the way!¡± Lou Xiangzhen pushed him aside. ¡°` Jiang Sanjia stumbled and fell straight to the ground, his sugar figurine dropping into the mud. ¡°My sugar figurine, my sugar figurine¡­¡± Seeing this, Jiang Sanjia¡¯s eyes filled with tears, and he began to choke up. Lou Xiangzhen barked, ¡°Cry, cry, cry, is that all you know? Shut your mouth.¡± Hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, Jiang Sanjia quickly halted his tears and said, ¡°Brother, I understand, I won¡¯t cry anymore.¡± Lou Xiangzhen coldly said, ¡°Hurry up and leave, don¡¯t bother me anymore.¡± Jiang Sanjia glanced at the sugar figurine on the ground, then walked away holding back his tears. As Jiang Sanjia¡¯s retreating figure grew distant, Lou Xiangzhen slowly picked up the sugar figurine from the ground. At this moment, the sugar figurine was covered with mud and also the fragrant peach blossoms. ¡°Always crying. So useless.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at the figurine, then carefully pocketed the sugar figurine, and resumed his sword practice. Although Lou Xiangzhen was young, he had been practicing the sword for many years, his longsword whooshing through the air, his sword skill as mighty and grand as a master who had delved into the art for decades. ¡°Ssh-ssh!¡± ¡°Ssh-ssh!¡± Peach blossoms drifted down, his sword moving fast then slow, stringing together the blossoms in midair, as if the sword and the peach blossoms were one. In this moment, Lou Xiangzhen seemed lost in thought. Time passed, he did not know how long it had been. Lou Xiangzhen only felt his arms were sore and numb, and his stomach was empty. All around was pitch black, and above his head, the moon hung high in the sky. ¡°Hmm? Where¡¯s that sniveling brat?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked around him. He knew that by the time he usually finished practicing his sword, that sniveling brat would have already called him for dinner. Why hadn¡¯t he come today? Thinking this, Lou Xiangzhen was filled with confusion and headed towards the sniveling brat¡¯s room. ¡°Bang!¡± Lou Xiangzhen kicked the door open without any courtesy. ¡°Who is it!?¡± A childish cry of surprise came from inside the room. ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently. A ray of moonlight spilled in as the door opened. By the wooden bed, a small child with somewhat red and swollen eyes was warily watching Lou Xiangzhen at the doorway. ¡°Brother¡­¡± The sniveling brat sighed in relief upon seeing the visitor. Lou Xiangzhen lazily said, ¡°Sniveling brat, what¡¯s going on with you? Why didn¡¯t you call me for dinner today?¡± ¡°I¡­ I forgot.¡± The sniveling brat said, lowering his head. ¡°Forgot?¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a step forward, looked at Jiang Sanjia¡¯s cheek, and said with furrowed brows, ¡°It looks to me like you were hit by someone, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No¡­ not at all,¡± Jiang Sanjia hurriedly responded. Lou Xiangzhen hummed softly, ¡°Tell me, who did it? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll start by beating you.¡± Seeing this, Jiang Sanjia could do nothing but honestly confess, ¡°It was Wang Yue; he wanted to compete with me in martial arts. I was caught off guard and fell for that kid¡¯s move.¡± Everyone in the Blue River Sect knew who Wang Yue was¨Cthe grandson of the Sect Master, spoiled from childhood, a notorious Demon Lord of Mayhem that even the sect¡¯s Elders found troublesome and would go out of their way to avoid. ¡°I understand,¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded and strode towards the door. ¡°Brother, where are you going?¡± Upon seeing this, Jiang Sanjia quickly followed with his short legs. Lou Xiangzhen walked ahead, with Jiang Sanjia chasing behind him. In a short while, the two arrived at a backyard. There, a five or six-year-old child dressed in brocade was boasting proudly, ¡°That little runt isn¡¯t even as tall as a sword; obviously, he doesn¡¯t know the Ghost Valley Swordsmanship. It just took me three punches and two kicks to knock him down.¡± A group of teenage disciples, about seventeen or eighteen years old, surrounded the child and started flattering him. ¡°Brother Wang is a genius of our Blue River Sect; that little runt stands no chance against you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, even Lou Xiangzhen, who¡¯s praised by the Sect Leader as a prodigy, isn¡¯t Brother Wang¡¯s match.¡± ¡°Given time, Brother Wang will surely become one of Great Yan Martial World¡¯s top masters.¡± ¡°Absolutely, absolutely.¡± ¡­¡­ Upon hearing the surrounding flattery, the child¡¯s heart bloomed with joy. ¡°To become a martial world master is just a matter of time.¡± At that moment, Lou Xiangzhen entered and said coolly, ¡°An inexperienced small fry like you also wants to become a top martial artist of Jianghu?¡± Instantly, everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice. Seeing Lou Xiangzhen, the child immediately shouted, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, this is a residential area for the disciples of the Blue River Sect, outsiders are not allowed to enter. You¡¯ve got some nerve.¡± Lou Xiangzhen, looking at the child, hands behind his back, said, ¡°Wang Yue, cut the crap. You wanted to experience the Ghost Valley Sect¡¯s Ghost Valley Swordsmanship, didn¡¯t you? I won¡¯t take advantage of you; I¡¯ll only use one hand and let you attack my feet. If you can make me take a step back, then I¡¯ll admit defeat.¡± Seeing this, a Blue River Sect disciple quickly warned, ¡°Brother Wang, this Lou Xiangzhen is too crafty. He¡¯s several years older than you; don¡¯t fall for it.¡± Although Wang Yue was a martial arts prodigy, with years of medicinal baths since childhood, he was still very young. ¡°Step aside; I want to see how impressive he is.¡± Wang Yue, however, scoffed, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, if you take one step back, you lose. You said so yourself.¡± Someone next to Jiang Sanjia spoke up as well, feeling bolder, ¡°Wang Yue, even if my brother lets you use both hands and feet, you¡¯re still no match for him.¡± ¡°Bring it on then,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with a cold laugh. The surrounding Blue River Sect disciples looked at each other, thinking it was just a child¡¯s fight, irrelevant whether they won or lost, and decided to let the two mess around as they pleased. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s so special about your Ghost Valley Sect,¡± Wang Yue shouted and threw a punch towards Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Slap!¡± The punch was easily wrapped up by Lou Xiangzhen, leaving Wang Yue feeling as if his arm was clamped in a vice. ¡°Is this the extent of your strength?¡± Lou Xiangzhen burst out laughing. ¡°You!¡± Being just a five or six-year-old child, Wang Yue suddenly felt flustered. ¡°Go away.¡± With a flick of his hand, Lou Xiangzhen sent Wang Yue sprawling back, who then tripped and fell heavily onto the ground. ¡°Brother Wang!¡± ¡°Brother, are you alright?¡± The disciples of the Blue River Sect, seeing this, quickly surrounded them. Lou Xiangzhen glanced around and said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that I¡¯m bullying you. Any one of the Blue River Sect disciples here, step forward at will.¡± ¡°How arrogant!¡± Upon seeing this, Wang Yue immediately became furious and shouted, ¡°Bai Qun, you go up.¡± ¡°This¡­.¡± The disciple named Bai Qun, hearing this, showed a troubled expression, ¡°Brother Wang, I¡¯m seventeen or eighteen years old, and I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts in the Blue River Sect for almost ten years¡­.¡± Lou Xiangzhen was just a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old youth, while Bai Qun was one of the leading figures among the younger generation of the Blue River Sect. Wasn¡¯t this clearly picking on someone? Wang Yue and Jiang Sanjia were almost alike, and it was normal for the two to fight and mess around. If Bai Qun made a move, it would clearly be making a mountain out of a molehill. ¡°Make your move, you might not win,¡± said Lou Xiangzhen indifferently as he drew his longsword. ¡°Go up!¡± Seeing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s demeanor, Wang Yue roared at Bai Qun, ¡°Anything that happens is on my head.¡± Bai Qun¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment; he knew that if he did not take action today, Wang Yue would definitely hold a grudge against him. Moreover, Lou Xiangzhen was indeed too arrogant. It seemed like a good idea to teach the kid a lesson. To let him know the depth of the Jianghu. ¡°Please forgive my offense!¡± With that thought, Bai Qun leaped forward, throwing a punch at Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Fifth Grade Cultivation?¡± Lou Xiangzhen sneered at this sight, ¡°Off with you.¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! One could only see a flash of sword light in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand. Bai Qun felt a blur before his eyes and was startled. By the time he reacted, his body was already lying on the ground. ¡°What a fast sword!¡± The surrounding disciples of the Blue River Sect were all shocked when they saw this. Bai Qun was also one of the notable young generation of the Blue River Sect, yet he was defeated in one move. The youth called Lou Xiangzhen was indeed formidable, no wonder the Sect Leader held him in high regard. ¡°Is this the strength of the Blue River Sect?¡± Lou Xiangzhen held his sword with one hand, his eyes filled with a trace of arrogance and dominance, ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste time, all of you come at me together.¡± Standing behind him, Jiang Sanjia watched his figure, his eyes also shining. Wang Yue growled, ¡°Go up, make sure to knock this brat down!¡± ¡°All together!¡± Seeing Lou Xiangzhen speak so arrogantly, the Blue River Sect disciples charged towards him. They only saw Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s longsword dancing in his hand like falling peach blossoms. After dozens of exchanges, the Blue River Sect disciples were defeated one after another and lay on the ground, while Lou Xiangzhen also looked worse for wear, his face pale and breathing heavily. Growing more valiant with battle, Lou Xiangzhen said, ¡°What¡¯s this? Is this the extent of the Blue River Sect¡¯s power? If the young aren¡¯t up to it, the older ones can come. Let your uncles and masters show themselves.¡± The disciples of the Blue River Sect were all in a sorry state, supporting each other with very ugly expressions. This Lou Xiangzhen was really too powerful. One must know that they were from the Blue River Sect, considered to be among the best of the younger generation in Jianghu, yet today they were all defeated by a boy of thirteen or fourteen. Wang Yue sat on the ground, gritting his teeth, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, don¡¯t get cocky, wait five years, and I will surely beat you until you¡¯re looking for your teeth on the ground.¡± ¡°Five years?¡± Lou Xiangzhen laughed heartily, ¡°Give you fifty years, and you would still be no match for me.¡± Clothed in fine garb and riding on spirited horses during one¡¯s youth, one¡¯s spirit soars high. The disciples of the Blue River Sect present were angry yet silent, as the man before them, Lou Xiangzhen, was indeed too formidable. Wang Yue wasn¡¯t aware, but they knew the strength of this Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen glanced around and said, ¡°Snot-nosed brats, let¡¯s go drink and eat meat.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother! Let¡¯s go drink and eat meat.¡± Jiang Sanjia, upon hearing this, immediately shouted with pride. A child of four or five years old talking about drinking and eating meat was somewhat comical, but the disciples of the Blue River Sect present couldn¡¯t muster a laugh. With that, the two of them began walking towards the distance. ¡°Damn it!¡± Wang Yue, watching the pair¡¯s retreating backs, couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll also go back to eat. Just because they have it, doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t!¡± On a distant pavilion, two elders looked at this scene with a trace of amusement. ¡°This Lou Xiangzhen is really a genius,¡± said the elder in blue garments on the left, ¡°And his temperament and comprehension are both top-notch. His future is limitless. It seems like you¡¯ve found a suitable heir to your legacy and can rest at ease.¡± ¡°Indeed, Xiangzhen is exceptional,¡± the Sect Leader of the Ghost Valley Sect hesitated before sighing softly. ¡°You needn¡¯t calculate this and that every day. The secrets of heaven are infinite; can you really foresee them all?¡± chuckled the Sect Leader of the Blue River Sect. ¡°Actually, half a month ago, I made a divination and accidentally glimpsed a hint of heaven¡¯s will,¡± said the Sect Leader of the Ghost Valley Sect as he took a deep breath. ¡°The great trend is unifying, unstoppable; the Mystical Sect is about to reunify.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The face of the Blue River Sect Leader shook upon hearing this. The Mystical Sect had split into three: the Zhenyi Sect, Ghost Valley Sect, and Daluo Sect. While the Daluo Sect isn¡¯t particularly extraordinary, the Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect are both first-rate factions, which shows the strength of the Mystical Sect. With the Mystical Sect unifying again, it will undoubtedly cause a huge shock in the Jianghu. A thousand years ago, the Mystical Sect was a top force not belonging to either the Buddhist or the Demon Sect. If it unifies again, the landscape of the Jianghu will surely be reshuffled. Seeing the hesitant expression on the face of the Ghost Valley Sect Leader, the Blue River Sect Leader knew this matter wasn¡¯t as simple as imagined. The Mystical Sect had split into three, but who will bring about the unification? With whom does this great trend lie? Based on the expression in the eyes of the Ghost Valley Sect Leader, the great trend seems most likely to be with the Zhenyi Sect. In the separate courtyard. The table was laid with roasted chicken, beef, and two jars of liquid refreshment. Jiang Sanjia gnawed on the roasted chicken with big bites, and while observing Lou Xiangzhen drinking deeply, he whispered, ¡°Senior Brother, didn¡¯t our master say we shouldn¡¯t drink alcohol?¡± ¡°If master doesn¡¯t allow it, you won¡¯t drink?¡± Lou Xiangzhen, squinting his eyes, said, ¡°Master told you to practice martial arts diligently and not to go out and play, yet every day you still go out and mess around. Yesterday you went to steal chickens from the Blue River Sect again¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Jiang Sanjia quickly looked around, and after noticing there was no one around, he breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Come, have a drink, this is the good stuff.¡± Ignoring Jiang Sanjia¡¯s protest, Lou Xiangzhen put one of the jars of wine in front of him and said with a smile. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Jiang Sanjia looked at the wine in front of him and was tempted. Lou Xiangzhen continued to tempt him, ¡°Drink it, I saw our master and the Sect Leader of the Blue River Sect head down the mountain.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Sanjia subconsciously hugged the wine jar. Lou Xiangzhen said, ¡°After drinking this, you¡¯ll be the happiest person in the world.¡± ¡°Is it sweeter than eating Tang people?¡± ¡°Sweet, very sweet.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try. Elder Martial Brother never lies to me.¡± Upon hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, Jiang Sanjia could no longer hold back; he wrapped his small hands around the wine jug and took a swig. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­.¡± The gulp was a bit too big, the spicy sensation rushed from his throat straight to his belly, instantly causing Jiang Sanjia to tear up, ¡°Elder Martial Brother, you lied to me, this isn¡¯t sweet at all, it¡¯s spicy¡­.ha¡­¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Seeing the little snot-nosed kid in such a state, Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Of course, the wine is spicy.¡± Before long, the alcohol rushed to his head, and Jiang Sanjia¡¯s face turned beet red, feeling his body becoming feather-light. Jiang Sanjia swayed, saying, ¡°Elder Martial Brother, the movement technique Master taught me, I feel like I¡¯ve got the hang of it, I feel so light right now.¡± The corners of Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s mouth curled up as he took a sip of wine, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it, this is good stuff, I don¡¯t share it with just anyone.¡± ¡°Elder Martial Brother, such fine treasures must not be wasted.¡± Jiang Sanjia, drunk as a lord, climbed onto the table, his small hands gripping the wine jug, ¡°Come, drink!¡± ¡­¡­.. Inside the tavern. ¡°Elder Lou!¡± An Jing saw the wine jug halt mid-air in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Come drink, we can¡¯t waste such good wine.¡± ¡°Delicious.¡± Upon hearing this, Lou Xiangzhen guzzled the Song Lao Wine with vigor, the spiciness brought a much-needed relief. When he first heard of Jiang Sanjia¡¯s death, he was merely slightly stunned, not quite feeling the impact then, but as time slowly passed, he seemed to come to his senses. Sanjia was truly dead. After Lou Xiangzhen finished drinking, he felt as if sand and dust were blinding his eyes and instinctively turned his head towards the distance. Grief always arrives unexpectedly and silently, mingling into mundane trifles, then it hits you hard all at once, deeply distressing you. An Jing seemed oblivious and mused to himself, ¡°Good wine, truly fine wine.¡± ¡°Tat tat tat tat¡­.¡± Just then, the sound of horseshoes approached from afar, shaking the very ground. Dressed in black and riding tall horses, dozens of men raced urgently down the official road, their expressions hurried. ¡°Heh, those seem to be the experts from the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Qing Feng Hall.¡± ¡°I wonder what brings them here.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? There are wanted posters all over Jianghu now, all seeking the Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°How could I not know about that? They say the big incident on Nanhua Mountain a while ago was the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Pity, the Ghost Swordsman was indeed a renowned swordsman. It¡¯s just unfortunate that he had to provoke the Zhenyi Sect.¡± ¡­¡­ The patrons inside the tavern started discussing as they witnessed the scene. An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen exchanged glances, both having a hunch. On their journey, they had seen some of Qing Feng Hall¡¯s experts. Initially, An Jing paid it no mind, but then they encountered more and more of these experts. Something was not right. It seemed the Zhenyi Sect knew his whereabouts and was weaving a massive net around him. An Jing hesitated before saying, ¡°Elder Lou, I think it¡¯s best if we hit the road.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked into the distance and said in a deep voice, ¡°Let¡¯s take the left path and make a detour.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing nodded. This particular left path led straight to Xuanqing Mountain. Xuanqing Mountain was a place of immense significance, the ancestral court of the Mystical Sect. It was the location of the sect¡¯s gates in bygone years. After the Mystical Sect split, no other sect had established its gates there. It was said that every ten years, Xiao Qianqiu would come down from his mountain to Xuanqing Mountain to offer incense and worship his ancestors. His ambition was known to the entire world. ¡­¡­ On the official road. The Reverend Moyun took out a fruit the size of a thumb and placed it in front of the spirit-seeking rat. This thumb-sized fruit was no ordinary fruit but a heavenly material and earthly treasure known as the Water Spirit Fruit. It grew on the Water Spirit Tree, bearing fruit every three years. Water Spirit Trees could only be found on Poison Mountain in Zhao Country, making them extremely rare. The spirit-seeking rat swallowed the thumb-sized fruit in one go and then lay on the road, sniffing towards the front, making a ¡®squeak squeak¡¯ sound. ¡°It¡¯s up ahead.¡± Seeing this, the Reverend Moyun turned and said, ¡°We should be close now.¡± Behind them were Ling Yuanjing, the grand truth-seeker Yu Huai, and three more Taoists and a nun, who all had an impressive demeanor. These individuals were indeed several of the great truth-seekers from the Zhenyi Sect: Yu Zhen, Yu Lin, Yu Jiu, and the master of Tongxuan Peak, He Chen. Yu Lin and Yu Zhen, both in their fifties, appeared amiable with a whisk in hand. The difference was that Yu Lin wore an exquisite jade pendant on his waist, a Purple Wood Crown on his head, and his Daoist robe was embroidered with intricate patterns, giving him an air of being an immortal figure. On the other hand, Yu Zhen wore a simple white-gray Daoist robe that was thoroughly cleansed and shoes that were incredibly ordinary, making him unobtrusive. Were it not for his standing among the other great truth-seekers, one might mistake him for a wandering Taoist. Yu Jiu, a female crown-wearer, had a rosy complexion and fine features, and she must have been quite attractive when she was younger. She carried a sword at her waist. Everyone knew that apart from Yu Ying, the leader of the Heavenly Venerate Hall, Yu Jiu was the second most skilled practitioner of the Sword Dao on Zhenyi Mountain. He Chen, the master of Tongxuan Peak, wore a black Daoist robe, his hands behind his back, and his face betrayed no emotion. Among the four peak masters, He Chen was the eldest. Like Xiao Qianqiu, he too was a disciple of Ye Ding and was in fact Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s senior fellow apprentice. The grand truth-seeker Yu Huai declared in a resolute voice, ¡°Ahead? We¡¯re nearing Xuanqing Mountain.¡± The great truth-seeker Yu Zhen furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What would the Ghost Swordsman be doing on Xuanqing Mountain?¡± Since the dissolution of the Mystical Sect, most of Xuanqing Mountain¡¯s scriptures and treasures had been completely divided among the three sects. Over the years, the buildings atop the mountain had been largely destroyed, and with the annual looting by people from Jianghu, only a dilapidated site remained. The great truth-seeker Yu Jiu thought for a moment and said, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman is a disciple of Yan Shaoshan and thus is also of the Mystical Sect lineage. Perhaps he is visiting the Ancestor Court to pay homage to his ancestors, or maybe he¡¯s just passing by to take a look.¡± He Chen glanced at the distant Xuanqing Mountain and spoke slowly, ¡°Whatever he intends to do is of little consequence to us. All we need to do is intercept him.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°Have someone surround the area for tens of miles, and let not a single shadow escape.¡± Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and said, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is extremely skilled in the Concealing Method. Even the experts from Qing Feng Hall might pass by him without recognizing him. We can only rely on this spirit-seeking rat to find him.¡± ¡°Remember, he has an Exotic Beast by his side, and we must not underestimate him or act rashly.¡± As he said this, Ling Yuanjing looked towards the Reverend Moyun. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Ling. We will definitely find that Ghost Swordsman today.¡± The Reverend Moyun smiled and then took out two more Water Spirit Fruits from the pouch at his waist and threw them before the spirit-seeking rat. ¡°Eat up quickly, then it¡¯s time to get to work.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only After wolfing down the Water Spirit Fruits, the spirit-seeking rat showed a satisfied look and with a ¡®squeak¡¯, it transformed into a black line and darted into the dense forest. Seeing this, the Reverend Moyun quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s follow swiftly. After swallowing the Water Spirit Fruits, my spirit-seeking rat can move extremely fast and will find the Ghost Swordsman within thirty miles.¡± Having said that, the Reverend Moyun chased after it without hesitation. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The numerous formidable practitioners of the Zhenyi Sect exchanged glances and quickly followed suit. Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Tan Yuns Identity Suspected of Being Exposed Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Tan Yun¡¯s Identity Suspected of Being Exposed Xuanqing Mountain, atop the cliff. Looking around, there was endless misty clouds, ethereal like a fairyland. Lou Xiangzhen, with his hands behind his back, looked at the disarray in front of him and remained silent. ¡°Is this the piece your junior disciple left behind?¡± At that moment, a leisurely voice came from afar. A Taoist slowly walked over. If An Jing had been there, he would have recognized that the person in front of him was none other than the Luo-surnamed Taoist who had divined earlier in the Thousand Mechanism Palace. Lou Xiangzhen nodded, saying nothing. The Taoist nodded slightly and slowly said, ¡°Strength is good, Root Bone is good, fortune is excellent, both land and people are favorable, but the timing is a bit difficult¡­¡± Lou Xiangzhen squinted his eyes, ¡°The providential time has already been occupied by Xiao Qianqiu and me.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, the Taoist was slightly stunned and then burst into laughter, ¡°It¡¯s one thing for Xiao Qianqiu to possess the providential time, but when did you occupy it?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at the front, remaining silent. Seeing this, the Taoist narrowed his eyes, ¡°What, do you want to try with my great-nephew?¡± Great-nephew! In today¡¯s world, the only person who could call Xiao Qianqiu a great-nephew was Luo Chongyang, the younger brother of the previous Zhenyi Sect Sect Hierarch Ye Ding. Who is Luo Chongyang? People who have spent some time in Jianghu mostly know him well, especially the older generation of martial artists who revere him like thunder. Who is Ye Ding? He is the master of Xiao Qianqiu, who now presides over Zhenyi Mountain, overlooking the martial world. Luo Chongyang¡¯s standing in the Zhenyi Sect and Zhenyi Mountain is extremely high. Just now, the Zhenyi Sect grandmasters and peak masters present had to respectfully greet him as granduncle. When the temple masters of the various Daoist temples see Luo Chongyang, they must also call him granduncle and pay him great respect. It is rumored that when Ye Ding passed on the leadership to Xiao Qianqiu, Luo Chongyang harbored some dissatisfaction in his heart, and within three years, he had a dispute with Xiao Qianqiu, which even escalated to a physical altercation, after which he was defeated by Xiao Qianqiu and fled from Zhenyi Mountain. Thereafter, Luo Chongyang wandered Jianghu for decades, completely disappearing from the public eye twenty years ago. Lou Xiangzhen touched the Peach Blossom Sword at his waist and whispered softly, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu has dominated the scene for over twenty years now, time really flies.¡± It seemed as if there were halos floating on the Peach Blossom Sword, dazzling and mesmerizing the onlooker. Luo Chongyang glanced at the Peach Blossom Sword at Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s waist, ¡°One final step?¡± The difference between the Fifth Realm of Sword Skill and the Sixth Realm is like heaven and earth, incomparable. In the same era, there are dozens of swordsmen who reach the Fifth Realm, among whom the best can become top Sword Immortals. But only those who reach the Sixth Realm can truly dominate and even be recorded in history. Why has Lin Yiyang¡¯s reputation surged lately? Isn¡¯t it because of that statement he made after challenging the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva? He must reach the Sixth Realm within three years. The Sixth Realm is a shackles for all Fifth Realm swordsmen, even the top swordsmen in the world seldom reach the Sixth Realm. Lou Xiangzhen stood at the peak of the mountain, letting the fierce wind blow, his gaze deep, ¡°What do you think our chances are?¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth a try.¡± Luo Chongyang thought for a moment before finally speaking, ¡°After all, decades have passed, and I¡¯m not very familiar with my great-nephew¡¯s current strength.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression was calm as water, and he nodded slightly. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s strength is very high, his reputation even more terrifying, among which there is no lack of embellishment from the Zhenyi Sect, and in addition to his decades of seclusion on Zhenyi Mountain, not many people know his true strength. Yet, the title of the number one person in the Great Yan Martial World, he has nurtured for decades. His prestige is extraordinary, and his true strength is definitely not lacking. Luo Chongyang thought of something and said, ¡°Throughout history, many have sought the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ and the position of Mystical Sect Daoist Master, but in the end, they all turned into dust. Do you know why?¡± When Mystical Sect fragmented, it mysteriously turned into a secret, and even after a thousand years, it has not been unified. It¡¯s worth noting that in these thousand years, each faction has produced outstanding figures, but none have obtained the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ or achieved the Daoist Master position to revitalize the Mystical Sect. ¡°Some people don¡¯t want it.¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°The Mystical Sect has been the foremost sect from ancient times to the present, once surpassing even today¡¯s Zhenyi Sect in prestige. Buddhist and Demon Sects couldn¡¯t even touch its edge; who in the world would like to see the Mystical Sect rise again?¡± Luo Chongyang nodded, ¡°So, it¡¯s extremely difficult for the Mystical Sect to unite. This is also why Xiao Qianqiu hasn¡¯t descended the mountain yet. Once he truly comes down, it would mean he is confident about his chances.¡± Uniting the Mystical Sect is not as easy as others think; it is fraught with difficulties and turbulent waves. ¡°That would be the best, to defeat such a Xiao Qianqiu would truly be exhilarating.¡± Lou Xiangzhen began walking down the mountain, ¡°When the time comes, don¡¯t forget to come and watch.¡± Watching Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s distant figure, Luo Chongyang said, ¡°I¡¯ve long stopped caring about the grudges in Jianghu.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about the grudges of Jianghu, this is a conflict of Daoist traditions. Whether you come or not, Xiao Qianqiu and I are destined to have a battle sooner or later.¡± After saying that, Lou Xiangzhen leaped up and disappeared over the cliff. Luo Chongyang stood where Lou Xiangzhen had been standing, gazing at the sea of clouds below for a long time. He remembered the first time he went to find Lou Xiangzhen. At that time, he invited Lou Xiangzhen to come out of seclusion to jointly create a legacy and revitalize the Mystical Sect, but Lou Xiangzhen had no intention of clashing with Xiao Qianqiu and completely lacked the ambition to become the Daoist Master. Lou Xiangzhen is indeed an interesting person; a talented youth renowned throughout Jianghu, adorned in splendid garments riding a spirited horse, he enjoyed much adulation as the darling of the heavens and lived a life of boundless glamour. His temperament was incredibly arrogant and unruly. Later, as his fame rose, he gradually became one of the top swordsmen in the world and even sought to challenge the Sword God. Unexpectedly, he was bitterly defeated by the Yu Heng Sword Sect, discouraged and disheartened, he half-retired from Jianghu. He no longer strove for fame and fortune but pursued a leisurely and carefree life, seemingly having found the true essence of life. Regardless, he was still considered the second best swordsman in the world at that time, just below the Sword God and Sword Demon. Years later, as the Sword God and Sword Demon either disappeared or died, Xiao Qianqiu from the Zhenyi Sect began to rise. He further withdrew from Jianghu and secluded himself at the northwest border, but he remained one of the top swordsmen in the world. Some said he was now the top swordsman; others claimed he ranked fifth, his spirit defeated, no longer possessing his former courage, afraid to face the formidable Zhenyi Sect. Some praised him, but more despised and cursed him. Eventually, some even suggested that he was only relying on his seniority; otherwise, he would have no place among the top five Sword Immortals in the world. Lou Xiangzhen ignored such rumors, entirely indifferent. The ranking in the world meant nothing to him anymore. Only this year, with the death and disappearance of Jiang Sanjia, did he rekindle that fire within him. He came out of seclusion to rival Xiao Qianqiu and challenge the Jianghu once more. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s life has been full of ups and downs, his heart swaying with the major trends of Jianghu. Luo Chongyang, watching the drifting clouds in the sky, couldn¡¯t help but muse, ¡°Clouds gather and scatter in the sky, and such is life as well.¡± ¡­¡­ East Lin Road, Heavenly Water City, within a beautifully exquisite pavilion. A guqin was placed on a small table, beside which sat a middle-aged man. The man¡¯s appearance could not be considered handsome or imposing, merely above average, but his fingers were exceptionally slender and elegant. His fingers rested on the strings of the guqin, yet he did not play. A stream of sunlight poured through the window, illuminating the back of his hand. Just then, the sound of knocking came from the door. ¡°Sir, there¡¯s an urgent report.¡± ¡°Come in,¡± the man said serenely toward the door. As the door was pushed open, a man with a sword quickly entered, presenting an urgent dispatch, ¡°This comes from Mo Yan, sir, with utmost urgency.¡± Mo Yan, a tributor of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. The identity of the man before him was all too clear, he was the extremely mysterious Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Upon hearing, the Pavilion Master¡¯s hand reached out, and the dispatch landed in his palm. He quickly skimmed through it. Afterward, his usually calm face tightened slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°What a formidable Ghost Swordsman.¡± The urgent dispatch detailed a great battle atop Xuanqing Mountain. The Zhenyi Sect had dispatched numerous experts, not escaping the notice of some, but few knew of Zhenyi Sect¡¯s true intent. It turned out this mission was aimed at encircling the Ghost Swordsman of Jiangnan Dao. Unexpectedly, this Ghost Swordsman was so formidable that, facing a siege by four Grand Real People, two Peak Masters, and the Reverend Moyun, he directly killed two Grand Real People and Reverend Moyun before safely departing. Such a terrifying accomplishment is exceedingly rare in the Great Yan Martial World. After all, there was hardly anyone with such strength who dared to offend the Zhenyi Sect, except perhaps a master from the Demon Sect or someone from Black Ice Platform at the Great Snow Mountain of Houjin, but these people were not currently within the borders of Great Yan. Even so, they had to weigh their options carefully and be wary of retaliation from the Zhenyi Sect. After all, the Zhenyi Sect did have its grandmasters, especially the world-renowned Xiao Qianqiu, who was a top-notch grandmaster with immeasurable strength. The man bearing the longsword asked in a low voice, ¡°My lord, could the Ghost Swordsman be¡­¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion tossed the urgent dispatch to the swordsman. After glancing at it, the man gasped in shock. Normally, just one great master could dominate in the martial world and hold power over a region, but this time, even with so many masters dispatched by the Zhenyi Sect, they had failed to capture the Ghost Swordsman, who instead killed many of their masters and walked away. Moreover, the dispatch mentioned he left peacefully rather than escaping, which implied that the Ghost Swordsman faced the seven great masters without falling into a disadvantage. The strength of this Ghost Swordsman was terrifying indeed! The man pondered and said, ¡°What an incredible swordsman; this person¡¯s strength must be no less than that of Lin Yiyang¡­¡± Lin Yiyang was one of the five great Sword Immortals of the current era, the Sect Leader of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, and he possessed the Ninth Sword, ranking him among the top masters just below the grandmasters of this world. After a long moment, the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion said, ¡°This person¡¯s strength is profound and inscrutable, as if he has appeared out of thin air; could there be someone behind him?¡± The swordsman thought for a moment and replied, ¡°It¡¯s unclear, but this person doesn¡¯t seem to have any particular grand motives.¡± ¡°Whether he has motives or not, we must be cautious and continue the investigation; do not halt your efforts.¡± After another pause, the Pavilion Master continued, ¡°Also, there is a significant matter that I need you to handle.¡± ¡°Xiao Ruoyun is entirely at your command, my lord,¡± the swordsman said as he bowed with clasped hands. The Pavilion Master spoke gravely, ¡°I need you to make a trip to Lingnan Dao.¡± Xiao Ruoyun was startled and exclaimed, ¡°Lingnan Dao!?¡± ¡­¡­. In the North, within Hidden Mountain. Hidden Mountain was not a notable mountain in Great Yan and was located on the fringe of Great Yan¡¯s border, with surroundings that were far from bustling. Yet in the martial world, no one dared to underestimate this place. For within these mountains lay one of the seven factions of Great Yan, the Five Poison Sect. Those truly familiar with the martial world knew that the Five Poison Sect originally belonged to the Demon Sect as the Five Poisons, but later, due to a paramount genius who grew discontent with the Demon Sect, they broke away and established the Five Poison Sect. The ability to break away from the Demon Sect and establish the considerable Five Poison Sect, becoming one of the Great Yan¡¯s seven factions without falling prey to retaliation from the Demon Sect, surely showed the support from the Zhenyi Sect and the Human Emperor, but it also highlighted the formidable strength of the Five Poison Sect itself. Halfway up the mountain, there was a beautifully designed corridor and group of buildings. At that moment, a group of disciples dressed in the attire of the Five Poison Sect were seated on meditation mats, looking tensely and reverently forward. Directly in front of them was a woman of stunning beauty and extreme coldness. This woman had a delicate face, eyes full of spirit, arched eyebrows, a petite nose, and red lips that breathed fragrance, captivating anyone who looked at her and immersing them deeply. The only pity was her isolated and proud demeanor, chilly to the extreme. This person was none other than Dai Ling, who had narrowly escaped death at Three Temple Mountain. ¡°That will be all for today¡¯s lesson; if there¡¯s anything unclear, feel free to ask me privately,¡± she said. Dai Ling swept her eyes over her audience and then stood up to leave. ¡°This morning I heard a major piece of news.¡± ¡°I know, you must be talking about the big news from Xuanqing Mountain.¡± ¡°Brother Mao, what exactly is the news? Hurry up and tell us.¡± ¡°The six great masters of the Zhenyi Sect descended the mountain to exterminate the Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡­.. Just as Dai Ling turned to leave, the disciples below burst into chaos. At the mention of ¡°Ghost Swordsman,¡± her steps faltered slightly, and a cold chill flashed through her usually icy eyes. ¡°The six great masters of the Zhenyi Sect, who are they? Hurry up and tell us, Mao Yun,¡± a clueless disciple eagerly asked. Mao Yun was an inner disciple of the Five Poison Sect who often engaged in indolence and socialized with unruly friends, possessing a profound awareness of the news from Jianghu. Mao Yun said in a deep voice, ¡°Great Real Masters Yu Lin, Yu Jiu, Yu Zhen, Yu Huai, and the Peak Masters of Nanhua Peak and Tongxuan Peak, Ling Yuanjing and He Chen, six people in total.¡± Upon hearing this, someone couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°You forgot about the Ascetic Monk Moyun from Heaven¡¯s Cave Mountain; he also went.¡± The surrounding disciples, each carrying an expression of surprise, exclaimed, ¡°So many experts! Then the Ghost Swordsman is undoubtedly doomed.¡± In their view, with so many masters mobilized by the Zhenyi Sect, how could the Ghost Swordsman possibly survive? ¡°Then you are mistaken,¡± Mao Yun retorted with a cold laugh. ¡°The Zhenyi Sect truly made a huge loss this time. They¡¯re carrying their coffins and crying in defeat. Six great masters perished, Great Real Master Yu Lin and Yu Huai died, Tongxuan Peak¡¯s Master He Chen was gravely injured, and the remaining ones were also severely wounded. Ascetic Monk Moyun suffered the worst fate; neither he nor his companion mice managed to escape.¡± Whoosh! Everyone¡¯s faces showed shock and amazement. They were evidently stunned by the news, never expecting the Ghost Swordsman to be so formidable as to break out from so many of Zhenyi Sect¡¯s masters. Dai Ling clenched her silver teeth, her heart turning ice-cold. She clearly remembered that at the time on Three Temple Mountain, the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s power was not this terrifying. Yet, in just a few short months, he had killed several experts at the Heavenly Flower Realm. It was said that he now had an exotic beast by his side, and not even a Half-step Master could handle him. The position and status of a Half-step Master were significant¨Cher own father, Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu, was also just a Half-step Master. And in these months, she had diligently cultivated day and night, along with a strand of nature¡¯s spiritual energy that Tian Cansou had risked his life to obtain, barely reaching the First Grade Realm. Dai Ling clenched her fists tightly, a wave of discomfort surging in her heart, ¡°Is avenging him truly hopeless?¡± During this period, she often dreamed of the scene where the Ghost Swordsman and Li Fuzhou cruelly killed Tian Cansou¨Cthis was almost the source of her motivation for cultivation. This was also why she had been exceptionally diligent recently, and her cultivation had progressed very rapidly. Soon, she had returned to the front of her courtyard. ¡°Ling¡¯er.¡± Just as she was about to step inside, a voice called out. Following the voice, she saw a strikingly handsome man with distinctly sculpted facial features, sharp and well-defined, and a straight nose above perfectly proportioned lips. With just one look, one knew who this extremely handsome person was¨CFive Poison Young Master Dai Danshu. ¡°Dad!¡± Dai Ling said upon seeing him. Dai Danshu raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°You seem preoccupied; what were you thinking about just now?¡± ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± Dai Ling shook her head. ¡°You were thinking about the Ghost Swordsman, weren¡¯t you?¡± Dai Danshu said lightly. Dai Ling, upon hearing this, did not speak. Dai Danshu took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯ve also received news that the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s power is now not inferior to mine, and might even be a bit stronger. Without a Grandmaster¡¯s intervention, killing him might be very difficult. You should probably not dwell on seeking revenge against him.¡± Three Half-step Masters and four at the Heavenly Flower Realm surrounded him, yet he managed to kill two Heavenly Flower Realm masters and one Half-step Master. Even though he had the help of an exotic beast, the beast was also a part of his strength. Dai Ling still said nothing. Dai Danshu seriously continued, ¡°I know you won¡¯t heed my advice, but I am speaking for your own good. The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s strength is not something you can handle, and your chances of killing him are almost nonexistent.¡± Dai Ling bit her lip hard, ¡°Dad, I understand what you are saying, but to pretend like nothing happened and forget about the blood feud, I can¡¯t do it.¡± The death of Tian Cansou was still vivid in her mind; how could she possibly forget her hatred now? Dai Danshu knew well the nature of Dai Ling and felt somewhat helpless, quietly saying after a long while, ¡°If you can¡¯t forget, at least keep it deeply buried in your heart.¡± Dai Ling nodded firmly, ¡°I naturally know that. I won¡¯t act irrationally.¡± She was acutely aware that when it was time to endure, she must endure, waiting for the most critical moment to strike a fatal blow. Dai Danshu knew persuasion was futile, and it might even motivate her, so he did not linger on the topic. Instead, he said, ¡°I came here mainly to discuss the matter we talked about last time. How have you considered it?¡± Dai Ling looked up, and after a long pause, said, ¡°I don¡¯t like Zhao Mengtai; he is too gloomy and overcalculating.¡± Half a year ago, proposals were made to the Five Poison Sect regarding this marriage. Back then, Dai Danshu, considering that the Second Prince Zhao Mengtai had an elder brother, the Crown Prince, had always put this matter on hold. But considering recent developments and seeing the ambitious nature of Zhao Mengtai, especially now with the Human Emperor in seclusion, the future scenarios seemed unsure¡­ The Second Prince might not be a bad option. ¡°Since you dislike him, then let¡¯s forget about it,¡± he said. Dai Danshu sighed softly, ¡°But the matter of marriage must be arranged, and you are not young anymore. I plan to issue the Jianghu Heroic Invitation to seek a husband for you.¡± Dai Ling¡¯s strength was among the very top of the younger generation. Initially, he was quite interested in Qi Yun. Unexpectedly, Qi Yun had died in Yu State City, and his death was exceedingly disgraceful. Finding someone of a similar family status and strength was indeed too difficult for Dai Ling. Dai Ling blinked, ¡°Dad, if a bunch of old men in their seventies or eighties come to respond to this Heroic Invitation, would you have me marry them too?¡± ¡°How could that be possible!?¡± Dai Danshu brushed his sleeve and said irritably, ¡°Rest assured, if someone in their seventies or eighties calls me ¡®father-in-law,¡¯ I wouldn¡¯t dare to agree.¡± Upon hearing this, Dai Ling said softly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it all to you, Dad. I definitely won¡¯t marry anyone I don¡¯t like.¡± ¡°Since you agree, I will have someone spread this news tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing this, Dai Danshu also felt relieved. ¡­¡­ The night was silent. East Lin Road, a small border town tavern. ¡°Server, bring the dishes.¡± A woman dressed in black, with average features and a somewhat plump figure, walked in. ¡°Coming right up!¡± The server, slapping his towel, walked over quickly and smiled, asking, ¡°What would you like to eat, sir?¡± Being a tavern server meant more than just serving tea and water; observing and understanding guests was equally important. Servers needed to remember a guest¡¯s face for at least a month if it was their first visit to the tavern. This was fundamental. They also had to gauge the guest¡¯s background based on their clothing and guess their line of work. The woman in front of him, although ordinary-looking and plump, wore loose clothes and held a longsword, making it obvious that she might be a Jianghu traveler. ¡°Serve me four¡­ no, six of your special dishes,¡± said the woman after thinking for a moment. ¡°Six dishes?¡± The server muttered under his breath, then something occurred to him, ¡°Would you like any drinks, sir?¡± The woman waved her hand and said, ¡°No drinks, just bring three large bowls of rice first.¡± ¡°Sir, could it be that more friends are coming?¡± Upon hearing this, the server cautiously asked, ¡°Should I bring a few more sets of cutlery?¡± Upon hearing this, the woman¡¯s brows furrowed, showing impatience, ¡°Just bring the dishes, why so much talk?¡± ¡°Alright, I will order right away.¡± The server smiled apologetically and then went to the back, ¡°Six special dishes, three large bowls of rice.¡± ¡°Did more people come?¡± At this, a cook wiping the sweat from his forehead asked. The server pursed his lips and said, ¡°Not many, just one.¡± Upon hearing this, the cook became discontent, ¡°Just one person? Is he a pig? Wants six large dishes?¡± It was almost closing time, and he was looking forward to going home and resting with his wife. Now he had to start bustling again. In the tavern, the woman in black, who had excellent hearing, caught every word of the conversation. She clenched her fist, as if flames of anger were burning within. The woman extended her hand and tapped her chest, signaling herself to calm down. This person was none other than Tan Yun, who had just left Yu State City. However, at this moment, she had disguised herself so well that even people who knew her could not recognize her. ¡°Let¡¯s figure out the route first.¡± Having calmed down, Tan Yun took out a map from her bosom and started to study it. Because the terrain of Great Yan was complex and the roads extensive, Tan Yun had already taken the wrong path twice, delaying her considerably. Fortunately, after buying a map from a merchant, she no longer lost her way. ¡°Xuanqing Mountain, East Lin Road, Blue River Sect¡­¡± Tan Yun stared intently at the map. In recent days, the Jianghu had been buzzing with news that the Ghost Swordsman was spotted on Xuanqing Mountain, and upon hearing this, she had rushed here with great anticipation. ¡°Sir, your dishes are ready.¡± Soon, the waiter came up with a few dishes, his face full of enthusiasm. Tan Yun quietly put away the map and glanced at the dishes on the table, feeling her appetite stir. ¡°Enjoy your meal, sir. Call if you need anything.¡± The waiter slowly withdrew. ¡°Understood.¡± After the waiter left, Tan Yun immediately picked up a bowl of rice and began to eat heartily. Since leaving Yu State City, she had found herself eating less and less. Suddenly, Tan Yun saw the stir-fried pork kidney on the table, and something occurred to her, causing her chopsticks to pause momentarily. She remembered that her husband had always enjoyed this stir-fried pork kidney because she liked it too, and they used to fight over who got to eat more. Of course, that was what Tan Yun believed. ¡°Husband, rest assured, I¡¯ll eat your portion too.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s expression grew a bit sad, then she channelled her sorrow into strength and began to gulp down the rice voraciously. Thinking that she could no longer see An Jing, her heart suddenly soured, and this feeling spread to her stomach, making her feel even hungrier. ¡°Waiter, another bowl!¡± After swiftly finishing two bowls of rice, Tan Yun called out loudly. ¡°Right away.¡± The waiter quickly brought two more bowls of rice and set them in front of Tan Yun, ¡°Take your time.¡±¡® At that moment, an old man accompanied by a young girl walked in. The old man¡¯s clothes were somewhat tattered, and he looked frail and blind as he held a two-stringed fiddle in his dry palms; the lean girl clung tightly to his clothing. ¡°Sir, how about a tune for some money?¡± The pair approached a table cautiously. At that table, four or five burly men were drinking merrily and seemed to be enjoying themselves. One of the men waved his hand impatiently, saying, ¡°Go away, go away. I¡¯m too poor to give money for you to drink.¡± Seeing this, the old man quickly pulled the girl towards another table to ask, but most ignored them, and a few directly chased them away. ¡°Would you like to hear a tune? Just ten copper coins.¡± Before long, the old man approached Tan Yun¡¯s table. Tan Yun, holding a chicken leg, looked up and saw the lean girl beside him, ¡°Alright, play me a tune then.¡± Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared in the old man¡¯s eyes: ¡°Sure, does the sir have any preferred tune?¡± Tan Yun spoke carelessly, ¡°Anything will do.¡± ¡°Then the old man will play ¡®Western River Moon,¡¯ which is something I¡¯m particularly good at.¡± With that, the old man sat down on a nearby empty chair and began to play his two-stringed fiddle. The mournful sound of the music began slowly, then hastened, and after the quick phase, it gradually softened, like the tide receding, leaving a clear, moonlit night and a quiet sandbar. The plaintive, sorrowful sound echoed throughout the inn. Suddenly, many people looked over and started whispering among themselves. The more Tan Yun listened, the sadder she became. ¡°My husband must have loved this tune. Next time I visit his grave, I must hire some musicians to play for him.¡± Before long, the old man stopped playing. ¡°Not bad.¡± Tan Yun took out some broken silver from her purse and handed it to the young girl. ¡°Sir, ten copper coins are enough,¡± the girl hastily said upon seeing the silver. ¡°Keep it, it¡¯s a reward for you,¡± Tan Yun generously offered on this rare occasion. ¡°But¡­.¡± The girl still hesitated. ¡°Hurry along, and don¡¯t disturb my meal.¡± Tan Yun raised his eyebrows, feigning displeasure. ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± The elderly man quickly took the girl by the hand, excitedly walking off towards the distance. Watching the elderly and the young girl leave, Tan Yun seemed to remember something and sighed lightly, ¡°I wonder if that little black dog is dead.¡± After a moment, Tan Yun felt full and, rubbing his round belly, laid down a few copper coins and leisurely picked up his bundle to continue on his journey. At this moment, the several burly men sitting beside the table saw this, exchanged looks, and quickly followed him, without even paying for the silver. The waiter, trembling, cleared the bowls and dishes from the table, not daring to ask for the silver and then nervously went back to the kitchen. ¡°Old Zhu, Old Zhu.¡± ¡°What now? Did someone else come in?¡± The cook raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. ¡°No, no.¡± The waiter swallowed nervously, ¡°That woman who ate three bowls of rice just now left a silver after paying the performer, then she left, and I saw some men from North Mountain following her.¡± Upon hearing this, the cook¡¯s face also turned pale, ¡°That¡¯s bad.¡± In this remote small town plagued by thieves, Xuanyi Guards rarely appear. Although it can¡¯t be said that disturbances happen often here, they certainly aren¡¯t rare, and often involve unresolved injustices. Above the North Mountains of this town lives a group of very arrogant bandits called the North Mountain Bandits, who commit all sorts of heinous acts like murder and robbery, causing prolonged suffering to the town. ¡°I saw that the woman looked like she was from the Jianghu, I wonder what will happen,¡± the waiter said shakily. ¡­.. As the night deepened, Tan Yun did not intend to rest. She needed to reach the vicinity of Xuanqing Mountain as soon as possible. Leaving the small town, Tan Yun, riding a black horse, galloped along the official road. ¡°Find that Ghost Swordsman and recruit him into the Demon Sect¡­.¡± Thinking this, Tan Yun¡¯s heart suddenly began to race. Suddenly, a cold light struck from behind. ¡°Hm?!¡± Tan Yun, as the Protector of the Human Sect and the sole disciple of Li Fuzhou, was accustomed to being flanked by numerous top masters for protection when she was in the Jianghu; although unprotected now, she was not someone who could easily be bullied. Whoosh! Whoosh! Tan Yun leaped, separating from her horse, and the cold light impaled the ground instead. ¡°Stop!¡± Tan Yun pulled on the reins. ¡°Miss, that¡¯s quite a skillful move.¡± At this moment, a sneering laugh approached. Four or five burly men who had been at the eatery came from behind, quickly surrounding her, seemingly blocking all her escape routes. ¡°What do you want?¡± Tan Yun looked at the men in front of her, and her mind moved swiftly, immediately guessing that her display of silver had incited their murderous intent. ¡°What do we want?¡± The leader chuckled, and the others instantly encircled her more tightly. ¡°Leave your silver with us, then stay and have some fun with us.¡± As they spoke, a lewd smile formed on their faces. An excited voice from the side chimed in, ¡°Old Ma, this miss may look ordinary, but the skills she displayed earlier could indeed make for an exciting night.¡± ¡°Have fun!? Have fun!?¡± Tan Yun, who was well-read, was no longer a naive girl. Angered, she drew her Longsword. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Reflected by the moonlight, a streak of cold light shone before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Still resisting.¡± One man leaped forward, aiming a palm strike at Tan Yun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Shriek!¡± Tan Yun drew her Futu Sword, a flash of sword light surged forward. ¡°Boom!¡± The flying figure was blasted into a mist of blood, scattering across the sky. The North Mountain bandits were terrified upon seeing this. One move! One move had killed the North Mountain¡¯s Third-in-command of the Sixth Grade Realm! This was no ordinary Jianghu expert; she was at the very least of the Fourth Grade Realm, perhaps even higher. ¡°Not good, we¡¯ve encountered a tough one.¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡­.. They were not fools; realizing their mistake, they quickly fled towards the distance.¡± ¡°Thinking of running away!?¡± Tan Yun, who never hesitated to kill, snorted coldly as her Longsword slashed again. ¡°Puff Puff Puff Puff Puff Puff!¡± The sword light moved so swiftly, it seemed like strands of silk passing by. Just ahead, several North Mountain bandits¡¯ bodies stiffened, then they fell to the ground together. Four men killed in one move, without any hesitation or delay. ¡°Worthless things, let¡¯s go!¡± Tan Yun gracefully sheathed her Futu Sword, then mounted the black horse and rode off into the distance. Not long after Tan Yun had left, two figures, an old man and a young girl, arrived by leaping movements. It was the grandfather and granddaughter who had been at the restaurant. ¡°Is that blood?¡± The old man furrowed his brow and swiftly asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The slender girl calmly walked up to the bodies and slowly said, ¡°Those North Mountain bandits are all dead, killed by a single sword strike. This person¡¯s sword skills are very high, and the sword is a fine one too, it might be that woman.¡± The old man listened but said nothing, instead he placed his hand on the bodies of the North Mountain bandits. Seeing this, the girl couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master Xue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The old man said gravely, ¡°Earth Demon Technique, the one who employed these sword skills cultivated the Earth Demon Technique!¡± The girl also looked worried as she asked, ¡°Could it be that the woman just now is a master from the Human Sect?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only That woman had shown no signs of Qi energy fluctuations, a hallmark of Human Sect spies in the Demon Sect, known for their profound concealment skills. ¡°Very likely.¡± Master Xue said coldly, ¡°Better to kill wrongly than miss one. Report this to the Xuanyi Guard.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The girl pondered for a moment and then nodded her head. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Reach the Sixth Realm in One Day Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Reach the Sixth Realm in One Day In Yun Hua, deep in the dense forest. ¡°Phew!¡± An Jing gently exhaled a turbid breath, with most of his injuries having already recovered. This duel wasn¡¯t perilous, but it was still an intense competition. If it was not for his perfect Golden Bone, he might very well have been dancing with death. At that moment, Lou Xiangzhen landed from afar and said, ¡°This time you¡¯ve killed two True Men from the Zhenyi Sect. Given the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s style, they won¡¯t let this slide after taking such a hard hit.¡± An Jing replied somberly, ¡°If they insist on making me their enemy, I can only resist.¡± If the Zhenyi Sect were willing to trade or offer some benefits, he would not mind handing over the Daluo Heart Method. However, not only were they overbearing and aggressive, but they also wanted to take his Daluo Heart Method for nothing. An Jing could never allow that. Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°Do you know of Yu Ying from the Heavenly Venerate Hall?¡± ¡°I do.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°He is the Hall Master of the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Heavenly Venerate Hall, but he has not left the mountain for decades.¡± Decades ago, the Zhenyi Sect had three masters known throughout Jianghu. Besides the Zhenyi Sect Hierarch Ye Ding, there were Yu Ying and Luo Chongyang. Among them, Luo Chongyang was the most gifted and also the youngest. It was rumored he might surpass Ye Ding and take over as the leader of the Zhenyi Sect, but unexpectedly, Ye Ding¡¯s disciple Xiao Qianqiu rose too quickly and took the position of Sect Hierarch directly from Ye Ding. Compared to Luo Chongyang and Ye Ding, Yu Ying was indeed somewhat inferior, but even so, he was still renowned as a grandmaster in Jianghu, capable of fighting hundreds of rounds with Demon Sect Heavenly Sect¡¯s Master Duanmu Xinghua without a winner. His strength was not inferior to Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s; it might even be higher. Lou Xiangzhen chuckled mischievously, looking at An Jing with a playful expression, ¡°I guess that next time, he might personally make a move against you.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing was shocked, and his expression tensed, ¡°A Grandmaster?¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Just then, Lou Xiangzhen flicked his finger, and a sword light surged from his fingertip. The sword light was too fast, and An Jing didn¡¯t react at all. It grazed directly over his palm. A clear bloodstain appeared on the back of his hand. Only when the blood began to flow did An Jing feel a twinge of pain and couldn¡¯t help but feel alarmed. Lou Xiangzhen shook his head and said, ¡°You have perfected your Golden Bone and practiced Buddhist Body Refining Martial Arts; your body seems strong, but this is nothing in front of a Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Lin Yiyang¡¯s swordsmanship is superior to yours; though his body isn¡¯t as strong as yours, he wields the Phoenix Sword, making him no less powerful than you are now. Yet he was defeated by the newly ascended Grandmaster Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, who is a Zen monk who shuns killing. Under the same realm conditions, he is far weaker than the Buddhist Vajra, so you must never underestimate a fight with a Grandmaster.¡± An Jing knew Lou Xiangzhen was reminding him. Although he had faced seven masters in Zuanqing Mountain and killed three, he was still far from ready to face a master of the Grandmaster Realm. Grandmasters have undergone a transformation; their Inner Strength has turned into True Qi, and every action carries the pressure of a Grandmaster. This is why Grandmasters seldom participate in the affairs of Jianghu. Once a Grandmaster takes action, the battle inevitably spirals out of control. Back when the Demon Sect was expelled from Great Yan, Grandmasters had fought, but those battles hadn¡¯t been extraordinarily fierce. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Lou, my mindset remains the same,¡± An Jing assured him slowly. ¡°The truly top-notch swordsmen always maintain a humble heart.¡± He was well aware that there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers in Jianghu, with new masters continually emerging; although he was making waves in Jianghu now, he was far from unbeatable. ¡°That¡¯s the best mindset to have,¡± Lou Xiangzhen responded after hearing this and nodded, ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t belittle yourself too much; right now, beneath the level of Grandmaster, you should have few rivals.¡± ¡°No,¡± An Jing shook his head, sighing, ¡°There is one person; she isn¡¯t a Grandmaster yet, but I might not be able to defeat her.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lou Xiangzhen heard this and couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Who is this person?¡± An Jing¡¯s cultivation had already reached the pinnacle of the First Grade, with the incomplete Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, two to three Heavenly Martial Level martial arts, and his Golden Bone refined to Perfection. Unless he faced someone with similar fortune and whose cultivation had reached the Half-step Master Realm, ordinary Half-step Masters stood no chance against him. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that person is, either. I encountered a Half-step Master at Liumu Villa in Yu State City.¡± An Jing furrowed his brows and then recounted the details of his duel with the expert surrounded by a cloak of black mist. ¡°Cloaked in black mist, a Demon Sect expert?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised his eyebrows, ¡°You might have encountered a top expert of the Demon Sect. The martial arts practiced by members of the Demon Sect are mostly derived from ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯, shrouded in mystery and power. These top Demon Sect techniques indeed involve the dispersal of black mist, which obscures all appearances.¡± ¡°However, of the top Half-step Master experts of the Demon Sect, I only know of two individuals, one being Li Fuzhou, the head of the Human Sect, and the other is Yi Daoyun, the chief of the White Tiger Sect, but neither of them may currently be able to defeat you,¡± he continued. An Jing shook his head, Yi Daoyun was a master of the Sword Dao, and the person he fought did not use Sword Dao. As for Li Fuzhou, that was even less likely. Lou Xiangzhen remarked with emotion, ¡°This world is truly full of exceptional individuals.¡± With such strength as An Jing¡¯s, he was practically unbeatable below the Master Realm, yet there were still those who could surpass him. It was unknown what kind of fortune this person had encountered. An Jing asked nonchalantly with a smile, ¡°If Yu Ying really came out of seclusion, would senior be a match for him?¡± Lou Xiangzhen, who was savvy, saw right through An Jing¡¯s intention upon hearing this remark, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for me to help you deal with Yu Ying, but you must accompany me to visit an old friend.¡± Hearing this, An Jing asked, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded. If Yu Ying had indeed come out of seclusion, he would naturally make a move. Others might not know, but Lou Xiangzhen was aware that since Xiao Qianqiu went into seclusion, it seemed like Ling Yuanjing was in charge of the Zhenyi Sect, but in reality, it was Yu Ying of the Heavenly Venerate Hall. The death of Jiang Sanjia had an indescribable connection to him. ¡°Very well, I shall accompany senior on this journey,¡± An Jing decided. An Jing pondered and then asked, ¡°Where might senior¡¯s old friend be?¡± ¡°Blue River Sect,¡± Lou Xiangzhen exhaled slowly and continued, ¡°Actually, heading to the Blue River Sect also benefits you.¡± ¡°Blue River Sect?¡± An Jing murmured to himself. The Blue River Sect was one of the Great Yan¡¯s seven major factions. Compared with other sects, this sect had a long history and a profound heritage spanning a thousand years. However, in recent years, compared to the other seven major factions, the Blue River Sect¡¯s development was somewhat unsatisfactory, falling to the last among them, long losing the prestige it held as one of the top three sects of Great Yan in the past. But as the saying goes, even a camel that¡¯s dying of hunger is still bigger than a horse. Even so, the Blue River Sect was not a sect that ordinary factions could compare to. Lou Xiangzhen said, ¡°That¡¯s right, there is a Sealing within the Blue River Sect, and beneath it lies a piece of the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s blade. Could you take it to unite with your Evil Suppressing Sword?¡± A Sealing!? An Jing couldn¡¯t help but recall the Sealing at the Fa Xi Temple. Originally, at the bottom of the Sealing, there had been a strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and a piece of the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s blade. He remembered Jiang Sanjia mentioning that around the world, there were six other Sealings, including the Dragon Locking Well in Great Yan, making a total of seven places. At that time, Jiang Sanjia hadn¡¯t told him what exactly lay beneath the Sealings. An Jing inquired, ¡°Senior, do you know what exactly this Sealing is about?¡± Lou Xiangzhen pondered for a moment and then replied, ¡°The thing under this Sealing is the Earth Veins.¡± An Jing heard this and was even more puzzled, ¡°Earth Veins? Why seal the Earth Veins?¡± He remembered that it was recorded in ancient texts, Earth Veins were the roots of the Earth and the very basis from which nature¡¯s spiritual energy derived. Once the Earth Veins were sealed, the gathering of this spiritual energy would also become extremely difficult. But why seal these Earth Veins in the first place? Lou Xiangzhen spoke solemnly, ¡°Because when the Earth Veins break their bounds, a terrible disaster occurs. No ancient text records exactly what this disaster is, but I can tell you how terrible it is; both the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Qin Dynasty were destroyed because of this disaster.¡± An Jing took a deep breath, his heart shaken. It was rumored that both the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Qin Dynasty had Great Grandmasters in seat, and yet even they couldn¡¯t withstand this disaster? No wonder Great Yan built the Dragon Locking Well to trap the Earth Veins, and they built it right in the heart of Yujing City. Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°Now that the Dragon Locking Well has been forged, Great Yan has become somewhat negligent in guarding these seals around the world. Moreover, with the Great Yan Emperor¡¯s retreat in progress, uncertain as it is, this is the perfect opportunity for you to break the seal and retrieve the Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± ¡°However, you must not touch the Dragon Locking Well. It is Great Yan¡¯s critical vulnerability. If you dare to break into the Dragon Locking Well, you will surely face catastrophic consequences.¡± An Jing nodded and said, ¡°All I plan to do is recall the entire blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword, why would I damage the Dragon Locking Well?¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a swig from his wine gourd and said, ¡°Many with ulterior motives have tried to exploit this seal, all without exception have died, including Grandmasters. The old ancestor of the Lifeless Sect once tried to break this seal and ultimately had his entire sect annihilated.¡± ¡°The Xuanyi Guard in the hands of the Great Yan Emperor is a sharp sword hanging over everyone in Jianghu¡¯s heads, but the Inner Palace still harbors many top-notch experts. Not to mention others, the current Emperor himself is an extremely terrifying entity.¡± Lou Xiangzhen rarely praised anyone, but when he said someone was exceptional, their cultivation was at least at the level of a top Grandmaster.¡± An Jing pondered for a moment and said, ¡°There definitely must be something incredible about this Earth Vein.¡± It came to him then that following the breaking of the seal at Fa Xi Temple, his Life Fate began to show an upward trend. ¡°Could it be you know something?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing. ¡°How could I possibly know if even my senior doesn¡¯t know?¡± An Jing smiled. Lou Xiangzhen slapped his wine gourd, then said, ¡°Stop thinking about such trivial matters. Let¡¯s hurry on our way; my wine is almost gone.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± This trip to the Blue River Sect might just hold opportunities waiting for him under the seal. ¡­¡­. Three days later, Zhenyi Mountain. ¡°Dong!¡± ¡°Dong!¡± The mourning bell in Zhenyi Mountain tolled incessantly, the whole day long. The entire Zhenyi Sect, nearly amounting to tens of thousands of disciples, but there were only seven Great True Ones, and now two had been lost. Experts of the Heavenly Flower Realm, when placed in Jianghu, belonged to the most influential class, with extensive connections and immense authority. Countless people came to offer their condolences. Inside the Heavenly Venerate Hall. An old Taoist sat at the front of the hall, his eyes tightly shut, seemingly napping. ¡°Great-Uncle.¡± After a while, a voice came from behind. The entrant was none other than Ling Yuanjing. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Yu Ying slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a reverie. He wasn¡¯t asleep after all, but was reminiscing about the memories of Yu Huai and Yu Lin. These two disciples had also grown up under his watch. ¡°The affairs of Brother Yu Huai and Brother Yu Lin have been taken care of.¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s face was filled with guilt. ¡°This time, I failed to assess the strength of the Ghost Swordsman and as a result, two junior brothers died, and senior brother He was severely injured. I can¡¯t shirk the blame. I came here to confess my guilt to my senior uncle.¡± Originally, he thought that deploying so many experts to capture the Ghost Swordsman was almost a sure thing, but the result turned out to be the opposite. If it weren¡¯t for the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s hesitation because of his concerns, none of them might have survived. ¡°You¡¯re not to blame for this.¡± Yu Ying waved his hand. ¡°The strength of the Ghost Swordsman is profound and unpredictable. It is normal for you to be no match for him. Moreover, I received news yesterday that there was someone else with the Ghost Swordsman. Even if you had defeated the Ghost Swordsman, you definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to obtain the Daluo Heart Method from him.¡± Upon hearing this, Ling Yuanjing couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Lou Xiangzhen!¡± Yu Ying stated each word distinctly. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s expression turned ugly. He and Lou Xiangzhen had an unresolved grudge; every encounter with Lou Xiangzhen left him in a sorry state. He hadn¡¯t expected that even without Lou Xiangzhen lifting a finger this time, he would end up the same. ¡°Lou Xiangzhen has left his seclusion and is now mingling with the Ghost Swordsman. It seems the death of Jiang Sanjia has sparked his ambition.¡± Yu Ying sighed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s also my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have ordered the removal of Jiang Sanjia. It would have been better to let him live a bit longer.¡± Ling Yuanjing added, ¡°Jiang Sanjia was too dangerous, and knowing Mu Xiaowan¡¯s true identity is detrimental to our Great Zhenyi Sect¡¯s plans¡­..¡± Yu Ying pondered for a moment then said, ¡°We should say no more about this matter. It¡¯s more important to deal with the Ghost Swordsman and Lou Xiangzhen.¡± Ling Yuanjing asked, ¡°Senior Uncle, do you plan to take action personally?¡± Yu Ying¡¯s eyes were deep like an abyss. ¡°If your third senior uncle were here, there might have been a chance to capture Lou Xiangzhen. As for me dealing with this Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, I¡¯m not certain of victory.¡± Ling Yuanjing was shocked, ¡°Senior Uncle, you¡¯re not sure?¡± He was very aware of Yu Ying¡¯s strength¨Ca rare expert in today¡¯s world and a Second Qi Grandmaster¨Cyet he didn¡¯t dare claim victory against Lou Xiangzhen. Yu Ying nodded slightly, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen is also of Second Qi cultivation, and his swordsmanship is superb, almost reaching the Sixth Realm. Once he reaches the Sixth Realm, not even a Third Qi Grandmaster might defeat him.¡± Ling Yuanjing was filled with shock. He hadn¡¯t realized that Lou Xiangzhen, who had always been ranked second in the world, could be so formidable. Thinking carefully, it indeed should be so; as a swordsman who spanned two eras, Lou Xiangzhen was truly deserving of his reputation. ¡°Grand Uncle Master.¡± Just then, a childish voice came from outside the Heavenly Venerate Hall. Looking in the direction of the voice, there stood a Daoist boy about seven or eight years old, with rosy lips and white teeth. ¡°A note has arrived from the Sect Leader¡¯s Quiet Room.¡± ¡°Bring it here for me to see.¡± Yu Ying spoke indifferently. ¡°Yes.¡± The boy respectfully handed over the note. It had just three words on the pristine note, ¡°twenty days.¡± Ling Yuanjing also saw the words on the note, and his heart trembled. Twenty days, could it be that my senior brother will be leaving seclusion in twenty days? Seeing this, Yu Ying sighed lightly, ¡°It seems that Lou Xiangzhen and the Ghost Swordsman won¡¯t be able to enjoy their lives for much longer.¡± Ling Yuanjing, puzzled, asked, ¡°Why do you sigh at such good news, Senior Uncle?¡± Yu Ying replied, ¡°I actually think that both men are talents that could be of great use. If they could serve our Great Zhenyi Sect, it would enhance our sect¡¯s prestige when competing with the Buddhist and Demon Sects.¡± Ling Yuanjing hesitated before speaking, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen follows a different path from us and it¡¯s impossible for him to be of use to us. As for the Ghost Swordsman, who killed two of my junior brothers, there is a deep-seated vengeance that cannot be resolved.¡± If he had harbored any thoughts about the Ghost Swordsman before, the death of Real People Yu Huai and Yu Lin had completely severed those thoughts. Yu Ying said indifferently, ¡°Wait until Qian Qiu emerges from seclusion in twenty days, and let him decide.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ling Yuanjing nodded heavily. When Xiao Qianqiu came out of seclusion, who knew what kind of storms it would stir up in the Great Yan Martial World. ¡­¡­ Dongluo Pass, Dongluo Tower, as the night deepened. Zhao Qingmei looked at the paper figure in her hands. She was certain that the one directing the paper figure¡¯s movements was An Jing. It was because they had agreed on this beforehand, and no one else could possibly know, especially in such detail. Then, she slowly got up and looked up at the moon in the sky. Looking at the moon, she saw only him. On the days they could not meet, she felt her heart grow even hotter. ¡°Sect Hierarch, important intelligence has arrived from Great Yan.¡± At that moment, Yu Qiurong¡¯s voice rang out from outside the door. ¡°Come in and speak.¡± Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, and her gentle eyes turned somewhat cold. ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Qiurong walked in slowly, and then said to Zhao Qingmei, ¡°The Zhenyi Sect dispatched four great real people and two peak masters to Xuanqing Mountain to encircle the Ghost Swordsman. In the end, the Ghost Swordsman killed two great real people and then disappeared without a trace.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in her eyes, ¡°That Ghost Swordsman is quite capable. Without an exotic beast, his strength is merely at the Heavenly Flower Realm. It seems he has gained quite a fortune either in Jiangnan Dao or atop Nanhua Mountain.¡± She remembered their first encounter at Liumu Villa; she was very clear about the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s strength, and she had not even used her full power at the time. Yu Qiurong said gleefully, ¡°Sect Hierarch, this time the Zhenyi Sect has truly lost both their troops and their generals. I heard that He Chen was seriously injured as well.¡± Something seemed to occur to Zhao Qingmei, ¡°Let Mu Xiaoyun come in. I have questions for her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Qiurong nodded and then turned to walk out. Before long, Yu Qiurong came back with a woman. The woman was dressed in a long black dress that fit snugly around her body, accentuating her curves perfectly, complemented by a delicate, fair face and a pair of slender, watery, peach-blossom eyes. This was none other than Mu Xiaoyun. ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± Mu Xiaoyun approached Zhao Qingmei and quickly bowed. She had been at Dongluo Pass for several months now. Relying on her abilities and strength, she had been given a position of authority and was currently the nominal head of the Vermilion Bird Seat. However, she knew well that she was merely a puppet, the true head was still Yu Qiurong, and she was just holding the title, not a true core member of the Demon Sect. But the person in front of her was different. She was the current Hierarch of the Demon Sect, with unfathomably profound cultivation. Recently, she had even defeated the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sect, Duanmu Xinghua. Although the Demon Sect had sealed this news, she was naturally aware of it. Zhao Qingmei spoke softly, ¡°You have interacted with that Ghost Swordsman. What do you think of him?¡± ¡°That person¡­.¡± Mu Xiaoyun pondered for a while and then said with a wry smile, ¡°Subordinate also can¡¯t see through him. His heart is quite complex.¡± ¡°Tell me, how complex it is,¡± Zhao Qingmei said. Thereafter, Mu Xiaoyun clarified everything about how she met the Ghost Swordsman and how he helped her retrieve Xue Chen¡¯s body. Zhao Qingmei raised her eyebrows slightly when she heard this, ¡°You mean, the Ghost Swordsman was only at the Human Flower Realm when you first met him?¡± Mu Xiaoyun nodded and said, ¡°It should be, his swordsmanship is very advanced, and the swordsmanship he uses is famously odd. No one knows his origin, and his strength might be somewhat exaggerated.¡± Why is it that in Jianghu some swordsmen, when they first appear, seem exceptional? Because their swordsmanship is very special, masters of the same realm don¡¯t fully comprehend it. Once the swordsmanship becomes familiar and its patterns are understood, it¡¯s no longer as sharp and frightening as before. Mu Xiaoyun¡¯s statement wasn¡¯t intended to suppress the Ghost Swordsman; she didn¡¯t know why Zhao Qingmei had summoned her, so it seemed better to adopt a lower profile in front of this female demon sect leader. Zhao Qingmei pondered and asked, ¡°Do you think you can recruit this person into the Demon Sect?¡± Even if they couldn¡¯t recruit him, forming a collaboration would still be beneficial. Although Zhenyi Sect would definitely move against him, the Demon Sect could secretly assist the Ghost Swordsman and disrupt Zhenyi Sect¡¯s plans. ¡°That would certainly be good¡­¡± Mu Xiaoyun was slightly taken aback by Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words, then replied, ¡°However, I am not well acquainted with this person.¡± Although she had joined the Demon Sect and seemed to hold a high position as one of the Four Leaders, she was still alone within the sect, which had many factions. The most evident were the Youth Faction and the Conservative Faction. There were also masters trained by the Demon Sect Main Hall, such as Yu Qiurong and Yi Daoyun, who were utterly loyal to the sect. Then there was the Azure Dragon Sect Leader and the Xuanwu Sect Leader like her, who had joined midway. However, the Xuanwu Sect Leader was genuinely valued by the female demon sect leader. He had real talent in military strategy and command. The Azure Dragon Sect Leader had been with the Demon Sect for thirty years and was already a core member. If the Ghost Swordsman could join the Demon Sect, she would no longer be alone. Zhao Qingmei waved her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, in a few dozen days, you will return to Great Yan with me. Then, you just need to invite the Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± Mu Xiaoyun quickly complied upon hearing this. Just then, her eyes suddenly caught sight of a paper figure in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hand, and her heart stirred, ¡°Eh, isn¡¯t that Jiang Sanjia¡¯s paper figure? Why does the Sect Hierarch have one too?¡± Mu Xiaoyun naturally knew about the paper figures specially made by Jiang Sanjia. ¡°You may leave now.¡± Zhao Qingmei waved her hand. ¡°Yes.¡± Mu Xiaoyun, not daring to ask more, bowed and withdrew. After Mu Xiaoyun had left, Zhao Qingmei fiddled with the paper figure in her hand, a soft light in her eyes, ¡°I wonder what brother is doing now?¡± ¡­¡­ Yun Hua Road, Wangjiang City. As the largest city on Yun Hua Road, that would definitely be Wangjiang City. This place is the capital of Yun Hua Road, and with its well-connected roads, it serves as Great Yan¡¯s major north-south transportation hub. It has well-developed land and water routes. Once trade becomes convenient, it injects a lot of vitality, and with a large influx of people, Wangjiang City is even more prosperous than Yu State City by three folds. In a bookstore, the flow of people was incessant. An elder stood by, his eyes calmly observing the distance. At that moment, peach blossoms fell, fragrant and pleasing. This person was Lou Xiangzhen. At this moment, he seemed lost in thought, ¡°I wonder how A Zhi is doing?¡± ¡°Senior Lou, let¡¯s go.¡± Just then, An Jing came out from the bookstore, holding an exquisitely bound book in his hand. Lou Xiangzhen looked at the book in An Jing¡¯s hands and asked with confusion, ¡°Did you enter the bookstore just to buy this book?¡± ¡°Yes, this book isn¡¯t available in Jiangnan Dao.¡± A meaningful smile played on An Jing¡¯s lips. Seeing such an expression on An Jing, Lou Xiangzhen also grew interested and said, ¡°Oh? Let me see what treasure this is.¡± An Jing hastily tucked the book into his bosom before pulling out an old, well-thumbed tome, ¡°Such a treasure should be enjoyed alone. I have this one that I¡¯ve read already; you can take it.¡± Lou Xiangzhen accepted the book and began flipping through it immediately, ¡°Flower Camp Array, this name is¡­¡± But then, as he saw its contents, his face turned red with embarrassment, and he threw the book back at An Jing, ¡°Shameless, utterly shameless.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so shameless about it?¡± An Jing caught the book and retorted irritably, ¡°Amusements of the boudoir, who doesn¡¯t check out this stuff?¡± Lou Xiangzhen puffed out his beard and glared, ¡°Well, I certainly don¡¯t.¡± An Jing glanced around and then whispered, ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re really that old virgin rooster?¡± Lou Xiangzhen snorted lightly, seeming somewhat displeased, ¡°My peers and I possess Primordial Yang for cultivation which is why our martial arts progress so swiftly. What¡¯s this about being a virgin or not?¡± An Jing immediately asked, ¡°Who said that?¡± Lou Xiangzhen paused, then said, ¡°My master has always said so since I was young.¡± ¡°Nonsense, utter nonsense.¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°I saw a martial arts book before, guess what was written on the first page?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°¡®To practice this technique, one must castrate oneself first.''¡± ¡°Do people really practice such techniques?¡± ¡°Do you know what was written on the last page?¡± ¡°No need to castrate to practice the technique.¡± Lou Xiangzhen opened his mouth, then was speechless. An Jing patted Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s shoulder in a very sympathetic manner, ¡°So you see, you¡¯ve been fooled, understand? Doing that which is done between a man and a woman is like walking in the clouds, visiting a fairyland, achieving clarity and indescribable wonder.¡± Lou Xiangzhen gave An Jing a deeper look, filled with even more doubt. ¡°Alas.¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°Such experiences, they can¡¯t really be related to outsiders, one must experience it themselves; perhaps you could reach the Sixth Realm in a day.¡± At that moment, two figures dashed past them on the street, moving incredibly fast. Ordinary people hadn¡¯t noticed them, but what were An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s levels of cultivation? Naturally, they saw everything clearly. One was an old man and the other a young girl; the man was of the Second Grade and the girl was of the Fourth Grade. ¡°What is this?¡± An Jing frowned as he saw that both the old and the young had tokens at their waists, one engraved with ¡®Earth¡¯ and the other with ¡®Heaven.''¡± ¡°The Heaven and Earth Net, spies of the Emperor.¡± Lou Xiangzhen frowned and asked, ¡°Were you marked by the Xuanyi Guard? The Heaven and Earth Net was Great Yan¡¯s strongest intelligence organization, the Emperor¡¯s eyes in Jianghu, monitoring every action there. If the Heaven and Earth Net targeted you, that could be really troublesome. ¡°No.¡± An Jing shook his head; he had been marked before, but it had been removed. Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good; the Heaven and Earth Net must be investigating something, but it doesn¡¯t concern us. We shouldn¡¯t meddle in the Court¡¯s affairs, lest it bring endless trouble.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s get something to eat first.¡± After that, both of them stopped talking and walked towards the tavern. Lou Xiangzhen seemed to have a lot on his mind and didn¡¯t say a word. Suddenly, the leading An Jing pointed towards a tall building ahead and laughed, ¡°Elder Lou, stop thinking about sword practice. Sometimes you should also sharpen your spear.¡± ¡°Do you gentlemen want to come in and sit for a while?¡± At this moment, a fairly attractive woman with a face full of rouge came forward, grabbed An Jing¡¯s arm, and rubbed against it. Such guests from Jianghu were known to be very generous, spending silver like water. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression darkened as he spoke righteously, ¡°Filthy, low, I¡¯m ashamed to be in the presence of such scum like you.¡± At this, many nearby people turned to look. An Jing was somewhat helpless on the side, thinking, I was just joking. There¡¯s no need to defame me as scum in such a public setting. I know you¡¯re impressive! You¡¯re above all this! ¡°Sir, you jest, there are even more depraved things the girls can do, would you like to see?¡± Seeing this, an old madam fanning herself nearby chuckled, hugged Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s arm, and almost pressed her entire body against him. The overwhelming smell of her rouge nearly made Lou Xiangzhen faint. ¡°There¡¯s no need, I never come to such places.¡± Lou Xiangzhen quickly pushed the old madam away. Unable to stand the tacky and vulgar surroundings any longer, An Jing quickly walked away, ¡°Let¡¯s just go get some drinks.¡± He was merely speaking casually; he naturally had no interest in such vulgar women. He needed to save his money for his own wife. The two men quickly left the area below the tall building and soon arrived at a tavern in Wangjiang City. Fine wine and dishes were served, and they drank merrily. During these days, the two had been together constantly, often exchanging insights on sword skills, and their relationship had grown considerably. ¡°Elder Lou, this wine is good, come drink.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡­¡­ As they drank and chatted, it seemed they had forgotten all about the earlier incident. An Jing didn¡¯t mind Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s misunderstanding; after all, whether he was scum or not, he knew himself, and there was no need to explain anything to Lou Xiangzhen. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only After three rounds of drinks and five different dishes, Lou Xiangzhen appeared as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Seeing this, An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°Elder Lou, if you have something to say, just speak.¡± ¡°Ahem ahem¡­ there were quite a few people earlier.¡± Lou Xiangzhen cleared his throat a couple of times and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back there tonight; I mainly want to see if it¡¯s really as you said, reaching the Sixth Realm in a day.¡± Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Blue River Sects Black Opportunity Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Blue River Sect¡¯s Black Opportunity Yun Hua said, Wangjiang City, Yuhong Pavilion. Yuhong Pavilion is a brothel, and moreover, it¡¯s the most famous one in Wangjiang City. Here, one could listen to songs, enjoy music, watch dances, and partake in banquets. Under the tall archway, at the entrance stood several women in gorgeous attire, eagerly receiving the incoming and outgoing guests. These women were all quite attractive, and the skin they exposed was delicate and fair. Their every move carried the charm of mature women, easily igniting the fire in a man¡¯s heart. Looking up slightly, the three large characters of Yuhong Pavilion boldly caught one¡¯s eye, written with vigorous strokes and in a style of dragons and phoenixes in flight. The big red lanterns hung high, the fragrance was overwhelming, and the constant chatter of women was enough to make blood boil and leave one unable to control oneself. ¡°Young Master Zhang, remember there¡¯s someone always thinking of you, don¡¯t forget the words you once said,¡± said the heavily made-up woman with tears brimming in her sorrowful eyes. ¡°Su Niang, rest assured, I will definitely not forget,¡± the scholar nodded emphatically. Afterward, the scholar reluctantly left Yuhong Pavilion. No sooner had the scholar left than the heavily made-up woman turned and threw herself into the embrace of a wealthy merchant, lavishing him with affection. This scene was as unexpected as it was inevitable. Atop Yuhong Pavilion¡¯s flying eaves stood two figures. It was An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen. Seeing this, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes slightly drooped. An Jing spoke indifferently, ¡°In this place, don¡¯t believe a single word said by these women, not a single one.¡± Lou Xiangzhen knitted his brows and said, ¡°Not only is Jianghu full of deception and snares, but so are the secular markets.¡± The woman who had just now been coquettish turned and cast herself into another¡¯s arms, the irony of it was palpable. An Jing chuckled and said, ¡°Wherever there are people, there is Jianghu. People are Jianghu.¡± ¡°Then, the affection they speak of, could it be all false?¡± ¡°The affection of the mouth, naturally, exists only in the mouth.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the worth of mouth-spoken affection?¡± ¡°Prostitutes are heartless, actors are without loyalty; the brothel has always been a place of shallow sentiments.¡± ¡­¡­ Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Lou Xiangzhen fell silent for a while. In his heart, affection was worth more than gold, and he naturally couldn¡¯t understand those who treated affection like rubbish. Watching the people coming and going, neither of them spoke. After a while, Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°What would you do if you were just an ordinary person?¡± ¡°An ordinary person?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the question: ¡°If I were an ordinary person, I¡¯d like to be an ordinary doctor, and live an ordinary life with my wife, that would be enough.¡± The words sounded familiar; Li Fuzhou seemed to have asked him the same question once, but what Li Fuzhou asked was what he would do as a master? ¡°Being a doctor, to hang the pot to help the world, and to benefit the community, is also quite nice.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded at his response, ¡°I once asked my junior brother the same, and he said he just wanted to be a fisherman.¡± Compared to Li Fuzhou, he understood An Jing quite well. Although both of them had cultivations ranked among the top in Jianghu, their lives were burdened with invisible shackles, and shedding these shackles could mean losing countless precious things. Curious, An Jing asked, ¡°What about Elder Lou?¡± ¡°I wish to open a teahouse, detached like an idle cloud or a wild crane, asking nothing of Jianghu,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said as he watched the fading moon, his voice somber. ¡°This vast Jianghu, some want to enter while some want to leave.¡± ¡°Those who enter find it very hard to leave again.¡± An Jing nodded and then sighed heavily. He still didn¡¯t understand why Jiang Sanjia wanted to kill him; unwittingly, he had stepped into Jianghu, yet he had no clue about it. An Jing seemed to recall something and said, ¡°I remember Elder Lou saying that out on the Northwest Border, it seems someone is waiting for you?¡± Lou Xiangzhen softly spoke, ¡°You could say so.¡± Back then, he thought she was a fool. Young and brash, he was obsessed with becoming the world¡¯s foremost swordsman, only to waste years in vain pursuit. In the end, what did the title of the World¡¯s First Swordsman mean? Only after several ups and downs in life did he realize that it wasn¡¯t others who were fools; he was the fool. Having seen so much of the world¡¯s insincere flattery, you come to realize just how precious genuine, sincere feelings are. An Jing laughed heartily, ¡°When I have the time, I¡¯d really like to see what kind of woman managed to become an unforgettable thought for Elder Lou.¡± Lou Xiangzhen, too, laughed without replying, his thoughts drifting afar. An Jing spoke slowly, ¡°The Blue River Sect isn¡¯t far now. If we set off now, we might be able to ascend the mountain by morning.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lou Xiangzhen returned to the present and nodded. ¡­¡­ The next day, at the foot of the Blue River Sect¡¯s mountain. Thousands of years ago, a sect in the Great Zhou Dynasty obtained the Mountain Opening Order and established their mountain gate here. Within this mountain flows a stream, pristine and clear. Yet every year on the sixth night of June, the water in this stream turns a pale blue, shining brightly, emitting a faint glow. As time passed, this stream became known as Blue River, and the mountain as Blue Mountain. The sect later came to be known as the Blue River Sect. At this moment, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen were walking on the ancient trail. Lou Xiangzhen gazed at the plants and trees along the mountain path, his eyes filled with a hint of reminiscence. He and Jiang Sanjia had lived in the Blue River Sect for three years. He had forgotten most of the sights here, and everything had become blurred, with only scattered memories etched in his mind. Stepping on the stone steps, An Jing asked, ¡°Which old friend of Elder Lou is from the Blue River Sect?¡± ¡°Wang Yue of the Blue River Sect,¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied. ¡°Wang Yue?!¡± An Jing found this name quite unfamiliar as if he had heard it somewhere, but it wasn¡¯t very familiar to him. Lou Xiangzhen explained, ¡°He was once the son of the twenty-second-generation Sect Master of the Blue River Sect, an individual of exceptional talent. Originally, he was to be the twenty-third-generation Sect Master, but for some unknown reason, he was harmed, his legs crippled, so he seldom left the mountain, and thus his reputation in Jianghu is not prominent.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing nodded, realizing why he hadn¡¯t heard of Wang Yue¡¯s reputation, ¡°Was the attacker never found?¡± Lou Xiangzhen fell silent for a while before saying, ¡°They couldn¡¯t be tracked.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A look of puzzlement appeared between An Jing¡¯s brows. Jiang Sanjia could divine the fates, and naturally, so could Lou Xiangzhen. Seeming to notice the doubt in An Jing¡¯s eyes, Lou Xiangzhen explained, ¡°My divination skills are not as good as Sanjia¡¯s, and although he and Wang Yue originally intended to investigate, Wang Yue stopped them.¡± Hearing this, An Jing fell silent. Soon, the two arrived at the mountain gate of the Blue River Sect. ¡°Who are you two? This is Blue River Sect territory, trespassers are not allowed!¡± Two disciples of the Blue River Sect glanced at them and, sensing that An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen were concealing their Qi mechanism, promptly shouted coldly. An Jing¡¯s brow twitched slightly, clearly not expecting the guards of the Blue River Sect to be so arrogant. ¡°I¡¯m here to visit Wang Yue,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently as he took out a token from his waist. ¡°Visit Wang Yue?!¡± The two disciples were taken aback, one of them was about to speak when the other quickly stopped him, ¡°Please wait a moment, we will report this at once.¡± With that, the disciple pulled the other and walked towards the inner parts of the gate. ¡°Why are you pulling me? Hasn¡¯t the Great Elder ordered that anyone visiting Wang Yue cannot enter the gate?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the token he took out?¡± ¡°What token is that?¡± ¡°A Supreme Elder token!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡­.. An Jing watched the two Blue River Sect disciples enter the gate, then couldn¡¯t help but glance at the token in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand. To his surprise, Lou Xiangzhen was actually a Supreme Elder of the Blue River Sect. Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°It was given to me by Wang Yue in the past. I only enjoyed its privileges but never fulfilled its responsibilities.¡± Stirred by this information, An Jing said, ¡°It seems that Elder Lou and this Wang Yue must be on very good terms.¡± The Blue River Sect was, after all, one of the current Jianghu¡¯s seven major factions; becoming a Supreme Elder of one of the seven major factions was a symbol of honor and strength. Moreover, Lou Xiangzhen could enjoy the privileges without fulfilling any responsibilities of the Blue River Sect, which was telling. About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a white-haired elder clad in blue garments from the Blue River Sect hurried out. Behind him followed dozens of Blue River Sect disciples and deacons. ¡°It turns out to be the visit of the Supreme Elder.¡± The Blue River Sect elder strode forward with a smile: ¡°Please come in, please come in.¡± Lou Xiangzhen recognized the man as Le Ming, an elder of the Blue River Sect. Seeing Le Ming¡¯s enthusiastic welcome, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he said, ¡°I have said before that there¡¯s no need for such fanfare.¡± The Blue River Sect Elder Le Ming laughed, ¡°After all, you are our Supreme Elder. If the Sect Master knew I was remiss in my hospitality towards the Supreme Elder, it would be a grave sin.¡± ¡°Supreme Elder, please come inside.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded his head. Subsequently, led by Le Ming, the two walked into the Blue River Sect. They bypassed the long corridor, the pathway, arriving at a group of aesthetically pleasing pavilions. Eventually, the group reached the Great Hall of the Blue River Sect. Upon seeing this, Lou Xiangzhen paused, ¡°I only want to see Wang Yue.¡± Le Ming offered an apologetic smile, ¡°Supreme Elder, please don¡¯t be anxious. Both of you wait here in the hall for a moment, and I will invite Elder Wang right away,¡± ¡°Have some tea served to our guests first.¡± After speaking, Le Ming made a knowing look at a deacon beside him, then walked out of the hall. Lou Xiangzhen did not speak. He sat down with An Jing, and soon two beautiful maids came out, bringing two cups of tea. The Blue River Sect deacon sat beside them, trembling, barely daring to breathe. Although those present did not know the identities of Lou Xiangzhen and An Jing, they had heard how Le Ming addressed and behaved towards Lou Xiangzhen. Especially since the tea had been served and Lou Xiangzhen hadn¡¯t even moved the cup. As time ticked by, the sound of footsteps eventually approached outside the hall. ¡°` An Jing looked outside the hall. He saw an old man with a walking stick appear outside the hall, his hands gripping the handle tightly, veins bulging, and his eyes tinged with a trace of blood red. Lou Xiangzhen was also looking at the old man, and slowly stood up, as if in a trance. An Jing knew that this person must be Wang Yue, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s old friend. Everyone inside the Great Hall was shocked by this scene, not expecting Wang Yue to show such agitation upon seeing the visitor. ¡°You¡­ all of you, leave for now.¡± Wang Yue took a deep breath and lowered his voice. The crowd looked at each other in confusion, no one speaking. An Jing frowned, sensing that something was amiss. ¡°What? Did you not hear what I said?¡± Wang Yue¡¯s voice gradually grew colder. ¡°Presumptuous, leave at once.¡± Then, a voice from outside the hall, Le Ming¡¯s, was heard. Hearing this, everyone hurriedly made their way outside, Le Ming included, bowing his hands as he left. In the blink of an eye, only Lou Xiangzhen, An Jing, and Wang Yue remained in the vast Great Hall. Wang Yue, leaning on his cane, stepped forward and gave Lou Xiangzhen a careful look, ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ a long time since we last met.¡± Sometimes, there are a thousand words in your heart that you can¡¯t express, and in the end, they can only be condensed into the simplest of greetings. ¡°Hmm.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded, and after a long while, said, ¡°It¡¯s been ten years, you¡¯ve changed a lot.¡± Wang Yue, who used to be fearless of both heaven and earth, had become much more composed with the passage of time. Then, after that incident, his assertive nature seemed to have been smoothed out, and now he had lost all his edges, as if he was a completely different person. ¡°Changed, hasn¡¯t everyone in this world changed?¡± Wang Yue forced a smile, then turned his gaze to An Jing, ¡°This is¡­?¡± Lou Xiangzhen pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°He is Jiang Sanjia¡¯s closest friend.¡± In his opinion, since Jiang Sanjia had imparted the Ghost Valley Heart Method to the Ghost Swordsman, calling them close friends was not an exaggeration. Wang Yue nodded, then sighed deeply, ¡°Sanjia has died, I also received the news.¡± The former Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect had stayed in the Blue River Sect for three years, and naturally, his two disciples, Lou Xiangzhen and Jiang Sanjia, had also spent three years in Blue River Sect. Afterward, they often visited Blue River Sect, and Wang Yue had exerted a lot of effort to secure a position in the Qintian Bureau for Jiang Sanjia. Both of them remained silent. An Jing, seeing this, quietly left the Great Hall. Only when Wang Yue saw An Jing leave did he speak in a heavy tone, ¡°Are you reentering Jianghu today because of Sanjia¡¯s death?¡± The last time Wang Yue had seen Lou Xiangzhen was ten years ago when Lou Xiangzhen had decided to retire from Jianghu and had specifically come to find him at Blue River Sect. Wang Yue had advised him not to retire from Jianghu too easily. If he was going to retire, it would be best to take Jiang Sanjia with him so as to avoid falling prey to the Zhenyi Sect. But at that time, although Lou Xiangzhen had been dismissed from his official position, he mingled in Jianghu and had no intention of retiring. ¡°I once thought that by backing down, I could let Yu Ying rest easy and lay down his butcher¡¯s knife.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s voice was a bit cold, ¡°But I was wrong, my constant concessions only made Yu Ying more rampant.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Yue let out a deep sigh, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu is extremely powerful, you must be careful.¡± From this statement, he understood Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s intentions clearly. This time reemerging, it must be an irreconcilable fight with the Zhenyi Sect. The position one holds in Jianghu changes the perspective from which they see Jianghu. Ordinary people within Jianghu see the masters of the Tiger List and the Dragon List. But those like them, standing at the mountain¡¯s peak, see a very different Jianghu. The Zhenyi Sect becoming the national religion of Great Yan and terrifying the entire Jianghu for hundreds of years is certainly not as simple as just these visible masters. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a deep breath and said. Wang Yue knew, once Lou Xiangzhen was determined to do something, no one could persuade him otherwise. Lou Xiangzhen glanced at Wang Yue¡¯s leg and asked, ¡°After all these years, your leg still hasn¡¯t healed?¡± Wang Yue looked at his own leg and said in a low voice, ¡°Nine-tailed Scorpion Poison, an incurable toxin. It¡¯s already fortunate that I am alive and gasping for breath.¡± The Nine-tailed Scorpion, a strange poison from Great Snow Mountain, nothing but the Nine Treasures Holy Medicine of Great Snow Mountain could cure it. Back then, Wang Yue was suddenly afflicted with this strange poison. The Sect Master of Blue River Sect found one of the four great doctors known for bringing back the dead, Bu Sheng, and with a huge price obtained a Resurrection Pill. Although he took the Resurrection Pill and Wang Yue did not die, he lost most of his cultivation, and from then on his legs became numb. Lou Xiangzhen thought of something and asked, ¡°I heard Bai Qun reached the Grandmaster realm?¡± Bai Qun, currently the Sect Master of Blue River Sect, was also the former Chief Disciple. Originally, Wang Yue¡¯s father was the Sect Master of Blue River Sect and Wang Yue, with his high talent, was naturally the prime candidate for the Sect Master¡¯s position. But after these series of events, Bai Qun took over as Sect Master. Was Bai Qun¡¯s talent high? Apart from Wang Yue, he had the highest qualifications in Blue River Sect, ranking at the top among his peers at that time. But without the necessary opportunities, it would be difficult for him to reach the Master realm. ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen was not interested in how Bai Qun became a Grandmaster. Wang Yue nodded and said, ¡°Yes, seven years ago, in the third year after you left, he reached the Grandmaster Realm.¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°How has he been to you these past years?¡± Wang Yue smiled and said, ¡°As you see, I¡¯m still alive and not too bad off.¡± ¡­.. Blue River Sect, in a rear courtyard. The sound of water pouring from a ceramic pot, moss covering the ground, greenery adding splashes of color, fish frolicking. An elderly man with hair as white as a crane¡¯s feathers but a youthful face, dressed in luxurious brocade, was sitting beside a pond, holding a handful of fish bait. At the toss of his palm, the handfuls of bait scattered into the pond, immediately attracting countless carp to compete for the food, splashing water in all directions. ¡°Sect Master, Lou Xiangzhen has met with Wang Yue.¡± At this moment, Le Ming hurried over. This old man was none other than Bai Qun, the current Sect Master of Blue River Sect. ¡°Hmm.¡± Hearing this, Bai Qun continued his actions without any pause. Seeing this, Le Ming frowned and said, ¡°Sect Master, do you think Wang Yue will¡­¡± ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Bai Qun said indifferently, ¡°Although Wang Yue is very domineering and strong, he is also a very intelligent man. His family is in our hands; he would not do anything foolish.¡± Le Ming nodded and hesitated, ¡°But what if Lou Xiangzhen sees through something?¡± ¡°See through something? And what if he does?¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Qun then let all the fish bait in his hand fall into the pond. ¡°Others might fear Lou Xiangzhen, but I do not. He may be a Grandmaster, but am I not as well? Besides, he is someone who values loyalty and affection. For Wang Yue¡¯s sake, he would not dare to do much.¡± In the current seven major sects, only three Sect Masters¡¯ cultivation had reached the Grandmaster Realm. Besides the Zhenyi Sect, there was also Bai Qun of the Blue River Sect, whose cultivation had reached the Grandmaster level. Of course, the potentials of the Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu and Lin Yiyang were not yet fully realized, and their futures as Grandmasters were virtually a certainty, especially for Lin Yiyang. Le Ming let out a sigh of relief. Yes, Lou Xiangzhen was of the Master Realm, and so was their own Sect Master. With a cold sneer in his narrowed eyes, Bai Qun said, ¡°Go and bring Wang Yue¡¯s granddaughter, Wang Xiaoxi, here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Upon hearing this, Le Ming bowed and complied. ¡­.. An Jing stepped out of the Great Hall of Blue River Sect; around him, all the disciples of the sect had been dismissed. ¡°It seems that this Wang Yue must have some unspeakable secrets.¡± An Jing walked with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly making his way along the paths of Blue River Sect. He had observed everyone¡¯s expressions towards Wang Yue in the Great Hall earlier. Although the changes were subtle, he had noticed something unusual. However, since Wang Yue himself was unwilling to elaborate, An Jing had no reason to question further. Lou Xiangzhen must have noticed as well, and if he truly wanted to find out, he would inquire on his own. Wandering aimlessly, it was then that he discovered a large lake on the left side of Blue River Sect. The lake water was clear, with the surface shimmering in the light. ¡°Buzz, buzz!¡± At that moment, the Evil Suppressing Sword on An Jing¡¯s back began to vibrate slightly. Lou Xiangzhen had once told him that there was a sealing within Blue River Sect holding part of the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s blade. ¡°Could it be that the seal is underneath?¡± A thought crossed An Jing¡¯s mind, and he walked slowly towards the lake. The lake was vast, far exceeding the size of the entire Blue River Great Hall, surrounded by temples and pavilions. As he drew closer to the lake, the trembling of the Evil Suppressing Sword grew more intense. Even the incomplete Evil Suppressing Sword allowed An Jing to enhance his strength significantly; if he could complete the sword, the improvement to his power would undoubtedly be even greater. Grandmaster Jiang Sanjia was a top-notch Grandmaster, and even if An Jing achieved the Master Realm, it would be difficult for him to be his match. Only by continuously enhancing his strength and making incremental improvements could he hope to face him. An Jing took a deep breath, then with a leap, he plunged into the water. ¡°Splash!¡± He instantly plunged into the lake. The water was extremely cold, a sensation that was vividly perceptible. ¡°This lake seems quite ordinary, but unexpectedly, it¡¯s so cold,¡± An Jing thought to himself. The lake was not deep; after a few breaths, he reached the bottom. The bottom of the lake was pitch dark and very calm. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Aside from the chill of the lake water, there seemed to be no other disturbances. Whoosh! Just then, the Earth Book radiated a black light. ¡°Tip Two: A black opportunity is nearby the host.¡± A tremor ran through An Jing¡¯s heart; after encountering Jiang Sanjia, he realized that a black opportunity was an existence that could undoubtedly lead to death. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Dirty Affairs within the Blue River Sect Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Dirty Affairs within the Blue River Sect Upon sensing the emergence of a dark omen, An Jing immediately grew extremely nervous and hastily looked around. A dark omen was akin to a catastrophic disaster. The bottom of the lake was calm, with only wildly growing lake grass and fish swimming around, nothing out of the ordinary. At that moment, a massive sinking stone in the distance caught his attention. As he approached the stone, he distinctly felt the dark radiance from the Earth Book becoming intensely hot. ¡°Is there a dark omen within this black stone?¡± An Jing was greatly alarmed and swiftly drifted away. Whoosh! The next moment, a blue radiance seemed to emerge from the sinking stone. The blue light, like an arrow, shot through the turbulent tide, nearly forcing An Jing¡¯s eyes shut. ¡°What is this¡­¡± It was unclear how much time had passed when the blue light gradually faded, and An Jing finally focused his eyes on it. He noticed multiple spiderweb-like cracks on the dark sinking stone ahead, which continued to grow until they suddenly stopped tearing further. An Jing thought the cracks had ceased to split, but at that moment, the black sinking stone suddenly turned transparent. It was only for an instant, but he could see a silhouette within the stone. Hiss¨C! The sight of that silhouette sent a chilling coldness surging from his soles to the top of his head. In a dazed glance that followed, the sinking stone returned to normal appearance, as if unchanged from before. Hurry! An Jing dove upward at top speed, fearful of attracting this inexplicable dark omen. With a ¡®plop¡¯ sound, he emerged back on the shore. ¡®Boom boom boom!¡¯ An Jing¡¯s heart pounded like a drum, shaking violently. ¡°Who was that person I just saw? Why did they make me feel so dangerous? How could someone be inside a sinking stone?¡± A series of questions arose, making his heart feel exceedingly strange and perplexed. Gazing at the calm surface of the lake, An Jing took a deep breath and dared not dwell on it longer, hastening towards the Blue River Hall. It was wise to stay away from the dark omen. Just as he was about to reach the Blue River Hall, he saw Lou Xiangzhen approaching with a furrowed brow. ¡­¡­ In the serene backyard of the Blue River Sect, a jade-like body lay horizontally on a bed, covered with a thin quilt. The lovely face showed no joy, eyes gazing at the beams overhead, devoid of anything but cool detachment and indifference. This person was Wang Xiaoxi. ¡°Thump thump!¡± At that moment, a knocking sound came from outside the door, ¡°Madam, may I come in?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Wang Xiaoxi, without glancing towards the door, responded indifferently. ¡°Creak!¡± As the door pushed open, a Maid slowly walked in, cautiously asking, ¡°Madam, would you like to change your clothes?¡± After a long silence, Wang Xiaoxi slowly propped herself up with her jade arm and stepped down from the bed, ¡°Change clothes.¡± Bruises and swelling covered her exquisite body, yet Wang Xiaoxi seemed utterly indifferent to them. The Maid, seeing the bruised and battered Wang Xiaoxi, couldn¡¯t help but cover her face and sob, ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve suffered.¡± Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s face remained calm, merely extending her hands without a word. The Maid carefully picked up the clothes beside her, and then gently draped them over Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s body, as if fearing to cause her any more pain. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so cautious, I¡¯ve grown accustomed to the pain,¡± Wang Xiaoxi said, extending her hand with total disregard for the pain and bruises on her body. ¡°Madam¡­.¡± The maid felt even worse upon hearing this. No one understood Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s pain better than her. Though officially she was Wang Yue¡¯s granddaughter, day and night she had to serve Bai Qun, the current Sect Master of Blue River Sect, enduring his whippings and verbal insults. Bai Qun had tormented her for a full seven years. During these years, she had gone from vehement resistance at first to utter despair and desolation, and now to a numb state. This kind of suffering was not something ordinary people could endure. ¡°When will he die?¡± Wang Xiaoxi said as she draped her clothes over herself lightly. ¡°You must never speak such words.¡± The maid hastily said, ¡°No matter what, he is still your grandfather, and he is also suffering immensely.¡± ¡°When will he die?¡± Wang Xiaoxi repeated. The maid, seeing Wang Xiaoxi in such a state, bit her lip and said no more. ¡°Why won¡¯t Wang Yue die, why?¡± Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s eyes showed a hint of blood-red, a hint of resentment. If Wang Yue were dead, why would she have to endure such pain and humiliation? Over these seven years, she had not only suffered tremendous physical torture, but her heart had also endured unimaginable torment. Bai Qun had not only sought revenge on her, but also on everyone associated with Wang Yue, subjecting them to severe reprisals. Before her very eyes, he had humiliated her husband and then tortured him to death. Her father had also died a cruel death due to Bai Qun¡¯s torture, and her mother had been used by Bai Qun as a dual cultivation furnace until her death. From then on, no one in the Blue River Sect dared approach Wang Yue, and all avoided him like a plague. ¡°Evil man!¡± Just then, a figure rushed through the door. It was a little girl about four years old, dressed in pink, her lips red and teeth white, looking very pretty. ¡°Lin¡¯er.¡± Seeing the girl, a soft light flashed in Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll hit you, hit you!¡± The little girl walked up to Wang Xiaoxi and fiercely hit her thigh. Her small fists seemed light, but each punch landed on her wounds. Seeing this, the maid hurriedly grabbed the little girl: ¡°Miss, what are you doing? The madam still has wounds on her body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all her fault; she is a bad person.¡± The little girl pointed at Wang Xiaoxi and shouted angrily, ¡°She made daddy angry again, and daddy won¡¯t play with me anymore.¡± Wang Xiaoxi quickly embraced the little girl, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away from Bai Qun?¡± This little girl was none other than Bai Lin¡¯er, born to Wang Xiaoxi by Bai Qun. Bai Lin¡¯er struggled out of Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s embrace and said angrily, ¡°You are a bad person; I want to stay away from you. I will not leave my daddy.¡± As she said this, Bai Lin¡¯er started punching and kicking Wang Xiaoxi, exerting as much force as she could muster. ¡°You¡­¡± The words hurt much more than the physical pain, like a knife stabbing into Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s heart, causing tears to flow down her cheeks. ¡°Miss, you really shouldn¡¯t.¡± The maid quickly restrained Bai Lin¡¯er. ¡°You are the lackey of a bad man; I don¡¯t like you anymore.¡± To their surprise, Bai Lin¡¯er ran to the side table, grabbed a teacup from the top, and fiercely smashed it at the maid. ¡°Thud!¡± The maid, seeing the teacup coming, did not dodge; it hit her forehead solidly, and blood gushed out immediately. ¡°Scoundrel!¡± Wang Xiaoxi rushed over, ¡°Xiao Huan, are you all right?¡± ¡°Madam, I am fine.¡± The maid shook her head and said, ¡°As long as the miss has vented her anger, this pain is nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk anymore.¡± Wang Xiaoxi pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against the maid¡¯s forehead to stop the bleeding. Bai Lin¡¯er stood on the desk, shouting at Wang Xiaoxi and Xiao Huan, ¡°Miss me getting angry? I will teach you two villains a lesson today. If you truly anger my father into a thunderous rage, beware that you will not get off easy.¡± Unable to bear it any longer upon seeing this, Wang Xiaoxi grabbed Bai Lin¡¯er. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do?¡± Bai Lin¡¯er asked in terror. ¡°Smack!¡± Wang Xiaoxi stripped off her clothes and fiercely slapped her on the buttocks. ¡°How dare you hit me!?¡± In excruciating pain, Bai Lin¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but scream, ¡°I will have my dad kill you all!¡± ¡°What did you say!?¡± Hearing this, Wang Xiaoxi seemed to have heard wrong. Bai Lin¡¯er shouted, ¡°I will have my dad kill all of you, not sparing a single one. Are you scared now?¡± Hearing this, Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s palm fiercely slapped on Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s buttocks. ¡°Smack! Smack! Smack!¡± ¡°I¡­ I definitely will¡­. wuh wuh wuh¡­ have my dad kill you all.¡± Despite the unbearable pain in her buttocks, Bai Lin¡¯er still bit her teeth and screamed, ¡°May you be cut to pieces and flayed.¡± ¡­¡­ Outside the Blue River Hall. Lou Xiangzhen asked in a concentrated voice, ¡°Where did you just go?¡± For a moment just now, he had seemingly lost the Qi Mechanism of An Jing and had thus hurriedly come out. ¡°I was just strolling around here.¡± After pondering for a moment, An Jing asked, ¡°Senior Lou, do you know about the lake next to that hall?¡± ¡°I know something about it.¡± Lou Xiangzhen glanced at An Jing and then said, ¡°That lake is called Chenxin Lake, connected to the Blue Creek on the mountain. Chenxin Lake has existed since ancient times. From what I see, this lake does not seem to be naturally formed but man-made. However, I am not quite sure who did it, but it definitely wasn¡¯t someone from the Blue River Sect, as there are no records of it in the ancient books of the sect.¡± Blue Creek is exactly that stream which flows over Blue Mountain. Hearing this, An Jing nodded slightly, without speaking. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked. ¡°Nothing, I just find it strange.¡± An Jing waved his hand and said, ¡°I see Senior Lou frowning; could it be that some misfortune has occurred?¡± It¡¯s best to avoid dark fortunes if possible. Lou Xiangzhen said with a doubtful tone, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice something in the Great Hall just now?¡± ¡°I noticed something.¡± An Jing nodded. Wang Yue, an elder of the Blue River Sect, had been giving orders to the people of the Blue River Sect, but no one from the sect responded to him. Instead, Le Ming appeared in time to dismiss the crowd. There was clearly something odd about this. ¡°I always feel like Wang Yue is hiding something from me,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said slowly. ¡°Where is Wang Yue now?¡± ¡°He said he was tired and has gone back to rest now.¡± ¡°What does Senior Lou plan to do?¡± Lou Xiangzhen did not speak but looked towards the distance, where a figure was walking along the corridor. That person was Le Ming, an elder of the Blue River Sect. Le Ming quickly walked over, with a smile saying, ¡°Supreme Elder, I have prepared the wine and dishes; please come to the side room.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing beside him, ¡°Shall we taste this good wine and food of the Blue River Sect together?¡± Le Ming glanced at the person beside Lou Xiangzhen, his brow slightly furrowed. Lou Xiangzhen is a renowned Sword Immortal and the Sect Leader of the Ghost Valley Sect, widely known under the heavens. Anyone able to stand beside him would certainly not be ordinary. ¡°Fine.¡± An Jing caught the deep meaning in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words and nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked towards Le Ming. Le Ming chuckled, ¡°Please come in.¡± Under Le Ming¡¯s guidance and after winding through several corridors and courtyards, the three quickly arrived at a side hall where a table was already prepared with dishes and wine. Lou Xiangzhen noticed that there was nobody at the head seat, slowly walked over, and sat down. ¡°Supreme Elder¡­..¡± Le Ming quickly spoke up. This head seat was reserved for the Sect Master. Although Bai Qun was not present, his seat should have been prepared, and now Lou Xiangzhen sitting there was against the rules of the Blue River Sect. Lou Xiangzhen indifferently asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Supreme Elder, please sit.¡± Le Ming chuckled dryly. Since Bai Qun wasn¡¯t present today, they might as well let Lou Xiangzhen take the seat and avoid more trouble. An Jing chose a random spot to sit down and placed the Evil Suppressing Sword on the table. ¡°This sword is extraordinary, and so is the swordsman.¡± Le Ming glanced at the Evil Suppressing Sword. Although he was not a swordsman, he could feel the extraordinariness of the Evil Suppressing Sword and grew even more curious about the identity of the person before him. ¡°Clap Clap Clap!¡± As Le Ming clapped his hands, several graceful women emerged from behind the hall. ¡°I don¡¯t care for these kinds of women.¡± Lou Xiangzhen poured himself a drink and indifferently said. Le Ming¡¯s smile stiffened, and he hurriedly said, ¡°I understand, I am aware of the Supreme Elder¡¯s temperament.¡± Saying that, he signaled the women with his eyes, and they quickly withdrew towards the back. ¡°Then I shall not disturb the two of you drinking.¡± Le Ming prepared to get up and take his leave. He did not wish to wait at the side, serving Lou Xiangzhen like a servant with his peculiar temper. ¡°It¡¯s been a long while since I¡¯ve seen Zhao Liangdong. Invite him over, I want to meet him,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said, drinking his glass of wine in one gulp. Zhao Liangdong, Peak Master of the Blue River Sect¡¯s Third Peak. ¡°Understood,¡± Le Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and then slowly retreated. Suddenly, only Lou Xiangzhen and An Jing were left at the banquet. Lou Xiangzhen raised his glass, ¡°Come, the wine of the Blue River Sect is still quite good.¡± ¡°Senior Lou, I toast you.¡± An Jing responded with a faint smile, raising his glass as well. After a round of hearty drinking, Lou Xiangzhen took down the Peach Blossom Sword from his back and placed it on the table. Though it was a subtle movement, An Jing discerned the profound implication behind it. Killing intent! Lou Xiangzhen appeared to be truly furious! For a swordsman of Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s stature, his killing intent was controlled very delicately; even An Jing couldn¡¯t feel the killing intent released by Lou Xiangzhen. It seemed Wang Yue¡¯s time at the Blue River Sect wasn¡¯t as smooth as it appeared on the surface. ¡°Zhao Liangdong pays his respects to the Supreme Elder,¡± a voice sounded from the door after about the time it took an incense stick to burn. The person who arrived was Zhao Liangdong, the Peak Master of the Blue River Sect¡¯s Third Peak. Lou Xiangzhen acted as if he heard nothing, continuing to pour his own drink. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhao Liangdong glanced at the person above, immediately realizing why Le Ming had threatened him earlier. ¡°Senior Lou¡­.¡± Disciples of the Blue River Sect or newly appointed deacons might not recognize the person before them, but how could Zhao Liangdong not recognize him? ¡­.. PS: Finally finished being busy today, will start updating ten thousand words starting next Monday. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 150 The Divine Sword of Peach Blossoms Appears in Jianghu Chapter 150: Chapter 150 The Divine Sword of Peach Blossoms Appears in Jianghu ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded indifferently. Upon hearing this, Zhao Liangdong¡¯s heart stirred. Lou Xiangzhen had an excellent private relationship with Wang Yue, and as the Peak Master of the Blue River Sect¡¯s three peaks, he naturally knew about it. Today, Lou Xiangzhen had specifically asked for him, which seemed somewhat out of the ordinary. Zhao Liangdong slowly took a seat and then noticed An Jing sitting opposite him. Without any Qi Mechanism darting about and a longsword placed on the table, it was clear that he was an extremely skilled figure of the Jianghu. Lou Xiangzhen said to Zhao Liangdong, ¡°You should know why I asked you to come.¡± ¡°That¡­.¡± Zhao Liangdong frown tightened as he spoke in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear on the matter, junior.¡± On his way here, Le Ming had told him, words implying a threat, that things that could be said should be, and things that should not, could not. Lou Xiangzhen glanced at Zhao Liangdong and asked bluntly, ¡°Wang Yue is hiding something from me, I want to know what exactly it is.¡± Feeling the gaze of those eyes on him, Zhao Liangdong became as nervous as if he were sitting on pins and needles, ¡°Junior really doesn¡¯t know, if Senior Lou wishes to know, why not ask the Sect Master personally?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised his cup and drank in one gulp, ¡°Speak, and I can assure you safety, but if you don¡¯t talk, I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly grew tense. Zhao Liangdong felt as if the once sunny day had instantly turned into a bitterly cold deep winter. An Jing, on the other hand, kept drinking his wine, not speaking, nor looking at Zhao Liangdong, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. Zhao Liangdong gave a wry smile, ¡°Since Senior Lou wants to know, then I¡¯ll tell you what I know. Since fifteen years ago, the Blue River Sect has changed.¡± ¡°After the old Sect Master died suddenly, the sect became very oppressive, as if covered by a layer of dark clouds, making it difficult to breathe. Plus, at that time, the Court assigned the Blue River Sect a mission to guard the sealing on top of Blue Mountain. My master and I went to guard the Sealing.¡± Sealing!? An Jing¡¯s heart stirred slightly upon hearing this. Lou Xiangzhen asked, ¡°I heard your master is dead?¡± Sorrow appeared in Zhao Liangdong¡¯s eyes, ¡°Dead. One time, when my master descended the mountain, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion betrayed information to my master¡¯s enemies, and he was ambushed by several masters and killed.¡± The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion possessed some of the strongest intelligence in the Great Yan Martial World and would occasionally sell information to people of the Jianghu. Lou Xiangzhen didn¡¯t speak again. Zhao Liangdong continued, ¡°At that time, I was the only one guarding the Sealing, so I wasn¡¯t well-informed about internal sect affairs. All I know is that Sect Master Bai put Elder Wang Yue under confinement, forbidding anyone from entering Elder Wang Yue¡¯s bedroom. Moreover, one by one, the family of Elder Wang Yue met with tragic deaths.¡± As he said this, Zhao Liangdong paused slightly. Rumors were rife throughout the Blue River Sect, mostly about how Bai Qun had practiced certain Martial Arts Methods from the Joyful Union Sect, changing his temperament drastically and embarking on a fierce vendetta against Wang Yue. When the old Sect Master was still in power, Bai Qun was the Chief Disciple, and Wang Yue was the old Sect Master¡¯s son. One of them had to be chosen to become the Blue River Sect¡¯s Sect Master, and Bai Qun had the highest support, but the old Sect Master chose Wang Yue. It was rumored that this was one of the biggest reasons for Bai Qun¡¯s later revenge. In the Blue River Sect, following the death of the old Sect Master, the foundation of the sect over the past few centuries was far less substantial compared to the likes of the Yu Heng Sword Sect and the Zhenyi Sect. In the Sect, the Sect Master¡¯s word was law, and Bai Qun had reached the Master Realm; who would dare anger him? Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes narrowed as he asked, ¡°Is what you¡¯re saying true?¡± ¡°True, these are all the things I know,¡± Zhao Liangdong nodded. His words were reasonable, as he only spoke about what he knew, without divulging the speculative rumors about the Blue River Sect. ¡°I understand.¡± Lou Xiangzhen drained the wine in his cup, stood, and walked towards the exit of the banquet hall. Seeing this, Zhao Liangdong quickly got up and asked, ¡°Senior Lou, where are you going?¡± Lou Xiangzhen said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m going to see Bai Qun.¡± As he spoke, Lou Xiangzhen walked out. An Jing also drained his cup in one gulp and followed him out. Zhao Liangdong¡¯s expression changed dramatically at this, and considering Le Ming¡¯s words, he steeled his heart. ¡­¡­ Blue River Sect, a quiet and secluded courtyard. Bai Qun was sitting cross-legged on the bed, breathing and meditating, a practice he had performed diligently for decades. Just then, the voice of Le Ming sounded from outside the door. ¡°Sect Master, Lou Xiangzhen seems to have learned about the matter with Wang Yue and now wants to see you.¡± ¡°See me?¡± Bai Qun chuckled lightly upon hearing this, ¡°Where is he now?¡± He had no intention of completely hiding the matter concerning Wang Yue. ¡°Ancestor Master Mountain.¡± Le Ming responded. Ancestor Master Mountain, actually located atop Blue Mountain, was the holy land of the Blue River Sect. Succession of the Blue River Sect Leader, Heaven¡¯s ceremony, and the Sect Leader¡¯s acceptance of disciples all took place here. On normal days, ordinary people simply couldn¡¯t ascend it. ¡°I understand.¡± Bai Qun¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly before he pushed open the door and stepped out. At this moment, the sky had turned to dusk, and the gentle, tranquil sunlight was spilling softly across his face. ¡°It might have been many years since I last saw him, but it would be good to take a look at him. Of the talented young generation back in the day, he was the one I admired the most. I always felt that if he did not perish, he would achieve extraordinary things in the future.¡± As he spoke, Bai Qun made his way toward Ancestor Master Mountain. Le Ming quickly followed behind, but he couldn¡¯t shake a bad feeling that was creeping into his heart. Soon, the two arrived at a stone staircase. The staircase extended upwards, continuously without end, seemingly without a peak in sight. Atop the mountain summit, a figure was standing. The afterglow of the setting sun draped over him, his garment fluttering with the fierce wind, prompting infinite sighs. ¡°Xiangzhen.¡± Upon seeing the person before him, Bai Qun couldn¡¯t help but laugh loudly, ¡°Long time no see and you look even more impressive than before. I reckon it won¡¯t be long before you step into the Sixth Realm, right?¡± An Jing was standing at the foot of Ancestor Master Mountain, scrutinizing Bai Qun closely. Perhaps it was because Bai Qun took great care of himself; despite being older than Lou Xiangzhen, his countenance showed no signs of such age, his eyes deep and dark, his body as straight and tall as a spear. How could someone who became the Sect Leader of the Blue River Sect and reached the Master Realm be a simple character? Lou Xiangzhen gazed downward at Bai Qun, ¡°You haven¡¯t changed much.¡± ¡°I have always been like this.¡± Bai Qun opened his palm and smiled faintly. He had always been the same, never changing; it was just that Lou Xiangzhen, with his proud nature, had never seriously observed him. Lou Xiangzhen nodded and said, ¡°Why do you do this?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about reminiscing, I¡¯m most welcoming,¡± Bai Qun¡¯s smile faded as he replied, ¡°But if it¡¯s to question internal matters of our Blue River Sect, I can only say I have nothing to share with you.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Lou Xiangzhen laughed out loud, ¡°Has Sect Master Bai forgotten? I am after all the Supreme Elder of the Blue River Sect.¡± The whistling wind carried Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s laughter far away. The two exchanged a glance. ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager to know, I¡¯ll tell you, because you¡¯ll find out sooner or later anyway,¡± Bai Qun looked up at Lou Xiangzhen, ¡°Do you always think that Wang Yue¡¯s talent surpasses mine?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly; it was a widely acknowledged fact that Wang Yue¡¯s talent was greater than Bai Qun¡¯s. Seeing this, Bai Qun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Do you still remember that visit to our Blue River Sect forty years ago?¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded. He naturally remembered his visit to the Blue River Sect thirty years ago, when he was preparing to challenge the Sword God at the Yu Heng Sword Sect. With his hands clasped behind his back, a trace of resentment in his eyes, Bai Qun said, ¡°Actually, at that time, my cultivation had already reached the Earth Flower Realm, while Wang Yue had only just entered the First Grade. When the Sect began to select candidates for the next Sect Master, I believed with my strength far surpassing Wang Yue¡¯s, victory was assured; but, in the end, my master chose his own offspring.¡± ¡°Do you know what he said to me at that time?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes held a cold light, but he did not speak. Staring directly at Lou Xiangzhen, Bai Qun¡¯s voice seemed almost squeezed through his teeth, ¡°He said the Sect Leader of the Blue River Sect would only be passed down to those of Wang family blood, not to others.¡± ¡°Do you know how I¡¯ve been living these decades? Always regarded with great expectations, always considered the heir-apparent to the Sect Leader of the Blue River Sect. I too always thought this way. But then my master, who was like a father to me, told me this news.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed; he knew some things about the Blue River Sect. The Blue River Sect, with a lineage spanning thousands of years, seemed to have a remarkable talent and top-notch cultivation for each Sect Leader, all of whom carried the Wang surname, almost forming a sect rule. No one knew why, and few within the Blue River Sect would question this rule. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s master seemed to know some reasons but had long since turned to dust. With a mocking expression, Bai Qun coldly said, ¡°Back then, I told my master, having been raised by you since childhood, I¡¯m akin to your own son. Am I not eligible to inherit the position of Sect Master of the Blue River Sect?¡± ¡°My master only said one sentence. He told me to abandon that thought; otherwise, he would have to treat me as a scourge to be eliminated.¡± ¡°These were the words my master spoke, my master, ah! The one I considered my closest kin said I was a scourge and that he would kill me if I dared harbor the wrong intentions.¡± As Bai Qun uttered these words, there was no hysteria, just an indifferent composure. Lou Xiangzhen looked at Bai Qun and asked, ¡°So you killed Wang Yangping, Wang Tianzhao, and even placed Wang Yue under house arrest?¡± At this, Bai Qun snorted with derision, ¡°¡®Everyone says I did it, so what if it was me? I¡¯ve never thought of myself as a good person.¡± ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, oh Lou Xiangzhen, you¡¯ve roamed Jianghu for so many years, but have you truly been part of it? Do you even know what Jianghu really is?¡± Lou Xiangzhen had spent over fifty years in Jianghu, mostly practicing swordplay, and every time he emerged from seclusion, he did so with the reputation of a disciple of the Ghost Valley Sect and a top young swordsman. Everything had gone smoothly without any ripples, and since he had no pursuit of power or status, he saw little of the dark side of Jianghu. Every day, the vast Jianghu claimed lives; it was just not yours. Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, ¡°Maybe that¡¯s just your Jianghu.¡± ¡°In the deceitful Jianghu, being a good person gets you killed, so why not be a thoroughly bad person?¡± With that, Bai Qun burst into laughter, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve come to this, I might as well tell you everything. The Nine-tailed Scorpion Poison that Wang Yue had¨CI bought it from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. And his granddaughter gave birth to a girl, who is also of my bloodline. Now I can rightfully pass on the position of Sect Master to my daughter.¡± Upon hearing this, anger flashed in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes: ¡°Scum!¡± He naturally knew Wang Xiaoxi, Wang Yue¡¯s granddaughter. He couldn¡¯t believe that Bai Qun would do something so nefarious, to commit such an abhorred and absurd act. An Jing watched Bai Qun, his eyes also narrowing slightly. ¡°Right, I am scum, I have never been a good person.¡± Bai Qun laughed rather than got angry, ¡°If we¡¯re talking about good people, Lou Xiangzhen, you certainly count as one, but that Brother Wang of mine, forget it. You all always thought that my master died how¡­..¡± ¡°Dong!¡± ¡°Dong!¡± Just then, the chimes of the Blue River Sect suddenly sounded. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Could another major incident have occurred!?¡± ¡°Quick, to Ancestor Master Mountain!¡± ¡­ All members of the Blue River Sect, upon hearing the chimes, came out of their rooms one after another, transforming into streaks of swift shadows, rushing towards Ancestor Master Mountain. In no time, all five Peak Masters and several Elders had gathered. Wang Yue, with staggering steps, stood behind the crowd at the bottom of the stone steps, staring blankly ahead. ¡°Who rang the bell?¡± Bai Qun asked coldly, looking down from above. ¡°I did!¡± At this moment, Zhao Liangdong stepped forward at a calm pace. ¡°Zhao Liangdong!?¡± Bai Qun¡¯s eyebrows rose at the sight. With sword in hand, Lou Xiangzhen declared, ¡°Bai Qun, you imprisoned the previous Sect Master of the Blue River Sect, committed misdeeds, disturbed the Sect, and practiced forbidden martial arts of the Court. Do you acknowledge your crimes?¡± ¡°I am innocent.¡± Bai Qun said coldly, ¡°Today, let¡¯s see who within the Blue River Sect dares to sentence me.¡± Pausing, the members of the Blue River Sect looked on, chilled to the bone, none daring to speak up loudly. ¡°They may not dare, but I do!¡± Lou Xiangzhen, standing atop the summit, drew his longsword, and a cold light appeared between heaven and earth. ¡°Bai Qun, come forth and meet your death!¡± His voice resonated like a great bell, echoing throughout heaven and earth, rippling to the surroundings. Bai Qun, come forth and meet your death! Seeing this, Wang Yue¡¯s lips parted, but ultimately he remained silent. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Bai Qun roared with laughter, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, you¡¯re at the Master Realm. Do you think I am not?¡± Saying this, Bai Qun stepped forward. A powerful and domineering Qi Mechanism radiated in all directions, as if the surging tides were emanating from his body. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In an instant, those standing behind Bai Qun were all blown back by the Qi Force, retreating towards the distance. Only An Jing stood far away, his expression as still as water, his clothes rippling with the breeze. ¡°A battle between two Grandmasters?¡± An Jing intently watched the scene unfold before him. Battles between Grandmasters were rare. He had missed the fight between Lin Yiyang and Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, but today he could witness a duel between two Grandmasters. Particularly since one of the Grandmasters was one of the top swordsmen of the era. ¡°I can give you a chance.¡± Lou Xiangzhen, touching the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand, said indifferently, ¡°Bai Qun, if you defeat me, from now on wherever you are, I, Lou Xiangzhen, will surely retreat three feet away.¡± Bai Qun sneered, ¡°Let¡¯s see if your sword is still as sharp as it was back then.¡± Boundless True Qi swelled like tidal waves, filling the void and emanating tremendous momentum. Lou Xiangzhen swung his sword. The Sword Qi was vast and boundless, as if flowing from the edge of the sky, surging downwards. Moreover, at the moment of Sword Qi explosion, the surrounding air burst into a piercing sound. ¡°Too powerful!¡± Everyone lifted their heads, their eyes filled with shock. And An Jing¡¯s heart also trembled. Was this just an ordinary sword strike from Lou Xiangzhen? Bai Qun took a deep breath, his True Qi vast like a broad river or a lake. Blue River Water Dividing Technique! Behind Bai Qun, there seemed to be a tide of blue water surging, bursting forth with an extremely dazzling light, ancient and filled with a sense of the vicissitudes of time. Crash! Crash! After that, he struck forward with a palm, and the blue tides behind him instantly divided, forming spiral vortices. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! At the moment when the Sword Light and the great tide clashed, heaven and earth both trembled, and time seemed to have stopped. After an unknown amount of time, waves visible to the naked eye spread out to the surrounding area, those dreadful waves of True Qi being the result of the collision of their True Qi pushed to the extreme. Crash! Crash! ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, if this is the extent of your strength, it¡¯s quite unlikely that you will make me concede today,¡± Bai Qun said. Bai Qun steadied his body, his palms vibrating from the shock to the point of severe pain, but he seemed as though he didn¡¯t perceive the pain at all. His True Qi madly spread out from his body, and then, centered around his body, spirals of blue water churned, forming an impregnable barrier. Although Bai Qun said that, he obviously did not dare to initiate the attack first. ¡°Watch closely,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said, his eyes revealing a sharp light. That statement seemed to be addressed to Bai Qun, but An Jing knew it was actually meant for him. All of a sudden, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword moved. In an instant, countless streams of Qi surged around him, the world seemed to be refreshed, and an enormous force of heaven and earth crashed down like collapsing mountains, making one¡¯s heart tremble. That Qi Force subsequently condensed, forming what seemed to be red peach blossoms drifting midair. Sword Intent! This was Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Sword Intent. An Jing carefully felt those peach blossom petals that floated in midair, which were mysterious and unfathomable. ¡°Shi!¡± The light from the Peach Blossom Sword was erratic in its speed. Swift as thunder when at its fastest, and like drifting feathers when at its slowest. One sword stroke passed, and the world was startled into a chill. The mountains and rivers all trembled! ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± And in the next moment, the peach blossom petals that had been floating in midair all converged towards the Peach Blossom Sword in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand, coming in a mighty flood. It was as if the intercrossing of dawn welcomed a brand-new daybreak. That daybreak seemed to engulf everything. In Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand, the sword no longer existed, and the sword in his heart also slowly faded away. Sword Light covered everything; the True Qi vortices in front of him, defenses, all dissipated into nothingness, and then that cold light struck fiercely at Bai Qun¡¯s face. The sword departed, the man left. What a brilliant streak of heaven and earth flowing light! ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Bai Qun¡¯s face was full of astonishment, with a hint of terror in his eyes. ¡°Shi!¡± Lou Xiangzhen remained expressionless, his Peach Blossom Sword smoothly inserted back into its scabbard. Even among Grandmasters, there were differences. ¡°Thump!¡± As Bai Qun¡¯s body heavily fell to the ground. Silence! All was silent in heaven and earth! Everyone was stunned, looking at Bai Qun lying on the ground. Two swords! With only two sword strikes, Bai Qun lay on the ground, his life hanging in the balance. How formidable was Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s strength? ¡°The¡­ Sect Master has lost?¡± ¡°Defeated a Grandmaster with two swords!? How could Lin Yiyang, the world¡¯s number one swordsman, possibly be his match?¡± ¡°This Lou Xiangzhen of the Ghost Valley Sect is too terrifying!¡± ¡­¡­ Unbeknownst to them how much time had passed, the members of the Blue River Sect whispered in shock. ¡°So powerful¡­¡± Zhao Liangdong muttered in a low, involuntary whisper. An Jing, however, was savoring the memory of that recent sword strike, pondering in his mind, ¡°Could it be that Elder Lou has already reached the Sixth Realm?¡± At this moment, Bai Qun lay collapsed on the ground, his chest heaving violently as if he were a wild beast on the verge of death. But no disciple of the Blue River Sect approached him, not even his close confidant Le Ming. At this moment, Le Ming was overwhelmed by fear, unable to compose himself. When one thought back to Bai Qun¡¯s usual imposing manner, seated majestically on the high platform, one couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Just then, a figure slowly walked towards Bai Qun. Everyone followed the sound and looked, only to see that man was none other than Wang Yue. Wang Yue¡¯s expression seemed neither happy nor sad as he approached Bai Qun. ¡°Wang¡­ Wang Yue¡­..¡± Blood gurgled at the corner of Bai Qun¡¯s mouth when he saw the person before him. His lips cracked into a smile, revealing a hint of amusement. Even though he had died, there was only one person left in the Wang bloodline, his daughter Bai Lin. Wang Yue no longer had any offspring. ¡°Brother Bai Qun, I must thank you.¡± Wang Yue said after a long contemplation, looking at the person before him. Upon hearing Wang Yue¡¯s words, a hint of astonishment flashed in Bai Qun¡¯s eyes. Wang Yue was thanking him!? Who was Wang Yue? From a young age, he was the fearless Demon Lord of Mayhem. Relying on the abundant resources of the Blue River Sect and his own formidable talents, he was someone for whom the Jianghu would bend at his beck and call. Such a proud and boundless person, tormented by him for so long, was now saying thank you to him? Wang Yue walked up to Bai Qun, let go of the walking stick in his hand, and then, astonishingly, slowly squatted down, whispering into his ear. That was the Transmission Skill. An Jing didn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ pfft!¡± It was as if Bai Qun heard something shocking like a bolt from the blue. A long breath seemed to be blocked in his chest, and then a gush of blood spurted out like an arrow. The blood gushed out like a spring, spraying onto Wang Yue¡¯s face, head, and body, but he seemed completely unaware. Bai Qun died, his eyes still wide open. Wang Yue reached out his hands to close Bai Qun¡¯s eyes, but they would not shut. An Jing furrowed his eyebrows slightly upon seeing this. ¡­. Blue River Sect, back courtyard. Wang Xiaoxi was sitting by the desk, absorbed in reading a book she held in her hands. Bai Lin¡¯er stood in a corner not far away, her little legs trembling continuously, her teeth biting her lips hard. Even though her face was red with effort, she still didn¡¯t speak a word. Just then, a maid named Xiao Huan hurried out. ¡°Madam, Madam!¡± Wang Xiaoxi closed the book in her hand, then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xiao Huan glanced at Bai Lin¡¯er in the corner and whispered into Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s ear. ¡°Thud!¡± Upon hearing the news, the book in Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s hand fell onto the desk. Xiao Huan exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Madam, isn¡¯t this wonderful news?¡± Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s heart was a mix of emotions. She said nothing, as if overwhelmed with joy, her mind had gone blank and she didn¡¯t know what to say, yet she seemed unfazed. ¡°Look, Lin¡¯er has been standing for almost half an hour now.¡± Xiao Huan walked over to Bai Lin¡¯er, hugging her with compassion, ¡°Madam, don¡¯t let her stand any longer.¡± Bai Lin¡¯er kept her lips tightly sealed and said nothing. ¡°Forget it.¡± It took a good while for Wang Xiaoxi to come back to her senses, and she gestured with her hand. ¡°Whimpering sobbing¡­ whimpering sobbing.¡± Upon hearing Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s words, Bai Lin¡¯er could no longer hold back and began to wail loudly. Xiao Huan rubbed her little leg, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°¡­.It hurts.¡± Bai Lin¡¯er nestled in Xiao Huan¡¯s embrace, crying even harder, ¡°Huan¡¯er sister, it hurts.¡± Xiao Huan patted Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s back, saying, ¡°Be good from now on, and don¡¯t make your mother angry, then you won¡¯t be punished again.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Bai Lin¡¯er sobbed, squeezing out a sound from her nose. ¡°I need to go back to my room to rest a bit, you take care of her for now.¡± Wang Xiaoxi spoke and then headed towards her room. Seeing Wang Xiaoxi leave, Bai Lin¡¯er wiped her tears, cautiously asking, ¡°Huan¡¯er sister, is mother really angry with me?¡± In the past, when she caused trouble for Wang Xiaoxi, Wang Xiaoxi rarely hit her, lavishing her with extreme affection, but this time not only had she been severely beaten, but now she was being ignored as well. Thinking of this, panic set into her heart. ¡°No, your mother will never be angry with you.¡± Xiao Huan stroked Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s head, then took out a stack of plasters, ¡°Tonight, remember to apply this elixir on your mother, and remember to be gentle.¡± Bai Lin¡¯er received the plaster: ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going to eat pastries.¡± Xiao Huan said, taking Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s little hand. Bai Lin¡¯er bit her lip, murmuring lowly, ¡°Huan¡¯er sister, you¡¯re so good to me, I was wrong, I will never hit you with the teacup again.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Huan touched Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s braids, ¡°It¡¯s okay, as long as you remember to treat your mother well, that¡¯s all that matters. My kindness is nothing compared to a tenth of your mother¡¯s toward you.¡± ¡­.. The news of Bai Qun¡¯s death quickly spread, shaking the entire Blue River Sect, and the new director, Wang Yue, gave the direct order to seal the mountain. Thanks to the presence of Lou Xiangzhen, and Wang Yue having been the previous Sect Master, the Blue River Sect did not fall into much chaos. Even Le Ming was actively cooperating, daring not to show the slightest negligence for fear of retaliation. Blue River Sect, behind the mountain. On a narrow path, two figures appeared. It was An Jing and Zhao Liangdong, the Peak Master of San Chong Peak. Zhao Liangdong pointed towards the entrance of the path, speaking slowly, ¡°Ahead is the Sealing Land. However, the Sealing Land contains a vast amount of malicious Yin energy, so I never ventured too deep when I guarded this place.¡± ¡°Our Blue River Sect¡¯s sealing is different from the Buddhist sealing; it requires a person to guard it, so you can enter this Sealing Land safely,¡± he added. An Jing nodded, ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you any further,¡± Zhao Liangdong said, bowing his hand and retreating towards the back, quickly disappearing into the path. An Jing walked slowly towards the cave entrance. ¡°Hint three: The host is near a green opportunity.¡± At that moment, the Earth Book transmitted a new hint. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not a black opportunity,¡± An Jing thought, gazing at the Earth Book and letting out a sigh of relief after a careful inspection. The absence of a black opportunity in the Earth Book meant he likely wouldn¡¯t face a life-threatening situation in the cave. With this in mind, he lit a fire starter and walked slowly into the depths of the cave. As he approached the cave, wisps of malicious Yin energy rushed towards him, and the temperature around him dropped rapidly. At this moment, his cultivation had reached the Heavenly Flower Realm, so he wasn¡¯t concerned about such Yin energy. After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the Yin energy grew thick and rampant, forcing An Jing to operate his mental method to resist it. ¡°Hum! Hum!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword seemed guided, starting to emit a faint vibration. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± In the pitch darkness ahead, following the faint light, a sword blade could be clearly seen. The fragmented blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword! The Evil Suppressing Sword, one scabbard for six swords, meaning one draw could produce six Evil Suppressing Swords. Six Evil Suppressing Swords could also merge into one. This was one of the reasons why the Evil Suppressing Sword was ranked as the third sword. At this moment, the Evil Suppressing Sword was enveloped by dense Yin energy, and something seemed to be flowing on its thick blade. Upon closer inspection, that flowing substance was crimson, identical to the blood on the Evil Suppressing Sword in An Jing¡¯s hand. The Evil Suppressing Sword seemed to sense An Jing¡¯s arrival, releasing vibrations as if it was extremely cheerful. ¡°Wash! Wash! Wash!¡± A surge of overwhelming inner strength came forth, instantly dispersing the malicious Yin energy in front. Free from the obstructing Yin energy, the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword began to quiver, as if it was trying to break free from the ground. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The next moment, the body of the Evil Suppressing Sword abruptly was drawn out, transforming into a streak of flowing light that surged into the hilt of An Jing¡¯s sword. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The entire earth trembled, shaking for roughly dozens of breaths, before slowly returning to calm as if nothing had happened. ¡°We can go now.¡± An Jing had obtained the body of the Evil Suppressing Sword and let out a slight breath. He quickly made his way out of the cave, leaping agilely. If it wasn¡¯t for relying on Zhao Liangdong¡¯s connection, entering the back mountain of the Blue River Sect would have been a huge problem for himself. Even though Great Yan had built the Dragon Locking Well, the Blue River Sect still had the responsibility of guarding the seal. Soon, he exited the cave and arrived at an offbeat hall of the Blue River Sect. At this moment, Lou Xiangzhen was sitting cross-legged beside a desk, staring at the teacup in front of him as though he was preoccupied with thoughts. ¡°Elder Lou, I have returned,¡± An Jing said. Lou Xiangzhen came back to his senses and smiled, ¡°It seems that you have gotten your hands on the Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± An Jing patted the sword scabbard, which now held two bodies of swords within. ¡°We should leave as well.¡± Lou Xiangzhen slowly stood up. Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Oh? Elder, don¡¯t you plan to stay another night?¡± Wang Yue had instructed earlier to let Lou Xiangzhen stay overnight, seemingly wanting to discuss something with him. ¡°No need.¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head. An Jing didn¡¯t say anything more; after all, he was not very keen on staying at the Blue River Sect either. Even though the Blue River Sect was currently sealed, the news of Bai Qun¡¯s death would spread quickly throughout Jianghu, and sooner or later, the Zhenyi Sect might also trace the whereabouts of himself and others¨Cleaving quickly was naturally the best option. Moreover, through An Jing¡¯s covert observations, that Wang Yue was not a simple character either. For Bai Qun to act in such a way and for him to be able to swallow his anger, even maintaining his composure when Lou Xiangzhen arrived, revealed a frightening level of restraint. Why did he exercise such restraint? What exactly was he aiming for? Everything seemed confusing and eerie. And Lou Xiangzhen had said that his leg was broken, but yesterday at Ancestor Master Mountain, when Wang Yue slowly squatted down, An Jing, with many years of medical experience, could tell that even if Wang Yue had not fully recovered, he was in the process of recovery. In summary, Wang Yue was not as simple as he appeared to be on the surface. Plus, the black opportunity within the Chenxin Lake had terrified An Jing even more; leaving the Blue River Sect as soon as possible was undoubtedly the best. The two of them headed towards the door to leave. ¡°Elder Lou.¡± Just then, a voice came from ahead. Following the voice, they saw Wang Xiaoxi leading Bai Lin¡¯er as they walked towards them. Lou Xiangzhen looked at the woman in front and nodded slightly. Wang Yue had held a banquet last night, and An Jing had also seen this woman, who was the granddaughter of Wang Yue as mentioned by Bai Qun, and the child she was leading was the daughter of Bai Qun. Bai Lin¡¯er was still unaware of Bai Qun¡¯s death, and since Bai Qun often secluded himself for several days, she did not find it strange. After a moment of contemplation, Wang Xiaoxi said, ¡°I have a favor to ask and hope that Elder Lou can accommodate.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it,¡± said Lou Xiangzhen without outright refusal. Wang Xiaoxi glanced at Bai Lin¡¯er and said, ¡°This child of mine has excellent Root Bone and is a good seed for martial arts, but she is somewhat simple-minded and loves to play. I wish to ask Elder Lou to take her as a disciple.¡± As she spoke, Wang Xiaoxi bowed, her tone carrying a hint of pleading. Frowning, An Jing watched from the side. Elder Lou was the one who killed Bai Qun. If it were any ordinary person in Jianghu, they would have eradicated the threat entirely; how could Elder Lou possibly take Bai Lin¡¯er as his disciple? Raising his eyebrows, Lou Xiangzhen glanced at Bai Lin¡¯er and shook his head: ¡°She does indeed have a good Root Bone, but I cannot take her as my disciple.¡± His purpose for coming out of seclusion was to fulfill Jiang Sanjia¡¯s last wish and to battle with the Zhenyi Sect; he simply did not have the time for anything else. Upon hearing this, even though Wang Xiaoxi had anticipated this outcome, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply. ¡°Mother, I want to be his disciple,¡± Bai Lin¡¯er said, gripping her dress and pointing at An Jing. Wang Xiaoxi turned to look at An Jing. She had also met this swordsman beside Lou Xiangzhen yesterday. Although she vaguely sensed that this swordsman was extraordinary, she did not know his identity. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°I lack knowledge and abilities, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t take disciples,¡± An Jing declined indifferently. He did not want to involve himself in all these trifles. Besides, with a bunch of troubles of his own, how could he possibly have the mind to teach a disciple? ¡°I want to become his disciple, Mother,¡± Bai Lin¡¯er tugged at Wang Xiaoxi¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°As long as you let him teach me, I will study hard.¡± Wang Xiaoxi was also in a dilemma and rubbed Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s head. Lou Xiangzhen shook his head slightly upon seeing this but said nothing. Wang Xiaoxi had grown up under her watch; now that Bai Qun had died, leaving behind a daughter of Bai Qun, who knew what the future held? It was a sizable problem for anyone. ¡°Elder Lou, let¡¯s go,¡± An Jing said. The two of them continued to walk towards the mountain gate. Wang Xiaoxi rubbed Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s head and sighed helplessly. Originally, she had wanted her to become the disciple of Lou Xiangzhen to ensure her safety. Suddenly, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s steps faltered. An Jing saw this and knew that Lou Xiangzhen had been moved by compassion. Lou Xiangzhen exhaled softly, ¡°Indeed, my Ghost Valley Sect is in need of a successor. Should I rebuild the Mystical Sect one day, I will also need a chief disciple to establish its foundation.¡± With that, Lou Xiangzhen took out a book, ¡°These are the basic sword techniques of the Ghost Valley Sect. Have her start cultivating this first. When I return to the Blue River Sect in the future, I will pass on the subsequent martial arts to you.¡± Upon seeing this, Wang Xiaoxi was overwhelmed with excitement and hurriedly said, ¡°Quick, offer your respects to your master.¡± ¡°Master above, please accept your disciple¡¯s bow.¡± Bai Lin¡¯er was pushed down by Wang Xiaoxi, causing her to kneel to the ground directly. ¡­.. In the dense forest of Yun Hua Dao, ¡°This Heaven and Earth Net is really extraordinary. I merely made a move, and my whereabouts were exposed.¡± A plump woman stood on a tree branch, rushing swiftly towards the distance, doubts emerging in her heart. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± At that moment, several silver arrows shot out. The entire dense forest was suddenly shrouded in a rain of arrows. Although the woman appeared bulky, her body was incredibly agile. Dodging to the left and right, she managed to avoid all the sharp arrows. This person was Tan Yun, who had been discovered by the Heaven and Earth Net. In an instant, several Silver Constables and two Gold Constables appeared around her. ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Tan Yun, upon seeing the Xuanyi Guards, immediately sensed trouble but still forced a composed expression. ¡°Why pursue you?¡± One of the Gold Constables, Bian Jingdao, known as ¡®Hill Descending Tiger,¡¯ sneered, ¡°Members of the Demon Sect, everyone merits death.¡± Tan Yun¡¯s inner strength surged, and her hand reached for the Futu Sword at her waist: ¡°Who says I¡¯m from the Demon Sect, you¡¯re talking nonsense! I am a disciple of the Yu Heng Sword Sect.¡± Bian Jingdao shouted loudly, ¡°A disciple of the Yu Heng Sword Sect? What¡¯s your name? Let me hear it.¡± As he spoke, he signalled to a few nearby Silver Constables. They also began to encircle from the side. Tan Yun, the Guardian of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, was well-versed in the experts of Jianghu. Her eyes flickered and she called out loudly, ¡°Have you heard of Liu Lu, the chief disciple of Qiu Wanxia from the Yu Heng Sword Sect?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve heard of that.¡± Bian Jingdao, hearing this, yelled, ¡°Are you really Liu Lu, the Deacon? We are from the Xuanyi Guard. If you truly are, you can come with me to the Yunhua City stronghold to confirm your identity. If it is a mistake, we will certainly visit to apologize.¡± Tan Yun was taken aback for a moment, her eyebrows shooting up¨Cwith them taking her to Xuanyi Guard¡¯s stronghold, she would be trapped and couldn¡¯t possibly go. ¡°She¡¯s a fake, get her!¡± The very next moment, Bian Jingdao shouted loudly. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± Suddenly, the Silver Constables hiding around swiftly charged in, their blade lights flashing, exuding a chilling aura. ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡± Tan Yun also drew her Futu Sword, and instantly, streaks of cold light were unleashed, directly repelling three Silver Constables of the Third Grade. ¡°Brother Bian, this is the Night Cloud Sword Technique, it seems to be really a Yu Heng Sword Sect sword technique,¡± Seeing this technique, another Gold Constable beside Bian Jingdao, Li Zixia, was quick to say. Bian Jingdao spoke in a low voice, ¡°Half a year ago, I met that Deacon Liu Lu; she was strikingly beautiful, tall, and slim. How could it be you, this ugly freak!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all attack together and be done with this ugly witch from the Demon Sect!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Hearing Bian Jingdao¡¯s words, Tan Yun was furious, nearly spitting out blood in anger. People had at most called her a seductive woman of the Demon Sect; none had ever called her an ugly witch of the Demon Sect. ¡°Today, none of you are leaving!¡± Tan Yun knew her identity had been thoroughly exposed; she shook off the cotton padding piled on her body, and then with greater agility than before, she thrust her sword straight at Bian Jingdao. She had initially wanted to pretend to be an ordinary person, but being insulted in such a manner by them¨Cwell then, she thought, do not blame me for not holding back. Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 151 Tan Yun Appears in Huangyao Town Chapter 151: Chapter 151 Tan Yun Appears in Huangyao Town Bian Jingdao was merely a Second Grade Realm expert, easily capturing ordinary masters of Jianghu, but faced with Tan Yun¡¯s peak Second Grade strength, he was clearly out of his league. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! With a strike of his sword, Tan Yun seemed to produce thousands of cold glares, as powerful as thunder, surging incessantly. Cold Water Sword Technique! A True Martial Level swordsmanship! As the sole disciple of Li Fuzhou, how could the martial arts Tan Yun practiced be inferior? ¡°Clang clang clang clang clang!¡± Bian Jingdao hastily drew his sword to block, with sparks flying in a series, while a domineering Qi Force transmitted from the hilt, shaking him so violently that his blood churned and he was forced to step back repeatedly. ¡°All of you, attack together, this person is no ordinary Demon Sect thief!¡± Bian Jingdao shouted while clutching his chest. Li Zixia¡¯s brows furrowed, and he hurriedly stepped forward, blocking the raging Tan Yun. In a short time, the two exchanged dozens of moves, and Li Zixia was also pressed to continuously retreat. Several Silver Constables also advanced, forming an encircling stance, instantly putting enormous pressure on Tan Yun. Tan Yun took a deep breath, and the Futu Sword in his hand violently turned, revealing a chill that burst forth from the blade, creating an unparalleled cold Qi wave. ¡°Pfft!¡± The Silver Constable closest to him couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was immediately decapitated by a single sword strike. The other Silver Constables felt a chill in their hearts upon seeing this. Silver Constables were already Third Grade Cultivators, commonly undertaking solo missions. And now, one was just slain by a single sword strike from a Demon Sect expert. ¡°Don¡¯t give her a chance to breathe.¡± Bian Jingdao also reacted, slashing with the long sword in his hand. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The overwhelming Qi Force fell, mixed with the whistling of the wind, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain. ¡°Clang-!¡± Tan Yun hastily raised the Futu Sword to parry, resulting in a thunderous sound echoing through the air. The next moment, Li Zixia also quickly stepped forward, repeatedly striking with his long sword. Tan Yun¡¯s eyes flashed, and she fiercely slapped towards the front. Boom! Black Qi Mechanism scattered, then formed a massive ghostly face. Earth Demon Palm Technique! This palm technique was somewhat similar to Tian Liu¡¯s Soul Losing Hand, said to have been acquired by a Demon Sect expert who then integrated its characteristics with Demon Cult Techniques. Dominating and eerie, irresistible! The grotesque ghostly face roared ferociously, viciously tearing forward. Li Zixia did not expect Tan Yun to execute this palm despite facing so many experts; his Inner Strength also crazily surged into the blade. Several streaks of sword light instantly shattered, and the domineering handprint pressed on relentlessly, hitting Li Zixia hard in the chest. ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± ¡°Wah!¡± The sound of bones breaking was distinctly audible; Li Zixia¡¯s body, like a leaf in a violent wind, wobbled unstably until a spurt of blood burst forth. Bian Jingdao¡¯s long sword also slashed over, Tan Yun retracted her palm and could only desperately twist her body to avoid the vital points. ¡°Shiist!¡± The long sword directly chopped into her shoulder, Tan Yun groaned, as her clothes ripped open and her flesh gaped, blood flowing freely. ¡°It¡¯s best to flee now.¡± Tan Yun gritted her teeth, knowing she could handle one Second Grade expert, but with two Second Grade Realm opponents and other Silver Constables around, a prolonged battle was extremely disadvantageous to her. With this thought, her Futu Sword swung out again, an unrivaled chill sword radiance streaked through, and then she leaped towards the distance. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh!¡± ¡°Brother Li, are you alright?¡± Bian Jingdao hurriedly approached Li Zixia¡¯s side. He had seen it clearly; that palm had solidly hit Li Zixia¡¯s chest. If it shattered his heart, then it would be over. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine, quickly chase that Demon Sect thief.¡± Li Zixia gasped for air, urging them, ¡°Hurry, we can¡¯t let him escape. The deputy governor has issued a death order to catch this person.¡± Bian Jingdao clenched his teeth, then said to a nearby Silver Constable, ¡°Xiao Tian, you stay to care for your Uncle Li, the rest come with me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Silver Constable felt a chill in his heart and quickly responded. Bian Jingdao took a deep breath, grasped his saber, and chased after him. The dense forest ahead was not very deep; after passing through it, they arrived at the official road. Bian Jingdao closely examined the official road for a moment, then associated it with the route of the Demon Sect fiend and exclaimed, ¡°To the north, along the official road! Maybe that Demon Sect person has already entered the city to look for his accomplices by now.¡± After that, the group hurried along the official road. About a few hours later, they still hadn¡¯t caught sight of Tan Yun¡¯s figure again; it was as if she had evaporated from the human world in an instant. ¡°Sir, what do we do now? The Demon Sect fiend seems to have disappeared.¡± A Silver Constable behind him, stars in his eyes, tentatively asked. Running continuously for several hours, especially at full strength, even a Third Grade Cultivation couldn¡¯t endure it. ¡°She¡¯s severely injured and won¡¯t be able to run far. Now, send a message to the nearby Xuanyi Guard posts and conduct a full-scale search of this area,¡± Bian Jingdao said, taking a deep breath, then glanced at the tea house in front of them, ¡°Let¡¯s go in and rest for a while.¡± Hearing what Bian Jingdao said, the several Silver Constables present all sighed with relief. Upon entering the tea house, Bian Jingdao¡¯s brows immediately furrowed. The tea house was crowded, so much so that it didn¡¯t seem like a tea house but more like a theater. Each table was filled with people, except for a corner where a man in white sat alone. The man, dressed in a white garment that outshone the snow, appeared to be just over forty, with his hair meticulously tied up, his face calm as still water, and his body as straight as a sword. He cradled a cup of fragrant tea in his hands. The surrounding people seemed to be discussing in low voices, talking and laughing, but their eyes occasionally and inadvertently glanced at the white-clothed man. ¡°These honorable guests, I¡¯m afraid we have run out of seats¡­¡± At that moment, the waiter came out, trembling. He didn¡¯t know what was going on today; the usually desolate small tea house was suddenly filled with so many experts. ¡°Isn¡¯t that man sitting alone? We¡¯ll just sit there,¡± Bian Jingdao said, pointing beside the white-clothed man. ¡°This¡­¡± the waiter hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± the white-clothed man said indifferently, ¡°Let them sit down.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Bian Jingdao said as he sat down nonchalantly and ordered loudly, ¡°Waiter, bring two pots of tea.¡± Meanwhile, many people frowned and looked over, which made Bian Jingdao even more puzzled. The white-clothed man smiled faintly and said, ¡°You must be from the Xuanyi Guard, right?¡± ¡°Yes, you are¡­¡­?¡± Bian Jingdao hadn¡¯t worn the distinctive attire of the Xuanyi Guard that day, but the person in front of him still recognized him. Could it be based on the martial arts he practiced? His Qi Mechanism was externalized, but to see through his own background with one look was not something an ordinary expert could do. ¡°Zhao Country, Cui Daoxian.¡± The white-clothed man stated serenely. ¡°Cui¡­ Cui Daoxian?¡± As soon as Bian Jingdao heard these three words, his body swayed, and he almost fell off the chair. And the Xuanyi Guard experts behind him all showed a huge change in their expressions, their hearts deeply shocked. Who was Cui Daoxian?! One of the five Great Sword Immortals in the world, they included the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal Lou Xiangzhen, the White Tiger Sword Yi Daoyun, Yu Heng Sword Sect¡¯s Lin Yiyang, the handler of the Emperor¡¯s Sword, Zhong Binru, and the last one was Zhao Country¡¯s Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian. Cui Daoxian, stationed in Zhao Country¡¯s Sword Tomb, had not been seen in the world for thirty years. Every three years, the Sword Tomb opens once, attracting countless young talents to the Sword Tomb to select swords, and Cui Daoxian also conducts a Sword Meeting, teaching the swordsmen of the current younger generation. No matter one¡¯s identity or status, as long as they came to the Sword Tomb, they could listen to Cui Daoxian explain swordsmanship. As a result, in addition to the title of Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian is also known as a Sword Master. Many well-known swordsmen in the world today have studied under Cui Daoxian and hold him in high esteem and respect. In the contention of the five great Sword Immortals for the title of The World¡¯s First Swordsman, each has his own adherents, among whom Cui Daoxian and Lin Yiyang have the most. Yi Daoyun is an expert from the Demon Sect, with an impressive record of defeating numerous experts, and his cultivation has also reached the Half-step Master level, but due to his identity, he doesn¡¯t have many supporters. The sword-wielding eunuch, Zhong Binru, is known to have high swordsmanship and remarkable strength, but as he¡¯s stationed in the Imperial Palace with few opportunities to act, there are very few convincing accomplishments to win people¡¯s trust. As for Ghost Valley Sword Immortal Lou Xiangzhen, who had vanished from the Jianghu for decades and had also lost to the Sword God in the past, it inevitably disappointed people. Moreover, since everyone knew he didn¡¯t wish to compete with the Zhenyi Sect for dominance and his spirit was somewhat diminished, he was the most controversial swordsman. Bian Jingdao swallowed hard, finally understanding why there were so many experts around. It turned out that the man in white was none other than Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian, one of the most formidable Sword Immortals of this age. ¡°` He entered Great Yan without concealing his identity, which certainly attracted a group of supporters and Jianghu spies; ninety percent of those in this small teahouse were likely here because of him. ¡°So it is Senior Cui,¡± Bian Jingdao forced a couple of dry laughs, then said in a low voice, ¡°It is indeed an intrusion, I hope the senior won¡¯t take offense.¡± Cui Daoxian waved his hand, ¡°I and your Deputy Governor Xi Yuanjun are also close friends, no need for such formalities.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Although Cui Daoxian said so, Bian Jingdao remained extremely cautious. ¡°How has Brother Xi been in recent years?¡± Cui Daoxian asked casually. He had been in Great Yan for less than ten days, and although he had not sent a letter to Xi Yuanjun, Xi was likely aware of his arrival, and given Xi¡¯s character, he should have made contact by now. ¡°The Deputy Governor has been doing very poorly,¡± Bian Jingdao sighed deeply and said, ¡°Last year, Lord Xi Jikui was brutally murdered by a Demon Sect expert. Overnight, the Deputy Governor aged decades, and lately¡­¡± At this point, Bian Jingdao cut himself off with two forced laughs. The following matters were Xuanyi Guard¡¯s top secrets, not to be casually shared with outsiders. Cui Daoxian was stunned, ¡°Jikui was killed? By whom?¡± Although news between Great Yan Martial World and Zhao Country¡¯s Martial World was not entirely cut off, it did not spread that quickly. Moreover, while Xi Jikui had a considerable reputation in Great Yan¡¯s Martial World, his fame in Zhao was not as conspicuous, and residing within the Sword Tomb, one would not be privy to Jianghu¡¯s news. ¡°The Sect Master of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, Li Fuzhou.¡± Bian Jingdao replied. ¡°Him!?¡± Upon hearing the name Li Fuzhou, Cui Daoxian¡¯s brows furrowed tighter. He had met Li Fuzhou once, thirty years ago in Great Yan, when the two had crossed swords. Bian Jingdao nodded and continued, ¡°That¡¯s right, he not only killed Lord Xi Jikui but also several Gold Constables, and now he has vanished. However, according to intelligence, he should still be within Great Yan.¡± Cui Daoxian sighed lightly, ¡°This Demon Sect truly is a great scourge of the world.¡± When Jiang Shang was the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, he had immense power in Great Yan, so much so that the developments in Great Yan influenced Zhao, and they even clashed with the Black Ice Platform. Although the Demon Sect was forcefully suppressed by the Black Ice Platform, leading to their abject retreat back to Zhao, this did not mean the Demon Sect was weak. It was because the Black Ice Platform was too strong. In Zhao Country, the influence of the Black Ice Platform was even more terrifying and stronger than that of the Zhenyi Sect; one could say that Zhao Country was under the shadow of the Black Ice Platform. Or rather, that Zhao Country was controlled by the Black Ice Platform. At one time, the sect leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Azure Dragon Sect went to Zhao Country, clashed with many experts, and even killed Cui Daoxian¡¯s senior fellow disciple. At that time, Cui Daoxian was quite young, but his cultivation had already reached the Earth Flower Realm. Relying on his famous sword, the Heavenly Sword, he pursued the Azure Dragon Sect¡¯s sect leader for more than three hundred miles, and finally cut him down at the border of Yan and Zhao. That battle made Cui Daoxian¡¯s name known throughout the world. Later, as a form of retaliation, the Demon Sect even sent assassins from the White Tiger Sect to kill Cui Daoxian; even the White Tiger Sect leader personally took action but failed to kill him, and eventually, the Demon Sect had no choice but to give up and let the matter drop. One could say Cui Daoxian had his fair share of grievances against the Demon Sect. ¡°Indeed,¡± Bian Jingdao nodded vigorously, ¡°Just now, I was in pursuit of a Demon Sect Human Sect expert but let them escape.¡± ¡°An expert from the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect?¡± As Cui Daoxian heard this, he glanced at Bian Jingdao. For Bian Jingdao, a Second Grade cultivator to let an expert from the Human Sect escape indicated that the strength of this Demon Sect Human Sect expert was at least equivalent to Second Grade. The Human Sect of the Demon Sect, unlike the Earth and Heavenly Sects, was mainly responsible for surveilling and tracking, and their combat power was not considered very high, thus a Second Grade cultivation in the Human Sect was already exceptionally high. Bian Jingdao said, ¡°I believe so. This person¡¯s hiding skills are extraordinary, and being alone, it¡¯s very likely they are an expert from the Human Sect.¡± At this, an idea struck him. Since this Heavenly Sword was friends with the Deputy Governor, and he had grievances with the Demon Sect, why not have him make a move to capture the Demon Sect expert? Cui Daoxian gently picked up the teacup on the table, asking casually, ¡°Has this person disappeared now?¡± Bian Jingdao hurriedly said, ¡°Yes, this individual might know information about Li Fuzhou, so the Deputy Governor ordered us to capture them at all costs. However, the Deputy Governor is tied up with urgent matters right now, and the Demon Sect expert¡¯s strength is extraordinary; I might not be their match¡­¡­¡± Cui Daoxian set down his teacup and after pondering for a moment, said, ¡°The grievances between Brother Xi and the Demon Sect are both personal and reasonable for me to assist.¡± ¡°Then I will have to trouble the senior.¡± Bian Jingdao was elated. If Cui Daoxian made a move, the Second Grade Demon Sect woman would undoubtedly be an easy catch. ¡­¡­. Blue River Sect, Chenxin Lake. The lake was extremely tranquil, its surface like a radiant mirror. On the east embankment of Chenxin Lake, there was a stone bridge. ¡°` At this moment, atop the stone bridge, a figure was sitting cross-legged, holding a fishing rod as if they were about to fall asleep. That person was none other than Wang Yue. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡± Footsteps sounded, Zhao Liangdong approached from afar, ¡°Sect Master, Lou Xiangzhen and the swordsman have already left.¡± ¡°If they have left, let them be.¡± Wang Yue opened his eyes and gazed at the calm lake surface, asking, ¡°Do you know who that swordsman was?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Zhao Liangdong shook his head, ¡°However, I feel that swordsman is no ordinary person; his strength must be quite high.¡± Although he had not seen An Jing make a move, and had not even perceived any Qi Mechanism, sometimes the aura of an expert couldn¡¯t be hidden. And what sort of person would a friend with Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s status be if not an extraordinary one? Wang Yue said indifferently, ¡°He went to the Sealing Land, broke the seal, and must have taken away the Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± ¡°The Evil Suppressing Sword!? Could it be the Ghost Swordsman?¡± Zhao Liangdong¡¯s heart shook, thinking of the Ghost Swordsman who had recently become notorious in the Jianghu, vaguely on his way to becoming the sixth Great Sword Immortal. ¡°It is him.¡± Wang Yue extended his hand and reeled in the fishing rod, ¡°Do you know what the Evil Suppressing Sword is?¡± Zhao Liangdong nodded and said, ¡°This sword is also called Great Zhou Yunlong, forged by the Human Emperor of Great Zhou Dynasty. However, it never recognized a master over the years, and instead, many experts perished by it; hence, this sword is also known as the Demon Sword.¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword, being the third-ranked sword on the Famous Sword List, how could he not know of it. Wang Yue set the fishing rod aside and slowly said, ¡°The person able to subdue the Evil Suppressing Sword must not only carry the Royal Family¡¯s bloodline of the Great Zhou Dynasty but must also be a person of destiny, carrying great fortune and great opportunities.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Liangdong was startled, ¡°Sect Master means to say that the Ghost Swordsman is such a remarkable person?¡± To know that even top Grandmasters of Great Zhou couldn¡¯t subdue the Evil Suppressing Sword, yet it was subdued by the Ghost Swordsman, could it be that the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s future strength would surpass that of the Human Emperor of Great Zhou? Top Grandmasters are the most formidable experts in the world, standing at the very peak of existence. Could the Ghost Swordsman really become such a powerful figure? ¡°Exactly.¡± Wang Yue glanced at the lake surface and said with emotion, ¡°If this person can survive under the hands of the Zhenyi Sect, he will definitely become one of the most extraordinary swordsmen in the world.¡± Zhao Liangdong was taken aback, somewhat lost in thought. Wang Yue waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. He killed two Great True Ones of Zhenyi Sect; it¡¯s not certain whether he can survive.¡± Zhao Liangdong suddenly thought of something, ¡°What about Senior Lou?¡± Lou Xiangzhen and Zhenyi Sect were also bitter enemies, yet they had not openly torn apart their facade. Now that Lou Xiangzhen was by the side of the Ghost Swordsman, there must be deep implications. ¡°Time and fate.¡± Wang Yue muttered to himself, and after a while, he spoke again, ¡°From today onwards, you will take care of Lin¡¯er. Keep in mind to stay close by her side and protect her well. She is now the only bloodline of my Wang Family, and nothing can go wrong.¡± Zhao Liangdong clenched his fist in a salute and said, ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± After speaking, Zhao Liangdong slowly retreated. Wang Yue looked at the tranquil lake surface, as if trying to peer through the waters to see to the bottom of the lake, muttering to himself, ¡°He could actually see through the Serenity Stone. The ancestral teachings didn¡¯t say that only those in the Grandmaster Realm could see through the Serenity Stone? Or could it be that the Ghost Swordsman will reach the Grandmaster Realm in the future?¡± With that, his hand touched the white jade at his waist. The white jade was extremely ancient, engraved with a dragon that seemed to soar through clouds and fog, remarkably lifelike. At that moment, after Wang Yue stroked the white jade, it gradually turned red, which was quite magical. Beneath the lake waters, a shocking secret was buried. Wang Yue slowly stood up. If Lou Xiangzhen were there, he would have been extremely surprised because Wang Yue¡¯s legs seemed to have healed. He took out a porcelain bottle, then opened the lid and poured it towards the bottom of the lake. ¡°Swish!¡± The red liquid flowed into the lake water, and that red liquid instantly seemed to be drawn by something, rushing into the depths of the lake. ¡°It seems that the day is not far off.¡± ¡­¡­ Two days later, in Yun Hua Road, Huang Yao Town. On the black hillside covered with irises, under the influence of the heavy color of spring, willow trees sprouted slender branches with pale yellow tender leaves, and the grass exuding the fragrance of the earth arose in bunches. In the flower-filled season of March, spring returned to the earth. Two unfamiliar guests arrived in the small town. It was An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen, who had come down from Blue Mountain. An Jing, admiring the spring scenery of the small town, couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°After passing through Huang Yao Town, we will reach the North.¡± At that moment, An Jing had changed into new robes, and the Evil Suppressing Sword was hidden within his waistband, a stark contrast from his previous appearance as the Ghost Swordsman. After all, his image had been widely spread across the Jianghu, and if he kept his previous appearance, it would unavoidably attract some trouble. ¡°The liquor from the north is much stronger than that from the south,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said, touching the wine gourd at his waist with a hint of a smile in his eyes. An Jing thought of something and asked, ¡°Senior, have you really reached the Sixth Realm?¡± That day on the Ancestor Master Mountain of the Blue River Sect, Lou Xiangzhen killed Bai Qun with two sword strikes, and the last strike was clearly with all his might, already containing traces of transcendence. ¡°No.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked into the distance and said faintly, ¡°I¡¯m still missing something.¡± ¡°Not yet?¡± An Jing frowned slightly upon hearing this. ¡°It¡¯s just a layer of paper on the window, easy to break if wanted,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently. An Jing was shaken, then thinking of something, asked, ¡°Senior, why did you take Bai Lin¡¯er as a disciple that day?¡± ¡°Do you think I was moved by compassion?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it, senior?¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head with a smile and asked, ¡°What do you think of that little girl¡¯s talent?¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± Without hesitation, An Jing said, ¡°Her future is boundless.¡± For An Jing to praise someone¡¯s talent was indeed rare, but this also showed the extent of Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s prodigious talent, truly a rare genius. Lou Xiangzhen spoke slowly, ¡°Before I took her in, I did a divination. Bai Lin¡¯er carries great destiny, her fortune is evident, but there is a calamity in her life. If she can overcome it, her future is indeed limitless.¡± ¡°Bai Qun died by my hand. I wasn¡¯t planning to take her as my disciple, but considering Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s young age, let¡¯s not even talk about future matters. Even if she should seek revenge on me in the future, I figure by then, if I am not dead, my time would be near. As long as my Ghost Valley Sect has a successor, what does it matter?¡± In his heart, Lou Xiangzhen was also amazed by Bai Lin¡¯er¡¯s talent, which was incredibly high. That kind of natural gift seemed almost ready to overflow. ¡°Senior, I also know the heart method of your Ghost Valley Sect. How could it possibly be lost?¡± An Jing knew Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s thoughts. In their eyes, the continuation of the sect was more important than their own life. If the lineage were to end in their hands, it would be more unbearable than death itself. ¡°You?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing and said with irritation, ¡°You¡¯re already one foot in the grave, and you still want to be the heir of my Ghost Valley Sect?¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­..¡± I¡¯m one foot in the grave? I¡¯m in the prime of my life, at the best of times, just when my life is about to take off. Lou Xiangzhen wanted to speak but then stopped, heaving a deep sigh without saying anything. An Jing raised his eyebrow slightly, ¡°Senior, are you talking about Wang Yue?¡± Lou Xiangzhen was silent for a long time before he said, ¡°From the first glance I saw him this time, I knew he had changed.¡± In the Blue River Hall, upon their first encounter, Lou Xiangzhen could feel that Wang Yue had changed. At first, he thought Wang Yue had been tormented by the Nine-tailed Scorpion Poison and it had changed his nature. But as more things happened, he realized that it wasn¡¯t that simple. Those subtle changes were small, but having known Wang Yue for so many years¨Cseventy years in fact¨CLou Xiangzhen could still see them. Now that he thought about it, that expression carrying hints of deliberateness and performance seemed to be for him to see. The Wang Yue from before wouldn¡¯t bow his head even if you beat him to death. ¡°People are always changing.¡± An Jing said, ¡°There are friends who become strangers and conversely, close friends. Sometimes people who are close to you become unrecognizable, and all you can do is let go.¡± Lou Xiangzhen sighed deeply upon hearing this, ¡°Let him be, let¡¯s go have a few drinks instead. The Huangyao wine from Huangyao Town is also a specialty.¡± ¡°Good, today I shall drink heartily with senior.¡± An Jing¡¯s mood was also good. Reaching the north, he wasn¡¯t far from Ping County, and he would soon see his wife. Thinking of Zhao Qingmei, how could his mood not be good? As they talked and laughed, they entered a tavern and randomly chose a spot. Before long, a full table of dishes and two jars of Huangyao Town¡¯s specialty wine were brought to them. ¡°Senior, here.¡± An Jing picked up a jar of wine and placed it in front of Lou Xiangzhen, also grabbing a jar for himself. ¡°Seeing good wine always seems to make people forget a multitude of worries,¡± Lou Xiangzhen laughed heartily. The two of them grabbed the wine jars and began drinking heartily. An Jing gulped down a big mouthful of wine and set his jar on the table. At that moment, he noticed a lone figure in the corner of the room, at a table piled with a great variety of dishes, currently burying his face in the food and eating merrily. This eating manner made An Jing think of Tan Yun, ¡°With those skilled movements, she really does resemble him. I wonder if she¡¯s alive or dead now.¡± When he had gone to see Han Wenxin before, Han Wenxin made it clear that Tan Yun had disappeared, and her life or death was uncertain. But inside, An Jing faintly felt that Tan Yun was most likely dead. At this thought, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sorrowful. It might have been because of his own actions that Tan Yun, so young, had lost his life. This Lord Jiang, I must not let him go. When I return to Yu State City later, I must build a proper tomb for Tan Yun. ¡°Hey kid, why aren¡¯t you drinking? Are you starting to play tricks on this old man?¡± Lou Xiangzhen saw An Jing¡¯s movement halt and grabbed his wrist bone. The next moment, his complexion drastically changed! ¡°Senior, what are you doing?¡± An Jing quickly withdrew his arm. ¡°My wife said, she doesn¡¯t want me philandering outside, not even with men.¡± ¡°You!¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing in utter astonishment, a storm of shock rising in his heart. A person¡¯s appearance might deceive, but their bones don¡¯t lie. So, when the masters of Jianghu assess someone, they usually look at the age of the bones. When Lou Xiangzhen touched An Jing¡¯s arm just now, he found that the bone age was just over twenty. What did being twenty-one mean?! That was more than a decade younger than Wang Yue, whose granddaughter was already twenty-eight. When he himself was twenty-one, his cultivation had only reached around Second Grade, and during his travels in Jianghu, he had nearly been killed by a First Grade Expert, ultimately escaping by the skin of his teeth. And here was the Ghost Swordsman, merely twenty-one, facing seven top-notch experts in succession, slaying two True Martial Realists, and a Half-step Master. This astonishing record of battles, turned out to have been achieved by this youngster whose hair had just fully grown. Jiang Sanjia considers him a close friend!? And I have been treating him as a peer!? He not only said I was just a fledgling, we even went to the brothels together, and I would often confide in him¡­. Thinking this, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s face involuntarily flushed a deep red. ¡°Lou Senior, this alcohol isn¡¯t even strong. Why is your old face turning red?¡± An Jing asked curiously, seeing this. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Lou Senior anymore.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s face turned the color of liver. ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± asked An Jing, puzzled. ¡°Lou Brother? Xiangzhen Brother?¡± ¡°Call me Grandpa Lou!¡± Lou Xiangzhen said somberly, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll treat you as my own grandson. Forget about protecting the way for three years, let alone lifting a finger once. Even for thirty years, a hundred times would be fine.¡± If he, Lou Xiangzhen, wanted to take in a grandson, countless people in Jianghu would cry and beg to be his grandson. An Jing ¡®bang¡¯ stood up abruptly, fuming with anger, ¡°How dare you insult me!?¡± ¡°Quit the act, you grandson.¡± Lou Xiangzhen gestured for him to sit down, looking at An Jing with a touch of resentment, ¡°I always wondered why you wore that mask every day, making yourself look so secretive. So, it turns out you¡¯re just a kid with freshly grown hair, out to travel the Jianghu.¡± He had once asked An Jing why he didn¡¯t show his true face to everyone, and An Jing had said he had his own difficult reasons and didn¡¯t want to attract too much trouble. As a person of Jianghu, Lou Xiangzhen expressed understanding. But now, it seemed that he had been completely deceived by this youngster. A twenty-something young man, with such profound and unfathomable strength, what difficult circumstances could he have?! Hearing this, An Jing grew even more angry, ¡°I treated you as a brother, and you see me as your grandson?¡± ¡°Does what you said before still count?¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked with a smiling gaze. ¡°What did I say?¡± An Jing questioned with a raised eyebrow. Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing, ¡°You said you could become the successor of my Ghost Valley Sect. If you were serious about that, should I pass the position of Sect Leader to you?¡± An Jing waved his hand, ¡°Forget it. What¡¯s the use of being the Sect Leader of a sect with only one person ¨C you?¡± ¡°Am I not a person?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow, ¡°If you become the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect, with me, the World¡¯s First Swordsman, around, who would dare to harm a hair on your head?¡± ¡°The World¡¯s First Swordsman?¡± An Jing let out a light laugh, ¡°Senior Lou, you haven¡¯t reached the Sixth Realm, have you? That doesn¡¯t qualify you as the first swordsman.¡± ¡°You know nothing. That realm for me now is just a layer of window paper.¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with some excitement, ¡°Just think, in a few decades, when I pass this title of the World¡¯s First Swordsman to you, wouldn¡¯t it be a fine tale?¡± The more Lou Xiangzhen thought about it, the more excited he became. If Ghost Valley Sect were really taken over by this youngster, it might have the chance to grow and flourish in the future. An Jing took a sip of wine and said indifferently, ¡°If you haven¡¯t reached the Sixth Realm, you¡¯re not it. Besides, it wouldn¡¯t take me ten years to surpass you, senior.¡± The World¡¯s First Swordsman is not only about profound strength but also superior swordsmanship. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s strength and swordsmanship were beyond reproach, but without breaking through that barrier, he could never be considered the world¡¯s number one swordsman in the eyes of people everywhere. After all, the other five Sword Immortals were just as powerful, and they were all much younger than Lou Xiangzhen. Hearing this, Lou Xiangzhen thought about it and realized that An Jing was unlikely to join his Ghost Valley Sect. Moreover, given his age and current strength, there might well be a master guiding him from behind. Lou Xiangzhen thought of something and asked, ¡°By the way, who is your wife?¡± ¡°She is just an ordinary woman, nothing special.¡± An Jing casually said, ¡°If you get a chance to meet her later, we can talk about her then.¡± ¡°That works, I¡¯ll take your word for it this time.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly, and then couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at An Jing. A twenty-one-year-old expert of the Heavenly Flower Realm who had refined the Golden Bone and cultivated two or three Heavenly Martial Arts techniques was a rare talent indeed¨Cfar more terrifying than Xiao Qianqiu. If the Zhenyi Sect got wind of this, they might send a Grandmaster expert to take him out tomorrow, so hiding his identity was a smart move. As long as he was given time, he might one day set foot on Zhenyi Mountain. ¡°Sanjia, oh Sanjia, did you really calculate this, or is it just blind luck?¡± Lou Xiangzhen muttered to himself, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table and coughed softly. ¡°Come, elder, have a drink.¡± An Jing immediately got the hint and lifted the wine gourd, saying. Lou Xiangzhen said with annoyance, ¡°Pour the wine quickly for your grandpa Lou, don¡¯t be disrespectful.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, sure.¡± An Jing, hearing this, remained unchanged in expression, but inwardly he muttered: Old babyface, considering you can protect me for a while, I¡¯ll let it slide. Lou Xiangzhen raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. In a corner, the woman in black, who had eaten her fill, looked curiously at An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen who were drinking not far away. ¡°Two weirdos, could they be spies from the Heaven and Earth Net?¡± This person was none other than Tan Yun, who had escaped the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s encirclement. Since she was last targeted by a Heaven and Earth Net expert, she had become overly cautious, suspecting that everyone she saw might be their spy. After observing carefully, it seemed the two men hadn¡¯t noticed her, which allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Having eaten my fill, it¡¯s best to leave quickly.¡± Tan Yun thought of something, picked up the sword on the table, and prepared to leave. She had been on the run for days; rest wasn¡¯t much of an issue, but she couldn¡¯t starve herself. With that, Tan Yun headed toward the stairway, ready to leave the tavern. An Jing watched the woman in black approach and felt an oddly familiar sensation, especially something about her figure. Turbulent waves. Suddenly, An Jing¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s movements paused as well as they turned to look outside the window. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± A shout boomed, followed by a fierce slash of sword light flooding in like a tide. The voice arrived before the person, a clear sign of the murderous intent within. The newcomer was the Gold Constable of the Xuanyi Guard, Bian Jingdao. After two days of pursuit and with the help of the Heaven and Earth Net, he had finally located the gluttonous woman of the Demon Sect. ¡°Caught up already?¡± Tan Yun reacted quickly, drawing out the Futu Sword at her waist and charged forward to meet the attack. ¡°Clang!¡± In the instant the two blades collided, the qi mechanism wildly scattered around, shattering tables, chairs, and pillars into debris. ¡°Xuanyi Guard on duty, all unrelated people leave immediately.¡± Bian Jingdao shouted coldly. ¡°Crash! Crash!¡± The next moment, several Xuanyi Guard experts quickly surrounded the entire tavern. ¡°It¡¯s the Gold Constable of the Xuanyi Guard!¡± ¡°Run! Run!¡± ¡°Who exactly is it that could make the Gold Constable of the Xuanyi Guard take action?¡± ¡­ Inside the tavern, everyone was quite surprised, and they started to flee in panic. In Great Yan, obstructing the work of the Xuanyi Guard was a crime of complicity. Many stood at a distance, not going too far, curious about what kind of expert had prompted the action of the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Gold Constable. Tan Yun saw the Xuanyi Guards encircling her and instantly let out a sharp cry, her Futu Sword turning into streaks of cold light. Several Silver Constables didn¡¯t even try to exchange blows with Tan Yun; upon seeing her draw her sword, they all retreated continuously. And whenever Tan Yun tried to break out, Bian Jingdao would take the lead to step forward, blocking her path with his sword. ¡°Too cunning.¡± Tan Yun inwardly cursed, beginning to grow anxious. At this moment, she still had an injury on her shoulder, and if the battle dragged on, not only would her wound tear open, which would be the least of her worries, but she would certainly be captured alive, which would lead to bigger troubles. ¡°It seems that Jianghu is really not peaceful.¡± An Jing said in a low voice as he picked up the wine jug. ¡°This woman is from the Demon Sect.¡± Lou Xiangzhen commented on the swordsmanship used by Tan Yun, ¡°Her cultivation is so-so, and her swordsmanship is also so-so.¡± ¡°A master from the Demon Sect?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances; he had no feud with the Demon Sect. On the contrary, he had a rather good relationship with Li Fuzhou. But it was only good with Li Fuzhou. No, there was also Shui Zhongyue. At this moment, Tan Yun, encircled by several top experts of the Xuanyi Guard, was clearly at her wit¡¯s end, retreating repeatedly. ¡°It seems I can only use the life-saving item my master gave me.¡± Tan Yun made up her mind and reached into her bosom, pulling out a black ball the size of a thumb and threw it towards Bian Jingdao and the others. ¡°Not good!¡± Bian Jingdao, seeing this, immediately shouted loudly, ¡°Quick, get out of here.¡± But it was already too late. The black ball fell to the ground and suddenly exploded with an enormous burst of Qi Force, directly blasting two Third Grade Silver Constables into an unconscious, bloody mess. The entire roof of the tavern was blown off, revealing the azure blue sky and dazzling sunlight. Bian Jingdao was also retreating continuously, his face pale as death. Seeing this, Tan Yun quickly fled into the distance. ¡°Stay.¡± A calm voice sounded. Although it wasn¡¯t loud, it echoed in Tan Yun¡¯s ears like thunder. Tan Yun¡¯s body immediately felt as if shackled, unable to move, and the inexplicable pressure almost made her kneel down. ¡°I¡¯m done for!¡± Feeling the pressure, Tan Yun knew it was a supreme expert who made a move. Looking in the direction of the voice, a man in white appeared on the street. The man was extraordinarily handsome, his garments whiter than snow, his expression as calm as an abyss, his steps neither hurried nor slow. Each step seemed to tread on Tan Yun¡¯s heart, the immense pressure making it hard for her to breathe. ¡°A Sword Dao master!¡± Lou Xiangzhen transmitted his voice to An Jing, ¡°Dressed in white, endowed with a Sword Bone, this person must be the Heavenly Sword, Tian Liu, who presides over the Sword Tomb. I never expected to see the Heavenly Sword for the first time in this place.¡± An Jing¡¯s brows were also tightly knitted. The moment this person acted, the Qi Mechanism inside him burst forth, a sharpness unparalleled, something he had never seen before. The Qi Mechanism of Lou Xiangzhen did not possess the sharpness this person had. An Jing was, of course, familiar with the name Heavenly Sword. This man was one of the five great Sword Immortals of that time, receiving the allegiance of swordsmen from all over the world. Only, such a top-notch expert, who had not made an appearance in thirty years, was now met by chance. Fate is indeed indescribable. ¡°Are you the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian?¡± Tan Yun said through clenched teeth upon seeing the newcomer. The Heavenly Sword had a feud with the Demon Sect; if he really was that person, she was likely to face death today. ¡°Yes.¡± Cui Daoxian responded indifferently. So it really was him! Tan Yun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her complexion turning exceptionally pale, her steps retreating subconsciously. ¡°It seems you truly are a master from the Human Sect. Your Ghost Skin Technique is also refined to perfection.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Cui Daoxian extended a finger, pointing forward. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± Overwhelming Qi Mechanism descended, the air itself trembling, and under such a strong impact, Tan Yun¡¯s steps kept retreating. The human skin mask on her face, struck by the powerful force, turned into fine powder. As the powder dissipated, her delicate and charming face was revealed. Watching the scene from afar, An Jing paused slightly, his eyes as wide as copper bells. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Ghost Swordsman Battles Heavenly Sword Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Ghost Swordsman Battles Heavenly Sword Tan Yun!? An Jing¡¯s mind went blank, as if struck by thunder on a clear day; the woman was actually Tan Yun. ¡°It must be my eyes deceiving me, it has to be.¡± An Jing muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes forcefully, ¡°How could Tan Yun possibly appear here? Absolutely impossible.¡± When he opened his eyes again, the lovely face remained as familiar as ever. It was Tan Yun, without a doubt! But why would she appear here? How had she become a high-ranking expert of the Demon Sect? Moreover, it seemed her cultivation was not low. ¡°Could it be she has a sister or a twin?¡± An Jing was utterly confused at the moment, as if countless threads were entangled in a knot, impossible to undo. This scene was too shocking for him; he could never have imagined that the glutton was a person from the Demon Sect. Was it because she acted too convincingly!? ¡°She was fooling me!?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help exclaiming in his heart, ¡°She can even outperform Li Fuzhou in acting?¡± He had never imagined that his own home could host an Oscar night. ¡°Come with me.¡± Cui Daoxian¡¯s voice was extraordinarily calm as he reached out toward Tan Yun¡¯s shoulder. Spies from the Human Sect were, naturally, far more useful alive than dead. Tan Yun only felt a gust of wind blowing in her face, messing up her hair, and a sense of powerlessness rose in her heart. At this moment, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the words her master once taught her. The Human Sect has no captives. Moreover, with an identity like hers, once captured, she would inevitably suffer unimaginable pain. With this thought, Tan Yun bit her tongue, preparing to commit suicide. It was late to say it, but soon to act. Just as Cui Daoxian¡¯s palm was about to touch her, he suddenly furrowed his brow, twisted his foot, and quickly leaped away into the distance. ¡°Boom!¡± A Qi Light descended from the sky, slashing down. ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± As the Qi Light landed on the earth, the ground ¡®cracked and cracked,¡¯ creating cracks that spread into the distance. ¡°Who is it!?¡± Bian Jingdao was greatly alarmed upon seeing this scene. The Qi Light that had just fallen was not from an ordinary expert; could it be that a high-ranking expert from the Demon Sect had arrived? Cui Daoxian¡¯s eyebrows lifted as he looked into the distance. The figure was clad in a jet-black long robe, and under the cover of the robe, it was impossible to see his face or expression, but an upright Qi Mechanism radiated from his entire being. This was exactly the Qi Mechanism of the Mystical Sect, completely different from that of the Demon Sect. Tan Yun also looked over in astonishment, believing that a high-ranking expert of the Demon Sect had arrived. But at present in Great Yan, the only Demon Sect high-ranking expert capable of contending with Cui Daoxian was Li Fuzhou. The one who made the move was none other than An Jing. Lou Xiangzhen watched the figure in front and felt somewhat puzzled. This grandson was usually the sort to not hunt without seeing the hare; he wouldn¡¯t take action without a clear benefit. Today, he actually intervened to save that woman from the Demon Sect; could it be lust at first sight? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. After all, the other party was the Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian, and An Jing might not be a match for him. ¡°Heavenly Sword, I have long admired you,¡± An Jing said with a faint smile, directly expressing his intent, ¡°I wonder if today I might have the honor of learning a few moves from you. If I win, how about you hand her over to me?¡± As he spoke, the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand shone. The ancient longsword carried a sharp Sword Intent. ¡°Evil Suppressing Sword!?¡± Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian was naturally very familiar with the famous swords of the world. Upon seeing the sword in An Jing¡¯s hand, his eyes narrowed slightly: ¡°I wonder who it could be¨Cturns out, you are Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°` As Cui Daoxian¡¯s voice fell, a wave of astonishment swept through the surroundings. ¡°Ghost Swordsman!? The person who has come is actually the Ghost Swordsman?¡± ¡°I was wondering who would dare to block Cui Daoxian from making an arrest.¡± ¡°Could today be a battle between two of the greatest Sword Immortals?¡± ¡°When did the Ghost Swordsman become a Sword Immortal? In my view, he is not far from being one, but as of now, he doesn¡¯t quite make the cut.¡± ¡°Although the Ghost Swordsman made a name for himself in the battle at Xuanqing Mountain, he relies more on his exotic beast companion. Compared to the true Five Great Sword Immortals, he still has a long way to go.¡± ¡°Yes, without that exotic beast by his side, he doesn¡¯t count as a real Sword Immortal.¡± ¡­¡­.. The appearance of the Ghost Swordsman suddenly made the scene much noisier and more lively. Nobody expected that two of the top swordsmanship experts would appear in Huang Yao Town at the same time, and it seemed as if they were about to engage in a duel. ¡°The Ghost Swordsman!?¡± Tan Yun¡¯s mouth hung open as if she were dreaming. This scene had appeared countless times, but only in dreams. Yet now, the Ghost Swordsman was actually standing before her, very much alive, in reality. In this world, there is an inexplicable thing called fate. Could it be that the Ghost Swordsman showed up today precisely to rescue her? With that thought, Tan Yun¡¯s heart thumped wildly, filled with an excitement that was almost dizzying, making her wonder if she was still dreaming. An Jing remained silent, his gaze fixed on Cui Daoxian. To save Tan Yun today, he would have to compete with Cui Daoxian. Cui Daoxian smiled faintly, saying, ¡°My visit to Great Yan this time was specifically to meet with Lin Yiyang of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, but since the Ghost Swordsman is also a renowned swordsman of Great Yan, I will take this opportunity to cross swords with you first and witness the prowess of Great Yan¡¯s swordsmen.¡± Cui Daoxian had not appeared in the world for thirty years, and his arrival in Great Yan today was naturally not without purpose. The battle between Lin Yiyang and Universal Benefit Bodhisattva had long since reached Zhao Country. Cui Daoxian, residing in the Sword Tomb, also knew of Lin Yiyang¡¯s statement that he would reach the Sixth Realm within three years. It was precisely because of that statement that Cui Daoxian chose to leave seclusion and come to Great Yan, prepared to seek instruction from Lin Yiyang. Today, whoever reaches the Sixth Realm is acknowledged as the premier swordsman. That is an accepted fact. ¡°Fine.¡± An Jing pointed at Tan Yun and said, ¡°If I win, I hope to take this person with me.¡± Tan Yun blushed, touched by the gesture. So he had indeed come to rescue her¡­ Sure enough¡­ ¡°I am not in a position to grant that,¡± Cui Daoxian shook his head and said, ¡°But I can assure you that I will not interfere.¡± ¡°That is enough.¡± An Jing nodded slightly, his palm moving towards the hilt of his sword at his waist. ¡°Young man, do you want the old man to take action?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s frown was deep as he transmitted his voice. An Jing¡¯s strength was profound or not, compared to ordinary Half-step Masters, he definitely ranked among the top, but facing swordsmen of the caliber of Cui Daoxian and Lin Yiyang, he would find it quite challenging. An Jing¡¯s cultivation was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, while Cui Daoxian was a Half-step Master, and their swordsmanship was both at the Fifth Realm. However, Cui Daoxian was on the verge of breaking through to the Sixth Realm, obviously a notch above An Jing. With both cultivation and swordsmanship gap apparent, the only advantage was An Jing¡¯s Perfect Golden Bone, but with Cui Daoxian stationed in the Sword Tomb for thirty years cultivating Sword Bone¨Ca bit less durable than Golden Bone but sharper and more cohesive¨Cwas more fitting for a swordsman. Thus, overall, An Jing¡¯s chances of winning were extremely low. ¡°No need,¡± An Jing declined, ¡°I have always wanted to see the true strength of the current Five Great Sword Immortals.¡± ¡°You are not his match.¡± Lou Xiangzhen said solemnly. A swordsman nurtures Sword Intent, and during this period, one must never face defeat. Achieving victory in battle builds a certain confidence, and this confidence will extend into one¡¯s sword. Such Sword Intent will make the swordsman increasingly confident, and his sword will become even more lethal. If one were to fail, it would strike a blow not only to the swordsman but to the Sword Intent as well. Back then, when Lou Xiangzhen was defeated by the Sword God with several strikes at the Yu Heng Sword Sect, it completely shattered his confidence, which was the reason he became dispirited for years afterward. Since An Jing debuted, he has experienced almost no defeats, his Sword Intent being perfect and sharp. Should he suffer defeat today, it would undoubtedly deal a huge blow to him. Thus, Lou Xiangzhen did not wish to see An Jing repeat his past mistakes. ¡°Old Lou, you should have said so earlier.¡± An Jing¡¯s face darkened, then he transmitted back, ¡°Forget it, since I¡¯ve already spoken, I might as well try Cui Daoxian¡¯s Sword Dao.¡± ¡°` Had he known that Elder Lou was willing to intervene, why would he himself have bothered with Cui Daoxian? Without the help of the Thousand-year-old Black Boa, he felt somewhat unsure in his heart. Cui Daoxian, who is he? Known as Heavenly Sword, some even call him a Sword Master. The title of Heavenly Sword itself is a supreme honor, and even more so is the title of Sword Master. Although his most glorious victory was slaying the chief of the Azure Dragon Sect, and many years have passed since then, Cui Daoxian had not achieved any notable victories, yet no one in the world dared to underestimate his strength. Lou Xiangzhen heard this and stopped talking. In his opinion, among the five great Sword Immortals, Yi Daoyun was of the weakest ability, followed by this Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian. Yi Daoyun had claimed countless lives, but he had never slain a half-step Master Realm expert. The reason he could become one of the five great Sword Immortals was partly due to his ruthless slaying and notorious reputation, and partly due to the Demon Sect¡¯s exaggerations. The same goes for Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian. His cultivation was at the half-step Master level, and his swordsmanship was unfathomably profound, but much of his reputation was also hyped up. Among the current five great Sword Immortals, the ones with true, solid strength are the remaining three. If An Jing wants to become a Sword Immortal of this era, he must defeat one of them to prove his way. Cui Daoxian is from Zhao Country, and defeating him would undoubtedly be the best for An Jing¡¯s fame. However, even so, the title of one of the five great Sword Immortals was not something any ordinary swordsman could assume. Cui Daoxian looked at the Ghost Swordsman ahead, his palm caressing the blade of the longsword. The reason why Cui Daoxian is called Heavenly Sword is because there is an extraordinary famous sword within the Sword Tomb known as the Heavenly Sword. The Heavenly Sword ranks seventh on the Famous Sword List. Each of this sword¡¯s owners has been an unparalleled swordsman of their era, and just as Cui Daoxian was initiated into the Sword Tomb, the Heavenly Sword recognized him as its master and he immediately became the current master of the Heavenly Sword. The Heavenly Sword has the power to suppress all other swords in the Sword Tomb, and this time he came to Great Yan originally intending to exchange swordsmanship with Lin Yiyang and pursue the Sixth Realm. His goal was not to seek vengeance or to kill anyone, so he did not bring the Heavenly Sword with him. Neither of them spoke, yet the marketplace around them fell silent and empty. In the silence, an oppressive and dull atmosphere formed; Bian Jingdao simply felt the fluctuations of their Qi and his face turned pale. ¡°How terrifying these swordsmen are. Is this what the world¡¯s top Sword Immortals are like?¡± Bian Jingdao kept retreating backwards. Tan Yun finally snapped out of it, focusing intently on the figure of the Ghost Swordsman. The world around them went quiet, leaving only the beating of her heart. ¡°He actually came specifically to save me,¡± Tan Yun muttered to herself. From the moment he appeared, her gaze no longer belonged to her. ¡°Make your move,¡± Cui Daoxian said as his voice fell, and the vigorous inner strength of a half-step Master burst forth from within him like a tempest, pressing down on An Jing like a series of giant waves. If an ordinary practitioner in the Heavenly Flower Realm had faced this pressure, they might have been intimidated, their abilities greatly reduced, but An Jing¡¯s black eyes showed no trace of fear, remaining as calm as still water. The look in An Jing¡¯s eyes suddenly became sharp, and instantly, a boundless aura surged, stirring Cui Daoxian¡¯s wave-like momentum and sending it crashing backwards. Brahma Heart Sees Me! The inner strength around was crushed by the overwhelming aura emanating from An Jing, producing golden rays of light that spiraled, stirring the streets of Huangyao Town. And his frame appeared as if it were projected against the distant horizon, enlarging more and more. The Buddhist Brahma Heart Sees Me was executed perfectly in an instant. Observers from afar were profoundly moved by the scene. Just the standoff between two top-notch Sword Immortals was already so breathtaking. ¡°Heavenly Flower Realm?¡± Cui Daoxian also sensed An Jing¡¯s level of cultivation, and with a slap to his sword, he sent forth a Qi like a black python, a sinister and powerful rush towards An Jing. Sword Bone! That was the sharpness of the Sword Bone! Unlike Golden Bone, Sword Bone was formed from the gathered Sword Qi of many swords in the Sword Tomb. When Cui Daoxian executed sword moves, his Sword Qi was naturally formed, carrying an unparalleled and fierce chill. Added to that the Heavenly Martial Level¡¯s Sword Holy Technique from the Sword Tomb, its power was unfathomable. An Jing drew the Evil Suppressing Sword with his right hand; the moment his palm touched the sword, it was as if a mountain had suddenly appeared above the town, pressing down heavily. And the one who felt it the most was Cui Daoxian. His gaze slightly hardened as An Jing swung the Evil Suppressing Sword heavily forward. It seemed slow, but the stroke was fast, cruel, and precise. The Evil Suppressing Sword, devoid of any fanciness, struck directly at the seven inches of the black python. Bang! The black python was hit by the Evil Suppressing Sword, halted for a moment, and then dissipated in the surroundings. Cui Daoxian, seeing his casual probing strike blocked by An Jing, did not mind. His body shook, and the longsword in his hand, wrapped in vigorous inner strength, lunged directly towards An Jing. Only to see the sword tip spiraling with a force that pierced deeper and deeper, its destructive power was tremendously strong. An Jing, seeing a streak of yellow light coming towards him and not quite making it out clearly, instinctively extended the Evil Suppressing Sword in front of himself. Thud! Cui Daoxian¡¯s sword tip struck heavily against An Jing¡¯s sword body, causing the air to shudder and overflow, creating a violent tremor on the ground beneath their feet that continuously shook without end. An Jing¡¯s body was forced to retreat continuously, only stopping after about ten steps. The next moment, Cui Daoxian¡¯s inner strength surged like a tidal wave, flowing into the sword body. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± The piercing chill released from the sword body made even the high-level Jianghu experts in the distance stand on end, feeling a cold shiver down their spines from its sharpness. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!¡± When Cui Daoxian struck with his sword, it was as if countless sharp sword shadows swept through the air, raining down on An Jing like a torrential downpour. But this downpour was made of numerous sharp sword qi, which terrified people, making their bodies tremble with fear. Magnificent Heavenly might enveloped An Jing completely. An Jing¡¯s eyes beheld the sword qi before him, fast as lightning and cascading like a waterfall, slightly lifting his arm in response. Nine-character Sword Technique! Lin Character Secret! The Lin Character Secret primarily served for defense, those numerous sword shadows converging as if forming a dense, interwoven net of swords. ¡°Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!¡± The sound of metal clashing rang out, sending forth a series of ear-piercing noises. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Right at that moment, a streak of cold light suddenly shot out from An Jing¡¯s sword scabbard. Hundred-step Flying Sword! What flew out was the sword body of another Evil Suppressing Sword! The sword light was piercingly cold, as swift as thunder, thrusting towards Cui Daoxian¡¯s heart. This was one of An Jing¡¯s prepared killer moves, seizing the moment Cui Daoxian was distracted to use the Hundred-step Flying Sword and the properties of the Evil Suppressing Sword to deliver a fatal blow. ¡°Huh!?¡± Cui Daoxian¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and without even thinking, instead of retreating, he advanced, his palm and longsword meeting the oncoming Evil Suppressing Sword. ¡°Clang!¡± The severe sound of metal clashing erupted, with shockwaves sweeping out. The body of the Evil Suppressing Sword was directly repelled back. An Jing stretched out his hand and caught the hilt of the Evil Suppressing Sword. The remaining force from the clash kept rushing over, causing his arms to feel somewhat numb. ¡°What an impressive Heavenly Sword,¡± An Jing thought to himself. Even without the Heavenly Sword in his hands, his sword dao was still so terrifying. The sneak attack he had just executed would require the four peak masters of the Zhenyi Sect to be careful in handling it, not daring to be careless in the slightest. But Cui Daoxian had managed to neutralize it with a raise of his sword: was this the strength of a Sword Immortal? ¡°Your Excellency¡¯s sword dao is indeed somewhat strange, truly worthy of the title Ghost Swordsman,¡± Cui Daoxian gripped his longsword tightly, and then pointed it forward with one thrust. Sword Holy Technique! Immortal Pointing the Way! The sword light was ethereal, unstoppable, turning everything in its path into nothingness, shooting down the street towards An Jing. An Jing loosened his grip on the Evil Suppressing Sword, allowing the two Evil Suppressing Swords to transform into two dragons, intertwining as they formed a sword body shrouded with golden radiance. Eventually, the sword tips collided in the center of the street. Boom! Potent inner strength roared like the sea, emitting deep booming sounds, as if the whole street was violently disturbed at this moment. Clang! Then another deafening metallic sound exploded like thunder, reverberating through the heavens and earth, echoing in everyone¡¯s ears as if to burst their eardrums, causing the blood of countless onlookers to surge within their bodies. Visible ripples spread out towards the distance. On the hazy sides of the street, two figures gradually revealed themselves. One could see An Jing holding the Evil Suppressing Sword with its tip against the tip of Cui Daoxian¡¯s longsword, fierce winds blowing, stirring the corners of their garments. ¡°` The two seemed to be evenly matched All over Huangyao Town, the air was thick with tension, as two figures stood on the devastated street, their sharp glances intersecting and sparking fire, with a cold murderous intent silently spreading. The power of their last clash still lingered in the minds of the onlookers as if mountains and rivers had been cleft in twain; even the experts standing dozens of feet away felt their hair stand on end and their hearts trembling from the chilling edge of the sword. Cui Daoxian¡¯s longsword suddenly thrust forward, and then using the rebounding force, his body retreated about four or five steps. An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword also paused briefly, his offensive momentum disintegrated by Cui Daoxian¡¯s strike. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is indeed extraordinary,¡± Cui Daoxian thought, ¡°Among the sword masters of this world, he definitely has a place. Great Yan is truly the ancestral land, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with masters emerging one after another, giving rise to such a terrifying swordsman.¡± Then, Cui Daoxian raised his right arm, the tip of his sword pointing straight ahead, as if in that moment, the sword seemed to completely merge with his body¨Che was the sword, and the sword was him. An indescribable pressure spread through the heavens and the earth at that moment. ¡°Cui Daoxian is going to use all his strength,¡± Lou Xiangzhen, who watched from a distance, also condensed his gaze and thought. An Jing¡¯s brow also furrowed slightly as he looked at Cui Daoxian in front of him, who was exerting pressure on him, and gripped his sword even tighter. He took a deep breath, his eyes as calm and undisturbed as a secluded pool, seemingly unshaken even if the sky were to fall. Cui Daoxian¡¯s arm suddenly extended forward, the longsword with a grey halo thrust straight ahead, frenziedly absorbing the Inner Strength from around! Sword Holy Technique! Prisoner Demon Sword Form! The vast force of Inner Strength unfolded, and where the sword pointed, it seemed like the whole world shrouded An Jing, forcing him to be immobile. As the sword edge passed, the air screeched and shattered, the covering pressure making people shudder. Hum! The longsword burst into a sky-shaking hum, and in the next instant, it turned into a streak of light, reaching An Jing at an indescribable speed. The moment the longsword came, its chilling edge felt like countless flying needles piercing him, stabbing into his body. Sword Bone is the most suited for swordsmen, but the secret of refining Sword Bone from the Sword Tomb is not passed on; no one knows how Sword Bone is refined. Now, coupled with Cui Daoxian¡¯s Fifth Realm sword skill, that domineering pressure was unstoppable. An Jing dared not be careless; he pushed the Brahma Heart Sees Me technique to its limit as a Chan sound emerged, and a golden light swept out. Great Wisdom! Great Compassion! The Perfection of Golden Bone rose to meet the challenge, for though Golden Bone¡¯s offensive might was slightly weaker than Sword Bone¡¯s, its physical robustness was three times stronger. Moreover, An Jing was employing the Brahma Heart Sees Me¨Ca Heavenly Martial Level Body Refining Method¨Cits power threefold. The combined Evil Suppressing Swords also released rays of light. The sky above the entire street seemed to be enveloped in pitch-black darkness. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A sword light pierced through, brightening the world from darkness. Sword Control Technique! When the Evil Suppressing Sword soared, the twin blades surprisingly separated. Ordinarily, Sword Control Technique could not be applied this way, but An Jing was a master of not only Sword Control, but also the Hundred-step Flying Sword technique. The two supreme sword techniques were fused and operated in harmony, combined with the unique property of the Evil Suppressing Sword being six swords in one sheath. This virtually allowed the two supreme swordsmanship to merge, forming a new sword technique. A truly top-notch swordsman will, based on the experiences of predecessors, summarize his own sword moves and Sword Dao. Sword lights collided and interweaved, casting the world into darkness. All the people in Huangyao Town looked up to the sky, witnessing the sword qi clashing with each other, descending from the heavens with destructive fluctuations, fiercely colliding together. Everyone raised their heads, all wanting to know which of these two top swordsmen would prevail in this clash of techniques. Boom! The moment of the collision, a thunderous noise resounded, and an extremely violent Inner Strength storm instantly formed, then swept out in a terrifying manner, spreading around. Not only the entire tavern, but even the surrounding shops were heavily affected by the huge impact, crumbling into fragments. ¡°Bang Bang Bang Bang!¡± Fortunately, the common folk had already been evacuated by Bian Jingdao and other Xuanyi Guards, and the Jianghu experts watching from afar quickly operated their Inner Strength to withstand this frightful shock. Even so, some with weaker Inner Strength were shaken to the point of spilling blood from their mouths, which attested to the dominance of the force. Just then, several figures flew from a distance and landed beside Tan Yun; the leader was a plain-looking woman. It was none other than Luo Zixiang of the Earth Sect. ¡°Little Tan Yun!¡± ¡°` Luo Zixiang walked to Tan Yun¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Aunt Luo, I¡¯m fine. How did you get here?¡± Seeing the newcomer, a hint of surprise appeared in Tan Yun¡¯s eyes. Luo Zixiang was an expert from the Earth Sect and her cultivation was at the Earth Flower Realm, which Tan Yun not only recognized but was also very familiar with. Luo Zixiang took a deep breath and said, ¡°It was Sect Master Li. He received a message that you were discovered by the Heaven and Earth Net, and immediately sent me a secret letter to escort you along the way.¡± In Great Yan, the Heaven and Earth Net was an extremely capable intelligence organization, and the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect was not far behind. Although many of its operations in Great Yan had been destroyed over the years, Li Fuzhou had managed to restore quite a few of the covert channels recently. Therefore, when Tan Yun was discovered by the Heaven and Earth Net, Li Fuzhou also received some information. Fearing that Tan Yun would fall into an ambush by the Xuanyi Guard, he promptly sent a secret letter to Luo Zixiang, the nearby expert from the Demon Sect¡¯s Earth Sect. With her level of cultivation, unless three of the Great Heavenly Gang took action, she could certainly take someone away safely. But when Luo Zixiang arrived in Huangyao Town, she found that the person who had captured Tan Yun was actually Cui Daoxian. Who was Cui Daoxian? He was a top Half-step Master. Even Li Fuzhou probably couldn¡¯t say for sure he could defeat this man. If she took action, not only would she fail to rescue Tan Yun, but she would also bring about her own death. Just as Luo Zixiang was extremely anxious, the Ghost Swordsman descended from the sky to intervene, filling her with great joy. Tan Yun clenched his teeth and then looked forward. Just then, on the chaotic street ahead, two sword lights emerged once again. Clang! The swords collided once more, pressing heavily against each other before suddenly quieting down. The next moment, An Jing swiftly retreating backwards, covering a distance of dozens of yards, his face pale and traces of blood at the corners of his mouth. Whoosh! Everyone exclaimed in shock. Had the outcome been decided? ¡°Thud!¡± ¡°Thud!¡± Cui Daoxian moved to step forward but then his expression changed slightly and he hastily clutched at his heart. The faster he clutched at his heart, the quicker it beat, as if it was about to leap out of his chest. During this time, as a result of exchanging ideas and sparring with Lou Xiangzhen, An Jing had made significant progress in his swordsmanship, especially mastering the Killer Heartbeat technique. About several dozen breaths later, Cui Daoxian managed to suppress his heartbeat but missed the best opportunity and fixed his gaze intently on An Jing ahead. The two stood at opposite ends of the street, facing each other. ¡°Little Tan Yun, this is a great opportunity. Let¡¯s leave now,¡± Luo Zixiang said to him urgently in a low voice. Seeing the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian, being stalled by the Ghost Swordsman and knowing that the Ghost Swordsman did not seem to be a match for Cui Daoxian, now was the time to slip away. ¡°No, I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Tan Yun bit his teeth and said, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman came to save me. How can I abandon him?¡± Luo Zixiang¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, ¡°Are you mad? Staying here is a dead end. The Ghost Swordsman is clearly no match for Cui Daoxian, who is a Sword Master.¡± ¡°When the Ghost Swordsman is defeated, you¡¯ll find no chance to escape.¡± Tan Yun stubbornly replied, ¡°No! I¡¯m not leaving. If I do, I will leave with him.¡± Luo Zixiang pondered for a moment, then earnestly said, ¡°Silly girl, look at what he¡¯s done for you, risking his life for your sake. Why let his efforts be in vain? If you leave, he will have nothing to worry about, and there might be a chance for him to escape from Cui Daoxian.¡± Tan Yun looked at the figure ahead, his face serious, ¡°Aunt Luo, there¡¯s no need to persuade me. I must leave with him today.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll die if you stay.¡± ¡°Then let me die,¡± Tan Yun responded firmly. ¡°He came for me. If I am to die, what¡¯s wrong with dying together with him?¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Zixiang¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as her tone grew somewhat more forceful, ¡°No, you must leave with me today.¡± Tan Yun bit his red lips tightly, expressing his discontent, ¡°Aunt Luo, why are you trying to break us up, spoiling my chance at happiness?¡± Trying to break up a pair of lovers!? Spoiling your chance at happiness!? Luo Zixiang listened to Tan Yun¡¯s words, her face full of confusion, ¡°What are you talking about? How old are you?¡± The Ghost Swordsman and Tan Yun, did these two seem like a suitable match? ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Tan Yun said defiantly. Seeing this, Luo Zixiang sighed deeply. This Tan Yun truly lived up to being Li Fuzhou¡¯s disciple; his stubborn nature was no different from his master¡¯s. Meanwhile, the Xuanyi Guards, having dispersed the civilians and folks from Jianghu, stood not far away. ¡°Constable Bian, a master from the Demon Sect has arrived,¡± a Silver Constable of the Xuanyi Guard whispered, pointing at Luo Zixiang, ¡°His cultivation seems not insignificant; this might just be a big catch.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Bian Jingdao slapped him on the head and chided in a low voice. A big catch!? Others might not know who that person was, but how could Bian Jingdao not recognize him? That was Luo Zixiang of the Earth Sect, known as Blood Hand. How many masters of Jianghu had those hands slain? He had once killed a member of the Great Heavenly Gang. ¡°Fortunately, today we encountered Grandmaster Cui Daoxian. Otherwise, it might have been the end for us today.¡± Cold sweat formed on Bian Jingdao¡¯s forehead, and he felt somewhat relieved in his heart. Off in the distance, An Jing and Cui Daoxian finally made their move. Cui Daoxian stepped forward, and an unparalleled sharpness pierced out from his body. For a moment, it seemed as though a giant sword was suspended behind him. That surging, impassioned Sword Intent shot straight to the sky, chilling the heart of the observer. ¡°Is this Cui Daoxian¡¯s Sword Intent? It looks like he¡¯s not far from the Sixth Realm,¡± Lou Xiangzhen silently thought to himself as he watched. ¡°As expected of a Sword Master!¡± Feeling that Sword Intent, Luo Zixiang¡¯s heart clenched, and fear filled his entire body. Tan Yun, being a practitioner of the Sword Dao, naturally sensed the impressiveness and brilliance in Cui Daoxian¡¯s ability. Her hands instinctively clenched into fists, her eyes filled with worry. An Jing stood still, his vision darkening around the edges until he saw a grave. It was a place where swords were buried! Soon, he saw another grave, then more and more in increasing numbers. Sword Tomb! It was as if he was standing right in the middle of a Sword Tomb. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± Each Sword in the Sword Tomb emitted an ultimate sword hum as if they were about to burst forth. ¡°Shush!¡± A sharp Sword Light struck towards him. ¡°So fast!¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised, and he drew the Evil Suppressing Sword, shattering the sharp Sword Light instantly. But in the next moment, every grave exploded, releasing a deluge of Sword Lights. The Sword Lights were dense and overwhelming, silent yet fierce. Every strand of Sword Light was grayish black, carrying a grim aura of death and sharp Sword Qi. Cui Daoxian¡¯s Sword Intent! This was the Heavenly Sword Sword Intent that had been sitting atop the Sword Tomb for thirty years! An Jing felt that immense Sword Intent as if facing desolate, lonely Sword Tombs, overwhelming him with a sense of powerlessness. In the eyes of the crowd, the giant sword behind Cui Daoxian emitted a chilling sharpness, while An Jing stood retreating step by step, clearly at a disadvantage. Lou Xiangzhen was the only one present who could see the situation clearly; shaking his head, he thought, ¡°Cui Daoxian not only has a Sword Bone, but his Sword Intent is profound, and his Sword Skill is stronger than that of the young man, even his cultivation has the upper hand. It¡¯s going to be too difficult for him to win.¡± It wasn¡¯t that An Jing wasn¡¯t strong, but that Cui Daoxian was too formidable. If he had several more years to endure bitter training, perhaps there would be a chance for a battle. Lou Xiangzhen hesitated, pondering whether to intervene at the last moment of the young man¡¯s defeat. But then he dismissed the thought. ¡°I can¡¯t keep retreating.¡± An Jing took a deep breath, and the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand turned. Two Evil Suppressing Swords circled around his body, constantly spinning, and the sharp Sword Qi repelled all the Sword Intent released by the giant sword behind Cui Daoxian. Ripples emanated from his back, and then a giant Yin Yang Fish appeared. A vast and boundless Sword Intent surged from within, and the surrounding graves seemed to melt away. In its place emerged a vast and boundless galaxy, mysterious and infinite. ¡°Such a vast Sword Intent.¡± Seeing that Sword Intent, Cui Daoxian¡¯s eyes slightly widened in surprise. Sword Intent is the comprehension and sudden realization of the Sword Dao, and in this world, no two swordsmen¡¯s Sword Intents are completely the same. One could see the essence of a swordsman¡¯s Sword Dao from his Sword Intent. Cui Daoxian had also witnessed the Sword Intents of many top swordsmen, but he had seldom seen one as vast as the sky, like the one before him. The more majestic and broad the sword intent, the slower the growth of its sword skill, and the more difficult it becomes to break through to an even higher realm. Both individuals stood at opposite ends of the street, with a giant sword and the Yin Yang Fish floating behind them, shimmering brightly. The entire town of Huangyao seemed to divide around them, each occupying one half, standing off against each other in confrontation. Although neither had moved, the fierce sword intent swept through, leaving the whole street riddled with countless gaping holes, a sight of utter devastation. ¡°This is¡­ this is too terrifying!¡± ¡°Is this what the top Sword Immortals are like? Too strong, even if I cultivate for three hundred years, I won¡¯t reach that realm.¡± ¡°Senior Cui is rightly named a Sword Master, even if he is from Zhao Country, one can¡¯t help but express admiration.¡± ¡­.. Everyone watched the stand-off between the two, hearts surging with emotion. If Cui Daoxian were to win, not only would his position as one of the five Great Sword Immortals become even more secure, but challenging Lin Yiyang of the Yu Heng Sword Sect would mean aiming for the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman. If the Ghost Swordsman were to win, then the world would have another fearsome Sword Immortal. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The overwhelming sword intent surged as if it were clashing sword energies, and the street on the other side couldn¡¯t bear such a terrifying pressure, cracking open yard by yard. This scene was simply too frightening. The very earth couldn¡¯t bear the sword intent of the two and began to crumble. Bian Jingdao was so frightened that he turned pale, and couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°If one were caught in the middle, one would probably be ground into mincemeat in an instant¡­.¡± ¡°These two are top swordsmanship experts of this era, truly terrifying.¡± Luo Zixiang¡¯s eyes showed a hint of shock, and then he secretly thought, ¡°No, I must take Tan Yun and leave quickly, I can¡¯t put our fates in the hands of the Ghost Swordsman.¡± Thinking this, Luo Zixiang looked towards Tan Yun, who was completely engrossed, not daring to even blink. ¡°Little Tan Yun.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tan Yun was extremely nervous, breathing somewhat erratically, eyes fixated on An Jing¡¯s figure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± With a gentle chop of his hand, Luo Zixiang struck Tan Yun¡¯s neck, and Tan Yun felt darkness before his eyes, after which he lost all consciousness. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Luo Zixiang carried Tan Yun in his arms and quickly leaped away into the distance. ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± Seeing this, the Earth Sect experts of the Demon Sect quickly followed, vanishing into the dilapidated street in the blink of an eye. Bian Jingdao could only hide far away, watching carefully, not daring to even breathe too loudly for fear that Luo Zixiang would notice him and casually dispose of him as well. ¡°Boss, they¡¯re gone.¡± After the Demon Sect experts had been gone for several moments, a Silver Constable finally spoke up slowly. Bian Jingdao let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Well, let them go, the most important thing is that we¡¯ve saved our own lives.¡± Just being alive today was already a stroke of great fortune. At this moment, the standoff between An Jing and Cui Daoxian was reaching a fever pitch. The collision of sword intents was causing everything before them to collapse. An Jing only felt his vision blurring, as if he might faint at any time. Cui Daoxian too was having a tough time, his face very pale, his hand holding the sword trembling, having reached an intense state. ¡°I¡¯ve presided over the Sword Tomb for thirty years, studied swordsmanship for fifty years, taught thousands of swordsmen, and was fortunate to be recognized by swordsmen across the world as a Sword Master. Today, for this name, I will shatter your sword intent.¡± Cui Daoxian shouted clearly, his giant sword¡¯s qi force surging wildly, turning into a relentless tide, rushing mightily towards An Jing. The skies dimmed and the sun and moon lacked light. Having presided over the Sword Tomb for thirty years, Cui Daoxian would not stand to die unaccomplished in his quest upon leaving his retreat! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Alas.¡± Lou Xiangzhen sighed softly upon seeing this. Witnessing this scene, he knew that An Jing was defeated. ¡°Senior Cui, Senior Cui, why didn¡¯t you win earlier?¡± While Bian Jingdao was ambivalent, unsure whether to feel happy or sad, even though Cui Daoxian had won, the evil Demon Sect figure had also been taken away. Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Lou Xiangzhens Divination for Qingmei Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Divination for Qingmei Sword Qi turned into a river! Cui Daoxian exhibited his power to the utmost, vast and boundless. The sky filled with sweeping sword qi, mixed with its supreme sword intent. An Jing stood under the limitless sword qi, like a small boat in a storm, unstable and drifting. Everyone could see the helplessness of the Ghost Swordsman, as if in the next moment he would be ground into dust by that sword intent. An Jing held the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand and thought to himself in awe, ¡°Worthy of the Heavenly Sword, one of the top five Sword Immortals.¡± His thoughts rapidly turning, An Jing gripped the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly. The sword intent within his body also instantly condensed, as if countless threads converged to form a giant sword made of sword intent. Lou Xiangzhen and Cui Daoxian could both feel the vastness of the sword intent. When sword intent operated to its extreme, it could condense into form, and after An Jing¡¯s sword intent condensed, it seemed to be just a huge shell, seemingly expansive, but empty within. The higher the stack, the more solid the foundation needs to be. The pitch-black night sky, like numerous silver beads densely packed, embedded within, looked like a glowing white belt. The heavens have limits, but that vast sword intent seemed even more extensive than the heavens. But this sword intent had not yet fully formed, so it appeared somewhat hollow; it still needed time to amass and refine. The giant sword and the myriad sword shadows converged as if raindrops struck the earth, becoming more fierce and vigorous, and at that moment, time itself seemed to stop. All the onlookers¡¯ eyes were tightly fixed, afraid of missing any thrilling detail. And Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression also turned stern. The next moment, under the barrage of sword shadows, the giant sword began to fracture as if it was about to collapse. ¡°The Ghost Swordsman is going to be defeated.¡± Seeing this, everyone took a deep breath of relief. Many didn¡¯t find the result of this duel surprising, but still couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the spectacle of this astonishing battle. An Jing¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and his forehead was also covered with beads of cold sweat. He stood as straight as a sharp sword, unmovable even as the aftershocks of the sword qi struck him. At that moment, the Evil Suppressing Sword emitted a trembling sound. The flowing blood became dazzling and bright, then refracted rays of golden light. An Jing seemed to see a person, disheveled and wearing a dragon robe, his mere presence exuding an overwhelming aura. The Great Zhou Human Emperor!? Seeing the suddenly appearing master, the only thought in An Jing¡¯s mind was this. In a trance, Cui Daoxian saw a phantom appear behind An Jing, covering him with a supreme, tyrannical force, so overwhelming that it left him struggling to breathe. Especially those sharp eyes, which seemed to mercilessly see right through him. ¡°There was actually¡­. in the Evil Suppressing Sword¡± Cui Daoxian was immensely shocked. Suddenly, the sword intent on the Evil Suppressing Sword surged, and the giant sword became even more brilliant, bursting forth with a supremely tyrannical chilling force. The incomparable aura directly penetrated through, and the sword shadows in front were instantly pierced. ¡°Thump thump thump¡­.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Cui Daoxian¡¯s body shook, and he staggered backward, feeling an intense burning pain in his chest when he finally came to a stop, then a stream of blood spurted out. At the same time, the sword intent also retracted completely, and the sword qi dissipated like smoke. There was a deathly silence over the earth, and everyone was dumbstruck by the scene. What exactly happened? A moment ago, Cui Daoxian was in absolute control; how did he end up retreating and spitting blood so quickly? Cui Daoxian looked at the Ghost Swordsman opposite him and gave a bitter smile, ¡°I have lost.¡± He knew he was defeated by the Evil Suppressing Sword, but to be able to wield the Evil Suppressing Sword was also a skill, wasn¡¯t it? As Cui Daoxian¡¯s words fell, the long-silent surroundings couldn¡¯t help but erupt, and the sounds of discussion surged like a tide. ¡°This¡­ the Sword Master was defeated?¡± a Jianghu master exclaimed, muttering to himself. ¡°Cui Daoxian actually lost, am I dreaming?¡± ¡°Impossible, how could the Heavenly Sword be defeated?¡± ¡°My heavens! The Ghost Swordsman really defeated the Heavenly Sword.¡± ¡°The Sword Dao of the Ghost Swordsman is truly terrifying!¡± ¡°It seems that Jianghu has indeed seen the rise of the sixth Sword Immortal, and no one will question it anymore.¡± ¡­¡­. The world was in shock, no one had expected that the Ghost Swordsman could defeat Cui Daoxian. Who was Cui Daoxian? He had been ensconced in the Sword Tomb for over thirty years, taught thousands of swordsmen, and his fame had deeply entered people¡¯s hearts. He stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship under the heavens. Moreover, in today¡¯s world, only White Tiger Sword Yi Daoyun had narrowly lost to Lin Yiyang thirteen years ago. Aside from him, no other among the five great Sword Immortals ever clearly outperformed the others. Today, the renowned Heavenly Sword, lauded in two countries, had actually lost to the Ghost Swordsman. A year ago, no one even knew who this Ghost Swordsman was. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Bian Jingdao looked incredulous. Just a moment ago, Cui Daoxian was utterly dominating. It seemed that the Ghost Swordsman was about to be defeated, but unexpectedly, in a blink, Cui Daoxian was spitting blood in defeat. The change happened so fast that Bian Jingdao couldn¡¯t even catch his breath. ¡°Good lad.¡± Lou Xiangzhen also furrowed his brows, ¡°This lad actually still had a trick up his sleeve, that cultivation definitely belongs to the realm of a Five Qi Grandmaster, otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have displayed such powerful might.¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword also called Ye Tai¡¯e, had originally been forged and never revealed until it absorbed the essence blood of the ninth generation Human Emperor of Great Zhou. So, the Evil Suppressing Sword must contain the essence blood of the Human Emperor of Great Zhou. Initially, he thought An Jing was going to lose today, but unexpectedly, he turned defeat into victory. Seeing this moment, Lou Xiangzhen suddenly felt that the Evil Suppressing Sword was not as simple as rumors suggested, it must have other secrets. ¡°Whew¡­.¡± Standing still, An Jing was also breathing heavily and then looked at his trembling hands. At that moment, he too had felt like he was on the brink of defeat. ¡°Ah.¡± Cui Daoxian let out a long sigh and then turned to Bian Jingdao, ¡°I lost, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s Cui¡¯s incompetence.¡± ¡°Senior Cui is too humble.¡± Bian Jingdao quickly replied, ¡°This was fate, how could I possibly blame the senior?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Cui Daoxian wasn¡¯t strong enough, but rather that the Ghost Swordsman wielding the Evil Suppressing Sword was too strong. Everyone was sighing incessantly, marvelling at the spectacular duel between the two great swordsmen today. ¡°Where is Tan Yun?¡± An Jing had also come back to his senses and looked around, finding no trace of Tan Yun. He had been fighting Cui Daoxian and dared not be distracted at all, so he was completely unaware of the surroundings. Lou Xiangzhen came over to An Jing and said lightly, ¡°Just now, some people from the Demon Sect came and took that young girl away.¡± ¡°Senior, why did you let her go!¡± An Jing suddenly became anxious upon hearing this. He still had many doubts he wanted to ask, but Tan Yun had already left? She had actually gone?! ¡®Weren¡¯t you trying to save her?¡¯ Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing and said indifferently, ¡°I saw you lad showing signs of defeat just now, if that young girl didn¡¯t seize the time to escape, was she supposed to wait here to die?¡± ¡°Besides, the Xuanyi Guard and the Demon Sect have nothing to do with me, why would I bother jumping into this muddy water?¡± An Jing, upon hearing this, was at a loss for words. Lou Xiangzhen was indeed right, but he still had many questions he wanted to ask Tan Yun. Li Fuzhou is the master of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, and Tan Yun is a master from the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, then¡­ ¡®Impossible, absolutely impossible.¡¯ An Jing shook his head, seemingly somewhat guilty as he thought secretly, ¡®How could my wife possibly have any connections with the vicious Demon Sect? It¡¯s absolutely impossible.¡¯ Because of Jiang Shang, the reputation of the Demon Sect in Great Yan was indeed viciously evil, considered a taboo sect. If any trace of a member of the Demon Sect was discovered, it would lead to eradication to prevent future problems. If Zhao Qingmei had even a slight connection with the Demon Sect, An Jing would also end up on the wanted list of the Xuanyi Guard. From then on, there were no more peaceful and tranquil days. ¡°¡­Could Qingmei be coerced by the people of the Demon Sect?¡± An Jing¡¯s heart sank, recalling the letter Zhao Qingmei had once sent him. Logically, she should have been on her way back and might have already been near Yu State City by now. But time kept dragging on. Could there be some hidden secret? The more An Jing thought about it, the more afraid he became. ¡°Could this person be the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen?¡± At this moment, Cui Daoxian, seeing Lou Xiangzhen, couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in his heart. ¡°Indeed.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded indifferently. Upon hearing this, Cui Daoxian quickly said, ¡°I never expected to meet both of you here today. This truly is a stroke of fate.¡± Upon hearing this, Bian Jingdao and many other Jianghu experts among the Xuanyi Guard were greatly shocked. It was already surprising enough that the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian, and the Ghost Swordsman had appeared, but now even the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen, had also shown up. Lou Xiangzhen laughed, ¡°Indeed, it is fate. The name of Heavenly Sword is well-known, and I have long wanted to witness it for myself. Today has truly opened my eyes.¡± Cui Daoxian took a deep breath and said, ¡°You flatter me, senior. It is I who have long admired your great reputation.¡± Today¡¯s swordsmen, both in terms of seniority and fame, are almost fewer than Lou Xiangzhen. The name Lou Xiangzhen represents a top swordsman spanning two eras. ¡°It¡¯s all mere empty fame.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and then said to An Jing beside him, ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± An Jing¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, lost in thought beside him. Then, in an instant, the two figures leaped and disappeared from Huangyao Town. Cui Daoxian watched their departing figures, feeling a bit melancholic. Originally, he had come to Great Yan to exchange pointers with Lin Yiyang but ended up being defeated by the Ghost Swordsman first. ¡°If I had the Heavenly Sword with me, perhaps I could have won today.¡± Cui Daoxian shook his head and then walked towards the distance. Today, if he had brought the Heavenly Sword from the tomb, he was confident he could have defeated the Ghost Swordsman. Though he was defeated by the Ghost Swordsman, his determination to proceed to the Yu Heng Sword Sect had not changed; instead, it had grown even stronger. Reaching the Sixth Realm was his main purpose for coming to Great Yan. The surrounding people of Jianghu, seeing the three individuals leave and then disappear instantaneously, were desperate to spread what they had just witnessed throughout the entire Jianghu. ¡°Boss, what do we do now?¡± A Silver Constable, looking at the chaotic, wrecked scene, couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°You handle the aftermath here.¡± Bian Jingdao said gruffly, ¡°I¡¯ll send this news back immediately. Let¡¯s see what the deputy governor has to say.¡± ¡­¡­ In a dense forest to the north of Huangyao Town. The moonlight slanted down like flowing silk. A campfire rose, crackling loudly. Lou Xiangzhen, holding a rabbit in his hands, placed it over the fire, the fat sizzling as it cooked through, nearly eighty percent done. An Jing watched the fire, his mind still preoccupied with the events of the day. The sudden appearance of Tan Yun today had been too much of a shock for him, so much so that it made An Jing question his life. Tan Yun, that dim-witted maid, turned out to be a master of the Demon Sect. Was this her acting, or her true nature? If it was real, why would the Demon Sect send her to be undercover, and even more, to lurk within his own home? Could it be¡­ that Grandfather Jiang also had connections with the Demon Sect? An Jing racked his brains but couldn¡¯t figure it out, feeling as though he was caught in a maze, needing only to find the crucial clue to understand it all. Yet, this crucial clue remained elusive. ¡°What are you thinking about, lad? You¡¯ve been quiet since just now.¡± Lou Xiangzhen tore off a leg of the rabbit and started chewing on it vigorously. An Jing looked at Lou Xiangzhen, a glint of realization in his eyes. ¡°Senior Lou, do you also have great knowledge in divination?¡± Lou Xiangzhen turned around, ¡°You little brat, thinking of scheming against Grandpa Lou?¡± Jiang Sanjia was proficient in divination, and each divination of heaven¡¯s secrets would consume essence blood and lifespan. Even though he was very careful, his lifespan still depleted when he was just over seventy, despite regularly taking elixirs that helped prolong life. Knowing that his end was near, he went to Yujing City to settle the grudges and affections of his life. Lou Xiangzhen didn¡¯t delve much into divination exactly because it shortened life too much. ¡°How could this be considered scheming?¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Senior, that rabbit is one I caught, and I couldn¡¯t even bear to eat it.¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a big gulp from his wine gourd at his waist and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a rabbit. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you ten, a hundred.¡± An Jing directly asked, ¡°Senior Lou, how can you help me with a divination?¡± ¡°Helping you with a divination isn¡¯t impossible,¡± he said. Lou Xiangzhen extended his sleeve and wiped his mouth, ¡°Call me Grandpa Lou, and I¡¯ll do the divination for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable, Old Lou.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°I consider you a trusted friend, and here you are always trying to take advantage of me?¡± Upon hearing this, Lou Xiangzhen could no longer hold back and shouted angrily, ¡°To hell with it, you¡¯re just a greenhorn whose milk smell is not yet dry. When I was roaming Jianghu, your father wasn¡¯t even in your mother¡¯s belly.¡± Thinking of acknowledging a greenhorn as a brother, Lou Xiangzhen wished he could run him through with a sword. Seeing this, An Jing coughed lightly, ¡°Old Lou, help me with a divination; consider it a favor you owe me, how about that?¡± ¡°What use is your favor to me?¡± Lou Xiangzhen didn¡¯t buy An Jing¡¯s act at all. An Jing was at a loss for words; Old Lou¡¯s strength was above his own, and he really couldn¡¯t help him for the time being. Lou Xiangzhen was a tough nut, not like Jiang Sanjia, who was more emotionally driven. Without any benefits, he probably wouldn¡¯t do the task for him. Thinking this, An Jing said solemnly, ¡°I¡¯ll just tell you the truth. I¡¯m well acquainted with Li Fuzhou, the Sect Master of the Demon Sect. If you ever need any information, I might be able to help.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing somewhat surprised, ¡°You brat, you¡¯ve got quite the nerve, making connections with people from the Demon Sect?¡± In Great Yan, associating with people from the Demon Sect was a major taboo in Jianghu; even mere association made one a target of intense scrutiny by the Xuanyi Guard, a thorn in their side. An Jing laughed dryly, ¡°Hehe, what do you think, Senior?¡± He and Li Fuzhou were indeed familiar; just that it was uncertain if Li Fuzhou would heed his words. ¡°Do you know who Meng Zhaodou is?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± An Jing shook his head. His understanding of Jianghu largely came from Zhou Xianming, so while he knew of the well-known figures, he was unaware of hidden experts. ¡°He is the leader of the Heaven and Earth Net. He nearly died once at the hands of Jiang Shang.¡± Lou Xiangzhen smiled faintly, ¡°I saved him back then.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing opened his mouth in surprise, not expecting Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s connections to be so extensive. He was at most acquainted with Li Fuzhou, who may not even listen to him, but Lou Xiangzhen had saved Meng Zhaodou¡¯s life. ¡°How about this?¡± After thinking for a while, An Jing reluctantly took out the Holy Essence Gu from his bosom, ¡°If you help me with a divination, I will give you this Holy Essence Gu. How about that?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Oh? Are you really willing to give up the Holy Essence Gu?¡± An Jing, annoyed, said, ¡°Old Lou, just say if you¡¯re willing or not.¡± It was a rare opportunity indeed; if not for wanting to know about his wife¡¯s situation, he wouldn¡¯t have considered offering such a treasure. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll reluctantly agree then,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said, smiling and stroking his beard. ¡°Then hurry up with the divination,¡± An Jing urged promptly. Seeing how eager An Jing was, Lou Xiangzhen set down the rabbit leg he was holding, tucked away the Holy Essence Gu, and said, ¡°You brat, calling me grandpa wouldn¡¯t have been a loss for you, yet you had to be stubborn, now look how pained you are.¡± An Jing¡¯s mouth twitched. If Lou Xiangzhen really were his grandfather, it genuinely wouldn¡¯t have been a loss, and he wouldn¡¯t have fled Yu State City in such an embarrassing manner. But Grandpa Lou, you came too late. ¡°What do you want to calculate?¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked indifferently. ¡°My wife.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, An Jing said, ¡°Zhao Qingmei, how is she now, where is she?¡± ¡°Watch closely.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded his head and then wiped his oily hands on An Jing¡¯s robe. He took out a turtle shell from his bosom, ¡°My divination method is different from Jiang Sanjia¡¯s.¡± ¡°Whoosh whoosh!¡± As he spoke, Lou Xiangzhen threw the turtle shell in his hand, and the palm-sized shell flipped in mid-air. The turtle shell spun rapidly in the air, releasing beams of light. ¡°If your wife is just an ordinary person, I can not only predict her life and death but even easily determine her location.¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently. An Jing opened his mouth slightly, now feeling a slight uncertainty himself. Whether his lady was ordinary or not¡­. Even when he had discovered that Li Fuzhou was the Sect Master of the Human Sect, An Jing hadn¡¯t doubted his wife at all. But upon discovering Tan Yun, he began to waver. ¡°My warm and comfortable home might actually be a den of the Demon Sect.¡± An Jing felt utterly lost and anguished as he spoke, ¡°My lady might have been coerced. No, she must have been. How could she possibly belong to the Demon Sect?¡± Somehow, he violently recalled the words of Aunt Niu (Chapter 132) and felt even more unease. Why did Zhao Qingmei insist on him specifically? Could there really be some hidden purpose behind this? The turtle shell spun faster and faster, even emitting beams of light, looking like a ball of flame burning in midair, causing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s brows to furrow. Soon after, he drew out the Peach Blossom Sword. ¡°Hiss!¡± The sword light was extremely fast and soon ignited within the flames, creating a series of imprints. It was precisely the three characters, Zhao Qingmei. Then, the sword light merged with the flames and completely disappeared. After engulfing the sword light, the flames surged more fiercely, their color changing dramatically to a dark purple. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows lifted, his expression suddenly changing. ¡°Craack, Craack, Craack!¡± Just then, a series of cracking sounds emerged from within the dark purple flames. ¡°Tap!¡± About three breaths later, the flames suddenly vanished, and the cracked turtle shell emerged and heavily fell to the ground. ¡°Wow!¡± Lou Xiangzhen spat out a jet of blood and wobbled several steps backward. ¡°Old Lou, are you alright?¡± An Jing rushed forward upon seeing this. ¡°You¡­ You kid, you¡¯re trying to kill your grandpa Lou,¡± Lou Xiangzhen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. ¡°This¡­¡± An Jing looked puzzled, ¡°How could I possibly be trying to trick you?¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a deep breath and stared at An Jing, ¡°This Zhao Qingmei, bearing such a significant destiny, and you said she was nothing special. I was nearly severely wounded by the backlash of the heavenly secrets.¡± ¡°What!?¡± An Jing, startled by Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, looked shocked, ¡°You¡¯re saying my wife carries a great destiny?¡± The great destiny Lou Xiangzhen mentioned was definitely extraordinary. Lou Xiangzhen was also deeply shaken, ¡°That¡¯s right, like you, she is a person who carries a great destiny. Predicting her fate would cost me at least five years of lifespan, and even then it might not reveal anything.¡± Considering the destiny this young man bore was already enough to defy the heavens, but to think his wife was also someone of significant destiny. This was terrifying. The Ghost Swordsman, not yet in his twenties, had already become a renowned swordsman across the world, and he might potentially break through the constraints and reach the Grandmaster Realm in the future. But his wife was similar as well, and she might also have a chance to reach the Grandmaster Realm in the future. Such a woman, whom this young man described as nothing special. An Jing hesitated for a moment and then said, ¡°Could it be that my destiny has transferred to her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible,¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing and slowly said, ¡°But for an ordinary person to bear an unwarranted destiny, that¡¯s a calamity.¡± Hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, An Jing sighed deeply. His heart became even more confused. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s head north to Ping County first,¡± he said. ¡°Boy, do you still not understand your wife?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow, ¡°This old man almost took a big fall, luckily I reacted quickly and stopped the divination in time.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing hurriedly retorted, ¡°What do you mean by that? Don¡¯t I understand my own wife?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s face showed disbelief; everything about this youngster was somewhat strange, including his wife. Seeing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression, An Jing anxiously said, ¡°My wife and I know each other thoroughly; how could I possibly not understand her?¡± ¡­¡­ At Dongluo Pass, the top floor of Dongluo Tower. Zhao Qingmei, dressed in white, sat beside a soft couch, holding a book in her hands. She rarely wore white clothing. Her snow-white, radiant legs were exposed, revealing delicate ankles and feet as fair as frost-covered snow. Now clothed, coupled with her exquisitely beautiful features, she seemed like a fairy banished to the mortal world. ¡°Why does it feel like several years have passed in just a few months?¡± she wondered. Zhao Qingmei felt somewhat frustrated; she simply couldn¡¯t concentrate on the book. ¡°Sect Hierarch!¡± At that moment, Yu Qiurong¡¯s urgent voice came from outside, ¡°An urgent report from the Sealing Demon Platform.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± At these words, a cold light flashed in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Come in and speak.¡± ¡°Creak¨C!¡± Yu Qiurong pushed open the door, looking somewhat rushed as she bowed and said, ¡°Sect Hierarch, the Sealing Demon Platform seems very unsatisfied with the delay; the Third Elder is asking you to hurry to the Sealing Demon Platform.¡± Not to mention outsiders, few within the Demon Sect knew about the Sealing Demon Platform, but in everyone¡¯s eyes, it was a holy place. The day before yesterday, the Sealing Demon Platform had summoned Zhao Qingmei, but she outright refused. ¡°Summon me?¡± Zhao Qingmei sneered, ¡°Who in this world can summon me?¡± Yu Qiurong was very anxious, ¡°Sect Hierarch, the Third Elder has already sent four secret letters¡­¡± Although she understood Zhao Qingmei¡¯s domineering and assertive nature, she did not want her to clash with the Sealing Demon Platform. It wasn¡¯t just about whether the Sealing Demon Platform would severely punish Zhao Qingmei; one must know that many masters within the Sealing Demon Platform were also the foundation of the Demon Sect, a capital for contending with the world. If Zhao Qingmei were to clash with the Sealing Demon Platform, it would be akin to severing her own arm. Zhao Qingmei thought for a moment and said, ¡°They are getting anxious; since that is the case, it might as well meet with those old folks at the Sealing Demon Platform.¡± She had not intended not to go to the Sealing Demon Platform, but the attitude of the Sealing Demon Platform had greatly displeased her. Having already delayed for two days, it was time to gauge the true state of the Sealing Demon Platform. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go prepare the carriage now.¡± Yu Qiurong, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked out. Zhao Qingmei stood up and walked to the desk, picking up two blades hanging on the wall. The blades were called Mandarin Duck Blades, one longer and the other shorter¨Cthe longer blade was the Yuan Blade, the shorter was the Duck Blade, bright and clean, unstained by mud. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve used these blades.¡± Zhao Qingmei muttered to herself, then played with them for a while. ¡°Sect Hierarch, the carriage is ready.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± she replied. Zhao Qingmei responded, then placed the Mandarin Duck Blades on her body and walked outside. The weather today was very good, the sun was bright, and the sky clear. Due to the special location of Dongluo Pass, the weather was somewhat hot at the moment, and many merchants on the street had donned thin garments. At that moment, a beautifully decorated carriage drove out from Dongluo Tower, surrounded by several figures in black, top experts from the Demon Sect. The inside of the carriage was spacious. In the center was a small square table, laid with delicious pastries. Zhao Qingmei sat next to the table, her expression calm and serene. Meanwhile, Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, looking anxious and concerned. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked. Duanmu Xinghua bowed and said, ¡°I¡¯m worried about the Sect Hierarch¡¯s trip to the Sealing Demon Platform this time.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Qingmei couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Tell me about the worries in your heart.¡± Duanmu Xinghua reflected for a moment and said, ¡°The Sect Hierarch¡¯s delay of two days in heading to Dongluo Pass may have already upset the Third Elder.¡± As she spoke, she hesitated to continue and finally chose to remain silent. Originally, the summoning of Zhao Qingmei to the Sealing Demon Platform was meant to be a show of authority since, after becoming the Sect Hierarch, she had never visited the Sealing Demon Platform. Which previous Sect Hierarch hadn¡¯t gone to pay their respects at the Sealing Demon Platform upon taking office? Only Zhao Qingmei continued to ignore it without any concerns. The Sealing Demon Platform had been tolerantly biding its time. Now that Zhao Qingmei had acquired the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± things had become even more complicated. The ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± was a martial arts of what kind? It was one of the three major secret techniques of the current world. If a Half-step Master practiced it, it could increase their cultivation to approach the Grandmaster Realm, and for those in the Grandmaster Realm, it could help reach the Great Grandmaster Realm. Such martial arts, how many in the world could remain unmoved? Zhao Qingmei looked intently at Duanmu Xinghua, ¡°Do you think I care about their dissatisfaction?¡± Duanmu Xinghua gave a wry smile and said no more. Such words could only be spoken by Zhao Qingmei. The carriage sped along, rushing in the direction of the Sealing Demon Platform. ¡­.. Dongluo Desert, Sealing Demon Platform. Before them, within an oasis, several magnificent Jade Towers were built, with golden roofs and red doors, brimming with ancient charm and ethereal immortal energy. A pathway made of white jade stones spread deep into the distance. Alongside it, there were clear, piercing pools and exotic, rare beasts. This was the Demon Sect¡¯s holy land, the Sealing Demon Platform. Duanmu Xinghua led the way at the front, with Zhao Qingmei and other high-level experts of the Demon Sect following behind her. Before long, a man appeared ahead, dressed in splendid clothes with a jade ornate hanging from his waist, his eyes carrying a hint of pride. This man appeared to be just over thirty, but his cultivation was not low. He was at the First Grade, a top-notch expert in Jianghu. Upon seeing Duanmu Xinghua, the man greeted with a closed fist, ¡°Sect Master Duanmu, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Hierarch, this man is the son of the Third Elder, Ouyang Quan.¡± Duanmu Xinghua then introduced them, ¡°This is the current Hierarch of our Demon Sect.¡± Ouyang Quan¡¯s eyes showed a hint of admiration, then he greeted Zhao Qingmei with a fist and said, ¡°Hierarch, please come in. My father and the Second Elder have been waiting for a long time.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded her head and said nothing. The two led the way to the Great Hall. The interior of the Great Hall was very luxurious, supported by many large red pillars, each engraved with lifelike, swirling golden dragons, creating a spectacular sight. Additionally, several beautiful maids stood on both sides of the hall. At the upper end of the Great Hall, two old men were seated. The elder on the left wore a green robe and had a benign appearance with a smile on his lips, while the one on the right looked rather cold, his brows furrowed tightly, making the air around him suddenly chilly. Zhao Qingmei had seen the elder on the right before; it was he who had led her into the Sealing Demon Well. Duanmu Xinghua conveyed in a whisper, ¡°Hierarch, these two are Yuan Feng, the Second Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform, and Ouyang Ping, the Third Elder. Ouyang Ping was the leader of the previous generation¡¯s Heavenly Sect, while Yuan Feng was the Sect Master of the Earth Sect before last.¡± Yu Qiurong, upon seeing the two men, had a sudden change in expression. The man on the right, she had seen his portrait within the Demon Sect; his name was Ouyang Ping, with unfathomably deep strength. The last time he was seen was thirty years ago, and at that time, his cultivation had already reached the Grandmaster Realm. Many thought he had died, but not only had he not died, he had directly entered the Sealing Demon Platform to become an elder. The person next to Ouyang Ping was even older, and although Yu Qiurong did not recognize him, she knew his status was certainly extraordinary. Zhao Qingmei, hearing the whisper, furrowed her brows tightly. It looked like these two old foxes were at least over a hundred years old, looking somewhat close to death, but they were evidently well-maintained. Yu Qiurong, looking at the cold-faced Ouyang Ping, felt a surge of nervousness. ¡°Indeed, a young hero, excellent, excellent.¡± Yuan Feng laughed loudly, ¡°Hierarch, you must be tired from the journey, please have a seat.¡± Zhao Qingmei slowly sat down and said, ¡°I have met Elder Ouyang once before, but today is the first time I¡¯m meeting Elder Yuan.¡± Regrettably, Yuan Feng said, ¡°Yes, for the past few decades, I have been in seclusion and thus, never had the opportunity to meet with the new Hierarch. It must be said that Jiang Shang has found a good disciple.¡± At nineteen years old, she had reached the Grandmaster Realm, and there was a great possibility she could strive for the Great Grandmaster level. If she really could make it to the Great Grandmaster Realm, she could definitely guarantee the development of the Demon Sect for three hundred years. Zhao Qingmei modestly said, ¡°Elder Yuan overestimates me; my cultivation is still far inferior to my master¡¯s.¡± Yuan Feng waved his hand and remarked sentimentally, ¡°Although your current cultivation is still shallow, you are also young. Given time, you will definitely reach the pinnacle of the Five Qi and attain the Great Grandmaster Realm.¡± Although Ouyang Ping had many grievances against Zhao Qingmei, he couldn¡¯t help but nod at these words. At that moment, a beautiful servant girl brought up some tea. Yuan Feng smiled and said, ¡°Please try this¨Cthe tea is called Purple Tribute Tea, brewed with oasis spring water. It has a refreshing aroma that soothes the soul and heart.¡± Zhao Qingmei did not pick up the tea. Instead, she spoke directly, ¡°Elders, you have summoned me here; what matter is it that can¡¯t be discussed openly? There are still many duties within the Sect that await my arrangement and handling.¡± From the attitudes of Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping, it became clear that there must be something important they wanted to discuss. Zhao Qingmei did not wish to waste time on probing and tact; it was best to lay some matters outright. Ouyang Ping frowned deeply. ¡°I have long heard that the Sect Hierarch is hasty. Seeing it today confirms the rumor. Since the Sect Hierarch speaks so, I will speak plainly,¡± he said. Yuan Feng hesitated for a moment then said, ¡°We have heard that the Sect Hierarch has obtained our Demon Sect¡¯s supreme martial scripture ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡¯ Is this true or false?¡± Here it comes! Duanmu Xinghua felt a slight stir in her heart upon seeing this. At this moment, Yu Qiurong¡¯s heart also rose to her throat; clearly, the people from Sealing Demon Platform had no good intentions in summoning the Sect Hierarch. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded and did not deny it. Even though Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping had already known the news, hearing Zhao Qingmei personally confirm it still brought a gleam to their eyes. ¡°The Sect Hierarch has been at the helm of the Demon Sect for two years now, so you should also be aware of the current world situation. No Grandmaster has yet managed to control the heaven and earth,¡± Yuan Feng took a deep breath and said. ¡°And the Great Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform is currently in closed-door cultivation, preparing to break through the Grandmaster barrier. If he had this ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡¯ the process would surely be more effective. If he reaches the Grandmaster Realm, our Demon Sect would surely hold heaven and earth in its grasp and no longer have to flee from Great Yan like before¡­¡± Ouyang Ping nodded, agreeing with Yuan Feng¡¯s words. In today¡¯s world, among all the forces, the one to first reach the Grandmaster would have absolute authority. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s fingers tapped on the desk, and she said lightly, ¡°So the two Elders mean for me to hand over this ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯?¡± Yuan Feng slowly replied, ¡°This is also for the sake of the Demon Sect¡¯s millennia-old plan. Besides, you only need to hand over a copy of this ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡¯ If the Great Elder breaks through to the Grandmaster Realm, our Demon Sect can be as stable as Mount Tai, which would be beneficial for the Sect Hierarch.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded solemnly. ¡°The Elders are not wrong. If our Demon Sect were to boast a Grandmaster, we would indeed have a place in today¡¯s world.¡± She agreed very much with some of the points. Even Yuan Feng, upon hearing this, a smile flickered across his eyes: ¡°So, does this mean the Sect Hierarch agrees?¡± ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯¨Cthis represents the supreme pinnacle of martial arts. In the entire world, there are only three such arts, with Buddhist sector¡¯s own being so unique that only their formidable masters can cultivate it, and the Mystical Sect¡¯s ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ divided into three branches, one of which is in the hands of Zhenyi Sect, another in the Ghost Valley Sect, and the third lost to the world. And now, the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ was right before him, how could he not be tempted? ¡°Second Elder must be joking,¡± Zhao Qingmei said lightly, ¡°I never said I would hand over the mental method to you.¡± Yuan Feng¡¯s smile briefly faltered: ¡°Then what do you mean?¡± The entire hall¡¯s atmosphere froze. ¡°If the Demon Sect truly had a Grandmaster, it indeed would be able to control the heaven and earth.¡± Zhao Qingmei smiled and said, ¡°So I, as the Sect Hierarch, will certainly cultivate diligently to reach the Grandmaster Realm soon, fulfilling the desires of both Elders.¡± Ouyang Ping finally spoke up, ¡°So, are you unwilling to part with the mental method?¡± Ouyang Ping¡¯s voice was a bit hoarse with a hint of chill, immediately making the whole hall three times colder. It wasn¡¯t just Yu Qiurong, even Duanmu Xinghua had her eyebrows tightly furrowed, thinking to herself: ¡®The cultivation of this Third Elder seems to surpass hers, at least at the Second Qi Grandmaster level, and possibly even reaching the Third Qi Grandmaster.¡¯ Zhao Qingmei, seemingly unfazed by the cold, said, ¡°This mental method is a secret not passed on within our Demon Sect, only the Sect Hierarch can cultivate it. Why should I pass it to you?¡± Yuan Feng said sternly, ¡°The times are different now, we need to learn to adapt. If a Grandmaster were to emerge in the Demon Sect at this time, it would be a great fortune for you and me and for the whole Demon Sect.¡± Zhao Qingmei laughed out loud, ¡°You speak so grandly, yet you just want to cultivate the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ yourself. There¡¯s no need to pretend to be so noble.¡± ¡°If today¡¯s meeting is about this matter, then I fear the Elders will be disappointed. The ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ belongs to me, and I will let no one take it away.¡± After speaking, Zhao Qingmei stood up and walked towards the hall¡¯s exit. Seeing this, Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping¡¯s expressions turned very ugly, as they had not expected Zhao Qingmei to be so firm and to outright tear off the pretense. Duanmu Xinghua gave a bow to the pair and quickly followed after. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Little Qingmei, why the rush?¡± Just then, a voice suddenly rang out. The voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. Upon hearing this voice, Yu Qiurong felt as if thunder had exploded in her heart. Zhao Qingmei paused slightly, her beautiful eyes narrowing into slits. Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Three Grandmasters Join Forces Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Three Grandmasters Join Forces Zhao Qingmei was all too familiar with that voice. Following the sound, she saw an elderly figure in black standing at the entrance of the hall, with white hair, a youthful face, and a celestial aura. A faint smile played around his lips. ¡°Old¡­ Old Sect Hierarch!¡± Yu Qiurong trembled as she saw the man, exclaiming in disbelief. The man was none other than Jiang Shang, the previous Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. ¡°Old Sect Hierarch!¡± Duanmu Xinghua slightly bowed, giving Jiang Shang a respectful fist salute. Yuan Feng felt a sigh of relief upon seeing Jiang Shang¡¯s sudden appearance, as Zhao Qingmei¡¯s master was here, and things should not be too difficult now. Jiang Shang gave a slight nod and then turned to look at the silent Zhao Qingmei, smiling, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you recognize your master anymore?¡± ¡°Have you been in Yu State City all this time?¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at Jiang Shang and asked. ¡°Yes, I have been here for a few years,¡± Jiang Shang sighed. ¡°I was seriously injured and barely survived; I could only recuperate in Yu State City first.¡± Jiang Shang was capricious and highly suspicious by nature; having been gravely injured by Xiao Qianqiu, he feared that news of his condition might lead to attacks from his enemies, so he hid in Yu State City, telling no one, including Jiang Renyi. During his time in Yu State City, aside from healing his injuries, he was also secretly searching for the Undying Blood that could grant immortality. Zhao Qingmei asked expressionlessly, ¡°Why did you kill my husband?¡± To kill Zhao Qingmei¡¯s husband!? Hearing this, Duanmu Xinghua was slightly shocked and then it dawned on her. She finally understood why Zhao Qingmei had accused her that day; Jiang Shang had called Zhao Qingmei back for this reason. ¡°Little Qingmei.¡± Hearing her words, Jiang Shang shook his head, ¡°Do you know that I did this for your own good?¡± ¡°For my good?¡± Zhao Qingmei could not help but laugh when she heard this. Yu Qiurong knew Zhao Qingmei very well; Zhao Qingmei never laughed, and when she did, it meant her anger had reached its limit. Jiang Shang looked at Zhao Qingmei seriously and said, ¡°That doctor was just an ordinary person, whereas you? You¡¯re a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. Your future is boundless. Now that you¡¯re cultivating the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, reaching the realm of Great Grandmaster is just a matter of time, and you might even touch the realm of Transcendence and achieve immortality.¡± ¡°He was merely a hindrance, a shackle on your path to the Supreme Dao.¡± The Supreme Dao! Upon hearing Jiang Shang¡¯s words, Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s heart raced, her breathing paused. To a Great Grandmaster, increasing one¡¯s lifespan by three hundred years was something Duanmu Xinghua considered beyond reach, let alone Transcendence, which could offer true immortality. Was there really anyone who could achieve this realm? Ouyang Ping raised an eyebrow, his lips parting slightly. Others might not know, but as veteran cultivators who had practiced for over a hundred years, they were aware of some secrets of the world. If the realm of Great Grandmaster was a reality in this world, then Transcendence was merely speculative. Throughout history, very few had reached the realm of Great Grandmaster; all who pursued Transcendence had failed without exception. And those who did reach the realm of Great Grandmaster were rare talents, stunning figures in the world. Eventually, some claimed that Transcendence was merely a fantasy, that the Great Grandmaster was the pinnacle of cultivation, and that true immortality was impossible in this world. Ouyang Ping believed that reaching the realm of Great Grandmaster was fortunate enough. As for Transcendence, it was best not to harbor illusions. ¡°I will decide my own affairs; no one else may interfere.¡± Zhao Qingmei lightly laughed upon hearing this, ¡°Besides, if your so-called Dao requires being heartless and emotionless, then I would rather not pursue it.¡± Although she was laughing, everyone felt a chill in the air. Jiang Shang¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he said, ¡°The disparity between you is too great; in the end, it would only harm you and him. I cannot stand by and watch you fall into an abyss.¡± ¡°So, you killed him?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s smile faded, her words ice-cold, almost completely unhidden. Jiang Shang took a deep breath and nodded, ¡°I shattered his heart meridians; not even a Daluo Immortal could save him.¡± Boom! Upon hearing Jiang Shang¡¯s words, Zhao Qingmei felt her mind buzz, plunging into blankness. When Tan Yun sent the letter, she saw the paper figures move and felt a glimmer of hope, but now, hearing Jiang Shang¡¯s words, that glimmer of hope was almost extinguished. Who was Jiang Shang? Zhao Qingmei knew him too well. Once he took action, it was bound to be foolproof. Moreover, her husband was only a doctor. How could he possibly be a match for Jiang Shang? Now, her only hope lay in the responding paper figures. But even this hope seemed faint. The slight luck in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart was about to be extinguished as well. Jiang Shang¡¯s gaze turned to Zhao Qingmei and he said, ¡°Qingmei, hand over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ to your master, and I will henceforth preside over the Sealing Demon Platform and cease to intervene in the affairs of the Demon Sect. You will remain the Sect Hierarch, and should you or the Demon Sect face any peril, I will not stand idly by.¡± ¡°In the future, when the world falls into great turmoil, this old man might even come out of seclusion to help you accomplish the grand ambition in your heart.¡± Zhao Qingmei lowered her head and said nothing. The entire great hall was quiet, with everyone¡¯s gazes fixed on Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Why!?¡± Zhao Qingmei murmured to herself, her voice devoid of any emotion. Duanmu Xinghua sighed deeply upon seeing this; she had not expected things to turn out this way. Where emotions are concerned, some people willingly indulge. Jiang Shang¡¯s voice, rarely soft, softened a few degrees as he said, ¡°Throughout the ages, how many people have been obsessed with love, trapped in its depths, unable to extricate themselves? I see my own reflection in you, and thus I intervened¡­¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s voice trembled slightly, ¡°Why, why did you kill him? He clearly did nothing wrong!¡± Her husband was just an ordinary man, wanting nothing more than to live an ordinary life. What had he done wrong? She had promised to protect him well, she had promised¡­ At this thought, Zhao Qingmei felt as if her heart was being sliced open by a knife. Jiang Shang¡¯s eyes were deep as he said, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, he wasn¡¯t wrong, I¡¯m not wrong; such is the way of survival in this world. Haven¡¯t you known this since you were young?¡± Zhao Qingmei did not respond but touched the long blade at her waist. ¡°Shi!¡± ¡°Shi!¡± The Mandarin Duck Blades were drawn, revealing a chilling gleam. The temperature in the entire great hall suddenly dropped. Seeing this, Jiang Shang¡¯s brows furrowed into a ¡®Chuan ¡® shape, and he said coldly, ¡°What, are you going to fight me?¡± ¡°Sect Hierarch, think carefully,¡± Duanmu Xinghua said solemnly. She could understand Zhao Qingmei¡¯s feelings at the moment; her husband had been killed, and she was being coerced to hand over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯. But who was she facing? That was Jiang Shang, the previous Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, one of the sect¡¯s top experts. Moreover, behind Jiang Shang stood two grandmasters with higher cultivation than hers, and it could be said without exaggeration that Zhao Qingmei had almost no chance of winning. At that moment, Zhao Qingmei simply couldn¡¯t hear any of Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s words; the Mandarin Duck Blades flickered with an extreme icy radiance, ¡°Today, only one of us will live.¡± Yu Qiurong¡¯s heart trembled, and her fists clenched tightly. Zhao Qingmei had made her intentions clear; she was determined to fight Jiang Shang to the death. As Zhao Qingmei¡¯s words fell, the expressions of the others changed. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Duanmu Xinghua continued to plead earnestly. But Zhao Qingmei was deaf to her words. Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng, however, remained silent; in their view, letting Jiang Shang teach Zhao Qingmei a lesson could be a good thing. Seeing this, Jiang Shang was not angry, but instead laughed, ¡°Very well, let me see the progress you¡¯ve made these past few years.¡± ¡°Step back,¡± As Zhao Qingmei¡¯s internal fire reached its peak, True Qi began to surge within her. Duanmu Xinghua and Yu Qiurong swiftly stepped back, not daring to hesitate a moment. ¡°Mandarin Duck Blades, these are indeed fine blades,¡± Jiang Shang said slowly, looking at the blade light in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hands. The Mandarin Duck Blades, one inscribed with ¡®Benevolence¡¯ and the other with ¡®Invincible¡¯, were forged by a highly famous forger from the Great Zhou Dynasty, using extremely precious meteoric iron, and took thirteen years to make. Later, a pair of Grandmaster couple acquired them. Each wielding one blade, one holding the Yuan Blade and the other the Mandarin Duck Blade, they roamed the world, seldom meeting opponents, and even killed Grandmasters with these blades. Over the past thousand years, these twin blades have been saturated with the blood of countless Grandmaster martial artists, and their blades are steeped in a murderous Qi mechanism. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body moved, and in an instant, she had disappeared from the spot. Zhao Qingmei stood ahead, her body enveloped in a full-blown killing aura, not concealing any of it. Jiang Shang¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he stared at Zhao Qingmei in front of him and pointed his finger forward. Immediately, True Qi burst forth in the great hall, and a fist-sized True Qi rainbow shot out explosively from his fingertip. Boom! Boom! The True Qi rainbow traveled piercing through the air. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression grew tense, as Jiang Shang¡¯s cultivation was much stronger than Duanmu Shanghua¡¯s. Woosh! As that True Qi rainbow trembled through the void and pierced through, the great hall seemed to tremble. Zhao Qingmei tightly gripped the Mandarin Duck Blade, her expression as unyielding as millennium-old ice; her robe whipped around, engulfing a dark extreme light in the savage wind. Then, her body propelled forward, turning into a beam of black light. Jiang Shang¡¯s expression was unwavering as he directly faced the charge. At the moment the two clashed, True Qi intersected, overturning clouds and smashing waves. Like lightning striking flint, even Yu Qiurong, in the Heavenly Flower Realm, couldn¡¯t clearly see the traces of their fight. Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s face was extremely solemn as she watched the scene ahead. Jiang Shang flicked his hand, and a palm strike headed towards Zhao Qingmei. This palm turned into a dark black canopy, like a mountain shifting and sea overturning, surging towards Zhao Qingmei. Thunderous! Waves of True Qi spread out everywhere, producing ripples of True Qi throughout the entire great hall wave after wave. ¡°Shush, shush!¡± Zhao Qingmei drew her blades, and the Mandarin Duck Blade emitted a resonant clash as she charged forward. When the sword Qi and black twilight touched, a domineering force transmitted towards her. So strong! Zhao Qingmei hastily retreated backwards, guessing that her master¡¯s cultivation must have progressed further, most likely peeking into the pinnacle of the Three Qi Grandmaster, not far from reaching the Four Qi Realm. If it weren¡¯t for her cultivation of the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± she would have been defeated in a single move, from which she could sense Jiang Shang¡¯s profound strength. ¡°What an impressive ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡¯ It not only strengthens her physical body but also enhances the depth of her True Qi far beyond that of an ordinary Grandmaster,¡± Jiang Shang was even more stunned given that his and Zhao Qingmei¡¯s cultivations differed by two whole realms. Standing in the distance, Duanmu Xinghua smiled wryly and shook her head, ¡°The Sect Hierarch truly has heaven-sent talent; I didn¡¯t expect her to reach the Essence Qi returning so quickly and advance to the One Qi Realm.¡± Upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm, what¡¯s cultivated is the human body¡¯s Five Qi. Once all Five Qi return, one can challenge the shackles to ascend to the Great Grandmaster Realm. Just over a month ago, Zhao Qingmei barely reached the Grandmaster cultivation. Logically, it would take a long time to achieve Essence Qi returning. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s rapid Essence Qi returning, apart from cultivating the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± another main reason is that she had suppressed herself in the Half-step Master Realm for a long time, allowing for accumulation that facilitated a breakthrough. The next moment, Jiang Shang appeared directly behind Zhao Qingmei. And at the instant he appeared, Zhao Qingmei sensed Jiang Shang¡¯s Qi mechanism. In the Heavenly Demon Technique, there¡¯s a movement technique called Step by Step Lotus, modeled after the martial arts in the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡± Zhao Qingmei had already mastered it to the Seventh Layer a while ago. A black lotus appeared beneath her feet, allowing her to dodge Jiang Shang¡¯s sure-hit palm. Swish! Swish! Swish! One using the flexibility of Step by Step Lotus to continuously dodge, and one with extremely high cultivation incessantly pursuing, Zhao Qingmei always narrowly avoided Jiang Shang¡¯s attacks. With Jiang Shang¡¯s cultivation, a single hit would be disastrous, even for Zhao Qingmei, whose bones had been tempered to be as strong as gold. Employing Step by Step Lotus, which blends illusion with reality, and appearing slow yet moving incredibly fast, Jiang Shang¡¯s torrential attacks were instantly dissolved. ¡°Such a peculiar movement technique¡­¡± Jiang Shang frowned, his cultivation was significantly higher than Zhao Qingmei¡¯s; logically, he should be much faster, but with Zhao Qingmei executing this Step by Step Lotus technique, he simply couldn¡¯t close the distance to her. ¡°Stop running!¡± Suddenly, Jiang Shang halted his steps, and a strong black light emerged behind him. The next moment, he unleashed the most overbearing palm technique from the Heavenly Demon Technique. Heavenly Demon Technique! Heavenly Demon Star Splitting Palm! Boom! Each palm seemed to carry the force of a miniature mountain crashing down, all concentrated into a single strike. The power in the palm of Jiang Shang¡¯s hand was so terrifying that one couldn¡¯t comprehend its intensity without experiencing it firsthand. Jiang Shang¡¯s palm struck precisely, and the fierce gust of wind hit Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body. Zhao Qingmei was sent flying backward. The Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture activated, subsequently offsetting some of the impact. ¡°Jiang Shang¡¯s cultivation is two realms higher than mine. Even using the Nine Nether Secret Technique from the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, it¡¯s probably hard to defeat him. I need to find another way¡­¡± Thinking this, Zhao Qingmei knew it was difficult to defeat Jiang Shang, ¡°If only I had the Heavenly Flipping Seal with me, I could have given it a try.¡± Jiang Shang had no intention of giving Zhao Qingmei a chance to catch her breath. The surging qi, like a tidal wave, flooded aggressively toward Zhao Qingmei in front, seemingly intent on crushing her completely. Zhao Qingmei stood still, holding the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in her hands, her expression extremely solemn. Ouyang Ping indifferently said, ¡°Jiang Shang¡¯s cultivation has reached the peak of the Three Qi Grandmaster. His student is at the One Qi level. The gap is too large.¡± ¡°At her age, such cultivation, if she loses, it might not be a bad thing.¡± A gleam flashed in Yuan Feng¡¯s eyes. Many naturally gifted talents, due to their arrogance and smooth journeys, often find it hard to break through their own shackles. If Zhao Qingmei could see through these constraints and elevate her state of mind early, her future would be boundlessly promising. Yu Qiurong whispered, ¡°Sect Master Duanmu, this?¡± ¡°The chances of winning are very low.¡± Duanmu Xinghua shook her head. In fact, she initially wanted to say there was no chance at all. As Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body tensed up, Jiang Shang stomped his foot, and his body eerily vanished. Hum! Zhao Qingmei clenched the Mandarin Duck Blades tightly, and her arm swung, emanating force qi that carried enough power to destroy mountains. And at the very moment Zhao Qingmei¡¯s Mandarin Duck Twin Blades slashed down, the previously empty space burst forth with Jiang Shang¡¯s figure, his finger pointing directly at her blade. ¡°Bang!¡± The blade of the Yuan Blade directly struck Jiang Shang¡¯s finger light. The moment of collision was like two giant stones meeting, visible waves of qi lashed out, exploding instantly, causing the entire great hall to tremble. The ground beneath their feet also cracked, spreading outwards into the distance. The strong rebounding force rushed toward Zhao Qingmei like a tsunami, causing her body to violently jerk backward and almost fly out of the great hall. Zhao Qingmei steadied herself, lifting the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in her hands. Whirr whirr whirr whirr! Countless black spiraling qi streams surged forward, forming terrifying waves of blade qi. Beneath Zhao Qingmei¡¯s feet, a black lotus flower several feet in size appeared, and she stood atop it. The numerous spiraling waves of blade qi formed the petals of the black lotus, enveloping Zhao Qingmei at the center. Such a spectacle! Truly astonishing and spectacular! Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping both furrowed their brows, their eyes fixed intently on the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hands. Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture! Zhao Qingmei, standing on the black lotus, her beautiful eyes suddenly brightened. Force qi surged up, and the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades streaked down like a shooting star. Boom! Boom! Boom! The blade light that shot down like a meteor, causing the air to crackle wherever it passed. A glint appeared in Jiang Shang¡¯s eyes. He inhaled sharply, then suppressed the shock in his heart as his entire body¡¯s true qi gathered in his fist. Heavenly Demon Palm! Heavenly Demon Star-plucking Hand! Jiang Shang struck out with a palm, his body connected between heaven and earth, radiating light akin to moonlight. One palm strike fell, as if stars descended, heavily smashing toward the incoming blade qi. Bang bang bang bang bang bang! The ear-splitting sounds echoed in all directions, followed by the fierce rush of true qi. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Duanmu Xinghua grabbed Yu Qiurong and rushed towards the outside of the hall. Meanwhile, Ouyang Ping, Yuan Feng, and Ouyang Quan were also quickly running towards the distance. The magnificent great hall was blasted by the surge of force, instantly turning into ruins, even the roof of the palace was lifted, turning into debris. Not far from the ruined great hall, a huge well appeared. The well was about two zhang in diameter, and at each side of the well stood stone statues of the four exotic beasts: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu, each bound with iron chains that extended into the well, forming a peculiar formation. At the surroundings of the Sealing Demon Well, there was an extremely dense aura of slaughter; anyone getting close would feel their scalp tingle and even bleed from their skin. ¡°The Sealing Demon Well!?¡± Upon seeing the well, Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s pupils slightly shrank. This Sealing Demon Well is known as the first secret site of the Demon Sect, where almost all the top martial artists have entered to train and obtained great fortunes. Duanmu Xinghua also craved to enter the Sealing Demon Well, but she was not originally nurtured by the Demon Sect and, moreover, was too old to have had the chance to enter. Among the younger generation, Zhao Qingmei and Jiang Renyi had greatly increased their strength after entering the Sealing Demon Well. However, as per the ancestral teachings of the Demon Sect, one could not enter the Sealing Demon Well a second time; no matter how high one¡¯s cultivation was, those who entered for the second time could never come out again. A fierce wind swept through, whipping up a sky full of sand and dust. Zhao Qingmei felt a numbness in her arm, as if losing sensation in an instant, followed by a pain in her internal organs, tasting a sweet burst of blood in her mouth. ¡°Gulp!¡± With a determined look in her eyes, Zhao Qingmei slightly tilted her neck, her throat surged, and she forcibly swallowed the blood back down. At that moment, Jiang Shang¡¯s figure reappeared atop the broken wooden pillar; his clothes were torn, but his eyes were still bright and spirited, showing no signs of injury. Even though Zhao Qingmei had used the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± and summoned all her strength, she had still been unable to injure Jiang Shang. ¡°Ah, the former Sect Leader¡¯s strength is still too powerful!¡± Duanmu Xinghua, seeing this scene, shook her head slightly. If she had been in Jiang Shang¡¯s place, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s move would have already defeated her, but Jiang Shang was only left with torn clothes, completely unharmed. Meanwhile, the expressions of Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng were exceedingly grave, clearly frightened by Zhao Qingmei¡¯s earlier attack. A master of the One Qi Realm already possessing such strength was indeed rare. Zhao Qingmei, looking at the calm Jiang Shang ahead, thought to herself, ¡°If I want to defeat him, I must rely on the Nine Nether Secret Technique; I don¡¯t know if this strike will defeat him, but I must try.¡± With that thought, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s True Qi began to leak continuously outward. The massive and vast True Qi, viscous like a dark ocean, was breathtaking. ¡°Little Qingmei, you are no match for me.¡± Jiang Shang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s time for this all to end.¡± After he spoke, the True Qi within him also surged out wildly, cultivating the Heavenly Demon Technique to the ninth layer, just one step away from the tenth layer. As the True Qi surged, the originally clear sky filled with dark clouds. His palm extended forward, and the True Qi instantly became turbulent; ripping open a huge gap in the dark clouds, a gigantic palm descended like a mountain. The Heavenly Demon Palm! Heavenly Demon Wild Dance! Boom! Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression shifted. The colossal black hand seemed to cover all the heavens and earth, leaving Zhao Qingmei with nowhere to escape. In that moment, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble at such tactics, such momentum, truly worthy of being one of the top masters in the world. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s advantage lay in the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± but now as Jiang Shang exerted all his cultivation, that advantage instantly vanished. The moment the giant hand descended, darkness fell over the earth. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression was unusually grave; she took a deep breath, and a tremendous aura burst forth from within her. Under the shadow of the day-covering giant hand, Zhao Qingmei stood tall, unflinching, and within her seemingly fragile body, a vast and extensive Qi mechanism burst forth at that moment. Noticing the sudden shift in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s aura, Jiang Shang¡¯s pupils also slightly contracted. Grasping the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in her hands, the massive black lotus beneath her feet suddenly melted, reflecting in the backdrop behind her, releasing a black and golden radiance. In an instant, Zhao Qingmei turned into a black and gold sun. ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± secret techniques! Nine Nether secret techniques! Zhao Qingmei gently stamped her foot and rose elegantly. Under that giant hand that obscured the sun, she seemed as tiny as an ant, yet she fearlessly charged forward, clashing her Mandarin Duck Twin Blades heavily against it. Buzz! The moment of impact, it seemed as if the heavens and earth had fallen silent, devoid of any sound. The next moment, the giant hand that blotted out the sky trembled violently. Visible cracks began to quietly spread, and finally, with a ¡®bang,¡¯ it shattered completely. However, at the moment the giant hand shattered, Zhao Qingmei was also struck heavily, her body shooting backward and crashing heavily into the broken ruins. In the distance, although Jiang Shang had not retreated, the wooden pillar under his feet had also crumbled into dust at that moment, and his complexion turned somewhat pale. True Qi churned; dust rose in the skies. ¡°The gap is too large.¡± Zhao Qingmei exhaled deeply, aware that this disparity in cultivation could not be bridged by martial arts alone. If her cultivation had reached the Second Qi Realm, defeating Jiang Shang at the peak of Three Qi would be no problem at all. ¡°Little Qingmei, won¡¯t you admit defeat?¡± Jiang Shang said solemnly. ¡°In this world, no one can make me admit defeat.¡± Zhao Qingmei held her Mandarin Duck Twin Blades and spoke coldly. At that moment, she stretched her hand toward the distant Sealing Demon Well, and streaks of black light emerged from her palm. Seeing this, Jiang Shang furrowed his brow, ¡°What are you doing!?¡± ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± The Sealing Demon Well trembled violently. An indescribable aura of slaughter surged from within the well. At that moment, she seemed to have formed a connection with the Sealing Demon Well. Zhao Qingmei gripped her Mandarin Duck Twin Blades tightly, and a sky-flood of slaughter aura burst forth from her, tingeing the True Qi in the world with a tint of red. ¡°Not good, she can actually control the Sealing Demon Well!¡± Ouyang Ping exclaimed in shock. What was the Sealing Demon Well? It was a secret place established by the Demon Sect and also the greatest secret of the sect. All top experts of the Demon Sect would cultivate inside the Sealing Demon Well. But throughout history, very few experts from the Demon Sect had understood or known the origins of the Sealing Demon Well. At present, Zhao Qingmei was actually able to harness the aura of slaughter from the Sealing Demon Well. Yuan Feng shouted, ¡°Sect Leader Zhao, stop now! Don¡¯t be rash.¡± Yu Qiurong¡¯s mouth hung open, staring in shock at the scene before her, as if she were dreaming. ¡°How is it possible, how is it possible for anyone to connect with the Sealing Demon Well? It¡¯s absolutely impossible,¡± Ouyang Quan stated in disbelief. Duanmu Xinghua was also dumbstruck, immensely shocked. ¡°Today, no one can stop me.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked coldly at Jiang Shang, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill Jiang Renyi, thus repaying your kindness. Today I will cripple your cultivation, repaying your kindness a second time. From now on, we in the Jianghu are strangers.¡± Jiang Shang¡¯s heart was also filled with uncertainty, and without caring for anything else, immediately shouted to Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng, ¡°Both of you, help me quickly!¡± Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng exchanged glances and leapt into action. Zhao Qingmei raised her arm, striking out flatly and slowly; at that moment, the two blades seemed to merge into one. However, that simple action caused countless True Qi in the air to explode thunderously. An aura of annihilation surged to the heavens. Bang! Bang! Bang! The overwhelming aura of slaughter erupted from Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body, and the surrounding True Qi seemed to be infected, quickly turning blood-red. Bloody! Terrifying! Everyone present felt a tremor deep within their souls. ¡°Let¡¯s join forces and suppress her,¡± Jiang Shang urged. As he spoke, the True Qi surged from inside him. Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng also felt that frightful murderous intent and hurriedly unleashed their True Qi. ¡°Xinghua?¡± Jiang Shang saw Duanmu Xinghua standing still and shouted. Duanmu Xinghua clasped her fists and said, ¡°Former Sect Hierarch, last time I already did what I should not have. This time, I am determined not to make a move.¡± Jiang Shang¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed, and he no longer had time to say anything more. The True Qi of the three Grandmasters, covering the sky and blocking the sun, formed a vast ocean, the vast Qi forcing everyone¡¯s breath to catch. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s Mandarin Duck Blade fiercely chopped down, colliding directly with that sea of True Qi. Boom! The explosion of Qi centered on Zhao Qingmei, the deafening sound reverberating through the area. At that moment, everyone within several miles of the Sealing Demon Platform felt a headache splitting their skulls, as if their heads were about to explode. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The exploding True Qi wildly vibrated, turning most of the buildings on the Sealing Demon Platform into powder. ¡°Crack! Crack! Crack!¡± The ground of the oasis cracked open yard by yard. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body was relentlessly pushed back by that vast ocean, rapidly retreating backwards. Even Zhao Qingmei was powerless to turn the tide against the united effort of the three Grandmasters. ¡°Qingmei, won¡¯t you come to your senses!?¡± Jiang Shang saw this and urgently shouted, ¡°Do you really want to end in death with me?¡± Saying this, he began to withdraw his True Qi. ¡°You killed my husband, I will never share the sky with you!¡± Thinking of An Jing possibly dying at Jiang Shang¡¯s hand, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes filled with a hint of crimson, and seizing the moment to breathe, she fiercely pushed her Mandarin Duck Blade forward. Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng saw this and immediately showed signs of retreating. Jiang Shang¡¯s True Qi gathered again, and then he fiercely slapped down. ¡°Thump!¡± The surging wave, raging and surging, fiercely struck Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Qingmei spewed blood, and her body shot towards the entrance of the Sealing Demon Well like an arrow released from a bowstring. ¡°No good!¡± Zhao Qingmei also felt her body uncontrollably falling towards the Sealing Demon Well and silently cursed in her heart. She had entered the Sealing Demon Well before and was very familiar with it. ¡°Since nobody can enter a second time, let me be the first.¡± Thinking this, Zhao Qingmei gritted her teeth, her vision gradually blurring. ¡°Quick, save her!¡± Jiang Shang saw this, his pupils dilating, and he cried out urgently. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Ouyang Ping and Yuan Feng also cried out in shock. According to the rules of the Demon Sect, entering the Sealing Demon Well a second time would undoubtedly lead to death. Since ancient times, many experts of the Demon Sect, relying on their high cultivation, defied this rule hoping to enter the Sealing Demon Well again to train, but without exception, none ever emerged again. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s body crashed heavily into the Sealing Demon Well, disappearing into the darkness completely. In an instant, the world became very quiet. ¡°Sect Hierarch¡­.¡± It took a long while for Yu Qiurong to regain her senses, and she ran frantically toward the edge of the Sealing Demon Well, but numerous killing intents emerged from the well, stimulating her skin to seep blood. Yet, it seemed she felt no pain as she continued running toward the Sealing Demon Well. ¡°Stop!¡± Duanmu Xinghua stopped Yu Qiurong with a hand. ¡°No, the Sect Hierarch is still inside the well; I must go in,¡± Yu Qiurong cried out, seeming utterly distraught. Duanmu Xinghua held Yu Qiurong, sighing with a sense of helplessness in her heart. Jiang Shang¡¯s expression had soured to its utmost, as entering the Sealing Demon Well a second time was tantamount to certain death. He had not anticipated such an outcome. Yuan Feng, too, was furrowing his brows in distress, ¡°Jiang Shang, what should we do now? Only Zhao Qingmei knows the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡¯ Are we going to lose this supreme secret of the Demon Sect again?¡± ¡°Alas.¡± Ouyang Ping sighed heavily, regret also forming in his heart. After a while, Jiang Shang frowned and said, ¡°Looking at this Sealing Demon Well, I suspect she might not have died so easily.¡± Yuan Feng responded with helpless resignation, ¡°Anyone re-entering the Sealing Demon Well is doomed to die. She couldn¡¯t possibly have survived.¡± Jiang Shang shook his head, saying, ¡°She was able to communicate with the Sealing Demon Well, maybe there¡¯s a slim chance she survived?¡± Hearing this, Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping both turned their gazes towards the mouth of the Sealing Demon Well. ¡­¡­ Under a night of sparse stars in Lingnan Dao, within an inn, An Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, the Evil Suppressing Sword resting on his knees. He had just discussed swordsmanship with Lou Xiangzhen, enlightening him greatly. Sword Intent was vast and powerful, making it progressively harder to break through; his Sword Intent was the most mysterious and profound that Lou Xiangzhen had ever seen among swordsmen, hence advancing to the Sixth Realm would be much harder for him. But similarly, once he reached the Sixth Realm, his Sword Skill would be stronger than other swordsmen of the same Realm. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s advice to him was to study swordsmanship and accumulate more knowledge. If he truly managed to reach the Sixth Realm, even swordsmen at the same level would be at a disadvantage in terms of Sword Skill. However, the same vast and mighty Sword Intent could also hinder his growth, and he might never reach the Sixth Realm in his lifetime. An Jing took a deep breath, then his thoughts fell on the Earth Book. Cultivation: First Grade Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining (Rising) Root Bone: Once in a Century Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword (Eighth Layer), Ghost Valley Heart Method (Second Profound), Nine Yang Divine Finger (Eighth Layer), Brahma Heart Sees Me (Seventh Layer), Great Sun Tathagata Mantra (Unopened) Prompt One: The host¡¯s Life Fate has not yet taken root (four months remaining), do not reveal host identity when using Martial Arts, or a purple opportunity will arise. ¡­.. In his battle with the Heavenly Sword, if not for the release of the Great Zhou Human Emperor¡¯s Qi Mechanism within the Evil Suppressing Sword, he feared he might very well have been defeated. Thinking of this, his heart was filled with melancholy. Lou Xiangzhen had once told him during the day that among the current five great Sword Immortals, the White Tiger Sword Immortal and the Heavenly Sword were slightly inferior to the other three in both cultivation and swordsmanship realm. He nearly lost against the Heavenly Sword; facing the other two Sword Immortals, he likely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°It seems I still need to increase my strength.¡± Every time he thought of that elder Jiang, he felt a sense of powerlessness. Although the saying goes, a gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late even after ten years, An Jing, who preferred immediate retribution, couldn¡¯t wait another moment. If he wanted to increase his strength quickly, improving his cultivation was undoubtedly the best choice, but advancing from the Heavenly Flower Realm to the Merging of Three Flowers seemed difficult even with Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s unreserved sharing of his experiences. Secondly, it would be elevating the realm of swordsmanship, solidifying his vast Sword Intent, but his expansive Sword Intent was clearly not an overnight feat. Lastly, there was the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra; an opportunity he had acquired in purple, yet it had always shown as unopened, puzzling An Jing immensely. How exactly could he unlock this Great Sun Tathagata Mantra? Did he need to cultivate Buddhist Law? If so, An Jing would rather give up on practicing the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra; he had no interest in studying scriptures daily. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing suddenly thought of something, ¡°Improving my own strength might be challenging for now, but I can enhance the strength of the Thousand-year-old Black Python. Old Lou once said that once the Black Python undergoes the Transformation, it could be comparable to an ordinary Three Qi Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Right now the most pressing matter is how to borrow the Thunder Pool from the Five Poison Sect.¡± ¡°Buzz buzz!¡± Just then, An Jing¡¯s chest grew warm, as if a flame was burning on him. ¡°What¡¯s happening!?¡± Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Opportunity in the Heavenly Flipping Seal Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Opportunity in the Heavenly Flipping Seal An Jing touched his chest and then took the Heavenly Flipping Seal out from it. At that moment, the seal face of the Heavenly Flipping Seal was emitting a scorching red light, as if flames were burning on it. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± As soon as An Jing placed his palm on the seal face, he immediately felt a sharp pain in his fingers. It¡¯s important to note that he had already tempered his body to forge Golden Bones, making his physique extraordinarily strong. Therefore, anything that could instantly cause him pain was definitely not ordinary. ¡°The Heavenly Flipping Seal was left to me by my wife. Could it have some other purpose?¡± An Jing thought of something and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit puzzled. Ever since he met Tan Yun again, there were several complicated emotions added to his heart. He was a very cautious person by nature. Even though he deeply trusted Zhao Qingmei at the bottom of his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but recall many things now, such as whether Zhao Qingmei had any connection with the Demon Sect. When he previously discovered that Li Fuzhou was the Sect Leader of Human Sect, An Jing had never doubted Li Fuzhou. But this time, he wavered a bit. However, if Zhao Qingmei was really related to the Demon Sect, why would she marry him? All of this, what could be the reasons behind it? In a daze, An Jing remembered Zhao Qingmei¡¯s countenance and felt a profound sense of loss in his heart. After pondering for a moment, he slowly got up and went to the door of Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Knock knock!¡± ¡°Senior, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The voice of Lou Xiangzhen came from inside the room. An Jing pushed the door open and saw Lou Xiangzhen sitting crossed-legged on the bed, meditating with closed eyes. Hearing the footsteps, Lou Xiangzhen slowly opened his eyes and said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter that you¡¯re not resting in the middle of the night, kid?¡± An Jing chuckled dryly and said, ¡°Nothing, I just wanted to see if Senior Lou had rested.¡± Lou Xiangzhen: ¡°¡­.¡± An Jing explained, ¡°I¡¯m just more concerned about you, Senior. Are you getting used to living here, eating here, and how your injuries are healing.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not beat around the bush with each other.¡± Lou Xiangzhen gave An Jing a strange look, ¡°You¡¯ve been acting odd lately, is it because of that little girl that day?¡± Ever since he rescued that Demon Sect woman in Huang Yao Town, An Jing had been acting very weird, often zoning out as if contemplating something. ¡°Sigh.¡± An Jing sighed deeply and then took out the Heavenly Flipping Seal from his bosom, ¡°Actually, I wanted to ask Senior to take a look at this and tell me what it is.¡± Instantly, a red light filled the room. ¡°Is this an Exotic Treasure!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen was astonished when he saw the Heavenly Flipping Seal. ¡°Exotic Treasure?¡± An Jing asked, puzzled, ¡°What is an Exotic Treasure?¡± As Lou Xiangzhen examined the Heavenly Flipping Seal, he explained, ¡°In this world, there are countless precious materials. Once refined, they become powerful Exotic Treasures, capable of attacking and killing, very strong.¡± ¡°The top ten swords on the Famous Sword List can actually be considered Exotic Treasures, and the seal you hold in your hand is also one.¡± As he spoke, Lou turned to take a closer look at the Heavenly Flipping Seal. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this thing to be so precious.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing was moved, having thought it was just an antique, when in fact it was an Exotic Treasure. ¡°Hmm?¡± When Lou Xiangzhen saw the characters on the face of the Heavenly Flipping Seal, he was shockingly taken aback, ¡°The Heavenly Flipping Seal!?¡± ¡°Yes, this is the Heavenly Flipping Seal,¡± An Jing nodded. ¡°This is really the Heavenly Flipping Seal!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing. ¡°Yes, doesn¡¯t it have writing on it?¡± An Jing pointed to the seal face. ¡°Of course I know the writing here¡­¡± Lou Xiangzhen paused, then said with an extremely serious expression, ¡°Where did you get this thing from?¡± ¡°` Seeing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression, An Jing also knew that this object was extraordinary and said cautiously, ¡°It was given to me by my wife, who said it is an antique passed down from her ancestors. She told me to keep it on me and not to lose it.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Antique? This is worth a hundred, no, a thousand times more than any antique.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen carefully examined the Heavenly Flipping Seal, murmuring, ¡°This is a truly incredible exotic treasure, lost for a thousand years. I never imagined it would appear in your hands today.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Curious, An Jing asked, ¡°What exactly is this thing?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The Demon Sect¡¯s treasured relic to suppress the sect!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen stated each word deliberately. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The Demon Sect¡¯s treasured relic to suppress the sect?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing this, An Jing felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. ¡°` ¡°` Zhao Qingmei had in her possession the Demon Sect¡¯s treasured relic to suppress the sect!? ¡°` ¡°` As if realizing something, his expression changed drastically. ¡°` ¡°` To say that Zhao Qingmei had nothing to do with the Demon Sect, An Jing wouldn¡¯t even believe it himself now. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing An Jing¡¯s change in complexion, Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? This is a top-tier exotic treasure, one of the finest in the world. Why do you look so troubled, lad?¡± ¡°` ¡°` An Jing took a deep breath and said, ¡°I think I¡¯ve been deceived?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°All those who deceived me in the past were killed by me.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly before he said, puzzled, ¡°What did your wife deceive you about? This is an unparalleled exotic treasure, one that can only be rivaled by the union of six Evil Suppressing Swords.¡± ¡°` ¡°` An Jing replied earnestly, ¡°I was tricked in love.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Apart from being suave and handsome, it seemed he had no other outstanding qualities unless Zhao Qingmei had spotted something else¡­ ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worth a Heavenly Flipping Seal?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing with a hint of irritation, then admired the Heavenly Flipping Seal in his hand, saying, ¡°It¡¯s said that back in the Nine Nether, a piece of jade was found. This jade, growing in the Nine Nether, was pure and untainted, luminous and pure white. The jade was then taken and came into the hands of a remarkable person, who split it in two. One piece was turned into the Imperial Jade Seal of the Qin Dynasty, treasured and seen as a symbol of the nation.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The other piece was fashioned into the Heavenly Flipping Seal, and later used to establish the Demon Sect. This person, emulating the Human Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, made the Heavenly Flipping Seal the treasured relic to suppress the sect, intending for the Demon Sect to be passed down for generations.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Listening to Lou Xiangzhen, An Jing scrutinized the Heavenly Flipping Seal and asked, ¡°Do you mean, senior, that the Heavenly Flipping Seal and the Imperial Jade Seal are from the same piece of jade?¡± ¡°` ¡°` He had not expected the Heavenly Flipping Seal to have such an impressive origin. ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen nodded, saying, ¡°Correct. This Heavenly Flipping Seal represents the supreme status within the Demon Sect. Not only that, this object is also an extraordinary treasure for offensive and defensive purposes, no weaker than the complete Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°However, this object has been lost by the Demon Sect for thousands of years, and they have searched for it for thousands of years, but have not been able to find it.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Upon hearing this, An Jing was greatly astonished. His wife had in her possession the Demon Sect¡¯s treasured relic to suppress the sect, and furthermore, she had passed it on to him. ¡°` ¡°` What exactly was the reason for this? ¡°` ¡°` What kind of relationship did his wife have with the Demon Sect? ¡°` ¡°` At this moment, his mind was in turmoil. If she truly belonged to the Demon Sect, why would she give him such a precious object? ¡°` ¡°` Or was she being coerced by the Demon Sect? ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen, as if struck by a thought, said, ¡°Drop some of your blood onto the surface of the seal and try it.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°` ¡°` An Jing, confused, asked, ¡°Does this exotic treasure also require a blood pact to recognize a master?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lou Xiangzhen explained, ¡°Such exotic treasures naturally possess a hint of sentience. By leaving behind your own aura, you may be able to use it in part. But if you wish for it to recognize a master and exert its full power, it will depend on your opportunity and fate.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing this, An Jing nodded slightly. ¡°` ¡°` His Evil Suppressing Sword was just like this; it could only be drawn once it recognized a master. ¡°` ¡°` An Jing cut his finger, producing a drop of blood, then let it fall onto the surface of the seal. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°` ¡°` When the blood touched the surface of the seal, it was as if a spark had fallen onto dry grass, igniting an immediate blaze. ¡°` ¡°` The crimson surface of the seal seemed to boil, with red light filling the entire room. ¡°` ¡°` But soon, the red light faded away. ¡°` ¡°` An Jing was puzzled, as for some reason, he felt Zhao Qingmei¡¯s essence within the Heavenly Flipping Seal, and it was profound. Her essence then completely devoured his own. ¡°` ¡°` He could sense that Zhao Qingmei was still alive, and judging by the essence she left behind, her cultivation seemed rather strong. ¡°` ¡°` Knowing his sensation of strength meant she truly must be very strong. ¡°` ¡°` He was currently in the Heavenly Flower Realm; above that were only the Half-step Master and maybe the Grandmaster Realm. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Tip Two: A purple opportunity is near the host.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!¡± ¡°` ¡°` The red light trembled, refracting streams of characters from within. ¡°` ¡°What is this?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose as he looked over, ¡°The ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Lou Xiangzhen gazed at the characters, bursting into laughter, ¡°The records within the ¡®Heavenly Flipping Seal¡¯ are true, it contains the supreme martial heart method of the Demon Sect.¡± Originally, he was merely speculating, but now it seemed his guess was entirely correct, the ¡®Heavenly Flipping Seal¡¯ indeed included the Demon Sect¡¯s supreme heart method. ¡°Is this one of the three martial arts that surpass the Heavenly Martial in the current age?¡± An Jing looked at those characters, astounded. The heart method of the martial arts that surpassed the Heavenly Martial, a heart method that countless people coveted, was now before his eyes. After a short while, the red light gradually disappeared, and the ¡®Heavenly Flipping Seal¡¯ returned to how it looked before as if nothing had happened. ¡°You best not expose the ¡®Heavenly Flipping Seal.¡¯ If the people of the Demon Sect learn you possess this item, they will certainly stop at nothing, by any means necessary.¡± Lou Xiangzhen seemed to think of something, ¡°You said this was given to you by your wife? Does your wife know what this is?¡± ¡°I¡­ should know¡­ or do I not know?¡± An Jing¡¯s mouth opened, and his mind felt a bit foggy. If Zhao Qingmei didn¡¯t know, why would she insist he carry it close to his body? Moreover, she seemed to have some connection with the Demon Sect. Now, An Jing was even more confused. Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, saying, ¡°Either way, since she gave you something so precious, you should keep it safe. Remember not to let anyone else find out about it.¡± It seemed that this lad¡¯s wife was no ordinary figure, and she was quite good to him, indeed, to have given him such a precious item. An Jing nodded vigorously, then asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you wish to take another look at the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯?¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and spoke with righteousness, ¡°I practice the orthodox methods of the Mystical Sect, which inherently conflict with the Demon Sect¡¯s techniques. Even though the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ is above the Heavenly Martial, converting my true qi now would be too time-consuming.¡± ¡°Moreover, as a disciple of the Mystical Sect, it would be inappropriate for me to practice a cultivation technique from the Demon Sect. How would it look if that got out?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Ghost Valley Heart Method had already reached the ninth layer, and if he were to start over with the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡¯ it would take too much time. Besides, he had his pride; how could he possibly practice a technique from the Demon Sect? An Jing inwardly sighed, ¡°The predecessor still upholds his integrity, unswayed even by this heart method.¡± Lou Xiangzhen spoke indifferently, ¡°After I obtain the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ and practice the orthodox martial arts of my Mystical Sect, won¡¯t it be stronger than this Demon Sect heart method?¡± An Jing nodded, then clenched the ¡®Heavenly Flipping Seal¡¯ tightly and carefully placed it against his chest. This was what Zhao Qingmei had left for him. ¡°Your wife is quite good to you.¡± Seeing this, Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit sour, ¡°Did she trick you with charm? How valuable are you?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose, ¡°My affection is priceless.¡± Lou Xiangzhen spoke dismissively, ¡°Then you haven¡¯t hidden anything from your wife, have you?¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­..¡± Upon reflection, he realized he too had kept many things from Zhao Qingmei, such as his cultivation, and when Zhao Qingmei left, he only gave her paper effigies along with Third Grade wooden figures. Thinking of this, guilt started to set in his heart. In comparison to his wife, he was far too poor. He had finally obtained the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡¯ but couldn¡¯t even cultivate it. Lou Xiangzhen let out a soft sigh, then took a seat in a chair, ¡°In this world, there is nothing more precious than sincere affection, make sure not to live with regret.¡± An Jing quickly sat down next to Lou Xiangzhen, pouring two cups of tea, ¡°Listening to the predecessor, it seems you have some regrets.¡± ¡°Some regrets, yes, but not entirely.¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head and said, ¡°How could life be full of only regrets? Looking back, there are three regrets in my heart, two of which I still have the chance to rectify.¡± ¡°What regrets?¡± Lou Xiangzhen took a deep breath and after a long silence finally said, ¡°One of my regrets was Jiang Sanjia, but his death reignited my will to persevere, sparking my fighting spirit. It was key for me to reach the Sixth Realm; otherwise, my life might have never advanced to this stage.¡± With that said, Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing, ¡°If I reached the Sixth Realm, you have a part in it, too. Your sword intent was also immensely beneficial to me.¡± An Jing chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s mutually beneficial. I also learned a lot from the predecessor.¡± Throughout their exchange over this period, An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship had also greatly improved, especially as Lou Xiangzhen had almost unreservedly passed on his experience to him. ¡°As for the second regret¡­ it is the title of the world¡¯s foremost swordsman. A person¡¯s life spans but seventy years, deducting ten years for childhood ignorance and another ten for old age, only fifty remain. Among those fifty, when divided by day and night, only twenty-five are left. When you account for windy and rainy days, sickness, dangers, and the time spent rushing here and there, how many good days are truly left? Regardless, the one thing I have always been doing is practicing the sword.¡± ¡°Why practice the sword? Because of the world¡¯s vain titles, yes, for that vanity. That¡¯s right.¡± Lou Xiangzhen chuckled lightly, his voice laden with infinite sighs, ¡°Something I¡¯ve pursued my whole life seems so distant, yet also seems within reach.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing was inwardly shaken. How many swordsmen spent their lives chasing the title of the world¡¯s number one, exhausting their essence blood in the effort. In the eyes of many, this might seem ridiculous, but this is precisely what a true Swordsman is. When you choose to become a Swordsman, that becomes your ultimate destiny. There isn¡¯t a Swordsman who doesn¡¯t wish to be the world¡¯s foremost Swordsman. ¡°I thought that after retiring for decades, I had left everything behind,¡± Lou Xiangzhen slowly said, ¡°but as they say, only when you can pick it up, can you put it down. I, however, never picked it up in the first place, so how can we speak of putting it down?¡± In his lifetime, Lou Xiangzhen never became the world¡¯s foremost Swordsman; in his earlier years, he was overshadowed by unparalleled Swordsmen such as the Sword God and the Sword Demon, and later lost his ambition, with no progress in his Sword Dao realm for years. Although the Sword God and Sword Demon had retired, new and emerging young talents had since arisen in Jianghu. For his entire life, he was the second-best Swordsman. An Jing knew that his heart harbored unwillingness. For a lifetime, persisting devotedly to one task, such an obsession had been deeply imprinted in his mind, impossible to shake off completely. This time, Lou Xiangzhen came out of retirement not only to avenge Jiang Sanjia but also to truly become the world¡¯s foremost Swordsman. An Jing nodded solemnly, understanding that with Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s strength, he could indeed contend for the title of the world¡¯s foremost Swordsman. Without going any further, neither he nor the Heavenly Sword were matches for Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°The last one¡­¡± Lou Xiangzhen paused after these words, and then said no more. An Jing remained silent, knowing that Lou Xiangzhen was referring to that woman. Both men understood each other without words, and each raised their teacups to take a sip. An Jing put down his teacup and said, ¡°Senior, I¡¯ve decided to go to the Five Poison Sect to borrow the Thunder Pool.¡± Lou Xiangzhen chuckled, ¡°Oh? Have you thought it through? The Five Poison Young Master isn¡¯t a very generous person. With the grudges between you and the Five Poison Sect, they might not lend it to you.¡± An Jing spoke gravely, ¡°This is something I must try to know for sure.¡± The transformation of the Thousand-year-old Black Python into a Jiao, with strength comparable to the Grandmaster Realm, was the most pressing matter for him at the moment. ¡°You have finally come to understand,¡± Lou Xiangzhen smiled, ¡°Once the Thousand-year-old Black Python undergoes the Jiao Transformation, even Yu Ying from the Zhenyi Sect wouldn¡¯t be able to harm you when he arrives, and with me protecting you along the way, unless the Zhenyi Sect mobilizes in full force, they stand no chance against the two of us.¡± He had previously advised An Jing to visit the Five Poison Sect, but at that time, An Jing had refused. ¡­¡­. In Lingnan Dao, the city of Heavenly Travel, in an alleyway. The alley wasn¡¯t long and ran from north to south. On both sides were courtyards made of thick loam, one connected to the next, with sturdy ancient locust trees and wisterias laden with purple blossoms embellishing the depths of the alley. The courtyards were uniform in height and size; on one side, a dozen families lined up neatly. You couldn¡¯t see inside the houses, only the broad wooden doors, each double-paned, and the wisps of blue smoke rising from earthen chimneys atop their roofs. In one of these courtyards at the moment. In the alley, there was a wooden table laid with fish head stew, dragon beard vegetables, stir-fried eggs, and steamed crabs. ¡°Little Tan Yun, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± Luo Zixiang called out to the inner room. ¡°Coming, coming!¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun hurriedly ran out from her room. Luo Zixiang laughed, ¡°These are all your favorites; you aren¡¯t angry anymore, are you?¡± Tan Yun took a seat and said, ¡°I never get angry during mealtime, but after I eat, that¡¯s not so certain.¡± After saying this, Tan Yun picked up her chopsticks and started eating. ¡°You little girl,¡± With a stern face, Luo Zixiang said, ¡°Consider this a lesson. The spies of the Heaven and Earth Net are quite formidable. As you move through the Great Yan Martial World, you must be extremely careful and vigilant.¡± While stuffing her face and puffing out her cheeks, Tan Yun replied, ¡°I took action once, probably killing those blind little bandits, and I guessed it might expose my identity. I just didn¡¯t expect the Heaven and Earth Net to catch up so quickly.¡± Tan Yun was unaware that because the North Mountain bandits had recently committed too many outrages, they had become a major target of the Heaven and Earth Net, and since Tan Yun had killed them at this juncture, she was quickly marked by the spies of the Heaven and Earth Net. ¡°Ah,¡± Luo Zixiang sighed, ¡°It¡¯s really difficult for our Demon Sect to infiltrate Great Yan while it remains stable.¡± The current situation was like a taut bow, just waiting for the first arrow to be fired. The Demon Sect could only find its way into Great Yan when someone else fired that first arrow. For example, if Houjin or Zhao Country declared war on Great Yan, or if the Zhenyi Sect and the Buddhist sects engaged in battle¨Cevents that could completely unsettle Jianghu. However, the likelihood of the latter unfolding is meager, as neither the Zhenyi Sect nor the Buddhist sects would act hastily at such crucial times. Suddenly, Luo Zixiang thought of something and asked, ¡°By the way, why did that Ghost Swordsman intervene to save you that day?¡± Now that they had escaped, they also learned that in the end, the Ghost Swordsman had defeated the Heavenly Sword, which truly surprised Luo Zixiang. She hadn¡¯t expected the Ghost Swordsman to turn defeat into victory. ¡°` It seems I was wrong that day; I failed to see that the Ghost Swordsman is an even more formidable swordsman than the Heavenly Sword. Facing the Heavenly Sword, Luo Zixiang admits even the courage to make a move eludes her. If it weren¡¯t for the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s intervention that day, Tan Yun wouldn¡¯t have the chance to be eating now; she would only be able to eat the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s prison food. Recently, the entire Jianghu has been discussing this duel. Now that the Ghost Swordsman has eclipsed the fame of the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian, he has directly become the sixth Sword Immortal of the Jianghu, and countless swordsmen, upon mentioning this swordsman, can¡¯t help but feel a chill in their hearts and silently express their admiration. First, he slew the Great Zhenren of the Zhenyi Sect, and then he defeated the Heavenly Sword; either deed alone is a major event that has shaken the Jianghu. In just a few short months, the Ghost Swordsman went from being a fairly well-known swordsman to ascending to the position of a Sword Immortal. One should know that the other five Sword Immortals are all renowned figures, swordsmen who have undergone decades of experience before gradually becoming Sword Immortals in the Jianghu. Only the Ghost Swordsman remains true to his name, with his moves unpredictable and mysterious, and to this day no one knows his true appearance or age. This only adds a layer of mystery to his identity. ¡°How¡­ how would I know?¡± Tan Yun¡¯s face turned completely red upon hearing this, and her voice was as thin as a thread. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Luo Zixiang stared wide-eyed, ¡°You don¡¯t know that the Ghost Swordsman made a move against the Heavenly Sword? That¡¯s one of the five great Sword Immortals.¡± When she took Tan Yun away, the Ghost Swordsman was already at a clear disadvantage; even if he had finally overcome the Heavenly Sword, he probably didn¡¯t win easily. For the sake of someone she doesn¡¯t know, who would come to her rescue? And if Tan Yun doesn¡¯t know the Ghost Swordsman, why did she say such things that day? ¡°I really don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not a parasite in his stomach; how could I know why he saved me?¡± Tan Yun shook her head, feeling even sweeter than if she had eaten honey at this moment. Luo Zixiang was full of suspicion; she didn¡¯t believe Tan Yun¡¯s words. Tan Yun bit her lip and said, ¡°Aunt Luo, do you believe in love at first sight?¡± ¡°I did decades ago, but not anymore,¡± Luo Zixiang laughed lightly, ¡°I¡¯m old and faded now; there is no such thing as love at first sight for me anymore.¡± Tan Yun earnestly replied, ¡°Love at first sight isn¡¯t about liking someone at a glance; it¡¯s about seeing someone once and then never being able to forget them.¡± To say she likes him, she doesn¡¯t know; she¡¯s not familiar with mystery, but his silhouette is something she can never forget. ¡°Wow!¡± Luo Zixiang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°What if he¡¯s hideous?¡± ¡°No, his eyes are very nice.¡± ¡°How nice?¡± ¡°Just like¡­ like your husband¡¯s¡­¡± When Tan Yun said this, her expression became somewhat sad. For some reason, whenever she thought of the Ghost Swordsman, she would often be reminded of An Jing. ¡°You¡¯re not talking about that Ghost Swordsman, are you?¡± Luo Zixiang shook her head and advised, ¡°Forget it, this is your private affair; if you don¡¯t speak of it, I won¡¯t pry. But you¡¯d better stay away from this Ghost Swordsman for now. He killed the Great Zhenren of the Zhenyi Sect, and while there¡¯s been no move by the sect yet, I reckon they will act soon.¡± What kind of sect is the Zhenyi Sect? It¡¯s the state religion of Great Yan and the undisputed leader of the Jianghu. If no one knew about the Ghost Swordsman killing the Great Zhenren, it would be better, but now the whole Jianghu knows of it. How would the rest view the Zhenyi Sect if they did not act? How can the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s reputation continue to intimidate the Jianghu? Therefore, the Ghost Swordsman is in grave danger. Tan Yun paused in her actions, asking, ¡°Aunt Luo, do you think it would be a good thing if the Ghost Swordsman joined our Demon Sect?¡± ¡°That¡­ would of course be an incredible boon,¡± Luo Zixiang looked at Tan Yun seriously, ¡°He is one of the six Sword Immortals in the Jianghu. Currently, only these six can be called Sword Immortals. If he were to join our Demon Sect, it would undoubtedly greatly strengthen our sect¡¯s prestige.¡± The noise the Ghost Swordsman has made in the Jianghu lately has been no small matter. If he were to join the Demon Sect, then the sect¡¯s reputation and power would grow correspondingly. Regardless of being known for good or ill, it would intimidate a large number of Jianghu experts. ¡°I have finished eating; I will go rest now,¡± Tan Yun acknowledged this with a nod and then set down her chopsticks, making her way to her room. Luo Zixiang looked at the mess on the table and asked, ¡°How come you only ate two bowls today? Was the food not to your liking?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t enough food; I wasn¡¯t satisfied.¡± Having said this, Tan Yun then slipped into her own room. ¡°` ¡°Really.¡± Luo Zixiang saw this and couldn¡¯t help but laugh and shake his head, ¡°Love at first sight, this little girl even asks about love at first sight. In the blink of an eye, she¡¯s all grown up.¡± Many of the newer generation in the Demon Sect Main Hall were watched over by her as they grew up, and she had very deep impressions of Zhao Qingmei, Tan Yun, and Yu Qiurong. Zhao Qingmei was brought into the sect by Jiang Shang, and the first time Luo Zixiang saw Zhao Qingmei, she felt that Zhao Qingmei was quite extraordinary. That gaze and tone of voice shouldn¡¯t belong to a girl of about ten years old. Some people can be seen from childhood to be not of the common sort. Zhao Qingmei was such a person. Then there was Tan Yun, who was brought into the Demon Sect by Li Fuzhou. Moreover, he made an exception by accepting her as his disciple, although he claimed at the time that he would not take any disciples. Compared to Zhao Qingmei¡¯s coldness, Tan Yun was quite familiar with many of the sect members. Many people liked this innocent and cute little girl, and they often looked out for her. Luo Zixiang remembered clearly that once, when Tan Yun failed to complete a task assigned by Li Fuzhou, she followed a merchant convoy out of Dongluo Pass to eat beggar¡¯s chicken. Upon her return, Li Fuzhou punished her by making her kneel in the courtyard for a day and a night. Inside the sect, many people pleaded for her, but Li Fuzhou refused to see anyone and ignored them all. At night, many went to secretly bring food to Tan Yun, who unexpectedly fell asleep in the middle of the courtyard. In fact, Luo Zixiang knew that Li Fuzhou was observing everything in secret. He protected Tan Yun very well; she had never been exposed to the shady and ignoble affairs within the Demon Sect. Moreover, because of Li Fuzhou, few people dared to set their sights on Tan Yun. Sometimes, Luo Zixiang almost thought that Tan Yun might be Li Fuzhou¡¯s own daughter. You should know that Li Fuzhou was famously handsome and elegant in his youth. The women he was close to were numerous. When he first joined the Demon Sect, Liu Huiyun from the Liu Family of Great Yan even came to look for him. At that time, Li Fuzhou hid for a whole month and did not show up. As for Yu Qiurong, her impression was not that deep. Yu Qiurong liked to follow Zhao Qingmei from a young age, very honest and loyal. A sect member with ill intent took a fancy to Yu Qiurong, who was quite attractive. Yu Qiurong was much older than Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun and had already grown into a tall and graceful beauty. Although her cultivation was also not bad, she didn¡¯t hold any status within the sect. In the end, it was Zhao Qingmei who took action and helped her out of the crisis. Since then, Yu Qiurong became Zhao Qingmei¡¯s shadow, often following her around. When Zhao Qingmei became the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, the first person she promoted was Yu Qiurong. ¡°This little girl seems a bit off today; even her appetite is lacking.¡± Luo Zixiang was halfway through her meal when she suddenly felt something strange and walked slowly to Tan Yun¡¯s door. ¡°Tan Yun! I still have some things to ask you, have you gone to sleep?¡± There was no response from inside the room, not even the sound of breathing. ¡°This is bad!¡± Luo Zixiang muttered to herself in alarm and hurriedly pushed the door open. She saw that the room was completely empty; there was no sign of Tan Yun. On the table, there was a piece of white paper with a few crooked words: ¡°Aunt Luo, I have important matters to attend to, I¡¯m leaving first. No need to look for me, Tan Yun.¡± Seeing this, Luo Zixiang couldn¡¯t help but reveal a bittersweet smile. ¡°Master Li, Master Li, girls really can¡¯t be kept around once they grow up.¡± ¡­.. Zhenyi Sect, Zhenyi Mountain. Majestic and towering, with layered ranges, the midsection of the mountain was shrouded in endless clouds, rolling ceaselessly. Today seemed somewhat different. On the plaza of Zhenyi Mountain, thousands of disciples stood on both sides, their eyes focused straight ahead, filled with a certain excitement. In the center of the plaza was a giant cauldron, currently emitting red incense that gave off a fragrance which inevitably jolted the mind. Directly in front was Heavenly Venerate Hall¡¯s Yu Ying, followed by Nanhua Peak Master Ling Yuanjing, Dongxu Peak Master Song Chengbiao, Chongling Peak Master Sima Changlin¨Cthe three great peak masters. Only the Tongxuan Peak Master He Chen was still lying in bed with injuries requiring more time to heal. Further back were the great real people of the Zhenyi Sect. Out of the seven great real people of the Zhenyi Sect, except for Yuchen Real Person, who was far in the Southern Barbarians, four had come, while two had already been buried. Such a grand and solemn assembly was something very few people in Zhenyi Sect of contemporary times could enjoy. Everyone was serious, as if they were waiting for something. Time ticked away, and after about half an incense stick¡¯s time passed, ¡°Dingling!¡± ¡°Dingling!¡± Just then, clear bell sounds came from the great hall ahead, followed by a young boy¡¯s crisp shout. ¡°The Sect Leader Uncle has exited seclusion!¡± The tone was clear and pleasant, echoing across the entire plaza. ¡°Greetings to the Sect Leader upon exiting seclusion!¡± ¡°Greetings to the Sect Leader upon exiting seclusion!¡± ¡­¡­. All the people were shouting loudly, and then they bowed in respect. The voices of thousands rang out clearly, echoing resoundingly and scattering across the skies. At that moment, a young boy walked out slowly. Behind him, the sound of footsteps followed, and soon, a figure emerged at a leisurely pace. The man was dressed in a white robe, wearing a Daoist crown and had his hair tied up in a Daoist topknot; he appeared to be in his early thirties, with a face as sharp as if it had been cut by a knife, and a pair of pure, bright eyes that showed no trace of impurity¨Cclear yet profoundly unfathomable, and his skin was as lustrous as jade. Some people, even when standing in a crowd and dressed in the same Daoist robes, you would immediately recognize them. He was none other than Xiao Qianqiu, the most respected figure in the current Great Yan Martial World. Upon seeing Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s silhouette, everyone present showed a hint of reverence. ¡°Senior Uncle.¡± Xiao Qianqiu glanced at Yu Ying in front of him and nodded faintly in response. Yu Ying¡¯s eyes sparkled as he smiled and said, ¡°Congratulations to the Sect Leader for exiting seclusion. Your cultivation must have improved further, right?¡± Xiao Qianqiu nodded slightly, then glanced around, ¡°Senior Brother He Chen is still unable to leave bed?¡± ¡°Brother He Chen¡¯s injuries are severe; he needs at least a month or two of recuperation,¡± Ling Yuanjing stepped forward and said with a deep breath. He Chen had suffered a sword strike from An Jing, and although it did not hit a vital point, the Sword Qi was still within him, requiring time to be expelled. Yu Ying said gravely, ¡°It is not only He Chen; Yu Huai and Yu Lin have both perished.¡± As his words fell, everyone from the Zhenyi Sect fell silent, their heads bowed, eyes filled with a touch of sorrow. ¡°Did Qi Yun also die?¡± Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s face showed neither joy nor sorrow, betraying no change in emotion. Yu Ying replied, ¡°He did die, killed by the Ghost Swordsman and another mysterious expert during a fight.¡± ¡°Are there any other messages?¡± After speaking, Xiao Qianqiu raised his head and looked into the distant sky. On his face, in his eyes, there was no sign of any emotion, no telling whether he felt loss, sadness, or melancholy. Yu Ying glanced at Ling Yuanjing, who took a deep breath and said with a serious face, ¡°Recently, there are two important pieces of intelligence. Jiang Shang is not dead, and he has returned to the Demon Sect.¡± The news of Jiang Shang¡¯s return to the Demon Sect had been spreading secretly, but it had yet to spread throughout Jianghu. Xiao Qianqiu nodded, ¡°This Jiang Shang indeed has formidable abilities. However, having been gravely injured before, even if he did not die, he would need several years to recuperate, so his cultivation should not have progressed over these years.¡± He was well aware of their previous clash; Jiang Shang had taken the blow with his own body, and if not dead, would certainly be critically injured. That Jiang Shang was not dead was not entirely unexpected to him. ¡°The second piece of intelligence concerns the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯.¡± Ling Yuanjing continued, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen of the Ghost Valley Sect and the Ghost Swordsman of the Daluo Sect were seen together. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s cultivation should be at the peak of the Second Qi Peak, while his Sword Skill at the peak of the Fifth Realm.¡± ¡°The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s cultivation is at the realm of the Heavenly Flower, extremely strong in power, with a formidable Thousand-year-old Black Python under his command. He Chen was wounded by him, while the revered Yu Huai and Yu Lin were killed by him.¡± Yu Ying, furrowing his brows, said, ¡°Against the strength of this Lou Xiangzhen, I¡¯m not confident I could defeat him¡­¡± Considering Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s formidable abilities, he was not sure he could prevail. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s gaze was serene, as he gently declared, ¡°Proclaim to the world that in five days, I shall descend the mountain.¡± Upon hearing Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s words, everyone present was profoundly shaken! Xiao Qianqiu was going to leave the mountain! The most respected figure in the Great Yan Martial World was going to come down from the mountain! If this news were to spread, it would surely cause an uproar throughout the entire Jianghu. Upon hearing this, Ling Yuanjing couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists, knowing well that with Xiao Qianqiu making a move, the outcome was bound to be certain, allowing them not only to seize the Daluo Heart Method but also to exact their great revenge by slaying the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Are you really going to leave the mountain?¡± Yu Ying asked in a grave tone. Xiao Qianqiu was of such special status that descending from the mountain meant facing not only the visible members of the Zhenyi Sect but also many unseen enemies. ¡°Such is life, nothing more than ascending and descending mountains,¡± Xiao Qianqiu said indifferently while watching the white clouds drifting in the distance. ¡­¡­ Lijiang City, aboard a fishing boat. Ling Yuhua, looking at the secret letter in her hands, shook her head slightly. ¡°Li Fuzhou, oh Li Fuzhou, if only you had stayed in Capital Road, but you even went to meet that Liu Huiyun¡­¡± Even though she had long anticipated the outcome, the actual sight of it still made her heart skip a beat. ¡°Grandma, there¡¯s an urgent secret letter.¡± At this moment, a crisp, pleasant voice sounded. The curtain was lifted, and a gentle and beautiful figure walked in, holding a secret letter from Wind and Rain Tower in her hand. This person was Li Yue, currently dressed in plain clothes, disguised as a fisher girl. Her peerless beauty was not diminished by this attire; on the contrary, it added an enchanting charm. ¡°Let me see what it is.¡± Upon hearing this, Ling Yuhua took the secret letter and scanned the dozens of words on it. Li Yue saw Ling Yuhua¡¯s face turn incredibly serious, and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Ling Yuhua took a deep breath and slowly said, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu is coming down from the mountain.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Li Yue was also startled by the news. Even though she had never met Xiao Qianqiu, ever since she stepped into Jianghu, his legends were everywhere. The number one person in the Great Yan Martial World! Currently, he was the topmost top expert under the heavens, also having a chance to break into the Grandmaster Realm in the future. Throughout the thousands of years of history, Grandmasters were few and far in between. ¡°It seems that the world is going to be disturbed again.¡± Ling Yuhua lamented, ¡°You don¡¯t understand Xiao Qianqiu¡­ He¡¯s descending the mountain to find the Ghost Swordsman and Lou Xiangzhen. You must gather information quickly, and if you learn anything about these two, immediately send word to the Zhenyi Sect.¡± Li Yue, puzzled, asked, ¡°Why is this?¡± Why should Wind and Rain Tower involve itself in the affairs of Zhenyi Sect? Ling Yuhua said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask why, just do it.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Li Yue nodded, then departed. ¡°Sigh.¡± Ling Yuhua sighed, her gaze fixed on the secret letter as she lost herself in thought. ¡­¡­ Capital Road, inside a certain secluded courtyard. In the courtyard stood a thick, tall camphor tree, beneath which was a stone table. At this moment, an elderly man in a green shirt was sitting next to the table, his brow furrowed, staring blankly at the chessboard. ¡°A dead end, another dead end. It seems this game of chess has no solution.¡± The elder looked on for a long while, then helplessly shook his head and set down the black piece in his hand. ¡°My lord, there¡¯s urgent news.¡± At this time, a man dressed in ornate silk clothing hurried in. ¡°Speak.¡± The elder picked up the chess pieces from the stone table, one by one, and then placed them back into the chess pot. The man hurriedly said, ¡°Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Xiao Qianqiu will descend from the mountain in five days. His targets are the Ghost Swordsman and Lou Xiangzhen, and the motive is the Daluo Heart Method.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Even an elder as skilled in controlling his emotions couldn¡¯t help but be shaken by the news. This elder was none other than Meng Zhaodou, the head of Heaven and Earth Net. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The man asked cautiously, ¡°This news has not yet fully spread, but in a few days, it will travel throughout Jianghu. Do we need to take action?¡± Xiao Qianqiu spreading this news was a clear indication that he wanted to use the hands of the entire Jianghu to find these two men. ¡°Investigate the whereabouts of these two men, and report back to me immediately upon learning anything.¡± Meng Zhaodou took a deep breath, then without even bothering to tidy up the chess pieces on the table anymore, he went straight into the house. ¡­¡­ Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Mysterious Person Under the Sealing Demon Well Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Mysterious Person Under the Sealing Demon Well Capital Road, Youfeng Valley. Mountains grand and magnificent, peaks soaring into the clouds. The sound of birds pervades the valley, and everywhere are lush trees. The gentle breeze rustles through them, carrying with it the scent of nature, like that of fresh grass, set against the blue sky and white clouds. All these marvels naturally form a painting so beautiful it needs no embellishment. The most spectacular sight in Youfeng Valley is the waterfall, which, with the arrival of spring, has long lost its icy cover. At this moment, a figure appears in the valley. The person is dressed in a robe, with a headband, appearing meticulously neat and tidy. This person is none other than Li Fuzhou, the Lord of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect. Li Fuzhou walks neither fast nor slow towards the valley. One li away from the waterfall, a distant roar can be heard. After a few turns, the waterfall comes into view. From afar, it looks like a ribbon of silver light set between the green mountains, dazzling and striking. The closer one approaches the waterfall, the louder it roars, deafening as if thousands of horses and soldiers are charging with unstoppable momentum. The water cascades down from the mountaintop, striking the rocks around and shattering into spray like scattered pearls, the fine droplets creating beautiful halos in the sunlight, as if one were enveloped in the vast mist. Not far from the waterfall, there is a pavilion. Li Fuzhou enters the pavilion and, like always, takes a book out from his bosom and sits down to read. He always carries a book with him, to relieve boredom and to calm his mind. As Li Fuzhou opens his book, he becomes completely immersed, as if the thunderous waterfall does not affect him at all. In this world, the number of people with his level of cultivation and strength, who are also able to sit quietly and read, can be counted on one¡¯s fingers. Time trickles by, and about half an hour passes. ¡°Mr. Li, Elder Liu has asked you to go back. There¡¯s no use in waiting; she said she won¡¯t meet with you.¡± At that moment, a female disciple of Youfeng Valley comes flying from afar, landing near the pavilion. She doesn¡¯t know who this reader is or why he seeks out the Great Elder, but his perseverance is not something ordinary people possess. For over half a month he has waited here every day for Elder Liu Ruyun, even though he is turned away each time. Yet he persists, day after day, never flagging. ¡°If she does not come to see me today, I will not leave. You go about your business; I¡¯ll just read my book here.¡± Li Fuzhou replies with a faint smile. ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t disturb Mr. Li.¡± The female disciple of Youfeng Valley hesitates briefly before bowing to Li Fuzhou and taking her leave. Li Fuzhou continues to read, as though he truly is just reading and not waiting for someone. Time passes, and it seems to be noon already. A figure appears in front of him. She is wearing a black cloth dress, with a red belt around her waist, and sky-blue boots. Her once jet-black hair now has streaks of silver as if touched by the first snow of winter or the frost of an autumn morning, partially hidden and ethereal. Her face bears the marks of time, her hair meticulously combed, devoid of any mess, but those strands of silver are still clearly visible among the black, telling stories of the years. Her deep brown eyes quietly speak of the vicissitudes of time. At this moment, as their eyes meet, it seems as if time itself has come to a stop. ¡°Ruyun, I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me wait in vain, you¡¯ve come at last,¡± Li Fuzhou suddenly speaks, guilt filling his heart, ¡°How have you been over the years?¡± The woman before him, nearing her fifties, is the Great Elder of Youfeng Valley, Liu Ruyun. ¡°Fine,¡± she replies. Liu Ruyun looks at the man before her, a turmoil of emotions stirring within, and then asks, ¡°And you, all these years?¡± Although she had been gathering news about Li Fuzhou all these years, roughly knowing how he had spent them, she couldn¡¯t help but ask now. Li Fuzhou shakes his head and sighs, ¡°I have been doing very badly.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Liu Ruyun feels a surge of nervousness upon hearing this. Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes fix intently on Liu Ruyun, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s the guilt I feel towards you that I cannot resolve.¡± ¡°Guilt?¡± Liu Ruyun¡¯s heart clenches, ¡°Fuzhou, I am no longer who I was back then, don¡¯t think you can deceive me with those tricks anymore.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyebrows rose, ¡°Ruyun, how could I possibly deceive you? I hid from you in the past because I had no choice due to compelling reasons.¡± Liu Ruyun shook her head, ¡°Compelling reasons? What compelling reasons could you possibly have to hide from me for twenty years? My senior brother was right, you must have found someone else, which is why you dared not come back to see me.¡± That damn Zuo Biwen! Li Fuzhou cursed inwardly, then explained seriously, ¡°At that time, my departure from the Lv Sect was acrimonious, and I was disintegrated. Afterwards, I defected to the Demon Sect, Lv Guoyong ordered the Xuanyi Guard to hunt me down, you know that, don¡¯t you?¡± After leaving the Lv Mansion, Li Fuzhou had defected directly to the Demon Sect, which was quite a ¡®fine tale¡¯ in the Jianghu at the time. Liu Ruyun gave a bitter smile, ¡°What about me? In order to find you, I even went to the Demon Sect Main Hall. As long as you had agreed to see me once and explain things clearly, I was ready to join the Demon Sect with you, but you refused to see me.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s heart trembled, he hadn¡¯t expected Liu Ruyun had once considered joining him in the Demon Sect, something he had never anticipated. ¡°Fuzhou.¡± Liu Ruyun looked at Li Fuzhou, ¡°Stop lying to me. I won¡¯t believe any word you say anymore.¡± With that, Liu Ruyun steeled her heart, clenched her teeth, and walked away toward the distance. ¡°Ruyun, I came here this time to say goodbye to you.¡± Li Fuzhou sighed heavily, ¡°Seeing you now fulfills my wish. In a few days, after taking care of matters with the Demon Sect, I plan to enter Yujing City to face Lv Guoyong.¡± Liu Ruyun¡¯s steps halted, and she quickly turned back, ¡°You¡¯re going to Yujing City? You¡¯ll die.¡± Who is Li Fuzhou!? He was the Sect Master of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, a key fugitive wanted by the Xuanyi Guard. Not only that, he was a Confucian scholar who defected from the disciples of the Confucian master Lv Guoyong, and such a man entering Yujing City would undoubtedly face imminent danger and a slim chance of survival. ¡°Maybe I will,¡± Li Fuzhou said solemnly, ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s nothing in this world I can cling to, even you don¡¯t believe me anymore, so what does it matter whether I live or die?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Liu Ruyun¡¯s eyes immediately showed a glint of struggle upon hearing this. ¡°Well, for someone like me, maybe this is the best outcome after all.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s voice grew somber, ¡°Ruyun, you must take good care of yourself in the days when I¡¯m gone. Out of the myriad people in the world, it¡¯s a pity that it¡¯s hard to find another me.¡± With these words, Li Fuzhou walked away into the distance. All around, silence fell, with only the sound of the waterfall thundering, echoing with a sense of farewell and sorrow. Out of the myriad people in the world, it¡¯s hard to find another me. Li Fuzhou walked slowly, as if waiting for something. ¡°Fuzhou.¡± Just as Li Fuzhou had taken a few steps, Liu Ruyun called out in a hurry. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Hearing this, Li Fuzhou let out a breath of relief, then turned around and asked, ¡°Ruyun, do you want to hear some last words from me?¡± Liu Ruyun said seriously, ¡°You cannot go to Yujing City.¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head and sighed, ¡°I must go to Yujing City, and I have reasons I cannot avoid it. This time, I just wanted to see you one last time.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Liu Ruyun took a deep breath and slowly said, ¡°Then I will go with you. No matter what, my Liu Family is still a family with meritorious achievements, and we still have some influence.¡± Liu Ruyun following Li Fuzhou into Yujing City, with her family¡¯s connections, even if Li Fuzhou was eventually captured by the Xuanyi Guard, saving Li Fuzhou¡¯s life should be no problem at all. ¡°But.¡± A glint flashed in Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes, fleeting, ¡°I am a person of the Demon Sect, and for you to join me entering Yujing City would be very inconvenient. Moreover, Ling Yuehua said you were already married¡­¡± Liu Ruyun lowered her head, speaking softly, ¡°I made Ling Yuehua tell you that on purpose, but in reality, it¡¯s not true.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded his head in response. He hadn¡¯t spent so many years in studying only to turn himself into a fool. Before heading to Capital Road, he had already inquired about the truth. Actually, he knew all along that Ling Yuehua was lying to him. With his means, how could such information escape his notice? But of course, this explanation naturally had to come from Liu Ruyun herself. Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes held a deep affection, ¡°Ruyun, it¡¯s fine if you accompany me to Yujing City. Once I resolve the grudges between Lv Guoyong and Zhao Tianyi, I promise to make it up to you doubly.¡± Liu Ruyun was taken aback, and suddenly her face flushed with color, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about¡­¡± Sometimes, even if you know you might be deceived a thousand times, you will still head into it without any hesitation, willingly so, because at the moment of being deceived, you are happy. Liu Ruyun was exactly that type of woman, and Li Fuzhou was the man who could deceive her a thousand times over. Seeing this scene, Li Fuzhou, a man experienced in the art of love, knew he had her wrapped around his finger. Then, he thought of something and said, ¡°Your senior brother, I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s been getting quite close to the Second Prince lately?¡± Liu Ruyun¡¯s senior brother was none other than Zuo Biwen of the Zuo Family, who was also the Valley Master of one of the seven great sects today, the Youfeng Valley. Liu Ruyun shook her head and said, ¡°Perhaps, I seldom get involved in the affairs of the valley now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better for you to be less involved.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded slightly. Liu Ruyun was not a particularly scheming person, and in the treacherous crossing between Jianghu and the temple halls, the slightest misstep could make her a pawn of those with ulterior motives. Just then, a figure clad in black hurriedly flew in from afar. If An Jing were here, he would definitely recognize that this person was none other than Shui Zhongyue. ¡°Sect Master, there is a covert report.¡± Shui Zhongyue approached Li Fuzhou and spoke in a low voice. ¡°Speak.¡± Li Fuzhou also knew that if it weren¡¯t for something urgent, Shui Zhongyue would definitely not be so frantic. The last time was when Zhao Qingmei had fallen into the Sealing Demon Well, her life and death uncertain. Although he was aware of the situation and somewhat worried, given he was currently in Great Yan and powerless to do anything about it, he could only wait to deal with Yujing City¡¯s affairs before making plans. Shui Zhongyue glanced at Liu Ruyun but said nothing. ¡°Just speak,¡± Li Fuzhou said, gesturing with his hand. ¡°Yes!¡± Shui Zhongyue bowed and said, ¡°The Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, Xiao Qianqiu, is going to descend the mountain.¡± ¡°Xiao Qianqiu!?¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s brows furrowed. Liu Ruyun was also slightly taken aback. ¡­¡­. In Beihuang Dao, Yuan City. Compared to Jiangnan Dao, Beihuang Dao was much more desolate. This place belonged to the Great Yan Border, close to the Western Pure Land, with a sparse population. Even though the overland routes were open, trade was incredibly difficult. It could be said that among the nine regions of Great Yan, Beihuang Dao was among the most barren. However, recently, Beihuang Dao had become quite lively. This was because the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, the Five Poison Young Master, was seeking a son-in-law. The Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect was known as the Five Poison Young Master not just for his unfathomable cultivation but also his extraordinarily handsome features. And his daughter, Dai Ling, was like a lotus flower emerging from water, stunningly beautiful to the point of being unforgettable, a real beauty. No sooner had this news spread than all of Beihuang Dao was abuzz with excitement. Moreover, young talents and martial arts experts from all over were converging here. Suddenly, Beihuang Dao was teeming with masters, especially in Yuan City at the foot of Five Poison Sect, where all the inns were exceptionally crowded. The Five Poison Sect Leader¡¯s search for a son-in-law had become the hottest event in Jianghu. The usually quiet streets had become busier than before, with significantly more people from Jianghu. In the street, a man in a black robe and an elder in plain clothes walked leisurely. These two were none other than An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen. Hearing the conversations around him, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°This event of the Five Poison Young Master seeking a son-in-law is a tremendous opportunity.¡± ¡°What opportunity?¡± An Jing asked, raising his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Five Poison Young Master before, and he¡¯s undeniably good-looking; his daughter is surely no exception,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with a grin. ¡°Just think, if you became the son-in-law of the Five Poison Young Master, wouldn¡¯t he let you use that Thunder Pool for sure?¡± It was common knowledge among Jianghu¡¯s masters that the Five Poison Young Master was a suave and exceptional man, which was the very reason for his moniker. ¡°Forget about it,¡± An Jing replied irritably, ¡°Dai Ling is indeed attractive, but I already have a wife. How could I play with someone else¡¯s feelings?¡± Indeed the plan was sound but not suited for him; it could lead to unforeseen trouble. Lou Xiangzhen expressed some regret, ¡°Such a golden opportunity to win a beauty and enter the Thunder Pool, it¡¯s truly a pity indeed.¡± An Jing chuckled, ¡°Senior, why don¡¯t you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Seeing An Jing¡¯s eyes turn, Lou Xiangzhen immediately puffed his beard and glared. ¡°You¡¯re talking about good opportunities, but you don¡¯t seize them yourself, and yet you criticize me.¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°I plan to go directly to the Five Poison Sect and ask the Five Poison Young Master if he could lend me the Thunder Pool for a bit. At worst, I¡¯ll owe him a favor.¡± The only real difficulty now was how to resolve the grudge with the Five Poison Sect, which wasn¡¯t something that could be resolved just by talking. Without bringing real gold and silver benefits to others, all the talk in the world is useless. Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to borrow the Thunder Pool from the Five Poison Young Master, but it¡¯s best not to reveal its true purpose.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± asked An Jing. Lou Xiangzhen smiled, ¡°A thousand-year-old Black Python undergoing Jiao Transformation will probably consume a hundred years of the Thunder Pool¡¯s Spiritual Essence. The Thunder Pool might be closed for who knows how many years before it can recover its Primordial Energy. Do you think the Five Poison Young Master would lend it to you if he knew?¡± ¡°Are you his ancestor or his grandchild?¡± The transformation of the thousand-year-old Black Python into a Black Flood Dragon signifies a qualitative change in strength, requiring a vast amount of Essence. Even the Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect might not make ends meet, and it¡¯s possible that the source of the Thunder Pool could be damaged in the process. Hearing this, An Jing sighed softly, finding the situation rather difficult indeed. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such an arrogant beggar!¡± Just then, a ragged beggar flew out of the tavern ahead, followed by the angry scolding of a serving boy. ¡°Beggars are supposed to beg for food, and you want me to pay you, too? If I had money, would I be begging?¡± Grumbling, the beggar got up and patted the dust off his body. The onlookers quickly covered their noses and walked away to distance themselves from the beggar. Only An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen went about their business, walking forward. Seeing Lou Xiangzhen, the beggar hurriedly shouted, ¡°Hey, old man, got any silver? I haven¡¯t had a drink today, give me some silver to buy some liquor.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing blinked and took a closer look. The beggar appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, ragged and dirty, with his hair in disarray and emitting an awful stench. An Jing had seen beggars asking for money before, but he had never seen one so openly demanding it. And on top of having eaten, he wanted to drink; he seemed to be living better than An Jing. Is this really a beggar? Lou Xiangzhen examined the beggar carefully, piqued with interest, ¡°If you want to drink, that¡¯s fine. Just keep me company for a few drinks.¡± The beggar waved his hand dismissively, ¡°All you people of Jianghu are so troublesome, needing company to drink. Alright, alright, you pay and treat me to a drink, that¡¯s all.¡± Lou Xiangzhen messaged An Jing, ¡°This is indeed an interesting person.¡± With that, the two headed inside the tavern. ¡°Dear guests¡­¡± The serving boy approached with a smile, but his face changed upon seeing the beggar. ¡°Bring us a private room, some fine dishes, and a few jars of good wine,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently. The serving boy warned hastily, ¡°Dear guests, don¡¯t be deceived by this beggar; he¡¯s not a good person at all.¡± The beggar just laughed, not giving a hoot about the serving boy¡¯s words. ¡°No harm.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand, ¡°I just want to find someone to drink with.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± The serving boy shook his head to himself and said nothing more, leading the trio to a private room on the second floor. Once seated, An Jing looked curiously at the man and asked, ¡°Do you recognize either of us?¡± The beggar flopped into a seat, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in who you guys are, just treat me to a drink. I like you Jianghu people; each one of you is generous and drinks heartily.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but take a few more looks at the beggar, marveling at his audacity, and then messaged, ¡°Senior, why did you invite him for a drink?¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied, ¡°Something about this person¡¯s face seems familiar.¡± Familiar? Could this person Lou Xiangzhen recognized be a master too? But An Jing couldn¡¯t detect even a hint of Qi Mechanism from the beggar; he seemed to be just an ordinary person. The situation at hand could only be one of two things: either this person¡¯s cultivation was far above my own, or he was well-versed in the art of concealment. It wasn¡¯t long before fine wine and dishes were served. ¡°Come, eat! The food won¡¯t taste as good once it¡¯s cold.¡± The beggar acted completely at home, urging An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen to eat. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to pour the wine?¡± Lou Xiangzhen clinked his wine cup on the table, voicing his displeasure. An Jing¡¯s forehead sprouted three black lines, and he promptly picked up the wine jug to pour for Lou Xiangzhen and the beggar. ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between you two?¡± The beggar downed the wine in his cup and then asked. With the wine flowing down his throat, Lou Xiangzhen said with a laugh, ¡°This is my dear grandson. I¡¯m taking him out on a journey to experience the Jianghu.¡± ¡°Lou, old man, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± An Jing immediately objected upon hearing this. The beggar just shook his head without speaking. An Jing picked up a piece of food and looked toward the beggar, ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s your surname and name?¡± ¡°My name is Li Qirong,¡± the beggar replied nonchalantly. An Jing searched his memory carefully, but no powerful individual by the name of Li Qirong came to mind. The movements in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hands paused slightly before he narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°The top scholar of the seventeenth year of Li Ping¡¯s reign?¡± Top scholar!? Hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words, An Jing was somewhat surprised. The current Great Yan Emperor was titled Taiping, and the previous emperor was titled Li Ping. The seventeenth year of Li Ping¡¯s reign was already several decades ago. Shouldn¡¯t a top scholar be seated in the temple halls? How had he ended up as a beggar? ¡°Oh, old sir, you still remember my name.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Qirong chuckled, ¡°Of the few people who have treated me to drinks these past days, only you remember that I was once a top scholar.¡± As he spoke, he took the wine jug from beside An Jing and proceeded to pour Lou Xiangzhen a cup of wine. Watching An Jing¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Lou Xiangzhen slowly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you familiar with Li Fuzhou? Li Fuzhou was the third-place winner in the seventeenth year of Li Ping¡¯s reign, and this man was the top scholar of that year. Back then, they were famously known as the ¡®Two Lis¡¯ of Yujing City.¡± Li Qirong looked at An Jing, suddenly interested, ¡°You know Li Fuzhou!?¡± Li Fuzhou was the leader of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, not just any ordinary Jianghu expert. His status was among the elite in the Jianghu. Li Qirong never would have guessed that the two seemingly ordinary Jianghu people he had randomly asked for drinks would turn out to be deeply concealed masters of the Jianghu. An Jing shrugged and said, ¡°Li Fuzhou, when he has nothing to do, spends his time in brothels listening to songs. He never mentioned these past events to me.¡± ¡°Is Li Fuzhou still the same?¡± As An Jing spoke, Li Qirong¡¯s brows suddenly knit together. An Jing nodded, ¡°Indeed, which scholar doesn¡¯t visit brothels to listen to music?¡± Unexpectedly, I encountered an acquaintance of Li Fuzhou here in Yuan City, a baffling twist of fate. ¡°Damn the fates for being so blind.¡± When Li Qirong heard this, he seemed quite indignant and subsequently took a big swig from the cup in his hand. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± An Jing asked, puzzled, ¡°Could it be that you have some story or a grudge against that Li Fuzhou?¡± Lou Xiangzhen also looked over, with a trace of confusion in his eyes. At that time, Lou Xiangzhen was defeated by the Sword God of the Yu Heng Sword Sect and was at a low point in his life. How could he possibly care about the grudge between these two men? Moreover, these two were not even part of the Jianghu. ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Li Fuzhou?¡± Li Qirong looked at An Jing with a skeptical expression, ¡°Could it be that he sent you?¡± An Jing pondered for a while before saying, ¡°My relationship with Li Fuzhou is complicated; it¡¯s not something that can be explained in a short time.¡± He knew Li Fuzhou, but that didn¡¯t mean Li Fuzhou knew him. ¡°Complicated?¡± Li Qirong raised an eyebrow, ¡°What, has Li Fuzhou now even taken a fancy to men?¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Actually, this isn¡¯t really a secret, you¡¯d know if you just asked around a bit.¡± Li Qirong waved his hand and said, ¡°Back in the day, though Li Fuzhou and I were both candidates, I greatly disliked his personality and considered him a disgrace to scholars, so we didn¡¯t get along.¡± An Jing clapped his hands in approval, ¡°A disgrace to scholars, that¡¯s well put.¡± Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Li Qirong¡¯s voice deepened even more, ¡°Would you say a scholar who¡¯s lazy by nature and lingers in pleasure quarters¨Chow could such a person be taken in as a disciple by Master Lv?¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing asked, ¡°¡­.. Would you, sir, not go?¡± Are there really scholars who don¡¯t visit the pleasure quarters to enjoy music? Li Qirong, agitated, said, ¡°Never go. We scholars aspire to ¡®regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world¡¯. Naturally, our thoughts should be entirely on delving into the study of Confucianism. How could I be as degraded as him?¡± An Jing pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°Well said, that¡¯s why you¡¯re the top scholar, and he¡¯s merely third.¡± There really are scholars who hold such rancor toward the pleasure quarters and music¨Cit¡¯s indeed quite rare in this world. Li Qirong, upon hearing this, felt his fervent emotion immediately wilt. Others might not know why he became the top scholar, but how could he himself not understand? ¡°Actually, this title of top scholar was given to me by Master Lv.¡± Li Qirong said soberly, ¡°Originally, the Human Emperor Li Ping had personally chosen Li Fuzhou as the top scholar.¡± ¡°He almost became the top scholar?¡± An Jing was shocked and couldn¡¯t help but think: Li Fuzhou is quite talented, flourishing both in the Demon Sect and in the officialdom. Being the top scholar isn¡¯t something just anyone can achieve. As Li Qirong spoke of the past, he sighed gently, ¡°Master Lv said that Li Fuzhou still needed more refinement, so he awarded the title to me, and because the Human Emperor Li Ping liked him, he got the title of third place.¡± An Jing heard this and also sighed. Li Fuzhou, who was usually serious and meticulous, and who would read books or visit pleasure quarters to listen to music in his free time, had such stories behind him. ¡°Li Fuzhou is indeed quite a character.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded in agreement, ¡°The Confucianist Qi mechanism is fully realized, integrating into the Demon Sect¡¯s mental method. He is a rare talent.¡± Li Qirong picked up the wine jar and poured three cups, saying, ¡°What infuriates me most is Old Master Liu from the Liu Family. Just as the palace exam had ended, he went straight to Lv Mansion to ask for Miss Liu Ruyun¡¯s hand in marriage from Lv Guoyong. Miss Liu Ruyun is a true lady of great families, literati-bred, and I also¡­.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t understand, how come Li Fuzhou, with such a tarnished reputation, womanizing and philandering, still has so many women throwing themselves at him?¡± ¡°He may look handsome and extraordinary, but I¡¯m not bad-looking either, so what exactly is the reason?¡± Li Qirong said this with a heavy sigh. He could never understand. Li Fuzhou, with his reputation of visiting pleasure quarters, was nothing but a profligate. How could he compare to someone mature and capable like himself? Why did the young ladies of Yujing City seem to favor him? Where have I, Li Qirong, fallen short? Lou Xiangzhen also shook his head. When it came to emotions, interpersonal relationships, and calculating schemes within the official circles, he was not an expert. An Jing said somberly, ¡°Because he¡¯s flirtatious.¡± Because he¡¯s flirtatious¡­. Li Qirong¡¯s movements paused for a moment, struck as if by a bolt from the blue. ¡°You,¡± An Jing patted Li Qirong on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. This is a natural talent. Sometimes, these things even make me worry, and I think Li Fuzhou feels the same.¡± Though it was a simple sentence, it instantly enlightened Li Qirong, who couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh of realization. Lou Xiangzhen asked curiously, ¡°Master Li, how come you¡¯ve become a beggar in Yuan City?¡± ¡°My career has been difficult, and I haven¡¯t been able to fulfill my full vengeance.¡± Li Qirong, with a mouthful of food, said indifferently, ¡°The current court is a mess; factional strife is severe. I¡¯m not interested in their games, and if I can¡¯t achieve my own vengeance, what¡¯s the difference between sleeping rough and living luxuriously?¡± An Jing, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but silently criticize: I¡¯m not interested in their games, you mean they just didn¡¯t invite you to play along, right? Lou Xiangzhen, on the other hand, could not compare with Jiang Sanjia when it came to the affairs of the court and so his knowledge was limited. ¡°Just watch. In less than half a year, conflicts will surely arise throughout the world. And the fuse for it all,¡± Li Qirong solemnly looked towards the north and said, ¡°lies in the Northern region.¡± ¡°Houjin?¡± Lou Xiangzhen narrowed his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s also the Demon Sect.¡± Li Qirong said indifferently, ¡°The Holy Master of Houjin, this person has meticulous plans. I have studied his life; he always makes use of everything at his disposal before he makes a move, he would definitely prepare in multiple ways,¡± ¡°As for whether there is still more, that would depend on the methods of this Holy Master as well as the stratagems of the Human Emperor and Old Master Lv.¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked with a serious tone, ¡°Are you implying that the Human Emperor¡¯s serious injury is a ruse?¡± Rumors had it that the Taiping Human Emperor failed to break through his shackles, and now the Great Yan Temple was in chaos. Could all of this be false? All part of a plan? If it was a plan, the cost seemed a bit too steep. It must be known that for each day Great Yan was in chaos, it was a drain on the national strength of Yan Country. If Houjin did not fall for this open scheme, it would be Great Yan itself that ended up suffering in the end. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Li Qirong shook his head. Whether it was an open scheme or the truth, probably only a few people knew besides the chess players of Great Yan. Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Who knows how long this world will remain at peace.¡± The seemingly calm surface of the lake was in fact already surging with undercurrents. Li Qirong quickly said, ¡°Come, let¡¯s drink. After we¡¯re done, we still have to go back to sleep. If we go back late, we won¡¯t even have a place to sleep.¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s drink.¡± An Jing raised his glass. ¡­¡­ Dongluo Desert, Sealing Demon Well, the night was serene, and the temperature plummeted. Zhao Qingmei only felt that she was shrouded in darkness until a flame began to burn, restoring a trace of her consciousness. ¡°This¡­ What is this?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s brows were tightly knit, and then she slowly opened her eyes. Above her was also enveloped in darkness. ¡°Sealing Demon Well, I¡¯ve fallen into the Sealing Demon Well.¡± Zhao Qingmei thought of Jiang Shang¡¯s words, and her heart twisted with pain, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I didn¡¯t protect my husband.¡± She had once silently vowed to protect him, but she had failed. Zhao Qingmei took out a tinderbox and gently blew on it. A weak flicker of light emerged, illuminating the surroundings. Zhao Qingmei took out a diary she had treasured for a long time from her bosom and gently flipped it open, the feeble light casting upon its pages. Each page was a precious memory, a past she couldn¡¯t forget. Tears unknowingly filled her eyes. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to cry, but the pain in her heart made the tears flow involuntarily. ¡®Drip drop¡¯ The tear fell onto the diary and slowly spread. At that moment, a sense of bloodline resonance came to her. It was a very familiar aura. ¡°Husband!?¡± Zhao Qingmei gasped in astonishment, murmuring, ¡°The Heavenly Flipping Seal, his aura is within the Heavenly Flipping Seal. Could it be that he¡¯s still alive, that he has discovered the secrets of the Heavenly Flipping Seal?¡± This bloodline aura, she would never forget. If the aura was still there, it meant the person was definitely alive. Even if half-dead, she, Zhao Qingmei, might have a chance to revive him. ¡°Definitely, it must be my brother¡¯s.¡± Feeling this aura, Zhao Qingmei felt as if she had grasped hope. Suddenly, the gloomy skies seemed to clear up. Then Zhao Qingmei wiped away her tears with her sleeve, carefully put away the diary, and took out a paper effigy. The paper effigy quickly responded, and the response was quick and frequent. Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei felt even more certain, and couldn¡¯t help talking to herself, ¡°It must be because I haven¡¯t responded, my brother must be getting anxious.¡± ¡°An Xiaorou, tricking me into tears again.¡± However, doubts lingered in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s heart. ¡°Why would Jiang Shang kill my brother, yet he still has breath, and can even contact me through a paper figure?¡± ¡°Could it be that Jiang Shang made a mistake?¡± The more Zhao Qingmei thought about it, the less she understood. She couldn¡¯t comprehend how An Jing survived. ¡°Stop thinking about these things, I need to get out quickly.¡± Zhao Qingmei put away the paper figure and picked up the mandarin duck blade from the ground and stood up. ¡°Once I get out¡­¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the well opening above and said with determination. At that moment, an immense pressure came from the well opening, as if all her True Qi was locked down, making it highly unlikely to escape through there. Afterward, she walked deeper into the Sealing Demon Well. The reason why the Sealing Demon Well was a secret place of the Demon Sect was that many of the Demon Sect¡¯s masters, before their death, would go to the Sealing Demon Well. Once inside, people could not leave, hence these Demon Sect masters all died there. When a grandmaster dies, Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence would emerge from within their bodies, which, over time, would dissipate into the universe. However, inside the Sealing Demon Well, these Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence wouldn¡¯t dissipate but would remain intact within the corpses. Therefore, those who entered the Sealing Demon Well from the Demon Sect could obtain the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence from within their predecessors¡¯ bodies. The deeper one went into the Sealing Demon Well, the higher the cultivation of the deceased Demon Sect masters who reached enlightenment, and the grander the amount of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence derived from the higher-cultivation grandmasters after death. Inside the Sealing Demon Well, there was the oppressive presence of the deceased Demon Sect masters. The deeper one went, the heavier the pressure, even affecting the mind and potentially leading a Demon Sect master to deviate from their practice. In the past, some had entered the Sealing Demon Well and ended up deviating due to the influence on their psyche, which was why Ouyang Ping of the Sealing Demon Platform had already cautioned Zhao Qingmei not to overexert herself before she went in. The first time Zhao Qingmei came to the Sealing Demon Well, she had already walked more than a hundred yards along one of the paths. She remembered there was a way ahead, but she was so depleted at the time that she couldn¡¯t go on and had given up. Now that her cultivation had reached the level of a One Qi Grandmaster and her mindset had become even more flawless, she felt that entering deeper into the Sealing Demon Well should be no problem. She might even find a way out of the Sealing Demon Well. She followed the path straight ahead, seeing the corpses of Demon Sect masters in enlightenment in several niches along the way. These corpses had long since turned to bones, their Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence already taken. At the same time, a vast pressure surged towards her, but Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression remained unruffled as she strode forward. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Zhao Qingmei arrived at the place where she had initially found the Heavenly Flipping Seal. Next to the body of the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect. At this point, the pressure was already extremely heavy, like a mountain pressing down on her shoulders. Why did the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect disappear? It was because he entered the Sealing Demon Well for a second time, trying to discover its secrets, but in the end died there, never able to leave. After that, none of the Demon Sect masters who had the capacity and temperament of the eighth Hierarch managed to make it to his side deep in the Sealing Demon Well. Naturally, they couldn¡¯t find the Heavenly Flipping Seal, nor the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence on the body of the eighth Hierarch. The cultivation level of the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect must have been at the peak of Four Qi or a Five Qi Grandmaster ¨C already at the extreme limit of the Grandmaster Realm, which meant that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence he generated was exceptionally immense. It was precisely because Zhao Qingmei had encountered such a great opportunity and also practiced the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture that she was able to quickly reach the Grandmaster Realm. Otherwise, even with her high aptitude, without resources, it would be difficult for her to achieve the Grandmaster Realm at the age of nineteen. Unlike the other Demon Sect masters sitting in niches, the corpse of the eighth hierarch leaned against the cave wall, the reason for his death unknown. Back then, Zhao Qingmei speculated that he might have died of starvation. Although there were water droplets beside this stone wall, a grandmaster surviving half a month or a month without food would still be unbearable for their body. Zhao Qingmei, sensing the pressure ahead, took a deep breath and prepared to brave the danger and give it a try. Only from this place might she find a way out of the Sealing Demon Well. ¡°You little one, why have you come a second time? Have you forgotten the ancestral decree or what?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Just then, a robust voice echoed through the cave. Someone!? In the Sealing Demon Well, there was actually someone!? ¡°Who!?¡± Zhao Qingmei felt a surge of turbulent emotions, her eyes reflecting a trace of disbelief. PS: I¡¯ll work hard to write an extra chapter tomorrow. Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Reunion at the Grand Event in Jianghu Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Reunion at the Grand Event in Jianghu The Sealing Demon Well is the most mysterious secret place of the Demon Sect. Only the most outstanding youths of the current generation of the Demon Sect could enter. After entering, their strength would advance by leaps and bounds, becoming the backbone of the Demon Sect. This place is extremely mysterious, so much so that even the ancient records of the Demon Sect contain very little information, and even the Sect Hierarch knew very little about it. Moreover, nobody had ever heard of any living person being beneath the Sealing Demon Well. All around fell into silence, and then no other sound followed. ¡°Could it be my illusion?¡± Zhao Qingmei did not sense any fluctuations in the surrounding aura and couldn¡¯t help but frown and say, ¡°It cannot be an illusion, there must be secrets in this Sealing Demon Well.¡± Thinking of this, she clenched the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades and then slowly walked forward. The path ahead was very dim, as if a chilly light was shining straight out. At the same time, that immense pressure continued to attack her, this force carried a great deathly aura and demonic qi, crushing one¡¯s psyche, and those of weaker wills would lose their minds in a short time. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes were like torches, allowing the demonic qi and deathly aura to invade without changing her expression, calm and undisturbed. This showed her inner toughness, already like cold ice. The only thing that could make her moved, was him. From another perspective, what Jiang Shang said was not wrong, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s tough heart had a tiny flaw. But put another way, in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s dark and bottomless heart, there was a sole light. After walking about tens of meters farther, the demonic qi and deathly aura suddenly disappeared as if they had vanished in an instant. Looking ahead, it appeared to be a naturally formed stone cave. On both sides of the cave were carvings of exotic beasts, and the cave was deep and serene, carrying a hint of eeriness, making it hard to see what was precisely inside. ¡°You are not young, but your mind is quite tough,¡± that resonant voice sounded again. But this time Zhao Qingmei recognized that the voice was coming from within the stone cave ahead. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhao Qingmei held the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades tightly and asked coldly. As for the person appearing in the Sealing Demon Well, her heart was full of wariness. ¡°Who am I?¡± The person¡¯s voice suddenly became a bit hoarse, ¡°You might want to come in and see.¡± What was now guttural had seemed like their own voice before, but it was not possible to tell whether it was male or female, nor the age, and it carried a somewhat eerie tone. Zhao Qingmei slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes, ¡°Stop playing these little tricks.¡± The person chuckled lightly, ¡°If I remember correctly, it was over four hundred years ago, he too came here, you and that lad are quite similar¡­¡­.¡± Over four hundred years ago!? Zhao Qingmei, looking at the cave, said coldly, ¡°Stop trying to spook me, how can anyone live over five hundred years in this world?¡± Even a Great Grandmaster can only extend their lifespan by three hundred years, and living up to four hundred years old is the limit, and the ancient records do not mention anyone living beyond five hundred years. ¡°You are indeed correct.¡± The voice carried a hint of temptation, ¡°I have survived till now, obviously for special reasons and methods, little child, don¡¯t you want to know?¡± The secret to extending one¡¯s lifespan was too tempting for many to resist. ¡°I am not interested in what you are saying,¡± Zhao Qingmei responded coldly with a sneer. She also sensed something peculiar: this person had been trying to lure her into the cave, obviously harboring evil intentions. It seemed as though this person could not come out. The person confidently said, ¡°Since you have entered the Sealing Demon Well, then I surely have something you would want to know.¡± Zhao Qingmei pondered for a moment and then asked, ¡°How do I leave the Sealing Demon Well?¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± To Zhao Qingmei¡¯s surprise, the person burst into laughter, ¡°Of the many people who have entered the Sealing Demon Well throughout the ages, almost all seek great opportunities and creation, yet you have come to seek a way to leave.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyebrows rose but she said nothing. The top experts of the Demon Sect who re-entered the Sealing Demon Well probably knew their time was running out and wished to find an opportunity to break through their constraints here, it seems the last people who entered this place all failed. Or perhaps, only the person in front of her succeeded, and this person might just be a predecessor of the Demon Sect. It was just unclear why he could live for so long¡­ The person chuckled darkly, saying, ¡°To tell you the truth, after entering the Sealing Demon Well again, it is impossible to leave.¡± ¡°Impossible to leave?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± She was determined to get out, even if it meant splitting the Sealing Demon Well into two halves. The person said indifferently, ¡°You don¡¯t believe it? I have been trapped here for a thousand years; could that be false?¡± ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Zhao Qingmei asked coldly. Trapped here for a thousand years, could he not be from the Demon Sect? However, in the ancient records of the Demon Sect, there was no record of anyone being imprisoned in the Sealing Demon Well. ¡°I¡¯ve said it, if you want to know who I am, just come in and see,¡± said the person. ¡°A rat hiding its head and showing its tail.¡± Zhao Qingmei turned her body and walked directly toward the distance. ¡°Little child, you will come back again,¡± the person said lightly, hearing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s footsteps fading away. ¡­¡­ The sky turned the pale white of dawn; Five Poison Mountain was treacherous but contained secluded beauty and hidden wonders. At this time, the energy of the morning sun slowly rose, as the heavy, humid air dispersed. On the mountain paths of Five Poison Mountain, it was already bustling with people coming and going. Today was the great day the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect was to choose a son-in-law. In order not to delay, many people had started moving towards the gates of Five Poison Mountain early in the morning. Along the way, mostly elders accompanied by young talents, and among these youths, were not a few outstanding figures listed high on the martial world leaderboards. Thus, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen did not look particularly conspicuous. ¡°Yan Sheng, ranked second on the martial world leaderboard, has come, and not a few others from the leaderboard are here as well,¡± ¡°Not just Yan Sheng, I heard that the son of Pingyang Marquis also came. It¡¯s said he is a martial arts genius, with his cultivation having achieved the First Grade,¡± ¡°Qiu Lun? I also heard he came.¡± ¡­¡­ The people on the road discussed animatedly, their expressions incredibly excited. An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen were walking up the mountain at an unhurried pace. ¡°When you reveal your identity and speak with the Five Poison Young Master, be a bit cautious,¡± Lou Xiangzhen advised, recalling something, ¡°Don¡¯t provoke him.¡± ¡°What kind of person is this Five Poison Young Master?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help asking upon hearing Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s words. He had old scores to settle with the Five Poison Sect; what if this Five Poison Young Master was unwilling to resolve these grievances? Wouldn¡¯t he be walking into a trap? Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°This person is vengeful, narrow-minded, and unforgiving. Definitely not someone you¡¯d want to provoke lightly. However, you and he are equally matched in strength, and if you wield the Evil Suppressing Sword, you might even surpass him.¡± An Jing nodded slightly at this. After all, if the talks failed, the Five Poison Young Master would have no choice but to deal with him, and with Lou Xiangzhen there, he didn¡¯t have much to fear from the Five Poison Sect. ¡°Don¡¯t count on me this time,¡± Lou Xiangzhen seemed to see what An Jing was thinking and said, ¡°I had a past relationship with the elder of the Five Poison Sect, and I definitely will not act on your behalf.¡± ¡°Old Lou, are you playing me?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say this yesterday? Now that we¡¯re already on the mountain, you suddenly tell me you have ties with the Five Poison Sect elder?¡± He had dared to meet with the Five Poison Young Master mainly because he had a swordsman grandmaster like Lou Xiangzhen by his side. Even if negotiations failed, the Five Poison Young Master would have had to think twice. But now, at the crucial moment, Lou Xiangzhen was pulling out, undoubtedly hitting him with a bolt from the blue. Lou Xiangzhen spoke irritably, ¡°You never asked me; why must I tell you everything? Besides, you don¡¯t want to be my grandchild.¡± Old Lou was too sly, definitely saying this on purpose. Perhaps his relationship with the elder of the Five Poison Sect was also fabricated. An Jing¡¯s expression darkened, then he asked, ¡°Does the Five Poison Sect have other experts then?¡± If the Five Poison Sect possessed grandmaster-level experts, things could get difficult. If the Five Poison Young Master got stubborn and brought out a grandmaster to capture him, combined with many other experts from the Five Poison Sect, he might very well fall on Five Poison Mountain. Lou Xiangzhen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°That old fellow should still be alive, likely residing and cultivating near Thunder Pool.¡± An Jing took in a slight breath upon hearing this. ¡°Let¡¯s become family,¡± Lou Xiangzhen patted An Jing¡¯s shoulder, his face breaking into a smile as brilliant as a chrysanthemum. ¡°Impossible!¡± An Jing, watching Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s smug expression, spoke emphatically, word by word. Lou Xiangzhen stood with his hands behind his back, no longer saying anything. The two continued to walk up the mountain when suddenly two figures caught An Jing¡¯s attention. No, it was more accurate to say one figure. The woman still had a charming air about her, with white teeth and dark eyes, but she no longer had a waistline; her entire figure resembled a large water jar. She wore a green leather jacket, her hair up in a bun, her face heavily rouged. By her side followed a burly man with a fierce look, a black iron chain hung around his waist, emitting a faint glow. The people of Jianghu around them seemed to recognize the pair, their eyes filled with a hint of fear and trepidation, as many moved away to a distance. ¡°Elder Lou, do you know these two?¡± An Jing curiously asked. He felt he had some impression of them but couldn¡¯t recall ever meeting them, probably from stories he had heard from Zhou Xianming in the past. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize them.¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, ¡°Not every Tom, Dick, or Harry is worth my acquaintance.¡± If such words were spoken by an ordinary person of Jianghu, it might seem boastful, but coming from Lou Xiangzhen, it seemed perfectly reasonable. Not everyone was worthy of his recognition. ¡°Han Li!¡± Just then, a loud shout erupted from a distance. Suddenly, a swordsman like an agile swallow landed in front of the two. ¡°It¡¯s Gu Baolin of the Fringed Blade!¡± Someone recognized the imposing swordsman and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°He must be here for revenge this time.¡± ¡°Just last month, Han Li killed his younger brother.¡± ¡°His cultivation is also at the Second Grade, seemingly matched with Han Li.¡± ¡­¡­ The surrounding people of Jianghu discussed fervently upon seeing this. In Jianghu, a Second Grade cultivation was already quite high, qualifying one as a master. However, the current gathering at the Five Poison Sect was neither a major nor minor event; several masters had arrived, including not just some First Grade, but even experts of the First Grade Earth Flower, older experts not there to participate in taking in a son-in-law but to bring the younger generation to experience the event. Han Li, the man with the whip, had a very grave expression on his face. Clearly, the Second Grade Gu Baolin was a formidable enemy for him. Han Li lowered his voice, ¡°Gu Baolin, let¡¯s discuss past grievances another day, shall we?¡± ¡°Go to hell! When you killed my brother, did you talk about killing him another day? Today, it¡¯s either you or me.¡± With hatred in his eyes, Gu Baolin roared and drew his long sword. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A cold light flashed, chilling the hearts of everyone present. Seeing this, Han Li¡¯s brows rose, his waist chain whipped out and clashed with Gu Baolin. The fight between the Second Grade masters was extremely fierce, with Gu Baolin harboring resentment and striking viciously, every move deadly. Clangs of metal rang out; the two had exchanged blows for dozens of rounds already. With the duo blocking the mountain path, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen could only stand by and watch the fight unfold. ¡°East Lin Road is a middling sect, not too big, not too small,¡± Lou Xiangzhen slowly explained by the side. An Jing nodded but said nothing. Since he had started, he had mostly dealt with the top forces in Jianghu, whether it was from the five gangs or seven major sects, or even the Demon Sect and Buddhist fraternities, with these masters having at least Second Grade or First Grade cultivation. In this vast world of Jianghu, there were no shortage of Third Grade and Fourth Grade fighters. But they were no longer on the same level as him. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s not waste time; we should focus on what¡¯s important,¡± the woman who looked like a large water jar suddenly called out crisply. The sound was very melodious, much like a lark. She clapped her hands, sending a forceful Qi bursting forth like a storm. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Step step step¡­¡± The palm had landed solidly on Gu Baolin¡¯s blade, sending a powerful force through the sword that made Gu Baolin stagger backward repeatedly. ¡°First Grade!?¡± Gu Baolin looked at the stout woman in front of him in astonishment, a hint of shock flickering in his eyes. It was not just Gu Baolin; other martial experts present were also somewhat surprised. Some marveled at the woman¡¯s strength while others were amazed by her beautiful, captivating voice. ¡°How dare you! Who is brawling here? Don¡¯t you want to live?¡± Suddenly, a roaring voice echoed through the area. ¡°Clattering!¡± ¡°Clattering!¡± A large group of soldiers clad in black armor approached from not far away, led by a young man in armor, stout as a ball of flesh. ¡°Who are you two?¡± The young man pointed at Gu Baolin and Han Li, yelling, ¡°Don¡¯t you know where this place is, what day it is, do you want to eat prison food?¡± Pingyang Guard! Seeing the soldiers surrounding the young man, Gu Baolin felt a chill in his heart, then forced a smile and said, ¡°I am Gu Baolin, a tributor from the Sanhu Gang¡­.¡± The young man showed no regard for Gu Baolin¡¯s dignity and coldly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what Baolin or fish scales you are, just mind yourself. If you annoy me, I¡¯ll have every one of you locked up in the Heavenly Prison to eat prison food.¡± Gu Baolin chuckled dryly and said no more. The Heavenly Prison was not a place just anyone could be sent to at a whim. Seeing the appearance of the young man, Gu Baolin immediately recognized his identity. ¡°Senior, do you recognize the man under whose command this armored person serves?¡± An Jing found this odd. Knowing that people in the Jianghu are usually very proud, especially someone with a Second Grade Cultivation like Gu Baolin, why would he swallow his pride like this? ¡°This is the Pingyang Guard, the personal guard of the Pingyang Marquis of Great Yan.¡± Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°Among the three Great Yan marquises, Marquis Wang Shiyi is stationed at the Houjin border, Pingding Marquis confronts the Zhao Country, and only the Pingyang Marquis sits in the central lands, often accompanying the Xuanyi Guard to clear out sects in the Jianghu. He has quite a reputation in the Jianghu, having dealt with the rebel forces of the Demon Sect.¡± So, this was the Pingyang Guard! An Jing certainly had heard of the Pingyang Guard before; Great Yan had only three people who were ennobled for their military achievements, among whom was the Pingyang Marquis. This man not only fought against the rebel armies of the Demon Sect but had also slain tens of thousands in the Yan-Zhao border area, a renowned figure in both countries and an exceptional general of Great Yan. Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°Senior means to say, the Pingyang Marquis might actually be here on the Five Poison Mountain.¡± Lou Xiangzhen pointed to the young man, who looked like a mountain of flesh, clad in armor, and slowly said, ¡°That chubby one is Qiu Lun, the son of the Pingyang Marquis. When I first met him, he was only as tall as my lower leg.¡± While saying this, Lou Xiangzhen gestured slightly with his hands. An Jing¡¯s heart sank. If the son of the Pingyang Marquis had come, then the Pingyang Marquis was most likely also on Five Poison Mountain. Seeing that Gu Baolin had stopped speaking, Qiu Lun nodded in satisfaction. Then, his gaze fell on Han Li, but his eyes couldn¡¯t help but brighten upon seeing the woman, shaped like a large barrel, causing his heart to flutter. Beauty! There was such an incredibly beautiful person in the world! He had never seen such exquisite beauty in his life. The next moment, Qiu Lun hurriedly stepped forward, eagerly saying, ¡°May I know the lady¡¯s name?¡± The people around blinked in astonishment, watching Qiu Lun. ¡°I am Fang Jinxiu from the Iron Gate.¡± The woman blushed slightly when she heard Qiu Lun¡¯s words and bowed her hands in greeting. No young man had ever taken the initiative to ask for her name. ¡°So, you are from Iron Gate.¡± When Qiu Lun heard this, he smiled, ¡°Five Poison Mountain is quite vast, and it is easy to get lost. How about I escort you up the mountain?¡± Han Li looked at Qiu Lun as if he had seen a ghost. Ordinarily, men would avoid his sister-disciple like the plague, not like this young marquis who seemed as if he had eaten ginseng fruit at the sight of her. ¡°Hehehehe.¡± Fang Jinxiu burst into a sweet, charming laugh, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble the young marquis.¡± The laugh was sweet and charming, but difficult to describe. ¡°Lady, please.¡± Hearing this, Qiu Lun was overjoyed. A mountain of flesh and a barrel of water¨Cthey did seem oddly well-matched. Watching the group head up the mountain, An Jing turned his head to look at Lou Xiangzhen and shook his head helplessly. Lou Xiangzhen sighed deeply, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m getting old.¡± ¡­¡­ Five Poison Mountain, inside the grand hall. At this moment, the hall was filled with a feast, and seats around square tables were occupied by guests. Sitting at the head of the gathering was none other than the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu. By his side was the breathtakingly beautiful, incomparably stunning Dai Ling. To the left at the foot of the table sat the elders of the Five Poison Sect, and to the right were close friends of the Five Poison Young Master. One of them, An Jing recognized. It was indeed Ling Yuanjing, the Peak Master of Nanhua Peak from the Zhenyi Sect. Dai Danshu raised his cup with a smile and said, ¡°Peak Master Ling, you¡¯ve traveled a long and dusty road to get here, which must have been exhausting. The distance between the Five Poison Sect and Zhenyi Sect was neither near nor far, and Ling Yuanjing must have traveled day and night to arrive in such a short time, a truly rare feat for someone of his status and position. ¡°Ah, where are these words coming from?¡± Ling Yuanjing waved his hand and replied with a smile, ¡°How could I not personally attend such a significant event as Miss Dai Ling choosing a suitor?¡± Since a battle many years ago, Ling Yuanjing and Dai Danshu had become close friends, forming a beautiful tale in Jianghu. ¡°Peak Master Ling.¡± At this time, a middle-aged man in white robes chuckled, raised his cup, and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard some rumors that the Sect Leader of your sect plans to come down from the mountain, is there any truth to this?¡± The man¡¯s eyes sparkled bright, and he carried himself with an upright posture, his martial valor palpable even though he was clad in white robes. This man was none other than the Pingyang Marquis Yan Sheng, one of the three Marquises of Great Yan. At the mention of the Pingyang Marquis¡¯s question, everyone in the room felt a chill and looked his way. The movements of Xiao Qianqiu were a matter that weighed on many minds. ¡°Indeed.¡± Ling Yuanjing smiled and said, ¡°That Ghost Swordsman killed two true disciples of our Zhenyi Sect on Xuanqing Mountain, a fact you all must be aware of, right?¡± Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s descent from the mountain was no longer a secret. According to the schedule, he would set off the day after tomorrow, and Ling Yuanjing obviously had no intention of keeping it to himself. Last time the Ghost Swordsman killed two true disciples of the Zhenyi Sect on Xuanqing Mountain, it greatly tarnished the sect¡¯s reputation. Now was the time to seize the Ghost Swordsman and restore Zhenyi Sect¡¯s honor. Though many present had heard this news, getting confirmation directly from Ling Yuanjing still left them shocked. Xiao Qianqiu was really leaving the mountain! ¡°This is indeed good news.¡± Upon hearing this, Dai Danshu¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sharp light, ¡°Perhaps some people are not yet aware, but the head of our Five Poison Sect¡¯s Heavenly Centipede lineage, Zhang Zhixing, was slain by this man. His arrogance is boundless, lawless, showing no regard for the laws of Great Yan.¡± The members of the Five Poison Sect, upon hearing this, were filled with righteous indignation, their eyes carrying a hint of sorrow. Dai Ling clenched her silver teeth tightly; every time she thought of Tian Cansou¡¯s death, the flames of vengeance in her heart burned fiercer. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is elusive and adept in disguise, making him extremely hard to track down.¡± Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and said, ¡°It¡¯s said that Lou Xiangzhen is with him, and Lou Xiangzhen, as a Second Qi Grandmaster, is one of the top Sword Dao masters in the world; killing him will undoubtedly be very difficult.¡± Dai Danshu nodded. After Tian Cansou was killed, he had sent people to investigate the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s whereabouts, but to no avail, as if the man had sprung out of thin air. No one knew where he came from or where he was going. As the ruckus around the Ghost Swordsman grew, more and more formidable warriors fell or were defeated by him, making even the Five Poison Young Master hesitant to act rashly and instead, decided to let it be. Yan Sheng, however, remained composed, not particularly concerned about the grudges in Jianghu. What really piqued his interest now was the relationship between Lou Xiangzhen and the Ghost Swordsman, such that Lou Xiangzhen would willingly follow him. He knew a bit about the older generation of Jianghu masters like Lou Xiangzhen. Such a man was prideful by nature, hardly anyone could catch his eye. Dai Danshu inhaled deeply and said, ¡°If Sect Leader Xiao takes action this time to eliminate this scourge from Jianghu, that would be for the best.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Dai.¡± Ling Yuanjing solemnly said, ¡°Once my teacher brother makes his move, that man will have no choice but to surrender.¡± The people of the Five Poison Sect all nodded slightly; with Xiao Qianqiu taking action, the Ghost Swordsman, no matter how capable, could not escape today. Dai Ling exhaled, thinking to herself, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Ghost Swordsman will not die by my hand; he¡¯s getting off too easy. I hope Sect Leader Xiao doesn¡¯t let him die too comfortably.¡± As time continued to dwindle, her hatred grew increasingly intense. Qiu Heng smiled lightly, raised his glass, and said, ¡°Eliminating an enemy, together with today¡¯s events, must mean double happiness is at your door, Brother Dai.¡± Dai Danshu glanced at Dai Ling and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Double happiness is perhaps a bit premature; after all, my approval doesn¡¯t matter when choosing a suitor, it ultimately depends on my daughter¡¯s decision.¡± Qiu Heng looked at Dai Ling and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Ling¡¯er is so beautifully delicate and also resolute and ambitious. Seeing so many young talents here today, I believe there are few who are truly worthy of her.¡± He was highly interested in Dai Ling; if she could become his daughter-in-law, he would probably wake up laughing in his dreams. That was also why he brought Qiu Lun to Five Poison Mountain today. ¡°Uncle Qiu is joking.¡± Dai Ling behaved properly and with grace. Just then, a figure rushed in hastily. At that moment, a Deacon of the Five Poison Sect rushed in and said, ¡°Sect Master, the auspicious time has arrived, and many people have already gathered at the mountain gate square.¡± Dai Danshu nodded his head, then smiled towards Qiu Heng and Ling Yuanjing, saying, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two come with me to have a look?¡± ¡°Please.¡± Ling Yuanjing stood up and gestured invitingly. Qiu Heng also nodded his head. ¡­.. On the square of Five Poison Mountain. Although Five Poison Mountain was not very high, there was a vast and broad platform constructed at the summit, spacious enough to accommodate thousands of people. At that moment, many Jianghu masters donned in unusual apparel had already gathered at the square, waiting for the grand event of the Five Poison Sect. ¡°Sister Jinxiu, are you here to enjoy the festivities today as well?¡± Qiu Lun asked warmly. Throughout their journey, the two seemed to have grown quite close and appeared very familiar with each other. Fang Jinxiu replied, ¡°Yes, my senior brother came under our master¡¯s orders, and I, having nothing else to do at the sect, came along with him.¡± To be able to form a marriage alliance with the Five Poison Sect was the wish of countless sects. ¡°What a coincidence, I am actually here to join in on the fun as well,¡± Qiu Lun rubbed his hands together. ¡°My father and Dai Sect Leader are good friends, so I am here to help maintain some order.¡± Qiu Lun looked at the stunningly beautiful Fang Jinxiu in front of him, his satisfaction growing the more he looked. At that moment, Fang Jinxiu was also feeling somewhat fearful internally; since her youth, few men dared to approach her because of her beauty, unlike Qiu Lun who was showing such attentive care today, her heart fluttering like a little deer, opening up her emotional gates. ¡°Young Marquis, the Marquis sends for you,¡± whispered a member of the Pingyang Guard who had approached silently at that moment. ¡°Tell the old man I¡¯m busy,¡± Qiu Lun said annoyed. It was not easy to meet a woman he liked; this was surely a match made in heaven. ¡°But¡­¡± The face of the Pingyang Guard immediately showed difficulty. Fang Jinxiu quickly said, ¡°Elder brother Qiu, you should go and see, perhaps the Marquis really has an urgent matter?¡± Qiu Lun looked at Fang Jinxiu and could not help but express, ¡°What a virtuous woman.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go and have a look now. Sister Jinxiu, please wait here for a moment,¡± Qiu Lun said with a smile, then hurried off towards the distance. The Pingyang Guard raised his head to look at the robust woman that seemed stout as a barrel, feeling as though countless needles were pricking his eyes, he forced a grin and quickly followed. In a corner of the square¡¯s viewing platform, Qiu Heng was anxiously waiting. ¡°Old man, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Qiu Lun came over, rather impatiently, and said, ¡°I¡¯m very busy right now.¡± The sister from the Fang family is waiting for me. Qiu Heng said irritably, ¡°You¡¯re over thirty and still not serious about anything? Were those skills given to you as a gift?¡± Qiu Lun quickly retorted, ¡°Serious business, I am doing just that right now.¡± ¡°You and your so-called ¡®serious business,''¡± Qiu Heng fiercely slapped the back of Qiu Lun¡¯s head, ¡°I have just the task for you now.¡± Did others not understand Qiu Lun? How could he not? ¡°What is it?¡± With a slap, Qiu Lun immediately wilted. Qiu Heng took a deep breath, his tone solemn, ¡°This time, in the Five Poison Sect¡¯s groom recruitment, you must win Dai Ling.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Qiu Lun thought he had heard wrong. Qiu Heng grabbed Qiu Lun¡¯s collar, fiercely saying, ¡°You have to succeed in this recruitment. I want you to become Dai Danshu¡¯s son-in-law, did you hear me?¡± Qiu Lun, who weighed over three to four hundred jin, was lifted up, thanks largely to the exceptional quality of his armor. Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun grimaced and said, ¡°Dad¡­ is Dai Ling perhaps a bit¡­¡± A bit unsatisfactory¡­ When he saw Qiu Heng¡¯s eyes, he swallowed the last four words back down. Qiu Heng, looking at the son he had fathered, bellowed, ¡°Are you blind? That niece from the Dai family is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, a beauty that captivates the heart, envied by many.¡± Sometimes, Qiu Heng even doubted if Qiu Lun was truly his own. Or had his eyes been enchanted!? ¡°I¡¯ll try my best,¡± he said. Qiu Lun sighed and said with resignation. Resolutely, Qiu Heng said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not about trying, if this doesn¡¯t work out, I am going to chop off that thing of yours and feed it to the dogs when I get home tonight.¡± Shocked by Qiu Heng¡¯s stern words, Qiu Lun nodded reluctantly. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡­¡­ At the plaza of the Five Poison Sect: An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen stood in a corner, with a dense crowd of martial artists in front of them. ¡°Old Lou, do you think I¡¯ll get caught if I sneak into the Thunder Pool now?¡± An Jing whispered as he looked out over the plaza. This was also his first time attending this great martial gathering, and he felt a bit curious at the moment. Lou Xiangzhen said slowly, ¡°The entrance to the Thunder Pool is interwoven with Lei Qi, a blunt intrusion will cause a huge commotion, unless the people from the Five Poison Sect are deaf, you will definitely be discovered.¡± ¡°There are only two ways for you to enter the Thunder Pool: either break in forcefully or have someone from the Five Poison Sect let you in.¡± After hearing this, An Jing pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°What is the cultivation level of the ancestors of the Five Poison Sect?¡± With a faint smile, Lou Xiangzhen said, ¡°His surname is Feng. It was he who led the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect. Dame Duanmu Xinghua of the Demon Sect Heavenly Sect almost died by his hand, and it¡¯s because of him that the Five Poison Sect has avoided retribution from the Demon Sect. What do you think his cultivation is like?¡± Realization dawned on An Jing that it was this man who had led the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect. The Five Poison was initially a branch of the Demon Sect, but due to a highly skilled individual emerging within, who was dissatisfied with the allocation of resources within the Demon Sect, he led the Five Poison to break away. This event was quite famous in the martial world at the time. An Jing thought that after so many years, this person would have already died. ¡°So, if you want to try breaking in.¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, ¡°Difficult, difficult, difficult!¡± His repetition of the word ¡®difficult¡¯ indeed illustrated the immense difficulty of breaking in. An Jing frowned; having come all the way to the Five Poison Mountain, he was somewhat reluctant to give up on entering the Thunder Pool. Just then, a man with a face as fine as jade and a handsome appearance ascended to the high center of the stage, followed by an extremely beautiful woman. An Jing looked over and thought to himself: She indeed looks very good. This woman was Dai Ling. Without saying, he knew that the man standing next to Dai Ling was none other than the renowned Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, of the Great Yan martial world. ¡°Senior Lou, do you think that¡¯s Ling Yuanjing?¡± Suddenly, An Jing noticed a familiar figure not far away and quickly transmitted his voice. ¡°It really is him,¡± Lou Xiangzhen acknowledged upon seeing Ling Yuanjing standing not far from the Five Poison Young Master, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He had a significant impression of Ling Yuanjing. This young man had encountered him upon entering the Jianghu, and at that time, Lou Xiangzhen had no good feelings about the Zhenyi Sect, hence Ling Yuanjing had a tough time under his hands. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please quiet down!¡± The Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, raised his hand, and then a loud voice resonated in all directions, sprawling out. The entire plaza quieted down a bit instantly, with everyone looking toward the stage. How beautiful! Many who saw Dai Ling for the first time felt a sense of astonishment. Dai Ling had inherited all the merits of her father, Dai Danshu, and even outshined him. Dai Danshu was a man known for rising to fame on the back of his good looks. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor that you have come to Mount Five Poison today,¡± said Dai Danshu with a smile. ¡°I think you have been waiting for a long time so I will cut to the chase. My daughter is seeking a suitor today, any young heroes below the age of thirty-five are welcome to try.¡± ¡°The examination will be held at the Thunder Cloud Platform, and the last young hero standing will qualify for the final round of assessment to become my son-in-law.¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t let you come here for nothing; the top three competitors who last the longest on the Thunder Cloud Platform will be allowed into the secret Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect for one day of cultivation.¡± Boom! As Dai Danshu¡¯s voice fell, the entire square immediately burst into discussion. ¡°This Five Poison Young Master is really generous; to think he could enter the Thunder Pool to cultivate for a day.¡± ¡°The Thunder Pool is a sacred place for cultivation.¡± ¡°That place at the Thunder Cloud Platform also seems quite extraordinary, doesn¡¯t it? It sounds like a trial site of the Five Poison Sect.¡± ¡°Being in the top three tests more than just one¡¯s strength, right?¡± ¡°If one becomes the son-in-law of the Five Poison Young Master, would there be any worries in the future? Not only would you be embracing a beauty, but isn¡¯t the Thunder Pool also something you can¡¯t just enter whenever you like? And there¡¯s the massive support of the Five Poison Sect.¡± ¡­¡­. The crowd was abuzz, each person¡¯s eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°What an opportunity!¡± An Jing heard this and was greatly moved. As long as he stayed in the top three, he would have the chance to enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation. With his strength, wasn¡¯t securing a spot in the top three within easy reach? ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a good opportunity.¡± Lou Xiangzhen commented playfully from the side, ¡°But you¡¯d better be careful to keep your identity hidden. If it gets exposed, Ling Yuanjing, the Five Poison Young Master, and the Pingyang Marquis won¡¯t let you off easily¡­.¡± If his identity were exposed today, the situation would become several times more dangerous than it had been at Xuanqing Mountain. An Jing confidently said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just need to secure the third place and enter the Thunder Pool. They probably won¡¯t focus their attention on me.¡± When it came to acting, he was serious. ¡°Let¡¯s hope nothing unexpected happens.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded. If they truly drew out the old ancestors of the Five Poison Sect, things would become greatly troublesome. Before long, the Five Poison Young Master shouted, ¡°Alright, all participating young heroes step forward to test your bone age, and prepare to enter the Thunder Cloud Platform.¡± The young heroes present all rubbed their hands and prepared themselves, some even starting to form alliances. Elders nearby cautiously advised and warned them. An Jing handed the Evil Suppressing Sword to Lou Xiangzhen, then found a human skin mask on his body, applied the Disguise Technique, changed his appearance again, and lastly dressed in a new set of clothes and a mask of a fierce green face. After repeatedly making sure in his mind many times that his identity would not be exposed, An Jing finally approached Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°You sure are cautious, kid.¡± Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing in front of him and said pensively, ¡°This makes me feel quite insecure.¡± ¡°Old man Lou, why do you need to feel secure?¡± An Jing said irritably, ¡°Just wait till I come out of the Thunder Pool; then I¡¯ll ride the Black Flood Dragon and take you flying.¡± Saying this, An Jing followed the large troop ahead. ¡°But being cautious is also a good thing.¡± Lou Xiangzhen watched An Jing¡¯s figure, nodding his head. Compared to others, he was more reassured about An Jing. Having been together for so long, he didn¡¯t even know what the kid really looked like. If it weren¡¯t for finding out his bone age last time, he still wouldn¡¯t know his actual age now. Mixing in the martial world, being cautious is never a mistake. An Jing, dressed in a white robe and wearing a mask of a fierce green face, looked entirely different from a Ghost Swordsman. Apart from him, there were also some swordsmen wearing bamboo hats or black robes, looking secretive; thus, his dress did not seem too odd. ¡°Stretch out your hand,¡± said a deacon of the Five Poison Sect indifferently. An Jing did not hesitate and immediately stretched out his palm. Then he thought internally, ¡°In the martial world, there are also martial arts methods to alter bone age. It would be good to learn one if I get the chance in the future.¡± ¡°Alright, go on in, the Thunder Cloud Platform is to the left,¡± the deacon of the Five Poison Sect touched An Jing¡¯s wrist, confirmed the bone age was not over thirty-five, and said. ¡°Thank you,¡± An Jing responded. Just as he was headed toward the Thunder Cloud Platform, a familiar figure appeared in his sight. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This person, dressed in a black robe similar to his own but smaller in stature, was currently sitting in a corner, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a sugarcoated haw on the other, with several pieces of leather paper spread on the ground full of cakes. At that moment, she was eating heartily as if nobody else was around. This peculiar scene appeared somewhat out of place among the busy crowd around, but nobody noticed her. ¡­¡­ PS: There will be another chapter tonight, though it might be very late. Please subscribe for the full series. Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Thunder Beast Appears in the Thunder Pool Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Thunder Beast Appears in the Thunder Pool Qiu Lun and An Jing clashed with a palm strike, and Qi Mechanism immediately trembled within him, fresh blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. But before he could revel in self-satisfaction, what occurred before him left him dumbstruck. An Jing¡¯s body was actually sent flying a dozen meters backward, followed by two rolls on the ground before he managed to get up with difficulty, shakily saying, ¡°Young Marquis, your strength is profound, indeed you¡¯re no ordinary man¡­¡± The onlookers below the stage were all startled, their hearts shocked beyond measure. ¡°The Young Marquis truly deserves to be a high-level expert of the Human Flower Realm.¡± ¡°Just one palm strike, and he forced the mysterious expert back, he¡¯s just too strong.¡± ¡°That palm strike was surging and turbulent with Inner Strength, perhaps not even weaker than an average Earth Flower Realm expert, right?¡± ¡­¡­ Witnessing this scene, a tide of comments from the crowd below surged forth. On hearing this, Qiu Lun¡¯s face turned beet red, as if it was about to bleed. I was just putting on a show with that palm strike! Pretending! That man in white was absolutely pretending! An Jing sighed deeply, ¡°Not only does the Young Marquis have the grace and vigor of a noble, your strength is profound and unfathomable, I¡­.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go again.¡± Fearing An Jing would continue, Qiu Lun let out a low roar and charged at An Jing. God damn it! In an instant, the two were clashing once again, appearing extremely fierce, yet both were holding back, fearing they¡¯d inadvertently ¡®hurt¡¯ the other again. To the onlookers, it seemed as though the two were cautiously feeling each other out, making feints, tranquil like the calm before a storm. Perhaps this was the way high-level masters dueled. An Jing sent a message with his inner Qi, ¡°Young Marquis, the great beauty is right before your eyes, don¡¯t you really feel moved?¡± He truly couldn¡¯t understand Qiu Lun¡¯s way of thinking, to not want a beauty like Dai Ling. ¡°If you think she¡¯s a great beauty, why don¡¯t you take her!¡± Qiu Lun raised an eyebrow, responding in a strange tone. ¡°I cannot take her.¡± An Jing retorted irritably. Let alone the fact that he already had a family, even without one, he couldn¡¯t take her; at this moment, Dai Ling¡¯s innermost feelings probably involved eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and bringing her home would be like living with a ticking time bomb. ¡°Why should I take something you don¡¯t want?¡± Qiu Lun glared at An Jing, furious, and then a ¡®ferocious¡¯ palm strike came hurtling towards him, ¡°This beauty, you must take.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want her!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± An Jing¡¯s body stiffened as the palm strike hit him truly, obviously committed with great effort; blood trickled down the corner of his mouth as he shouted, ¡°Young Marquis, your cultivation is just too high¡­ I¡¯m no match for you.¡± With that said, An Jing moved swiftly to retreat, seemingly ready to concede and admit defeat. ¡°Crafty villain!¡± Qiu Lun was furious inside, his steps nonetheless chasing after An Jing. ¡°Young Marquis, what are you trying to do?!¡± An Jing asked, both shocked and scared, ¡°Could it be you still want to put me to death?¡± The crowd below was also greatly perplexed; it was clear that the man in white was about to admit defeat, so why was Qiu Lun still relentlessly pursuing him? ¡°Our competition isn¡¯t over yet, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Qiu Lun sent the message with his inner Qi, then reached out to grab An Jing. Then come on. An Jing stood still as if petrified, waiting for Qiu Lun¡¯s palm to ¡®put him to death.¡¯ It was time for a showdown of acting skills. However, just as Qiu Lun was about to touch An Jing, it seemed like a tremendous force suddenly struck out. ¡°Not good!¡± ¡°Not good!¡± Both shouted almost simultaneously. Qiu Lun was hit by an incredibly mighty rebounding force, and like a kite with its string cut, he plummeted below the stage, making a tremendous noise. ¡°` However, An Jing also rapidly retreated, but he had just reached the edge of the Thunder Cloud Platform when he realized he was one step too late. Whoosh! The audience watched this scene in stunned silence, their eyes wide and mouths agape. No one had expected that Qiu Lun, who had until recently been firmly in the lead, would now be lying beneath the Thunder Cloud Platform. The turn of events had been so swift that everyone had yet to react. ¡°What overbearing Protective Gang Qi.¡± Covering his plump belly, Qiu Lun wailed, ¡°Sir, what a clever scheme, Qiu Lun will remember this.¡± ¡°You¡­ you!?¡± An Jing pointed at the fatty below the Thunder Cloud Platform, stuttering and unable to utter another word. A day spent hunting geese, and now the geese have pecked out his eyes. The big fat man was cunning enough; An Jing hadn¡¯t expected him to be so shameless, pretending to be blown away without a trace of Inner Strength leaking from his body. He wasn¡¯t even pretending anymore; he blatantly threw the blame onto An Jing. It¡¯s all rigged, damn it all to rigged machinations! Qiu Lun got to his feet, cupped his hands towards An Jing on the platform, and righteously proclaimed, ¡°Brother, I, Qiu Lun, am not a sore loser. I admit defeat today!¡± ¡°All I can do is wish brother a happy marriage and a speedy arrival of your firstborn child.¡± Having said that, Qiu Lun quickly walked away, not giving An Jing a chance to speak. He had to leave, for he feared he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°I!¡± Watching the large man¡¯s retreating figure, An Jing felt a mix of shock and rage, wishing he could call forth the Evil Suppressing Sword to pierce a few holes in him right then and there. Today, it seemed he had truly been played by that fatty. Ling Yuanjing, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, saying, ¡°Indeed, a scion of the Kuiyuan Sect.¡± He had not sensed the slightest leakage of Inner Strength, yet Qiu Lun was sent flying; only the mental method of the Kuiyuan Sect could achieve such an effect. Qiu Heng, upon witnessing this scene, furrowed his brows in thought; he had seen clearly that the man in white seemed ready to admit defeat¡­ Could there be a hidden trick or profound secret? ¡°This is somewhat unexpected.¡± The Five Poison Young Master glanced at An Jing on the platform and then asked, ¡°Ling¡¯er, what do you think?¡± Dai Ling responded indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s first see his true face.¡± For some reason, she couldn¡¯t help feeling an inexplicable aversion towards the man in white. This feeling was different from her attitude towards Qiu Lun; at most, she was slightly repulsed by him. Meanwhile, Lou Xiangzhen, standing afar, froze at the scene, then smiled after a thought, ¡°This lad is also susceptible to schemes. It looks like there¡¯s a feast I can enjoy.¡± An Jing had always been sly despite his young age, and it was extremely difficult to gain an advantage over him. Lou Xiangzhen couldn¡¯t contain his joy at seeing An Jing outmaneuvered by that fatty. ¡°So familiar, could it really be him?¡± Tan Yun stared intently at the man in white, and upon seeing those familiar eyes, her heart shuddered. The Ghost Swordsman! She would never forget those eyes; the man in white was the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Why is he here? Could he be aiming to become the son-in-law of the Five Poison Sect?¡± Tan Yun became anxious; she even dropped her chicken leg without realizing it. The Ghost Swordsman had come to take part in the Five Poison Sect¡¯s son-in-law contest and had claimed the first place, about to become their son-in-law. Clutching her lips tightly, Tan Yun felt disturbed, ¡°No, I absolutely can¡¯t let this happen, absolutely not.¡± The miss had always said, one must fight for one¡¯s own happiness. On the Thunder Cloud Platform. At this moment, An Jing was somewhat bewildered, everything was contrary to his initial intentions. Just then, a deacon of the Five Poison Sect stepped forward and said, ¡°This young hero, the Sect Leader requests your presence.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± An Jing replied, bracing himself. Now, he could only pray that he wouldn¡¯t expose himself, for as long as he entered the Thunder Pool, and the Thousand-year-old Black Boa fully transformed into the Black Flood Dragon, none of this would matter. The Five Poison Sect deacon led the way, and soon they arrived at the high platform. At that moment, the Five Poison Young Master, Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng, Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Ling Yuanjing, and many other experts stood to the side. ¡°Wu Qiren pays his respects to Sect Master Dai and the other esteemed seniors,¡± An Jing greeted with a bow. ¡°` While on the stage, An Jing had already thought of a pseudonym. Since the Great Zhou Royal Family had the surname Wu, and he carried the royal bloodline, why not call himself Wu Qiren? With a slight nod, Dai Danshu seemed quite satisfied as he nodded, ¡°Not bad, a hero emerges from youth.¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± Ling Yuanjing raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at An Jing in front of him. ¡°Brother Ling, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Dai Danshu also noticed Ling Yuanjing¡¯s small movement and couldn¡¯t help but ask through a transmitted message. Ling Yuanjing replied, ¡°I feel that this person¡¯s figure looks somewhat familiar, as if I¡¯ve seen him somewhere before, but I have seldom left the mountain in recent years, so it might just be my imagination.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, let¡¯s have him remove the mask later.¡± Dai Danshu said with a faint smile. An Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he was observing secretly. He too had noticed Ling Yuanjing¡¯s frown earlier. Could it be that the old fellow had recognized him? Thinking of this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. Now was the most agonizing moment. He didn¡¯t know what Ling Yuanjing was thinking, whether he had spotted something amiss with him. If Ling Yuanjing had seen through him, this would be like walking into a trap. If he hadn¡¯t been discovered, An Jing¡¯s own anxiety might betray him. Fortunately, An Jing¡¯s Qi cultivation skills were substantial, and he quickly adjusted his state of mind. The Five Poison Young Master smiled and said, ¡°I have witnessed your strength, and it is quite impressive. Now that you have claimed the title, would you be willing to take off your mask for us to see?¡± Dai Ling also looked over; she wanted to see the true face of this person as well. ¡°Yes.¡± An Jing clasped his fists and then removed the mask from his face. It was a rugged and resolute face, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, appearing neither old nor young, but very mature and steady. Dai Ling glanced over a few times, and in her heart, she couldn¡¯t quite say she was pleased, but nor could she say she was dissatisfied. At the very least, his appearance wasn¡¯t odd, and he was passable to look at. Upon seeing this, the Five Poison Young Master let out a sigh of relief and then transmitted a message, ¡°Brother Ling, do you recognize him?¡± After pondering for a moment, Ling Yuanjing shook his head and said, ¡°No, it must have been my imagination.¡± He always felt that this person¡¯s silhouette was familiar¡­ but the thought seemed absurd, and their Qi mechanisms were completely different. That person¡¯s strength was even above his own. Meanwhile, Qiu Heng couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Are you perhaps the successor of the Kuiyuan Sect?¡± What he wanted to know now was whether the person in front of him was really the successor of the Kuiyuan Sect, and whether Qiu Lun had truly been defeated or if it was just a ruse. ¡°This¡­¡± An Jing was suddenly at a loss for words, as he knew nothing about the Kuiyuan Sect. But he knew that speaking too much under so many watchful eyes would surely lead to mistakes. ¡°Young Master Wu, you need not say more.¡± Seeing An Jing appear to have difficulties expressing himself, Qiu Heng slightly raised his eyebrows but said no more. ¡°Overall, I am quite satisfied with you,¡± the Five Poison Young Master said slowly as he looked at An Jing. ¡°But if you wish to become my son-in-law, you must still pass one final test.¡± No, I don¡¯t want to. Naturally, An Jing could not voice his inner thoughts and instead clasped his fists, saying, ¡°Wu would like to give it a try¡­¡± But as he spoke, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. ¡°If you have any concerns, feel free to speak up,¡± the Five Poison Young Marquis said indifferently. An Jing asked straightforwardly, ¡°If Wu fails this test, I wonder about the Thunder Pool¡­¡± His main goal, after all, was the Thunder Pool; the rest were of no concern to him. At this, the Five Poison Young Marquis replied, ¡°Rest assured, whether or not you pass the test, you may enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation.¡± An Jing smiled upon hearing this and said, ¡°Then I thank Sect Leader Dai. May I know what the last test entails?¡± The Five Poison Young Master narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, ¡°The last test is to gain the approval of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s protective exotic beast, the Thunder Beast.¡± The Thunder Beast?! Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. Lou Xiangzhen had told him yesterday that within the Five Poison Sect¡¯s Thunder Pool, there resided an exotic beast that resembled a crocodile, with sharp claws, a forked tail, and blinding speed, appearing with the sound of thunder. It seemed this beast had come into existence along with the Thunder Pool, and could live for a thousand years, though it certainly wasn¡¯t as formidable as the Thousand-year-old Black Boa, an extremely fierce exotic beast. An Jing remained silent, but Ling Yuanjing beside him chuckled lightly. ¡°The Thunder Beast of the Five Poison Sect is also considered a rare treasure of the world. So far, I have not had the chance to see it; maybe today I will get the opportunity.¡± Qiu Heng was also stirred, his eyes carrying a trace of curiosity. Although the Five Poison Sect¡¯s exotic beast wasn¡¯t as renowned as the Buddhist miraculous manifestations, it was still a rare beast in the world. Dai Danshu shook his head upon hearing this, ¡°You two may be disappointed. It¡¯s not just you; even I have only seen the Thunder Beast once.¡± ¡°That beast resides in the depths of the Thunder Pool year-round, and ordinary people standing at a distance from the Thunder Pool are fortunate to even hear its calls, let alone see it in person. So far, only Elder Feng has been able to make it appear.¡± The Thunder Beast of the Five Poison Sect is not as ferocious as the Thousand-year-old Black Python, an Exotic Beast of extraordinary viciousness; it is considerably more docile by nature and highly perceptive. Unless it smells the aura of a person with Great Destiny, it generally lies submerged at the bottom of the Thunder Pool and doesn¡¯t surface to the shore. Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu, up until now, had only seen the creature once, and that was when the Five Poison Sect¡¯s ancestor used the Thunder Pool to break through to the level of Second Qi Grandmaster. Only then did the Thunder Beast emerge from the Thunder Pool, showing its head and taking a distant glance. ¡°That¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Heng looked at Dai Danshu with some confusion. Seeing the Thunder Beast was so difficult that gaining its acknowledgment seemed even more impossibly challenging. Dai Danshu said, ¡°As long as Junior Wu can make the Thunder Beast call out a few times with his aura, that would suffice.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Alright, I am willing to give it a try.¡± Right now, he only wished to enter the Thunder Pool; he cared little for anything else. ¡°Good, then let Brother Ling and Brother Qiu come with me as well,¡± Dai Danshu ordered and then got up and walked toward the back of the square. An Jing and the others followed suit. Along the way, Dai Danshu kept probing An Jing with seemingly casual questions that were, in fact, designed to elicit information. Fortunately, An Jing was no greenhorn and responded with great caution and care. Generally, his answers implied he was the inheritor of a reclusive master, having started wandering Jianghu not long ago after the hidden master had barely passed on most of his Martial Arts knowledge before departing this world. Generally, his story sounded flawless. After communicating with each other through voice transmission, Dai Danshu and Qiu Heng were mostly convinced of An Jing¡¯s identity. He was very likely the inheritor of the Kuiyuan Sect. Only Ling Yuanjing remained somewhat skeptical in his heart. Knowing that the peerless master who taught An Jing had died, Dai Danshu felt a pang of regret in his heart, but upon reflection, if he could get this person to stay permanently at the Five Poison Sect, it would also be a beautiful affair. Although Dai Ling did not speak, her beautiful and moving eyes occasionally swept toward An Jing, as if trying to discern something from him. ¡°Dai Ling¡¯s gaze is also peculiar.¡± An Jing felt his skin crawl upon noticing her eyes. Shortly after, the group reached a platform in the heavens. High above, the platform was surrounded by mountains, and looking down and ahead, there was a cloud of white smoke filled with a golden halo. The Thunder Pool!? Seeing that divine scenic halo brimming with Spiritual Energy, An Jing knew that what lay ahead must be the Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect. Ling Yuanjing, beholding the drifting white smoke ahead, couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°This Thunder Pool truly is a place of divine beauty, a rare find indeed.¡± Qiu Heng nodded in agreement, his heart filled with emotion. Initially, because the Five Poison Sect¡¯s ancestor was highly skilled, and with both the Zhenyi Sect and the Human Emperor wanting to support the Five Poison Sect against the Demon Sect, they granted the Mountain Gate Order for this place to the Five Poison Sect. Everyone knew that just with this uniquely favored Thunder Pool, one could build a major sect; in the end, the Five Poison Sect reaped the benefits. ¡°How should I proceed now?¡± Asked An Jing. He was eager to have the Thousand-year-old Black Python enter the Thunder Pool; once the Black Python underwent the Jiao Transformation, he could go anywhere under the heavens. Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu said, ¡°You just need to spread out your Inner Strength; if the Thunder Beast senses your Qi Mechanism, it might respond to you.¡± Hearing this, An Jing gave a slight nod, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± He then walked forward slowly, looking down at the vast white smoke below. Right within this boundless smoke lay the Thunder Pool. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Exhaling gently, An Jing began to spread his Inner Strength slowly. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± A wave of Cultivation-based Inner Strength suddenly surged forth like a tide, quickly pouring into the white fog and blending within it. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing felt that the moment his Inner Strength entered the white smoke, it dissipated into nothingness, as if snow had met flame and melted away in an instant. After that, the white smoke ahead turned deadly silent, without the slightest sound. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± An Jing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and then turned to Dai Danshu with an ugly expression, ¡°Sect Master Dai, this¡­?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry, just wait a little longer.¡± The Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu looked ahead and said, ¡°All right.¡± An Jing sighed with annoyance, then stood aside. Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng kept their eyes on the billowing white smoke, while Dai Ling kept her gaze fixed on An Jing. An Jing felt very uncomfortable being watched like this and couldn¡¯t help but grin at her with a forced smile. Dai Ling¡¯s expression turned cold, and then she looked away. Half a quarter of an hour went by without realizing it. Dai Danshu, seeing that there was still no change, couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and say, ¡°It seems that young master Wu has not succeeded.¡± Getting a response from the Thunder Beast was extremely difficult, so it was within his expectation that An Jing would fail, but he still felt somewhat regretful. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s really a pity,¡± said An Jing with feigned regret on his face, but inside, he was overjoyed. Qiu Heng looked at the smoke ahead and said, ¡°It seems that obtaining the Thunder Beast¡¯s approval isn¡¯t an easy task.¡± In his opinion, the cultivation of Wu Qiren in front of him was not bad, and being under thirty-five years old, he could be considered talented, but he had failed to get a response from the Thunder Beast, which showed its pride. Ling Yuanjing commented quietly, ¡°You needn¡¯t be too upset; this might even turn out to be a good thing for you.¡± Could it be that he had really guessed wrong? An Jing felt disheartened and said, ¡°Thank you for the guidance, senior. It¡¯s just that my talents and learning are shallow, and I lack the capacity for such good fortune.¡± ¡°You seem quite pleased?¡± Dai Ling suddenly said, staring into An Jing¡¯s eyes. ¡°No¡­ not at all.¡± An Jing was startled by Dai Ling¡¯s comment and replied with a calm facade, ¡°Why would Miss Dai say such a thing?¡± Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng also looked over. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Dai Ling shook her head and said no more. Dai Danshu then instructed, ¡°Ling¡¯er, go and call Bai Zhi and the young marquis now. Let them enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation today.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dai Ling responded and prepared to head towards the square. Excellent! An Jing was elated within, knowing he was about to enter the Thunder Pool. ¡°Chirp chirp!¡± ¡°Chirp chirp!¡± Just as Dai Ling had taken a few steps away, a sharp voice pierced through the white smoke like a pointed sword. ¡°The Thunder Beast! That¡¯s the Thunder Beast¡¯s cry!¡± The Five Poison Young Master¡¯s face changed, and he quickly looked down at the white smoke below. ¡°Oh!?¡± Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng also looked over. Dai Ling furrowed her brows, then glanced at the somewhat bewildered An Jing before turning her attention back to the white smoke. ¡°What!?¡± At that moment, An Jing¡¯s heart was filled with astonishment, but he had to maintain a look of utter surprise on his face. ¡°Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!¡± The voice kept coming from within the white smoke. The Five Poison Young Master couldn¡¯t help but laugh and said, ¡°That is the voice of the Thunder Beast, crisp as a bird¡¯s song. I didn¡¯t expect it to come so late, almost causing us to miss it.¡± ¡°Congratulations to you, Brother Dai,¡± said Qiu Heng, his expression complex and his heart slightly sour. It seems that his own family¡¯s pig failed to shine. ¡°Congratulations, congratulations!¡± Ling Yuanjing continued to gesture respectfully, then turned to look at the ¡®overjoyed¡¯ An Jing, who was at a loss for words, ¡°Young Master Wu, aren¡¯t you going to meet your father-in-law!?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right.¡± An Jing snapped out of it and quickly said to the Five Poison Young Master, ¡°Greetings to my father-in-law!¡± Dai Ling¡¯s brows were tightly knit, as if contemplating something. ¡°Hahahaha, there¡¯s no need for such formality.¡± The Five Poison Young Master was all smiles, quite satisfied with this Wu Qiren. A successor of Kuiyuan Sect, with profound cultivation, excellent aptitude, and seemingly loyal and honest by nature, he had no other relatives at home, and could therefore remain at the Five Poison Sect permanently. Decades later, surrounded by children and grandchildren, he himself could enjoy his twilight years in comfort. This thought was indeed quite pleasing. ¡°Hmm? What is that!?¡± Just then, Ling Yuanjing pointed at the white smoke in shock. Within the white smoke, a strange head seemed to emerge, cautiously peering over at them before it appeared to notice something frightening in its eyes. ¡°Splash!¡± A sound of water splashing was heard, and the head vanished into the white smoke, as if it had never appeared. ¡°Thunder Beast!?¡± The Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, exclaimed in disbelief: ¡°That was a Thunder Beast!¡± ¡°That was a Thunder Beast?¡± Ling Yuanjing also showed a surprised expression, ¡°No wonder I felt the spiritual energy fluctuations from the white smoke. So that was the Thunder Beast.¡± Dai Ling¡¯s cold eyes were wide with disbelief. Qiu Heng, with his hands behind his back, continued to look around as if searching for the fleeting shadow of the Thunder Beast, and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Could the Thunder Beast have appeared because of Young Master Wu¡¯s presence?¡± With that, he turned to look at An Jing, who was ¡®surprised¡¯ into a stupor. ¡°I¡­.¡± An Jing stammered, but internally cursing, I don¡¯t bloody know a thing. The Five Poison Young Master patted An Jing¡¯s shoulder and laughed heartily, ¡°Son-in-law, it must be you. Just now, only you released your aura, and the Thunder Beast must have come in response to your breath. There is absolutely no mistake.¡± Dai Danshu finally saw the Thunder Beast again, the last time he had seen it was when the old ancestor of the Five Poison Sect, Feng Lingyue, made a breakthrough in the Second Qi, which seemed to have disturbed the Thunder Beast, allowing him a fortunate glimpse. The Thunder Beast must have come for Wu Qiren, which means that Wu Qiren is a person with great destiny. Throughout history, those with great destiny invariably achieved greatness if they did not die young. The Five Poison Young Master had never imagined that today¡¯s marriage alliance would actually bring in someone with such a fate. His heart was already blossoming with joy. Looking at An Jing¡¯s simple and honest face, he grew even more satisfied. ¡°Hehehe¡­. is that so?¡± An Jing chuckled dryly, awkwardly touching the back of his head. Seeing this, Ling Yuanjing couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°It seems, Brother Dai, that you are quite pleased with him.¡± ¡°Pleased, very pleased indeed,¡± Dai Danshu said, his mood uplifted, his previously somber state completely dissipated. Dai Ling looked at An Jing without saying a word. Qiu Heng suggested, ¡°Brother Dai, shouldn¡¯t we prepare a feast now? This event deserves a celebration.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Dai Danshu nodded repeatedly, ¡°This great news must be shared immediately with everyone; they are all waiting for updates.¡± ¡°But what about the Thunder Pool¡­¡± An Jing pointed to the Thunder Pool below. Dai Danshu smiled and said, ¡°Son-in-law, no need to worry. I shall arrange for Bai Zhi and young nephew Qiu to come here. You all can cultivate in this Thunder Pool tonight. Today I have to make some arrangements at Five Poison Mountain. After you come out tomorrow, we can proceed with the wedding without any issue.¡± Upon hearing Dai Danshu¡¯s words, An Jing breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°I¡¯ll leave everything to my father-in-law¡¯s arrangement.¡± If the Five Poison Young Master had insisted on performing the marriage ceremony first before letting him enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, things would have been much more complicated. Tomorrow? We¡¯ll see if he would still be around to talk about it tomorrow. ¡°Son-in-law, please wait here for a moment, I¡¯ll go make the arrangements now.¡± Dai Danshu was very joyful inside, ¡°Ling¡¯er, later you arrange for them to enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, I will go take care of other matters.¡± After speaking, Dai Danshu walked towards the plaza. ¡°Tomorrow, we shall drink to the wedding of Young Master Wu and niece Dai,¡± Qiu Heng smiled and then left. Ling Yuanjing left without a word, looking preoccupied with his own thoughts. ¡°Phew¡­¡­¡± Watching the figures of the others disappear, An Jing¡¯s heart eased slightly. ¡°You seem very nervous.¡± Just then, a cold voice rang out. ¡°Not too bad.¡± An Jing turned his head to look, and saw that Dai Ling was still staring at him. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, I don¡¯t like you, but my father seems quite satisfied with you,¡± Dai Ling said indifferently. For some reason, looking at Wu Qiren in front of her made her feel uncomfortable. It was a kind of instinctual intuition. Thus, she did not want this marriage. An Jing chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s for the best, you think I like you?¡± The fatso was right, nobody likes an ice mountain. ¡°Once you enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, I will speak to my father and arrange for you to have an additional three days of training there to compensate you,¡± Dai Ling looked earnestly at An Jing: ¡°If there is anything else you are not satisfied with, feel free to bring it up now. If possible, I will satisfy your demands.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but sigh lightly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I, An Jing, have nothing more to say.¡± He was satisfied, indeed very satisfied with this outcome which alleviated much of An Jing¡¯s guilt. ¡°Good, then let¡¯s agree on this,¡± Dai Ling said softly. Neither of them spoke again. Although they stood close to each other, it felt like there was an insurmountable gulf between them. Shortly after, two figures approached from not too far away; it was Bai Zhi and the fatso Qiu Lun. ¡°Congratulations, Brother Wu,¡± Seeing An Jing, Qiu Lun greeted him with a big smile plastered on his face. At this moment, An Jing wished he could give the fatso a couple of punches, but he still put on a smiling face. Alas! Bai Zhi glanced at Dai Ling, whose beauty was breathtaking, and felt a surge of envy. Why can¡¯t that person be me? ¡°Follow me, all three of you,¡± Dai Ling spoke softly, then walked towards a high platform and stopped in front of a stone door, pressing down a mechanism. ¡°Thump!¡± ¡°Thump!¡± As the mechanism was activated, the stone door also slowly opened, revealing a narrow flight of stone steps before the three men. Pointing at the stone steps, Dai Ling said, ¡°These steps lead to the Thunder Pool. The pool contains a great deal of essence, which makes it extremely hot, like being roasted by thunder flames. Even grandmasters who have tempered their Golden Bones wouldn¡¯t dare to stay in the Pool for long, so you three must remember not to get too close.¡± ¡°Around ten yards from the Thunder Pool, there will be essence mist drifting about. All of you have First Grade cultivation. If it¡¯s your first time entering the Pool, absorbing the mist will speed up your cultivation and bring you great benefits.¡± An Jing gave a fist salute and said, ¡°I understand.¡± Bai Zhi and Qiu Lun also nodded. ¡°All right, you may go now,¡± Continuing, Dai Ling looked at Qiu Lun and Bai Zhi, ¡°Remember, you only have one day.¡± Having spoken, Dai Ling walked off into the distance. ¡°Why do we only get to cultivate for one day, and so quickly the distinction between insiders and outsiders is made?¡± Watching Dai Ling¡¯s retreating figure, Qiu Lun snorted coldly, then turned to An Jing with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve snagged yourself a valuable fiancee.¡± An Jing brushed off Qiu Lun¡¯s hand with irritation and turned to head towards the Thunder Pool; he was familiar with the terrain and still had to control the Thousand-year-old Black Boa to enter the Pool later. There would be time to deal with this pesky fatty afterward. ¡­.. Five Poison Sect, the square. Many of the martial artists from Jianghu had already dispersed, but some had not yet left. That¡¯s when Dai Danshu stepped up to the front of the stage and announced loudly, ¡°Valued friends from Jianghu who have come from afar, tomorrow is my daughter¡¯s wedding day. I, Dai Danshu, will host a grand feast, and I hope you all will grace the occasion.¡± ¡°Congratulations to Sect Leader Dai!¡± ¡°Congratulations, Sect Leader Dai.¡± ¡°This is a joyous occasion. No matter what, we should all attend.¡± ¡­¡­ Upon hearing this, the crowd began to offer their congratulations. ¡°What!?¡± Tan Yun, who had been waiting for a long time, felt a sudden dizziness rush over her, nearly causing her to fall. He was getting married!? How could this be possible!? At that moment, several disciples of the Five Poison Sect came out, holding red silk streamers. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Tan Yun asked hastily as soon as she saw them. ¡°What else? Obviously, we are decorating for the festive occasion,¡± they replied. The Five Poison Sect disciple glanced at Tan Yun and said irritably. ¡°Arranging a wedding celebration?¡± Tan Yun blinked. ¡°Of course, Wu the Younger is about to become my Five Poison Sect¡¯s son-in-law, remember to come and have a drink at the wedding feast tomorrow.¡± The Five Poison Sect disciple said with a chuckle. ¡°No way!¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun immediately wrinkled her nose in protest. ¡°What do you mean ¡®no way¡¯?¡± The Five Poison Sect disciple suddenly became displeased, ¡°Are you looking for trouble?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t make you understand.¡± Tan Yun waved her hand and hurriedly said, ¡°I need to see your Sect Leader, Dai Danshu.¡± She had been seeking the Ghost Swordsman for several months; how could he marry the daughter of Dai Danshu, the leader of the Five Poison Sect? This was something that Tan Yun absolutely would not allow. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± The Five Poison Sect disciple snorted, ¡°You think you can just see our Sect Leader whenever you wish?¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t let me see him, I¡­ I will¡­¡± Tan Yun¡¯s face turned red with anger, but for a moment, she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Fine, now I see, you¡¯re here to stir up trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡± The expression of the Five Poison Sect disciple turned icy as he spoke coldly. To dare come to the mountain and cause trouble on the Five Poison Sect¡¯s day of great joy, this person must be incredibly audacious. ¡°Hm!? Little girl?¡± Just then, Lou Xiangzhen, who was about to leave, noticed Tan Yun. He clearly remembered that kid, who, in order to save this girl, had even dared to confront the Heavenly Sword. ¡°You are¡­?¡± Tan Yun also saw Lou Xiangzhen and then suddenly remembered, ¡°You¡¯re that old man who was with the Ghost Swordsman?¡± ¡°Old man!?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow. This girl was as impolite as that boy. Birds of a feather flock together, people are known by the company they keep. ¡­¡­. Inside the Five Poison Hall. At this moment, Dai Danshu was brimming with joy. Thinking of Wu Qiren, who clearly possessed a great fortune and had a boundless future, how could he not be happy? Furthermore, Wu Qiren was considered morally upright in his sect, and he appeared to be very honest; Dai Danshu thought it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to have him stay in the Five Poison Sect in the future. Dai Danshu thought of something and called out sharply, ¡°Third, go and tell the elder ancestor that Ling¡¯er has found a good match, and ask him to come to the banquet tonight. He always loved Ling¡¯er the most, and he will surely come.¡± ¡°Brother, I understand. I¡¯ll go invite the elder ancestor right away.¡± A middle-aged man, also smiling, quickly walked towards the inner hall. Ling Yuanjing¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. He always felt that Wu Qiren looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere, but he couldn¡¯t quite place where. Qiu Huan laughed, ¡°Brother Dai, we must have a good drink tomorrow.¡± ¡°Indeed, we shall drink until we¡¯re thoroughly inebriated,¡± Dai Danshu replied, waving his hand, then turned to look at Ling Yuanjing, ¡°Brother Ling, don¡¯t think too much. Tomorrow we shall drink heartily.¡± Ling Yuanjing chuckled dryly, ¡°Alright.¡± Just then, a Zhenyi Sect disciple hurried in, went up to Ling Yuanjing, and whispered, ¡°Uncle Ling, there are secret reports from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and Wind and Rain Tower.¡± Secret reports from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and Wind and Rain Tower naturally meant that they had found information about those two people. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyebrows lifted, and he quickly said, ¡°Let me see them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hearing this, the Zhenyi Sect disciple quickly pulled out two secret reports from his bosom. Ling Yuanjing immediately opened the reports and swiftly scanned them. When he clearly saw the contents of the reports, he ¡®boom¡¯ shot to his feet and his expression dramatically changed. ¡°So it¡¯s him!¡± Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: 161 Palms, Great Sun Tathagata Appears in the Mountains Chapter 161: 161 Palms, Great Sun Tathagata Appears in the Mountains Not only Bai Zhi, but Qiu Lun beside him also showed a look of shock. ¡°My God, the ferocious beast recorded in the history books, we have really seen it today. If such a beast enters the battlefield, what kind of terrifying existence would that be?¡± Those hard scales were obviously not something that mundane weapons could penetrate. If deployed during a battle between armies, it would certainly be a mighty weapon of war. As time ticked away, the pitch-black night gradually became somewhat translucent, with the break of dawn painting the sky with the light of the fish belly white. However, within the Thunder Pool, the three people were extraordinarily focused, all staring ahead. ¡°Crack crack crack crack!¡± At the moment when the black snake skin shed, a pair of strong claws emerged from its waist and abdomen. ¡°The Jiao Transformation has succeeded.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart was also filled with immense joy. He could clearly sense the changes in the Thousand-year-old Black Python, especially after it had devoured the inner core of the Thunder Beast, which transformed into violent Thunder Essence within the python¡¯s body. It was unexpected that such an exotic beast really existed in this world, which meant that transforming into a True Dragon might also be possible. However, the process of transforming into a True Dragon would likely be many times harder than the Jiao Transformation. The Thousand-year-old Black Python continued to twist its body in the water, absorbing the Essence from the Thunder Pool bit by bit, causing the water in the pool to become somewhat transparent. Soon after, the snake skin shed towards the head, and the python¡¯s gill slits began to bulge. The wrinkled snake skin fell off bit by bit, and the gill slits completely retracted, forming two bulges, as if something was about to protrude from them. ¡°Splash splash!¡± The water in the Thunder Pool had become very transparent and turbulent, surging unevenly. An Jing, controlling the Thousand-year-old Black Python, distinctly felt that the water around the pool became very harmonious, as if moving in it were swifter than on land. Not only that, he seemed able to control the surrounding waters for several meters. ¡°Roar!¡± The body of the Thousand-year-old Black Python shook, then a resonating sound rose, dispersing the clouds above its head. Qiu Lun and Bai Zhi stood in the distance, feeling the intimidating might that captured one¡¯s soul, their faces turning pale. Without experiencing that kind of formidable oppression, one would never understand the suffocating sensation. It seemed like their knees were trembling. Black Jiao! The Thousand-year-old Black Python absorbed the Thunder Essence gathered over a hundred years in the Thunder Pool, and then devoured the inner core and fresh blood of the Thunder Beast, finally transforming into a Black Jiao. The Black Jiao no longer had the gill slits the size of wings on its cheeks. They looked smaller on both sides, but overall the body was larger, almost two zhang in size. Its body had become extremely massive, growing by thirty percent in length and becoming thicker by more than two circles compared to the pre-transformation Thousand-year-old Black Python. With a shake of its body, the Black Jiao soared into the air. An Jing¡¯s figure leapt up and landed on the back of the Black Jiao. The area around the Thunder Pool was dense with nets of lightning. If the nets were damaged, the Thunder Pool would no longer be able to retain Thunder Essence. Although the Black Jiao had no Qi Mechanism to freely pass through the lightning nets, An Jing was a living person who could not traverse the nets at will. ¡°Having already received such great benefits from the Five Poison Sect, it would be a tad disgraceful to destroy their lightning nets,¡± he thought. With this thought, An Jing slightly shook his head. ¡°Congratulations, congratulations,¡± Qiu Lun, fawning like a lackey, said, ¡°Brother, your Black Python has transformed into a Black Jiao, it must be at least at the Grandmaster Realm, right?¡± In the Jianghu, the term Grandmaster represented an existence revered above all. Bai Zhi swallowed hard, cautiously surveying the Black Jiao. Even though there were no fluctuations of Qi Mechanism on the Black Jiao¡¯s body, its very appearance made his heart tremble. Looking at the Black Jiao, An Jing thought, if the sensation given by the Thousand-year-old Black Python before was between a Grandmaster and a Half-step Master, now it had undergone a complete metamorphosis, undoubtedly increasing its strength significantly. However, having just completed the Jiao Transformation, the body was not yet accustomed to it, and it might not be able to perform at its full potential. Lou Xiangzhen had said that if the Thousand-year-old Black Python transformed into a Black Jiao, it would likely reach the Three Qi Grandmaster level. At this thought, An Jing¡¯s heart flared with excitement. When the Five Qi converge, one can reach the realm of a Great Grandmaster. Hence, every advancement within the realm of Grandmasters signifies a revolutionary change in cultivation. Lou Xiangzhen had also told him that, to their knowledge, there were practically no Grandmasters who had reached the convergence of the Five Qi in the world. Even Xiao Qianqiu, who was known, was at the strength of the Three Qi Peak, though he might have reached the convergence of Four Qi, his exact strength was not widely known. Therefore, the strength of a Grandmaster at the Three Qi convergence could already be said to be almost unmatched in the world. Though an exotic beast lacks the combat flexibility of humans, its flesh and scales are not something that can be easily penetrated by the swords of ordinary people. ¡°Now, just wait for this mechanism to open, and if I find the chance to slip away, there should be no big problem,¡± An Jing thought to himself. ¡­¡­ Five Poison Sect, outside the Thunder Pool. Day turned to night, and dazzling sunshine fell upon the mountains of the Five Poison Sect. The Five Poison Young Master, Ancestor Feng Lingyue, Lord Qiu Heng, Ling Yuanjing, and others all focused on the mechanism stone door ahead. Waiting for that stone door to open. ¡°Ancestor, Sect Leader, the phenomenon at the Thunder Pool seems to be weakening, and the thunder essence is becoming quite sparse,¡± said a Five Poison Sect elder as he approached. ¡°The thunder essence must have been almost completely absorbed by the Ghost Swordsman,¡± Feng Lingyue said, frowning slightly. ¡°Ling¡¯er, how much longer?¡± Dai Danshu asked with an icy gaze. ¡°There¡¯s still the time it takes an incense stick to burn,¡± Dai Ling replied. Upon hearing Dai Ling¡¯s words, everyone held their breath and grew tense. Especially Ling Yuanjing, the battle at Xuanqing Mountain was still vivid in his mind, and he wondered how much his strength would increase after entering the Thunder Pool this time. However, even if he got stronger, it was useless. As long as Feng Lingyue was willing to make a move, An Jing was doomed. The time it took an incense stick to burn quickly passed. ¡°Father, the time is up!¡± Dai Ling reminded, biting her lower lip. ¡°Activate the mechanism!¡± Dai Danshu ordered coldly. Dai Ling stepped forward and gently pressed on the mechanism. ¡°Click!¡± ¡°Click!¡± With a deafening noise, the huge stone door before them suddenly opened. Three figures appeared in everyone¡¯s view. Aside from Qiu Heng, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the person in the middle. At the moment the stone door opened, An Jing was also stunned. What¡¯s going on here!? How did all these people suddenly appear? Could it be that I¡¯ve already been exposed? Seeing Dai Danshu and Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyes, An Jing immediately realized something, but he kept a calm expression on his face. ¡°Ghost Swordsman, we meet again,¡± said Ling Yuanjing coldly, looking at An Jing. ¡°Peak Master Ling, Ghost Swordsman? What Ghost Swordsman?¡± An Jing feigned confusion, as if he was puzzled. You¡¯re really good at pretending. Qiu Heng shrank his neck beside him, privately sneering. ¡°You still deny it!?¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°All the thunder essence in the Thunder Pool was absorbed by you. Explain this!¡± As he spoke, Ling Yuanjing leaped forward, aiming a palm at An Jing¡¯s heavenly spirit. The Five Poison Young Master and the others impassively watched the scene unfold. So decisive! An Jing cursed inwardly. If he continued to pretend, taking a palm from Ling Yuanjing would mean certain death or at least severe injury. He immediately channeled his inner strength, meeting the attack with a palm of his own. ¡°Boom!¡± The moment the palms collided, a fierce sound echoed, and An Jing staggered backward several steps, while Ling Yuanjing flipped back. ¡°As expected!¡± Seeing this, everyone present no longer had a shred of doubt. Ling Yuanjing was at the Half-step Master Realm. How could someone who could clash with him without falling behind be just a First Grade expert? Dai Ling stared at An Jing with cold eyes, as if flames jumped within them. If looks could kill, An Jing would have already been slain countless times by her. ¡°Heavenly Flower Realm? Body Refining expert?¡± Feng Lingyue¡¯s brows raised slightly as she saw through An Jing¡¯s cultivation and strength. An Jing steadied himself, brushed the ash from his clothes, and said indifferently, ¡°Peak Master Ling, we haven¡¯t seen each other for long; why start with violence and killing?¡± Since he was already exposed, there was no need to continue the pretense. ¡°How dare you!¡± Before Ling Yuanjing could speak, the Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, roared with anger. Dai Danshu had initiated this search for a son-in-law, expecting to recruit a man of great fortune and virtue. Never had he envisioned that it would turn into such an absurd spectacle. If this incident were to spread, how would the world view Dai Danshu, or think of Dai Ling? ¡°I had no choice.¡± An Jing clasped his fists and earnestly said, ¡°I have offended many today. If there is anything that Sect Leader Dai needs me to do, I will not refuse.¡± After all, he had come to the Five Poison Sect under a false identity and had used up a century¡¯s worth of Thunder Pool¡¯s lightning essence, as well as killed the Thunder Beast¨Cthese were undeniable facts. An Jing always believed in not harming others for personal gain. Now that he had crossed that line, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of guilt. ¡°Serve us?!¡± Upon hearing this, Dai Danshu sneered coldly, ¡°Your actions today are unforgivable.¡± ¡°What about giving me a chance?¡± asked An Jing with a faint smile. Qiu Lun and Bai Zhi watched the tense atmosphere, barely daring to breathe. They were acutely aware that behind this Ghost Swordsman was an extremely ferocious and relentless exotic beast. Dai Danshu was about to speak when Feng Lingyue interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to give you a chance, as long as you are willing to marry Ling¡¯er and wish to stay within the Five Poison Sect in the future. Any grievances between you and the Five Poison Sect will naturally be forgiven.¡± As the words of Feng Lingyue fell, everyone present changed their expressions. ¡°Ancestor¡­¡± Dai Ling looked at Feng Lingyue in shock. Was her ancestor really suggesting she marry the Ghost Swordsman? Was she dreaming? Ling Yuanjing also frowned deeply, but having presided over the Zhenyi Sect for many years, he naturally understood the pros and cons involved. It was true that the Ghost Swordsman had killed Tian Cansou, but that was a conflict over the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. The grievance could be deemed as both significant and minor depending on the perspective. Now that the Ghost Swordsman had assumed a false identity to participate in the Five Poison Sect¡¯s groom selection, and absorbed the lightning essence from the Thunder Pool, if he were to actually marry Dai Ling, then everything would make sense, and one might even say it was reasonable. Moreover, if the Ghost Swordsman became the Five Poison Sect¡¯s son-in-law, he would be considered half a member of the sect, and using the sect¡¯s resources on him would be no waste. Not only did the Ghost Swordsman possess undiscernibly powerful skills, but he was also young and carried a great destiny, which promised future achievements. It would seem Feng Lingyue had calculated her moves quite excellently. Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, remained silent for a long time beside them. This arrangement could work, but¡­ ¡°This must be the esteemed Elder Feng of the Five Poison Sect,¡± An Jing said with a smile, looking at the purple-robed elder. ¡°I, for one, have killed two great sages of the Zhenyi Sect, and I fear such enmity is not easily resolved,¡± An Jing said. Feng Lingyue replied indifferently, ¡°If you are willing, I am able to discuss the matter with Sect Leader Xiao and resolve this grudge.¡± Feng Lingyue was of the same generation as Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s master, Ye Ding, and even ranked above Xiao Qianqiu. Xiao Qianqiu would give him some face. With some compensation, the Zhenyi Sect might not pursue the matter further. An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°Elder Feng might not be able to resolve this grudge. My dispute with the Zhenyi Sect is a conflict of sect heritage and traditions.¡± Conflict of sect heritage and traditions!? Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Feng Lingyue¡¯s expression tightened as something dawned on him. ¡°Are you a disciple of Yan Shaoshan?¡± he asked sharply. ¡°I suppose you could say that,¡± An Jing nodded slightly. Yan Shaoshan was the old man who had taught him the Daluo Heart Method. Having learned the Daluo Heart Method, claiming that he was not Yan Shaoshan¡¯s disciple would likely convince few. The Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, looked towards Ling Yuanjing. He had not heard from Ling Yuanjing that the Zhenyi Sect and the Ghost Swordsman had become enemies for such a reason. The division of the Mystical Sect into three was common knowledge throughout the world. Taking a deep breath, Ling Yuanjing said, ¡°Indeed, this matter pertains to the battle for doctrinal succession within our Mystical Sect. Unless the Ghost Swordsman is willing to relinquish the Daluo Heart Method and prostrate himself before the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s Great Hall for three days, there¡¯s a chance for reconciliation.¡± Even if the Daluo Heart Method were surrendered, the enmity wouldn¡¯t be easily resolved, as the Ghost Swordsman had killed two of their great sages. ¡°It seems, then, that our grudge is irreconcilable,¡± concluded An Jing with a smile. Handing over the Daluo Heart Method was an impossibility, and kneeling at the Zhenyi Sect for three days was out of the question. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of leaving today, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be so easy,¡± said Feng Lingyue in an emotionless tone. This man had assumed a false identity to participate in the Five Poison Sect¡¯s martial contest for marriage and had absorbed a century¡¯s worth of lightning essence from the Thunder Pool. If the Five Poison Sect let this slide without any consequence, it would be the laughingstock of the world. Moreover, capturing him and offering him to the Zhenyi Sect would be a considerable favor on their part. In an instant, the situation, which had been somewhat eased, became tense once again. Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold sharpness upon seeing this. ¡°Alas.¡± An Jing let out a long sigh, ¡°This is not what I had in mind.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The next moment, the stone door behind him was violently struck and burst into pieces with a loud crash. ¡°Run!¡± Qiu Lun and Bai Zhi hurriedly retreated into the distance; no one knew better than they what was emerging from behind the door. ¡°Roar!¡± A wild and turbulent roar echoed in all directions, shaking the hearts of all who heard it. Then, out of the ruins of the mechanical stone door, an enormous creature coiled behind An Jing, its cold and domineering eyes looking down at the people below. Even though there was no flow of Qi mechanism, that appearance alone sent chills shooting through everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°A Black Flood Dragon?! Is that a Flood Dragon?!¡± Ling Yuanjing exclaimed. Flood Dragons, notorious for their ferocity in ancient historical records, often brought great disasters upon their appearance. Consequently, whenever such exotic beasts appeared throughout history, they were hunted down. There were also many records about Flood Dragons in history. Among them, the Azure Flood Dragon and the Red Flood Dragon were mentioned, with the Red Flood Dragon being famous for being slain by the founder of Great Yan, the Human Emperor, who took its inner core and the most precious scales, along with countless rare materials, to forge the Emperor¡¯s Sword. Now, that very Emperor¡¯s Sword was in the hands of one of the Five Great Sword Immortals, the Sword Custodian Zhong Binru. ¡°What?! A Flood Dragon?!¡± ¡°An exotic beast so vicious?¡± ¡­.. The members of the Five Poison Sect all changed their expressions drastically, exclaiming in shock. Clearly, the sudden appearance of the Black Flood Dragon filled them with a chilling awe. ¡°It¡¯s the transformation of the Black Python; no wonder it needed the Thunder Pool of my Five Poison Sect,¡± Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu said, as a look of realization dawned upon him. Qiu Heng¡¯s brows furrowed in concern as he couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡°I never expected this Ghost Swordsman to have such an exotic beast protecting him¡­¡± Flood Dragons are inherently brutal, and the Black Flood Dragon is one of the most outstanding among them. History records no instance of a Flood Dragon being subdued, which speaks volumes about the capabilities of the one who managed to do so. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Feng Lingyue sensed something peculiar within the Black Flood Dragon, and anger rose in his heart, ¡°You Black Flood Dragon dared to devour the Thunder Beast?!¡± From the body of the Black Flood Dragon, Feng Lingyue could sense traces of the Thunder Beast¡¯s essence that had not yet completely dissipated. It went without saying that the Black Flood Dragon had devoured the Thunder Beast and had yet to fully digest its inner core. ¡°You¡¯re very bold!¡± Hearing this, Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu was even more enraged. Everyone from the Five Poison Sect looked furious, staring daggers at An Jing, wishing they could carve him up a thousand times over. The Thunder Beast was the guardian beast of the Five Poison Sect, a symbol of auspiciousness. Now, it had been devoured by the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s Black Flood Dragon, how could the members of the Five Poison Sect not be infuriated? An Jing said nothing. It was true that the Thunder Beast had coveted the essence of the Black Python, but equally true was his own act of slaying the Thunder Beast, aiding the thousand-year-old Black Python in its transformation into a Flood Dragon. No matter how it was presented, the fact he had entered the Thunder Pool under a false identity meant that any explanation would leave him at fault. ¡°Ancestor, no need to waste words with him. Let¡¯s capture this man first,¡± Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu took a deep breath and said. Feng Lingyue, looking at the Black Flood Dragon and feeling a sudden surge of cold inside, then loudly declared, ¡°Today we shall see me slay a Flood Dragon!¡± After speaking, True Qi roared within him. In a flicker, the heavens and earth seemed unable to withstand the rolling and mighty force, trembling unceasingly. Feng Lingyue was a Second Qi Grandmaster, one of the topmost experts in the world. When he led the Five Poison Sect away from the Demon Sect, even the Demon Sect Hierarch had no means against him, and Jiang Shang, upon seeing him, would address him as senior brother. Had it not been for Jiang Shang¡¯s diabolical talent and supreme innate ability, which had him earmarked as the next Hierarch of the Demon Sect, Feng Lingyue might have had the chance to contend for the position of the Sect Hierarch himself. What a terrifying existence he was! It could be said that the prominence of the Five Poison Sect as one of the seven major factions today relied on Feng Lingyue alone. ¡°So powerful, is this a Grandmaster?¡± Bai Zhi, watching the trembling heavens and earth, felt fear gripping his heart to the extreme. Although the Black Jiao was extremely powerful, its body bore no sign of Qi mechanism, unable to strike directly at the innermost depths of the heart. Dai Ling and Ling Yuanjing both saw this and a glimmer of sharpness flashed across their eyes. The Black Jiao¡¯s colossal body shuddered and lunged toward the sky, soon after, the trembling sound echoed in all directions. The sky darkened abruptly, completely obscured by a stream of black Qi. The inner core within the Black Jiao began to operate, unleashing a tremendous oppressive force like ancient mountains, rampaging and sweeping across the entire Five Poison Mountain. It was as if everyone¡¯s heart was being hammered, all of them shaking uncontrollably while tilting their heads back to look up at the Black Jiao above. As the Black Jiao¡¯s inner core operated, it seemed to come alive in an instant. The domineering presence rolled in, carrying a dark and eerie gleam, its formidable aura reaching sky-high as though it could tear the heavens apart. A chill ran through Feng Lingyue¡¯s heart, and behind him emerged the giant phantom of an ancient clam. No sooner had it been said than done. The air rippled, and the force of the hand strike collided with the massive claw of the Black Jiao. Boom! The instant they collided, the air of heaven and earth trembled, and the ground around the Thunder Pool could no longer withstand such devastation, showing deep fractures. Feng Lingyue felt a significant resistance in front of him, followed by a terrible, savage, and rampant aura rushing into his body, causing him to step back repeatedly. Such an intense Black Jiao! Everyone saw that after the Black Jiao and Feng Lingyue clashed, Feng Lingyue took several steps back, his facial expression becoming extremely grave. The Black Jiao circled in the high sky, its enormous head looking down upon the people of the Five Poison Sect from above, its pair of eyes as large as lanterns, conveying an extreme sense of oppression. Apart from Feng Lingyue, everyone else felt a chill rising in their spines, shooting straight up to the crown of their heads. ¡°It¡¯s better to leave quickly.¡± An Jing did not wish to engage with a grandmaster like Feng Lingyue, so he prepared to jump onto the back of the Black Jiao to leave. ¡°Want to leave!?¡± Feng Lingyue, seeing this, pointed his finger towards the air. ¡°Hiss!¡± A beam of Qi whizzed through the air, incredibly fast. ¡°Not good!¡± The moment An Jing saw Feng Lingyue raise his hand, he knew something bad was about to happen, but it was too late to dodge, and that beam pierced through his chest. ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡± An Jing landed on the ground, retreating step by step as a hole the size of a thumb appeared on his chest, with blood ¡®gurgling¡¯ forth. ¡°So powerful!¡± The Golden Bone that even a half-step master couldn¡¯t break, was now gravely injured by a single finger strike from Feng Lingyue. This was the strength of a Grandmaster. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Jiao roared lowly and then its body shuddered as it charged over. ¡°I will hold off this Exotic Beast. The rest of you quickly make a move and capture this person,¡± Feng Lingyue slowly said. He too was uncertain in his heart whether he could completely defeat the Black Jiao, especially after clashing with it just once, he could feel the strength of its powerful body and how its claws carried tens of millions of pounds of force. It was truly too terrifying; even the force exerted by the several Grandmasters from the Great Snow Mountain might be three parts weaker than that of the Black Jiao. Having said that, Feng Lingyue swiftly leaped up to meet with the Black Jiao. Feng Lingyue¡¯s clashes with the Black Jiao were mighty and forceful, even causing the small hill to tremble and sway. The sky turned dusky, and the sun and moon lost their light! Only a Grandmaster at the Master Realm could withstand such a ferocious Exotic Beast with their mortal flesh and blood. At this moment, this intense battle also drew the attention of many experts who hadn¡¯t yet left the vicinity of Five Poison Mountain. ¡°Look quickly, that person seems to be the Five Poison Elder!¡± ¡°Has such a legendary figure of Jianghu appeared today?¡± ¡°What a terrifying Exotic Beast!?¡± ¡°Is that the Black Jiao transformed from the thousand-year-old Black Python?¡± ¡°Even the Five Poison Elder is helpless against it, truly terrifying.¡± ¡­¡­.. Everyone who saw the Black Flood Dragon was shockingly astounded. Such an exotic beast had only been seen in ancient texts; who had truly witnessed one before? An Jing, while distracted controlling the Black Flood Dragon, watched the Five Poison Young Master and Ling Yuanjing below, ready to leave at any moment riding the Black Flood Dragon. ¡°Brother Ling, this man is unarmed and has sustained heavy injuries. What are our chances of victory if the two of us join forces?¡± Dai Danshu asked in a low voice. Upon hearing Dai Danshu¡¯s words, everyone present felt a chill in their hearts¨Chis intentions were clear; he wanted to team up with Ling Yuanjing to take on the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Eighty percent.¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed. A Sword Immortal without a sword was like a tiger without its teeth. Moreover, he was already heavily injured. Feng Lingyue had cultivated the Five Poison Technique; a Grandmaster¡¯s Qi mechanism invading the body would significantly weaken even the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s formidable Inner Strength. Many eyes turned towards them, intrigued by the prospect of Ling Yuanjing and the Five Poison Young Master teaming up against An Jing. Noticing this, the Five Poison Young Master did not hesitate to spur his Inner Strength; black Qi surged skyward as he coldly stared at An Jing. Ling Yuanjing¡¯s sleeves fluttered as his vast Inner Strength roiled behind him, creating the faint illusion of a mountain manifesting. As the two Half-step Masters made their move, their Inner Strength¡¯s oppression swooped down, causing numerous experts to tremble with fear and astonishment under its pressure. ¡°Such a terrifying oppression!¡± Qiu Lun said with a heavy expression. And he was just on the outskirts; it was hard to imagine the tremendous pressure An Jing faced directly against the two Half-step Masters. Countless gazes fixed on An Jing, only to see the young man standing still, with his clothes iron-cast and unflinched, regardless of how fierce the Inner Strength assaulted him. An Jing looked up, staring ahead at the two figures that blazed like the scorching sun, feeling a hint of pressure himself. Last time on Xuanqing Mountain, he had the Thousand-year-old Black Boa by his side and the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand. Now, not only was the Evil Suppressing Sword gone, but he also had the residual Qi of Feng Lingyue within him. ¡°Huff¡­¡± An Jing took a deep breath. Three figures confronted each other, their aura so thick that even the air seemed to freeze. Bang! The frozen atmosphere shattered in an instant as the Five Poison Young Master made the first move, locking onto An Jing with his rolling Inner Strength, seeking to engulf him. Ling Yuanjing, meanwhile, waited for an opening to exploit. An Jing leaped into the fray, engaging in fierce battle with the Five Poison Young Master. In the air above, waves of Inner Strength force clashed wildly. An Jing¡¯s punching and kicking skills were average, not exceptionally skilled, but he still possessed a Heavenly Martial Level Finger Technique and a Heavenly Martial Level Body Refining Finger Technique. Two figures on the peak of Five Poison Mountain fought fiercely, with the ripples of their Qi mechanisms spreading like waves. Whoosh! A shadow flashed across the sky, swift as a streak of black light. An Jing, after repelling the onslaught of the Five Poison Young Master, leaped straight toward Ling Yuanjing, attacking him. Sensing the domineering Finger Force and the robust Inner Strength, Ling Yuanjing too was startled and began retreating rapidly. Seeing Ling Yuanjing retreat, An Jing sped up even more and vanished from his original spot in an instant. Nine Heavens Soaring Body Technique! ¡°So fast!¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyebrows raised as a surge of Inner Strength erupted, gathering in his arms. A cold killing intent appeared in his eyes as he brutally pressed down towards An Jing. Thousand Mountains Palm Technique! Sea Stabilizing Form! As Ling Yuanjing¡¯s palm came down, it seemed as if a black mountain appeared overhead. Beneath it, An Jing seemed to have nowhere to hide, no place to seek refuge. Whir. This sudden turn of events elicited gasps from many experts around, and exclamations followed without restraint: ¡°It¡¯s the Thousand Mountains Palm Technique! This is Ling Yuanjing¡¯s ultimate skill.¡± Qiu Heng silently remarked, ¡°Ling Yuanjing has cultivated this True Martial Level palm technique to the Ninth Layer; it¡¯s his ace in the hole. Is he really using it right off the bat?¡± The other experts were also astonished that Ling Yuanjing had resorted to his ace skill so soon, apparently giving the Ghost Swordsman no chance to catch his breath. With one palm strike, ripples quivered in the air, and from those ripples emerged a palm print as massive as a mountain. An Jing¡¯s gaze turned icy as the inner strength within his body circulated, and a golden light surged behind him, indicating the Heavenly Martial Level Body Refining Martial Arts technique ¡°Brahma Heart Sees Me.¡± Nine Yang Divine Finger! Pointing Qiankun! A single point shot out like an aurora piercing the daylight. In the knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, it was clear that fists break fingers, fingers break palms, and palms break fists. The moment that overwhelming Finger Force collided with the Handprint, the aurora shattered the Thousand Mountains Palm Technique and surged mightily towards Ling Yuanjing. ¡°Bang Bang Bang Bang!¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s inner strength shook and formed a protective Light Shield around him, blocking all the Force Qi from reaching him. ¡°What a formidable Ghost Swordsman, could all of his martial arts be at the Heavenly Martial Level?¡± Seeing this, Ling Yuanjing was deeply shaken. Martial arts at the Heavenly Martial Level were not only precious but also required time for cultivation and deep study as they became more profound and inscrutable. Even if a golden mountain was placed before someone, not everyone would be able to obtain it. During this gap, the Five Poison Young Master once again soared into action. Boom! An Jing and the Five Poison Young Master clashed fiercely, their inner strength rolling like waves. An Jing shot backward but immediately steadied himself. However, this time he didn¡¯t gain the upper hand. This was partly because he had just exchanged blows with Ling Yuanjing and his breath was unstable, and partly because the Qi Mechanism of Feng Lingyue within his body stirred uncomfortably. Five Poison True Energy! That wildly rampant Five Poison True Energy wreaked havoc in his body, disturbing his Dantian so much that it started to feel abnormal. ¡°Today you won¡¯t be able to escape, even if you had wings!¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he tilted his head and saw Ling Yuanjing appearing not far behind him, cutting off all of his escape routes. At this moment atop the mountain range, Feng Lingyue was fiercely battling the Black Flood Dragon, causing the ground to shake and boulders to tumble down; their fight was even more intense than An Jing¡¯s. The Black Flood Dragon had j ust transformed and couldn¡¯t unleash its full strength; moreover, Feng Lingyue was a very powerful Grandmaster. It was extremely difficult to defeat the cunning Feng Lingyue at this time. ¡°This Five Poison True Energy is really troublesome.¡± An Jing struggled to suppress the Five Poison True Energy within him, but how could he, with his strength, contain the Qi Mechanism of a Grandmaster. His complexion became paler and even appeared slightly distorted. In the distance, many Jianghu experts who saw this scene shook their heads secretly. It seemed the outcome of today¡¯s battle was already determined; the Ghost Swordsman who had dominated the Jianghu now seemed doomed. However, to be able to fight fiercely against two great Half-step Masters while severely injured was enough to show the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s terror. The Five Poison Young Master¡¯s handsome eyes carried a hint of regret. Such a talented person, if fallen into the hands of the Zhenyi Sect, would likely only have one end. But if you were to blame, blame him for trying to be strong and insisting on delivering himself to his death at the Five Poison Sect. Thinking this, the Five Poison Young Master¡¯s figure flashed. Gecko Wall-Crawling Technique! An Jing inwardly cursed at the bad turn of events, not expecting the Five Poison Young Master¡¯s speed to be so astonishingly quick, reaching him in the blink of an eye. The Handprint struck, aiming directly at the crown of his head. ¡°Bang!¡± An Jing had no choice but to meet it with a palm of his own. As the palms collided, an exploding force spread from his arm and shook his viscera painfully. ¡°It¡¯s poisoned¡­¡± An Jing quickly looked at his palm where a dark green radiance had silently entered his body. The Five Poison Technique contained the venom of centipedes, snakes, scorpions, geckos, and toads, each one being deadly toxic, and the Five Poison Technique had combined them into a peculiar poison. ¡°What an opportunity!¡± Ling Yuanjing¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he launched an attack towards An Jing. ¡°Bang!¡± A punch was hurled out, hitting directly on An Jing¡¯s wound, which had already been pierced through by Feng Lingyue. A dull sound followed, and blood sprayed from An Jing¡¯s back. ¡°Ah!¡± An Jing spat out a mouthful of black blood as ¡°Brahma Heart Sees Me¡± was instantly broken and his body shook unsteadily, like a leaf in the wind. ¡°Ghost Swordsman, it seems you are done for.¡± ¡°Pity, the world loses a great Sword Immortal.¡± ¡°Who would have thought, truly unexpected, that this Ghost Swordsman would just be a meteor across the Jianghu.¡± ¡­¡­. Murmurs of discussion arose around, everyone bearing a sense of lament and pity. Clearly, everyone thought that the Ghost Swordsman had no chance of survival today, including Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng. Ling Yuanjing¡¯s expression was icy, silently watching An Jing. ¡°Uncle Zhang, today your great vendetta will finally be avenged,¡± said Dai Ling, his expression slightly complex as he watched the Ghost Swordsman. This period of time, he was almost his own nightmare, but now this nightmare was finally about to dissipate. The Ghost Swordsman was about to die, and the only regret was not killing him with his own hands. ¡°What a pity.¡± Qiu Lun looked towards the distant Black Flood Dragon and thought to himself, ¡°If only I could obtain the method to control the Black Flood Dragon from the Ghost Swordsman. Maybe later I can try to search the body, perhaps I can find some methods to control the Black Flood Dragon.¡± Thinking of controlling the Black Flood Dragon in the future, Qiu Lun¡¯s heart was pounding wildly. Dai Danshu took a deep breath and said, ¡°Alright, capture him. Uncle Feng is still struggling against the Black Flood Dragon.¡± Feng Lingyue was in the midst of a fierce battle with the Black Flood Dragon, and it seemed that he might not have the upper hand. ¡°Okay.¡± Ling Yuanjing nodded slightly and then walked towards the staggering An Jing, ¡°When the time comes, as long as you hand over the Daluo Heart Method, my Zhenyi Sect will grant you a quick end.¡± An Jing was gasping for breath, watching as Ling Yuanjing approached slowly, the Inner Strength within his body somewhat chaotic. The Black Flood Dragon was an external factor that could abandon Feng Lingyue and attack at any moment. Just as he was about to control the Black Flood Dragon to launch a surprise attack on Ling Yuanjing, his eyebrows suddenly furrowed. A glimmer of golden light, like glazed glass, was born from within An Jing¡¯s body. ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra!?¡± In that moment, An Jing¡¯s consciousness became somewhat blurred, but in the next moment, it was as if a surge of Essence rushed out from within him, suddenly making him somewhat sober. The severe poison from the Five Poison Young Master, and the Qi Mechanism from Feng Lingyue, were instantly absorbed by that golden light. ¡°Hm!?¡± A sudden reflection of golden light burst forth behind An Jing as if at that moment, it were even more dazzling than the sun hanging in the sky. ¡°This is bad, act now!¡± The Five Poison Young Master and Ling Yuanjing exchanged glances and charged toward An Jing once again. ¡°Humming! Humming!¡± A wave of Zen chanting vibrated, echoing through the heavens and the earth. Suddenly, behind An Jing emerged a golden Buddha. He pointed one hand to the heavens and the other touched the earth, his dignity revealing limitless Zen spirit. An Jing took nine steps around, then he, too, pointed one hand to the heavens and the other touched the earth, his visage dignified. Afterward, he put his palms together. At that moment, the golden Buddha behind him struck out with a palm. ¡°Boom! Boom!¡± The palm strike from the Buddha was like a mountain falling. The air was compressed and spewed forth, exploding into cracking sounds. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± Both the Five Poison Young Master and Ling Yuanjing, two Half-step Master experts, were shaken back by the palm strike, their bodies tumbling to the ground like kites with broken strings. Whoosh! The whole place was in an uproar, everyone stunned, with Dai Ling feeling as though he had been struck by lightning. Looking at that elusive Zen chanting, the imposing golden Buddha alone in its majesty. Beneath that golden Buddha, An Jing had his palms together, his demeanor gaining a touch of grandness and extraordinary magnificence. ¡°Is¡­ is this the Buddha Master¡¯s method?¡± ¡°Could the Ghost Swordsman be a man of the Buddhist sect?¡± ¡­¡­ Inexplicably, a strange thought appeared in the minds of everyone present. The Ghost Swordsman had always been mysterious, no one knew his true appearance or age, and now under such dire circumstances, he displayed such immense Divine Skills and Martial Arts of the Buddhist sect. How could the hearts of the crowd not be filled with suspicion? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Meanwhile, the Five Poison Young Master and Ling Yuanjing trembled as they stood up. An Jing did not look at the two men, but instead set his eyes on the Black Flood Dragon that was battling Feng Lingyue in the distance, preparing to escape by stepping onto the Black Flood Dragon. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± Just then, a thunderous voice, like rolling thunder, sounded. An Jing followed the voice and saw two overwhelmingly strong auras coming violently. Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 162: A Chance Encounter with Li Fuzhou Chapter 162: Chapter 162: A Chance Encounter with Li Fuzhou Everyone turned their gaze in that direction, only to see two Daoist priests clad in black Daoist robes descending from the sky. Their presence was astonishing, by no means weaker than Ling Yuanjing and the Five Poison Young Master, clearly indicating that they were also at the Half-step Master Realm. ¡°Song Chengbiao and Sima Changlin!?¡± ¡°The other two Peak Masters of the Zhenyi Sect have actually all come?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so quickly. Does the Zhenyi Sect have some major move at hand?¡± ¡­. The numerous heroes of Jianghu who witnessed this were all greatly shocked in their hearts. The newcomers were none other than the Peak Master of Dongxu Peak of the Zhenyi Sect, Song Chengbiao, and the Peak Master of Chongling Peak, Sima Changlin. One must know that it was rare for the Zhenyi Sect to dispatch three Peak Masters for an operation. Generally, affairs of Jianghu were managed by Ling Yuanjing, the Peak Master of Nanhua Peak. Although the news of Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s descent from the mountain had spread, it was only known among the top forces of Jianghu, and had not yet completely disseminated throughout the Martial World. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows knit together tightly, realizing that since the Zhenyi Sect was far from the Five Poison Mountain, their rapid arrival meant they must have been secretly investigating and tracking him for some time. ¡°It¡¯s just the right time for the two junior brothers to arrive.¡± Upon seeing the arrivals, Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and said, ¡°The four of us joining forces to capture this Ghost Swordsman will save elder brother Xiao the trouble of coming down the mountain.¡± Elder brother Xiao coming down the mountain!? At the mention of Ling Yuanjing¡¯s words, An Jing¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted. Who else could elder brother Xiao be but Xiao Qianqiu, the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect? Though An Jing had not been part of Jianghu for long, he was still very familiar with the name, which one could hear everywhere, from Jianghu to the common marketplace. The number one figure in the Great Yan Martial World, the State Preceptor of Yan Country, one of the most extraordinary martial geniuses in the world¡­ the many accolades heaped upon this one man were each enough to make a name for themselves in Jianghu. And to have so many honors upon a single person was truly frightening. ¡°Is Xiao Qianqiu about to descend from the mountain?¡± Some of the Jianghu figures, who were more slow to realize, were slightly stunned. That recluse, who dominated the Great Yan Martial World, was he actually going to descend from the mountain? ¡°Good!¡± Song Chengbiao looked at An Jing, who was radiating golden light splendidly, with a trace of solemnity between his brows. This Ghost Swordsman was truly formidable. Even without his sword and despite being heavily injured, he was still able to defeat Ling Yuanjing and the Five Poison Young Master working together. Just how terrifying would he be if he had his sword? The Five Poison Young Master had a gloomy expression and did not speak. The four Half-step Masters encircled him, their eyes firmly fixed on An Jing ahead of them. That extreme sense of oppression felt like a mountain pressing down on his shoulders. An Jing remained undisturbed, as if completely unaware of that pressure, and he was internally shocked at how the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra truly surpassed techniques of the Heavenly Martial Level. ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± As Song Chengbiao shouted, the four of them charged at An Jing like a gust of wind. Watching the four figures burst towards him, An Jing¡¯s expression stayed calm as he gently pushed his palm forward. Bang! Although it seemed like a simple palm strike, it carried a shocking and domineering impetus. The four instantly unleashed their terrifying attacks, which crashed into the palm print like a tempest. Boom! Boom! Boom! Even though the palm print was incredibly sturdy, it shook violently under the relentless assault of the four Half-step Masters, sending ripples in all directions. By the looks of it, it was clearly going to shatter very soon. The onlookers around the Five Poison Mountain, witnessing this scene, couldn¡¯t help but click their tongues in wonder. Once four Half-step Masters teamed up, the might they possessed was indeed terrifying. The previously overwhelming Ghost Swordsman was now completely at a disadvantage, no longer displaying the heroism of before. If things continued in this fashion, once An Jing¡¯s offensive was broken, he would be ensnared by the combined onslaught of the four Half-step Masters, with no chance of escape. Clearly, the situation had reached a perilously dangerous stage. An Jing, with a tranquil and composed expression, remained unphased, merely raising his head to stare at the four attackers without a hint of panic in his eyes. With the boost from the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, his Inner Strength seemed inexhaustible, as if the divine power of gods had been bestowed upon him. In midair, the sounds of collision continued incessantly, as each brutal and unrivaled blow hammered down onto the giant palm, causing the very heavens and earth to tremble. An Jing¡¯s back radiated with golden brilliance, shimmering like the blinding morning sun. His pitch-black eyes, tranquil as a silent night sky, were profoundly deep. At that moment, everyone became aware of the inner strength bursting from within An Jing¡¯s body, surging to an astonishing magnitude. Boom! An Jing once again brought his hands together, and the golden Buddha behind him crushed down with a palm strike. ¡°Be careful!¡± Seeing An Jing¡¯s momentum continuously building, the four men cried out in unison. In an instant, they gathered their inner strength behind them. The Five Poison Young Master executed the Five Poison Technique, his inner strength rolling forth, carrying a wisp of bewilderment, like smoke, like mist. The inner strength of the remaining three Zhenyi Sect masters was vast and majestic, surging like a relentless tidal wave. Their combined strike was already fiercely descending. Boom! At the moment of impact, heaven and earth seemed to fall silent for an instant, only for a massive tidal wave of inner strength to explode outward from the center. Between heaven and earth, all eyes were fixed intently on the point of collision. There, amidst the storm swept up, a golden palm connected heaven and earth and fiercely bombarded Ling Yuanjing, Dai Danshu, Song Chengbiao, and Sima Changlin. Thud thud thud thud! The four men grunted, their faces somewhat pale as they staggered backward step by step. Heaven and earth erupted into an uproar as countless masters watched the scene in disbelief, clearly not expecting that the Ghost Swordsman could directly withstand the joint attack of four Half-step Masters. ¡°To counter four Half-step Masters alone and seemingly not be at a disadvantage.¡± While whispers echoed through heaven and earth, Song Chengbiao and Sima Changlin also regarded An Jing with ice-cold gazes. An Jing shook his somewhat numb arms and, with a faint smile, said to the four men before him, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? No more tricks? Then it¡¯s my turn now.¡± Without waiting for a response from the four, An Jing spoke, The next moment, the magnificent Buddha behind him unleashed overwhelming and marvelous authority. It enveloped half of Five Poison Mountain, and numerous Jianghu masters gazed in shock, faces filled with terror looking at the golden Buddha. An Jing¡¯s expression was calm as he uttered the profound and enigmatic Sanskrit that ordinary people couldn¡¯t understand, stepping forward. Suddenly, the golden Buddha¡¯s eyes snapped open, and upon closer inspection, those eyes were actually blood-red. Blood Buddha Opens Eyes! In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to freeze, and an enormous handprint that covered the sky descended. It carried the force that could sweep away all, an unrivaled power! As if the handprint was connected with the heavens themselves, it descended not just as a handprint but as heaven and earth itself. Boom! ¡°This¡­ is too powerful!? What kind of martial arts is this!?¡± This thought flashed through the minds of the four, who then hastily retreated without hesitation. No matter how quickly they withdrew, they couldn¡¯t escape the scope of the handprint¡¯s descent. Up on Five Poison Sect¡¯s mountain, the golden handprint struck down heavily upon the four, which was followed by them unleashing their ultimate skills. Their vigorous inner strength ran rampant, shaking the very heavens and earth, and causing hurricanes to howl. ¡°Five Poison Unity!¡± ¡°Thousand Mountains No Shadow!¡± ¡­. Countless gazes were locked on the scene before them. What was expected to be a fierce battle turned out to be a one-sided affair. The handprint slammed down ferociously, and the inner strength of the four men was unable to resist, instantly crushed into nothingness by the golden handprint. The next moment, four streaks of light smashed into the ground, creating four immense and deep craters. ¡°What is that?¡± All gazes pierced through the black fog, converging on the four silhouettes. In a flash, everyone¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, a look of utter shock spreading across their faces. Lying within the four enormous pits were precisely Dai Danshu, Ling Yuanjing, Song Chengbiao, and Sima Changlin¨Cthe four Half-step Masters! ¡°` Whoosh! Astonishment that shook the heavens filled the air, one after another, resounding between heaven and earth. The experts of the Five Poison Sect all changed color, their expressions filled with fear as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°Too¡­too strong!¡± ¡°Four half-step masters joined forces but still failed to defeat him.¡± ¡°The strength of the Ghost Swordsman is simply too formidable. What kind of Buddhist martial arts is this?¡± ¡­¡­ Before this battle, no one believed the Ghost Swordsman could win. The four who besieged the Ghost Swordsman were top-tier experts in Jianghu, where grandmasters rarely take action; yet, the combined efforts of these four ended in defeat at the hands of the Ghost Swordsman. And the Ghost Swordsman didn¡¯t even have a sword in hand. Qiu Heng also displayed a look of surprise: ¡°Is the Ghost Swordsman really so formidable at the Heavenly Flower Realm?¡± It must be known that the Ghost Swordsman was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, with cultivation lower than any one of those four, yet still he defeated them when they joined forces. ¡°How¡­how is this possible?¡± Looking at the white-clothed figure in front, Dai Ling felt a sense of powerlessness deep in his heart. An Jing stood serene above the world, though presently without any vast inner strength surging, everyone felt a heart-palpitating pressure slowly radiating from within him. Under that subtly oppressive force, the entire Five Poison Sect fell silent. Their gaze towards that figure carried a sense of respect that emerged quietly. In Jianghu, killing is the fastest way to fame. Killing a master even more so. And towards the countless gazes from all over, An Jing seemed indifferent. At the moment, the Qi within his body was also somewhat chaotic ¨C powerful moves inevitably harm oneself. The fearsome martial arts of the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, when endowed upon one¡¯s self, were unpredictable in power, but similarly, they inflicted certain damage to the body afterwards. And Feng Lingyue, who was currently entangled with the Black Flood Dragon, was also shocked. Initially, she thought that with the two peak masters from the Zhenyi Sect coming, dealing with a Heavenly Flower Realm expert should have been a sure victory; unexpectedly, not even four half-step masters could defeat him. ¡°Sect Leader Dai, today¡¯s matter is a grudge between myself and the Zhenyi Sect.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, then he stretched out his palm and reached for Ling Yuanjing and the other two. ¡°Is the Ghost Swordsman actually going to kill the three peak masters of the Zhenyi Sect?!¡± Upon witnessing this, Qiu Lun couldn¡¯t help but exclaim aloud. The three peak masters of the Zhenyi Sect were not only famous experts in Jianghu but also held high positions and authority within the sect. Should they perish today, half of the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s sky would collapse, and could the sect¡¯s experts let him off? ¡°This is bad!¡± Ling Yuanjing and the other two, seeing An Jing¡¯s attack incoming, felt their hearts tremble, but they were powerless to dodge after being heavily injured by the palm strike. Everyone had not expected the Ghost Swordsman to be so bold, daring actually to kill three peak masters of the Zhenyi Sect. Just at this critical juncture, a figure flew in swiftly, standing in front of the three. ¡°Hmm?!¡± An Jing¡¯s brows furrowed, he slapped his hand forward, and a tremendous shock transmitted into his arm, causing him to rapidly retreat backward. ¡°A grandmaster?!¡± An Jing looked at his palm, shaken inwardly, and stared ahead with a solemn expression. The person in front wore a black robe, tall and sturdy, his garment rustling with the wild wind, his face obscured by a red monkey mask, his specific features unclear. Standing between heaven and earth, he exuded an air of elegance and commanding presence. ¡°Lord Meng!¡± Ling Yuanjing saw the newcomer, his heart still beating wildly ¨C if not for this sudden arrival, perhaps he would have already been doomed. ¡°Meng Zhaodou is here?¡± Upon seeing the person, even Qiu Heng felt a tinge of surprise. The arrival was none other than Meng Zhaodou, the head of Heaven and Earth Net. With the appearance of Meng Zhaodou, the hearts of the surrounding crowd clenched, as the already complex situation seemed to gain yet more layers of intrigue. ¡°Lord Meng¡­..¡± ¡°` An Jing muttered to himself, and then he guessed the identity of the person in front of him. In Great Yan, there was only one master under the Meng surname, Meng Zhaodou from Heaven and Earth Net. Meng Zhaodou looked at An Jing in front of him and slowly said, ¡°Although this is a dispute within the Mystical Sect, I should not interfere. But today, Meng has no choice but to step in.¡± The Zhenyi Sect was the national religion of Yan Country; any turbulence within it would be a major blow to the entirety of Great Yan, especially under the current restless and uneasy situation. For the current state of Great Yan, he had to intervene to stop An Jing. ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing could not help but laugh, ¡°When I was under attack by four people just now, why didn¡¯t you show up, Commander Meng?¡± Meng Zhaodou stared into An Jing¡¯s eyes for a long time before he said, ¡°If Sect Leader Xiao insists on killing you, I can save your life.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing knew in his heart that Meng Zhaodou was at the Grandmaster Realm, and it was foolish to think he could kill Ling Yuanjing and the other two. He had to give up the idea of killing them. Whether Meng Zhaodou was sincere or just saying it for the sake of appearances, An Jing was powerless either way. ¡°Fine, I hope that Commander Meng keeps his word.¡± After An Jing finished speaking, he turned his gaze toward the Black Flood Dragon in the distance. At that moment, Feng Lingyue¡¯s face was extremely ugly. There were also some injuries on the body of the Black Flood Dragon nearby, and some scales had even fallen off on the ground. It was obvious that Feng Lingyue knew it would be difficult to capture An Jing that day, and if the fight continued, she might herself get injured, so she chose to stop. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon let out a low growl, then lay prostrate before An Jing. Meng Zhaodou seemed to see An Jing preparing to leave and immediately said, ¡°Sir, Sect Leader Xiao has already descended the mountain, and even if you go to the ends of the earth, it¡¯s pointless¡­¡­.¡± An Jing felt a slight heaviness in his heart when he heard Meng Zhaodou¡¯s words. The three words Xiao Qianqiu were like a mountain pressing down on the head of everyone in the Great Yan Martial World, leaving all the masters breathless. If he had indeed come down from the mountain, could An Jing and the Black Flood Dragon be his match? Even if Meng Zhaodou could save his life, what if Xiao Qianqiu destroyed his cultivation? Could he still live a peaceful life? Not to mention that he had offended so many people¨CSouthern Barbarians, Seven Evils Sect, Five Poison Sect¡­ they would definitely not let him off. And his wife might be involved with the Demon Sect¡­ The road ahead is still difficult. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Suddenly, a sharp sound came from a nearby mountaintop. Then an immense, vast qi mechanism arrived, even stronger by a third than Feng Lingyue¡¯s qi mechanism, and it was sharper too. ¡°The Qi is returning to its place! Someone has made a breakthrough to the Three Qi Grandmaster.¡± Feng Lingyue frowned upon hearing this, then thought of something, ¡°Could it be¡­.¡± Three Qi Grandmaster!? When the many great masters in the world heard Feng Lingyue¡¯s words, they were all greatly shaken. What did it mean to be a Three Qi Grandmaster? Years ago, Xiao Qianqiu was able to dominate the entire Jianghu at the peak of the Three Qi Grandmaster. When the Five Qi gather at the head, the essence is fortified, and the water returns to the origin; if the heart is still, the qi is fortified, and fire returns to the origin; if the true nature is silent, the spirit is hidden, and wood returns to the origin; if earthly passions are forgotten, the po is subdued, and metal is hidden in the origin; if the four elements are in harmony, the intent is settled, and earth returns to the origin. This is called the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, all converging at the head. Gather the body and mind, do not let the heart wander outward, and do not let emotions chase after things. When the Five Qi converge at the head, one is a great Grandmaster of the world, nurturing the essence of the five organs and six entrails, gaining a lifespan of three hundred years. In the vast world, with its grand history spanning thousands of years of rolling carriages, there were no more than one or two dozen Great Grandmasters at best. A top-tier Grandmaster could dominate an era. And in the current world, no Great Grandmaster has yet appeared. Being a Three Qi Grandmaster is sufficient to shock the entire Great Yan Martial World. ¡°Who is it!?¡± Song Biaocheng¡¯s eyes showed a hint of confusion. ¡°It¡¯s that old man.¡± Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath, his face full of seriousness. Five Poison Young Master, Sima Changlin, and others were all shaken as well. Meng Zhaodou also looked in the direction of the sound. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered above the mountaintop, the sky turned pitch-black, and a wild wind howled, as if wanting to uproot the trees on the mountaintop and its stinging presence felt on one¡¯s face. The incredible momentum arose, causing everyone¡¯s brows to furrow tightly. Centered around the summit, a vortex of airflow formed, crazily absorbing the atmosphere around it. About dozens of breaths later, the vortex of airflow gradually dissipated, and the world returned to a state of clarity. Two figures leapt out from the mountaintop. One of them was not tall, with a full head of gray hair, a face full of wrinkles bearing the marks of time, disheveled, looking somewhat sloppy, with two longswords hanging on his back. With one hand behind his back and the other holding a collar, he looked as if he were carrying a small chicken. His feet stepped on the cliff as if walking on flat ground, and in an instant, he landed on the main peak of the Five Poison Sect. The newcomers were none other than Lou Xiangzhen and Tan Yun. Upon seeing Tan Yun, An Jing slightly relaxed. This time, she seemed not to have run away. After Tan Yun landed on the ground, she too looked towards An Jing, and then, finding that An Jing was also looking at her, her heart trembled, and her heartbeat quickened as if it were about to pop out of her throat. ¡°Senior Lou¡­¡± Meng Zhaodou saw the newcomers and hurriedly clasped his fists in greeting. ¡°So it is this old fellow indeed.¡± Feng Lingyue¡¯s expression was somewhat complex. He could be said to be a few years older than Lou Xiangzhen, but his cultivation was only at the Second Qi, whereas Lou Xiangzhen had now reached the Three Qi Realm, showing that Lou Xiangzhen was truly a rare talent of this era, unfortunately suppressed by the Sword God of the Yu Heng Sword Sect and fallen into decline for more than a decade. A Grandmaster of the Three Qi Realm!? Ling Yuanjing and the other two exchanged glances, secretly shocked. Lou Xiangzhen was a top Sword Immortal, and now he had reached the Three Qi Cultivation; his strength was a few notches stronger than an average Three Qi Grandmaster. It seemed that Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s hope of capturing him was now looking quite difficult. ¡°It¡¯s Lou Xiangzhen! It¡¯s actually him!¡± ¡°Ghost Valley Sword Immortal Lou Xiangzhen, I did not expect him to have reached the Three Qi Realm.¡± ¡°Since entering Jianghu, I¡¯ve heard of the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal. Now that I¡¯m nearing my grave, the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal still dominates the martial world.¡± ¡­¡­. With the appearance of Lou Xiangzhen, the world around boiled over with excitement. Who was Lou Xiangzhen? He was the oldest among the five great Sword Immortals, and the only one who spanned two eras as a top Sword Immortal. Unexpectedly, above the Five Poison Sect today, such a momentous gathering occurred, not only featuring several experts at the Half-step Master Realm but also three Masters. This scene was definitely a rare event in the martial world. Many were internally exclaiming in amazement, thinking that their trip had not been in vain. Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, ¡°Meng Zhaodou, as for my grandson, I can protect him myself, there¡¯s no need for you to bother.¡± An Jing: ¡°???¡± I treat you like a brother, and you actually want to be my grandfather!? ¡°Grandson!?¡± Meng Zhaodou was astonished as he looked towards the Ghost Swordsman, finding it hard to believe. Since when did Lou Xiangzhen have a grandson!? Not just Meng Zhaodou, everyone was astonished, the Ghost Swordsman was actually Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s grandson? Does this mean his last name is also Lou now? ¡°Isn¡¯t he from the Kuiyuan Sect? Since when did he become Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s grandson?¡± The Five Poison Young Master was somewhat astonished. Qiu Heng also shook his head, feeling confused, and then suddenly realized, no wonder Lou Xiangzhen was willing to clear the way for the Ghost Swordsman, there was this relationship between them. Only Dai Ling clenched her teeth, secretly resenting. She did not expect the Ghost Swordsman to have a top expert like Lou Xiangzhen, the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, backing him. It seemed that making him meet his end would be incredibly difficult. Feng Lingyue furrowed his brows and said nothing. Lou Xiangzhen turned to Feng Lingyue, ¡°Brother Feng, as for the losses of the Five Poison Sect, consider it repayment for the favor I owed you in the past. Let¡¯s call it even from now on.¡± Feng Lingyue took a deep breath and glanced at Lou Xiangzhen, ¡°Okay!¡± When the Five Poison Sect broke away from the Demon Sect, the Demon Sect naturally did not let it slide easily. Feng Lingyue invited many experts to support him, but few were willing to come. After all, the renown of the Demon Sect in the Great Yan Martial World was such that only the Zhenyi Sect could compare, and not many were willing to provoke the Demon Sect at that time. Lou Xiangzhen, owing a favor to Feng Lingyue, rushed to the Five Poison Sect without a second word upon receiving a letter from Feng Lingyue. This favor, Feng Lingyue had always remembered in his heart. An Jing, hearing this, silently thought to himself, so it turns out that this old man Lou owes a favor to Feng Lingyue. Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly and then looked toward Ling Yuanjing, smiling as he said, ¡°Ling lad, I won¡¯t make things difficult for your Zhenyi Sect disciples today, hasn¡¯t Xiao Qianqiu come down from the mountains?¡± ¡°Three days from now, above Abyss Lake, I will wait for him.¡± Three days from now, above Abyss Lake, I will wait for him. The voice was grand and imposing, resonating through heaven and earth. Whoosh! As soon as Lou Xiangzhen spoke these words, it immediately set off a thousand waves. All present trembled in their hearts. Lou Xiangzhen was a Three Qi Grandmaster, and Xiao Qianqiu had already reached the peak of the Three Qi Grandmaster Realm several years ago. Both were among the top-ranking experts in the Great Yan Martial World, and their battle now would essentially be the most top-tier contest currently in the Great Yan Martial World. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got the message, Ling will definitely convey the news.¡± Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and gave Lou Xiangzhen a fist salute. Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing, ¡°Kid, let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing remained silent and then controlled the Black Flood Dragon to descend. Lou Xiangzhen and Tan Yun also sat on the back of the Black Flood Dragon, and with a low roar, the dragon weaved through the air and disappeared over the Five Poison Mountain. ¡°Senior Lou!¡± Meng Zhaodou came back to his senses and immediately turned into a black shadow to follow. ¡°The encounter at Linhu Lake in three days?¡± Feng Lingyue watched the departing figures, murmuring to himself in a low voice. He was also very curious to see who between Xiao Qianqiu and Lou Xiangzhen would be stronger or weaker. ¡°Lou Xiangzhen has ascended to a Three Qi Grandmaster and challenges Xiao Qianqiu!¡± ¡°Who knows who will win or lose between these two?¡± ¡°Jianghu is going to be shaken once again!¡± ¡­¡­. The surrounding martial arts masters also came back to their senses, and the buzz of their discussions was like a volcanic eruption. The Great Yan Martial World had been in a prolonged silence ever since Xiao Qianqiu became the number one expert in the world, a silence for far, far too long. And now, finally, a major event that could shock the entire Jianghu was about to take place. ¡­¡­. In Yu State City, at Fa Xi Temple. Within the grand and magnificent temple, a little monk with rosy lips and white teeth was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, striking a wooden fish. This little monk was none other than the abbot of Fa Xi Temple, Fa Wu. He extended his hand and immediately, three pebble-sized stones appeared in his palm. Relics! These were indeed Buddhist relics of Buddha bones! Originally, An Jing only obtained a single relic from Monk Fa Zhi, but now, there were three relics in Fa Wu¡¯s hands. ¡°Absorbing these three relics, my cultivation could probably reach the level of a Half-step Master.¡± Fa Wu looked at the relics in his hand and started muttering to himself, ¡°There are thirteen more relics in the sect, and absorbing them all would take a year¡­.¡± Most high-ranking monks would leave behind a relic after passing away, and such relics are treasures in the outside world and are a rare treasure in the Buddhist sect, but they are not considered rare. In a hundred years, there would typically be two or three Bodhisattvas in the Buddhist sect, and over the course of a millennium, a total of more than a dozen Shariputras had been accumulated. And how immense would the Essence contained within these Shariputras be? However, Shariputras contain the pure power of Supreme Yang and are not something ordinary people can absorb at will, and after An Jing refined two relics, he felt it difficult to absorb the Essence contained in relics any further. ¡°Master¡­.¡± Before long, another monk walked in. The monk¡¯s face was covered with horizontal flesh, and he looked fierce and evil, with a body that was also fat and sturdy. This monk was a disciple taken in by Fa Wu half a month ago, Jie Lu. Originally a fierce bandit in the mountains, he was extremely ruthless. Recently, as times had become tough, he turned toward Fa Xi Temple to learn some martial arts before venturing back into Jianghu. Who would have known his sins ran deep, and at first glance, Fa Wu took a liking to him, immediately accepting him as a student, becoming the second disciple under Fa Wu, younger than Jie Se. ¡°Eldest martial brother is nowhere to be seen.¡± Jie Lu pressed his hands together, dutifully responding. He truly couldn¡¯t understand Han Wenxin. He himself had been unable to live on and had thus sought refuge in Fa Xi Temple. But his fellow disciple Jie Se, born into a rich family and fairly skilled for his age, why would he choose to join Fa Xi Temple and subject himself to such strict discipline and regulations? Wasn¡¯t living the life of a wealthy scion and enjoying the company of beautiful women every day more enjoyable? He really didn¡¯t understand. Fa Wu asked, ¡°Where did he go?¡± Jie Lu replied, ¡°Jie Chen said younger martial brother Jie Se went down the mountain to see his brother and along the way, to wash his head.¡± ¡°Brother?¡± Fa Wu¡¯s eyes carried a trace of confusion. With a deep sigh, Jie Lu said, ¡°It¡¯s that black dog, one that Jie Se often brought to the mountain.¡± At first, he truly couldn¡¯t understand why his martial brother frequently talked to that black dog. It wasn¡¯t until one day, when he overheard Jie Chen that he learned the whole story. It turned out his martial brother Jie Se had a dear friend who was a renowned divine doctor in Yu State City. Later, the divine doctor died suddenly, leaving behind only that black dog. It was said that to revive his dear friend, he once made a great vow before Buddha. Jie Se, my martial brother, is truly someone who values relationships. ¡°And the washing of hair is¡­?¡± Fa Wu¡¯s confusion deepened, feeling it was more unfathomable than any scripture or riddled with difficulty to understand. Listening to Fa Wu¡¯s question, Jie Lu suddenly showed a hint of hesitation. Fa Wu glanced at Jie Lu and said, ¡°You may speak freely.¡± With hands together, Jie Lu whispered, ¡°Martial brother Jie Se said he went to wash his ¡®little head¡¯.¡± ¡°Little head?¡± Fa Wu¡¯s confusion grew even further, akin to a scripture that was even more obscure and impenetrable. ¡­¡­ Outside Yuan City. The Black Flood Dragon landed on a huge rock. ¡°Good grandson, catch up with old times.¡± Lou Xiangzhen, sensing Meng Zhaodou approaching from behind, immediately leapt onto the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s back. An Jing also frowned as he looked in the direction of Meng Zhaodou¡¯s approach. Lou Xiangzhen used the Shrinking Land into Inches technique and quickly vanished into the forest. In an instant, only Tan Yun and An Jing were left on the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s back. Tan Yun¡¯s large eyes sneakily glanced at the Ghost Swordsman ahead, her heart pounding wildly. ¡°Alright, take off that human skin mask on your face.¡± An Jing looked at Tan Yun and spoke indifferently. Fine! He had been deceived by the dim-witted Tan Yun, played like a fool, not seeing her true face. The more An Jing thought about it, the angrier he got. Could it be that his mind was also not sharp enough? ¡°Oh¡­¡± Hearing that indifferent voice, Tan Yun cautiously took off her mask, revealing her pretty, slightly plump face. An Jing stared intently at Tan Yun¡¯s face, screaming in his heart, ¡°I¡¯m such a fool. After discovering Li Fuzhou was a high-ranking expert from the Demon Sect, I tested Tan Yun and then believed her.¡± Those eyebrows, that expression, those seemingly innocent eyes¨Cwho else could it be but Tan Yun? Tan Yun, looking at An Jing¡¯s ¡®ardent¡¯ eyes, blushed, and then quickly lowered her head. ¡°Cough cough¡­.¡± An Jing coughed lightly, ¡°You¡¯re from the Demon Sect, aren¡¯t you? What¡¯s your relationship with Li Fuzhou?¡± He needed to interrogate her thoroughly, one by one, he was eager to see how many secrets were being kept from him. ¡°He¡¯s my master.¡± Tan Yun blinked and replied. Master!? So that was it! Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s brows lifted ever so slightly. Tan Yun was actually that old fox¡¯s master, no wonder she acted like a mouse who had seen a cat whenever she saw Li Fuzhou. Seeing that An Jing didn¡¯t speak, Tan Yun hurriedly said, ¡°Actually, my master is a very good person, not at all like the rumors say, and so is our Demon Sect. It¡¯s all slander by people with ulterior motives¡­.¡± Watching Tan Yun gesticulate wildly, An Jing felt she might indeed be not too bright, but the more he thought that, the more he felt a sense of being deceived. Maybe she was really foolish, and that¡¯s why she deceived him. And that old fox Li Fuzhou, hadn¡¯t he figured him out? ¡°¡­Actually, I have been looking for you.¡± Seeing that An Jing remained silent, Tan Yun mustered the courage to speak in a low voice. ¡°What do you want with me?¡± An Jing asked coldly. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Tan Yun¡¯s cheeks turned rosy, and she became flustered, ¡°I have food here, I can share half of it with you.¡± Saying that, Tan Yun took out her favorite pastries from her bag. Since being brought to the Demon Sect by Li Fuzhou, she had developed a special attachment to food. She knew the value of this food better than anyone else. To her, being able to share half of what she loved most was a silent form of affection. This was Tan Yun¡¯s most sincere expression at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry; you keep it for yourself.¡± An Jing, looking at the pastries offered to him, shook his head, ¡°I have some questions I want to ask you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Tan Yun unnaturally withdrew the pastries in her hand, and said with her head lowered. An Jing straightforwardly asked, ¡°Where is your young lady?¡± ¡°Young lady?¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun felt a jolt in her heart, then lifted her head to look at the Ghost Swordsman in front of her, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion. What does the Ghost Swordsman want with the Sect Hierarch? Ever since she started following Zhao Qingmei, she remembered her words well, not to reveal her identity and location to anyone outside of the Demon Sect. Unless the Ghost Swordsman was willing to join the Demon Sect. An Jing coughed, explaining, ¡°I met you and your young lady at Fa Xi Temple; I had a deep impression of that time.¡± In his memory, it was the only time he had encountered Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun as the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°To think you could still remember a chance meeting amidst the vast sea of people, your memory is indeed remarkable.¡± Just then, an aged, deep voice sounded. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only From afar, an old scholar in a black robe slowly approached. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose as he looked over in response to the sound. This person was none other than Li Fuzhou. ¡­.. PS: I originally didn¡¯t want to reveal who the person was, but I got scared of being scolded by you guys, I won¡¯t split the chapter, I¡¯m laying my cards on the table. Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Mysterious Person Appears in the Cave Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Mysterious Person Appears in the Cave ¡°Master!? How did you get here?¡± Tan Yun was very surprised to see Li Fuzhou. She remembered Li Fuzhou had told her that he had something very important to do in Yujing City and might not be able to see her for a while; yet, here he was before her now. An Jing looked at Li Fuzhou, who wore a faint smile, and his eyebrows instinctively furrowed. This old guy sure got here fast. But then again, it made sense; as the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou naturally had access to information far beyond the ordinary people. ¡°We meet again,¡± intoned An Jing somberly. His words carried a dual meaning, referencing both his encounters with Li Fuzhou and the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s past clash with Li Fuzhou at the Three Temple Mountain. ¡°Indeed, we meet again, although I¡¯m not sure if you want to meet me or not,¡± Li Fuzhou said with a light smile. He remembered clearly that at Three Temple Mountain, the Ghost Swordsman had attacked him indiscriminately, ready to fight and kill, making him suspect this person was an enemy of the Demon Sect. An Jing, with a profound gaze, spoke straightforwardly, ¡°Sect Master Li, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. What exactly is your purpose for hiding out in Yu State City?¡± Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun were different: he was an old fox, and it would be tough to pry any information from him; better to be direct and straightforward. Li Fuzhou laughed lightly and stroked his beard, ¡°My Demon Sect is a taboo in Great Yan, akin to rats crossing the street, always hiding here and there. Is it so unusual to be hiding in Yu State City?¡± ¡°Tan Yun, aren¡¯t you coming over?¡± He said, glancing at Tan Yun. Tan Yun looked at An Jing, still masked, and then somewhat reluctantly jumped down from the back of the Black Flood Dragon and walked towards Li Fuzhou. An Jing frowned, Li Fuzhou¡¯s words did indeed hold some truth¨Calthough the Demon Sect had a notorious reputation in the Great Yan Martial World, they couldn¡¯t afford to be too conspicuous since both the Xuanyi Guard and Zhenyi Sect kept close watch on them, making it normal for them to lie low in Great Yan. But if you¡¯re going to hide, why hide in my home? ¡°Is that really so, Sect Master Li?¡± An Jing took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes, ¡°I have been to Jishi Hall, and I know Doctor An.¡± What!? Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Tan Yun¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes nearly popping out, and her jaw almost hit the ground. The Ghost Swordsman knew about Jishi Hall, so he must know their whereabouts. How could this be possible? Li Fuzhou was extremely skilled at concealment, his qi flow tricky and unpredictable, making it difficult even for a typical Half-step Master standing before him to discern his cultivation. Only someone who had seen him before and could penetrate his qi mechanism might discover Li Fuzhou. Such a person must be a top-notch expert in the world. And Tan Yun herself had only been to Great Yan a few times, mostly without revealing her tracks and merely killing a few people in Jianghu before hurriedly returning to the Demon Sect Main Hall. In the Great Yan Martial World, anyone who had seen her true face was dead, so no one should recognize her. How could the Ghost Swordsman possibly know that they were hiding in Jishi Hall? Meanwhile, Li Fuzhou, upon hearing this, became as tense as a rock, his heart sinking as if filled with cold lead. The Ghost Swordsman knew far too much; he was even aware of this information. What was his intention in announcing this? While Li Fuzhou was internally shocked, he maintained a calm and undisturbed exterior, ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure what you are talking about.¡± An Jing, noticing the contrast in the expressions of Tan Yun and Li Fuzhou, thought to himself: This old man Li really knows how to keep his composure. He had made himself perfectly clear, yet Li still feigned ignorance. No matter how staunchly he refused to speak, or how tightly he held his tongue, he said nothing. ¡°Lord Li, we will not disturb your grandchild¡¯s reunion; we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± With that, Li Fuzhou glanced at Tan Yun beside him, preparing to leave with her. ¡°Did I say you could go, Sect Master Li?¡± An Jing saw Li Fuzhou attempting to leave, then coldly chuckled. He had not yet finished asking his questions; how could he allow Li Fuzhou to walk away so easily? Li Fuzhou turned around, smiled faintly, and said, ¡°You have fought fiercely against four half-step masters consecutively, using the Buddhist supreme martial arts. The stronger the move, the greater the self-harm. Why do you insist on pushing yourself?¡± Li Fuzhou was well aware that the Ghost Swordsman before him had been fighting continuously, and now not only was his inner strength depleted, but he was also riddled with wounds and utterly powerless to fight. ¡°What you said is correct.¡± An Jing¡¯s gaze was chilly as he then controlled the Black Flood Dragon he was sitting on. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon issued a deep roar towards Li Fuzhou. Li Fuzhou stared at the Black Flood Dragon for a moment and shook his head, saying, ¡°This Black Python is just transforming into a Flood Dragon, its strength is greatly reduced. Moreover, it has been injured by the elder of the Five Poison Sect, Feng Lingyue. If it were to strike now, it might damage its inner core. Are you willing to pay such a price? We originally had neither grudges nor ties; why bother?¡± He was sure the Ghost Swordsman had rescued Tan Yun from under the Heavenly Sword¡¯s hand, which must have meant he bore no great malice towards the Demon Sect. An Jing looked at the cunning Li Fuzhou before him and took a deep breath, ¡°Just tell me your young lady¡¯s identity, and I can let you go, never to bother you again.¡± Sect Hierarch!? Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s face turned slightly pale. Was the Ghost Swordsman so persistent in learning the Sect Hierarch¡¯s identity because he rescued me for that reason? ¡°My young lady?¡± Li Fuzhou smiled and said, ¡°Our Demon Sect is among the top forces in Jianghu, we don¡¯t have any delicate young ladies. Perhaps you¡¯ve asked the wrong person? If you really want to know someone¡¯s identity, why not ask them directly yourself?¡± Meanwhile, Li Fuzhou was quickly pondering within, what does this person want with the Sect Hierarch¡¯s whereabouts? Could it be that he¡¯s taken a fancy to the Sect Hierarch? Though this idea seemed conventional, which young man in Jianghu doesn¡¯t love a beautiful woman? Especially a beauty who could overthrow states, like Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Ask directly?¡± An Jing furrowed his brow. He really wanted to know right now and couldn¡¯t wait a moment longer to head toward Ping County, and moreover¡­ ¡°Actually, it is not impossible for you to find out,¡± Li Fuzhou smiled. ¡°Speak.¡± An Jing looked at Li Fuzhou¡¯s smile, unsure of what cunning plan he was devising again. Li Fuzhou spoke deliberately, ¡°Join our Demon Sect.¡± Although he did not know why this man was so eager to learn about the Sect Hierarch¡¯s whereabouts, ¡°Join your Demon Sect? Like a stray dog?¡± An Jing, who loathed threats, scoffed coldly, ¡°There isn¡¯t the slightest possibility of that happening.¡± Join the Demon Sect!? From the sound of it, Zhao Qingmei must also be deeply entangled with the Demon Sect. Yes, both Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun were from the Demon Sect, and she even had the sect¡¯s treasured relic. How could there not be a connection!? ¡°That is truly a pity then,¡± Li Fuzhou said with a beaming smile, ¡°This old man is also willing but unable.¡± With that, Li Fuzhou prepared to leave with the seemingly distraught Tan Yun by his side. Watching Li Fuzhou about to depart, An Jing urgently asked, ¡°I know Doctor An Jing from Jishi Hall, and I just want to know¡­ what exactly is her relationship with the Demon Sect?¡± Right now, An Jing was eager to find out whether Zhao Qingmei had any connection with the Demon Sect and why she wanted to marry him. He was just a doctor! What truly was on her mind!? Or was she coerced!? ¡°Doctor An?¡± Li Fuzhou paused in his steps, with a hint of confusion in his words. An Jing said again, ¡°Jishi Hall¡¯s Doctor An Jing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know the person you¡¯re talking about.¡± Li Fuzhou spoke indifferently and continued walking forward. An Jing: ¡°¡­..¡± The wind whistled, carrying with it swirling fallen leaves. Tan Yun looked at An Jing, who stood motionless, and then quickly followed Li Fuzhou with gritted teeth. ¡°Old Li, you actually say you don¡¯t recognize yourself!?¡± It was a long while after Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun had left, An Jing, gritting his teeth, said, ¡°Well done, Old Li, you¡¯ve eaten so much of my silver, and now you clean your mouth and deny it, huh?¡± After that, An Jing calmed down, thinking it seemed direct questioning wouldn¡¯t make Old Li tell him anything. Did he really have to infiltrate the Demon Sect? What exactly was the relationship between his wife and the Demon Sect? ¡°Got it, since I can¡¯t get a word out of that old fox Li Fuzhou, I might use someone with a simpler mind¡­¡± An Jing fell into deep thought, and then something struck him. If it hadn¡¯t been for Li Fuzhou¡¯s sudden appearance, he might have succeeded this time. ¡­¡­ Outside the forest, among a pile of rubble. The dense fog gradually rose, engulfing the whole mountain forest in a thick white mist, blurring everything in sight, covering the lush greenery. Lou Xiangzhen stood on a giant rock, his eyes gazing into the distance, his body seeming somewhat hunched, his clothes fluttering at times, still at others. ¡°Elder Lou, you¡¯ve grown old too,¡± Meng Zhaodou stood below, looking at Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s silhouette, and couldn¡¯t help but softly lament. He remembered the first time he saw Lou Xiangzhen, over thirty years ago, during the last rampant years of the Demon Sect in Great Yan. Lou Xiangzhen was spirited and talented, recognized as the strongest and most gifted among the new generation of swordsmen. Admired by all, he was said to be the man who could carry the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman after the Sword God and the Sword Demon. This was the unanimously acknowledged opinion at the time. Later, Lou Xiangzhen went to challenge the Sword God at the Yu Heng Sword Sect and, after only a few moves, was defeated miserably. That deeply shattered his spirits as a swordsman. Such a crushing defeat dealt a horrendous blow to his pride. And thus, his dreamlike Peach Blossom Sword Intent disappeared from Jianghu. ¡°Who in this world can escape aging and death?¡± Lou Xiangzhen retracted his gaze, looked at Meng Zhaodou, and said indifferently, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in over a decade, have we?¡± ¡°Thirteen years since you went into seclusion,¡± Meng Zhaodou replied. ¡°Thirteen years, another thirteen years have passed,¡± Lou Xiangzhen, with his hands clasped behind his back, said quietly, ¡°I wonder if I have another thirteen years in my life.¡± Meng Zhaodou also smiled, ¡°Elder, you¡¯re healthy; not just one thirteen years, but two or three would be no problem.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand, ¡°You know I¡¯ve always hated dealing with the Court¡¯s people. Just speak your mind.¡± During his early years wandering through Jianghu, he despised the Court¡¯s people, especially the Xuanyi Guard under the Great Yan Emperor. He felt that the Xuanyi Guard treated Jianghu like a prison, imprisoning the free souls within, which is why Lou Xiangzhen was always cold to them. And Jiang Sanjia¡¯s employment at the Qintian Bureau was also a major reason for their scarce contact. Meng Zhaodou let out a wry smile, then his expression turned solemn as he saluted with clasped hands: ¡°Elder Lou, do you know the current power of the State Preceptor?¡± ¡°Three Qi Peak?¡± Lou Xiangzhen, seeing Meng Zhaodou¡¯s expression, said lightly, ¡°Or has he reached the Four Qi Realm?¡± Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s cultivation was revealed several years ago as Three Qi Peak, and with his talent and the support from the Zhenyi Sect, reaching the Four Qi Realm wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°He has reached the Four Qi.¡± Meng Zhaodou took a deep breath. The differences between each realm of cultivation became more apparent the further one advanced, especially within the Master Realm¨Cdifferences as vast as a chasm. ¡°That is for the best.¡± Lou Xiangzhen heard this, yet his smile deepened, as if this news was not bad, but rather a greatly favorable one for him. Such a Xiao Qianqiu was worth defeating. Seeing this, Meng Zhaodou hesitated, ¡°Elder Lou¡­¡± ¡°Speak frankly,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently. ¡°Ah.¡± Meng Zhaodou sighed slightly, then said, ¡°The Human Emperor claimed that regardless of the outcome, this battle would be a loss for our Great Yan Martial World. He sent me to stop you, Elder, and he will also send a letter to Xiao Qianqiu, advising both of you not to fight.¡± Great Yan is the ancestral land, and now, with the Human Emperor injured, Houjin and Zhao Country are also watching closely. The entire situation is delicately interconnected; a duel between the top expert of the Great Yan Martial World and a renowned Sword Immortal, and with Xiao Qianqiu also holding the position of the State Preceptor of Great Yan, any harm to him would be profoundly detrimental to Great Yan. ¡°Has the Human Emperor started managing things so broadly now?¡± Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow, ¡°The contest between Xiao Qianqiu and me is a matter of Jianghu enmity. Don¡¯t we even have this bit of freedom now?¡± Meng Zhaodou¡¯s mouth opened slightly, then he asked, ¡°Then, is the senior insisting on a fight?¡± ¡°You should know about Yu Ying forcing Jiang Sanjia to his death, right?¡± Lou Xiangzhen glanced at Meng Zhaodou and said indifferently. Upon hearing this, Meng Zhaodou immediately fell silent. As the chief leader of Heaven and Earth Net, he was extremely well-informed; even seemingly highly confidential information was as familiar to him as the palm of his hand. Yu Ying, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s martial uncle, was the hall master of the Heavenly Venerate Hall in the Zhenyi Sect. The Zhenyi Sect was originally the national religion of Great Yan, with mutual binding interests and shared honor and disgrace, but the rumor that spoken of ¡°two saints under heaven¡± began to circulate in recent years¨C the Human Emperor presiding over the court and Xiao Qianqiu presiding over the Jianghu. And the one secretly spreading this rumor was none other than Yu Ying. With the rapid development of the Zhenyi Sect, disciples of the sect were present all over Great Yan. If the Zhenyi Sect wanted to advance further, they would have to follow in the footsteps of the Black Ice Platform. Although Yu Ying presided over the Heavenly Venerate Hall, he was a person of great ambition and vindictiveness. This move was clearly a test of the Human Emperor¡¯s bottom line. And this was also why the Human Emperor agreed to the reason for Buddhism¡¯s eastward crossing. ¡°Yu Ying indeed went too far.¡± Meng Zhaodou¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°He even dared to reach into the inner workings of the imperial palace, crossing the Human Emperor¡¯s bottom line.¡± What Yu Ying had done, however, was not just limited to this. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know how the Human Emperor views Yu Ying.¡± Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand and said indifferently, ¡°There¡¯s no need for further words. A battle between Xiao Qianqiu and me is inevitable. If he doesn¡¯t come, I will step into Zhenyi Mountain myself.¡± The words of a swordsman should be as transcendent as a drawn sword. ¡°Meng understands.¡± Upon hearing this, Meng Zhaodou¡¯s heart trembled. He also saw Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s determination, realizing that further persuasion would be futile. He then extended both hands towards Lou Xiangzhen in salute, ¡°I now understand the senior¡¯s intention. In three days, I will come to Abyss Lake to support the senior.¡± ¡°I will not disturb the senior any longer today, farewell.¡± Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly, no longer speaking. Meng Zhaodou leapt up, heading into the distance. Lou Xiangzhen still watched the drifting white clouds in the distance, his ears filled with the sound of crisp sword chimes, calming his heart as still as water, undisturbed by any waves. There are many beautiful things in the world, but truly few belong to one¡¯s self. Witnessing the flowers blooming and wilting in the garden, unswayed by honor or disgrace, watching the clouds rolling and stretching in the sky, with no intention to stay or leave. And now, as the third month came to a close and the fourth month was at its peak, was the prime flowering season of the peach blossoms. ¡­.. Inside Yuan City, there was constant flow of people, buzzing with activity. Tan Yun followed behind Li Fuzhou, not saying a word. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why so quiet today?¡± Li Fuzhou looked at Tan Yun, who was silent with his head bowed. Tan Yun raised his head and asked, ¡°Master, what do you think is the intention of that Ghost Swordsman today?¡± ¡°What intention?¡± Li Fuzhou chuckled lightly, ¡°He seems very keen to know about the Sect Hierarch¡¯s whereabouts. When a man is so obsessed with a woman, there are only two possibilities. Either he has fallen for that woman or¡­ ¡± Tan Yun¡¯s heart clenched, asking, ¡°Or what?¡± ¡°Or he has a grudge,¡± Li Fuzhou said indifferently. A grudge?! The Ghost Swordsman didn¡¯t even know the Sect Hierarch¡¯s identity; how could he possibly have a grudge? Thinking this, Tan Yun¡¯s face fell in dismay. Yes, the Sect Hierarch¡¯s beauty was captivating; how could most men not fall in love with such a woman? Tan Yun asked dejectedly, ¡°Master, why don¡¯t you reveal the Sect Hierarch¡¯s identity? Maybe if he knew, he would be willing to join the Demon Sect.¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head, ¡°This person is secretive and his identity unclear, joining our Demon Sect might not be a good or bad thing, plus I¡¯ve always felt something off about him. Previously at Three Temple Mountain, he attacked us, and his attitude was unclear.¡± During his earlier conversation with the Ghost Swordsman, not only did he know they were at Jishi Hall, but he also recognized the doctor, which deepened Li Fuzhou¡¯s suspicion about the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s identity. A person with an unclear identity and unclear motives, how could they possibly allow him to join the Demon Sect easily? And you told him the identity of the Sect Hierarch? What he just said was merely to test the Ghost Swordsman. Even if he wanted to join the Demon Sect, he would need to present his credentials. Tan Yun bit her lip, saying, ¡°I think he is not a bad person and he also saved me.¡± ¡°Saved you? Silly girl.¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head, then said solemnly, ¡°Saving you is false, using you is true. You¡¯d better stay away from that Ghost Swordsman.¡± Seeing Li Fuzhou so serious, Tan Yun could only nod. After a while, Tan Yun softly said, ¡°Master, should I investigate his true identity?¡± Li Fuzhou naturally noticed Tan Yun¡¯s hidden thoughts and said, ¡°No need. From today, just follow me.¡± This Ghost Swordsman was a dangerous character, and Tan Yun¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t match that of the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s. She could very likely be sold by him and help him count the money. ¡°I understand.¡± Tan Yun, almost unable to hide her dismay, asked, ¡°Master, where are we going now?¡± ¡°To meet someone.¡± Li Fuzhou looked toward the distance and said, ¡°Just ahead.¡± Tan Yun followed Li Fuzhou¡¯s gaze and saw a quiet alley ahead, where a ragged beggar lay at the end of the alley. Could it be that Master wants to meet that beggar? She was greatly puzzled. Li Fuzhou walked up slowly, ¡°Scholar Li, we meet again.¡± The beggar was lying on the ground sleeping, suddenly hearing this familiar voice, his body shuddered and he stood up, then looked at the person in front of him in astonishment, ¡°You¡­ You are Li Fuzhou!?¡± If not for seeing it with his own eyes, he would never believe that he could see Li Fuzhou here. Li Fuzhou, with a smile, said, ¡°Even as a scholar, how have you become so wretched?¡± ¡°I am wretched?¡± Li Qirong snorted softly, immediately jumping in anger, and said, ¡°I beg for food as a scholar, I have food and drink, free from worries, how carefree and happy is that?¡± Even if he died now, he would not die in front of Li Fuzhou. That was the last bit of dignity Li Qirong left for himself. Li Fuzhou listened and said melancholically, ¡°Scholar Li said it well. Unlike me, homeless and displaced, having a home but unable to return to it¡­¡± Li Fuzhou spoke, his tone taking on a bit of sadness and loneliness. Tan Yun blinked her big eyes looking at Li Fuzhou, before she didn¡¯t know what listening to music in a brothel meant. Since reading her master¡¯s books, she had come to somewhat understand. Her master should have been very happy. Li Qirong, hearing what Li Fuzhou said, felt his mood lighten suddenly; the sunlight today even seemed warmer. He said, ¡°You, you insisted on joining the Demon Sect and became a thief of the sect. Otherwise, how glorious would your life be now?¡± In those days, Li Fuzhou in Yujing City was so glorious, not only was he accepted as a disciple by Lv Guoyong, but aside from not achieving the status of Scholar, everything else went smoothly. He was even admired by the daughters of major families, most notably Liu Ruyun of the Liu Family and Zuo Linglong of the Zuo Family¡­ The former, the only daughter of the Liu Family, is now the Great Elder of Youfeng Valley. She has never married for his sake; and the latter, Zuo Linglong, who was the foremost beauty back then, is now the Empress, such good fortune not many can enjoy. Li Fuzhou¡¯s limelight at that time was indeed unmatched. However, Li Qirong looked straight in Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes, the word ¡®jealousy¡¯ naked for all to see, and he even said it in front of Li Fuzhou: I am jealous of you, Li Qirong. But now, seeing Li Fuzhou also miserable, he felt much better, even feeling a bit of sympathy. However, Tan Yun, looking at the strange beggar in front of her, started to wonder, why did her master seem happy when hearing that he was not doing well? Li Fuzhou, with a wistful look, said, ¡°I returned to Great Yan this time to settle past grievances and enmities.¡± Li Qirong, taken aback, said, ¡°Settle grievances and enmities? Are you going to Yujing City then?¡± Others might not know why Li Fuzhou left the Lv Sect to join the Demon Sect, but Li Qirong knew very well, involving many years of past conflicts. ¡°Yes.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded and said, ¡°Now in Great Yan, I have no close friends. This trip, I can only talk to you.¡± If not for the matters of Lou Xiangzhen and Xiao Qianqiu and his disciple Tan Yun being involved, he wouldn¡¯t have come to Yuan City. His trip could have been just a passing visit¡­ And Li Qirong hearing this also sighed deeply. Back then, his relationship with Li Fuzhou was very bad, especially since the woman he loved, Liu Ruyun, chose Li Fuzhou, even becoming his fiancee, which made him very irritable and angry when facing Li Fuzhou. Li Qirong secretly made things difficult for Li Fuzhou on several occasions, setting traps multiple times, thinking Li Fuzhou still might not know to this day. Reflecting on the past and discussing the present, Li Qirong¡¯s jealousy towards Li Fuzhou had somewhat abated. Li Qirong, moved, said, ¡°Fuzhou, listen to an older brother¡¯s advice. The waters of Yujing City are very deep, you are likely to die there. Don¡¯t go. Isn¡¯t it better to continue wandering? At least you can keep living.¡± With the many masters in Yujing City, Li Fuzhou was already a traitor of the Lv Sect and also the Sect Master of the Demon Sect. Going to Yujing City would be like a turtle trapped in a jar, wouldn¡¯t it? Li Fuzhou sighed and said casually, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why Ruyun agreed to go to Yujing City with me.¡± ¡°Ruyun¡­..¡± Li Qirong¡¯s smile gradually solidified, and his face suddenly turned fierce as he exploded in a curse, ¡°Damn you, Li Fuzhou!¡± Deliberate! It was definitely deliberate on Li Fuzhou¡¯s part! What destitution, nowhere to live, having a home but unable to return, going to Yujing City to court death¡­ A person like Li Fuzhou, how could he possibly put himself in danger? He was just showing off in front of himself! Tan Yun watched the scene of Li Qirong seething with anger and couldn¡¯t help but think to himself: What the hell is going on? Li Fuzhou replied with a wronged tone, ¡°Scholar Li, you are a learned man, how could you curse at someone?¡± At that moment, Li Fuzhou¡¯s heart was bursting with joy; it had been a long time since he had felt this exhilarated. ¡°Li Fuzhou!¡± Li Qirong took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and said, ¡°Just tell me, what did you come here today for?¡± ¡°I just wanted to see my good friend.¡± Li Fuzhou sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I hardly have any friends in Great Yan, and even fewer since I joined the Demon Sect.¡± Li Qirong glared at Li Fuzhou, furious, ¡°What good friend of mine are you, treating your good friend like this?¡± The saying that rivals meeting only adds fuel to jealousy was indeed true. Although he usually maintained his composure quite well, he couldn¡¯t suppress the flames of anger in his heart upon seeing Li Fuzhou, especially after being recently tricked. Li Fuzhou patted Li Qirong on the shoulder and smiled, ¡°Scholar Li, don¡¯t say that. You used to make things difficult for me all the time, but I¡¯ve forgotten all about it.¡± So Li Fuzhou had known all along. Upon hearing this, Li Qirong stared at Li Fuzhou in shock. Forget it? You remember it very clearly. ¡°Let¡¯s forget it, I won¡¯t hold it against you,¡± said Li Qirong, waving his hand dismissively, then he asked, ¡°Did you see Liu Ruyun?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Li Fuzhou responded as if it were a matter of fact. On hearing this, Li Qirong¡¯s heart sank even further and he scrutinized Li Fuzhou¡¯s face carefully. Was he really the black-robed boy the others said was not flamboyant enough? Li Qirong fell into deep thought, overcome with melancholy. Li Fuzhou exhaled and asked, ¡°I heard that Wang Ningshui had looked for you.¡± ¡°Indeed, being the Sect Master of the Human Sect, you know everything,¡± Li Qirong replied proudly. ¡°Yes, she did look for me,¡± Li Qirong affirmed. Who was Wang Ningshui?! The current Palace Master of the Unrivaled Palace, a master from the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall. In the world, the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall was much more famous than the Unrivaled Palace. Back in the Seven Evils Sect, Wang Ningshui had even tried to recruit An Jing, wanting her to join this Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall. Li Fuzhou asked, ¡°What did she want with you?¡± ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Li Qirong snorted coldly. Li Fuzhou chuckled, ¡°You and her¡­ don¡¯t have some kind of affair, do you? I¡¯ve heard that Wang Ningshui was stunningly beautiful in her youth, and many in the Jianghu fell at her feet. Don¡¯t get fooled by someone in a confused moment.¡± Li Qirong gave Li Fuzhou a look and then continued lying on the ground, replying irritably, ¡°Fool me? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? Besides, if someone fools me, it¡¯s because I have some value to them.¡± ¡°She wanted me to go to Heavenly Gate Pass to devise strategies and assist the Marquis in resisting the Houjin army.¡± Li Fuzhou frowned slightly upon hearing this. Nowadays, Houjin was indeed making significant moves, and coupled with the rumors passed by the Demon Sect to that Marquis, it seemed he too was preparing. ¡°What do you think?¡± asked Li Fuzhou. Li Qirong was someone he knew well, who had real skills, especially in grasping the overall situation profoundly. ¡°I agreed,¡± Li Qirong said slowly, looking at the blue sky, ¡°What else could I do, live in this broken Yuan City as a beggar all my life?¡± Li Fuzhou nodded and said no more. ¡°Where did that little girl beside you come from?¡± Li Qirong glanced at Tan Yun. Somehow, he felt he had seen Tan Yun somewhere before. After a closer look, he noticed that the girl bore a seven or eight-point resemblance to a woman from the Lv Mansion in the past. ¡°This is my disciple, Tan Yun.¡± Li Fuzhou smiled subtly, ¡°Hurry, pay respects to your Uncle Li. He is a top scholar, holding a position as a Third Grade official. Could recognizing him as your uncle possibly treat you badly?¡± Tan Yun hurriedly said, ¡°Hello, Uncle Li.¡± ¡°What Third Grade, no Third Grade.¡± Li Qirong waved his hand dismissively, then looked deeply at Li Fuzhou, ¡°Li Scholars will be Li Scholars.¡± Li Fuzhou said, ¡°Brother Li, it is still early, how about a drink?¡± Li Qirong replied indifferently, ¡°If you¡¯re treating, I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡­.. In the Dongluo Desert, Sealing Demon Platform. At this moment, the great hall of the Sealing Demon Platform was still being reconstructed, in a side hall at the edge of the platform. Ouyang Ping, the Third Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform, Yuan Feng, the Second Elder, and the former Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, Jiang Shang, were all gathered together. Ouyang Ping was the first to speak, ¡°Sect Hierarch Jiang, do you really intend to go to Houjin?¡± ¡°Yes, I must visit Houjin and take the opportunity to see the Holy Master of the Great Snow Mountain too.¡± Jiang Shang replied indifferently. The Undying Blood that appeared beneath the sealing of Fa Xi Temple, although he didn¡¯t obtain it eventually, confirmed its existence. If he could obtain the Undying Blood, he could live forever. Not even the Supreme Dao was out of reach then. Ouyang Ping furrowed his brows, ¡°But the current state of the Demon Sect¡­.¡± He was still filled with regret about that day¡¯s events. He had hoped that Zhao Qingmei would bring out the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡¯ but he had not wished to witness such a scene. Zhao Qingmei, merely nineteen or about twenty after the New Year, had become a Grandmaster at such an age. Undoubtedly aided by the fortune within the Sealing Demon Platform, she still was a rare genius. As long as she was steadily promoted, Zhao Qingmei, holding her position in the Demon Sect, would surely rise over the next century. Jiang Shang pondered, ¡°As long as we spread the word, I will hold Dongluo Pass, and let Duanmu Xinghua handle the affairs within the sect, all will be without danger.¡± Ouyang Ping nodded, ¡°Then, I will discuss with Brother Yuan on how best to rescue Sect Hierarch Zhao. According to our people reporting from below, Sect Hierarch Zhao seems to have loosened up a bit, willing to hand over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ if she can be rescued.¡± The Sealing Demon Well could only be entered once, so after Zhao Qingmei fell into the Sealing Demon Well, the Demon Sect had sent people down to communicate with her. They consequently knew that Zhao Qingmei was still inside the Sealing Demon Well and was alive, but she could not escape due to the immense pressure at the well¡¯s mouth. ¡°We mustn¡¯t be hasty in this matter.¡± However, Yuan Feng shook his head, ¡°In my opinion, we should wait until she hands over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ first.¡± Ouyang Ping¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, ¡°This matter needs further deliberation. Rescuing her is crucial.¡± Seeing Ouyang Ping say that, Yuan Feng stayed silent and instead looked towards Jiang Shang. ¡°Knowing Qingmei as I do, once she is out, she definitely won¡¯t let things go easily.¡± Jiang Shang shook his head, also somewhat troubled, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until she hands over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ first.¡± He understood Zhao Qingmei¡¯s character quite well. ¡°Sect Hierarch, I really think you¡¯ve gone too far this time.¡± Ouyang Ping sighed, ¡°The Hierarch holds high authority, handles countless tasks daily, and given your age, maintaining a male consort isn¡¯t really a big deal.¡± Jiang Shang frowned slightly, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Qingmei has developed feelings for that doctor. Extreme emotions can cause harm. It¡¯s done, she¡¯s killed him; if these feelings bind her, it¡¯s not only her restraint, but also restraint for the Demon Sect.¡± ¡°If she truly can¡¯t understand, can¡¯t control her desires, then let her stay in the Sealing Demon Well for a lifetime.¡± That was what Jiang Shang inwardly thought. If Zhao Qingmei remained so stubborn, not just as his disciple, even Jiang Renyi, he wouldn¡¯t show the slightest mercy. Ouyang Ping also frowned deeply; there was some truth in what Jiang Shang said. Throughout history, how many exceptionally talented individuals had not died by the treacherous edges of the martial world¡¯s swords but perished due to deep entanglements in love? Most masters from ancient times till now have been lonely. Jiang Shang slowly stood up, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go down to see Renyi first, and tomorrow I will leave the Demon Sect. You also need to be careful with the situation beneath the Sealing Demon Well.¡± ¡°Alright, you just go ahead, Sect Hierarch,¡± Yuan Feng said cheerfully. Then, Jiang Shang slowly left the side hall. Taking a deep breath, Ouyang Ping said, ¡°We still have time to salvage this.¡± ¡°Salvage, how do we salvage?¡± Yuan Feng stared at Ouyang Ping, ¡°Brother Ouyang, have you become senile? Yes, I know you value Zhao Qingmei¡¯s talent, and I highly value it too. I also hope she can become a pillar of the Demon Sect and lead the Demon Sect to return to Great Yan.¡± ¡°But do you think Zhao Qingmei, with her domineering and aggressive personality, would willingly accept the existence of the Sealing Demon Platform over her head?¡± ¡°Ever since that battle, I¡¯ve become somewhat afraid. I¡¯m afraid that one day, when she becomes more powerful and self-reliant, the first ones she might strike at are not Zhenyi Sect or Xuanyi Guard, but us two.¡± The words of Yuan Feng stabbed mercilessly, piercing straight to the heart. Ouyang Ping became silent as well. Yuan Feng continued earnestly, ¡°For her to hand over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯, wouldn¡¯t it be a beneficial thing for our Demon Sect, where the Great Elder getting this mental method could potentially advance his cultivation, and our strengths increase significantly? Wouldn¡¯t you say that¡¯s a good thing?¡± ¡°If she is not wholeheartedly with us, even if she becomes a Great Grandmaster, it would all be in vain, and instead, we would be nurturing a tiger for trouble.¡± Ouyang Ping sighed deeply and did not speak again. ¡­¡­ In the Dongluo Desert, below the Sealing Demon Well. Gloomy and cold, an expanse of turbid darkness. Zhao Qingmei held some dry food in one hand and a water pouch in the other, leaning near the cave not far away, her eyebrows tightly furrowed at the moment. The food was delivered by Yu Qiurong using wooden figures. Being made of wood, the figures naturally weren¡¯t affected by the restrictions of the Sealing Demon Well, so they could come and go freely. She had been under the Sealing Demon Well for several days now, and aside from the well opening, she hadn¡¯t found any other exit. She only found a strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence in a corpse, and although this Spirit Essence was extremely precious, if she couldn¡¯t escape from the Sealing Demon Well, it would all be for naught. At that moment, a voice came from inside the cave, ¡°Little girl, it seems you haven¡¯t given up, huh? But that¡¯s right, the others before you were just like that too. However, they weren¡¯t as lucky as you, having no one to bring them food and drink. About seven or eight days in, they couldn¡¯t hold on anymore.¡± ¡°You really talk too much.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the dry food in her hand, then narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°It seems you don¡¯t need to eat?¡± The voice laughed, ¡°Here in this cave, not only can one survive without dying, but one can also live without consuming any food.¡± The laughter was very strange, high-pitched, and extremely unpleasant to the ear. Zhao Qingmei put away the dry food and water, her eyes intently staring ahead. The voice kept luring her to go further inside. Zhao Qingmei thought of something and chuckled lightly, ¡°Fine, today I¡¯ll see just who you really are.¡± After speaking, Zhao Qingmei glanced at the wooden figure in a long robe beside her, then started controlling the wooden figure to walk forward. She carefully followed behind the wooden figure. ¡°You won¡¯t regret this,¡± the voice said. The wooden figure moved slowly, Zhao Qingmei intensely focused on the cave ahead, managing to control her heartbeat and breathing very well even in such a tense situation. ¡°Step¡­..¡± Soon, the wooden figure took its final step and entered the cave. ¡°Hiss!¡± Just as it stepped into the cave, a powerful suction force came from the front, directly pulling the wooden figure in. And following the wooden figure, Zhao Qingmei also stepped inside. The moment she entered the cave, she felt very strange, as if she was carrying a mountain on her shoulders, extremely heavy. Finally, she saw the person in the cave. The person was disheveled, with tattered clothes, and it was unclear whether it was a man or a woman. ¡°Deceived!?¡± The person realizing they had sucked in a wooden figure, muttered to themselves. At that moment, a cold light already struck at the person. ¡°Clang!¡± The person pinched the Yuan Blade between two fingers, then directly caught Zhao Qingmei¡¯s blade. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Here, you are no match for me at all.¡± The person said blandly. This time, using their original voice, an old, murky voice tinged with a slight hoarseness, and distinctly female. ¡­¡­ PS: Chapter 143 has been slightly modified, changing seventy years to more than fifty years to correct Jiang Sanjia¡¯s age. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Earth-Shattering Sound of Dragon Roar Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Earth-Shattering Sound of Dragon Roar Around Abyss Lake, experts gathered aplenty. Luo Chongyang glanced at the elderly Qingfeng and spoke indifferently, ¡°Watching the show is best, I hope you won¡¯t break the rules.¡± Having said that, Luo Chongyang sat down cross-legged. As an old-timer in Jianghu, Qingfeng, although slighted by Luo Chongyang¡¯s admonishment, still maintained a smile on his face. Luo Chongyang was not someone to be trifled with! Besides the many masters already present, there were numerous hidden identities and strengths among the Jianghu veterans around, including one or two from the Master Realm. Furthermore, there were some spies from Zhao Country and Houjin. In the distance around Abyss Lake, the waterside pavilion followed a winding path. Tan Yun held a chicken leg, looking towards Abyss Lake, ¡°Master, there are quite a lot of people today.¡± Indeed, all sorts of people have come to join in the bustle.¡± Li Qirong, also holding a chicken leg and smeared with grease, couldn¡¯t help but lament, ¡°When will the struggle for fame and fortune ever cease, with neither freedom in rising early nor sleeping late? On donkeys and mules we think of steeds; occupying high offices we dream of princely states. Worried only about basic sustenance, who fears prematurely meeting the king of hell? Advancing offspring to secure wealth, yet none turn back!¡± At this time, Li Qirong had changed into a set of white clothes and had his hair combed and washed; even in his youth, he was quite handsome and dashing. Tan Yun clapped her hands, unable to restrain herself, ¡°Well said, well said indeed!¡± Li Qirong glanced at Tan Yun, ¡°Do you understand what I said?¡± Tan Yun threw away the chicken bone and wiped her hand on Li Qirong, saying, ¡°I¡­ my friend once said that most people in this world hustle and bustle just for three meals a day, truly too exhausting.¡± Li Qirong looked at the grease stain on his new clothes and immediately expressed his discontent, ¡°Girl, this is my new outfit.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s new? Wasn¡¯t it my master who bought it for you anyway?¡± Tan Yun said, cheerfully taking out a peach blossom pastry she had bought that morning. Li Qirong looked at the young girl in front of him and inwardly shook his head; in this worldly competition for fame and fortune, innocence was indeed a precious rarity. At that moment, Li Fuzhou, hands behind his back, smiled faintly, ¡°Fame and fortune are right before your eyes; if you don¡¯t take them, others will. Will you take them or not?¡± ¡°I will!¡± Li Qirong didn¡¯t hesitate at all. Those who talk of renouncing worldly ambition are either inept and incapable of achieving great deeds themselves or simply delude themselves and even advise others to steer clear of ambition. Living a lifetime, though one might be as insignificant as ants, ought to aspire to great heights. The sunlight slanted down, the vast sky and earth overhead, and the waters of Abyss Lake shimmered. At this moment, on the distant path, two figures gradually appeared. Leading them was an old man clad in loose black clothes, his silhouette ethereal, his pace neither fast nor slow, almost as if embedded in the landscape of mountains and waters, amidst the cosmic crucible. The other was a man in a black robe, his presence condensed to the utmost, virtually imperceptible unless one directly witnessed him with their own eyes. As the figures arrived, a buzz of discussion arose around Abyss Lake. The newcomers were An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, you¡¯ve finally come.¡± Ling Yuanjing saw the man, his eyes sparking with a flicker of sharpness. ¡°As I said, I would surely come,¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied, standing by the shore of Abyss Lake with a calm demeanor. ¡°Brother Lou.¡± At this moment, Wang Yue of the Blue River Sect also stood up and spoke. It seemed as though he had been waiting here for a long time. Lou Xiangzhen glanced at Wang Yue and then said, ¡°You¡¯ve come at the right time. Here, I return this Supreme Elder Token to you.¡± As he spoke, he took out the token that Wang Yue had given him years ago. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The token traced an arc through the air and landed firmly in Wang Yue¡¯s hand. Wang Yue was slightly stunned, then looked at the token in his hand with complex emotions, thinking how in the relentless march of time, some paths inevitably diverge. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want it, I won¡¯t insist.¡± Just like Lou Xiangzhen could no longer see through Wang Yue, Wang Yue also couldn¡¯t understand why, after decades, Lou Xiangzhen remained unchanged. The world changes, the tides shift, but why do some remain ever the same? Lou Xiangzhen nodded slightly then turned to Ling Yuanjing, ¡°Let Xiao Qianqiu come out.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Just then, a clear voice of dissent echoed through the heavens and earth. Who!? An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed as he followed the sound. There, on the official road by Abyss Lake, a figure appeared. The person carried a soft, feminine beauty, with eyes that were both ice-cold and proud, filled with calmness at their depths. He wore a black robe embroidered with a green python. Following him were several guards clad in black, seemingly strong in their own right. In Great Yan, those who could wear such official python robes were no ordinary individuals. ¡°Zhong Binru!?¡± Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Yiyang¡¯s brows slightly furrowed. This man was none other than Zhong Binru, the eunuch who wielded the Emperor¡¯s Sword and was also one of the five Great Sword Immortals. ¡°Elder Lou.¡± Zhong Binru greeted Lou Xiangzhen with a fist and palm salute, saying, ¡°Zhong Binru pays his respects.¡± Zhong Binru!? Hearing this name, An Jing¡¯s heart stirred. Among the current five Great Sword Immortals, Zhong Binru was the most mysterious. He seldom made a move, yet he was listed among the top five, which spoke volumes about his strength. Moreover, Lou Xiangzhen often spoke highly of Zhong Binru in his conversations, once stating that if An Jing wished to become the paramount swordsman, Lin Yiyang and Zhong Binru would be his greatest adversaries. Lou Xiangzhen blandly asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Holding up his ancient sword, Zhong Binru took a deep breath and said, ¡°The Human Emperor wishes for Elder Lou to consider the state of Great Yan and to cease hostilities today.¡± The Emperor¡¯s Sword! The presence of the Emperor¡¯s Sword was akin to the Human Emperor himself being present. This was an imperial decree. Many faces changed upon hearing this; they hadn¡¯t expected the Human Emperor to personally intervene in this duel. With the Xuanyi Guard as his blade, the Human Emperor¡¯s authority was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and virtually no one in the martial world of Great Yan dared to openly defy the laws of Great Yan. In the distance, within a carriage, a young man peered through the drapes and upon seeing the Emperor¡¯s Sword in Zhong Binru¡¯s hands, he shook his head, ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected Father to personally intervene.¡± This person was none other than the current Crown Prince, Zhao Chongyin. Standing to the side, White-nun slowly said, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu is the State Preceptor of Great Yan, highly placed and powerful. With him here, the martial world of Great Yan won¡¯t easily fall into chaos. However, if he were to be gravely injured, that would spell trouble.¡± Xiao Qianqiu was not only the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect but also the State Preceptor of Great Yan. Should a mishap befall him today, the martial world of Great Yan would undoubtedly face turbulence, possibly even igniting a sequence of reactions. Zhao Chongyin nodded earnestly, then continued to watch ahead. At this moment, all eyes were on Lou Xiangzhen, waiting for his response. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Sword, huh?¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression remained unchanged: ¡°Even if the Human Emperor himself were here today, he couldn¡¯t stop me.¡± Even if the Human Emperor himself were here today, he couldn¡¯t stop me. With these words, Lou Xiangzhen had made his resolve clear. ¡°I understand, Elder Lou, please proceed.¡± A gleam appeared in Zhong Binru¡¯s eyes as he slowly stepped back. Before coming here, he had received a secret order from the Human Emperor, instructing him not to insist if he truly couldn¡¯t prevent the altercation. Zhong Binru understood Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s mind; more words would be futile. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s body moved, and in the next instant, he stepped onto Abyss Lake, and in another blink, he had already reached the pavilion above the lake. The lake wind was strong, making his clothes flap loudly. ¡°Whoosh!¡± With a slap of his hand, the Peach Blossom Sword at his waist instantly flew out. A beam of cold light pierced the sky, making the entire lake seem icy cold, chilling the hearts of everyone around. Spring was vibrant, peach blossoms freely fluttered, making Abyss Lake appear exceptionally ethereal. ¡°What a splendid Peach Blossom Sword!¡± a leisurely voice exclaimed. The waves rippled, and a black-canopied boat came with the wind, on its bow stood a spotless middle-aged Taoist. The Taoist¡¯s body and mind were one, heart and heaven were united, a perfect harmony that bestowed upon him an ethereal, transcendent aura, as if he were an extraordinary immortal. Mere standing there made him unforgettable. ¡°Xiao Qianqiu has arrived!¡± ¡°Is the battle finally about to begin?¡± ¡­¡­. Expert fighters around Abyss Lake felt a jolt in their hearts when they saw the figure appear. ¡°Xiao Qianqiu?¡± An Jing muttered to himself upon seeing the man. Among the key players in Great Yan today, aside from the Human Emperor who had broken through his shackles and suffered heavy injuries, Xiao Qianqiu, the Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, was also one of them. Seventeen years ago, Ye Ding had battled Xiao Qianqiu and ultimately losing by a half move; Xiao Qianqiu naturally took over the position of the world¡¯s number one expert. With the Demon Sect withdrawing from Great Yan Martial World and the Buddhist yet to travel east, Xiao Qianqiu was like a mountain, suffocating all the martial artists in Jianghu. Atop Zhenyi Mountain, Xiao Qianqiu had not only defeated Ye Ding but also the unknown Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, Jiang Shang. This year, Xiao Qianqiu was only forty-seven, at an age that could be described as flourishing, with a future that was boundlessly promising; he was also the most likely person in the world to become a Great Grandmaster. On the canopy boat, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s demeanor was indifferent like water, and even dressed in an ordinary Taoist robe, he remained dazzlingly magnificent, unforgettable at a glance. Lou Xiangzhen stood on the pavilion, and the two gazed at each other across the space; the originally calm lake surface began to surge tumultuously, followed by the shaking waters, seeming to roll up countless stormy waves. The roaring sound was like thunder, resounding through and shaking the soul. The two men did not speak, but the atmosphere had already completely solidified. ¡°Make your move,¡± Xiao Qianqiu said, his expression as calm as the abyss, hands behind his back. The earth and skies were like a chessboard, and now that chessboard lay beneath his feet. Regardless of the stormy waves in the lake, he himself was unaffected. Heaven and earth became one, and then he merged into the heavens and the earth. There was no longer heaven and earth, no longer himself. ¡°How formidable Xiao Qianqiu is,¡± Feng Lingyue remarked silently with surprise in her heart. Only by reaching the Grandmaster Realm could one truly feel the terrifying strength of Xiao Qianqiu at this moment, which was already pursuing the realm of the Dao. Xiao Qianqiu did not make a move but merely standing there made one feel a trace of unease. ¡°As you wish,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said with an indifferent smile, thrusting the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand. It seemed as if a shocking sword light attacked, spewing forth from the Peach Blossom Sword. With surging waves rising and water splashing in all directions, it seemed as if those droplets each formed a piercing sword light attacking. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s gaze remained as calm as water; True Qi began to circulate, and the turbulent lake surface seemed to be suppressed by him, forming solid, thick walls. The sword light was blocked, as if it could no longer advance an inch, all offensive moves were solidly blocked by the water walls. Then, Lou Xiangzhen wrist twisted, and the Peach Blossom Sword also began to rotate, and a majestic sword intent arose. Immensely vast, the imposing presence came like a mountain. ¡°Splash!¡± ¡°Splash!¡± The water splashed, and amid the disintegration, the cold sword light swiftly struck like thunder, directly aiming for Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s neck. Fast! Too fast! Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s sword was really too fast! It was so fast that few present could see his sword clearly. Xiao Qianqiu turned his body, easily dodging this majestic Peach Blossom Sword. The two exchanged places, then both stood on the churning lake surface. An Jing watched the brief exchange between the two, yet felt a surge of emotions, even though he had anticipated that this battle would be intense, he had not expected it to be this fierce. It had just begun, and numerous killing intentions had already emerged. A slight misstep would result in death and obliteration of the path. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s Qi Mechanism spread out; now that the battle had started, he inherently possessed momentum. Whoosh! An astonishing Qi Mechanism suddenly burst forth from the Abyss Lake, and in an instant, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s figure turned into a blur. Then, he extended his index finger, striking towards Lou Xiangzhen with the speed of a fleeing bird. At the moment Xiao Qianqiu made his move, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes also tightened; he stomped on the lake surface, and the mighty surging waves swept forward. ¡°Clang!¡± The Peach Blossom Sword collided with Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s index finger in the next instant, and the fierce wind swept open. The next moment, an extremely profound energy burst open from Xiao Qianqiu, and the world seemed to have darkened at that instant. Wow! Behind him, a starlight emerged. Wow wow wow wow wow wow! Then six more starlights emerged, forming profound patterns, glittering brilliantly. Seven Stars Shining Sun! The manifestation of the Beidou Seven Stars Technique at its Tenth Layer, meaning Xiao Qianqiu had cultivated the Heavenly Martial level Beidou Seven Stars Technique to the Tenth Layer. The moment those seven starlights emerged, his fingertips shot out a massive Qi Mechanism. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he immediately felt an overwhelming surge of force transmitted from the Peach Blossom Sword. ¡°Thud, thud, thud¡­¡± Soon, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s body swiftly moved backward, causing waves to rise all around him. However, Xiao Qianqiu advanced instead of retreating, his fingertip pressing against the tip of the sword, charging forward with a momentum that seemed to move mountains and overturn seas. Yin Yang Dual Element Sword! Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Qi mechanism also surged continuously, with black and white streams intertwining. At the same time, countless drops of water in the air transformed into numerous Sword Qis, attacking Xiao Qianqiu. Seeing this, Xiao Qianqiu was forced to retreat toward the distance. ¡°Bang, bang, bang, bang!¡± Those drops of water fell onto the surface of the lake, immediately exploding with deafening sounds. Outside the Abyss Lake, many masters witnessed this scene with extremely grave expressions. Even those within the Grandmaster Realm weren¡¯t sure they could withstand the assault if they were to replace either of the two combatants. ¡°Such formidable Grandmasters.¡± Zhao Chongyin watched the scene before him, his heart pounding uncontrollably, ¡°I wonder if the Chamberlain Bai Mei is a match for either of them.¡± In the Great Yan Imperial Palace, naturally, there were Grandmasters, top-level ones at that. That would be one of the three great eunuchs of the Human Emperor, the Chamberlain, Bai Mei. No one knows his exact age. He has been in the Imperial Palace for seventy to eighty years. When Lou Xiangzhen had not yet made his debut, he had already been in charge of the palace. The Peaceful Human Emperor even respectfully referred to him as a fatherly figure, and it was rumored his cultivation reached the heavens, not far from the peak of the Grandmaster. It was because of this man¡¯s presence that even ordinary Grandmasters dared not act recklessly within the palace. It was rumored that the missing Great Grandmaster from Zhao Country had tried to sneak into the Great Yan Palace, only to be killed by him. However, Bai Mei, serving in the palace, did not count as one of Great Yan¡¯s martial world figures, thus his name was not ranked among the many lists and rows of great masters in the Jianghu. Still, many were curious who would come out on top between Bai Mei and Xiao Qianqiu. But one was an Archmage of Great Yan, and the other a Chamberlain eunuch; both pillars of the kingdom, making a clash between them nearly impossible. ¡°Hard to say who would win,¡± Aunty Bai sighed lightly, looking towards the distant Luo Chongyang, ¡°That Luo Chongyang is not to be underestimated. If it weren¡¯t for the teamwork of Xiao Qianqiu, Ye Ding, and Yu Ying a few years ago, he might not have withdrawn from the Zhenyi Sect.¡± Zhao Chongyin nodded but said no more. As someone familiar with the worldly wrestlers, he naturally knew many secrets, including the incident of Luo Chongyang¡¯s betrayal of the Zhenyi Sect. It was rumored that Luo Chongyang had been defeated by Xiao Qianqiu, but how old was Xiao Qianqiu at that time? Merely over thirty and just stepping into the Grandmaster Realm; how could he have possibly defeated a world-renowned Grandmaster like Luo Chongyang. The truth is, Luo Chongyang was forced to retreat by the combined efforts of Xiao Qianqiu, Ye Ding, and Yu Ying. Being able to escape from three cooperating Grandmasters clearly demonstrated the extreme strength of Luo Chongyang. Late*r*, people in the Zhenyi Sect in Hidden Mountain tried to capture Luo Chongyang but ended up failing miserably and sustaining heavy losses, severely weakening their power. Since then, the Zhenyi Sect had stopped troubling Luo Chongyang, as if he never existed. Aunty Bai remarked, ¡°And that Jiang Shang from the Demon Sect is also a very fearsome character, his cultivation not inferior to anyone in the Three Qi. Moreover, he¡¯s ruthless and excels at lying low and enduring, like a venomous snake, always needing to be cautiously guarded against.¡± ¡°The envoy of the Black Ice Platform in Zhao Country is also a practitioner of Tongxuan, approaching the peak of the Grandmaster Realm.¡± Zhao Country, having battled Great Yan for hundreds of years, has long been unified under the Black Ice Platform; one might say that in Zhao Country, Black Ice is the sky. Their top masters are no fewer than those of Great Yan. The two remained silent; Zhao Country was like a hungry wolf if so, then Houjin was a fierce tiger. The strength of the Holy Master of Houjin was still unknown to anyone. He was also one of the experts closest to the Great Grandmaster level and was a serious concern for Great Yan. This vast world is filled with numerous masters. And those are just the ones visible on the surface. What about those hidden old creatures? Above the Abyss Lake, figures crisscrossed. In Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand, the Peach Blossom Sword danced, its sword light surging¨Cblack and white streams continuously interwove, accompanied by torrential mighty water movements, surging and vibrant. Sss, sss, sss! Seeing the oncoming sword light, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s internal True Qi surged like a tide, his palm striking forward. Seven Stars Palm Technique! Shifting Mountains and Rivers! A vast and majestic Qi surged forward, the palm imprint transforming into a landscape that fell from the sky, crushing all the chaotic and sharp Sword Qi. The sky darkened, the surface of the lake churned violently. As the water splashed in all directions, a cold gleam emerged from the spray, shooting straight down toward Xiao Qianqiu below the surface of the lake. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s expression remained calm and unperturbed, stars surging behind him, his body forming impenetrable barriers. The Sword Light had reached in front of him, but it could not advance even an inch further. Xiao Qianqiu not only had momentum on his side, but his cultivation was also in the Four Qi Realm. Although only higher by one Qi than Lou Xiangzhen, the gap was visibly significant. Many onlookers furrowed their brows at this scene. Could it really be that the victor would be decided this quickly? ¡°The way of the sword cannot prevail forever.¡± Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s Daoist robe fluttered in the wind, his eyes bright and clear as he looked up at Lou Xiangzhen, who held the Peach Blossom Sword. ¡°All I need is to grasp that fleeting moment-eternity can wait for eternity, I simply disregard it,¡± Lou Xiangzhen said nonchalantly, and then a vast aura began emerging around him. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz!¡± ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz!¡± In an instant, the sky and earth resounded clearly. Flying swords within dozens of kilometers emitted a crisp sound, trembling. The Evil Suppressing Sword in An Jing¡¯s hand began to tremble as well, as if it was struggling to break free. The entire Abyss Lake trembled, water surging and sending waves crashing toward the shores. At that moment, the Peach Blossom Sword in Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s hand seemed to vanish into the universe, and delicate red petals appeared above Abyss Lake, gently scattering upon the lake¡¯s surface. The sound of swords ringing filled the heavens and the earth, and the sword qi emitted chilling glimmers that were overwhelming; all swordsmen stared ahead, astonished. Hand without sword! Heart without sword! Now, fame and fortune were all trodden underfoot by Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s sword skill finally reached the Sixth Realm, becoming the world¡¯s top swordsman! In the moment when the Peach Blossom Sword disappeared from his hand, the protective Gang Qi around Xiao Qianqiu shattered completely, turning into a cloud of white smoke. ¡°Whoosh!¡± This sword was like one at the dawn of an ancient day, emerging in an instant when night and day intersected. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s expression finally changed, and he quickly moved backward to retreat. ¡°Swoosh!¡± That sword light slashed through Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s garments, a trail of blood staining his Daoist robe, then the two crossed paths again. All was quiet between heaven and earth, without a single sound. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword seemed to have disappeared, standing indifferently on the lake surface, the reflection of the sky making it seem as if he were standing on the universe itself. ¡°Drip, drop!¡± Blood from Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s shoulder dripped onto the lake¡¯s surface, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. ¡°The Sixth Realm¡­¡± Cui Daoxian murmured to himself as he gazed upon Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s figure, unable to contain his awe. Countless swordsmen in the world, and for many decades none had reached this Sixth Realm. Today, this Ghost Valley Sword Immortal had finally achieved the Sixth Realm. ¡°Is this the Sixth Realm?¡± Luo Chongyang chuckled softly, ¡°Now things are getting interesting.¡± The numerous experts present were all, in their hearts, shockingly affected even if they were regarded as mystical grandmasters of swordsmanship by common eyes in Jianghu. Once again, the world witnessed the emergence of a swordsman of the Sixth Realm. A swordsman of the Sixth Realm, a god of slaughter. ¡­¡­ Standing in the distance, An Jing, with furrowed brows, was still pondering over the sword light he had just seen. That sword was exceedingly formidable. Although he felt like he had memorized it, it also seemed forgotten. Thinking about it carefully, it had a profound influence on his own understanding of sword intent. An Jing¡¯s sword intent was vast but not solid enough; however, that sword had given him much inspiration and food for thought. ¡°Is this the famed Ghost Swordsman?¡± Just then, a woman¡¯s voice came from beside him. Hearing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but turn his head; the speaker was an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman, but the aura she emitted was not simple-she was a First Grade Expert. This person was none other than Bai Mei, who was by Zhao Chongyin¡¯s side. An Jing asked indifferently, ¡°And you are?¡± Bai Mei smiled and produced a card, handing it to An Jing. ¡°This is an invitation from my master to you, in hopes that you will accept it,¡± she said. The card was clearly marked with the character ¡®Zhao¡¯. In Great Yan, there were many with the surname Zhao, but there were not many who could make a First Grade Expert call them master. ¡°I understand. If an opportunity arises, I will surely visit,¡± An Jing said, taking the card then paying no further attention to the woman. Bai Mei nodded her head and then walked away. At that moment above Abyss Lake, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed as he sensed a slight threat from Lou Xiangzhen, which ruffled the otherwise serene waters of his heart. Ye Ding had once said that Xiao Qianqiu was a naturally born Daoist child, a rare genius within the Mystical Sect that comes once in a blue moon. His mental state was mature and his Root Bone was exceedingly rare in the world. Given enough time, he would definitely reach the Grandmaster Realm. Such a figure was rarely seen throughout thousands of years of history. Xiao Qianqiu did not disappoint Ye Ding¡¯s expectations. By the age of thirty, he had reached the Master Realm, and before he was fifty, he took over his predecessor¡¯s responsibilities and became the Supreme Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, commanding awe throughout the entire world. Decades had passed since then. Xiao Qianqiu stood on the pavilion, looking at Lou Xiangzhen on the water, and asked, ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, do you really not want the sword in your hand anymore?¡± Lou Xiangzhen replied indifferently, ¡°I have a sword.¡± Xiao Qianqiu asked, ¡°Where is the sword then?¡± Lou Xiangzhen answered, ¡°The sword is in my hand, and also in my heart.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xiao Qianqiu chuckled softly. Lou Xiangzhen stepped forward and swung his arm. Peach blossoms emerged from nowhere, followed by a flurry of sword qi, covering the sky and converging above Xiao Qianqiu on the pavilion. The sword qi was fierce and unmatched! Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s True Qi surged, and his Inner Strength emerged like a tide. ¡°Hmm!? ¡®Ghost Valley Heart Method¡¯?¡± An Jing felt the Qi mechanism bursting from Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s body and frowned deeply. Xiao Qianqiu possessed the ¡®Ghost Valley Heart Method¡¯ ¨C but where had he obtained it? Could there be some secret behind it? Moreover, he was capable of using both methods simultaneously; his talent was evidently at least no lesser than his own. Indeed, this man, valued by Ye Ding and who had become the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect before the age of fifty, how could his talent be lacking? Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s Qi mechanism exploded, operating both mental methods simultaneously. Particularly, the ¡®Beidou Seven Stars Technique¡¯ he practiced had reached the Tenth Layer, embodying a state where it functioned in complete harmony with his desires, integrating Yin and Yang, with nothing outside of its grasp. Faintly, one could feel a subtle convergence within the heart methods. ¡°It is rumored that ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ contains a certain palm technique, and I, having contemplated both the ¡®Beidou Seven Stars Technique¡¯ and ¡®Ghost Valley Heart Method¡¯, have glimpsed a slight part of the Great Dao. Please, let me test it.¡± After Xiao Qianqiu finished speaking, a palm strike fell. Boom! The cultivation at the Four Qi Realm and the momentum built over many years pressed down as the palm strike fell, as if carrying an immense force of destiny. Not only did the water of Abyss Lake tremble, but even the Dantian of the experts on the shore violently shook. Those whose cultivation had not reached the Half-step Master Realm all retreated backward, daring not to approach Abyss Lake anymore. ¡°Worthy of being called the top figure of Great Yan Martial World!¡± Jia Shiwu, the man in the straw hat, watched this with a glint in his eyes. Lou Xiangzhen shook his sword and went on; his Sword Qi pierced through heaven and earth, endlessly flowing. The moment the True Qi stirred, it was like a dazzling white light, more blinding than the sun in the sky, causing dizziness and bewilderment that one couldn¡¯t resist. Approximately three or four breaths later, the white light gradually dispersed, and Qi mechanisms interwove above the lake, producing a great amount of white smoke. Everyone hurriedly looked towards the lake surface as the white smoke gradually cleared. ¡°Bang!¡± Lou Xiangzhen stomped his foot, and the lake surface immediately stirred up waves several meters high, with blood visible at the corner of his mouth, a shocking sight. The battle between the two had reached a fever pitch. Xiao Qianqiu on the pavilion was also somewhat pale, his robe flapping continuously, revealing an ancient bronze mirror at his heart¡¯s center. ¡°Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror?¡± Upon seeing that mirror, Luo Chongyang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Mystical Sect was claimed to be the foremost sect in the world, not only possessing many experts and one of the three great secret scriptures, the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, but also an exotic treasure, the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror. This mirror, a relic left by the founder of the Mystical Sect, possessed unmatched power, capable of both defending against enemies and delivering formidable offensive might. The founder of the Mystical Sect had once used this mirror to kill a Great Grandmaster of the same realm, illustrating the terrifying power of this mirror. Later, when the Mystical Sect split into three, the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror was seized by the founder of the Zhenyi Sect. This exotic treasure possessed unpredictable power, but it was not something a common expert could use. Over the generations, only a few Sect Leaders of the Zhenyi Sect were capable of activating this Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s expression was extremely solemn, and his True Qi gathered towards the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror. In an instant, storm clouds rolled across the sky, completely covering the sun. The world darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light. A streak of starlight emerged from that blackened sky, then pierced through the air, shining down on Lou Xiangzhen below. The starlight beamed like a pillar, swift as thunder. Lou Xiangzhen leapt to avoid that beam of starlight. ¡°Boom!¡± The falling starlight struck the surface of the lake, immediately causing a huge shockwave, as if to explode the Abyss Lake itself. Even a Grandmaster struck by this attack would likely be severely injured instantaneously. ¡°Is this the power of the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror? Truly, it¡¯s worthy of being a mystical sect¡¯s exotic treasure.¡± Feng Lingyue watched the falling starlight with profound shock in his heart. Not just Feng Lingyue, many experts present wore solemn expressions, their fear towards the Zhenyi Sect growing. With such an exotic treasure, coupled with Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s Four Qi cultivation, who in this world could be his opponent? ¡°Boom!¡± Another beam of starlight converged the very next instant, and then fell towards Lou Xiangzhen. Instantly, the entire lake¡¯s surface exploded in splashes, creating a towering tidal wave. An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, as merely the remaining waves alone were enough to leave him terrified, let alone the immense threat that Lou Xiangzhen in the center was facing. Above the sky, the Big Dipper shone with extreme brilliance. Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang. Every time these seven star positions flashed, a beam of starlight would fall like a meteor. ¡°To break the Seven Stars, today is the day.¡± Lou Xiangzhen laughed aloud, a glint of light emerging in his eyes, ¡°Boy, watch closely.¡± As the sound of the wind arose, sword light dazzled like a startling silver brilliance, agile as a flying dragon, rippling like water, and vibrant as firework trees. The sky was filled with countless bright petals, shining like the moon lighting the stars, radiating a dazzling radiance. Those petals then seemed to transform into many Peach Blossom Swords, with sword Qi crisscrossing sharply, instantly filling the heavens and earth. ¡°Is this the Hundred-step Flying Sword?¡± Someone murmured in a low voice. The ultimate sword technique of Ghost Valley Sect, the Hundred-step Flying Sword, rumored to be controllable even from a mile away. At this moment, Lou Xiangzhen transformed the sky-filled peach blossom petals into swords, controlling the numerous peach blossom swords was indeed a spectacular sight, making it a breathtaking spectacle. The high-level swordsmanship involved, even if one was not a swordsman, was shockingly profound. ¡°Are we going for a desperate move?¡± Luo Chongyang¡¯s eyebrows knit together, his expression also becoming solemn. Lin Yiyang, Zhong Binru, Cui Daoxian, and other swordsmen watched without blinking, afraid to miss any detail, for any part of it could benefit them for a lifetime. An Jing, seeing the swords transformed from the peach blossoms, also showed a hint of being shaken, deeply moved by the display. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s expression was cold, and he then channeled True Qi into the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror, only to see those seven beams of starlight shift, merging into a huge moon disk. The moon disk, it seemed, was the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror itself, its splendor shining, enveloping the entire Abyss Lake. ¡°Infinite Venerable!¡± Xiao Qianqiu formed a handprint, then the Qi mechanism within the moon disk surged, its momentum like an imminent erupting volcano. ¡°Whoosh!¡± A streak of cold light burst forth, and its target was Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Go!¡± Lou Xiangzhen did not retreat anymore, driving the sky-filled Peach Blossom Swords towards it. Countless flying swords met the moon disk, instantly causing the heavens and the earth to lose their color. In such a realm, the control of Qi mechanism by the experts was extremely exquisite, once fully unleashed, the power formed was indeed terrifying to the extreme. In this world, many experts emerged, numerous talented individuals existed, except for some thousand-year-old creatures hiding at the bottom of the river, there were only one or two Masters of the Five Qi Realm, and a Four Qi Grandmaster could already be considered the pinnacle of the current martial world. The entire Abyss Lake trembled; the heavens and earth shook. The lake¡¯s turbulent waves roared like an enraged beast. With one sword, all florid music and bustling scenes from the vast land were swept away! The next moment, all swords became nothingness, only Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword remained; his body and the sword merged into one, turning into a streak of cold light, swiftly heading towards the moon disk. The Sword Qi was imposing, as if swallowing miles of realms. The moon disk, intimidated by the incomparably sharp Sword Qi, showed signs of faltering. ¡°Not good!?¡± Ling Yuanjing saw this, his expression drastically changing. Xiao Qianqiu, initially calm, revealed a hint of astonishment in his eyes, then steeled himself as he spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which turned into a dense blood mist, merging directly into the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror in his hand. The next instant, a force that made everyone¡¯s hearts palpitate surged forth. That ancient aura, as if it came from age-old lands. In a trance, behind Xiao Qianqiu, a figure appeared. The apparition was clad in a white daoist robe, wearing a headpiece, holding a dust whisk, and carrying a treasure sword on his back. ¡°Mystical Sect¡¯s Ancestor!?¡± Luo Chongyang looked at the man and felt an eerie familiarity, as if he had seen him before in the Heavenly Venerate Hall, causing a shudder in his heart. ¡°Who is this person?¡± Feng Lingyue¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, a trace of astonishment in her eyes. Just as the apparition appeared, the power of the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror surged tremendously, and the aura beneath the moon disk also burst forth tumultuously. ¡°Be it the Mystical Sect Ancestor or an emperor from the Human World, today, no one can stop me.¡± Lou Xiangzhen roared, and his sword intent suddenly skyrocketed, the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand appearing somewhat distorted under the impact. In that moment, memories of past days, a lifetime of rises and falls, the turbulent waves of life, flooded his vision. The life of Lou Xiangzhen was full of ups and downs, brilliance, and loneliness. Raising a toast, life should be just like this. Today, why not pierce through the veil with a sword and be a man of the Human World for a moment. An Jing silently watched this scene, not uttering a word. The sword light was bitterly cold, the world fell silent, shooting straight up into the skies. The whole world was split in two, one half filled with countless sword lights, and the other half occupied by a white-robed daoist. As the constellations shifted, mountains and rivers shook. The ground beneath trembled. Everyone held their breath, eyes wide open not daring to blink. The next moment, the sword qi plunged deep like an abyss, piercing through the aura of the moon disk. ¡°Crack!¡± The apparition of the Mystical Sect¡¯s Ancestor shattered instantly, and the hair restraint on Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s head also burst apart, his hair flying wildly in the air. A long sword charged forward, its tip directly aimed at Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s brow. Blood trickled down from his brow, spreading over his nose and onto his neck. A complete silence enveloped the earth, everyone¡¯s expressions frozen. Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s calm pupils slightly widened, the previous moment of life and death intersecting brought a new insight deep in his heart. This sensation was so strange, it made him forget who he was, forget what he was doing. He even forgot about the sword right in front of him. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s face also turned pale, as if just a piece of paper, but his hand had no strength left, the sword tip resting on Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s forehead, all the support his body had. Should Xiao Qianqiu step back, he might fall into Abyss Lake and drown. ¡°Sss¨C!¡± Watching the Mystical Sect Ancestor¡¯s apparition shatter, Luo Chongyang sucked in a breath of cold air, murmuring to himself, ¡°When the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror is broken, the Mystical Sect Ancestor will return; could it truly be the second coming of the Mystical Sect Ancestor?¡± ¡°Sect Leader!?¡± At this moment, a loud shout erupted. Song Chengbiao of the Zhenyi Sect saw this, his body swiftly leaping towards Abyss Lake, his eyes intently fixed on Lou Xiangzhen. ¡°Xiao Elder Brother!¡± Seeing this, other experts from Zhenyi Sect also hastily followed. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± As the water exploded, a dragon roar cleaved through the heavens, a black Flood Dragon swiftly emerged from Abyss Lake, then opened its gaping maw. The Half-step Master Song Chengbiao was swallowed whole by it in one bite. ¡°Not good!¡± Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin, seeing this, their faces dramatically changed, bodies slightly faltering. All the masters present were stunned by this horrifying scene, that a Half-step Master of the Zhenyi Sect, Song Chengbiao, was swallowed alive by the black Flood Dragon? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only What terrifying existence was this!? An Jing leaped onto the back of the black Flood Dragon, then grabbed Lou Xiangzhen by his clothes. The black Flood Dragon roared lowly, soaring through the air, and disappeared above Abyss Lake in a breath. Only Xiao Qianqiu was left behind, disheveled and miserable, his face still smeared with blood. ¡­¡­. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Sword Immortal in the Sunset Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Sword Immortal in the Sunset Atop Abyss Lake. Xiao Qianqiu gazed quietly into the distance at the disappearing figure, seemingly lost in a trance. From simple to complex was the experience of his early life; from complex to simple was his cultivation in later life. The great path is simple; the great path is silent. In that moment, he was blessed with enlightenment. The glow of the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror in his palm dissipated, clearly unable to be used for a short time. ¡°Brother Xiao, are you alright!?¡± Ling Yuanjing hurried over, asking. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xiao Qianqiu shook his head, sighing lightly, ¡°Just now, brother Song was swallowed by the evil dragon; my energy was broken, and I couldn¡¯t stop it.¡± The Black Flood Dragon had charged out; he saw it, too, but was too powerless to intervene. Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin both looked somber. In the blink of an eye, their fellow disciple of many years had died before their eyes, without even leaving a body behind. ¡°Brother, who won between you and Lou Xiangzhen?¡± Sima Changlin asked. At the last moment, Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s sword tip rested at Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s brow. If it had moved forward even slightly, he couldn¡¯t bear to think about it¨Cbut he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨C Did Xiao Qianqiu really lose?! ¡°Winning or losing doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± Finally taking his eyes off, Xiao Qianqiu chuckled lightly, his laugh inscrutable yet profound. He shook his head again, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, Xiao Qianqiu flew off into the distance. Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin exchanged a glance. They quickly followed. Jia Shiwu noticed that the man next to him wearing a conical hat had been silent all along and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°My lord¡­¡± ¡°Lou Xiangzhen, oh Lou Xiangzhen, why did it have to come to this?¡± The man in the conical hat shook his head, and then said no more. ¡°Elder, who won and who lost?¡± The Five Poison Young Master looked puzzled and turned to the solemn Feng Lingyue. Although Xiao Qianqiu had blood on his face and looked disheveled, suggesting he had been severely injured, he still managed to employ movement techniques over the lake surface, indicating he had not yet reached a desperate standstill. On the other hand, considering Lou Xiangzhen¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s say Lou Xiangzhen won.¡± Feng Lingyue sighed deeply. Who won and who lost, everyone had their own ideas, especially since in what everyone saw as a fight to the death, no one actually died. Watching Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s retreating figure, Luo Chongyang thought to himself, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s momentum being broken is not necessarily a bad thing for him, it might even lead to a transcendental breakthrough!¡± Xiao Qianqiu, precocious and transcendent in disposition, had always been a standout among the young generation from the moment he entered the martial world, vastly surpassing his peers and never defeated even by elder experts. A figure like him, in any era, would be a peerless entity. The recent sword strike from Lou Xiangzhen, though it seemed to break his momentum, also gave Xiao Qianqiu a sliver of chance. The natural way of Daoist skill is that nothing can be established without being destroyed first. If established, then how formidable would Xiao Qianqiu become? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± On the carriage, Zhao Chongyin slowly said. ¡°Yes.¡± Bai Aunt nodded, then the sound of the carriage wheels arose, moving towards the distance, gradually fading away. Wang Yue too took a long time to regain his composure. He said nothing but turned and left, followed by the experts of the Blue River Sect exchanging confounded glances. In the world, masters from all directions inevitably sighed with admiration. This battle deeply moved them; such a ground-shaking confrontation between two top experts, it was long before everyone gradually dispersed. Abyss Lake once again became calm, only a white-haired elder remained, unwilling to leave for a long time. The white-haired elder gazed at the tranquil lake surface, as if reliving half his life, filled with emotion, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Who in the Four Seas knows me; how many times has a single sword crossed the horizon.¡± ¡­¡­.. The Canglang River, sunset. The Canglang River stretched thousands of miles at a glance, with rolling waves. The Canglang River, originating from the boundless East Sea, continued unceasingly, cutting across Yunhua Road, Lingnan Road, and Beihuang Road as its endpoint. This river, cutting through high mountains, circling plains, flying across canyons, leaping over hills, roared turbulently, embracing countless rugged mountains with an imposing momentum. The Black Flood Dragon lay coiled atop the Canglang River; the surrounding water seemed to have a mind of its own, controlled by the dragon to form a curtain of water. As the sun set, the river shimmered with a halo of light, and at that moment, everything turned serene and silent. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword was embedded in the riverbank, and his whole body seemed to lean on the sword¡¯s hilt. His face was as pale as could be, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth down to the ground, seeping into the soil. An Jing looked at Lou Xiangzhen in front of him, this swordsman renowned for defeating grandmasters and battling alone against the number one expert of the Great Yan Martial World, now so wretched for the first time. ¡°They won¡¯t be able to catch up now,¡± An Jing said from beside him. Lou Xiangzhen reached up to touch the blood at the corner of his mouth. ¡°They won¡¯t catch up. That Song Chengbiao was swallowed by your Black Flood Dragon in one bite, and Xiao Qianqiu is also injured; they certainly won¡¯t catch up.¡± An Jing breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Let me treat your wounds first.¡± Lou Xiangzhen shook his head and gazed into the distance, his demeanor no longer that of a renowned Sword Immortal who had shaken the world for many decades, but more like an ordinary old man. ¡°Let this old man take a few more looks at this setting sun.¡± An Jing¡¯s heart trembled, and he fell silent. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s voice was calm yet faintly weak, and his voice was hoarse, no longer as resonant as before. ¡°Xiao Qianqiu, with his Four Qi Grandmaster skill and Master Realm cultivation, sees a significant gap between any of the Five Qi. Although my Sword Dao has reached the Sixth Realm, but¡­ Xiao Qianqiu is not far behind. His path has already taken shape, along with the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror in his hand, an exotic treasure left by the ancestors of the Mystical Sect¡­¡± An Jing stepped forward, supporting Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s body. He knew that Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s last sword was exerted with all his might, and he was already burned out. In combat at higher levels, it comes down to the right time, geographical advantage, and harmony among people. Xiao Qianqiu had the momentum and the Exotic Treasure, enjoying the advantage in timing. Both men had an equal share of the geographical advantage; it was hard to say who was superior. Harmony among people depends on the Dao and Skill. In terms of the Dao, Xiao Qianqiu held the advantage, while only in Skill did Lou Xiangzhen manage to gain the upper hand through his advanced years. All things considered, Lou Xiangzhen had to have exhausted all his Essence to shatter the Heavenly Venerate¡¯s Mirror! ¡°Originally, I thought my last sword, ha, let it be, let it be, it was just a thought¡­ Young man, no need to support me, I have some words to discuss with you.¡± Lou Xiangzhen pushed An Jing away and then sighed gently. An Jing nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Mustering strength in his body, Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°The Mystical Sect is divided into three, and so is the momentum and fortunes. Xiao Qianqiu is an exceptional figure not commonly seen in the Zhenyi Sect. He is bound to try to collect the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯. Only with the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ can he have a greater assurance of reaching the Grandmaster Realm and rightfully revitalize the Mystical Sect. Thus, you are bound to face him in battle.¡± ¡°And revitalizing the Mystical Sect isn¡¯t as simple as it appears. As the once number one Sect, many do not wish to see its return, including the Great Yan Emperor. Hence, your journey is fraught with responsibility and challenges.¡± ¡°Having embarked on this path, you can either continue or become a corpse on this road, waiting for others to step over your body and proceed.¡± An Jing nodded, somewhat melancholic, ¡°I understand.¡± Countless masters of the Zhenyi Sect had died by his hand. Some paths, once embarked upon, offer no way back. It was the path he had to take! The only path, and moreover, the path he could only take¡­ Lou Xiangzhen continued, ¡°This battle could only be considered half-fought. Although I broke Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s momentum and inflicted heavy damage on him, allowing him no time to focus on you for now, if you were to fight him again in the future and he hasn¡¯t transformed through this battle, your chances of victory¡­ will increase. However¡­¡± Lou Xiangzhen paused slightly, his expression grew serious, ¡°But if he has transformed after this setback, breaking through his current realm to a higher extremity¡­ I fear myriad dangers await you.¡± He then took out the emerged Holy Essence Gu from his bosom. ¡°The Holy Essence Gu has hatched. Take good care of it. There¡¯s still a wisp of remaining Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence inside it. With proper nurturing, it will continue to release more Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.¡± ¡°¡­¡± An Jing carefully received the Holy Essence Gu, remaining silent. He knew in his heart that not only was he skilled in the Ghost Valley Heart Method, but he also possessed the incomplete Daluo Heart Method, thus becoming a thorn in the side of the Zhenyi Sect. If he wanted to stand between heaven and earth, it was inevitable that he would battle the Zhenyi Sect sooner or later. ¡°As the foremost sect, if you unify the Mystical Sect, you will surely make history. The Ghost Valley Sect, Daluo Sect, and Zhenyi Sect will then fade into the mists.¡± Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyebrows lowered. He gazed at the distant sunset, where the vast river melded with the sky, his eyes slowly misting over. ¡°A true man should carry a three-foot sword and establish an unparalleled name. The things you want, you have to secure for yourself.¡± His eyelids seemed to grow heavier. His strength was dissipating steadily. But Lou Xiangzhen had not finished speaking! ¡°In my life, as a young man, I gained fame; I was unrivaled for a time, and all under heaven called me a once-in-a-century swordsman! My future was bright and clear!¡± In middle age, defeated by Sword God Liu Moyuan, I fell into decline for decades, losing myself in Jianghu, and thought I had seen through worldly fame and fortune and chose to seclude within the court. It was only after Jiang Sanjia¡¯s death that I truly understood and recognized, being born between heaven and earth, how could one live a mediocre life?¡± Lou Xiangzhen asked, as if questioning An Jing and himself. ¡°The ups and downs of life, like the clouds in the sky, gather and disperse unpredictably; what I¡¯ve been pursuing all my life is now within my grasp, yet there¡¯s some regret in my heart that I fear cannot be resolved in this lifetime.¡± An Jing was silent, understanding the regrets Lou Xiangzhen spoke of. Lou Xiangzhen felt increasingly weak, as if even speaking took too much effort: ¡°It¡¯s normal for a life not to end perfectly. Initially, it was my ignorance in choosing; later, I knew better but chose to give up. With circumstances like mine, this is already the best outcome.¡± ¡°Young man, I really look forward to the day¡­ the day you become the Sect Leader of the Mystical Sect.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there still one last thing you want to accomplish?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lou Xiangzhen watched the orange sunset, the golden light softly rippling with the sea waves. In those shifting lights and shadows, there appeared to be layers of life¡¯s scenes. A life fleeting like a passerby from the dust lands, inviting the clear wind and bright moon to sing along with wine in hand, how many times can one be intoxicated in a lifetime? Seventy years of storms, the seasons of spring¡¯s glow and autumn¡¯s yield, come and go. Dreaming of returning to his homeland, the first time he entered the Ghost Valley and learned swordsmanship, he set his ambition to be the world¡¯s first swordsman. Practicing day and night, not caring for the stars and the way home. By fourteen, he had mastered the Peach Blossom Sword Intent, defeating the Chief Disciple of the Blue River Sect; at twenty-two, he traveled across Jianghu, traversing thousands of miles and defeating a multitude of young sword masters, beginning to show his edge. Then, soundly grounded, he reached the Fifth Realm at thirty-eight and upon first entering, defeated three veteran swordsmen immersed in it for years, solidly establishing his fame across the world. Some called him the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, others, for the dreamlike illusions brought forth when he wielded his sword, like blossoming peach flowers, named him the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal. At forty! Lou Xiangzhen, alone with his sword, went to the Yu Heng Sword Sect and defeated two Sword Servants. In today¡¯s Jianghu, he was the only one at the age of forty to defeat those two Sword Servants, reaching the peak of his fame, unrivaled for a time. Unexpectedly, the Sword God emerged, and with just three sword strikes, he defeated the newly risen number one swordsman in Jianghu, causing the name of Sword God to resound through heaven and earth once more. No one noticed the disheartened, lonely swordsman in the corner. Those three strikes broke Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s fighting spirit and his path in Sword Dao. Undoubted, undoubted, they said undoubted¡­ But Lou Xiangzhen fell into confusion. Subsequently, he drifted for decades, his Sword Dao cultivation stagnant, wandering aimlessly in Jianghu, drifting through the Four Seas, homeless. Zhao Country, Great Yan, Houjin, Southern Barbarians, Pure Land¡­ all bore his footprints and traces. The sharpness of the sword quietly faded away. Not until his sixtieth year did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, willingly confining himself to a drawn circle, no longer caring about the grudges of Jianghu, letting go of all disputes, letting go of sixty years of obsession, and even letting go of the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand. Not until Jiang Sanjia in Yujing City, sought a hint of fate, and ultimately died struck by lightning. That bolt of lightning not only struck Jiang Sanjia to death but also awakened Lou Xiangzhen. The rights and wrongs of this world, along with its grudges and grievances, are all trivial matters besides life and death. The Blue River Sect killed Bai Qun with two swords, and Five Poison Mountain even reached the Three Qi Realm in a single night, intimidating all the heroes. Above Abyss Lake, he pointed his sword at the number one person in the Great Yan Martial World, combating a Four Qi Sect Leader Grandmaster alone with the cultivation of a Three Qi Grandmaster. That day, he finally became the world¡¯s leading swordsman. Better late than never¡­ Lou Xiangzhen had no regrets. For thousands of years in the way of the sword, few have shone for a century. Some have called him the pinnacle swordsman of the world, regarding him with respect; others have despised him, showing disdain. This life was full of rises and falls, floating and sinking, much like a stage where one never knows the climax or the brilliance of life until the last moment. Life is but a few centuries; holding a three-foot-long Qingfeng, being the world¡¯s top swordsman once, with drums echoing and yellow sand stretching far, he carved out a peerless reputation, quelled the waves of the four seas, and severed the endless worldly desires. With wine in his belly, a thousand dauntless ambitions surged, and he couldn¡¯t help but declare that a true man should live like this! And now, all these have turned into fleeting clouds of the past. A lonely sunset, a rising sun, such is the unchangeable truth of the world. Lou Xiangzhen leaned on the hilt of his sword as if he had fallen asleep. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I would like to enjoy this splendid scenery alone.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± An Jing remained silent, not speaking. After a long time, he nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay¡± Then he jumped onto the back of the Black Flood Dragon and slowly floated away with the water waves. Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s eyes were somewhat vacant as he gazed at the vast expanse of rivers emitting an orange halo in the distance. As the sun set in the west, he watched the surging river for a long, long time. ¡­¡­.. Five days later. Great Yan, Northern Border, a frontier town. At the end of the town, there was a tofu shop. The owner of the tofu shop was a woman in her fifties, short in stature, with hair as white as silver threads, eyes thin as shuttles when smiling, and forehead wrinkles deep as mountains and ravines, profoundly etching her life and hardships. At that moment, she was diligently slicing tender tofu. Just then, a young boy approached cautiously, it was Zhu Kai. ¡°What are you doing here again?¡± the woman frowned at the boy. Zhu Kai chuckled nervously and said, ¡°Aunt He, I just came to look around, just to look.¡± Tofu He sized up Zhu Kai and said, ¡°You lad, ever since that old man left, I haven¡¯t seen you around for a long time. Tell me, what brings you here today? Has that old man returned?¡± Zhu Kai scratched his head and said, ¡°He hasn¡¯t come back, and I just wanted to ask because my dad said you definitely know.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know a damn thing.¡± Tofu He said irritably, ¡°He and I have nothing to do with each other; how would I know where he went or what he did?¡± Zhu Kai looked unconvinced, wanting to say something but not knowing how to put it. Tofu He, with a hint of interest, said, ¡°You lad, do you really believe that old wreck knew swordsmanship?¡± Zhu Kai nodded earnestly and said, ¡°I believe in Old Xiang; he has hardly ever lied to me. He said he would come back once he becomes the top swordsman in the world.¡± Tofu He chuckled lightly and said, ¡°The top swordsman in the world, huh?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhu Kai nodded. ¡°Then just keep waiting,¡± Tofu He replied and continued slicing the tofu in front of her. Her words seemed to be spoken to Zhu Kai but also to herself. Hearing this, Zhu Kai sighed softly, and then left reluctantly. ¡°The top swordsman in the world?¡± Tofu He looked at the tofu in her hand and murmured to herself, ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s the path he has been obsessed with his whole life, and I¡¯m just an inconspicuous grass along that path.¡± She knew Lou Xiangzhen very well; it was his lifelong obsession, he was devoted to it for a lifetime. Yes, wasn¡¯t that precisely why she was attracted to Lou Xiangzhen back then? Holding a three-foot Qingfeng, traversing all directions, a burst of sword qi that must be released to feel satisfied. The story is not long, nor is it difficult to tell. However, her heart suspended in midair could no longer fly over thousands of mountains and rivers. Later, the wind from the South Mountain scattered the grain heaps, and the waters of the North Sea flooded the gravestones. Have people truly just missed each other like this? ¡­. Yujing City, Feihua Lane. In a house, a scholar was seriously and carefully reading a letter in his hand. This scholar was none other than Zhou Xianming. ¡°Alas, the ways of the world are hard to predict.¡± After a long while, Zhou Xianming let out a sigh, his expression tinged with a trace of sorrow. The letter bore the signature of Lin Mianhong. And the news she relayed was about the recent upheavals in Yu State City. Zhou Xianming clutched the letter tightly, murmuring softly, ¡°Doctor An is dead, Officer Han has retreated into the monastery¡­.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected that in just a few months, Yu State City had completely changed, undergoing earth-shattering transformations. Still fresh are the faces and laughter, the warm nagging now unreachable. He remembered how Doctor An used to urge him to take care of his health, to avoid the brothels, to stay away from the cold wind, often praising him as a ¡®simp,¡¯ a term unlikely to be heard from anyone else ever again. The first time Doctor An had called him a ¡®simp,¡¯ he was quite astonished and puzzled, but then Doctor An explained it meant he was serious about his feelings, deeply in love. This made Zhou Xianming sigh inwardly, riches are easy to acquire, but true friends are hard to find. Wasn¡¯t Doctor An also like that towards Mrs. Zhao? ¡°Doctor An, such a good person, why did you have to die young?¡± ¡°Back when I was severely beaten by the men in black, only you came to see me, and even took me to the brothel to listen to music to soothe my wounded heart. You were also generous, knowing I was impoverished, often treating me to drinks. Even the money I needed for my examination was provided by you and Mrs. Zhao.¡± Thinking of this, Zhou Xianming heaved a long sigh, then jolted, ¡°Does this mean I no longer need to repay that money?¡± ¡°Once I return to Yu State City, I must build a grand tombstone for Doctor An, and hire the most famous paper effigy master to craft a brothel for you to send to the afterlife, and then some beauties¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this matter, I absolutely won¡¯t let my younger sister find out, this is all I can do.¡± ¡­.. Zhou Xianming rambled on and before he knew it, a whole morning had passed. He had been talking to himself in the room all morning, and suddenly came to his senses, realizing he would never see Doctor An again, his nose suddenly felt sour. Life and death happen in an instant. ¡°Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou.¡± Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°What is it? Come in and talk.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s voice was somewhat heavy. With the room door pushed open, a young scholar entered, excitedly saying, ¡°Master Lv is hosting a banquet at his residence, inviting the top twenty scholars of the imperial examination to attend. Aren¡¯t you going to get ready?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°Master Lv is hosting a banquet?¡± Master Lv was none other than the chief examiner of the imperial examination, Lv Fang. If Zhenyi Sect uniquely shines in the Jianghu, then in the imperial court, the Lv Sect is the courtly equivalent of Zhenyi Sect. Lv Guoyong, a veteran official through three dynasties and also the Grand Secretary for over sixty years, has held regency powers, his influence permeating the court. His disciples have formed a faction of their own within the court, known as Lv Sect. However, Lv Guoyong himself has been tight-lipped and restrained, even being strict with his own followers. It can be said that any scholar who clings to this powerful support is almost guaranteed a meteoric rise in their official career. However, there have been recent rumors that the head of Lv Sect, Lv Guoyong, due to health issues, hasn¡¯t appeared in court for a long time and there are whispers of his intention to retire, though the truth of these speculations remains unknown. ¡°Yes, hurry up, Xu Zongshun and Zuo Zixin are both going.¡± The scholar quickly tugged at Zhou Xianming¡¯s sleeve and headed towards the door. Zhou Xianming, not daring to delay, followed the scholar towards the Lv Mansion. Yujing City is divided into the Inner City and the Outer City, with Feihua Lane in the Outer City, while Lv Mansion is next to the Crossroads Square in the Inner City. The two hustled through the bustling streets, crowded with people coming and going, and soon reached the entrance to the Lv Mansion. The vermilion gate exuded an ancient charm, manifesting grandeur and magnificence. ¡°Who are you two? Are you here to attend the banquet?¡± The gatekeeper, seeing two people hurriedly approaching, asked softly without an imposing tone. The scholar quickly produced a seal, ¡°Yes, this is my private seal, East Lin Road scholar Gao Wenxu, and this is Jiangnan Dao¡¯s chief graduate, Zhou Xianming.¡± Upon hearing the name ¡®Zhou Xianming,¡¯ the doorman was greatly shocked and quickly said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Scholar Zhou, please come in.¡± It is said that in this imperial examination, the answer sheets of this scholar had astonished the family head, Lv Fang, who recognized him as a once-in-a-generation talent. This banquet, not widely known to others, was reportedly prepared especially for this scholar. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xianming bowed and then proceeded inside the Lv Mansion. Upon entering the mansion, they were greeted with paving of white jade stone and roof tiles that reflected brilliant radiance; pavilions, towers, bridges, and streams were artfully arranged showing a grand setup. Under the guidance of a servant of the Lv Mansion, they quickly arrived at a lively hall. At that moment, the hall was a scene of joy and celebration, filled with singing and dancing. Sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged man. The man, in his fifties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, had a face that was honest and sincere, appearing slightly younger than Li Fuzhou. This was Lv Guoyong¡¯s son, the chief examiner of this session, Lv Fang. ¡°Master, Scholar Zhou has arrived.¡± A servant from Lv Mansion stepped forward and bowed. Instantly, all eyes turned towards Zhou Xianming. ¡°Oh? Has Zhou arrived? Please, take a seat quickly.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Fang immediately smiled and urged. ¡°Master Lv is too kind.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhou Xianming bowed to Lv Fang, then took his seat. Apart from Zhou Xianming and Gao Wenxu, the hall was already filled with scholars, including all the top twenty candidates from this examination, among them Zhou Xianming¡¯s old acquaintances, Zuo Zixin and Xu Zongshun. The two looked somewhat displeased upon seeing Zhou Xianming. ¡­¡­ PS: There was an error in chapter 163 regarding Old Liu, which has been changed to Old Hao. Today¡¯s piece was a bit choppy; I didn¡¯t write much, and didn¡¯t have time to complete the plot involving Zhou Xianming due to revisions needed. There¡¯s one last part of his travels in Jianghu left. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Crown Prince Speaks of the Demon Sect Sect Hierarch Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Crown Prince Speaks of the Demon Sect Sect Hierarch At Dongluo Pass, beneath the Sealing Demon Well. Zhao Qingmei sat in the well, looking up. From the depths of the Sealing Demon Well, she could clearly see the azure sky, with the faint sunlight slanting down, just the sight of which made one feel warm. That sort of freedom, that breath of fresh air, was something to long for. Moreover, in that free land, there were even more important people waiting for her. Before long, a wooden figure fell from above the well, with a food box hanging from it. Zhao Qingmei picked up the food box, which contained a white note and a bottle of elixirs. ¡°Red Beauty Drunk, the latest poison Powder concocted by the Poison King, colorless and tasteless, even Grandmasters would struggle to detect it¡­.¡± After glancing at the white paper in her hands, Zhao Qingmei silently pondered. Even with a strange poison like Red Beauty Drunk, one had to be cautious, after all, Nan Weiping might be a master of the Grandmaster Realm. Though she had lost most of her cultivation, who knew whether she would detect the poison powder. If discovered, all the effort would have been in vain. With this in mind, Zhao Qingmei took out a tiny amount of Red Beauty Drunk, sprinkling it over the roasted chicken and dishes. Such a minute dosage, especially since Red Beauty Drunk was inherently colorless and tasteless, greatly reduced the chance of Nan Weiping detecting it. If one attempt didn¡¯t work, then she would just have to poison her multiple times¡­. Taking a deep breath, Zhao Qingmei carried the food box into the cave. ¡°Why have you only come now?¡± Nan Weiping¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing the food box in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hands. ¡°Here.¡± Zhao Qingmei directly threw the food box she was holding to Nan Weiping. Nan Weiping caught the food box, and as the chains made a frictional sound, she stared straight at Zhao Qingmei, ¡°Little girl, you didn¡¯t poison this, did you?¡± Zhao Qingmei responded indifferently, ¡°No.¡± Her tone had not the slightest fluctuation, calm as still water. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. Try it yourself first and show me,¡± demanded Nan Weiping, clearly not trusting Zhao Qingmei and tossing the food box back to her. Without saying a word, Zhao Qingmei sat down cross-legged and ate a few bites in front of Nan Weiping without hesitation. ¡°Good.¡± Seeing this, Nan Weiping finally felt somewhat reassured and began to eat ravenously. Such a demeanor made it hard to imagine that this was a master of the Grandmaster Realm. Zhao Qingmei sat quietly to one side, casually taking out paper and ink. Her heart was somewhat anxious, unaware if Nan Weiping had noticed the Red Beauty Drunk. After a while, seeing that she had no reaction, Zhao Qingmei finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the minute trace of Red Beauty Drunk she had added was the correct choice. After Nan Weiping had eaten her fill, she let out a long breath and showed a satisfied expression. She then looked at Zhao Qingmei and asked, ¡°What are you writing?¡± ¡°A journal,¡± replied Zhao Qingmei straightforwardly. ¡°A journal?¡± Nan Weiping seemed puzzled and asked, ¡°I do not understand this object of yours, but aren¡¯t you coveting the treasure within this stone cave?¡± ¡°Treasure? What treasure?¡± said Zhao Qingmei, pausing her writing. All this time, she had been thinking about how to leave the Sealing Demon Well; it had never occurred to her that the well was where the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect secluded himself, and there surely would be some valuable use to it. Nan Weiping glanced around the walls and said, ¡°You must have acquired the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture from Wu Jiaming¡¯s hands. All over this stone cave are the insights and experiences of the Demon Sect¡¯s predecessors, even the writings left by the Sect¡¯s founding master, which would be immensely beneficial to your cultivation.¡± Wu Jiaming was the eighth-generation Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. Upon hearing Nan Weiping, Zhao Qingmei took up a fire starter and looked towards the walls of the stone cave. With the faint light from the fire starter, she finally made out the scribbles and etchings on the walls of the cave. Upon closer inspection, most of them were insights into the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, along with some spontaneous enlightenment. As she read those words, Zhao Qingmei narrowed her eyes, carefully considering them, and gained a whole new understanding of the content within the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture. It is known that the Sect Hierarchs of the Demon Sect were always exceptionally gifted, each of them having a profound understanding of the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, building upon the experience and research of the previous generations. ¡°` Even continuously improved and extrapolated the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± it has undergone significant changes compared to the original version. A glint flashed in the eyes of Nan Weiping, who was standing by. Anyone from the Demon Sect who practices the ¡°Nine Nether Body Refining Demon Scripture¡± would naturally be immersed upon seeing its content. Zhao Qingmei, captivated by the characters on the stone wall, eventually came back to her senses only after reading every word. ¡°There are more words¡­¡± Just as Zhao Qingmei¡¯s gaze left the wall, she abruptly noticed more characters and murmured, ¡°The demon is in the heart, the Buddha is in the void.¡± With profound eyes, Nan Weiping said, ¡°This was left by the ancestral master of the Demon Sect. To reach the highest realm of this ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡¯ one must become possessed by a demon.¡± Zhao Qingmei frowned, ¡°Becoming possessed by a demon?¡± Somehow, upon hearing these words, she felt her blood boiling, as if it were a primal instinct. Nan Weiping intoned solemnly, ¡°Without becoming possessed by a demon, how can the true self be realized? Only by willingly becoming possessed by a demon, can one truly comprehend oneself.¡± ¡°So you mean, the demon is the true self.¡± Zhao Qingmei felt she had grasped something, enlightening her, and at the same time, the shackles that plagued her for so long loosened a bit. Surprised, Nan Weiping glanced at Zhao Qingmei, thinking to herself, ¡°This young girl has truly remarkable insight.¡± Just by witnessing the enlightenment in this cave once, she was already able to perceive a bit of its profound mysteries. The path of the Demon Sect is unorthodox; its cultivation grows extremely quickly, unlike the steady and arduous cultivation of the Mystical Sect or the Buddhist schools, which requires years of hard practice for a moment¡¯s enlightenment. When practicing the martial arts of the Demon Sect, the higher the cultivation, the more one¡¯s mindset must enter a transcendent state, which the Demon Sect calls becoming possessed by a demon. Once possessed, the cultivation level reaches an unimaginable realm. This cave does not only contain the imprints left by the predecessors of the Demon Path, but also the ominous Demonic Qi. Feeling its mysteriousness can assist one in becoming possessed by a demon. However, since the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± was lost, no one from the Demon Sect has reached the true state of being possessed, which is why even after the Mystical Sect split, the Demon Sect has never been able to stand at the pinnacle of Jianghu. Zhao Qingmei slowly sat down, feeling something unusual in her embrace, and immediately took out the paper doll. ¡°In this world, men are innately unreliable.¡± A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Nan Weiping¡¯s mouth upon seeing this. She often saw Zhao Qingmei fiddling with the paper doll in her hands. ¡°Maybe for you,¡± Zhao Qingmei glanced at the paper doll in front of her, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. Seeing Zhao Qingmei¡¯s smiling face, Nan Weiping couldn¡¯t help thinking: What a beautiful girl, it¡¯s a pity she¡¯s smitten with a man. ¡°In less than half a year at the Sealing Demon Well, the man had already changed his heart,¡± Nan Weiping stated. Zhao Qingmei looked at Nan Weiping, ¡°I won¡¯t worry about things that couldn¡¯t possibly happen.¡± Shaking her head with pity, Nan Weiping looked at Zhao Qingmei, ¡°Your disbelief is futile; the human heart is unpredictable, especially concerning affection. Being by his side is world¡¯s different from being away from him.¡± ¡°Should that day come when you discover he has changed his heart, what will you do?¡± After playing with the paper doll for a while, Zhao Qingmei put it away and her jade-like palm gently rested on the hilt of the Mandarin Duck Blade at her waist, murmuring, ¡°I will show him through actions just how much I love him.¡± Nan Weiping was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. Zhao Qingmei ignored Nan Weiping and sat down again, continuing to write in her diary. ¡­¡­. Zhao Country, Royal Capital. High buildings lined the streets, and the splendid architectural clusters were less bustling than those in Yujing City, but they exuded a vibe of solemnity and dignity. Beside an ancient pavilion that was simple and unadorned, all was silent except for a middle-aged man who was sweeping with a broom. His movements were neither fast nor slow, methodical, with a look of patience on his face, and a natural grace to his sweeping arms. Could it be¡­. As if sensing something, the middle-aged man sweeping immediately contracted his pupils sharply and turned to the pavilion¡¯s door. ¡°Creak¨C!¡± At that moment, the door of the pavilion slowly swung open. Motes of dust appeared as if it had been silent for a long time. An old man in green robes stepped out, squinting at the harsh sunlight above, savoring the warmth after an extended absence. His steps were faltering, his back hunched, as old as if he could enter the earth at any moment. ¡°Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye.¡± ¡°Jin Lao, you have come out of seclusion?¡± ¡°` The middle-aged man cleaning the courtyard trembled upon seeing the elder. For seven years, he had delivered three meals a day; then he would clean the courtyard, waiting every day¨Cand now, he had finally witnessed the elder emerge from seclusion. Does his emergence indicate that his cultivation has stagnated once again? ¡°Shenci.¡± Master Jin looked at the middle-aged man and asked, ¡°How fares the world these days?¡± How fares the world these days? The middle-aged man fell silent for a long moment before responding, ¡°Master Jin was right all along. The Holy Master of Houjin is ambitious and, now that his power has grown, he has started to reveal his fangs. The envoy from Houjin has already arrived secretly at Cloud Tower and is in talks with the people of Black Ice Platform.¡± ¡°Chaos is beginning to arise, and the future situation is yet uncertain.¡± Master Jin sighed; he had visited the Holy Master of Houjin in Great Snow Mountain years ago. The man¡¯s ambition was like a hidden tide, deep and unseen, yet a glimpse of it could still be detected. The longstanding hatred between Yan and Zhao had forged them into mortal enemies, each viewing the other with enmity and engaging in constant conflicts. This undoubtedly created favorable conditions for the Holy Master of Houjin. As long as he focused on strengthening his forces, the moment Houjin¡¯s military might peaked, they could march south in alliance with Zhao to swallow Great Yan whole, thus securing ancestral fate and making a great achievement. Currently, everything was going smoothly, as if moving according to the Holy Master of Houjin¡¯s plan. ¡°What about Zhao and Great Yan?¡± Master Jin continued to inquire. Yu Shenci continued, ¡°With Qi Wushuang acting as the Stabilizer, Black Ice Platform is still firmly in control of the situation. Great Yan, however, has faced many changes. The Taiping Human Emperor seems to have failed in breaking through his limits and is now healing. The Buddhist sector has come to Great Yan, and while Zhenyi Sect hasn¡¯t shown much activity, the Demon Sect is definitely stirring¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Master Jin¡¯s voice rose slightly, ¡°The Taiping Human Emperor!?¡± Yu Shenci nodded, ¡°It¡¯s uncertain whether the news is true, but right now, the Great Yan court is rife with factional strife. Lv Guoyong feigns illness to avoid court, and the Second Prince and Crown Prince are openly and secretly vying for power. The undercurrent is surging, which doesn¡¯t seem fabricated.¡± An image involuntarily appeared in Master Jin¡¯s mind. The world at peace¨Chow could the world possibly be at peace? Only through unification could there be peace. That young man, who dared concoct a rebellion in his twenties, has now reached his sixties. His cultivation has unwittingly reached the pinnacle of the world, yet he¡¯s failed to break free of his shackles. Yu Shenci bowed slightly and continued, ¡°Additionally, a few days ago, Xiao Qianqiu, the Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, descended the mountain. According to the intelligence, it seems he was after the Ghost Valley Sect¡¯s mental method, associated with the Daluo Sect. Following that, he dueled with Lou Xiangzhen, the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect, at Abyss Lake. Lou Xiangzhen entered the Sixth Realm, and while Xiao Qianqiu of Zhenyi Sect was wounded by his sword and not killed, the prevailing momentum has been broken¡­¡± Master Jin¡¯s eyes gleamed as he softly said, ¡°Xiao Qianqiu, that young man, holds boundless potential. In him, I can see the spirit of those who painstakingly cultivate the Mystical Sect. A broken momentum is not necessarily a bad thing.¡± ¡°This world has indeed become lively.¡± Master Jin expressed his sentiment and then, as if recalling something, asked, ¡°And what of Lou Xiangzhen?¡± Yu Shenci frowned and said, ¡°After being rescued by the Ghost Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen disappeared without a trace. Now, only the Ghost Swordsman knows of his whereabouts.¡± Master Jin queried, ¡°And who is this Ghost Swordsman?¡± This name was somewhat unfamiliar to him. Had a terrifyingly powerful expert appeared in the Jianghu during these seven years? Yu Shenci explained, ¡°He¡¯s a swordsman who has risen to prominence within the past year, a disciple of Daluo Sect. Not long ago, he killed two immortals and a Peak Master from Zhenyi Sect, and he even defeated the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian. Although he relies on the sharpness of the Evil Suppressing Sword, he is a person¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Master Jin suddenly interrupted Yu Shenci, his brow furrowing deeply, ¡°What sword did you say he wields?¡± Yu Shenci promptly replied, ¡°The Evil Suppressing Sword.¡± Master Jin¡¯s breath hitched, ¡°Is it the Evil Suppressing Sword that guards the Sealing?¡± Yu Shenci nodded, ¡°Indeed, they say this Ghost Swordsman took one of the six avatars of the Evil Suppressing Sword from Fa Xi Temple.¡± Master Jin stood stunned as if frozen. The Great Zhou Dragon has emerged, the Great Zhou truly has royal blood capable of being acknowledged by the Evil Suppressing Sword¡­ Having followed the elder for over forty years, Yu Shenci rarely saw him so out of sorts, and he said nothing more, waiting by the side. After a while, Master Jin declared, ¡°It is time to go to Great Yan.¡± ¡­¡­. The battle at Abyss Lake was the talk of the Jianghu. Xiao Qianqiu returned to Zhenyi Mountain to seclude himself and heal his injuries, rumored to have gained some enlightenment. Meanwhile, the newly acclaimed World¡¯s First Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen, had suddenly vanished, as if evaporated from the world. Some say that as the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley Sect, no member of the sect ever met a good fate, suggesting Lou Xiangzhen had likely perished from consuming his essence. Others speculate that having achieved his desires, he¡¯s now completely withdrawn from public life. Still, others believe Lou Xiangzhen is truly healing his injuries now. The people of the world are abuzz with speculation, none able to provide any concrete evidence. And the only one in the world who knows the specifics of Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s situation is the Ghost Swordsman. In the Jianghu, the Ghost Swordsman is notoriously enigmatic. Very few in the world have seen his true appearance, let alone know his whereabouts. Therefore, many theories circulated in the Jianghu. On the Canglang River of Lingnan Dao. Clouds drifted lazily, and the sky was a clear blue. The sunlight at this moment was just right, reflecting off the water in shimmering waves. A giant passenger ship was coming from north to south, with a length of six zhang, divided into two levels; the upper level was for accommodations, specifically for people to stay, while the lower level was for dining and entertainment. At this time, several people were standing on the lower deck, among them were some merchants, scholars, and various individuals from Jianghu. Among them, a man and a woman stood out conspicuously. The man resembled a walking mountain of flesh, with his short, thick legs and a round belly that made him look like a waddling duck. His clothes seemed ready to burst at the seams, and his eyes were as small as mung beans. And the woman by his side was like a water jar, wide at both the top and the bottom. No matter how one looked at them, they were a perfectly matched pair. ¡°Young Master Hou and Heroine Fang, you truly are a match made in heaven,¡± ¡°One can tell at a glance that Heroine Fang has the appearance of one who brings prosperity to her husband.¡± ¡°Young Master Hou is wise and brave, only Heroine Fang is a fitting match for him.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± ¡­.. The surrounding crowd was all smiling flatteringly. These two were none other than Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu. It was extremely difficult for the two of them to conceal their identities, as they stood out wherever they went. Fang Jinxiu, hearing the congratulations from the crowd, blushed, clasping Qiu Lun¡¯s arm tightly, seeming somewhat at a loss. Qiu Lun was also overjoyed, declaring generously, ¡°Today everyone should eat and drink well; since we are fated to be on the same boat, I, Qiu, will cover the expenses on board.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd was even more joyful, knowing that it cost them nothing more than a few flattering words. At this moment, An Jing stood at a distance on the deck, originally admiring the boundless beautiful scenery on both banks, then turning his attention to the boisterous voices. When he saw Fang Jinxiu beside Qiu Lun, he was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Perhaps this is what it means to see beauty in the eyes of a lover,¡± An Jing shook his head. After leaving Northern Wilderness Dao, he headed north, and to reach Bo City, he had to travel by this waterway. The Black Flood Dragon could fly, but that would deplete the True Qi within its core. After Lou Xiangzhen left, An Jing dared not overly consume the True Qi within the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s body, so after flying for some time, he guided the Black Flood Dragon back into the water and boarded a merchant ship himself. At this time, Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu walked over side by side, and An Jing turned away to continue gazing at the surging waves. Fang Jinxiu, with some concern, said, ¡°Qiu Lang, you were too generous just now. There are at least thirty or fifty people on this ship, and the food and drink will cost quite a bit of silver.¡± My family¡¯s Sister Fang really is virtuous. Upon hearing Fang Jinxiu¡¯s words, Qiu Lun immediately laughed, ¡°Sister Fang needn¡¯t worry about these things; we made quite a bit this time at the Abyss Lake opening, a few dozen silvers are nothing to us.¡± ¡°Besides, since they give me face, I ought to give them gold.¡± Gold¡­ An Jing, upon hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but cough twice, ¡°cough cough¡­¡± ¡°Who?¡± Qiu Lun and Fang Jinxiu were both startled and only then realized there was another man in a black robe near them. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, carry on,¡± An Jing waved his hand, then started walking away. ¡°Wait,¡± Qiu Lun stopped An Jing, his mung bean-sized eyes wide open, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t you recognize me? It¡¯s me!¡± Others might not recognize the Ghost Swordsman, but Qiu Lun had seen him on several occasions and was extremely familiar with his figure. An Jing calmly replied, ¡°I am not your brother.¡± ¡°Brother, have you forgotten the days of shared hardship at Thunder Pool? How can you be so heartless and ungrateful?¡± Upon hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Qiu Lun pretended to wipe away tears. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of Zhenyi Sect looking for trouble with you?¡± Now he was nominated by the Zhenyi Sect as a calamity of Jianghu, and those who associated with him in Jianghu were undoubtedly offending Zhenyi Sect. And Zhenyi Sect was the National Religion, also having considerable prestige in the royal court. ¡°But you¡¯re my brother!¡± Qiu Lun¡¯s eyes bulged, he said hastily, ¡°The brotherhood between us is worth a thousand gold.¡± This kid is an acting talent; he nearly got me into a mess before, and now he¡¯s sticking to me like a plaster, definitely up to no good. Watching Qiu Lun¡¯s moved performance, An Jing inwardly sneered, then stretched out his hand, ¡°Brother¡¯s been a bit tight on funds lately.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun eagerly placed his hand into An Jing¡¯s palm, ¡°Brother, I used to be tight too, but later when I stopped using it, it wasn¡¯t tight anymore¡­¡± As he gestured, his jowly cheeks trembled. An Jing hurriedly shook off Qiu Lun¡¯s hand, ¡°You really are a little bastard.¡± Saying that, he walked towards the second floor cabin. Qiu Lun watched An Jing¡¯s retreating figure and hurriedly shouted, ¡°Big brother, Jinxiu and I plan to get married in July this year, don¡¯t forget to come, ah, you can¡¯t skip out on the wedding gift.¡± An Jing acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard and hastened his steps, directly returning to his room. Fang Jinxiu was somewhat puzzled and said, ¡°Qiu Lang, is this Ghost Swordsman really¡­?¡± She had never heard Qiu Lun mention that he had such a deep relationship with the Ghost Swordsman. Taking a deep breath, Qiu Lun said with emotion, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my big brother, and Lou Xiangzhen is my grandfather. I don¡¯t have many remarkable strengths, but I abide by filial piety and value relationships¡­¡± ¡­¡­ On the river, in the cabin. An Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, the Evil Suppressing Sword placed before his knees. In his mind, he kept reliving that day¡¯s great battle, each time gaining different insights, but he knew he was still some distance away from the threshold of the Sixth Realm, not to mention reaching it. Time passed, and without realizing it, it was already deep into the night. ¡°The Sixth Realm is truly difficult.¡± An Jing took a deep breath and looked at the blood on the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand. At that moment, the blood on the sword became increasingly active, as if it was about to burst out of the sword. ¡°This blood is a little strange¡­¡± An Jing stared at the blood, feeling like it had a trace of sentience and was not a dead thing. He always had the feeling that the blood would suddenly rush out of the sword. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Suddenly, An Jing heard a faint sound by his ear. Ever since his cultivation had reached the Half-step Master level, his hearing and sensitivity to the Qi mechanism had greatly improved. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh!¡± In the blink of an eye, An Jing¡¯s body disappeared from the cabin and appeared on the deck. At that moment, the river was quiet and deserted, the only sound being the passenger ship moving forward. A figure in black appeared on the deck, their movements smooth and graceful, barely making a sound as they lightly stepped on the deck. Moreover, the figure moved rapidly, like a gust of wind sweeping by. ¡°What a nice scent. It must be this room,¡± said the figure, arriving at the door of Fang Jinxiu¡¯s room and then taking a deep breath as if immersed in the scent. An Jing, hidden from a distance, saw this scene and wondered if this man was Qiu Lun. But that couldn¡¯t be. The figure didn¡¯t look like him, and he wouldn¡¯t need to sneak in like a thief. As An Jing pondered, the figure had already discreetly entered Fang Jinxiu¡¯s room. This agile figure and familiar technique¡­ ¡°Could it be a flower thief?¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°Usually, a flower thief would scout out his target first. Why would he be so reckless?¡± Let alone Fang Jinxiu¡¯s appearance, she is a master with considerable cultivation, not just any flower thief¡¯s match. ¡°A flower thief is here!¡± As expected, Fang Jinxiu¡¯s youthful shout rang out. The next instant, the figure dashed out from Fang Jinxiu¡¯s room in a hurry, holding a red brassiere in their hand. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± Hearing Fang Jinxiu¡¯s voice, Qiu Lun, furious, bolted out and threw a punch at the thief. ¡°Whish, whish!¡± ¡°Whish, whish!¡± The flower thief¡¯s cultivation was not a match for Qiu Lun¡¯s, but their movement technique was excellent, they deftly dodged the punch, and then sprinted away into the distance. ¡°Stop!¡± Seeing this, Qiu Lun¡¯s eyes, red with blood vessels, hurriedly chased after. It must be said, the flower thief¡¯s speed was astonishing, crossing several yards in the blink of an eye, stepping on the deck ready to escape. ¡°Big brother, quickly stop him!¡± Qiu Lun, realizing he couldn¡¯t catch up, saw An Jing standing to the side. In the dim light, An Jing also caught sight of the flower thief and furrowed his brow. This person was astonishingly handsome, his eyes clear as water, his complexion fair, and his long, dense eyelashes slightly curled, shadowing a pair of bright yet profound pupils, his features seemingly even more delicate than a woman¡¯s. ¡°What a handsome young pretty-face!¡± An Jing thought to himself, and then he reached out and grabbed at the person¡¯s collar. ¡°I want to leave, who can stop me?¡± The flower-picking thief shook the bellyband in his hand, ready to jump into the river and flee, when suddenly he felt a tightening behind him, and a palm had already grabbed his collar and lifted him up. ¡°You!¡± The flower-picking thief looked at An Jing behind him with a face full of astonishment. Fast! It was simply too fast! So fast that he hadn¡¯t even reacted before the man in black had caught hold of him. This person was at least a Half-step Master or a high-level expert of the Master level. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± At this moment, Qiu Lun strode over, grabbed the flower-picking thief, and snatched the bellyband from his hand. By this time, Fang Jinxiu had also walked over quickly, staring intently at the flower-picking thief, ¡°You actually dared to covet my ¡®tofu¡¯!?¡± ¡°You¡­.¡± When the flower-picking thief saw Fang Jinxiu, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck on a clear day. He had actually gone into her room to steal a bellyband, no wonder it felt strangely large, almost like a cape¡­. ¡°Big brother, fortunately, you arrived just in time.¡± Qiu Lun expressed his gratitude to An Jing, and then looked at the flower-picking thief, a trace of cold light appearing in his eyes, and he said viciously, ¡°This guy can¡¯t be spared! There can¡¯t be anyone in this world with a whiter face than mine.¡± An Jing: ¡°??¡± You¡¯re white? Isn¡¯t that something I should be saying? ¡°I¡­ I was wrong.¡± The flower-picking thief looked like a bereaved son, ¡°Please let me go, sirs. If I had known it would come to this, even if you killed me, I wouldn¡¯t have attempted to steal¡­..¡± As he spoke, he saw the murderous look in Qiu Lun¡¯s narrow eyes, then realized something and quickly shut his mouth. Qiu Lun drew his long knife and placed it against the flower-picking thief¡¯s neck: ¡°Tell me, how do you want to die?¡± The body of the flower-picking thief slumped to the ground as he cried out, ¡°Spare my life, and I will repay you by working like an ox or horse in the future.¡± His voice was somewhat shrill and very grating to the ears. An Jing said indifferently, ¡°Then you should die even more.¡± The flower-picking thief was taken aback, his mind blanking. Why should someone willing to work hard deserve to die? ¡°Eh?¡± Qiu Lun suddenly felt something odd and asked with a focused tone, ¡°Your voice sounds strange, boy. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re lacking in the ¡®bird¡¯ department?¡± On hearing this, An Jing frowned and reached out to grab the flower-picking thief¡¯s wrist, finding that the Yang Energy in his body was weak while the Yin Energy was strong. Clearly a man, yet the Yin Energy in his body was more prevalent than the Yang Energy. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± An Jing asked. The flower-picking thief seemed to realize that An Jing was the most powerful and influential here, and replied honestly, ¡°I¡­. I am called Zhuo Yuchang.¡± On hearing this, Qiu Lun came to a sudden realization: ¡°You¡¯re the infamous Holy Hand Zhuo Yuchang from Jianghu.¡± Holy Hand Zhuo Yuchang, a notorious flower-picking thief in Jianghu. ¡°Indeed, it is I.¡± Zhuo Yuchang said with a morose expression. Qiu Lun sized up the pretty-faced youth before him, ¡°You¡¯re of no ¡®bird¡¯ use, yet you still play the role of a flower-picking thief?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being of no ¡®bird¡¯ use?¡± Zhuo Yuchang, on hearing this, glared and retorted, ¡°Even if I¡¯m of no ¡®bird¡¯ use, what¡¯s wrong with yearning for a world full of flowers?¡± Perhaps due to some emotional fluctuations, Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s voice again became a bit uncontrollable, breaking into a higher pitch. Qiu Lun scratched the back of his head, ¡°But without that ¡®bird¡¯ use, how do you go about picking flowers?¡± Zhuo Yuchang was displeased with Qiu Lun¡¯s remarks and responded, ¡°Stop repeating that I¡¯m of no ¡®bird¡¯ use. There are people with birds that are useless, aren¡¯t they just the same?¡± Although he was inept, he still yearned greatly. An Jing faintly smiled, ¡°The so-called ¡®Flower-Picking Master¡¯ doesn¡¯t need to use a bird.¡± ¡°Big Brother, I understand now.¡± Qiu Lun looked like he had just had a revelation and then admired An Jing, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Big Brother¡¯s reminder, how could a fool like me understand such profound meaning?¡± An Jing looked at Qiu Lun and secretly sneered, thinking that this fat man probably knew very well what he was doing but still pretended to be innocent and curious. Thereupon, An Jing patted Qiu Lun¡¯s shoulder and said seriously, ¡°If you¡¯re too fat, it can shrink the Yang energy and turn it into a little bird.¡± Qiu Lun shivered and then forced a laugh twice, but deep down he weakly cried out: My bird is big¡­. An Jing looked toward Zhuo Yuchang lying on the ground and said indifferently, ¡°Who castrated you? What exactly is your identity?¡± ¡°I¡­..¡± Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s face was uncertain, fearing that being captured alive today might be the end for him. Qiu Lun glared at Zhuo Yuchang and said, ¡°If you dare to lie to my Big Brother, I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± An Jing patted Qiu Lun¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Little bird, don¡¯t scare him.¡± Qiu Lun: ¡°¡­..¡± With a sigh, Zhuo Yuchang said, ¡°When I was eight, my foster grandfather castrated me.¡± Qiu Lun suddenly understood, ¡°So you¡¯re a eunuch!¡± ¡°I left the Imperial Palace, and now I am no longer one,¡± Zhuo Yuchang jumped anxiously, ¡°I am a man without a bird, I am not a eunuch.¡± ¡°So did you escape from the Imperial Palace on your own?¡± An Jing asked again. ¡°Of course not,¡± Zhuo Yuchang shook his head, ¡°The Great Yan Palace is strictly managed, what kind of little eunuch can escape from the Imperial Palace?¡± An Jing nodded; the Imperial Palace was not like Yu State City, where anyone could come and go as they pleased. ¡°Little bird, I¡¯ll leave him to you, I¡¯m going to rest,¡± said An Jing. After finishing, An Jing turned and walked into his room. Qiu Lun, watching An Jing¡¯s back, couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Big Brother, can you not call me ¡®little bird¡¯? It doesn¡¯t sound nice.¡± ¡°I got it, little bird.¡± An Jing waved his hand and then stepped up to his room on the second floor. Qiu Lun¡¯s face darkened as he looked at Zhuo Yuchang, his anger flaring, ¡°You useless thing, even daring to steal my sister Jin Xiu¡¯s dudou?¡± ¡°Had I known this would happen, I would regret my actions.¡± Zhuo Yuchang looked at Fang Jinxiu beside him, nearly shedding tears. Qiu Lun sneered coldly, ¡°You just resign yourself to being delivered to the Heavenly Prison by me and enjoy prison food.¡± ¡­.. The next day, the sky was clear and bright. Lingnan Dao, Bo City. The largest city in Lingnan Dao was Bo City, with thriving trade and a dense population. The streets were bustling with people coming and going, creating a vibrant atmosphere. One of the Great Yan¡¯s seven major sects, the Four Symbols Sect, was built next to Bo City, hence Bo City also held an extraordinary status in Jianghu. Last night, once the True Qi in the Black Flood Dragon Core had recovered, An Jing quietly left the passenger ship¨Canyway, that Qiu little bird was going to foot all the bills. The Black Flood Dragon traveled through air with incredible speed and after seven to eight hours, it reached Bo City. At the moment, the Black Flood Dragon lay quietly in a pond in the mountains, while An Jing walked alone into the city of Bo City. ¡°Excuse me, old sir, do you know the way to Liao family¡¯s residence?¡± An Jing stood in the marketplace, smiling as he stopped an old man carrying a burden. ¡°Liao family?¡± The old man gave An Jing a glance and pointed ahead, saying, ¡°Cross the street ahead, turn left into Yu Lin Street, and you will see a large, imposing house. That¡¯s the Liao family residence.¡± ¡°Thank you very much,¡± replied An Jing with a smile, nodding his head. Following the old man¡¯s direction, soon he came to a mansion. The grand vermillion gate and the imposing structure with flying eaves and high walls exuded an aura of solemn dignity. This mansion was quite large and imposing. It must be the Liao family¡¯s residence. An Jing stepped forward to knock on the door. ¡°Thump, thump!¡± ¡°Thump, thump!¡± Shortly, the gate opened, and the gatekeeper¡¯s head peeked out, asking An Jing, ¡°Whom are you looking for? Do you have a visiting card?¡± ¡°Here is my card.¡± An Jing produced a card from his bosom, given to him by Zhao Chongyin. Upon seeing the ¡®Zhao¡¯ character on the card, the Liao Family gatekeeper¡¯s body trembled, ¡°Please wait a moment, sir. I will inform them immediately.¡± An Jing nodded, saying nothing. Soon, the middle-aged woman who had presented An Jing with the invitation the other day appeared. ¡°Please come inside,¡± said Aunt Bai with a smile, gesturing with her hand in a welcoming manner. ¡°All right.¡± An Jing nodded and then strode toward the Liao Family estate. ¡°Our master said you would surely keep the appointment, and it seems he was right,¡± Aunt Bai said, chuckling. ¡°Is that so?¡± An Jing was noncommittal and did not say much. Aunt Bai fell silent, then continued walking ahead, following a cobblestone path that weaved through the flowers and willows, leading to a scene of pavilions and towers surrounding a lake of clear, shimmering water, where swans gracefully took flight, and willow branches swayed gently on the banks, their reflections vivid in the crystal waters. A cool pavilion stood erect in the lake, with green tiles and soaring eaves. Nearby, a rockery rose ruggedly, a corridor laid with blooming flowers stretched like a red carpet through the entire complex, and almost every building featured intricately carved latticed windows, brimming with elegance and delicacy. Currently in that pavilion, a man in his thirties was sitting upright, with a board of interlaced black and white chess pieces before him, reminiscent of a landscape painting. The man¡¯s features could not be described as handsome, merely graceful. His gestures exuded a scholarly air, but upon closer inspection, one felt an imposing weight, as heavy as a mountain. ¡°Young master, the guest has arrived,¡± said Aunt Bai to the man. This person was none other than the current Crown Prince, Zhao Chongyin. Zhao Chongyin quickly rose to his feet, beaming, ¡°Your renowned name resonates like thunder, but today is the first official meeting, which is indeed my great honor.¡± His demeanor was like a refreshing spring breeze, courteous and refined. This was the first impression the Crown Prince made on An Jing. An Jing smiled and saluted, ¡°This humble one pays his respects to the Crown Prince. It is my honor to be granted an audience with Your Highness.¡± ¡°No need for such formality,¡± said Zhao Chongyin, pointing to the seat across from him. ¡°Have a seat.¡± An Jing nodded, then took his seat across from him. Zhao Chongyin, with a cheerful smile, said, ¡°You are also a pupil of the Mystical Sect, so you must have a good understanding of this game of chess. I¡¯ve been looking for a worthy opponent. How about you join me for a game?¡± Looking at the scattered chess pieces before him, An Jing shook his head, ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid the Crown Prince will be disappointed, for I am a terrible player and have never won against my wife.¡± Back at Jishi Hall, he had almost never won against Zhao Qingmei. Hearing this, Zhao Chongyin laughed, ¡°Though I have studied with masters since childhood, learning for over thirty years, I have never delved deeply into it. It is but a hobby.¡± ¡°Clack!¡± As he spoke, Zhao Chongyin placed a white piece on the board. Hearing this, An Jing picked up a black piece and said indifferently, ¡°Since Your Highness wishes to play, it would be my pleasure to accompany you.¡± The two began their game, with pieces falling into place swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, dozens of moves were made. At that moment, Zhao Chongyin looked at the board and said, ¡°I suspect you are here today primarily for the ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯ fragment mentioned in the invitation.¡± An Jing placed a black piece down and said, ¡°Yes.¡± If not for the ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯, he might not have come to meet the current Crown Prince. After all, finding his wife was the most pressing matter. Today¡¯s visit was more of a detour. Zhao Chongyin shook his head, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have the ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯ fragment.¡± An Jing set down another piece, remained silent, as if he was wholly absorbed in the game, yet also seemingly waiting for Zhao Chongyin to continue. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhao Chongyin went on, ¡°However, I do know where the ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯ fragment is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± An Jing glanced at Zhao Chongyin. ¡°In the hands of the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.¡± Zhao Chongyin smiled and looked up at An Jing. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Four Symbols Sword Ancestors Sword Talisman Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Four Symbols Sword Ancestor¡¯s Sword Talisman ¡°The Demon Sect Hierarch! How did it end up in his possession?¡± With a lift of his eyebrows, An Jing was somewhat surprised by Zhao Chongyin¡¯s words; after all, he had never imagined that the fragment of the Mystical Sect¡¯s ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture¡± would actually be in the hands of the Demon Sect Hierarch. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Seeing the expression on An Jing¡¯s face, Zhao Chongyin couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with that part of history,¡± An Jing shook his head. Initially, Yan Shaoshan had only passed on to him the ¡°Daluo Heart Method¡± and he probably felt disheartened as well. ¡°It seems that Yan Shaoshan didn¡¯t tell you,¡± Zhao Chongyin remarked as he looked at the chessboard in front of him, speaking indifferently, ¡°The Daluo Sect initially had the complete ¡®Daluo Heart Method.¡¯ Unlike the Ghost Valley Sect and the Zhenyi Sect that were flourishing and full of vitality, the Daluo Sect had been on a steady decline for nearly a hundred years, even having their mountaintop sanctuaries stripped away by the Court. Later, the Zhenyi Sect tried to acquire the Daluo Heart Method and deliberately incited internal strife within the Daluo Sect, tricking the then Daluo Sect disciple, Feng Zhijun, into stealing the ¡®Daluo Heart Method.¡¯ After Feng Zhijun successfully stole it, he arranged to trade it for a favor with the Zhenyi Sect as agreed.¡± ¡°But at the time, the Zhenyi Sect wasn¡¯t interested in upholding any martial world righteousness; they planned to simply kill Feng Zhijun and take away the ¡®Daluo Heart Method.¡¯ Feng Zhijun was no match for the Zhenyi Sect, and just when things were critical, the Daluo Sect Leader appeared. With cultivation at the Half-step Grandmaster Realm, the Sect Leader struggled against two Peak Masters of the Zhenyi Sect. After a desperate battle, the Daluo Sect Leader managed to take the half of the heart method in Feng Zhijun¡¯s hands and escape back to the Daluo Sect. He died at the entrance of the Daluo Sect. Amidst the chaos, Feng Zhijun also escaped and disappeared within the Jianghu.¡± An Jing nodded upon hearing this, ¡°So why did it end up in the hands of the Demon Sect Hierarch?¡± The Demon Sect acquiring this fragment was a huge threat to the Zhenyi Sect. Twisting a white piece in his fingers, Zhao Chongyin smiled, ¡°This ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯ has been split into two. Half of it was in the hands of Yan Shaoshan, and the other half was with Feng Zhijun. The Zhenyi Sect searched for Feng Zhijun¡¯s whereabouts for several years to no avail, as if he had suddenly vanished, until two years ago, when he appeared at Dongluo Pass¡­¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°I see. Feng Zhijun has quite a nerve. Is he not afraid of the Demon Sect backstabbing him?¡± The Zhenyi Sect, who were deceitful and lacked integrity, paled in comparison to the forthright Demon Sect. It seems that the new Demon Sect Hierarch is quite capable, at least more principled than the Zhenyi Sect. Zhao Chongyin chuckled and said, ¡°This newly appointed Demon Sect Hierarch does have some tricks up his sleeve. It¡¯s said that he¡¯s very young and talented, but it¡¯s a pity¡­¡± ¡°A pity what?¡± An Jing asked, placing a piece on the board. Zhao Chongyin said, ¡°This man¡¯s ambition is even greater than Jiang Shang¡¯s.¡± ¡°Too great an ambition is not necessarily a good thing.¡± An Jing felt a stirring in his heart. Back in Yu State City, the Demon Sect had teamed up with the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to prepare to kill Liu Qingshan. It was undeniable that the Demon Sect must have had dealings with today¡¯s Second Prince, which Jiang Sanjia¡¯s dying letter had also mentioned, telling him that the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai, was in good terms with both the Zhenyi Sect and the Demon Sect. This made things very interesting. Zhao Mengtai was not only the mastermind behind Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion but was also in cahoots with both the Zhenyi Sect and the Demon Sect ¨C could this be a menage a trois? Logically, Zhao Chongyin passing this information to the Zhenyi Sect would have been the best course of action, leading to strife between the two forces and allowing him to benefit from their conflict. So why was he telling An Jing instead? Could it be that he feared the Demon Sect might use this as an excuse, or even that the Zhenyi Sect might reconcile their differences with them? ¡°In short, we have a common enemy, whether it¡¯s the Demon Sect or the Zhenyi Sect.¡± As Zhao Chongyin placed the white piece down, the chessboard brimmed with a killing aura. The Crown Prince of Great Yan actually regarded the Zhenyi Sect as a thorn in the side ¨C this was truly incredible. ¡°The Demon Sect¡­¡± An Jing slowly placed a chess piece on the board, reminded of the Heavenly Flipping Seal left by Zhao Qingmei, of Li Fuzhou, and of Tan Yun, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a wry chuckle. Whether the Demon Sect is an enemy or a friend is still uncertain. The implications in Zhao Chongyin¡¯s words had been very clear, the enemy of an enemy is a friend, clearly wanting to cooperate with An Jing. Although the World¡¯s First Swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen, is now missing and presumed dead, given that there is an exotic beast like the Black Flood Dragon under An Jing¡¯s command, one must not underestimate him, as he also represents a significant force. Moreover, with him around, he could restrain the Zhenyi Sect. An Jing was not interested in the struggles between the court and Jianghu but as Lou Xiangzhen once said, when you set foot on that path, there¡¯s no turning back. ¡°This matter, I need to consider it further,¡± An Jing said. He did not outright reject the idea, leaving himself some leeway. ¡°Very well.¡± Zhao Chongyin nodded slightly, then seemed to recall something, ¡°There will be a banquet at the Four Symbols Sect in three days, I wonder if you might be interested.¡± An Jing inquired, ¡°A private banquet? May I know what kind of private banquet it is?¡± ¡°The private banquet of Jia Shiwu of the Four Symbols Sect.¡± Zhao Chongyin spoke indifferently, ¡°In today¡¯s Jianghu, besides the Zhenyi Sect, there are the six schools and five factions. As the saying goes, the court and Jianghu are inseparable. Nowadays, the Four Symbols Sect is at the bottom among the seven major sects, and it is very likely that in a few years, like the Daluo Sect, they will be stripped of the mountain gate and the rights to establish a sect. Jia Shiwu¡¯s invitation to me is to discuss this matter.¡± In Great Yan, establishing a sect requires a Mountain Gate Order, and with it comes support and subsidies from the court. But Great Yan has certain assessments for sects, and if they fail to meet the standards, the Mountain Gate Order for those prized locations will be revoked. Among the seven major sects, the Four Symbols Sect is the weakest. The highest cultivation in the sect is Jia Shiwu, a Half-step Master. They don¡¯t even have a single Heavenly Flower Realm cultivator, only two Earth Flower Realm elders, and thereafter, no more masters of First Grade Cultivation. For ordinary sects, such strength is quite notable, but when compared to the seven major sects of Great Yan, it looks quite meager. The Four Symbols Sect managed to become one of the seven major sects because, three hundred years ago, they had a Grandmaster expert who was peerless in both swords and fingers, known as the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor. This person was then the first swordsman in the world, his Sword Dao Cultivation dominating the era. He was also one of the only two swordsmen in the Sixth Realm in the world, his Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique shaking the world. The Yu Heng Sword Sect¡¯s Four Symbols Sword Technique was but an imitation of the Four Symbols Sect¡¯s Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique, far inferior in power and subtlety to the original. Furthermore, the finger technique of the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor was extraordinary, recognized as unparalleled in Jianghu. With such a remarkable figure, the Four Symbols Sect was once at the peak of its glory, unrivaled, and even not weaker than the Yu Heng Sword Sect at that time. Times change, and since the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor, the Four Symbols Sect has yet to produce another person of such exceptional talent, a Grandmaster expert has not appeared since then. With no Grandmaster in three hundred years, the gradual decline of the Four Symbols Sect was inevitable. If not for the extensive reputation of the Four Symbols Sect and Jia Shiwu¡¯s strenuous efforts to maintain it, the sect might have long fallen from the ranks of the seven major sects. An Jing gave a slight nod, seeming to catch the deeper meaning behind the information. A private banquet implies a gathering held in secret. Zhao Chongyin also said that the court and Jianghu are indivisible. With Jia Shiwu of the Four Symbols Sect inviting Zhao Chongyin, it¡¯s likely they already have intentions of defecting. An Jing laughed lightly, ¡°Since it¡¯s Sect Master Jia¡¯s private banquet, it would be quite inconvenient for me to attend, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°This private banquet will be very interesting.¡± Zhao Chongyin¡¯s smile was meaningful, ¡°Moreover, there should be something within the Four Symbols Sect that would interest you greatly.¡± An Jing stared at the chessboard and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Chongyin, confident and composed, replied, ¡°It¡¯s a sword talisman left by the ancestor of the Four Symbols Sect. It is said to contain a strand of his Sword Intent that lingers on and on, serving as the Sect¡¯s treasured artifact. Countless swordsmen in this world yearn to catch a glimpse of its truth but have never gotten their wish.¡± ¡°Snap!¡± As he spoke, Zhao Chongyin placed another piece on the board. At this point, the chessboard was a chaotic mix of black and white, having reached a fever pitch in battle. Upon hearing this, An Jing laughed and said, ¡°I am indeed very interested.¡± It would have been impossible not to be moved. Having witnessed the sword intent of Lou Xiangzhen, he felt his understanding of the Sword Intent had greatly improved, benefiting him immensely. If he could also observe the sword talisman left by the ancestor of the Four Symbols Sect, he believed his Sword Dao cultivation would advance even further. ¡°So, does this mean that you are willing?¡± Zhao Chongyin asked, placing another piece. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, I must first go to find my wife.¡± An Jing shook his head. On his journey thus far, he had already delayed much of his time. Although he was very interested in studying the sword talisman, it would require him to stay in Bo City for a few more days, and afterward, contemplating and digesting the sword technique would take up a lot more time. ¡°That is indeed a shame. But you must be careful on the mountain roads,¡± Zhao Chongyin said without trying to detain him any further, suddenly adding, ¡°I have heard some unsettling rumors; since the incident at Abyss Lake, the old man Qingfeng has not returned to East Lin Road¡­¡± Old man Qingfeng!? Upon hearing Zhao Chongyin¡¯s words, An Jing furrowed his brows. This name was thunderous in one¡¯s ears. The man was a master from the same generation as Lou Xiangzhen, who had also vanished from the Great Yan Martial World for decades. Masters like Lou Xiangzhen and old man Qingfeng, after reaching the pinnacle in the martial world, tended to retreat to some unnamed corner for cultivation, vainly aspiring to reach the realm of a Great Grandmaster or to see through the secular world and withdraw completely from the Jianghu. Because they had already attained ordinary fame and fortune. Similarly, in top sects like the Zhenyi Sect and the Yu Heng Sword Sect, there were certainly centenarian masters who were in reclusive cultivation. Thus, in this vast martial world, there were always a few thousand-year-old creatures hiding in some unknown corner. Old man Qingfeng was one such master of the older generation. After his cultivation reached the Grandmaster realm thirty years ago, he half-retired from the Jianghu. If not for his second disciple, Yan Sheng, making an appearance in the martial world in recent years, many would have thought old man Qingfeng had long since turned to dust. An Jing clearly remembered seeing old man Qingfeng at Abyss Lake. ¡°Your Highness means because of the monk Moyun?¡± An Jing paused with a chess piece in his hand. Zhao Chongyin nodded and said, ¡°Monk Moyun was Qingfeng¡¯s eldest disciple, and he was quite fond of him. Moreover, on Qingfeng¡¯s eightieth birthday, Moyun spent a considerable sum to have two golden peaches made for the celebration. At Abyss Lake, on account of the presence of Sword God Lou, he didn¡¯t act rashly.¡± ¡°And then, with the extremely ferocious Black Flood Dragon by your side, he was powerless to do anything.¡± Ever since the battle at Abyss Lake, where the Black Flood Dragon swallowed Song Chengbiao whole, the Jianghu has been deeply fearful of the Ghost Swordsman. That was a Half-step Master who was devoured in one bite. The thought was truly horrifying! Seeing that An Jing did not speak, Zhao Chongyin moved to pick up a white piece and said, ¡°Not just old man Qingfeng, Feng Lingyue has not returned to the Five Poison Sect either.¡± Feng Lingyue!? Upon hearing Zhao Chongyin¡¯s words, An Jing immediately understood and said, ¡°I see.¡± Although old man Qingfeng was a Grandmaster-level cultivator, he would not dare to trouble him, because the Black Flood Dragon had the strength of a Second Qi to Third Qi Grandmaster. But if Feng Lingyue were to join, it would be different. If Feng Lingyue could hold off the Black Flood Dragon, then with old man Qingfeng¡¯s strength, there would be a fair chance to kill him. After all, the strength he had shown was above that of a Half-step Master, but still far from the Grandmaster realm. ¡°This move is likely orchestrated by the Zhenyi Sect, a case of ¡®borrowing a knife to kill someone,''¡± Zhao Chongyin commented as he placed the white piece down. An Jing laughed and said, ¡°Retribution sure comes quickly.¡± After the battle between Lou Xiangzhen and Xiao Qianqiu, neither could protect him. The Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect had been seriously injured, and with the critical time at hand, it was inconvenient to act. This ¡®borrowed knife to kill someone¡¯ was clever and swift. A glint of imperceptible light flashed in Zhao Chongyin¡¯s eyes as he said slowly, ¡°Why not stay here for a while and give it some more thought?¡± An Jing could naturally feel Zhao Chongyin¡¯s good intentions in trying to win him over. ¡°What is meant to come will always come. I must go north this time; I appreciate Your Highness¡¯s kind offer.¡± After a moment of contemplation, An Jing still declined, then glanced at the chessboard and admired, ¡°Your Highness¡¯s skill in chess is indeed profound. I am inferior.¡± At this moment, the black pieces had been pushed into a desperate situation and the overall position was already lost, so he simply conceded the game. Upon hearing An Jing say this, Zhao Chongyin smiled and shook his head, saying, ¡°Since it is so, I won¡¯t force the issue. If you change your mind, the doors here will always be open for you.¡± ¡°Aunt Bai, please see the guest out.¡± Everything that needed to be said had been said, and to say more might cause displeasure. An Jing stood up, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll remember Your Highness¡¯s kindness today. I shall take my leave now.¡± Just as An Jing stood up, he suddenly noticed an old man standing behind Zhao Chongyin. The old man had a short, wiry beard and his unkempt grey hair framed a pair of deep-set black eyes. A Master! An Jing was startled; he had not realized until that moment that there was such a person behind Zhao Chongyin. The old man was not looking at An Jing but was instead gazing at the chessboard. ¡°Please.¡± It was only when Aunt Bai¡¯s voice echoed in An Jing¡¯s ears that he came back to his senses. ¡°What is it, Elder Su?¡± Zhao Chongyin saw the elder behind him staring intently at the chessboard and couldn¡¯t help asking. Old Su stepped forward two paces and took a single black piece from the basket before placing it on an inconspicuous spot on the board. ¡°Snap!¡± A crisp sound was heard. That move reversed the heavens and earth, completely changing the previous dire situation of the black pieces. What had been weak and listless black pieces now seemed to transform into ferocious ancient beasts. Just moments ago, the white pieces were in a very favorable position, but in the blink of an eye, the situation became tumultuous and unstable, and they were now driven into a dead end with no chance to recover. ¡°This¡­.¡± Zhao Chongyin was stunned, then let out a wry laugh, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman, really is¡­¡± The Ghost Swordsman had trumped himself, and he hadn¡¯t even noticed. Old Su, watching An Jing¡¯s retreating back, shook his head and said, ¡°This man¡¯s Qi Mechanism is extremely concealed, he must have cultivated the most formidable Concealing Qi Method in the world.¡± Zhao Chongyin frowned and asked, ¡°Even with Elder Su¡¯s cultivation, you can¡¯t see through him?¡± Others might not know the old man¡¯s strength and identity before them, but he was very clear about it. If even Elder Su couldn¡¯t see through him, then there likely wasn¡¯t a person in the world who could. Old Su shook his head and said, ¡°However, he definitely hasn¡¯t reached the Grandmaster Realm.¡± As he spoke, the elder¡¯s tone hesitated for a moment, as if he had more to say but stopped himself. ¡°Truly an interesting person.¡± After a long while, Zhao Chongyin narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°I wonder if he will be able to withstand Yu Ying¡¯s offensive with Lou Xiangzhen gone.¡± ¡­.. In Lingnan Dao, a small city, within a separate courtyard. The early summer evening breeze, carrying the delicate fragrance of jujube and roses, wafted in. Li Fuzhou sat in the stone chair in the courtyard, staring at the secret letter that had come from Dongluo Pass, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. Top powers in Jianghu knew that Jiang Shang had returned to the Demon Sect. But those within the Demon Sect knew all too well that since Jiang Shang¡¯s return, the sect seemed even more plagued by hidden dangers than before. After his return, Jiang Shang disappeared in a hurry, his thoughts clearly not concerned with the matters of the Demon Sect, while the Demon Sect Hierarch, Zhao Qingmei, was trapped in the Sealing Demon Well and couldn¡¯t get out. For a time, the Demon Sect was like a dragon without a head, with only Yu Qiurong¡¯s subordinate Duanmu Xinghua managing the overall situation. That¡¯s right, Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s position was still beneath Yu Qiurong. ¡°How did it come to this?¡± Seeing the secret letter from Duanmu Xinghua, Li Fuzhou shook his head. The secret letter from Yu Qiurong was asking him to return and take charge, ostensibly to preside over the situation, but behind the scenes, it was a conspiracy joining forces with Duanmu Xinghua, the leader of the Xuanwu Sect, and the experts from Li Fuzhou, the Azure Dragon Sect, and the White Tiger Sect to launch an assault on the Sealing Demon Platform. ¡°No, we must pacify them one by one, this cannot be rushed.¡± After some thought, Li Fuzhou still picked up pen and paper and wrote a secret letter. He hadn¡¯t yet gone to Yujing City to resolve his concerns, and besides, with only a Half-step Master in cultivation, returning to Dongluo Pass would be of no help. After finishing the letter, Li Fuzhou carefully wrapped up the secret message and then picked up the next one to read. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Upon reading it, Li Fuzhou raised his eyebrows and muttered to himself, ¡°Yu Ying, you old rascal, you move fast. You don¡¯t dare to take action yourself, yet you plan to strike from behind the shadows with another¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°Two Grandmasters, what a big move.¡± The secret letter detailed the schemes of the Zhenyi Sect. The involvement of two Grandmaster experts was a rare event in Jianghu. One should know that even when the Demon Sect was stirring up chaos in Great Yan, there were altogether only three or four Grandmasters clashing, and even then they were merely testing each other. The most pivotal action was Duanmu Xinghua¡¯s initiative to strike first, killing two Great Real Ones of the Zhenyi Sect, which resulted in a full-blown war. Grandmasters did not act lightly, which had almost become an iron law in Jianghu. And now two Grandmasters were mobilized just to kill one man. ¡°Master, Master.¡± Just then, a crisp voice called out. Tan Yun came out quickly, holding a dark plate in her hands. Her rosy cheeks were smudged with black and red streaks, resembling a charming patchwork kitten, yet her face beamed with a smile, ¡°Master, look what I made?¡± Li Fuzhou frowned and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Tan Yun said with anticipation, ¡°It¡¯s peach blossom pastry, Master. Won¡¯t you try some?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head; he knew very well that aside from boiling water, she was only capable of setting the kitchen on fire. Hearing this, Tan Yun looked somewhat disheartened and said, ¡°Master, do you also think what I¡¯ve made is terrible?¡± ¡°It also depends on talent and effort.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been working really hard.¡± ¡°Then perhaps your talent isn¡¯t enough, or maybe your talent just doesn¡¯t lie there.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Tan Yun let out a long sigh, then dejectedly made her way back to the kitchen. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Li Fuzhou called out to Tan Yun. ¡°` ¡°I want to go back and try again.¡± Tan Yun said earnestly, ¡°Master, didn¡¯t you say that as long as one works hard, there will definitely be a reward? I want to give it my all on this matter.¡± The phrase ¡°I want to give it my all on this matter¡± seemed to have a double meaning. She had always lived her life carefree and without much thought, but today her words were especially serious. Li Fuzhou¡¯s brows furrowed, and his face became stern, ¡°When I told you to practice martial arts, why weren¡¯t you this serious? If you had been as diligent and earnest as you are now, how could your cultivation be only Second Grade?¡± Tan Yun took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Master, can practicing martial arts capture a man¡¯s heart?¡± Li Fuzhou: ¡°¡­..¡± Tan Yun continued to speak with a solemn tone, ¡°The Sect Hierarch is very strong, but why does son-in-law like her? Isn¡¯t it because she cooks good food and is gentle and virtuous¡­.¡± Li Fuzhou retorted, ¡°That¡¯s because the Sect Hierarch is good-looking. That deceitful Doctor is just a vulgar, lecherous person.¡± To be so clever and smart, yet having suffered the most setbacks at the hands of that little Doctor, in this world, there are not many who could make Li Fuzhou suffer in silence. Thinking this, Li Fuzhou sighed endlessly. Tan Yun said somewhat sadly, ¡°I don¡¯t think son-in-law is deceitful, and he has been very good to me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him. Maybe that boy is already busy being reincarnated.¡± Li Fuzhou paused for a moment, then asked seriously, ¡°Do you like that Ghost Swordsman?¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s words were straightforward and clear. ¡°Unable to forget him, that¡¯s a kind of liking, I guess.¡± Tan Yun bit her lip and said. ¡°He might be about to die.¡± Li Fuzhou handed the secret letter in his hand to Tan Yun, and heaved a long sigh of relief in his heart. Yu Ying, oh Yu Ying, you¡¯ve actually done a good deed. It¡¯s fortunate that this young girl hasn¡¯t completely fallen for it. To Li Fuzhou, no matter how he looked at it, he was very dissatisfied with that Ghost Swordsman. He didn¡¯t seem to be a responsible and dependable good man. Especially since he had been violently attacked by Three Temple Mountain for no reason. Death!? Hearing Li Fuzhou¡¯s words, Tan Yun quickly took the letter and was stunned. ¡°Two Grandmasters¡­ How could it be?¡± ¡­.. Outside Bo City, in the dense woods. After leaving Bo City, An Jing came to a small lake outside the city. ¡°Splash! Splash!¡± As the water splashed, a huge black Flood Dragon burst out from the lake. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing leapt onto the back of the Black Python. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Python let out a low roar and turned into a shadow passing through the woods. At this moment, a woodcutter carrying firewood was walking through the forest and only saw a blur as if something flew by. ¡°Huh?¡± The woodcutter rubbed his eyes and mumbled to himself, ¡°Are my eyes deceiving me? It felt like something flew in the sky.¡± The speed at which the Thousand-year-old Black Boa moved was incomparable to the Black Flood Dragon, and it wasn¡¯t long before they were about to leave the vicinity of Bo City. As for An Jing, it was impossible not to feel any emotion about the blocks set by the old man Qingfeng and Feng Lingyue. After all, it was two Grandmasters taking action, especially Feng Lingyue, who was a Second Qi Grandmaster. In the Martial World, anyone who could become a Grandmaster was no ordinary figure, each one cunning and with unfathomable strength. After several hours, An Jing had completely left the vicinity of Bo City and even passed more than a hundred miles. South of Pingling was Lingnan Dao, and north of it was Capital Road. At this moment, An Jing stood before Pingling, facing an endless dense forest and mountain range. Once he crossed Pingling, he would be at Heaven Gate City, which was also the entrance to Yujing City. At this moment, An Jing was full of eagerness, yet at the same time, he was nervous and apprehensive. He wanted to know exactly who Zhao Qingmei was, and he also wanted to ask her why she married him, afraid of receiving some unbearable answers. A complex and subtle emotion arose in his heart. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Suddenly, a cold light shot from a distance, incredibly fast and thunderous. The air itself carried a whistling sound. ¡°Not good!¡± An Jing¡¯s heart turned cold, feeling goosebumps all over. ¡°Bang!¡± The cold light struck the Black Python hard. Despite the Black Python¡¯s scales being extremely tough, the body still shook from the intense impact. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Where are you heading, sir?¡± A leisurely, familiar voice came from the distance. ¡­.. PS: Sorry, I¡¯m short and powerless. ¡°` Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Invite the Grandmaster to Test the Sword in the Dense Forest Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Invite the Grandmaster to Test the Sword in the Dense Forest The Black Flood Dragon¡¯s body gradually stabilized, and it was then that An Jing frowned and looked into the distance. Above the vastness of heaven and earth in the distance, an old man in white stood on the top of a lush giant tree, his robe fluttering gently with the wind. His aged face was etched with the traces of time, and his lips held a faint smile that seemed both present and absent. The old master of the Five Poison Sect, Feng Lingyue. He led the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect and defeated the grandmaster of Heavenly Sect, Duanmu Xinghua. From head to toe, he exuded an air of unrestrained freedom and elegance. An Jing had seen many masters, but few had the same carefree nonchalance as him. Xiao Qianqiu, who had withdrawn from the world for many years of arduous practice, had long since lost the vitality of life. Sitting aloof on that mountain without a care for worldly fame and fortune, he¡¯d cast aside all human emotions and desires. It seemed he had acquired a touch of immortal energy, but he was still inevitably the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect, the State Preceptor of Great Yan, unable to escape from the shackles of that human vitality. So, he appeared somewhat strange to others¨Cneither human nor immortal, like a stone statue placed on an altar. When looking back on Feng Lingyue¡¯s life, he also became famous at a young age. Later, within the Demon Sect, he accomplished great military feats, took charge of the Demon Sect¡¯s Five Poison, and his natural talent and cultivation even surpassed that of Jiang Shang, the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect in his youth. Jiang Shang was the predetermined Sect Hierarch. The proud and lofty Feng Lingyue naturally felt disgruntled with this arrangement. Within the Demon Sect, he formed alliances and his ambition became glaringly obvious. Jiang Shang certainly did not turn a blind eye and suppressed him with thunderous measures. It was thought that this would make Feng Lingyue come to his senses, but instead, it only stimulated his ambition and honed his state of mind, causing his cultivation to grow day by day until, decades after Jiang Shang ascended to his position, Feng Lingyue did something that shocked the entire Great Yan Martial World. He led the Five Poison to break away from the Demon Sect and establish the Five Poison Sect. At that time, the event caused a huge uproar in the Great Yan Martial World. One must know that the Demon Sect in Great Yan was thriving, its prestige comparable to the National Religion¨Cthe Zhenyi Sect¨Cand the fragmentation of the Demon Sect was naturally an earth-shattering affair. Afterwards, the Demon Sect regarded the Five Poison Sect as a thorn in their eye, a thistle in their flesh, and the Heavenly Sect even deployed most of their masters to try and kill Feng Lingyue. The result was that Heavenly Sect suffered heavy losses, and Duanmu Xinghua nearly died at Feng Lingyue¡¯s hands. At the moment when Jiang Shang was preparing to take matters into his own hands, Ye Ding of the Zhenyi Sect also began to descend the mountain. The atmosphere in the Martial World at that time was extremely tense; the Zhenyi Sect and the Demon Sect, one righteous and one evil, almost represented over half of the Great Yan Martial World. Should war break out, it would have created earth-shattering waves. In the end, Jiang Shang chose not to act. After all, behind the Zhenyi Sect was the Human Emperor. If the Demon Sect truly went to war, their chances of victory were not great. But the Five Poison Sect remained like a thorn deeply lodged in the hearts of all within the Demon Sect. Now, more than thirty years have passed. The Five Poison Sect has already become one of the seven major factions in the Great Yan Martial World that could summon the wind and call the rain, and Feng Lingyue, after the retreat of the Demon Sect from the Great Yan Martial World, no longer meddled in worldly affairs. In the eyes of many in the Martial World, Feng Lingyue had already become a martial myth, an insurmountable peak. A character who wandered between righteous and evil, much like the Five Poison Sect itself, received mixed praise and criticism in the Martial World. Some say that the Five Poison Sect is a branch of the Demon Sect and thus belongs to the category of crooked paths and evil ways. Others say that the Five Poison Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques are profound, deep, and grand, and that Feng Lingyue was an extremely accomplished individual for leading the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect. ¡°We meet again.¡± With a face as calm as still water, An Jing inwardly frowned slightly. ¡°Yes, we meet again.¡± Feng Lingyue exhaled gently. He had great admiration for the Ghost Swordsman before him. For some reason, he could see a bit of himself in him. What differed was that he had once faced the Demon Sect, while the other faced the Zhenyi Sect. The Black Flood Dragon slowly rose and hovered in the air. An Jing stood at an elevation equal to Feng Lingyue¡¯s. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a great figure as Elder Feng to willingly become a chess piece of the true Zhenyi Sect.¡± ¡°A chess piece?¡± Feng Lingyue shook his head, ¡°Perhaps so, but in this vast world, how many can truly hold the chessboard? Those who are not the chess players are inside the chessboard, only to be manipulated and directed by others.¡± In this vast world, how many can truly be the chess players? Even if one reaches the Master Realm, can one really do as one pleases and act without any restraint? This world has its rules, Feng Lingyue has indeed become a martial myth, but he still can¡¯t be the one who makes the rules. ¡°That¡¯s rather disappointing to me.¡± An Jing laughed heartily, ¡°I¡¯ve heard old man Lou say that in his youth, Elder Feng was also a person who feared neither heaven nor earth.¡± Feng Lingyue fell into a deep silence upon hearing this, then slowly said, ¡°This old man fears neither Heavenly Sect nor Jiang Shang, but I cannot ignore the Sealing Demon Platform of the Demon Sect. I cannot ignore the thousands of disciples of the Five Poison Sect. Under the overwhelming tide of these great forces, the Five Poison Sect cannot help but fear.¡± ¡°The legacy of the Five Poison ancestors can be interrupted by anyone, but it cannot be broken by this old man. That was my promise to the Five Poison ancestors in the beginning.¡± How could he not wish to be a man who stands tall between heaven and earth? But alas, the heavy burden of the Five Poison Sect was already pressed upon his shoulders. It was an inevitability imposed by the great situation, against which he was powerless. Eight short words, yet they carried a torrent of helplessness that others, who had not experienced it firsthand, could not truly understand. How could he alone contend against the great Demon Sect? Whether the Demon Sect or the Zhenyi Sect, both had thousands of years of heritage, and what about Feng Lingyue himself? How could he resist such colossal entities? ¡°I understand.¡± An Jing nodded, speaking softly, ¡°Elder Qingfeng, since you have come, please show yourself.¡± ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh!¡± Only the sound of the wind could be heard as a graceful figure descended from afar, his gray hair shining like silver threads, his complexion ruddy, and his eyes devoid of any emotion. This person was none other than Elder Qingfeng, a long-residing elder in the Great Yan Martial World and a top expert famous for many years. ¡°I hear you¡¯re from the same generation as Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s grandsons.¡± Elder Qingfeng looked at An Jing and said with a deep voice, ¡°Originally, I was not willing to make a move against you, even if it would raise some dust. After all, many in this world would mock me behind my back. However, the Zhenyi Sect has offered a benefit I cannot refuse.¡± An Jing burst into laughter, ¡°If you want to kill someone, just do it cleanly and swiftly, there¡¯s no need for such excuses that only serve to increase the jest.¡± Elder Qingfeng took a deep breath, ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, just capture you.¡± The Zhenyi Sect had made it very clear, they wanted a living Ghost Swordsman. An Jing¡¯s smile faded and his expression suddenly grew a bit colder, ¡°Falling into the hands of the Zhenyi Sect, how is that different from death?¡± He had killed so many experts from the Zhenyi Sect; the hatred between them was already indelible. If he were to fall into the hands of the Zhenyi Sect, how could he possibly end up with a good fate? Elder Qingfeng shook his head, no longer wanting to waste words. With his left hand behind his back and his right hand outstretched, he said, ¡°Come, let this old man witness the elegance of a contemporary Sword Immortal and offer you one last shred of dignity.¡± An Jing looked at Feng Lingyue and said, ¡°Elder Feng has also seen the prowess of the Black Flood Dragon. So, if my mount, the Black Flood Dragon, doesn¡¯t make a move, there¡¯s no need for Elder Feng to take action, right? Wouldn¡¯t that save us some effort?¡± Others might not know that the Black Flood Dragon was soulless, but An Jing was very aware. If he had to control the Black Flood Dragon while fighting Elder Qingfeng, he would inevitably be stretched too thin. Feng Lingyue glanced at the Black Flood Dragon. The memory of the intense battle with the creature was vivid in his mind; the Black Flood Dragon had nearly transformed, revealing impressive strength. Now that it had stabilised, its power would surely have grown further. Since his main task was to stall the Black Flood Dragon, and he could save some effort doing so, why not? ¡°Alright.¡± With that thought, Feng Lingyue nodded slightly and said, ¡°As long as this exotic beast doesn¡¯t take action, neither will I.¡± ¡°Then let me experience the strength of a Grandmaster level expert.¡± An Jing looked towards Elder Qingfeng, his eyes carrying a trace of frigidness. Neither of them spoke, but the atmosphere between heaven and earth seemed to solidify, an immense pressure as if to even stop the wind itself. An Jing felt his heart sink; the pressure was even stronger than when he confronted the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. Elder Qingfeng possessed Master Cultivation, and despite many years of practice, he remained at the Second Qi Grandmaster level, struggling to make further progress. But compared to the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, his cultivation was deeper and more vast, like a boundless sea. One should know that in the Buddhist community, the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva held a position equivalent to a Bodhisattva. If promoted to the Grandmaster level, he would naturally be weaker than an average Grandmaster in the same realm. Although An Jing¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t high back then, he also had the Ghost Transformation Secret Technique and Beast. As a result, the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva suffered heavy damage. In the realm of the Grandmaster, one merges the body and mind, and internal strength is already transformed into surging True Qi. ¡°Sssshh!¡± An Jing drew one half of his Evil Suppressing Sword from its scabbard. Lou Xiangzhen had once favored Zhong Binru over An Jing. Why was this? Because An Jing¡¯s sword wasn¡¯t pure enough. A swordsman¡¯s brilliance and life often reside in the sword he holds in his hand. Moreover, Lou Xiangzhen always felt that An Jing¡¯s sword Dao was vast, containing the aura of engulfing all things. Though he seemed detached from worldly contests, An Jing¡¯s heart aspired to swallow the whole world. A sword intent that¡¯s too vast can also be a bad thing, beyond the control of humans. Ants moving mountains will ultimately be just a dream, impractical. But what if one day ants really could move mountains? That would surely be the biggest miracle in the world! The wind suddenly rose. It swept through the treetops, scattering a carpet of petals, marking the remnants of spring. An Jing¡¯s body leaped up as a cyan sword light finally shot up into the sky. The sword drew three indistinct flowers in the air, striking towards Elder Qingfeng¡¯s glabella like a serpent flicking its tongue. ¡°What a fast sword.¡± The elder Qingfeng¡¯s eyes held a hint of admiration before he flicked his finger. ¡°Ding!¡± A crisp sound rang out, and the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s blade was directly deflected by a surge of hidden force, causing An Jing¡¯s arms to sour from the vibration. Boom! An Jing¡¯s figure burst forth violently, and the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand also revealed a towering chill. The Evil Suppressing Sword, mottled throughout, was covered with the traces of years, and the fresh blood on it was still slowly flowing, flickering with a faint light under the sunshine. Swish! An Jing swung his arm, carrying an overwhelming chill as he furiously swept towards the elder Qingfeng with a terrifying momentum! The elder Qingfeng looked on without a ripple on his face as he watched An Jing, whose momentum was frightening, and turned his body to dodge this sharp cold light. ¡°Three Flowers Merged, Half-step Master?¡± Feng Lingyue¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly upon seeing An Jing make his move. He still remembered the last time he saw An Jing; his cultivation was but at the Heavenly Flower Realm. Now, in just a few days, he had quietly reached the Half-step Master Realm. Compared with the shackles between a Half-step Master and a Grandmaster, advancing from the Heavenly Flower Realm to a Half-step Master wasn¡¯t so easy to break through either. Elder Qingfeng¡¯s eyelids twitched as well, but although there was only a step between the Master Realm and the Half-step Master, the gap was huge. Even Lin Yiyang, a half-step master high-level swordsman as strong as a Sword Immortal, had to admit defeat when facing the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. Therefore, the elder Qingfeng did not feel a sense of crisis; his heart still held confidence. An Jing¡¯s face was more solemn than ever before; this was the first time he was fighting against a Grandmaster in their prime. Whoosh! With a rainbow of light vibrating the air, it pierced through from the void. Nine-character Sword Technique! Bing Character Secret! An Jing gripped the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly, his robe waving, and the sword in his hand swung out again, intricately like an antelope hanging its horns, ineffably refined. Several streaks of sword light danced in the air, nearly sealing off all of elder Qingfeng¡¯s paths of retreat. What a fast sword! Elder Qingfeng¡¯s eyes darkened, and his True Qi surged out, slapping his palm forward. Bang! Several streaks of sword light collided fiercely with that palm print in midair, immediately generating a mass of air force vitality at the center. Only after retreating dozens of steps did An Jing finally stabilize his footing. Seeing this, elder Qingfeng was a bit surprised, but not enough to lose his composure; after all, he had used only about fifty or sixty percent of his strength. He believed that with his full strength, he would undoubtedly be able to kill An Jing. Elder Qingfeng¡¯s eyes darkened as he said, ¡°Wanting to challenge the Grandmaster Realm as a Half-step Master, there have been a few since ancient times, but they are few and far between, and in the present age, not a single person has managed to do it, not even Lin Yiyang, the White-clothed Sword Immortal.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just be one of those few,¡± An Jing replied coldly, then swung the Evil Suppressing Sword, the pitch-black sword wind blowing into the sky before blending into the air, as if disappearing in an instant. The sword light can disappear out of thin air?! ¡°What a bizarre way of the sword,¡± elder Qingfeng said as he flipped his palm and slapped it towards An Jing. This massive palm print turned into a green canopy as if the sky had collapsed, rushing toward An Jing. The might of the Grandmaster was already at its peak. Boom! Waves of True Qi surged in all directions, and wrinkles appeared in the air, wave after wave, like a mountain-toppling and sea-overturning surge. ¡°So powerful!¡± An Jing flew backward several dozen feet. There indeed was a profound gulf between Grandmaster and Half-step Master. If An Jing hadn¡¯t tempered his bones to perfection and kept strengthening them with his growing cultivation, he might have already been severely injured by this strike. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is truly formidable. No wonder he has become a thorn in the side of the Zhenyi Sect,¡± elder Qingfeng thought to himself. Little did he know, elder Qingfeng was even more astonished. After all, there was such a large difference in cultivation between them¨Clike the difference between heaven and earth. Shrinking Land into Inches, in an instant, Elder Qingfeng appeared behind An Jing and sent his palm towards the back of An Jing¡¯s head. ¡°Not good.¡± An Jing felt a chill surge up and quickly used the Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, dodging in succession to hurriedly evade Elder Qingfeng¡¯s move. But no matter how fast he was, how could he be faster than Elder Qingfeng? Elder Qingfeng¡¯s body shook again as a cyan light erupted from his palm. Six Extremes Misty Rain Palm! Soul-breaking! Although that palm did not strike An Jing, the violent gale scraped across his body. Pfft! A spurt of fresh blood shot out as An Jing was sent flying backwards. ¡°The strength of a Grandmaster really is terrifying, I must quickly use the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra.¡± Taking a deep breath, An Jing knew that if a swordsman couldn¡¯t even launch an offense, he was basically without any chance of victory. With that thought, An Jing began to recite the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± A golden light emerged from behind him and transformed into a tide of gold, with An Jing standing at the center, similar to a golden sun. Suddenly, a golden Buddha faintly appeared behind him, head bowed and eyes lowered in majestic splendor, radiating great compassion and wisdom. Meanwhile, An Jing¡¯s Qi mechanism was climbing steadily. When Buddhist mantra reinforcement was applied to the body, it was as though gods or demons had possessed him. The Inner Strength flowed continuously, like an endless flame that would not be extinguished. ¡°Is this that Buddhist Martial Art?¡± Upon seeing this, Elder Qingfeng felt a skip in his heart. ¡°Such a formidable martial art.¡± Even though Feng Lingyue was witnessing it for the second time, he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration, feeling the profound and unthinkable nature even with his Second Qi Grandmaster¡¯s Cultivation. It was unheard of for the Buddhist sect to have such a Seal Technique. An Jing¡¯s eyes carried a faint hint of golden light as he looked calmly at Elder Qingfeng in front of him. ¡°Why must you harm yourself with such powerful moves?¡± The surging Qi mechanism was like roaring waves, erupting inside Elder Qingfeng¡¯s body at that moment, sweeping through heaven and earth. The strong True Qi even vibrated the air. Feeling the overwhelming True Qi exploding from inside Elder Qingfeng, An Jing took a deep breath, his face turning solemn. An Jing stood quietly, holding the Evil Suppressing Sword, with the golden Buddha behind him radiating an overwhelming sense of pressure, enough to make one¡¯s heart tremble with fear. Elder Qingfeng¡¯s lips curled upward, and then he suddenly clenched his palms. Boom! Elder Qingfeng¡¯s body radiated a cyan glow, standing firmly on the earth like an Immortal descending from the heavens, his aura unstoppable and fervent. An Jing, seeing the imposing Elder Qingfeng, became even more serious. Elder Qingfeng¡¯s strength was definitely the most formidable opponent he had faced so far. Thud! While An Jing¡¯s body tensed up, the eyes of Elder Qingfeng burst with intense battle desire. Without any more hesitation, he stomped his foot, shaking the ground, and his figure eerily disappeared into thin air. Buzz! An Jing suddenly gripped the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly. Swinging his arm, a powerful force Qi overflowed, carrying enough strength to shatter mountains. It was precisely the moment when An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword sliced down that Elder Qingfeng¡¯s figure, just like a celestial, abruptly emerged from what had been nothingness, delivering a palm strike. Rumble! The blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword directly clashed with the handprint of Elder Qingfeng¡¯s Immortal Monarch¡¯s palm, colliding with the force of a meteor streaking across the sky. Visible ripples erupted in just a moment, causing the air to buzz and tremble continuously. The terrifying recoil, like a tsunami, struck forth, jolting An Jing¡¯s body with such force that he was thrown several meters backward. Stabilizing himself, An Jing threw the Evil Suppressing Sword into the air, which seemed to create an illusion as it split into two Evil Suppressing Swords. Ripples formed around the two swords, which then transformed into two giant swords. Two giant swords appeared across the sky, a truly spectacular sight. The Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Technique! An Jing stood tall between heaven and earth. Behind him, the golden Buddha shimmered, his eyes suddenly brightened fiercely, a violent surge of Force Qi erupted, and the two Evil Suppressing Swords fell like shooting stars. Boom! Boom! Boom! The Sword Light of the shooting stars streaked across the sky, where it passed, the air seemed to shatter. ¡°Such powerful swordsmanship, such formidable Sword Dao!¡± Old man Qingfeng¡¯s eyes revealed a glint of brilliance as he sucked in a cold breath, then he suppressed the shock in his heart and converged the True Qi all over his body into his Fist Force. Six Extremes Misty Rain Palm! Overwhelming! The body of old man Qingfeng merged with the universe, radiating a green halo all around, his hands even more so like glaze jade, as if containing a might that could shake the heavens and the earth. In the blink of an eye, he fiercely slapped forward with his palm. The glaze radiance surged out completely, transforming into a mountain of green crystal. The Sword Light surged tumultuously, shaking mountains and rivers. The moment the two forces collided, the Qi Mechanism began to spill out wildly, followed by booming noises that were deafening, and the resulting air waves scattered, shattering the surrounding trees into dust. ¡°Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­¡± An Jing¡¯s footsteps retreated repeatedly, his face a bit pale, his Internal Strength was somewhat chaotic. The Six Extremes Misty Rain Palm was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. The terrible impact seemed soft, but in reality, it was domineering beyond measure, causing turmoil in the Dantian. ¡°Drip! Drip!¡± The body of old man Qingfeng also retreated. His eyes and brows carried a hint of gravity, and a trickle of blood slowly flowed down from his palm, falling to the ground. Feng Lingyue frowned; the Ghost Swordsman had actually managed to injure old man Qingfeng. To fight as a Half-step Master against a Grandmaster, and even to injure a Grandmaster expert, he would be considered among the top Half-step Masters of this world. When Lin Yiyang severely injured Universal Benefit Bodhisattva in the past, that Universal Benefit Bodhisattva had only recently become a Grandmaster and hadn¡¯t even achieved the position of One Qi. Whereas old man Qingfeng was a bona fide Second Qi Grandmaster. ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t give you the slightest chance anymore,¡± said old man Qingfeng, his eyes growing colder as he looked at the golden light behind An Jing. Boom! Suddenly, a powerful surge of True Qi swept from the body of old man Qingfeng, like ferocious giant waves, rushing towards the distance. An Jing immediately felt a tremendous pressure, like a mountain rushing towards him, and at the same time, the Internal Strength within him also surged out. Thump, thump, thump, thump! The entire dense forest sounded like two huge waves crashing, emitting intense sounds, creating clusters of Qi Mechanism tides that spread out to the surroundings. ¡°You¡¯re just a Second Qi Grandmaster,¡± An Jing said as the astonishing Sword Light in his hand wildly spread out, the surrounding air swirling open and surging towards the distance. The chilling aura seemed to tear the air apart, and even Feng Lingyue, standing at a distance, felt a cold sharpness invading her body, chilling her from head to toe. ¡°Is his Sword Dao growing stronger?¡± Feng Lingyue muttered to herself upon seeing this. Throughout history, swordsmen have upheld decisiveness in battle; any top swordsman¡¯s strikes have left mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Only through constant triumph can a swordsman¡¯s tenacious heart be cultivated. Indomitable! As long as the sword is drawn, there is a feeling of certainty of victory! This is the exceedingly strong belief of a swordsman! Lou Xiangzhen was once defeated by the Sword God and fell into decline for decades because his fighting spirit dissipated. This was also why Lou Xiangzhen was worried when An Jing dueled with Heavenly Sword at that time. Why Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian was defeated by Qiu Wanxia was partially because Qiu Wanxia¡¯s Sword Dao was extremely high and Cui Daoxian was careless. On the other hand, Cui Daoxian had lost his fighting spirit due to An Jing, making his Sword Skill less sharp. And today, facing a Second Qi Grandmaster against a One Qi Grandmaster, with almost no chance of victory in the eyes of the world, in such an adverse situation, An Jing¡¯s indomitable confidence was ignited, and his Sword Dao continued to grow. The vast and profound Sword Intent was also becoming increasingly solidified. If An Jing won today, the mysterious and profound momentum would also gather around him. Old Man Qingfeng saw An Jing¡¯s sword slash coming and thought to himself, ¡°What a fierce Sword Skill.¡± However, in an instant, he quickly suppressed the shock in his heart, changed the handprint on his palm, and the Inner Strength around him suddenly became turbulent, with specks of green light converging toward Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s palm. Then Old Man Qingfeng struck forward with a palm, shaking the sky. Bang! The two exchanged another move, and then their figures crossed again. Old Man Qingfeng stretched out his five fingers, and his attack was as relentless as the tide, never-ending. Boom! A palm blasted out, filled with a terrifying green light that made one¡¯s heart tremble with fear. Seeing the green Hand Force coming, An Jing¡¯s body shook, and then he disappeared from the world. Old Man Qingfeng looked cold and indifferent. After striking empty air with one palm, a green long knife suddenly appeared in his hand and stabbed towards the back. Clang! A sound of metal clashing, almost explosive, echoed through the air, and then a metal storm spread wildly to the distance. An Jing had unconsciously reached Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s back. After the heavy clash of their swords, An Jing felt a numbness in his arm, and his body subconsciously moved back. Boom! After Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s matching strike, he appeared entirely unchanged and palm-struck An Jing with the intent to kill. An Jing moved back, his momentum very unstable, and he stepped back into the distance. That palm came bombarding, with an overwhelming intent to show no mercy. Hum! Hum! The Evil Suppressing Sword emitted a light humming sound, as if conjuring numerous sword shadows that rushed forward. Bang! Bang! Bang! The multitude of sword shadows were directly shattered by the green Hand Force, and the remaining force came at his face, almost tearing him apart. Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! An Jing¡¯s footsteps rapidly retreated backward, with terrifying sounds of air explosions bursting beneath his feet. ¡°Gurgling~¡± After being struck by that palm, An Jing immediately felt his blood boiling, almost spitting out a mouthful of thick blood. An Jing endured the pain in his internal organs, and his Inner Strength surged crazily, converging on the Evil Suppressing Sword. The next moment, the heavens and the earth were filled with starry river lights, cascading behind An Jing. Unity Sword Technique! Sword Drawing Skill! An Jing¡¯s hand holding the Evil Suppressing Sword shone like a brilliant galaxy, bursting with blinding light, almost illuminating the entire world. The Sword Light thundered, flowing like a starry river. Hum! Hum! The Sword Light travelled through the world, dashing towards Old Man Qingfeng with fury. Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s eyes were deep, and he stepped forward. Six Extremes Misty Rain Palm! Earth Splitting! In an instant, a destructive might was unleashed, an overwhelming force that seemed unstoppable. ¡°Old Man Qingfeng has to fight for his life against the Ghost Swordsman?¡± Feng Lingyue couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of amazement upon seeing this. Six Extremes Misty Rain Palm! Though it was a True Martial level Martial Arts technique, the power of the last two moves was not inferior to those of the Heavenly Martial level palm techniques, and it was also Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s ultimate skill that he seldom used during friendly bouts. It was only used desperately in life-threatening situations. This showed that the Ghost Swordsman, who was at the Half-step Master Realm, had pushed Old Man Qingfeng to this extent. The overwhelming hand force that shook heaven and earth assaulted him, causing mountains and rivers to drastically change, and An Jing, under that terrifying momentum, felt as insignificant as a mayfly. Boom! The sword shadow that resembled the starry river collided with the earth-shaking hand force, instantly stirring up a wave of Qi mechanism like an ocean¡¯s surging tide, towering several zhang high. Boom, boom, boom, boom! The aftershocks brought by the wave of Qi mechanism were even more terrifying than the clash between the two, and An Jing was directly engulfed by the oncoming Qi mechanism. ¡°Ah!¡± As the Qi mechanism wave collided against An Jing¡¯s body, he felt as if all his internal organs were about to shatter, expelling a stream of blood in a spray. His body then fluttered like a withered leaf caught in the wind, tumbling through mid-air, while the golden Buddha behind him dimmed, flickering in and out of existence as if it could vanish at any moment. Elder Qingfeng wasn¡¯t having an easy time either. His internal blood churned and his face turned deathly pale. Normally, at this point, the Ghost Swordsman would be running on empty, his defeat inevitable, but there still seemed to be a lingering force around him. The duo locked gazes, and the world fell silent, save for the howling wind. ¡°I still have one last sword.¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was somewhat calm. He looked at his Evil Suppressing Sword, ¡°Today, please allow me, Grandmaster, to test my sword!¡± Today, please allow me, Grandmaster, to test my sword! As An Jing¡¯s words fell, the heavens echoed with the sound of the sword¡¯s chant, a clear and peculiar tone that made the heart resonate in unison. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Two strokes of the Evil Suppressing Sword flew out, sword Qi crisscrossing wildly, creating a sword Qi world within a li¡¯s distance. Unprecedentedly sharp, it chilled the soul. The next moment, sword Qi crisscrossed the sky, turning into a violent downpour. Dense and numerous, it occupied all of the sky above. The Hundred-step Flying Sword merged with the Sword Control Technique, harking back to the fierce sword Qi from the vast land and skies. Elder Qingfeng¡¯s brow furrowed sharply as all the True Qi within surged, gathering all the green light into his palm. ¡°This aura is too strong, and yet, it¡¯s not enough¡­¡± The determination in Elder Qingfeng¡¯s heart solidified as he even consumed his own essence blood. He was absolutely determined to maintain an undefeated position, leaving no room for error. In an instant, a violent wind and flying pebbles uprooted the grass and trees around. Smoke Rain Six Absolute Palm! Swallowing Heaven! Elder Qingfeng opened his mouth, his eyes also turning bloody red as he struck down with his hand. A huge, green handprint appeared in the sky, falling like a mountainous weight. The ferocious Gang Wind howled, filling the dense forest within several li¡¯s of range. Boom! In that moment, it was as if the earth trembled, and the entire dense forest was stirred into rolling waves, even transmitting vibrations beyond the woods, bursting into countless Qi mechanism waves on the official road. How terrifying was this collision?! Gang Wind ripped through the air as the sword Qi whistled towards it. Feng Lingyue held her breath, watching with a hint of solemnity in her eyes. Boom! Boom! This was An Jing¡¯s one powerful strike, and also his peak strike to date! Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! The heaven and earth seemed to explode, Gang Wind and sword Qi intertwined together, rising to meet the descending handprint. Shocking and splendid! Gradually, the sword Qi was crushed and ground down by the handprint, then disappeared continuously. Seeing this scene, Feng Lingyue let out a slight breath, her heart feeling a bit complicated. A trace of joy appeared on Elder Qingfeng¡¯s face as well. He had never thought he would feel joy from defeating a Half-step Master. Crack! Just at that moment, the qi mechanism wildly scattered, surging towards all directions, turning into rolling waves that pulverized everything in their path to dust. In just the blink of an eye, the entire dense forest was a mess, torn asunder with wounds all around. As the qi mechanism continued to disperse, two figures emerged from the dust and smoke ahead. Time seemed to stand still at that moment. The Old Qingfeng stood upright, his tattered robe fluttering noisily in the fierce wind, his expression one of immense relief. An Jing¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet of paper, half-kneeling on the ground, blood continually flowing from his mouth, the Evil Suppressing Sword planted in the ground supporting his body, otherwise, he would have already collapsed. The golden Buddha that had been behind him had long since vanished without a trace, replaced by the onset of severe aftereffects. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough¡­¡± An Jing coughed lightly, blood not only streaming from his mouth but also bringing with it a sense of dizziness, his eyelids heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds. ¡°You¡¯ve lost,¡± said the Old Qingfeng, taking a deep breath. ¡°Is that so?¡± An Jing slowly raised his head, his pitch-black eyes looking at the Old Qingfeng in front of him, his lips curved in a wry smile. Seeing the smile on An Jing¡¯s face, the Old Qingfeng¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly into a ¡®Chuan ¡® shape; suddenly, his expression changed dramatically. Thump! Thump! Thump! A series of rhythmic sounds followed. The Old Qingfeng, horrified, clutched his heart; he felt nothing else at that moment, aware only that his heart had begun to pound uncontrollably. All the blood in his body began to circulate rapidly in time with the beats of his heart. Thud! The next moment, he knelt on the ground. ¡°I¡­. I¡­¡± The Old Qingfeng clutched his heart tightly, lying on the ground, his palm desperately trying to lift upwards, but the more effort he put into it, the more wildly his heart throbbed. He tried to speak, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t get out a complete sentence. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Feng Lingyue watched on, her face filled with horror. What on earth was happening? The Old Qingfeng felt his heart turn into a marching drum, beating faster and faster, to the point it felt as though it would leap out from his mouth. His features twisted grotesquely, bloodshot eyes, his palm seeming to reach out towards An Jing. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± In the end, however, his arm never lifted, and he violently spewed forth a fountain of blood towards the space in front of him, blood shooting up to a formidable height, as if ejecting all the blood in his body. ¡°Thud!¡± The Old Qingfeng¡¯s body fell heavily to the ground. ¡°Elder Feng, you will keep your promise,¡± An Jing looked towards Feng Lingyue calmly. ¡°Of course¡­¡± It took a good while for Feng Lingyue to snap out of her stunned state. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Good, then I take my leave.¡± An Jing commanded the Black Flood Dragon to come to his side, then staggeringly climbed onto its back. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon let out a low growl and walked off into the distance. A dark shadow flashed by, and, in an instant, the Black Flood Dragon had disappeared from Feng Lingyue¡¯s sight. Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Black Flood Dragons Spiritual Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Black Flood Dragon¡¯s Spiritual Dragon Hidden Lake In the dense forest. The Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s chest was continuously convulsing, his facial muscles also spasming, and fresh blood was ceaselessly gulping from his mouth, while blood also flowed from his nose and ears. This scene was extremely bizarre. Feng Lingyue walked slowly up to Old Man Qingfeng then shook his head and sighed, ¡°Life in this world is but a transient journey; when will the struggle for fame and profit ever cease?¡± Looking at Luo Qingfeng, who had once roamed the Jianghu with joy in friendships and enmities, a touch of melancholy and emotion arose in Feng Lingyue¡¯s heart. This is the Jianghu. Having entered the Jianghu, it held not only illusory fame and wealth but also intrigue and the shadows of swords and blades. The so-called Jianghu is the human heart, where everything originates. The lesser form of heroism aids those in distress; the greater serves the country and the people. How could one passionately live in this indifferent world? This is a profoundly difficult question in the hearts of everyone in the Jianghu¨Chow many remian true to their original aspirations? On the path to fame and fortune, what is more often seen is the vanity that fame and wealth bring; who could maintain poverty yet speak of wealth? Some say that the Jianghu is the universe, it is everything, it is nature, it is all that we can see. Entering the Jianghu is easy; leaving it, however, is extremely difficult. Perhaps only in death can one truly exit the Jianghu. The Old Man Qingfeng, lying on the ground, had eyes wide open, his chest heaving as if he were no longer the Grandmaster known throughout the Great Yan Martial World but more like a wild beast on the brink of death. ¡°I too am a common man, burdened by the pursuit of fame and profit, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have competed with Jiang Shang and become a mere pawn in the hands of others.¡± Feng Lingyue squatted down, looking at the dying Old Man Qingfeng with a trace of resignation in his eyes, ¡°Perhaps one day, Brother Luo¡¯s today may be my Feng¡¯s tomorrow. All I can do is strive to ensure this day never comes.¡± When you are in the Jianghu, you are not the master of your own fate. Despite Feng Lingyue¡¯s position and strength, there were still forces pushing him to continue moving forward; sometimes, it was no longer up to him to simply give up. The Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s eyes were open, a hint of darkness glimmering in his pupils. ¡°Crack!¡± Feng Lingyue placed his hand on the Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s neck, and as he twisted his wrist, a sound of bones cracking filled the air. The Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s body ceased its undulations and he stopped breathing. The Old Man Qingfeng was dead! The once renowned Grandmaster of the Great Yan Martial World died in this dense forest. With a flick of his hand, a green light began to float out from the Old Man Qingfeng¡¯s body. It was the remnant essence in his body, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence. ¡­.. Outside the dense forest, dozens of miles away. In the half-space, the wind howled. An Jing lay on the back of the Black Flood Dragon, his face pale to the extreme, his eyelids growing increasingly heavy. His injuries were already severe, and after the backlash of the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra had started, his entire body felt as though it was burning in flames. The pain was decreasing, but he felt weaker and weaker. If not for relying on his strong willpower, he might have collapsed in the dense forest just now. If he had fallen in front of Feng Lingyue, then the Black Flood Dragon would have also lost its fighting ability, and whether Feng Lingyue would keep his promise then was uncertain. After all, he still had great use to the Zhenyi Sect. ¡°So tired¡­¡± An Jing lay on the cold dragon scales, feeling utterly exhausted, but he knew he couldn¡¯t close his eyes, for if he did, the Black Flood Dragon would plummet from the sky. However, the sensation of fatigue kept assaulting him, especially since the pain had already disappeared, numbing his nerves. His eyelids drooped several times, but he lifted them again each time with incredible willpower. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The Black Flood Dragon soared through the air, rising and dipping, swaying left and right, and directly collided with a huge tree; under the powerful impact of its body, even trees that took three to four people to encircle would snap instantly. Eventually, An Jing could no longer withstand the overwhelming tiredness, and he lost consciousness. As his consciousness faded, the massive body of the Black Flood Dragon also fell heavily. ¡°Thud!¡± The landing spot was a creek, immediately splashing water high into the air. An Jing¡¯s body fell from the Black Flood Dragon, rolling twice on the ground before coming to a stop. His mask also loosened and, along with the splashing water, disappeared into the creek. Half of the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s head ended up on the bank, with the rest of its body hidden in the creek water. Time passed, and it was uncertain how long it had been when the creek¡¯s surface gradually returned to calm. Suddenly, the eyelids of the Black Flood Dragon seemed to twitch, and a pair of large dragon eyes flickered with a hint of curiosity, staring intently at An Jing lying on the ground. Suddenly, its eyes shifted towards the distance, a hint of panic in its gaze. ¡°Splash!¡± The Black Flood Dragon¡¯s head reached into the creek water, and then its entire body completely vanished beneath the water, seemingly hiding itself. About several breaths later, a young girl carrying a bamboo basket approached from a distance. This girl, around eighteen or nineteen, had a round oval face, jet-black eyes, radiating a youthful and lively aura, her skin tone not exactly fair but possessed a healthy natural beauty. ¡°What is this¡­¡± The girl quickly walked over to the person lying on the bank, and upon seeing An Jing¡¯s pale face, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Young sir, wake up, wake up¡­¡± ¡­.. Houjin, Snow Mountain. At night, the stars were brilliant, and the bright moonlight illuminated the grassland, creating a tranquil scene where the evening breeze gently swayed the grass waves, providing a particularly pleasant atmosphere. Due to years of peaceful development, trade flourished throughout Houjin, and they even established grassland markets in the vast prairies. Every year, large caravans from Yan Country, Zhao Country, Pure Land, and the Southern Barbarians came there, making Houjin prosper and rapidly develop its national strength. To the north of the grassland were the continuous, soaring, steep Snow Mountains. In Houjin¡¯s view, this mountain range was their holy land, deep within which lay their yearned-for Holy Sect. The Holy Sect of Houjin, known in the Martial World as the Great Snow Mountain, was the largest sect in Houjin. The current emperor of Houjin was also the Holy Master of the Houjin Holy Sect. At this moment, a figure approached from a distance, crossing over the grassland and following a path towards the Snow Mountains. The man had the appearance of a young child with white hair, a smile on his face, his kindly and benevolent features giving a spring-like warmth and a sense of closeness. This man was Jiang Shang. His steps appeared slow, but on closer inspection, his body had already covered dozens of feet. Shrinking Land into Inches. Only a master of the Grandmaster Realm could employ such methods. About half an hour later, Jiang Shang arrived at a cave beneath Snow Mountain. This cave was extremely hidden, located along a small path between two snow mountains. Ordinary people, unless they knew of this cave, would never be able to find it. The surrounding temperature dropped sharply, the cold was penetrating, and there even drifted a white frosty mist in the air. Jiang Shang walked slowly into the cave, his steps crunching in the snow, making a ¡®crunch¡¯ ¡®crunch¡¯ sound. The cave was very dark, and the match flickered with a faint light, illuminating the path ahead. The temperature became colder and colder, to the point where even Jiang Shang had to circulate his true qi to resist the terrifying cold air. Before long, a pitch-black coffin appeared ahead. ¡°Hu¡­..¡± Upon seeing the black coffin, Jiang Shang gently exhaled a breath. Due to the extreme cold, that breath instantly turned into a frost. ¡°Jin Se, it has been six years since I last visited you,¡± Jiang Shang approached the coffin and slowly said, ¡°You see, I¡¯ve brought your favorite winter melon candied fruit.¡± With that, he reached into his bosom and took out a package made of cowhide paper. Wrapped inside the cowhide paper was the cool, sweet, crispy, and clear winter melon candied fruit without any residues. Jiang Shang¡¯s hand caressed the coffin, ¡°I feel like I am about to reach the Four Qi Realm, so I thought of visiting you. Time really flies, you know? Ren Yi is already thirty-six, and if you think about it, we have known each other for forty years.¡± ¡°Forty years, ah. The events of forty years ago still seem to resurface in front of my eyes, yet forty years have passed. So much has really happened. Not long after you died, I became the leader of the Demon Sect, then suppressed Feng Lingyue, battled Sword God Liu Moyuan, and fought the Zhenyi Sect Leader Ye Ding. The past forty years have seen tumultuous changes and unpredictable events, yet I have always stood above the waves of Jianghu, defeated only by Xiao Qianqiu.¡± ¡°Xiao Qianqiu is a formidable figure, a natural Dao seed. That old fellow Ye Ding really has good luck to have found such a disciple. If Xiao Qianqiu truly cultivates the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture,¡¯ then the Mystical Sect might really unify everything, and the entire situation in the world might undergo a great change, putting the Demon Sect at risk.¡± Jiang Shang¡¯s words carried a tone of lamentation, as if he was pouring out his melancholy. If anyone were here, they would be greatly surprised, for the capricious, unpredictable, and ruthless Jiang Shang also displayed such a sentimental side. ¡°However, for Xiao Qianqiu to achieve his great ambition is not so simple. The Holy Master of Great Snow Mountain has long been covetously watching, seemingly with the ambition to swallow the world. The world¡¯s situation is changing, giving Xiao Qianqiu little time left. Houjin and Great Yan will battle sooner or later, while that crafty like a fox, Human Emperor, whose palace coup at the Heavenly Book Pavilion I still vividly remember to this day, shows no mercy even to his blood relatives, indicating his decisive actions. Whether this old fox is really seriously injured or pretending, even I cannot see through.¡± ¡°Let it be chaotic, let this world descend into complete chaos,¡± Jiang Shang picked up a piece of candied fruit and held it in his hand. Only under this coffin could he feel utterly relaxed, revealing all his vexations: ¡°Do you remember Qingmei, whom I told you about? She indeed did not disappoint my expectations, her cultivation has reached the Grandmaster Realm, it¡¯s just a pity.¡± Speaking of this, Jiang Shang gently bit into the candied fruit. The cave turned quiet, with only the sound of chewing. ¡°She has followed in my old footsteps and by the time she realized her mistake, it was already too late. Since that is the case, I can only take action for her. ¡®The Dao is merciless but has its sentiments; the human path has sentiments yet is merciless.¡¯ Only the heartless can achieve the ultimate human Dao. One day she will understand.¡± ¡°I killed that young doctor just like I had once killed you.¡± At this point, the entire cave became very quiet. The temperature seemed to become even colder, and outside the cave, the sound of the wind and snow roared, coming like the wails of ghosts and wolves, causing one¡¯s heart to tremble. In the faint, weak light, that expressionless face looked rather eerie and frightening. ¡°I have also discovered Undying Blood. There truly is such a thing as Undying Blood in this world, and its secret might be related to the Zhou Dynasty, even possibly to the Qin Dynasty. No matter what, I will obtain this Undying Blood. I, Jiang Shang, will definitely obtain the secret to eternal life, and no one can stop me.¡± ¡°Apart from approaching the Four Qi Realm, the main reason I came to Great Snow Mountain was to search for this Undying Blood.¡± Jiang Shang set down the bite of candied fruit he had eaten and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°I can taste the bitterness of this life, but I can¡¯t seem to enjoy the sweetness of this candied fruit. This one bite has already become slightly nauseating.¡± Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shang gazed at the coffin for a long while. ¡°Jin Se, you are the love of my life.¡± ¡°Hu.¡± The firestarter had gone out, leaving only the sound of Jiang Shang¡¯s departing footsteps in the cave. ¡­.. Dongluo Pass, Sealing Demon Well. ¡°Indeed, the taste of this pig stomach is quite good today.¡± Nan Weiping, greatly enjoying the meal, continuously swallowed the still warm food while praising it. Zhao Qingmei smiled slightly upon seeing this, as these past few days she had been mixing a very small amount of Red Beauty Drunk into the food, which was a tasteless and odorless poison that even a master like Nan Weiping had failed to detect. In a few more days, she would be able to get the method of escape from her. Nan Weiping looked at Zhao Qingmei and asked, ¡°You seem less anxious these days. What, no longer worried about your lover?¡± Zhao Qingmei shook her head and replied, ¡°If I can¡¯t get out, worrying is useless.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right about that. Well, in light of this meal, I¡¯ll give you a few tips.¡± Nan Weiping nodded, smiling warmly. ¡°You¡¯ve reached the level of a One Qi Grandmaster at such a young age. Without accidents, you are definitely capable of reaching Great Grandmaster status. Why not cultivate here quietly for a while, elevate your cultivation to the Second Qi Realm, and then when you leave Sealing Demon Well, you can even resolve the internal strife of the Demon Sect.¡± In recent days through conversations, Nan Weiping had also learned from Zhao Qingmei why she had fallen into the Sealing Demon Well once again. ¡°Reaching Second Qi is not that simple.¡± Why Zhao Qingmei was so anxious now was because she knew that Jiang Shang was currently not in the Demon Sect, which was definitely an opportunity. Both Yuan Feng and Ouyang Ping were of Second Qi Master¡¯s level of cultivation, and although it was almost impossible for her to kill both, they also couldn¡¯t hope to detain her. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying, you need to calm your mind.¡± Nan Weiping said calmly, ¡°Your cultivation includes the Demon Sect¡¯s top mental method, the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture. The cultivation technique of the Demon Sect progresses rapidly, and you¡¯ve also devoured the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence left by a Five Qi Grandmaster, which makes your cultivation soar rapidly. However, your foundation is somewhat unstable. At the moment, the most important thing is to stabilize your foundation.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing Nan Weiping¡¯s words, Zhao Qingmei said, ¡°Is the mindset very important?¡± ¡°If you can calm your mind, naturally it would be best. But can you, a mischievous girl, really settle down?¡± Nan Weiping shook her head, then asked, ¡°By the way, to which layer have you cultivated your Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture?¡± ¡°The seventh layer,¡± Zhao Qingmei replied. The Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture was no ordinary martial arts; transcending even Heavenly Martial arts, it was extremely difficult to practice. Even with Zhao Qingmei¡¯s cultivation, she had only reached the Seventh Layer and found it difficult to progress further. After a long pause, Nan Weiping finally said, ¡°Cultivate your Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture to the Eighth Layer. If you don¡¯t reach the Eighth Layer, you can¡¯t leave.¡± The Eighth Layer? Zhao Qingmei¡¯s mind stirred, Nan Weiping¡¯s words surely had a purpose. Since she suggested cultivating to the Eighth Layer, it must be related to leaving the Sealing Demon Well. ¡°I understand.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded her head and began to study the inscriptions on the stone walls of the cave. Nan Weiping observed Zhao Qingmei in front of her. Over time, she gradually understood some aspects of Zhao Qingmei¡¯s temperament. Cool and reserved, she hardly ever spoke more than necessary. It was as if her heart was locked tight; no one could walk into her inner world. Nan Weiping was quite curious about the kind of man that could make this young girl so devoted. Suddenly recalling something, Nan Weiping said, ¡°Young girl, how about showing me your diary?¡± Zhao Qingmei turned to glance at Nan Weiping, then as if she hadn¡¯t heard her at all, continued to study the experiences and methods left by her ancestors of the Demon Sect on the stone walls. With a smile in her eyes, Nan Weiping said, ¡°Show me, and I¡¯ll tell you the way out.¡± The more she thought about it, the more interested she became in the diary, which surely hid a big secret. ¡°Impossible.¡± Zhao Qingmei said indifferently. The diary, no one could view it. Nan Weiping said, ¡°Young girl, this is your only chance, miss this village, and there will be no such shop.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s expression remained as calm as water, ¡°You will eventually tell me because without me, you can¡¯t get out either.¡± Nan Weiping would tell her sooner or later, so why bother using the diary as a bargaining chip? ¡°If you don¡¯t show the diary to this old body, I will never tell you,¡± Nan Weiping said, seeing Zhao Qingmei unyielding, seemingly a bit annoyed. ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Zhao Qingmei coldly sneered in her heart, just wait a few more days, and you will comply. ¡­¡­ ¡°Hmm¡­..?¡± An Jing felt as if his soul was drifting in darkness, unable to feel warmth or light. He didn¡¯t know how long had passed when he vaguely heard a faint voice, sometimes far and sometimes near. ¡°This young man¡¯s face is so pale, he isn¡¯t dead, is he?¡± ¡°Brother Yang Chong, how can you say such a thing?¡± ¡­. ¡°This voice is unfamiliar; I definitely don¡¯t know it. Where exactly is this place?¡± An Jing¡¯s consciousness drifted in the darkness, trying to recall, ¡°That day after my battle with the elder Qingfeng, I rode away on the Black Flood Dragon, and then I lost consciousness.¡± ¡°Brother Yang Chong, you go back first, I can take care of him on my own.¡± The crisp, pleasant sound rang out again. Soon, footsteps came, growing farther and farther. With strong willpower, a streak of light suddenly appeared in the darkness, and An Jing¡¯s consciousness finally burst through this dark gateway. As he opened his eyes, he saw an antique-looking room. At that moment, An Jing was lying on a bed, beside him was a beautiful, young girl dressed in light green palace attire. ¡°You¡¯re awake!?¡± The girl, seeing An Jing open his eyes, couldn¡¯t help showing a trace of delight. ¡°What place is this, and you are¡­?¡± An Jing struggled to sit up and asked the girl in front of him. ¡°This is the Four Symbols Sect, my name is Jia Meixian,¡± the girl quickly replied. ¡°Four Symbols Sect? Jia Meixian?¡± An Jing¡¯s head throbbed with pain, he was somewhat disoriented, ¡°How did I end up here?¡± Jia Meixian replied, ¡°Two days ago, I was picking herbs in the mountains and found you unconscious in Dragon Hidden Creek with severe injuries, so I brought you back.¡± Dragon Hidden Creek?! An Jing furrowed his brows and hurriedly asked, ¡°Did you find any other¡­ strange things?¡± If the Black Flood Dragon was left uncontrolled, would someone have taken its inner core? If that was the case, it would be a big problem. Without its inner core, the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s strength would be greatly diminished. Recalling for a moment, Jia Meixian then shook her head, ¡°Apart from you, I found nothing¡­¡± An Jing nodded, sinking into thought. ¡°Of course, your clothes were changed by my Brother Yang Chong,¡± Jia Meixian recalled something and her face turned slightly red. ¡°Thank you, young lady, for saving my life¡­..¡± As An Jing was about to give a salute, he suddenly felt a tearing sensation in his chest, and his brow tightened instantly. Jia Meixian supported An Jing¡¯s arm, then said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak, just rest well.¡± ¡°No need for thanks where gratitude is due.¡± An Jing expressed his gratitude. Without Jia Meixian before his eyes, he would be in the same state as the Black Flood Dragon, it without its inner core and him without his life. Jia Meixian, Four Symbols Sect¡­.. Suddenly, An Jing thought of something, a glint appeared in his eyes; the Sect Leader of the Four Symbols Sect happened to have the surname Jia. Could it be that the girl before him was related to Jia Shiwu? ¡°No need, no need, my grandfather constantly warned, the daughters and sons of Jianghu should aid the injured and draw swords to assist those in unrighteous situations, these are my duties.¡± Hearing An Jing speak like this, Jia Meixian couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Where are you from, and how did you come to sustain such severe internal injuries?¡± An Jing¡¯s brain whirred rapidly, and he immediately thought of an explanation, saying sadly, ¡°I am originally a Daoist known as Han Wenxin from East Lin Road, and I was planning to visit a friend in Yujing City this time; unexpectedly, I encountered bandits on the road¡­¡± Hearing this, Jia Meixian¡¯s face paled instantly, ¡°Bandits? I hadn¡¯t thought there would be bandits nearby.¡± Not to mention that the Xuanyi Guard had been striking hard against bandits in recent years, but Dragon Hidden Creek was a territory of the Four Symbols Sect, to think there were still bandits. Without changing his expression, An Jing said, ¡°I was chased by the bandits all the way and escaped to this place.¡± ¡°You must have some skills to have escaped from the bandits,¡± Jia Meixian said with concern, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten in days, I¡¯ll get you something to eat.¡± ¡°That would trouble Miss Jia,¡± An Jing responded with a smile, as he patted his stomach. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Jia Meixian covered her mouth with a chuckle and walked away with light steps. Watching Jia Meixian leave, An Jing touched his face, realizing his mask was gone. He vaguely remembered that his mask had fallen off when he dropped. ¡°I better check my internal injuries first.¡± An Jing took a deep breath before examining his internal injuries. The injuries were serious, but not extremely so. Mainly, it was the internal injuries from the battle with elder Qingfeng and the aftereffects of the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra that had combined that had caused him to collapse from exhaustion. With ten days to half a month of recuperation, he should be able to recover. ¡°What about the Black Flood Dragon?¡± After examining his internal injuries, An Jing couldn¡¯t help thinking of the Black Flood Dragon. The Black Flood Dragon couldn¡¯t move without being controlled. Jia Meixian saved me, so how could she not have seen the Black Flood Dragon? Could it be that Feng Lingyue chased after me, skinned and deboned the Black Flood Dragon, taking its kidneys? But that¡¯s not right; Feng Lingyue wouldn¡¯t have let me go. The more An Jing thought about it, the stranger it seemed. He felt there was something peculiar about the situation, and it seemed necessary to personally visit Dragon Hidden Creek. ¡°This is the Four Symbols Sect, and I have been unconscious for two days.¡± An Jing¡¯s expression became somewhat strange, and he thought to himself, ¡°My injuries are not too severe; I should be able to leave the Four Symbols Sect tomorrow, to avoid attracting any trouble.¡± Just then, Jia Meixian came in with a bowl of porridge, ¡°Here is the morning porridge; I¡¯ve warmed it up.¡± An Jing took the porridge, smiling, ¡°I can handle it myself; no need to trouble Miss Jia.¡± Jia Meixian hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Alright, then you eat first, I¡¯ll go and brew another batch of medicine for you.¡± Saying this, without waiting for An Jing to respond, Jia Meixian enthusiastically ran out again. Watching her graceful figure disappear, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. In this world of deceit and intrigue within the martial arts community, there wasn¡¯t just the clash of swords, but also many who joyfully helped others, possessing inherently good hearts. ¡°Tip Two: There is a blue opportunity (Four Symbols Hall) near the host.¡± Just then, a stream of blue light emerged in An Jing¡¯s mind. ¡°A blue opportunity?¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing felt a stir in his heart. He knew that a blue opportunity was an extremely rare treasure. Originally, the Holy Essence Gu had already evolved, helping Lou Xiangzhen advance from the Second Qi to the Third Qi, and also allowing him to directly ascend to the Half-step Master. Every blue opportunity was a treasure that was rarely available in the world. An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he pondered secretly, ¡°The Four Symbols Sect¡¯s treasure, could this blue opportunity be the sword plaque left by the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll act when night falls. For now, it¡¯s crucial to recover from my internal injuries.¡± The ways of the world are unpredictable, and now that this opportunity had presented itself right in front of him, it would be a waste if he didn¡¯t seize this blue opportunity. After drinking the porridge, and then taking the decoction brewed by Jia Meixian, An Jing began to sit cross-legged to recover from his internal injuries. Outside the wing of the Four Symbols Sect. ¡°Junior sister, I heard that the kid woke up?¡± Yang Chong came over quickly, his eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°Yes.¡± Jia Meixian nodded, smiling, ¡°I just brewed some medicine for Mr. Han, and he¡¯s resting after taking it.¡± Yang Chong, astonished, said, ¡°Impossible, that kid¡¯s internal injuries are severe¡­¡± He had taken An Jing¡¯s pulse, and those injuries were either fatal or extremely severe. How could he have woken up so quickly? There must be something strange about this. Jia Meixian frowned, ¡°Mr. Han¡¯s injuries are indeed very severe, and he can¡¯t get out of bed right now. In my opinion, he still needs a few months of recuperation.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see him.¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Chong suddenly became a bit displeased. His own junior sister hadn¡¯t taken such good care of him, yet she was going to look after that kid for several months? ¡°Senior brother, he is resting right now, it wouldn¡¯t be good for you to disturb him,¡± Jia Meixian quickly blocked Yang Chong, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until he wakes up tomorrow.¡± After thinking it over, Yang Chong said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait until he wakes up tomorrow to see.¡± Jia Meixian anxiously said, ¡°Hmm, tomorrow you should take his pulse again, hoping that no lingering illness remains.¡± However, Yang Chong shook his head and said, ¡°With such severe injuries, it¡¯s impossible not to have lingering effects. I think it¡¯s already very fortunate that he survived.¡± Hearing Yang Chong say this, Jia Meixian sighed, ¡°Ah, that Young Master Han is really pitiful, I think he is a good person.¡± Although it was their first meeting, Jia Meixian could tell from his ¡®facial features¡¯ that Young Master Han must be a good person. Yang Chong furrowed his brows and said no more; his junior sister was just too kind-hearted, hopefully she wouldn¡¯t be deceived. ¡­.. The moon was as dark as ink, the stars speckled across the sky. On the bed, An Jing circulated the Daluo Heart Method and Ghost Valley Heart Method simultaneously, and his injuries healed at a rate visible to the naked eye. After three Circulations, his Qi Mechanism finally calmed down slowly. ¡°It will still take several days to fully recover.¡± An Jing slowly opened his eyes, which had a clear glint, ¡°Now I only have about 30 to 40 percent of my strength, but it¡¯s barely enough.¡± Thirty to forty percent strength was equivalent to the high masters of the Heavenly Flower Realm, making it quite safe to move around in the Jianghu. ¡°Huh¡­ the Blue Opportunity?¡± Exhaling a breath of turbid air, An Jing¡¯s body transformed into a residual shadow and disappeared within the room. The moon hung high in the sky like a massive plate, bright and pristine, enveloping the entire building complex of the Four Symbols Sect. Though An Jing was unfamiliar with the environment of the Four Symbols Sect, he could navigate by following the glowing light from the Earth Book. Under the cover of night, a figure swept across the land like a breeze, silently approaching the Four Symbols Great Hall. An Jing¡¯s movement technique was very light, and coupled with the Concealing Qi Technique, even a Grandmaster in the Four Symbols Sect could not detect his presence, let alone now when there were no Grandmasters in the sect. Just as he was about to move forward, a voice from under the floor of the tower caught his attention. ¡°The matter tomorrow must not encounter any mishaps.¡± ¡°Rest assured, there is no chance of failure.¡± ¡°Once this succeeds, Brother Jia, your merit will be like ascending from a dragon, and with the support of the Court, revival is just around the corner.¡± ¡­. ¡°The matter tomorrow? Ascending from a dragon?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and couldn¡¯t help but look through a crack. Through the dim light, he could clearly see the scene inside the room. He saw an old man in blue robes sitting at the head, his brow furrowed heavily, his expression very solemn, and below him was a man in a hat, whose face was unclear, his aura concealed. Next to him was a middle-aged man with a sword, with ordinary looks and nothing remarkable. An Jing glanced and remembered. This man in blue robes was none other than the Sect Leader of the Four Symbols Sect, Jia Shiwu, and the man with the hat seemed to have been present that day, standing right behind Jia Shiwu. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only As for the middle-aged swordsman, An Jing had no impression of him, but the Qi Mechanism around him was distinctly sharp, clearly indicating he was a Swordsman of the Fifth Realm, evidently not an ordinary character in the martial world. ¡°It looks like they are discussing some important matter?¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the man in the hat, thinking to himself, ¡°This person acts so covertly, could he be a high-level expert from the Demon Sect?¡± ¡­¡­ PS: There will definitely be regular updates still, and the climax isn¡¯t far off as we slowly gather what¡¯s been foreshadowed. Although the pace has been slow earlier, it will pick up later, and if it doesn¡¯t, it would collapse, right? Some may find it filler, but maintaining a consistent pace is essential, and there are probably about fifty chapters left. Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Red Beauty Drunk under the Sealing Demon Well Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Red Beauty Drunk under the Sealing Demon Well ¡°The safety of the Sect Hierarch!?¡± An Jing muttered to himself upon hearing this. In heaven there is no room for two saints, naturally, the Demon Sect could not have two Sect Hierarchs, which made him recall the words Zhao Chongyin once said. ¡°This newly appointed Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect does seem to possess some tricks; reportedly very young and promising, it¡¯s just a pity¡­.¡± An Jing touched the Heavenly Flipping Seal in his chest and remembered the supreme martial arts heart method of the Demon Sect, the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡±. Boom! It struck him like a bolt from the blue, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him from head to toe, leaving his entire body numbed. Lin Tianhai looked at the Ghost Swordsman standing before him as still as a wooden chicken, feeling somewhat puzzled; the words he himself had uttered didn¡¯t seem to touch on the hidden secrets of our Demon Sect, and besides, the Sect Hierarch was currently trapped in the Sealing Demon Well, so why would the Ghost Swordsman have such an expression? After a long while, An Jing finally came back to his senses, grabbing Lin Tianhai¡¯s collar in one swift motion: ¡°What is your Sect Hierarch¡¯s name?¡± Lin Tianhai frowned and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯ll only answer one question.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± An Jing released Lin Tianhai¡¯s collar and turned to leave. ¡°Whew¡­.¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianhai couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief, but before he could catch his breath, the Ghost Swordsman returned abruptly and once again grabbed his collar. ¡°Unfortunately for you, you¡¯ve fallen into my hands again.¡± Lin Tianhai: ¡°¡­..¡± An Jing stared at Lin Tianhai, his gaze calm, and asked, ¡°Answer the question I just asked, and I can let you go again.¡± Lin Tianhai, unable to contain his anger, said, ¡°You are toying with me, playing tricks on this old man, even if I die today I will not compromise with the likes of you, a bandit.¡± Lin Tianhai, after all, was one of the Demon Sect¡¯s top experts, the Chief of the Azure Dragon Sect, and now he was being insulted in such a manner; how could he tolerate this indignation? You won¡¯t tell me, right?¡± An Jing said gravely. ¡°Castrate me then, for I no longer need that. You¡¯d do well to draw your sword quicker, lest you get splattered with my blood,¡± Lin Tianhai closed his eyes, assuming an indifferent posture. Fuck! An Jing observed Lin Tianhai¡¯s defiant expression and found himself unable to strike. What if, in the future¡­. ¡°Roar!¡± Just then, a low growling dragon roar came from the serene surface of the creek, as if calling out to something. ¡°The Black Flood Dragon!?¡± An Jing was shocked upon hearing this. The sound was indeed that of the Black Flood Dragon, but it seemed somewhat strange. That Black Flood Dragon possessed the cultivation of a Grandmaster with Three Qi powers; it was his greatest reliance right now. If he were to lose the Black Flood Dragon and encounter the experts of the Zhenyi Sect, he could be in big trouble, especially since his Evil Suppressing Sword might be with the Black Flood Dragon as well. ¡°Old fart, I¡¯ll deal with you later.¡± An Jing glanced at Lin Tianhai, then, with a bound, soared into the distance. Lin Tianhai watched An Jing¡¯s departing figure, and only after ensuring he had vanished did he frantically cycle the true qi within his body. However, the lightning qi was still inside him, blocking the flow of qi mechanisms in his body. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Tianhai¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, but the more he hurried, the more it seemed futile, as the lightning qi raged inside him, causing him exceptional discomfort. After approximately the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, the Ghost Swordsman still hadn¡¯t returned. Lin Tianhai started to get anxious; if that Ghost Swordsman really had left, given his current lack of mobility, he might starve to death in this wilderness. If this were to be known, the Chief of the Azure Dragon Sect starving to death in the wilderness would become a joke to all under heaven? ¡°Chief Lin?¡± Just then, a voice came from not too far away. ¡°I¡¯m here¡­.¡± Lin Tianhai hastily replied. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh!¡± ¡°Chief Lin, are you alright?¡± A figure rushed over swiftly, covered in dust; it was none other than Luo Zixiang, an expert of the Earth Sect of the Demon Sect. She had managed to escape the Four Symbols Sect, but after realizing that Lin Tianhai hadn¡¯t appeared for a long time, she ventured back to check what had happened and saw the Ghost Swordsman carrying Lin Tianhai away from the Four Symbols Sect. ¡°Quick, take me away.¡± Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianhai was overjoyed and promptly said, ¡°Hurry, that madman might come back any moment now.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go now.¡± Luo Zixiang nodded and helped Lin Tianhai up, and together they headed into the distance. ¡­¡­. Elsewhere, An Jing followed the sound to its source. A red sun seemed to hang on the branches to the west; the surrounding red clouds were blood-like, congealed in the air. Distant mountains stretched above one another, with specks of red as if the sunset, reluctant to part, had shed drops of blood. In the depths of Dragon Hidden Creek, the surface of the water reflected an orange glow. Due to the Living Puppet Technique, An Jing had a unique sense of proximity to the Black Flood Dragon. So when he arrived at the creek, he felt that the Black Flood Dragon was below. ¡°Splash!¡± Before he could command the Black Flood Dragon, a huge dragon head surfaced from the water. Its enormous eyes blinked, looking at An Jing standing above the creek, revealing a trace of joy. ¡°Hm!?¡± An Jing noticed something different about the eyes of the Black Flood Dragon. The next moment, the Black Flood Dragon rapidly charged towards him. An Jing didn¡¯t sense any danger, so he didn¡¯t dodge. ¡°Thump!¡± The Black Flood Dragon directly knocked An Jing into the water and then plunged into the creek itself, causing a huge splash. ¡°What are you doing? Do you want to kill me?¡± An Jing floundered in the water with a low growl. Meanwhile, the Black Python floated in the distance like a misbehaving child, nervously watching him. ¡°Could it be that this fellow has developed spiritual intelligence?¡± An Jing looked at the Black Python, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. When he had subdued the Thousand-Year-Old Black Python, he had used the Living Puppet Technique, extracting its violent and fierce divine soul. From then on, the body of the Thousand-Year-Old Black Python was under his control. After the Black Python underwent the Jiao Transformation, it had not spawned a new divine soul and had always been like a puppet. But today, judging by its movements and expressions, it seemed to have developed a new divine soul. ¡°Come here.¡± An Jing tried to summon it with a wave of his hand. The Black Python, as if understanding his words, tumbled in the water and cautiously floated over. It then prostrated its head before An Jing, showing a sense of obedience. An Jing touched the scales on the Black Python¡¯s body with his palm. ¡°Huff! Huff!¡± Two streams of white breath burst from the Black Python¡¯s nostrils, appearing to enjoy it immensely. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± An Jing leaped up and landed on the back of the Black Python, ¡°My Evil Suppressing Sword should be with you, right?¡± ¡°Hiss! Hiss!¡± The Black Python opened its mouth wide, and the sheathed Evil Suppressing Sword, comprising two swords, appeared between its teeth. ¡°Shoo!¡± An Jing reached out his hand, and the Evil Suppressing Sword, as if sentient, landed in his palm. Now that the Black Python had returned and he held the Evil Suppressing Sword again, he finally felt a sense of security in his heart. ¡°Could it be that old boy Lin Tianhai was swallowed by a wild dog?¡± Thinking of something, An Jing then said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Python let out a low roar and then transformed into a black shadow, darting away into the distance. The Black Python, for some reason, was very excited, tumbling in the water and raising waves. After about the time it takes to brew a half pot of tea, the Black Python landed next to the dense forest they had been at before. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± An Jing noticed that the place was empty; Lin Tianhai was nowhere to be seen. The Black Python seemed a bit afraid, its body prostrated on one side, its large eyes watching their surroundings vigilantly. An Jing approached the previous tree and murmured softly, ¡°No bloodstains, and given the wounds on him, it¡¯s impossible he walked away by himself; he must have been rescued¡­ maybe they haven¡¯t gone far¡­¡± He was very clear about Lin Tianhai¡¯s injuries; it was absolutely impossible for him to have escaped on his own in such a short time. He still had some questions he wanted to ask Lin Tianhai, but suddenly realized, whether he asked or not, it seemed to make no difference¡­ Sitting alone on the green mountain, he watched the setting sun break. The orange halo, like withered leaves, spilled on An Jing, making him appear serene and at ease. He looked at the ceaseless flow of water in the distance, his eyes and brows lowered. He suddenly felt a bit tired. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± An Jing sat on the bank of Dragon Hidden Creek. In fact¡­ He never considered himself a good person, but he never thought of himself as utterly wicked either. What is Jianghu? Jianghu is a place of fame and fortune. Once you mingle in Jianghu and step into this realm of fame and fortune, it¡¯s like half stepping into the Underworld. Even someone with the cultivation of a Grandmaster like Old Qingfeng cannot escape the fate of death and the dissolution of his Dao. When human kindness and sophistication can¡¯t solve problems, the only option left is fighting and killing. This simple method is always the most direct and the most effective. Mingling in Jianghu, killing is just a mundane occurrence. To cut weeds and eliminate the roots is not just something written in books. They would even shake eggs to break them, flood the anthills by the door; such cruelty, such unreasonableness¡­ ¡°Why?¡± An Jing whispered softly, the image of that beautiful figure emerging in his mind, that gentle and heartwarming smile like a spring breeze in February, he remembered their first encounter¡­ ¡°Why?¡± An Jing asked again. He really couldn¡¯t imagine, that gentle and soft woman, who couldn¡¯t even climb a ladder, that clumsy lady who could be cut by a broken bowl, would have her hands possibly stained with the blood of countless people! It was like a dream! Touching shatters it, contact breaks it, everything seems like an illusion¡­ ¡°Why¡­¡± This time, his voice was faint. Afterwards, there were no more words. He sat by the bank for a long time, perhaps until the sky grew dim, the night filled with quiet stars hanging high in the sky, and the Star River silently flowing, before he came back to his senses. He stood up and slowly returned to the Black Python. At this moment. The Black Python¡¯s body was coiled, its large head casually drooping to the ground, those unaffected eyes reflecting An Jing¡¯s figure. It was curious yet could sense An Jing¡¯s mood, tenderly rubbing its head against him. ¡°I¡¯ve been deceived¡­ but I don¡¯t know why I was deceived.¡± An Jing smiled bitterly, his hand caressing the Black Python¡¯s scales. Lou Xiangzhen once said, when you reach his age you won¡¯t be confused anymore, but you¡¯ll always lose your way. He didn¡¯t understand before¡­ But now, he seemed to somewhat understand. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll always lose your way¡­¡± An Jing murmured softly, ¡°She came to find me on purpose, and she took a fancy to me at first glance. Now that I think about it carefully, I was indeed deceived by allure.¡± Just then, a rustling sound arose, likely from something moving alone in the grass, but An Jing did not pay attention, sighing softly while petting the head of the Black Flood Dragon. The Black Flood Dragon, however, seemed to be spellbound, its gaze fixed on the grass. In its amber-like eyes, a small, fat, snowy white shadow appeared. It was a rabbit. Standing with its back to the Black Flood Dragon, it nibbled at the roots of the grass nearby. The head of the Black Flood Dragon leaned forward, its fangs bared. As if sensing something, the rabbit turned its tiny body, innocently looking at the Black Flood Dragon. Suddenly. It hopped forward. ¡°!¡± The Black Flood Dragon immediately drew its head back. Colliding with An Jing, who was gathering the surrounding tree branches and fallen leaves. He looked puzzled, glancing from the Black Flood Dragon to the rabbit, nearly fainting from exasperation. ¡°You are a Flood Dragon! A Flood Dragon! How can you be afraid of a rabbit?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Black Flood Dragon could not speak. It could only look on guiltily. Rubbing its head against An Jing, it appeared rather wronged. ¡°You¡¯re not even as good as the dog Tan Yun keeps!¡± An Jing felt somewhat helpless, ¡°Forget it.¡± With a flick of his finger, a stream of Sword Qi shot out from his fingertip, striking the rabbit¡¯s neck precisely. The rabbit convulsed on the ground for a moment before lying still in a pool of blood. ¡°It can be considered a meal delivered to our door.¡± An Jing stepped forward and picked up the rabbit by its ears. He then skillfully built a fire and hung his drenched clothes over the fire rack to dry. ¡°Such a fat rabbit¡­¡± An Jing took a sharpened stick, skewered the entire rabbit, and placed it over the fire to roast. Soon, the aroma of the meat was overwhelming. The Black Flood Dragon curiously watched the roasted rabbit in An Jing¡¯s hands. It thought it smelled delicious. It started to drool a little. An Jing bit fiercely into the rabbit meat, as if to relieve the melancholy and helplessness in his heart. The moonlight was sinking in the west, casting its reflection on the clear stream. ¡°How can I bear to leave when feelings grow intense, and there are no regrets or complaints when love runs deep.¡± Looking at the moonlight¡¯s reflection, An Jing could not help but recall the misty rain of Yu State City, ¡°I wonder when I can return to Yu State City, or perhaps I may never return.¡± Life is like a long river, with ephemeral joys flashing for thousands of years on the left bank, eternal longing under candlelight on the right, and year after year of faint loneliness flowing in between. The sorrow that the wind plays is always that floating melancholy, and the loneliness of the heartless is the fireworks that not even the wind can scatter. ¡°No matter the outcome, I still want to go and see, seeing is believing, yes, seeing is believing.¡± ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m wrong?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± An Jing muttered to himself, gazing at the full moon. ¡­.. Four Symbols Sect, chamber. The waning moon hung high, scattered stars twinkling, as moonlight fell like flowing satin. Yang Chong¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as he walked slowly toward the chamber. ¡°Brother!¡± Just then, a lovely girl with bright eyes approached, carrying a food box. It was Jia Meixian. Yang Chong asked curiously, ¡°What dish have you prepared?¡± ¡°I stewed an old hen as you instructed, for Young Hero Han to nourish his body,¡± Jia Meixian said with a tinge of peculiarity in her eyes, ¡°Brother, what brings you here so late?¡± ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s good,¡± Yang Chong stammered, feeling a bit guilty, ¡°I was worried that Brother Han might be bored, so I thought I¡¯d keep him company and chat to relieve his boredom.¡± As he spoke, he pushed open the door and shouted loudly. ¡°Brother Han, Sister and I have come to see you, and we¡¯ve even stewed chicken soup for you.¡± The room was silent, void of any sound. Jia Meixian entered the room and saw that the bed was empty. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Huh, where is he?¡± ¡°Not good!¡± Yang Chong¡¯s face changed, fearing the worst, ¡°Brother Han wouldn¡¯t have been so ashamed that he¡­¡± Jia Meixian placed the food box on the table, puzzled, ¡°Brother, look at the table.¡± There was a piece of white paper on the table next to a wooden sword the size of a palm. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Yang Chong picked up the white paper from the table and read aloud, ¡°Brother Yang, Miss Jia, stricken with longing, I have departed ahead. If fate allows, we shall meet again. I leave this gift as a token of my gratitude.¡± Jia Meixian toyed with the wooden sword in her hand, murmuring, ¡°Is it this wooden sword?¡± ¡°Alas.¡± Yang Chong sat down heavily on a chair, his voice forlorn, ¡°He¡¯s actually gone, it¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± Confused, Jia Meixian asked, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yang Chong knew her well; he was not a person of arrogance and overbearing nature. ¡°It was mountain bandits.¡± Yang Chong shook his head, his voice filled with pain and regret, ¡°Today I learned from his own lips that he was humiliated by mountain bandits, his body and soul both suffered immense trauma.¡± Jia Meixian became even more puzzled upon hearing this. Yang Chong explained, ¡°What do you think of Brother Han¡¯s appearance?¡± Jia Meixian thought for a moment, then said softly, ¡°Quite good¡­¡± Among the thousands of disciples in the Four Symbols Sect, there were not many who were more handsome than the young hero Han, especially those pair of eyes. Yang Chong sighed, ¡°Yes, some people are most fond of his rosy-cheeked and white-toothed youthful appearance.¡± ¡°Brother, could it be¡­.¡± Jia Meixian¡¯s eyes widened, a look of disbelief emerging in them. Yang Chong glanced at the wooden sword in Jia Meixian¡¯s hand and shook his head, ¡°Since he wants to leave, we should not force him to stay. Take good care of this item; Brother Han is indeed a man of misfortune.¡± With that, Yang Chong walked out of the house with a face full of regret. Leaving behind a completely bewildered Jia Meixian, who stared blankly at the wooden sword in her hand. ¡­¡­. Three days later, at Dongluo Pass, Sealing Demon Well. Zhao Qingmei stood at the bottom of the well, holding a piece of white paper in her hand, while a wooden figure next to her hung a basket filled with wine and meat. ¡°Failed?¡± After reading the letter, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Although she was currently inside the Sealing Demon Well, she could still manipulate the entire Demon Sect through Yu Qiurong. Duanmu Xinghua was loyal to the Demon Sect, and since Zhao Qingmei was still the Sect Hierarch, Duanmu Xinghua still followed her orders. Her words, considering her past status as the leader of the Heavenly Sect, carried a lot of weight. Yu Qiurong and the head of the Xuanwu Sect were both promoted by her hands. Yu Qiurong controlled the lifeline of the Demon Sect, while the head of the Xuanwu Sect held the might of the Demon Sect¡¯s most formidable and elite iron-armored forces. Zhao Qingmei was very clear inside, as long as she held this elite force in her hands, then the Demon Sect would forever be under her control. Aside from that, Jiang Shang showed no interest in the matters of the Demon Sect and left in a hurry, while Jiang Renyi honestly secluded himself within the Dongluo Desert, seemingly seeking an opportunity to break through to the Grandmaster Realm. The Demon Sect remains quite stable to this day. The only cause for concern are the several old fellows at the Sealing Demon Platform. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Zhao Qingmei mused, ¡°Jia Shiwu truly presented Zhao Chongyin with a splendid gift. The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is probably going to be finished, Xiao Ruoyun is really foolish¡­¡± The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion had said that this endeavor was foolproof, yet the most critical part had a flaw; if the charge of plotting against the Crown Prince were confirmed, the Pavilion might well be destroyed in the Great Yan Martial World. ¡°It seems that the Ghost Swordsman has sided with the Crown Prince, Zhao Chongyin. Not killing him in Yu State City was a mistake; he has now become a thorn in the side.¡± Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and then crumpled the letter in her hand into dust. The head of the Azure Dragon Sect of the Demon Sect was seriously injured by the Ghost Swordsman and nearly died at his hands, which was a clear opposition to the Demon Sect. Considering the situation, the Ghost Swordsman has apparently sided with Zhao Chongyin, and recruiting him seemed much less likely. ¡°I can only resolve these issues once I am out.¡± Zhao Qingmei picked up the food box and, as usual, sprinkled Red Beauty Drunk over the food before walking towards the cave. Based on her calculations over the past few days, the quantity by today should be nearly sufficient. Even if Nan Weiping possessed top-tier Grandmaster strength, it would be difficult to purge the poison of Red Beauty Drunk. Soon, she arrived inside the cave. Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, ¡°Elder Nan, today¡¯s meal has arrived.¡± ¡°Good, what delicacies do we have today? Bring them here quickly.¡± Nan Weiping, who still lay on the ground, suddenly perked up, her eyes gleaming. These days¡¯ meals had made her increasingly fond of the delicious offerings brought by Zhao Qingmei. Zhao Qingmei placed the food box in front of Nan Weiping and said, ¡°We have Pearl Jade and White Jade Soup, Bletilla Pig¡¯s Lung Soup, Sugar Lily Water Chestnut Soup, Barbecued Deer Tenderloin, and a pot of fine wine.¡± ¡°Very good, very good.¡± Merely hearing about it caused Nan Weiping¡¯s taste buds to dance, and she hurriedly opened the food box. Zhao Qingmei quietly watched Nan Weiping scarfing down the food without a word. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to write in your diary instead of watching me eat?¡± Nan Weiping, clutching her bowl of rice, asked seeing Zhou Qingmei standing motionless. Today¡¯s Zhao Qingmei seemed somewhat different from her usual self. ¡°No rush.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s serene eyes flowed calmly as she said, ¡°After Elder Nan finishes eating, I would like to ask you a question.¡± After hearing this, Nan Weiping continued to gobble up the food, ¡°Asking me a question will depend on my mood.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s lips rarely curved into a smile, ¡°That might not be up to Elder Nan.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nan Weiping also sensed the deeper meaning in the words, and her movements paused. Zhao Qingmei¡¯s smile lifted slightly, ¡°Elder, have you not noticed yet?¡± Zhao Qingmei was extremely beautiful, and even more so when she smiled, but Nan Weiping felt a chill in her heart at that moment, a cold draft rising up her spine, shooting straight to the crown of her head. ¡°This Red Beauty Drunk is colorless and tasteless.¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s pace was steady as she continued, ¡°You have ingested it for several days now, and the poison has long contaminated your internal organs.¡± Nan Weiping¡¯s gaze turned cold as she said indifferently, ¡°This old body does not fear death.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhao Qingmei watched Nan Weiping with a smile, her red lips parting lightly, ¡°I believe there¡¯s absolutely no one who does not fear death, but I am sure Elder Nan isn¡¯t one of them.¡± If Nan Weiping truly did not fear death, she would have hung herself long ago due to the torment of the lightless Sealing Demon Well, rather than struggle to live until now. She was someone who greatly cherished her life. ¡­¡­.. PS: Today I¡¯ll organize the outline. Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 175 First Meeting in the Small Town of Ping County Chapter 175: Chapter 175 First Meeting in the Small Town of Ping County The pain was all-consuming, filling every nerve in An Jing¡¯s body, and it was continuous, without pause. ¡°Could this be because of the cultivation of the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯?¡± An Jing quickly sat down cross-legged, his qi mechanism surging wildly within him, resisting the black flames. Two major mental methods of the Mystical Sect frantically circulated within his body, a great amount of qi mechanism condensed inside him, yet the black flames not only became panicked, but surged even more violently. ¡°Boom!¡± When the qi mechanism of the Mystical Sect¡¯s mental method flowed into the black flames, it directly turned into a surging black qi mechanism. Although the black qi mechanism was very small, its momentum suddenly erupted. The qi mechanism condensed by the Mystical Sect was white, completely incompatible with the black qi mechanism. An Jing¡¯s face twisted with the piercing burning pain, and he frantically drove the qi mechanism within his body, continuously resisting the destructive force of the black qi mechanism. Although he already knew the potency of the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯s mental method, he was still taken aback by the qi mechanism derived from it at this moment. Both the ¡®Daluo Heart Method¡¯ and ¡®Ghost Valley Heart Method¡¯ are derived from the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ of Mystical Sect martial arts, and are definitely incompatible with the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Intense panting sounds continuously came from An Jing¡¯s mouth as streams of crimson blood seeped out from his pores. It looked extremely terrifying and chilling. However, as soon as the blood appeared, it solidified into shackles, firmly sticking to his skin, making An Jing look as if he was wearing blood-red armor. At this moment, An Jing was hovering between losing himself under the impact of the two qi mechanisms. Indescribable severe pain emanated from every part of An Jing¡¯s body, a pain so intense it almost drove one mad, yet An Jing¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he stubbornly held on with sheer willpower. The qi mechanism inside An Jing¡¯s body immediately rushed fearlessly towards the black qi mechanism, then forcibly enveloped it, following the Mystical Sect mental method¡¯s pathway as it began to circulate! Faced with the refinement of the Mystical Sect mental method, the black qi mechanism seemed to sense something and began to struggle violently. After all, the two qi mechanisms fundamentally differed and were completely incompatible. The repulsive force of the black qi mechanism was too strong, the white qi mechanism couldn¡¯t bear it at all. The powerful repulsive force spread throughout every part of his body, and also filled his dantian. These repulsive forces, unable to be expelled, would sooner or later burn An Jing from the inside out. An Jing¡¯s mind became somewhat dazed in an instant and he almost lost his defense. If he lost his defense, allowing the black qi mechanism to rampage within his body, then he wouldn¡¯t be far from a bodily explosion. ¡°Embrace the primordial unity, the heart opens divine clarity¡­¡± An Jing silently recited the incantation in his mouth, his mind seemingly emptying of everything, as if he had reached a state of selflessness. The black qi mechanism roiled within An Jing¡¯s body like an angry dragon, eventually all converging into his dantian. The dantian trembled as it faced the sudden intrusion of the black qi mechanism. Black and white qi mechanisms stood off against each other, a terrifying and frightening power spread out. It seemed like a life-and-death struggle. Once these two Qi mechanisms collided and converged, the resulting storm within his body would be enough to deal him severe damage. An Jing¡¯s awareness snapped back, and he immediately began to circulate the ¡°Daluo Heart Method¡± and the ¡°Ghost Valley Heart Method¡± in one hand, while channeling the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± in the other. If it were someone with average aptitude, they simply wouldn¡¯t be capable of cultivating these three heart methods at the same time, especially since the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± was a martial art of the Heavenly Martial¡¯s level. In an instant, the black and white Qi mechanisms were guided to interact with each other and started to settle down. The previously tense atmosphere also became much more tranquil. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± An Jing felt the condition inside his body and then let out a heavy sigh of relief. At this moment, the black and white Qi mechanisms nestled within his Dantian, clearly demarcated from each other, with the middle resembling a Thunder Pool, where neither would dare to overstep even half a step. ¡°Hmm?¡± An Jing opened his eyes and then discovered that the Earth Book indicated the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± had actually been cultivated to the Fourth Layer. One must understand that the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± is among the top martial arts in the current age; every level is exceptionally difficult to advance, especially since An Jing had only been cultivating it for a few short days, without any research and pondering. Seeing this, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°This ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ is a martial art that only the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect can cultivate. Does this mean I could also become the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect?¡± A great man, living between heaven and earth, should not languish beneath others for long; occasionally standing above others is also acceptable. He quickly dismissed this ¡®impractical¡¯ thought from his mind. An Jing muttered to himself, ¡°Forget it, it is still most important to enhance my own strength for now.¡± Although he had been continuously studying and pondering the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor¡¯s sword scrolls these past few days, his progress in Sword Dao cultivation had actually slowed down. The barrier between the Fifth and Sixth Realms was indeed a massive threshold. Throughout history, many top swordsmen have been trapped within this realm. Therefore, advancing to the Sixth Realm is not something that can be achieved overnight. ¡°The threshold from a Half-step Master to a Grandmaster is also there, but if one accumulates enough Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, there might still be a chance,¡± he said. An Jing muttered to himself, then took out the Holy Essence Gu he had been carrying in his bosom, ¡°I almost forgot this precious thing.¡± At this moment, the Holy Essence Gu was no longer smooth and translucent like before; it seemed extremely famished, and its body had shriveled up considerably. Not to mention condensing Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, it was questionable whether it could even continue to live. An Jing originally obtained this Holy Essence Gu through a stroke of blue luck. Even a master like Lou Xiangzhen was greatly tempted by it. And somehow, Lou Xiangzhen had managed to hatch it, allowing it to nourish a significant amount of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence upon birth. Most of it had been used by Lou Xiangzhen to advance to the Three Qi Realm, but a small part had been left behind, allowing An Jing to break through to the Master Cultivation of a Half-step Grandmaster. Having not been fed for so long, the Holy Essence Gu appeared to be on its last breath. An Jing took a deep breath. ¡°But I need to find a way to make it release the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. When the old man Lou left, he mentioned this thing likes to eat various rare jades. I¡¯ll buy some jade to feed the Holy Essence Gu when I go to Ping County.¡± After safely storing the Holy Essence Gu, An Jing didn¡¯t hesitate any further and immediately landed on the back of the Black Flood Dragon. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon, though currently very timid, was extremely perceptive and fully understood An Jing¡¯s instructions. Nodding and shaking its head, it leapt into the air and flew swiftly toward the distance. Heavenly Gate City was aptly named, as it was the gateway to Yujing City. Ping County belonged to the jurisdiction of Yujing City. Once past the Heavenly Gate City, one would enter the outskirts of Yujing City. An Jing had the Black Flood Dragon hide in the midst of the mountains before he entered Ping County. Ping County was neither large nor small, situated between Yujing City and Youfeng Valley, serving as a vital path that connected the eastern side with Yujing City. Due to its proximity to Yujing City, this place was also bustling with activity. Originally, An Jing thought he would be extremely excited upon arriving here, but at this moment, he was overcome with a complex and subtle array of emotions. ¡°Candied hawthorns for sale! Four copper coins per skewer.¡± ¡°Selling rice, come and have a look!¡± ¡°Stinky tofu, smells bad but tastes delicious, everyone come have a look.¡± ¡­¡­. The streets were crowded, with a constant stream of people coming and going, and the vendors¡¯ cries from the stalls on both sides were incessant. There were also a few stalls including a fortune teller with a signboard. On the golden sign was written: The ancient art of divination passed down by immortals, surpassing the stars and better than the Purple Forbidden enclosure. As An Jing walked on the streets, looking at the bustling scenes before him, he couldn¡¯t help but become slightly distracted. The fortune teller looked up and said with a smile, ¡°Sir, would you like to have your palm read?¡± ¡°Can you really tell the future?¡± An Jing glanced at the fortune teller and asked. ¡°That depends on whether you believe it will come true or not.¡± The fortune teller grinned and said, ¡°Come on, let me tell you your fortune. I¡¯m very accurate.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± An Jing glanced at the fortune teller¡¯s palm and shook his head. The fortune teller had a strong scent of blood on him, and though his palms seemed free of calluses, there was a sharp qi mechanism about him that suggested he was not so much a fortune teller as a life taker. The fortune teller smiled and said no more. ¡°My lord, you must have traveled from afar. I can show you the way,¡± said a clever-looking youth who approached at that moment. In every region, there were ¡®informers¡¯ who were clever and had a sharp eye, specialized in guiding people, finding others or objects, and gathering information in exchange for some silver. The youth could tell from An Jing¡¯s unfamiliar face, the robe covering his features, and the ancient longsword in his hand, that he was an outsider, a traveler of the Jianghu. ¡°How long have you been in Ping County?¡± An Jing gave the youth a glance and inquired. The youth eagerly replied, ¡°My lord, I was born and raised here; you could say I¡¯m quite familiar with every blade of grass and tree in Ping County.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s some silver.¡± An Jing took out a tael of silver upon hearing this. ¡°I only have one question.¡± ¡°Please, my lord, ask away,¡± the youth said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. A tael of silver! That was a whole tael of silver! It was rare for someone to offer such a substantial consultation fee. Those around who saw it all showed a hint of envy. After a long pause, An Jing finally asked, ¡°Does Ping County have a prominent family with the surname Zhao?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived here over ten years and know only of the Zhang Family and the Zuo Family,¡± the youth said, shaking his head. An Jing nodded, letting out a deep breath, but then his mood became overcast once more. Although he had already known this outcome, now that the fact was right before his eyes, he still couldn¡¯t quite react. An Jing, how could you be so foolish! The lady¡¯s demeanor of a noble daughter is fake, it¡¯s her ruthlessness that might be real. But why did Zhao Qingmei marry me in the first place? An Jing was puzzled and bewildered. Seeing An Jing lost in thought, the youth stood by respectfully, not uttering a word. Many things suddenly seemed to become clear. For example, the sudden attempt on his life by Jiang Ye ¨C logically speaking, he shouldn¡¯t have known An Jing¡¯s true identity, and An Jing had never had any trouble with such a powerful figure before, so why would such a man seek to kill him? Thus, it must be because of his wife that Jiang Ye had attacked him so ruthlessly. Moreover, Zhao Qingmei had left for so long, she had said she would return to Yu State City in two months, and by now she must have learned of ¡®An Jing¡¯s¡¯ death, so naturally, there was no need for her to return to Yu State City anymore. ¡°Huh¡­¡± An Jing exhaled deeply. Seeking out Zhao Qingmei directly would be restricted by the Earth Book, preventing him from revealing his identity and instead leading him to clash swords with the Demon Sect. Since his wife was safe, he felt no need to be overly concerned. ¡°In the Jianghu, strength is the most important. I need to improve my own strength. Also, I need to infiltrate the Demon Sect. On one hand, it allows me to slowly enhance my power; on the other hand, it lets me uncover my wife¡¯s schemes against me,¡± An Jing reasoned. ¡°So, the plan now is to find that old fellow Li Fuzhou, then submit my declaration of allegiance to infiltrate the Demon Sect,¡± An Jing quickly formulated his current path and strategy as his mind raced. In short, infiltrating the Demon Sect was the best course of action. Li Fuzhou seemed to be around Yujing City, and so was Tan Yun, who had managed to become a Guardian in the Demon Sect thanks to the mentor-disciple relationship with Li Fuzhou. It would be exceedingly difficult for An Jing to locate them. Thinking back to his previous encounter with Li Fuzhou at Five Poison Mountain, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t been so absolute in rejecting Li Fuzhou¡¯s offer to join him back then¡­¡± ¡°` Many things are only realized to be regrettable after they have passed. Even if I found Li Fuzhou now, I doubt it would be easy to make him trust me. Li Fuzhou is a complete fox, very tricky; if I suddenly changed my tune and said I wanted to join the Demon Sect, he would definitely become very suspicious. Could I enter the Demon Sect through Tan Yun and thereby obtain more information about my wife? An Jing mused inwardly, ¡°However, before heading to Yujing City, I should first retrieve the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s split form from Xu King Mountain, as gaining even a bit more strength is still an increase in strength.¡± ¡°My lord¡­¡± The young boy next to him, seeing An Jing standing in place lost in thought for a long time, said somewhat anxiously. An Jing came back to his senses, took out another two taels of silver, and threw it to the boy, saying, ¡°Take this to my jade shop.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, right this way.¡± The boy, seeing An Jing¡¯s generous tip, was extremely excited. ¡­.. Capital Road, Qinghe Village. Inside the village, there was a square courtyard with flickering lights. A square table was placed inside, with three sets of teaware. A beautiful and delicate girl stood by the side, listening intently to the conversation of those present. This girl was none other than Tan Yun. The ones sitting at the table were the heads of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect¨CLi Fuzhou, the head of the Azure Dragon Sect¨CLin Tianhai, and a master of the Earth Sect¨CLuo Zixiang. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman has gone too far, showing no regard for our Demon Sect.¡± Lin Tianhai¡¯s old face darkened as he started to bitterly complain to Li Fuzhou and Luo Zixiang. It had been a close call; the Ghost Swordsman almost castrated him, and to say Lin Tianhai wasn¡¯t scared at the time would be impossible. Thinking back on it now, his heart still filled with both shock and fear. Although he had aged, his heart had not¡­ his once vigorous spirit was still present. That day at the Four Symbols Sect, if not for the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s interference, how could Xi Yuanjun and Jia Shiwu have been a match for him, Lin Tianhai? After all, those two were at the Half-step Master level, while he, Lin Tianhai, had already reached the Grandmaster Realm. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is indeed a bit peculiar.¡± Li Fuzhou nodded his head and said in a deep voice, ¡°Back when I was on Three Temple Mountain, I hadn¡¯t said a single word and he attacked to kill me; at that time I thought he had some grudge with our Demon Sect.¡± But Luo Zixiang¡¯s brow was furrowed tightly. ¡°However, last time in Huangyao Town, the Ghost Swordsman personally saved Tan Yun.¡± Tan Yun nodded again and again by the side, saying anxiously, ¡°Yes, if not for the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s appearance, I might have fallen into the hands of the Xuanyi Guard. There might be some misunderstanding here.¡± As Tan Yun was a person of low profile and high emotional expressiveness, the three others present seemed as if they hadn¡¯t heard a word she said. ¡°` She was so anxious that she was sweating profusely. All three of them were frowning tightly, silently contemplating; the Ghost Swordsman was not only elusive in his whereabouts but even his motives were just as unpredictable. At this moment, Li Fuzhou took out a piece of white paper and placed it on the table, saying, ¡°Sect Master Yu has sent a secret letter, stating that we should try to capture the Ghost Swordsman alive.¡± When Lin Tianhai heard this, he couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly, ¡°Even the old Qingfeng was slain by this Ghost Swordsman; let alone capturing him alive, it would be a tremendous fortune if we could simply defeat him.¡± The old Qingfeng was a master who had reached the One Qi realm of the Grandmasters, and he was well-known for a long time; even he fell at the hands of the Ghost Swordsman, how could the people present be a match for the Ghost Swordsman. Luo Zixiang¡¯s face was full of shock and uncertainty, ¡°Even the Zhenyi Sect in the Great Yan did not manage to capture him alive; I¡¯m afraid we might¡­.¡± The Ghost Swordsman was no longer just the Ghost Swordsman of Yu State City; with countless martial arts experts¡¯ lives under his belt, his reputation had long been established. Tan Yun, standing beside, had a face full of worry, but at this moment there was simply no place for her to speak. Li Fuzhou shook his head, ¡°The strength of the Ghost Swordsman is profound and unpredictable; it is certain that we have very little chance of defeating him, but we can make use of others instead.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing Li Fuzhou say this, Lin Tianhai¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Narrowing his eyes, Li Fuzhou said, ¡°It¡¯s known throughout Jianghu that Lou Xiangzhen favors the Ghost Swordsman; and it¡¯s an indisputable fact that Lou Xiangzhen was once defeated by the Sword God of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, which left him desolate for decades. Now, Lin Yiyang is one of the six great Sword Immortals, and the Ghost Swordsman is also among these six. This grudge has yet to be settled; we can exploit this fact¡­.¡± Lin Tianhai, being a sly fox himself, promptly asked, ¡°Are you suggesting, Sect Master Li, that we should propagate this matter widely, and then spread the rumor that the Ghost Swordsman has challenged Lin Yiyang, letting them fight each other while we reap the benefits as the third party?¡± Li Fuzhou nodded, ¡°Exactly, according to the intelligence obtained by our Human Sect, Lin Yiyang is already in Yujing City.¡± In Jianghu, the Zhenyi Sect holds an extraordinary status, not needing to find support from any power within the temples, and even the Second Prince has to curry favor with the Zhenyi Sect, exerting all his effort to make an alliance with it. Other powers, even as strong as the Yu Heng Sword Sect, also need to find a patron within the temples. Lin Yiyang is an arrogant and haughty man, deeming no one worth his attention; naturally, he has very few friends, but among these few is none other than the Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin. Every time Lin Yiyang visits Yujing City, he has only one purpose. And that is to visit this old friend. On the side, Luo Zixiang asked, ¡°What if the Ghost Swordsman and Lin Yiyang don¡¯t fall for this obvious plot? Keep in mind that the Ghost Swordsman seems to also have a relationship with the Crown Prince¡­¡± Back then at the Four Symbols Sect, the Ghost Swordsman had taken action, otherwise, with Lin Tianhai¡¯s strength, it would only be a matter of time before Xi Yuanjun and Jia Shiwu were defeated. ¡°If the Ghost Swordsman is confident enough, there are two definite reasons why he must challenge Lin Yiyang.¡± Li Fuzhou pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°Firstly, it¡¯s true that Lou Xiangzhen was indeed harmed using a petty scheme by the Sword God back in the day; secondly, Lin Yiyang¡¯s character is so arrogant that if he knew the Ghost Swordsman was challenging him, whether it is true or false, he would scoff at it internally. Who in Jianghu does not fight for fame and profit? Unless the Ghost Swordsman is willing to be a shrinking turtle.¡± Tan Yun finally found an opportunity to speak up on the side, ¡°But this Ghost Swordsman is like a shrinking turtle; Master, how about we try a different strategy, say, a beauty trap¡­.¡± Towards the end, her voice trailed off as if she lacked the courage to continue. Luo Zixiang looked down, Lin Tianhai drank water, and Li Fuzhou simply turned a deaf ear. With a faint smile, Li Fuzhou said, ¡°There¡¯s no one in Jianghu who doesn¡¯t value their reputation. When this matter escalates continuously, both parties will find themselves at the eye of the storm. With the tide of events, they can only proceed out of necessity. Do you remember what happened to Lou Xiangzhen back then?¡± After Jiang Sanjia was framed, Lou Xiangzhen chose to stay in seclusion, indifferent to the situation. This matter had indeed sparked intense debates in Jianghu at the time. Those wandering in Jianghu usually take loyalty and brotherhood very seriously. Li Fuzhou shook his head and said, ¡°Of course, if the Ghost Swordsman really is that patient and we can¡¯t outsmart him, then we¡¯ll have no choice but to force our hand.¡± ¡°Force our hand?¡± Lin Tianhai glanced at Li Fuzhou. Could they really take on the Ghost Swordsman by force? Li Fuzhou said indifferently, ¡°When this old man returns from Yujing City, I¡¯ll meet with him personally.¡± Lin Tianhai and Luo Zixiang didn¡¯t speak, their expressions turning gravely serious. Li Fuzhou had been in seclusion for decades, so much so that people had forgotten that he was once a prodigy, a genius that even Jiang Shang couldn¡¯t help but admire inwardly. Tan Yun bit her lip, her mind racing as she pondered how to stop these three men in front of her or to relay the message to the Ghost Swordsman, telling him to leave quickly to avoid the cunning plots of these old foxes. ¡­¡­.. In Ping County, outside the Jade Shop. The youth pointed ahead to the shop and said, ¡°Sir, that¡¯s the Jade Shop right there.¡± ¡°Good, thank you,¡± said An Jing, gesturing with his hand. ¡°You go on with your business.¡± The youth rubbed his hands together and said, ¡°Sir, if you have any other instructions, I¡¯ll just wait nearby.¡± This gentleman before him was very generous, and the youth couldn¡¯t miss this excellent opportunity. An Jing nodded and then entered the Jade Shop. ¡°Hmm?!¡± As soon as he entered, he saw an old Buddhist monk with a compassionate and benign countenance standing to the side, seemingly waiting patiently for something. The old monk also sensed someone entering and joined his hands together in front of his chest, saying, ¡°Benefactor, we meet again.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see the master here.¡± An Jing was a bit surprised and said with a smile, ¡°Indeed, life is full of unexpected reunions.¡± The old monk before him was none other than Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, a grandmaster of the Zen Sect. Somehow, seeing this monk gave An Jing an inexplicable sense of familiarity, possibly because the old monk reminded him of past events in Yu State City. ¡°Indeed, I did not expect it either,¡± said Universal Benefit Bodhisattva with a sigh, then he asked, ¡°May I know what business brings the benefactor here today?¡± ¡°I came here searching for someone.¡± ¡°By the looks of it, it seems the benefactor has not found them.¡± ¡°I have found them, yet I have not,¡± An Jing let out a melancholic sigh and said, ¡°Master, why aren¡¯t you spreading the Buddhist teachings but instead in this small city?¡± The Buddhist institutions had started to expand widely across Great Yan, showing significant success recently, and in a few years, the Great Yan Martial World might see an increase in Buddhist disciples. Given the current trend, Buddhism is flourishing everywhere, significantly affecting the direct interests of the Zhenyi Sect and compounding their previous severe losses and injuries. Xiao Qianqiu above Abyss Lake also failed to maintain the prestige of the Zhenyi Sect as the National Religion, making the sect now seem like a wounded tiger. But a wounded tiger is the most dangerous and aggressive. If the conflicts with the Ghost Swordsman only involved succession disputes, then the struggle with Buddhism was a matter of life and death. With the rise of Buddhism, the Zhenyi Sect would undoubtedly decline. As the National Religion of Great Yan, the Zhenyi Sect would surely respond. Currently, in the martial world of Great Yan, only Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, who had just entered the Grandmaster Realm, was clearly no match for the Zhenyi Sect. Rumors in Jianghu suggested that a Buddhist Vajra had crossed the ocean to the ancient temple of Dragon Spring in Yujing City. Vajra¡¯s Furious Eyes, exorcising evil and subduing demons, the Bodhisattva with lowered brows, extending salvation to all sentient beings. Both Vajra and Bodhisattva are esteemed titles in Buddhism, with the distinction that Bodhisattvas, although grandmasters, are not fond of battle, whereas Vajras are known for their ferocity, practicing the lethal martial arts of Buddhism, ranking top among experts of the same realm. In the war that eliminated Buddhism, when Buddhist Vajras emerged, they fought bloody battles on all sides, leaving corpses for miles, a horror still vivid in the minds of many experts. However, whether Dragon Spring Temple truly harbors a Buddhist Vajra is unknown. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva said, ¡°This humble monk is entrusted to ensure someone¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s brows slightly raised in curiosity as to who could compel a Buddhist grandmaster to serve as a protector, surely someone with an extraordinary background. Who exactly could this person be? ¡°Old monk, what do you think of carving a jade Buddha from this prime Dushan jade?¡± Just then, a voice rang out. The voice was melodious, bright and clear yet soft and melodious, like an oriole singing, distinct in its beauty. What a beautiful young woman. An Jing instinctively looked up to see a woman in a white dress, shining like the blossoming flowers around her, no more than seventeen or eighteen, with skin fairer than snow and breathtaking beauty, almost too radiant to look directly at. To An Jing, the beauty of women should not be compared by ranking. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Every woman had her own unique charm and grace, like Zhao Qingmei, with her gentle and demure nature, like willows in the breeze, softly alluring and full of tender passion. Dai Ling, with her ice-pure jade-like aura, was coldly aristocratic, seemingly a fairy banished to the mortal realm, intimidating people from getting too close. Tan Yun might not be the most stunning, but she was nevertheless a rare beauty, with a curvaceous figure, a playful and lively demeanor in her brows, exuding innocence and natural appeal, difficult not to like. The woman before him exuded an aura of ethereal beauty, her phoenix eyes like pools of crystal-clear water with electric arcs that strike directly into a man¡¯s heart, especially with the faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth, perfect as a crescent moon. At that moment, the woman holding an ancient jade slowly descended the stairs. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 176 Doctor An Enjoys Watching Events Unfold Online Chapter 176: Chapter 176 Doctor An Enjoys Watching Events Unfold Online The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, like a bright moon in the night sky, capable of attracting the gaze of any man wherever she stood. However, An Jing merely glanced over her briefly, focusing more attention on the elderly nanny behind her. First Grade Heavenly Flower Realm! In Jianghu, the First Grade Heavenly Flower Realm was considered exceptionally high-level, and An Jing had only encountered two individuals who willingly served in such a capacity so far. One was Li Fuzhou, and the other was the middle-aged woman next to the Crown Prince, Zhao Chongyin. Both of their masters held extraordinary statuses. Given this, the identity of the woman before him was certainly far from ordinary. The breathtaking woman was none other than Princess An Le of Great Yan, Zhao Xuening. ¡°Old monk, what do you think of this jade?¡± Zhao Xuening approached Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, completely oblivious to An Jing nearby. At that moment, An Jing was not completely concealed; he had merely retracted all his Qi Mechanism, appearing unremarkable. A master! But the elderly nanny beside Zhao Xuening was vigilant and looked over with a grave heart. A swordsman who could converse so pleasantly with Universal Benefit Bodhisattva couldn¡¯t possibly be a commoner; this person must be a top-level master. An Jing maintained a calm and indifferent demeanor, withdrawing his gaze after a brief look. Beauty inevitably fades, and fine features will eventually decline. The world never lacks for beauties. Those who worship beauty as if it were divine are the greatest fools in the world. Once you possess power and wealth, you will realize that what you least lack is beauty. What is lacking is sincere affection, which is truly priceless. ¡°This jade is indeed exquisite.¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva took the jade and caressed it. ¡°Its appearance is moist and pure, and touching it is like feeling the delicate and smooth skin of an infant; it truly is a good piece of jade.¡± Zhao Xuening thought of something and joyfully said, ¡°I¡¯ll use this unique Dushan jade to make a jade Buddha for my uncle; he will surely love it.¡± The mother of Zhao Xuening was the once most beautiful woman in the world, Zuo Linglong, and her uncle was the current Valley Master of Youfeng Valley, Zuo Biwen. Among the seven major Sects in the Great Yan Martial World today, except for Youfeng Valley, other sects either shunned Buddhist affiliations like avoiding a snake, or kept at a respectful distance, only Youfeng Valley¡¯s Valley Master Zuo Biwen held a deep affection for Buddhism. Many speculated that it might be because Zuo Biwen had conflicts with Lin Yiyang when he was younger, so whatever he did later, he always opposed Lin Yiyang. In Jianghu, many were aware that Lin Yiyang and the Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin were close friends, so Youfeng Valley had severed all ties with the Crown Prince¡¯s lineage and instead associated with the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai. This was also the case with Buddhism. Most talkatively, it was once said by an elder of the Yu Heng Sword Sect that during the preparations for a grand event of their sect, an elder asked if they should invite someone from Youfeng Valley to ease the friction between the factions. However, Lin Yiyang raised an eyebrow and responded, ¡°What grudges do the Yu Heng Sword Sect and Youfeng Valley hold?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Lin Yiyang was being sarcastic; he genuinely had forgotten the past grievances with Zuo Biwen. When this story spread in Jianghu, many admired Lin Yiyang¡¯s broad-mindedness, mocking Zuo Biwen¡¯s pettiness in contrast. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva held his hands together in front of his chest, ¡°Valley Master Zuo is devout in his Buddhism practices. If this jade were made into a Buddha statue for him, it would indeed be wonderful.¡± Valley Master!? Uncle!? Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s mind spun rapidly, and he instantly guessed the identity and origin of this person. Another noble of the Great Yan Royal Family, no wonder Universal Benefit Bodhisattva personally provided protection. Hearing this, Zhao Xuening immediately laughed and said, ¡°Then pack up that jade stone upstairs for me, and later I will ask an artisan to carve it.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the elderly nanny immediately bowed and then headed towards the second floor. An Jing chuckled softly, ¡°Master, I¡¯ll go and buy some jade stones then.¡± ¡°You may proceed as you wish,¡± said Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, his palm resting on his chest. An Jing approached the counter, ¡°Show me some jade stones of good quality.¡± Although An Jing was not very knowledgeable about jade stones, he could generally tell whether the stones were of good quality. ¡°Right away,¡± the clerk quickly took out some jade stones from under the counter, ¡°These jade stones are unpolished, uncarved. If you¡¯d like finished products, we have those too, though they would be slightly more expensive.¡± An Jing glanced over them and casually pointed out a few, ¡°These stones will suffice; please pack them up for me.¡± Eventually feeding the Holy Essence Gu with these jade stones would suffice for the time being, so long as the Holy Essence Gu survives, he could seek out rarer jade stones later. Zhao Xuening, curious, looked at the man in the black robe and asked in a low voice, ¡°Master, who is this?¡± ¡°Not the benefactor¡¯s benefactor,¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva thought for a moment and said. Not the benefactor¡¯s benefactor? Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuening was even more puzzled. What did it mean if not the benefactor¡¯s benefactor? ¡°That will be thirty-two silver pieces,¡± the clerk said with a grin, placing the packed jade stones in front of An Jing. An Jing placed the silver on the counter. The shop assistant knew the weight of the silver the moment he held it in his hand and immediately said, ¡°Alright, dear guest, feel free to make any other requests.¡± The assistant was genuinely pleased with An Jing, a guest who did not haggle and was very decisive. An Jing picked up the packaged jade, walked up to the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, and smiled, ¡°Master, as rivers and mountains meet, so shall we meet again.¡± The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva pressed his palms together in front of his chest and said, ¡°The Buddhist has a deep connection with you, donor; I believe we will meet again.¡± An Jing nodded and walked towards the exit of the jade shop. The sunlight was brilliant, dazzling on the streets, somewhat bewildering. ¡°Hm!?¡± Suddenly, An Jing felt the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand trembling. This was the first time such a thing had happened since he had acquired the Evil Suppressing Sword. An Jing looked around discreetly. The street market was bustling, and a familiar figure was coming through the crowd. It was the fortune teller. He was carrying a flat gold piece, his face wearing a faint smile. At the same time, several strong auras rushed toward him, their murderous intensity barely concealed, and their target was the jade shop behind An Jing. ¡°It¡¯s inside there,¡± a voice rose from the crowd. A man in plain clothes leaped forward, aiming a palm strike at the jade shop. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± Inner Strength surged like a tide, emitting a trembling sound, and a giant palm emerged, crashing down like a million-pound boulder. ¡°Bang!¡± The walls and wooden pillars around the jade shop instantly scattered into chips. But as the palm continued its descent, a golden light enveloped it. This was indeed the Buddhist¡¯s Vajra Immortal Body! ¡°Boom!¡± The palm was instantly pierced by the golden light, dissipating into smoke. Dust rose around, the residual Qi Force surged like a tide. Several ordinary civilians turned into a mist of blood, and those farther away had their organs shattered by the powerful Qi Force, falling to the ground breathless. An Jing, positioned not too far, quickly stepped backward, dodging the incoming Qi Force. Just then, a body fell before him; it was the young boy who had led him earlier. The boy still clutched the two taels of silver, now smeared with fresh blood. Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Quick, run!¡± Seeing this, the people of Ping County panicked, running madly towards the distance, fearing they would be implicated. Some individuals from the martial world showed shocked expressions, staring intensely at the high master who had delivered the palm strike. This single strike revealed the person to be a first-class master of the current age. ¡°Amitabha!¡± As the dust gradually settled, the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva appeared standing amidst the ruins, with a slightly pale Zhao Xuening and the old lady behind him. ¡°Universal Benefit, step aside, and I will spare your life,¡± the fortune teller said with a light smile. Grandmaster!? An Jing felt the Qi Mechanism emanating from him and was immediately shocked. He had not realized that the fortune teller was actually a grandmaster, even as they had met earlier. The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva looked at the fortune teller and asked with furrowed brows, ¡°The malicious energy on your body is indeed rare. Could it be that you are a high master from the Black Ice Platform?¡± Black Ice Platform of Zhao Country. This group was known to everyone in the world. In Zhao Country, the Black Ice Platform was undeniably the foremost power, its influence so extensive that it encompassed over seventy percent of the masters there, even controlling and dominating the Zhao royal family. In Zhao Country, the Black Ice Platform was the sky. Moreover, with the Black Ice Platform specializing in various sinister martial arts and elixirs, its reputation was formidable yet also notorious worldwide. The infamous Blood Spirit Technique, rumored to be disseminated by the Black Ice Platform, and even the Joyful Union Sect was said to have significant ties with them. In short, many of the world¡¯s atrocities were intricately linked with the Black Ice Platform. Not just that, the Black Ice Platform also possessed the renowned Blood-Loathing Pill, capable of enhancing the probability of advancing from a Half-step Master to a Grandmaster, attracting countless masters worldwide to join their ranks. It could be said that the location with the most masters in the current world was the Black Ice Platform. Moreover, this great hand stretched and spread across various places worldwide; who was to say which dark corner wasn¡¯t manipulated by the Black Ice Platform? However, compared to the Demon Sect, the Black Ice Platform had always been very secretive and rarely initiated disturbances in the Jianghu. Moreover, in Great Yan, the Black Ice Platform was in an even more pitiful state than the Demon Sect, which is why their influence could not be considered very strong. The fortune teller did not speak, but several formidable individuals already gathered around him, two of whom were Half-step Masters. The person on the left was an elderly man, with a detached demeanor, hands held behind his back. He was the person who had launched the palm strike earlier. The other was a middle-aged man, holding a silver hook that shone brightly, his complexion cold, and his face exceedingly ugly, intimidating like a Rash ghost from the underworld. The old lady behind Zhao Xuening saw these two men and whispered with furrowed brows, ¡°The Cold Whistle of Xiaoxiang Water Clouds, Silver Hook Rash Lin Zisheng!?¡± Leng Xiao, a peer of Lou Xiangzhen, was a renowned master who had disappeared from Jianghu for many years. Although he paled in comparison to Lou Xiangzhen, who had a reputation spanning an era, he was still a formidable figure. Having lived in seclusion for many years without involving himself in the affairs of Jianghu, his sudden reappearance took many by surprise as his cultivation had reached the boundary of a half-step Master. Another, Lin Yiyang, was originally the chief tributor of Nu Jing Gang. Back then, his cultivation was only at the Earth Flower Realm. During conflicts between Cao Gang and Nu Jing Gang, he had once overwhelmed Tian Liu of Cao Gang before mysteriously vanishing as if evaporated from the human world. This led to the decline of Nu Jing Gang, which was later absorbed by Cao Gang, establishing its reputation as the leading force in the world today. Some said he had gone into hiding in Jianghu, others thought he had died early, and some believed he had fled to another country, no longer in Great Yan. Now, he too had suddenly appeared, and his cultivation had surprisingly reached that of a half-step Master, which seemed almost dreamlike to the listeners. Apart from these two, there were several other masters behind them, their Qi mechanisms showing they were of Second Grade and First Grade cultivation levels. The fortune teller shook the sign in his hand and remained silent. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva¡¯s expression darkened, and he spoke slowly, ¡°Could it be that the benefactor is Qi Shu?¡± When the name ¡®Qi Shu¡¯ was mentioned, the old nanny turned pale, and Zhao Xuening felt as if struck by thunder out of the clear sky. ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡± The fortune teller spoke indifferently, ¡°My time is short. If that old man from the palace arrives or an old scholar from Lv Sect makes a move, I fear it would be difficult to escape. I will give you only three breaths¡¯ time to consider.¡± What kind of master was the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva? Although he had reached the master-level with his position as Bodhisattva within the Buddhist community only a few years ago, he was indeed of Master Cultivation. At this moment, Qi Shu was giving him just three breaths to decide, suggesting a readiness to engage in battle with him if he refused. This showed the arrogance in Qi Shu¡¯s tone and demeanor. ¡°Qi Shu from beyond the stars?¡± An Jing was also shocked internally and began retreating steadily towards the back. The martial worlds of Yan Country and Zhao Country did not interlink, but the top masters from both countries were renowned worldwide. Among them were dozens of top masters, including Qi Shu. This person was the disciple of Qi Wushuang, the number one master of Zhao Country. Qi Wushuang, whose real name was Qi Xuan Dao, was born in Zhao Country. In his youth, he entered Black Ice Platform for training. Initially, he did not display extraordinary talent and was even considered inferior among his peer top masters. Qi Xuan Dao kept a low profile and did not stand out; in his forties, his cultivation was only around Second Grade and was quite unremarkable, almost unnoticed. However, as time progressed, Qi Xuan Dao¡¯s cultivation suddenly accelerated, and within just twenty years, he became the number one master in Zhao Country, defeating countless renowned masters worldwide, placing him among the top figures. A late bloomer, to be feared by the younger generation. It was said that Ye Ding from Zhenyi Sect once went to Zhao Country to discuss Dao with Qi Xuan Dao and ended up narrowly defeated. This incident had caused a great stir in the Great Yan Martial World at the time. Since Zhenyi Sect had always proclaimed Ye Ding as the top master in the Great Yan Martial World, his defeat by Qi Xuan Dao undoubtedly tarnished the reputation of the Great Yan Martial World. Neither Ye Ding nor Zhenyi Sect ever came out to explain this. Of course, no one had witnessed this, so whether it was true or false was only known to Ye Ding and Qi Xuan Dao. Zhao Country regarded Qi Xuan Dao as unparalleled, thus they named him Qi Wushuang, a name he had for more than forty years and which the people gradually grew accustomed to, some even forgetting his real name. Qi Xuan Dao¡¯s cultivation was profound and immeasurable, considered among the top three or five worldwide, and he was still active in Zhao Country, serving as the stabilizer, which was one reason why Zhao Country dominated over Yan Country for decades. Qi Xuan Dao had three disciples in his lifetime, Qi Shu being the youngest and most talented among them. Qi Shu was not only Qi Xuan Dao¡¯s disciple but also raised by him since childhood, regarded as his own child. His talent was evident from an early age, and his cultivation progressed at an incredible pace. Among his contemporaries, only the practitioner who was in seclusion on Zhenyi Sect¡¯s mountain could surpass him. Despite being under Xiao Qianqiu, Qi Shu was still expected to succeed Qi Xuan Dao and become the foremost master of Zhao Country. ¡°Amitabha.¡± The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva placed his palms together in front of his chest, yet his feet remained unmoved. ¡°Then Qi has no reservations.¡± Qi Shu spoke lightly, taking a step forward. Though the step seemed calm, the momentum rushing forth was like surging tidal waves, instantly engulfing everything. Others could not feel it, but to the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, it was like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting. The next moment, Qi Shu had already reached in front of the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, and then threw a punch, landing heavily on the light shield in front of him. ¡°Boom!¡± The ground immediately began to tremble, and nearby buildings shook violently. As the punch landed, the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°The Buddhist Vajra Immortal Body indeed has some skills.¡± Qi Shu smiled faintly, then clenched his fingers tightly, as if to crush even the air in the gaps. Wind sprang up beneath his feet, swift as thunder. Draped in swirling black Qi, his presence seemed domineering and eerie, instilling fear in those who saw. ¡°Boom!¡± Another punch came crashing down like a shooting star, striking the golden light shield. At the moment of collision, the explosive Qi surged like a tidal wave, spreading to both sides. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly!¡± The old nanny grabbed Zhao Xuening¡¯s arm and leaped away towards the distance. ¡°Where are you going!?¡± Leng Xiao and Lin Yiyang, however, quickly chased after them. Lin Zisheng¡¯s hand trembled with a long hook, and several cold lights attacked like a flurry of venomous snakes. ¡°Hiss!¡± The old nanny was struck directly in the chest by this cold light, and in the nick of time, she pushed Zhao Xuening away. On one side, Leng Xiao¡¯s body leaped, like an eagle spreading its wings, and he grabbed Zhao Xuening¡¯s neck, then lifted her entire body. ¡°Mmm¡­ Mmm¡± At that moment, the stunning beauty looked disheveled; her snow-white neck was clutched by Leng Xiao, her face flushed red, her mouth wide open, but she couldn¡¯t speak a word. Lin Zisheng revealed a cold smile and said, ¡°Senior Leng, you really don¡¯t spare beauty. Please don¡¯t hurt Princess An Le.¡± Leng Xiao said indifferently, ¡°She won¡¯t die. I¡¯m preventing her from biting her tongue to commit suicide.¡± Lin Zisheng¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly as he laughed, ¡°Princess, this is the emperor¡¯s favorite princess.¡± On the other hand, Universal Benefit Bodhisattva couldn¡¯t withstand that terrifying punch. ¡°Crack! Crack!¡± The Vajra Immortal Body that Lin Yiyang had struggled in vain to break open suddenly shattered in the blink of an eye. ¡°Wow!¡± Blood gushed from the mouth of Universal Benefit Bodhisattva as he staggered backward. Several Jianghu experts observed this scene, losing their souls in fright, as if witnessing the most terrifying thing in the world. The Grandmaster-level Universal Benefit Bodhisattva actually couldn¡¯t withstand two punches from Qi Shu. How terrifying was Qi Shu¡¯s strength? An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised, the last time he was this shocked was on Ancestor Master Mountain of the Blue River Sect. Lou Xiangzhen killed Bai Qun with two swords. However, Bai Qun¡¯s strength was much stronger than that of Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing this, An Jing continued to drift towards the distance, fearful of attracting unwarranted trouble. The sudden dispatch of such a strong person from Black Ice Platform could be intertwined with conflicts among Zhao Country, Houjin, and Great Yan. He did not want to involve himself in these grudges and entanglements. When Qi Shu saw Leng Xiao had captured Princess An Le, he said indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Leng Xiao and Lin Zisheng nodded. The next instant, Qi Shu and the others vanished from the spot with Zhao Xuening. It was clean and decisive, without any hesitation, as if they had made a very thorough preparation from the beginning. ¡°Quite bold indeed.¡± An Jing watched the scene unfold and couldn¡¯t help but be slightly stunned. To think Ping County was also within the bounds of Yujing City, and yet a top fighter from Black Ice Platform suddenly arrived and abducted Princess An Le, which was a blatant provocation to the Great Yan Royal Family. Compared to his own actions, which merely involved killing a few true men of a sect and a peak master, it was mere child¡¯s play. In the past, An Jing had always been the main character at the center of the stage. Today, as merely a spectator on the side, seeing ordinary people lying on the ground, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply. The disturbance he and Cui Daoxian caused during their battle in Huangyao Town might have been bigger than now, but they hadn¡¯t caused any harm to ordinary people. How are mere ants supposed to survive in this world? Unbeknownst to them, with every step, they inadvertently crush tens of thousands of ants. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much turmoil this will cause; Yujing City may be about to descend into chaos. I better leave quickly.¡± An Jing¡¯s body leaped, vanishing from the spot in the blink of an eye. At this moment, only the powerful Black Flood Dragon could offer him a semblance of security. Shortly after he left, an old man in a black python robe appeared among the ruins. The old man had a head full of gray hair, a pained expression on his face, and looked like an ordinary old man, with his most striking features being his two white eyebrows. ¡°Amitabha.¡± The seated Universal Benefit Bodhisattva saw the newcomer, opened his eyes, and his expression carried a hint of helplessness. ¡°Ming¡­ Ming Gong!¡± The nanny saw the eunuch appear and ran over in a scrambling and crawling manner, crying out, ¡°Gong¡­ Princess was abducted by Qi Shu of Black Ice Platform.¡± ¡°Qi Shu!?¡± The eunuch furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Which direction did they go?¡± ¡°North.¡± The nanny quickly replied. ¡°I see.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Upon hearing this, the eunuch moved, vanishing from the spot in an instant, reappearing dozens of feet away. Shrinking Land into Inches, clearly a Grandmaster. While a typical Grandmaster might cover several feet, this White Eyebrow eunuch instantly moved dozens of feet away. ¡­¡­ PS: I¡¯ve been quite busy these past few evenings and haven¡¯t been able to write much, please understand. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Immortal Swords Boundless Expanse Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Immortal Sword¡¯s Boundless Expanse Yujing City, Yu Hua Pavilion. Amidst the peaks, springs, blooming trees, and the gurgle of the clear, meandering stream, the ancient and quaint architecture nestled, exuding a unique charm all its own. Under the rockery, the lotus pond path winds its way, with the tinkling sound of the small bridge¡¯s flowing water filling the air, a melodious delight. Pavilions, terraces, buildings, and water chambers reflected amidst the green pines and cypresses; rockeries, stone gardens, flower beds, potted landscapes, vines, and bamboo added ornamental touches throughout. Lin Yiyang stood in front of the railing, below which the pond was covered with green lotus leaves. The water was clear and transparent, revealing the roots, with dozens of plump red carps leisurely swimming amongst them. Qiu Wanxia stood by, holding the Phoenix Sword, her eyes watching the red carps swimming below, her expression extremely calm and serene. Perhaps there were few in the world who knew that Lin Yiyang¡¯s Sword Servant was also a celebrated swordsman of the Fifth Realm who had even defeated the Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian. In today¡¯s Jianghu, it¡¯s rare to find someone like Qiu Wanxia who is indifferent to fame and fortune. Lin Yiyang seemingly heard something and turned around to look into the distance. A figure approached from afar. The person was clad in splendid brocade and handsome attire, with a handsome visage and a crown upon his head, a piece of exquisite white jade hanging at his waist. The maids on either side lowered their eyes respectfully as they saw the approaching figure, daring not to stare directly. This man was none other than the master of Yu Hua Pavilion, Zhao Chongyin. ¡°Yiyang, it¡¯s been over two years since we last met,¡± Zhao Chongyin said with a smile as he approached. Lin Yiyang turned around and clasped his hands, saying, ¡°Yes, it has been over two years. The last time was when you traveled south, and that¡¯s how we had the chance to meet.¡± Zhao Chongyin patted Lin Yiyang¡¯s shoulder and said with a smile, ¡°We don¡¯t need to be so formal with each other. Let¡¯s sit down and talk.¡± Inside the water chamber, there was a beautifully made stand with soft leather cushions beneath it, and the stand was topped with tasty and fresh pastries. After the three of them took their seats, the maids quickly brought them tea. Zhao Chongyin glanced at Qiu Wanxia and said with a smile, ¡°Elder Qiu is still so youthful. It seems that cultivating in the mountains has its great benefits. Regrettably, I am entangled in worldly affairs, and I can¡¯t settle down to practice. To this day, I am still only at the Third Grade Realm.¡± As the current Crown Prince of Great Yan, Zhao Chongyin naturally could not be a weak scholar, but his cultivation was not high either. For one thing, he truly had many political affairs to deal with, and secondly, he was limited by his natural talent. Rumors had it that among the many children of the Human Emperor Tai Ping, it was the Seventh Prince and the Second Prince who had the highest martial talent. The Crown Prince was seen as having moderate and slightly inferior talent; therefore, he did not focus on this area. Qiu Wanxia couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Time ages all; I¡¯m no longer young.¡± In this world, there isn¡¯t any woman who doesn¡¯t like others to say she is young, and Qiu Wanxia was no exception. ¡°Although the life span of cultivators is long, one should never waste their prime years,¡± she said. Zhao Chongyin looked at Lin Yiyang and said, ¡°Just now you saw my son Ping. The first time you came here, he was only this high to my knee. Now, he is already up to my waist. Brother Lin, you too must work hard.¡± Lin Yiyang paused for a moment before speaking, ¡°Yes, time really flies by, and in the blink of an eye, several years have passed.¡± Qiu Wanxia blinked her eyes on the side and did not speak. Zhao Chongyin shook his head, as if recalling something, and said, ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve heard rumors in Jianghu that you are going to have a swordsmanship contest with the Ghost Swordsman. Is this true or false?¡± No one other than Qiu Wanxia understood Lin Yiyang¡¯s temperament better. Lin Yiyang replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve heard some rumors as well, but I¡¯ve never heard specifically from the Ghost Swordsman. If he really wants to settle this past grievance for Lou Xiangzhen, then I am ready to accept.¡± Lately, there were rumors all over Jianghu about the Ghost Swordsman challenging Lin Yiyang. The contest between top swordsmen naturally attracted attention in the Great Yan Martial World, and many were curious as to whom the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman would fall following the fleeting appearance of Lou Xiangzhen, the previous holder of this title. In the current world, besides Lou Xiangzhen, the five other great Sword Immortals also had an illustrious record of victories, but unfortunately, the White Tiger Sword Immortal Yi Daoyun was defeated by Lin Yiyang, and Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian was defeated by the Ghost Swordsman; thus, both were disqualified from the competition. Therefore, the most likely candidates for the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman were three people: Zhong Binru, the Sword Eunuch, Lin Yiyang, and the Ghost Swordsman. Debate about the three had been raging in Jianghu, causing quite a stir. Furthermore, with hidden forces fanning the flames, the situation was now more heated than ever. Zhao Chongyin pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I have met the Ghost Swordsman, and he seems like an open-minded and sensible man. Lou Xiangzhen is now of uncertain life and death, perhaps deceased, or has retired from Jianghu. Let the past grudges disperse. I will host a banquet to help resolve this grudge between you two, and perhaps you and he could become a fine tale.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Lin Yiyang said flatly. ¡°That Ghost Swordsman is just a clay chicken and pottery dog. Lou Xiangzhen had over thirty extra years of Sword Dao cultivation than I, yet I am not afraid of him; all the more for the Ghost Swordsman. If he truly wishes to fight, then let¡¯s fight.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Chongyin wasn¡¯t surprised. Lin Yiyang was such a person, not that he looked down on the Ghost Swordsman, he simply didn¡¯t bother to look at all. At this moment, Qiu Wanxia said with a smile, ¡°The grudge of Lou Xiangzhen is but a grudge against my master, so it¡¯s fitting that I take it on. I have long wanted to experience this Ghost Swordsman¡¯s ghost sword.¡± Lin Yiyang did not speak, but his expression was filled with indifference, implying ¡®feel free to do as you please¡¯. Zhao Chongyin shook his head, ¡°Well then, settle your own affairs among yourselves.¡± He knew very well that those who practiced the Sword Dao were very stubborn. And who in Jianghu didn¡¯t value fame and fortune? The title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman would sooner or later fall on the shoulders of these individuals, meaning that a fight between them was inevitable. ¡°That Ghost Swordsman is but a trivial existence, not worth mentioning.¡± After taking a light sip from his tea cup, Lin Yiyang looked towards Zhao Chongyin and said, ¡°My main purpose for coming this time is regarding the matter of the Houjin envoy, which is of utmost importance.¡± Just last month, the undercurrents of the Great Yan Martial World surged as the Houjin envoy entered Great Yan along the border. Since the matter was not widely publicized, few people paid attention to it. Zhao Chongyin nodded and said, ¡°Judging by their journey, they will arrive soon.¡± Lin Yiyang pondered for a while before saying, ¡°This visit of the Houjin envoy is probably not as simple as it seems.¡± Lin Yiyang was extremely proud, but he was no fool, especially since he had covertly visited Houjin seven years ago and understood the boundless ambition of Houjin¡¯s Holy Master. The current situation in Great Yan was complex and intricate, and Houjin had been honing their strength for twenty years, their weapons already sharpened. This time the Houjin envoys arrived in Great Yan, likely harboring ill intentions, perhaps a case of courtesy before force, or possibly other motives. For instance, probing the current Great Yan Emperor. Houjin had been inactive for a long time; whether the Great Yan Emperor was indeed severely wounded had yet to be thoroughly confirmed. After all, this Great Yan Emperor was a formidable ruler. The court and Jianghu were inseparable; without a safe haven, disaster befalls all. If Great Yan were to fall into crisis, the Yu Heng Sword Sect would also likely face difficulties. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s expression remained calm as still water, saying, ¡°The person leading the Houjin envoy this time is Zongzheng Yuan, the seventh son of Zongzheng Huachun. It is said this person is intelligent and resourceful, extremely clever. By the age of five, he had read dozens of books, by thirteen he had thoroughly memorized various historical texts, and at seventeen, he came to study in Great Yan and Zhao Country. At the age of twenty-four, he returned to Houjin and took over his own tribe, which developed rapidly into one of the largest tribes in Houjin within three years.¡± Zongzheng Huachun was the name of the current emperor of Houjin. Zhao Chongyin had long been familiar with Zongzheng Yuan who was dispatched to Great Yan, and similarly, he believed that Zongzheng Yuan had also thoroughly investigated the current state of Great Yan. Lin Yiyang opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. Just then, a man dressed in a cloak and carrying a long sword at his waist hurried over. Xuanyi Guard, Great Heavenly Gang! The Xuanyi Guard Great Heavenly Gang hastily said, ¡°Crown Prince, there¡¯s terrible news.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Zhao Chongyin asked. Great Heavenly Gang quickly said, ¡°Princess An Le, on her way to Youfeng Valley, has been kidnapped by Qi Shu of the Black Ice Platform.¡± ¡°Qi Shu?¡± ¡°Crack!¡± As the words fell, Zhao Chongyin, who had been calm, suddenly had his expression turn extremely unsightly. Lin Yiyang and Qiu Wanxia by his side also showed a slight change in expression. Princess An Le was the daughter of the Empress, the most beloved princess of the Human Emperor. Now she had been kidnapped by Qi Shu of Zhao Country¡¯s Black Ice Platform, and the incident occurred near Yujing City; it was clearly premeditated. Such blatant action was akin to a heavy slap on the face of the Great Yan Royal Family. Naturally, it was a disgrace for anyone from Great Yan. ¡°Please have Elder Tang and Commander Meng take action, they must intercept Qi Shu. He must not be allowed to leave Great Yan.¡± Zhao Chongyin took a deep breath, his countenance returning to a calm state. Qi Shu absolutely could not be allowed to succeed, otherwise, the disaster would be endless. ¡­¡­ Youfeng Valley, Smoke Cloud Cave. Vague and ethereal smoke emitted from the cave, continually drifting out. A middle-aged man in a robe sat cross-legged on a cushion, surrounded by an aura rolling in like howling winds, eventually merging into his body. The man¡¯s qi mechanism was vast and unfathomable, like the deep sea. ¡°Valley Master!¡± Suddenly, an anxious voice rang out. One could see an Elder of Youfeng Valley rush in with a worried frown on his face. The middle-aged man¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed before he slowly opened his eyes and said with a frown, ¡°Haven¡¯t I said it? All matters can wait until I come out of seclusion the day after tomorrow.¡± This was none other than the head of the Zuo Family, the Valley Master of Youfeng Valley, Zuo Biwen. Compared to the Sect Leaders of the other seven major factions, his aptitude was not dazzling, nor was his strength formidable, but his background was the best. Behind him stood the support of the Zuo Family, and his sister was additionally the current Empress of the Great Yan. Therefore, Zuo Biwen held a reputable name both in Jianghu and in the Court. The Elder from Youfeng Valley hurriedly said, ¡°Valley Master, something big has happened. Princess An Le has been abducted.¡± ¡°What did you say!?¡± Zuo Biwen, upon hearing this, felt as if struck by lightning, doubting whether there was a problem with his ears. Princess An Le, Zhao Xuening, was his niece and beloved by him as dearly as his own daughter. And now this princess of a nation had been abducted!? The whole situation sounded absurd. Zuo Biwen snapped back to reality and urgently asked, ¡°Is that true?¡± The Elder from Youfeng Valley replied, ¡°It¡¯s true. It was Qi Shu of Zhao Country who did it, bringing several experts who defected to the Black Ice Platform, and they brazenly took Princess An Le away in Ping County.¡± Upon hearing this, Zuo Biwen¡¯s body swayed, his face ashen as paper. Then fire seemed to burst from his eyes as he roared, ¡°That Qi Shu, that old thief! Old thief! If he dares to hurt a single hair on Xuening¡¯s head, I will never let this go.¡± The Elder from Youfeng Valley took a deep breath and said, ¡°Valley Master, it is said that Governor Tang and General Meng, leading the Xuanyi Guard and the Heaven and Earth Net, have already mobilized to hunt down Qi Shu. Moreover, the Second Prince has given orders to Marquis of Pingding to deploy heavy troops and tightly guard all paths to Zhao Country.¡± In just one day, the Great Yan Court had already taken action. But Qi Shu was the most proud disciple of Qi Wushuang, the pillar of Zhao Country and a Second Qi Grandmaster of the Black Ice Platform. Since he dared to commit such a shocking crime this time, he certainly had a backup plan. Thus, in a short time, they had neither captured him nor found any trace of him. Zuo Biwen¡¯s face darkened to the extreme, and after a while, he said, ¡°This isn¡¯t just about the Royal Family¡¯s face, this concerns the honor of everyone in the Great Yan Martial World. Issue a Jianghu death warrant immediately; Qi Shu must not be allowed to leave Great Yan.¡± Zuo Biwen was naturally no match for Qi Shu, but with the power of the Great Yan Martial World, even Qi Shu as a Second Qi Grandmaster would have to weigh his chances of leaving alive. ¡°Yes.¡± Upon hearing this, the Elder from Youfeng Valley was inwardly shaken. ¡­¡­.. In Yujing City, Lv Mansion. There was a centuries-old camphor tree, its branches lush, covering the sky and land. Standing beneath the tree, Lv Guoyong, dressed in white, gently stroked the thick trunk of the tree, his face expressionless, but his murky eyes held a hint of sigh. Behind Lv Guoyong stood a plump young man. The young man was dressed in a scholar¡¯s robe, his round belly protruding, his face rosy and radiant. With some dissatisfaction, the young man said, ¡°Grandfather, that Zhou Xianming, in my view, is an ignorant layabout who does nothing but indulge in eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Why then do you take him as your disciple, and moreover, give him Aunt¡¯s separate residence to live in?¡± He could not understand why his grandfather regarded Zhou Xianming so highly when he engaged in daily leisure and seemed to have heard that Princess An Le, whom he¡¯d yearned for day and night, might end up marrying this man, which made his heart feel even more unbalanced. Lv Guoyong turned to look at the young man and pointed toward Mount Wangjing in the distance, ¡°Jing Chun, can you see that mountain?¡± The young man followed the direction of the pointing finger and nodded, ¡°Of course, I can see it.¡± Mount Wangjing was just outside the city, naturally within sight. Lv Guoyong shook his head and said, ¡°You can see the mountain, but you cannot see the mountain¡¯s spiritual marrow and the essence of its depths. You can see the ocean, but you cannot see the unpredictable waves and surging winds that lie within.¡± ¡°The things you can see are merely the surface, or rather, what others want you to see.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Jingchun immediately felt ashamed and lowered his head, ¡°I am dull-witted.¡± Lv Guoyong sighed lightly and said, ¡°Being dull-witted is good, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Just then, footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. A middle-aged scholar entered in haste, drenched in sweat, holding a Cuju ball in his arms. This person was none other than Zhou Xianming. ¡°Teacher, how did you come here?¡± When he saw Lv Guoyong, he too was shocked and quickly bent over to pay his respects, ¡°This student just went out, I hope teacher will forgive me.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Lv Guoyong waved his hand, smiling, ¡°Did you go out to play Cuju?¡± Zhou Xianming replied, ¡°Having nothing better to do, I joined a group of children for fun and to exercise my body.¡± Lv Guoyong spoke softly, ¡°That¡¯s fine. There¡¯s just over a month left until the palace examination, so it¡¯s good to relax occasionally. When you¡¯re busy in the future, I¡¯m afraid it will be very difficult to have leisure time like today.¡± ¡°Have you thought about what I mentioned to you yesterday?¡± Zhou Xianming was silent for a long while before he said, ¡°The student is unwilling.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Guoyong couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh, ¡°In my short life, I didn¡¯t want to make any compromises, but in the end, I still made many, all for this short life.¡± ¡°In life, one is just compromising with one¡¯s thoughts, to live each day fully.¡± Zhou Xianming held the ball, looking into the distance, ¡°Such compromises, it¡¯s as if being abandoned by the world, as if being bullied by someone; powerless to fight back, the only joy remaining in my heart awaits the autumn breeze to stir.¡± Lv Guoyong shook his head, ¡°That joy will eventually dissipate into nothing, days will not always be as one wishes.¡± Zhou Xianming remained silent. The Lv Sect was a thorn in the heart of the Great Yan Emperor. Now that the Lv Sect¡¯s influence in the court was gradually declining, how could the Emperor just watch the Lv Sect rise again? Even if one didn¡¯t join the Lv Sect, the Great Yan Emperor would still be extremely wary; with one Lv Sect emerging, he would not allow a Zhou Sect to follow. Unless one had no great aspirations, or the current Great Yan Emperor passed away. Otherwise, as long as Zhou Xianming did not side with the royal family, he would have to face ruthless oppression. His two senior brothers were a lesson from the past. ¡°Under the force of the prevailing trend, what heroes, what romances, all that is bullshit, worth nothing.¡± Lv Guoyong walked around the camphor tree twice, ¡°I¡¯m not saying these things to force you to make a choice, but to let you choose for yourself, follow your own heart. After all, in this world, you gain some, you lose some; no one can have it both ways.¡± Zhou Xianming never spoke; he felt as if an invisible mountain had suddenly been placed on his shoulders, making it difficult for him to breathe. He wasn¡¯t a naive youngster anymore; he naturally understood the course of destiny, irresistible, and that even the slightest change could result in the final outcome. Lv Guoyong said no more, as he looked at Zhou Xianming at this moment, time seemed to fly, as if he saw the young man from decades ago, just as stubborn, just as obstinate. ¡°Father.¡± A hasty voice interrupted, and Lv Fang hurried in. ¡°Princess An Le has been abducted by a master from Black Ice Platform, and now there is complete chaos in the temple. The Crown Prince is asking for you to take control of the situation.¡± ¡­¡­. In just two days, the area around the Capital Road was thrown into chaos. The incident then escalated, causing violent shocks across the entire martial community. Nobody expected the masters of Black Ice Platform to be so brazen and audacious, daring to snatch a Great Yan princess on the soil of Great Yan. It is known that Yan and Zhao have been in conflict for hundreds of years, and this struggle isn¡¯t only military; these soldiers typically come from common backgrounds. Moreover, when major wars break out, members of the martial world also partake in them. It can be said without exaggeration that the hatred between Yan and Zhao has taken root in the blood of every common citizen. This time, with Black Ice Platform abducting a princess of Yan, the martial community and the public alike have been set ablaze, igniting a raging fury in everyone¡¯s heart. Countless angry martial artists stepped forward, seeking Qi Shu¡¯s whereabouts, and even some powerful old freaks appeared, plotting to unite and surround Qi Shu, to annihilate the masters of Black Ice Platform. For a time, Capital Road, Lingnan Road, and Jinghai Road were all in turmoil. Various great martial artists from Great Yan, the Xuanyi Guard, and Heaven and Earth Net all mobilized, determined to capture Qi Shu in one fell swoop. At the foot of Xuwang Mountain. After leaving Ping County, An Jing headed straight toward the northern Xuwang Mountain. In these two days, he had largely focused on comprehending the Sword Intent from the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor Sword Sticker and sometimes took out the Evil Suppressing Sword to study the Sword Intent inscribed on it. The Sword Intent on the Evil Suppressing Sword was also there, but it was extremely sinister and domineering. The Sword Intent of the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor embodied elements such as wind, rain, lightning, and thunder, oriented according to the Sword Dao Tao General Outline towards the Heavenly Dao Sword. ¡°` And Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Sword Intent was indeed the Peach Blossom Sword Intent that he had comprehended himself, dreamlike and illusory, leaning towards the Human Dao Sword. However, the Sword Intent on the Evil Suppressing Sword was exceedingly strange. Every time he contemplated it, it was like being on the brink of death, always able to see an exotic beast roaring forth. The beast was merely a phantom, yet it gave An Jing the feeling of being three times more terrifying than the Black Flood Dragon, despite knowing that the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s cultivation was that of a Second Qi Grandmaster and a Three Qi Grandmaster; yet the beast felt this terrifying to him. What was the origin of this exotic beast, and why would Sword Intent residue be left behind? Contemplating the Sword Intent of two Sixth Realm swordsmen, along with the Sword Intent of the Evil Suppressing Sword, also led to An Jing¡¯s Sword Dao advancing day by day, though the pace of progress had slowed considerably. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s retrieve that third sword body of the Evil Suppressing Sword first.¡± An Jing descended from the Black Flood Dragon. Along the way, he saw many enraged individuals from the Martial World of the Great Yan, most of whom were in search of Qi Shu¡¯s whereabouts. Currently, the whereabouts of Qi Shu alone were worth a hundred thousand taels of silver, not to mention the price on his head, which was self-evident, and could fetch thousands or tens of thousands of gold. In addition, there was the immense fame it would bring in the Martial World. Besides these, An Jing also received some information about Xuwang Mountain. Rumors had it that in the past half-year, mysterious incidents had occurred on Xuwang Mountain; ghosts haunted the mountain at night, drifting through the woods. Many people, hearing the news, went up the mountain to investigate, and subsequently, they all disappeared mysteriously, reappearing later as corpses. Thus, in recent times, Xuwang Mountain had become known as a place of ill omen in the Martial World of the Great Yan. Even a member of the Great Heavenly Gang guarding Xuwang Mountain had died under mysterious circumstances, and it was said that experts from the Heaven and Earth Net came to investigate but could not ascertain the cause. Since Xuwang Mountain was also protected by the Great Heavenly Gang, for safety reasons An Jing did not continue riding the Black Flood Dragon but had it follow a li behind him. Should danger arise, it could appear in time, while he could enter the mountain at any moment to investigate. ¡°Hmm?¡± As An Jing moved swiftly through the woods, he suddenly noticed several figures appearing ahead. These people were dressed in yellow, and their sleeves bore a distinct leaf emblem. ¡°Golden Corner Alliance experts?!¡± With a glance, An Jing recognized them; the group before him was dressed in the gear of the Golden Corner Alliance, one of the five bands in the Martial World. The leader was a robust man in fine clothes, brandishing a long knife. ¡°Hurry, to Pingling, the people from the Black Ice Platform are moving southward. By sunset tomorrow, you must hurry there.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡­.. The experts of the Golden Corner Alliance hastened southward in a flurry. ¡°Pingling?¡± An Jing murmured to himself, clearly remembering that it was there he had been cornered by Feng Lingyue and the Qingfeng elder. The entire Martial World of the Great Yan and the Court itself were seeking Qi Shu¡¯s whereabouts, almost as if they were ready to turn over the earth to find him, so it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they found their location. Once the Golden Corner Alliance members left, An Jing continued towards Xuwang Mountain. The Great Zhou Dynasty would typically dispatch experts or sects to guard the various seals they had laid down. Originally, Xuwang Mountain was protected by the Joyful Union Sect. The Joyful Union Sect was conventionally normal; its disciples engaging in Dual Cultivation would typically choose a cultivation partner and marry according to the sect¡¯s rules, which forbid sexual relations with others. But somehow, an ambitious Sect Leader emerged within the Joyful Union Sect, disrupting the entire Martial World of the Great Yan and making the sect a target of public criticism, ultimately leading to its eradication by the Xuanyi Guard. The Joyful Union Sect was destroyed, and its sect was burned to the ground. The seal on the mountain still needed protection, so the Court dispatched the Xuanyi Guard to take over. Initially, six members of the Great Heavenly Gang were sent to guard the mountain. Over time, as the Dragon Locking Well was built, the six seals became less critical, so the number of experts sent gradually decreased. Now, there were only two members of the Great Heavenly Gang in Xuwang Mountain, one of whom had recently perished. The Xuanyi Guard hadn¡¯t sent any more experts, so currently, there was just one First Grade member of the Great Heavenly Gang left on the mountain. Even if it had been the deputy Xuanyi Guard Governor Xi Yuanjun himself guarding, with An Jing¡¯s methods, entering the Sealing Land would be an easy task. Xuwang Mountain was neither very tall nor particularly dangerous, but it always gave off an eerie and sinister vibe. The forest on the mountain, full of century-old trees, thick canopies blocking out the sun, added a chill to the mountain¡¯s interior. As An Jing made his way up the mountain at a leisurely pace, gusts of cold wind suddenly swept through. ¡°` ¡°This wind is peculiar.¡± An Jing frowned, his body sprang up onto a branch, agile as a darting swallow, moving forward. Soon, he could see the remains on the top of Mount Xu, where dilapidated walls and broken palace halls presented a scene of desolation and decay. Atop the mountain peak, there stood a complete pavilion. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword in An Jing¡¯s hand emitted a clear, resonating hum of its own accord. ¡°The blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword is inside.¡± An Jing muttered to himself, employing the Concealing Qi Technique as he prepared to approach the pavilion. ¡°Out of wine again.¡± At that moment, an elder cloaked in a large cape emerged from a nearby dwelling, glanced around, and murmured, ¡°Those youngsters have probably gone off to enjoy themselves again. Well, I might as well go buy some myself.¡± Seemingly overcome by his craving for alcohol, the old man hesitated time and again before finally resolving to go down the mountain to purchase wine. Watching the Great Heavenly Gang Xuanyi Guard recede into the distance, An Jing leaped forward and arrived in front of the pavilion. Inside the pavilion, everything was arranged in an ancient and exotic manner, with several mysterious talismans and a number of black iron chains extending down from the ceiling beams, all targeting a massive stone in the center. In the heart of the stone, stood an antique longsword, half of its blade fiercely embedded within. The sword, perhaps weathered by centuries, lacked any signs of sharpness, appearing to be just an ordinary longsword, but unlike other ordinary swords, the embedded half still reflected dazzling light, showing no rust despite the passage of time. The blade part of the Evil Suppressing Sword! Each Evil Suppressing Sword had been placed differently. The one in Fa Xi Temple not only impaled a mysterious corpse but also contained Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, while the one from the Blue River Sect rested in a dark, concealed cave. The Evil Suppressing Sword of Mount Xu was right inside the pavilion, thrust into a giant rock. As if sensing something, the part of the Evil Suppressing Sword embedded in the rock began to emit sounds. An Jing stepped forward, approaching the blade. Instantly, the sounds emitting from the sword became even sharper, intertwined with low growls. On closer inspection, streams of fresh, red blood surged within the shiny blade, much like when An Jing first acquired the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword at Fa Xi Temple. ¡°The blood on the sword¡­.¡± An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed. He remembered what Elder Jiang had mentioned to him about Undying Blood. And then An Jing speculated that the blood on the sword might very well be Undying Blood, although he had no way to confirm it. ¡°Elder Jiang¡­ a master from the Demon Sect.¡± An Jing¡¯s brow wrinkled slightly, then his heart jolted, ¡°Could it be Jiang Shang?¡± Initially, he couldn¡¯t associate anything with Jiang Shang, but shortly after Elder Jiang¡¯s appearance, Jiang Shang returned to the Demon Sect, and ¡®Jiang¡¯ sounds the same as ¡®Jiang¡¯ in Mandarin. ¡°Why would Jiang Shang, the old Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, want to kill me?¡± An Jing felt somewhat confused, ¡°Then why did Qingmei marry me? Or is it that¡­.¡± After pondering for a moment, An Jing didn¡¯t dwell on it further and turned his attention to the Evil Suppressing Sword before him. ¡°I¡¯ll take the blade first.¡± Without hesitation, he grasped the blade with his palm, channeling his Inner Strength into it. ¡°Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!¡± In an instant, a dense network of cracks appeared on the surrounding boulder, radiating outward from the center where the blade was. Boom! Boom! At the same moment the blade levitated, the entire Mount Xu seemed to shake violently. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± Just as the Great Heavenly Gang was about to descend the mountain, he felt the mountain tremble and was instantly alarmed, ¡°Could it be the pavilion?¡± Normally, this sealed land was often disturbed by people wanting to disrupt the seal, causing trouble for the Great Yan Court¡¯s plans and arrangements. However, after the construction of the Dragon Locking Well, the Great Yan Court focused on it, and those people gave up on the idea of causing issues at the other six seals. ¡°` Therefore, there haven¡¯t been any anomalies on Mount Xu for a long time. ¡°That damned guy must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The Great Heavenly Gang thought of something, and with a swing, he threw the wine gourd in his hand to the ground. Then he drew the long blade from his waist and strode menacingly toward the building. Just at that moment, a gigantic Flood Dragon coiled around, and its immense head emerged, a pair of curious eyes watching the Great Heavenly Gang who had returned. ¡°Thump!¡± Seeing eyes as large as lanterns, the Great Heavenly Gang felt his knees weaken and he collapsed to the ground. ¡°I¡­ my memory, wasn¡¯t I going to get some wine? I almost took the wrong path.¡± The Great Heavenly Gang turned around, picked up the wine gourd that had been smashed in two, and shakily crawled away to the distance. ¡°Ghost¡­ Ghost Swordsman.¡± The Great Heavenly Gang turned around, his entire body became ashen, his lips trembling uncontrollably. One of the six great Sword Immortals in the world, the Ghost Swordsman who had slain Grandmasters, was well-known for having a Black Flood Dragon at his side, and in his hand was the Evil Suppressing Sword. It made sense for him to come to Mount Xu to take the Evil Suppressing Sword. Though considered a skilled fighter in the martial world, facing a Sword Immortal like the Ghost Swordsman, his skill was simply inadequate. Inside the building. An Jing continuously pulled out the Evil Suppressing Sword, and as it emerged, the cracks in the huge rock grew larger and larger. ¡°Bang!¡± Finally, at the moment when the sword was completely revealed, the boulder burst apart with a violent cracking sound. ¡°Buzz! Buzz!¡± All three Evil Suppressing Swords resonated with a clear, reverberating chant, and the whole of Mount Xu shook with it. The next moment, a deafening sound exploded beside An Jing¡¯s ear. ¡°Roar!¡± The tremendous noise seemed to come from deep within his heart, yet it rang out like thunder, leaving his mind utterly blank. Before his eyes, the scene blurred, and in that vague space. An Jing saw once more that man in the dragon robe, his hair disheveled, his face unclear, as if two beams of light refracted through him. He held a sword in his hand, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed the Evil Suppressing Sword. The Great Zhou Human Emperor! Yet An Jing furrowed his brows, wasn¡¯t it said that the Evil Suppressing Sword had never recognized a master? The Great Zhou Human Emperor wielded the Evil Suppressing Sword exuding an overwhelming Sword Intent, torrential and supreme, an unrivaled imperial might unstoppable by anything. The Sword Intent of the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor contained the elements of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. It naturally followed the Heavenly Dao, hence the shadow of the Heavenly Dao Sword. And Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword Intent, dreamy and illusory, was a combination of fast and slow movements, both tangible and intangible, rising and falling in cycles, which belonged to the Human Dao Sword. At this moment, the Great Zhou Human Emperor holding the Evil Suppressing Sword had the extraordinary aura of an emperor, with an exceptionally dominating presence, naturally embodying the Emperor Sword. ¡°The Emperor Sword¡­¡± An Jing, sensing the Human Emperor¡¯s Sword Intent, felt like he was being drenched in enlightening dew, as if his mind opened in an instant, and everything he had been struggling to understand these days suddenly became clear. ¡°Each swordsman¡¯s Sword Intent is different, but in the end, they cannot escape these few types of Sword Intents¡­¡± An Jing was deep in thought at this moment, ¡°And what is my Sword Intent?¡± When he first began cultivating his Sword Intent, his mind was cluttered and chaotic, yet there was a distinct energy within him compared to others. One that swallowed mountains and rivers, majestic and grand. The path of a swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship is the road he must walk. At this moment, Mount Xu seemed to fall into silence. Looking up into the heavens, he saw the vastness without bounds, the sky endless, with the Milky Way in motion and the sun and moon rising and falling. The primordial flames of countless ages extinguished themselves within, then rebirthed anew. Standing below, An Jing also raised his head to gaze at the nascent Sword Intent, feeling its immense and boundless nature, with all things in the world incredibly insignificant in comparison. ¡°` At this moment, An Jing finally experienced the sensation Lou Xiangzhen had described to him¨Cthe feeling of being one step away from a breakthrough. Now he had reached that realm, feeling as if one more step would cause the world to undergo a drastic upheaval. A roar pierced through and shattered everything. The light and shadows before his eyes faded away as the Great Zhou Emperor charged forward, merging with the Evil Suppressing Sword into a streak of flowing light. The flowing light forged ahead unabated, rushing forward regardless of everything. An Jing had thought the light would continue endlessly but, all of a sudden, it was halted, pausing in midair and dissipating into nothingness. Whoosh! The ethereal images in front of him vanished, and An Jing snapped back to reality, looking at the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand. What he had just seen seemed unreal, yet it felt as though it had actually happened. He still remembered the first time he saw that exotic beast; he had had a vague vision of another scene. The sword was broken! A life was lost! An Jing took a deep breath and it took him a good while to collect his thoughts and push aside what he had just witnessed. The three Evil Suppressing Swords lay intact within their scabbards. ¡°Only one step away, huh?¡± An Jing looked at the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, feeling somewhat emotional at this moment. Among the Sixth Realm masters of the Human Dao Sword, Heavenly Dao Sword, and Emperor Sword, he had comprehended three types of sword intents, and his own sword intent had also undergone another sublimation. He had now reached the brink of the Sixth Realm, just one step shy of achieving it. The Sixth Realm represented a watershed for top swordsmen. Lou Xiangzhen had once said that his sword intent was vast and profound, making it more difficult for him to reach the Sixth Realm than it would be for an ordinary swordsman, but if he did reach it, his sword skill would be stronger than that of other swordsmen at the Sixth Realm. ¡°The Sixth Realm is just a matter of time.¡± An Jing clenched the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly and stepped out of the pavilion. Outside the pavilion, the sky held a waning moon amidst a scattering of stars. At this moment, the Black Flood Dragon lay sprawled on the ravaged plaza, dozing off in boredom. ¡°It seems that the Great Heavenly Gang of the Xuanyi Guard knows his place.¡± Seeing this, An Jing naturally guessed some of the situation¨Cit must have been the Great Heavenly Gang of the Xuanyi Guard who, upon seeing the Black Flood Dragon sleeping on the ground, beat a hasty retreat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing leaped onto the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s back. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon let out a low growl and darted down the mountain. Mount Xu isn¡¯t high, but its vegetation is lush, particularly the centuries-old tall trees that are plentiful. The speed of the Black Flood Dragon was extremely fast; like a gust of wind, it whisked through the dense forest, and in no time, they had gone from the mountain peak to the mountainside. ¡°Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­¡± An Jing sat cross-legged on the back of the Black Flood Dragon, about to digest the sword intent he had experienced when a breeze blew by, carrying with it a touch of icy chill. ¡°Roar!¡± Suddenly, the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s body halted, letting out a low roar towards something ahead, a sound that bore a mix of fear and alertness. One should know that since the Black Flood Dragon became sentient, this was the first time it had roared in fear. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only An Jing quickly looked ahead. The pale moonlight spilled over Mount Xu, revealing movement in the dense shrubbery ahead. Shortly after, a figure emerged. The figure grasped the body of a dead deer, from which fresh blood was still dripping, evidently long dead, while the person¡¯s mouth and hands were smeared with red blood. Upon seeing An Jing on the Black Flood Dragon, the figure parted his lips in a smile. Under the moonlight, one could see his white teeth stained with fresh blood, and such a bizarre and terrifying sight was enough to send chills down the spine and cool the heart. Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Discussing Fate in the Land Temple Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Discussing Fate in the Land Temple The man¡¯s face was pale without a hint of color, but An Jing recognized him. It was Xuanyi Guard! He was the master martial artist who An Jing had released from the cave on White Horse Mountain. At this moment, the corpse Qi on his body had fully contracted, and if An Jing hadn¡¯t recognized this Xuanyi Guard, he would never have guessed that this blood-drinking man was actually a master martial artist. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­a long time.¡± At this moment, Xuanyi Guard¡¯s mouth was smeared with blood as he looked at An Jing, who stood atop the Black Flood Dragon. The scene was somewhat eerie. ¡°What are you doing?¡± An Jing looked at the wild deer in Xuanyi Guard¡¯s hand and asked in astonishment. Xuanyi Guard grinned and said, ¡°I got hungry, so I came out to find something to eat.¡± ¡°Swoosh, swoosh!¡± An Jing leaped up, then landed in front of Xuanyi Guard, ¡°Do you usually eat these wild tastes?¡± Xuanyi Guard handed the wild deer to An Jing, enthusiastically saying, ¡°These things taste very good, do you want to try some?¡± ¡°No need.¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°I prefer cooked food.¡± ¡°Cooked?¡± A puzzled look appeared in Xuanyi Guard¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve never eaten cooked food?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then have you ever used silver?¡± ¡°Is that the thing you gave me last time?¡± As he spoke, Xuanyi Guard took out the silver An Jing had given him from his bosom. He had been carefully preserving this item, even though he had changed many clothes, he had not dared to discard it. An Jing paused for a moment, then noticing Xuanyi Guard¡¯s clothes, asked, ¡°Where did you get these clothes from?¡± These clothes were unmistakably the attire of the Xuanyi Guard. Could it be that the deceased Great Heavenly Gang was killed by Xuanyi Guard? Xuanyi Guard shook his clothing and said, ¡°Are you speaking of what I¡¯m wearing now? I borrowed it from someone.¡± An Jing blinked and asked, ¡°Is this borrow something that needs to be returned or not?¡± ¡°They¡¯re like this wild deer now.¡± Looking at the deer in his hand, Xuanyi Guard said, ¡°It probably doesn¡¯t need to be returned.¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed the recent disturbances in Xuanyi Guard Mountain had been caused by Xuanyi Guard himself. An Jing pointed to the raw meat in Xuanyi Guard¡¯s hand and said, ¡°What¡¯s tantalizing about this raw meat? Let me cook some for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuanyi Guard scratched his head, then handed over the deer meat he was holding. An Jing found some tree branches, set up the wild deer, and skillfully started to make fire for roasting. Soon the delicious aroma of meat filled the air. Xuanyi Guard¡¯s nose twitched as he remarked, ¡°This smells really good.¡± ¡°Raw is certainly much tastier than cooked.¡± An Jing sprinkled some salt and asked, ¡°By the way, how did you get to Xuanyi Guard Mountain?¡± Xuanyi Guard replied, ¡°I just followed the map you gave me, rushing all the way here, drinking from mountain streams when thirsty, and if hungry I ate these wild flavors.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t take me long to arrive at Xuanyi Guard Mountain.¡± ¡°So, did you find what you were looking for?¡± ¡°I found some clues.¡± Xuanyi Guard¡¯s expression suddenly became silent, ¡°I feel very familiar with this place, as if I had stayed here for a very long time in my past life, and there¡¯s always a voice in my mind ordering me not to leave here.¡± An Jing shook his head after hearing this. Xuanyi Guard was truly mysterious, so mysterious that even his own origins were unclear. Suddenly recalling something, Xuanyi Guard smiled and said, ¡°You can come and see my dwelling, that place is what I¡¯ve been looking for all along.¡± ¡°Your dwelling?¡± An Jing glanced around at the wild and desolate landscape; it hardly seemed a suitable place for human habitation. King Xu seemed somewhat impatient, ¡°Let¡¯s leave the venison here for now. I¡¯ll take you to see the place where you can rest tonight if you wish, at my home.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± An Jing turned to the Black Flood Dragon and said, ¡°Stay here, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± With that, An Jing turned and followed King Xu towards the side of the mountain. Soon, the two of them reached a secluded jungle, which was extremely shady and carried a hint of eeriness. An Jing keenly spotted a green poisonous snake flicking its tongue on a branch. Not just that, there were also numerous other poisonous insects. Any normal person would have retreated three feet away, never venturing further into such a place. King Xu pointed to the strange jungle ahead and said, ¡°It¡¯s inside there, let¡¯s go in.¡± Saying so, he took the lead into it. As soon as his foot entered, a heavy corpse qi spread out, causing the surrounding poisonous insects and fierce beasts to scatter in a frenzy. An Jing followed behind King Xu, walking slowly towards the distance. Passing through the gloomy dense forest, a huge mountain emerged ahead. Within the pitch-black mountain, a dark, hidden cave entrance appeared before An Jing. King Xu pointed to the cave ahead, smiling, ¡°Here we are.¡± An Jing hadn¡¯t even entered yet, but he already felt the air grow heavier and noticed a strange smell at the entrance of the cave. As he stepped inside, he found the cave to be extremely dark, and the furnishings were very simple: just a huge rock with some clothes and bedding on it. The only object of note inside the cave was a wooden table, but nothing was placed on it, which felt a bit cold and stark. At that moment, the dense corpse qi was indeed emanating from deeper within the cave. Looking carefully, the depths of the cave were unfathomably deep, like a bottomless pit. ¡°What is inside here?¡± An Jing pointed towards the depths of the cave, his expression turning somewhat ugly. Just the corpse qi emanating out was terrifying, letting one imagine just how astonishing the corpse qi at the deeper parts of the cave must be. This kind of place, if a common expert stayed too long, they would be contaminated by the corpse qi, and the only outcome would be a path leading to death and extinction. King Xu also looked towards the depths of the cave, speaking in a low voice, ¡°I also don¡¯t know, but my subconscious mind tells me not to enter there, nor allow others to do so.¡± An Jing frowned slightly, remaining silent. The cave was hidden here, certainly not a place that any common expert could find. What secrets were hidden inside, and anything seen currently must be related to King Xu. Corpse qi, a mysterious grandmaster¨Cwhat was the connection? After about a dozen breaths, An Jing began to feel uncomfortable, saying, ¡°This place is not suitable for me to stay long. I think I should leave.¡± The dense corpse qi attacked, almost swallowing him whole. At that moment, residual corpse qi had already lingered in his meridians, needing urgent cleansing. A trace of regret appeared on King Xu¡¯s face, and then something seemed to dawn on him, his eyes brightening, ¡°Right, An Jing, I know there¡¯s a ruined temple on the mountainside that doesn¡¯t have any living people.¡± ¡­¡­. Pingling. The green mountains were lush, and the white clouds drifted leisurely. Upon those mountain ridges, the vegetation was dense, and specks of sunlight came down through the branches, casting mottled shadows. Beneath those shadows, stood several people. They were the experts from Black Ice Platform who were being besieged by the Great Yan Martial World. At this moment, everyone¡¯s expressions were somewhat ragged; the original several First Grade Experts had also suffered heavy losses, including both Leng Xiao and Lin Zisheng who were injured. ¡°Huff¡­..¡± Qi Shu gasped for air, his face somewhat pale. ¡°Lord Qi, are you alright?¡± Stabilizing his breath, Leng Xiao then asked. Qi Shu, holding his chest, slowly said, ¡°That Bai Mei is indeed powerful, with just half a move, he almost severely wounded me; truly a Palace Guardian of the Great Yan Palace.¡± ¡°He was disturbed by my Sealing God Seven Soul Smoke, he probably won¡¯t catch up any time soon.¡± Just before, Qi Shu and Bai Mei, the old eunuch, had clashed with a palm from miles away, and even at such a distance, Qi Shu was still shaken until his blood surged. Luckily, he had prepared the Sealing God Seven Soul Smoke made secretly by Black Ice Platform. Even a top grandmaster would be trapped by Sealing God Seven Soul Smoke, and it would be difficult to break free in a short time. However, this Sealing God Seven Soul Smoke was exceedingly precious, and Qi Shu only had two bottles on him. Fear flashed through Lin Zisheng¡¯s eyes as he whispered, ¡°Earlier I saw, not only the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s experts but also experts from the Great Yan Martial World were there¡­¡± This situation was different from what had been anticipated; unexpectedly, not only were they facing the Royal Family and the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s experts, but they were also being pursued by experts from the Great Yan Martial World. This undoubtedly made their journey from the south back to Zhao Country several times more difficult than expected. Qi Shu looked towards Princess An Le whom Leng Xiao was holding, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, ¡°As long as she remains in our hands, we are invincible.¡± Zhao Xuening¡¯s clothes were torn, and her hair was in disarray, making her appear somewhat disheveled. ¡°Just kill me already,¡± Zhao Xuening said coldly. ¡°Kill you? Have I exerted so much effort just to kill you?¡± Qi Shu slightly restrained his smile and said indifferently, ¡°I heard you went to the Imperial Study Room last month. You must have seen the Great Yan Emperor. Is it true that the Great Yan Emperor was seriously wounded?¡± Zhao Xuening clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Now, the entire world is probably concerned about this matter. No one knows whether it is true or false that the Great Yan Emperor was seriously injured during his seclusion. Not to mention that Zhao Xuening didn¡¯t even know whether her father, the emperor, was really ill; even if she did know, she couldn¡¯t say it. This matter was a major national secret. Once revealed, it would certainly trigger a chain reaction and could even bring disaster to Great Yan, leading to the destruction of the state and leaving the people of Great Yan homeless. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Qi Shu narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Shrr-!¡± ¡°Do you know but refuse to say, or do you really not know?¡± At that moment, Lin Zisheng stepped forward and cruelly tore open Zhao Xuening¡¯s clothes, revealing her pale shoulders. ¡°You!?¡± Zhao Xuening clenched her teeth and glared fiercely at Lin Zisheng, ¡°You are also a person of Great Yan, yet you betray your country to serve foreign robbers? Did a dog eat your conscience?¡± Although she was very fearful inside, the anger in her heart gradually overshadowed her fear. Lin Zisheng didn¡¯t expect the seemingly delicate Zhao Xuening to be so fiery. He chuckled and said, ¡°People of Jianghu, and you talk to me about having a conscience? Those I know who had conscience are all lying underground now.¡± As Lin Zisheng spoke, he planned to continue tearing Zhao Xuening¡¯s clothes. The person before him was a princess of a nation, moreover, the favorite princess of the Great Yan Emperor, and a national beauty, evoking pity. The experts around the Black Ice Platform all looked over, with some lustful evil spirits shining brightly. ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Qi Shu intervened, ¡°I once told the Crown Prince of Houjin that I would give this Princess An Le to him for his pleasure. Since she¡¯s a gift, she naturally must be intact. If her purity is taken now, it would be quite improper.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Zisheng had to stop his actions. Given his status, he naturally knew what was more important between a beauty and his own life. When Zhao Xuening heard Qi Shu¡¯s words, her eyes filled with shame and anger, but she did not scream to further provoke Qi Shu. Leng Xiao, who had been silent, asked, ¡°Lord Qi, we are now being hunted by many masters. What should we do now?¡± Qi Shu stroked his chin, and a thought suddenly struck him. He indifferently said, ¡°Given that numerous masters are hunting us and pursuers are behind us, I think we should split up.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Zisheng frowned slightly, ¡°Split up?¡± Rather than splitting up, he preferred staying by Qi Shu¡¯s side, which was much safer. Qi Shu pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Lin Zisheng, you take all the experts of the Black Ice Platform and head south first, to save the living forces of the Black Ice Platform. My senior brother will meet and guide you later, and there will absolutely be no problem. I will cover the rear and hold them off for now.¡± Lin Zisheng was overjoyed inside but showed a troubled and sorrowful expression, saying, ¡°How can I let Lord go to the rear? I am willing to share Lord¡¯s worries.¡± Qi Shu waved his hand and said, ¡°Forget it. Whether it¡¯s Tang Taiyuan of the Xuanyi Guard or Meng Zhaodou of the Heaven and Earth Net, you are no match for them. Only I can stop these two.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Zisheng sighed, his face overly theatrical. At that moment, Leng Xiao grabbed Zhao Xuening and said earnestly, ¡°I am willing to follow Lord and cover the rear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Qi Shu looked at Leng Xiao deeply, then furrowed his eyebrows sharply, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming. Get ready to leave.¡± Suddenly, a figure clad in black appeared on the twigs afar. ¡°Qi Shu, you can¡¯t escape,¡± The elder gazed coldly at the people below. ¡°Hand over Princess An Le, and I might consider sparing your life.¡± ¡°Meng Zhaodou, do you think you are Bai Mei?¡± Qi Shu laughed loudly and then waved his hand, signaling his men to leave quickly. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Zisheng did not hesitate at all and led the many experts of the Black Ice Platform toward the distance. Leng Xiao, watching Lin Zisheng¡¯s retreating figure, quickly followed with Zhao Xuening in tow. ¡°Put down Princess An Le!¡± Meng Zhaodou shouted, stretching out his hand toward the front. A surge of True Qi came rolling forward, forming a gigantic palm print that moved toward them. ¡°Meng Zhaodou, your opponent is right here.¡± Qi Shu threw a punch furiously. ¡°Boom!¡± The Qi Force vibrated and surged, his fist force sweeping forward like a mountain-shifting and sea-overturning force, completely dispersing Meng Zhaodou¡¯s Qi Force. Meng Zhaodou was a One Qi Grandmaster, his strength was stronger than the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva but roughly equal to the old man Qingfeng, naturally, he was no match for the Second Qi Grandmaster Qi Shu, and was immediately overwhelmed by this punch, causing his inner breath to surge tumultuously. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll kill a Great Yan Grandmaster first to mourn the countless soldiers of Zhao Country who died beneath South Mountain.¡± Qi Shu sneered coldly, then threw another punch. He practiced the Nine Stars Fist, an extremely tyrannical technique that tore through waves and severed seas, and his fist force continued endlessly, containing tremendous hidden force. The most important thing was that each punch was fiercer and more domineering than the last. ¡°Bang!¡± As this punch struck, the air itself exploded with a piercing, turbulent sound. Meng Zhaodou¡¯s True Qi surged out as he met the attack with a palm. ¡°Bang!¡± At the moment of the fist and palm collision, Meng Zhaodou¡¯s face turned pale, and the trees beneath his feet burst apart, turning into myriad pieces of wood scattering into the air. Qi Shu was swift and moved to kill Meng Zhaodou directly. ¡°Swoosh!¡± A long, slender sword light came sweeping in from afar. The sword light was fast! It seemed as if it had ascended from the abyss of hell itself, aiming straight for Qi Shu¡¯s throat, even Qi Shu felt a chill in his heart and continuously floated backward. Meng Zhaodou got a chance to breathe and then landed on the ground, adjusting his internal breath. Meanwhile, Qi Shu¡¯s eyes deepened as he looked into the distance. Approaching from afar was an elder in a green robe, stepping slowly towards them, holding a long sword in his hand that flickered with a cold light, shimmering brilliantly. ¡°Tang Taiyuan, you¡¯ve arrived quite quickly,¡± he said. Qi Shu appeared relaxed on the surface, but inside he was tense. The newcomer was Tang Taiyuan, the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard. The Xuanyi Guard was a blade that the Human Emperor hung over the Great Yan Martial World, and its Great Commander, Tang Taiyuan, was the edge of that blade. His cultivation was profound and unfathomable, rarely taking action, but each time without exception resulted in a great victory. Tang Taiyuan looked at Qi Shu in front of him and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve seen those who send letters from a thousand miles away, but this is the first time seeing someone who sends heads from a thousand miles away.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Hearing this, Qi Shu did not get angry but laughed instead. ¡°My head is right here, whether you can take it down also depends on your abilities.¡± ¡°In this world, how many have survived under my sword?¡± Tang Taiyuan¡¯s long sword was positioned casually, his tone was calm and composed, yet carried an overwhelming aura. Even though facing Qi Shu, Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s most proud disciple, and the one closest to Xiao Qianqiu in ability among his generation, Qi Shu, his expression hardly changed. Yet Qi Shu felt a chill inside, and his hairs stood on end. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The next moment, Tang Taiyuan drew his long sword. The sword light was as fast as a startled swan, and in a few breaths, it had reached in front of Qi Shu. ¡°So fast!¡± Qi Shu was shocked inwardly, but his fist force was already rising, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of Tang Taiyuan. Right then, he shook the Qi Mechanism inside his body and threw a punch forward. ¡°Bang!¡± The air emitted a huge collision sound, like two mountains striking each other, instantly, surging boundless True Qi raged around, sweeping up the winds and sands. Qi Shu felt as if his palm had struck against a mountain, instantly making his arm go numb. His body staggered, almost falling over. In contrast, Tang Taiyuan appeared unaffected, standing firmly, even the gravel under his feet didn¡¯t sink at all, which showed that Tang Taiyuan¡¯s cultivation was above Qi Shu¡¯s. Seeing Tang Taiyuan¡¯s ferociousness, Qi Shu¡¯s heart tightened. At that moment, Meng Zhaodou suddenly leapt up, ready to chase after Leng Xiao and Lin Zisheng. ¡°Meng Zhaodou, why are you in such a rush?¡± Qi Shu shouted coldly, his hands moving like lightning, forcing Meng Zhaodou back with a strike, then he began to gather his Qi Force. The golden light in the air began to converge and then transformed into a tremendous punch force that swept out. ¡°Boom, boom, boom!¡± The force of the fist seemed to make the air itself tremble. Tang Taiyuan held a blade in one hand, the blade flashing with a red glow as if it had an infinite allure, drawing all the surrounding true qi towards it. The originally white blade turned blood-red in an instant, shining brilliantly and dazzlingly. The next moment, he slightly lifted the long blade in his hand, placed his left hand on his shoulder and pushed it rapidly towards his palm, as if all the true qi in his body was surging into that right arm, and then into the long blade. Clang! Clang! Clang! The surging true qi flowed into the long blade, immediately causing the blade to emit waves of agitating sounds, which seemed to transform into tangible waves rippling outward. A vast momentum of the blade suddenly rose. From the long blade, an immense sharp energy spread everywhere, turning the whole world extremely cold, as if the air itself had condensed into threads of ice, even the freely flowing true qi started to slow down. Hiss! Hiss! Tang Taiyuan¡¯s eyes were also incomparably cold, making him seem even more despairing than the long blade. A huge blade radiance suddenly fell from the sky, and the target was Qi Shu below. Qi Shu looked up at the huge sword radiance coming down from the sky, as if it would split heaven and earth. This scene was truly shocking. Qi Shu¡¯s gaze turned cold, as true qi frantically surged within him. Behind him, the aura grew more and more intense, magnificent and vast, with wild winds rising around, even sending some bushes flying. The momentum was terrifying to the extreme, and the violent fluctuations of true qi also caused the heaven and earth to tremble. ¡°Boom!¡± The fist force was unparalleled, bringing with it an unstoppable force as it fell. Bang! Bang! Explosions continued one after another, and a purple light emerged around Tang Taiyuan¡¯s body, blocking the airwaves outside. Amidst the continuous explosions between heaven and earth, only Tang Taiyuan stood quietly in the middle of the purple light, remaining immovable no matter how the attacks destroyed the world. All sounds in the world quieted down at that moment. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! In the forest, the noise of the vibrating qi force resounded through the heavens, unceasing. It was unknown how much time had passed, but the airwaves gradually disappeared. Tang Taiyuan furrowed his brows sharply, seeing that beneath the rising dust there was no one, and Qi Shu¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Has he escaped?¡± Meng Zhaodou¡¯s expression turned very ugly. ¡°Chase!¡± Tang Taiyuan leaped up, turning into an arc of light, ¡°This old man wants his head to sacrifice my blade.¡± ¡­.. North of Pingling. Leng Xiao carried Zhao Xuening and sped through the mountains, moving as fast as the wind. Meanwhile, Zhao Xuening looked around, glanced up at the sun, then suddenly realized with a shock that this was not the way south, but rather heading north. To the north was Yujing City, and naturally, the people from the Black Ice Platform wouldn¡¯t head to Yujing City to court death, so there was only one possibility. Continuing north to Houjin!? Thinking this, Zhao Xuening¡¯s heart grew cold. ¡°Let me go, I need a toilet,¡± Zhao Xuening suddenly shouted. ¡°Just solve it right here,¡± Leng Xiao said indifferently. Upon hearing Leng Xiao¡¯s words, Zhao Xuening felt both embarrassed and annoyed. It seemed in Leng Xiao¡¯s eyes, she was neither a princess of a country nor a breathtaking beauty, but rather more like an animal. ¡°Swoosh! Swoosh!¡± Just then, a gust of wind approached. Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead. ¡°Cough cough¡­ cough cough¡­¡± It was Qi Shu, who now had a pale face and some torn clothes, clearly having suffered some internal injuries during his fight with Tang Taiyuan. Leng Xiao landed in front of Qi Shu, whispering, ¡°Lord Qi, are you alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing significant.¡± Qi Shu waved his hand and a slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, ¡°You do have some brains.¡± ¡°Lord Qi is too kind.¡± Leng Xiao said indifferently. As the saying goes, where there is an anomaly, there must be monsters; where there is a deviation in person, there must be knives; where words carry insincerity, there must be ghosts. How could a person like Qi Shu possibly cover the retreat for Lin Zisheng and the other experts of the Black Ice Platform? Could it be that Qi Shu believes their lives are worth more than his own? If it were a hero of great empathy and righteousness, it might indeed be possible for the sake of face to do so. However, Qi Shu, a cold and ruthless person, would definitely not commit such an act against common sense. Now Lin Zisheng is being sold out and is still helping count money for Qi Shu. Qi Shu took a deep breath and said, ¡°Now that Tang Taiyuan and Meng Zhaodou and others have been lured to move southwards, we will go against the path and enter Houjin. Once we reach Houjin, we will be completely safe.¡± Leng Xiao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Lord Qi is wise and strategic. Just delaying Lin Zisheng for half a day and adding the time it takes for them to regain their senses, which is one day, by the time they catch up, we will already have reached the border area of Yan Country. By then, trying to stop us would be as difficult as reaching the south by ascending to heaven.¡± Zhao Xuening turned pale upon hearing this. If what Leng Xiao said was true, then she would fall into the hands of the barbarians of Houjin¡­. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time; let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Qi Shu then took out an elixir, popped it into his mouth, and said. ¡°Yes.¡± Leng Xiao nodded. ¡­. Dongluo Desert, the far end. Yellow sand stretched endlessly, vast and boundless, with heatwaves assaulting like raging flames. Dongluo Pass is the entrance to the Dongluo Desert, and this place is almost the exit of the desert. To the north are barbarians living a primitive lifestyle of drinking blood and short of supplies, and to the west lies the Western Pure Land. Because of the natural barrier of the desert, these barbarians dreaming of entering Dongluo Pass has always been just a fantasy, hence there has been little interchange historically. In the desert, a figure slowly walked through the heatwaves. His steps seemed slow, but in the blink of an eye, he was tens of meters away. ¡°Bang!¡± At that moment, sand whirlwinds rose from the front, forming a yellow tornado that looked like a soaring dragon from afar. Upon closer inspection, a figure was seated in the middle of it. Sensing someone approaching, the person sitting in the midst of the yellow sand opened his eyes. This person enduring the hardships of the desert was none other than the former master of the Earth Sect, Jiang Renyi. Seeing the visitor, Jiang Renyi expressed surprise, ¡°Elder Yuan, why have you come?¡± Yuan Feng smiled, ¡°Good, looking at your qi mechanism, stepping into the Grandmaster realm is just around the corner for you.¡± ¡°Elder Yuan jests,¡± Jiang Renyi shook his head and said, ¡°The Grandmaster Realm is incredibly difficult to achieve. I am still lacking somewhat; this final step is the hardest.¡± For top geniuses, the leap from Half-step Master to Grandmaster is also a threshold. Even Li Fuzhou has been in this realm for several years and has not yet stepped into the Grandmaster level. Yuan Feng laughed heartily and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. With your current age and talent, Grandmaster is just the beginning.¡± ¡°Elder Yuan, you flatter me.¡± Jiang Renyi smiled and then asked, ¡°Elder Yuan, what urgent matter brings you to the Dongluo Desert today?¡± Given that Yuan Feng was an elder of the Sealing Demon Platform and Jiang Renyi had only seen him a few times when he was the master of the Earth Sect, Yuan Feng¡¯s current visit to find him in the Dongluo Desert couldn¡¯t be simple. ¡°Now is a critical time for the survival of the Demon Sect.¡± Yuan Feng¡¯s expression turned solemn as he said, ¡°You must be aware of Sect Hierarch Zhao entering the Sealing Demon Well?¡± ¡°I know some.¡± Jiang Renyi nodded. Although he did not really follow the outside world much anymore, how could he not have heard of such a major event concerning the Demon Sect? Hearing this news, his heart was full of regret; firstly, regretting Zhao Qingmei¡¯s supreme talent and secondly, lamenting the loss of the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture. Yuan Feng said solemnly, ¡°Now the Demon Sect is managed by Yu Qiurong. The grand reputation of our sect, the legacy of thousands of years, when has it been led by a person of the Heavenly Flower Realm? She is not fit to wield such power.¡± Jiang Renyi¡¯s brows furrowed, and he nodded in agreement. The cultivation in the Heavenly Flower Realm indeed isn¡¯t very high. Seeing Jiang Renyi nod, Yuan Feng directly stated his purpose: ¡°Now that Zhao Qingmei is trapped in the Sealing Demon Well and there¡¯s no hope of her escape, in my view, the Demon Sect cannot be without a leader for a day¡­¡± Jiang Renyi was immediately intrigued: ¡°Oh? Elder Yuan, are you suggesting that I take over as the Sect Hierarch?¡± To say he wasn¡¯t tempted by the position of Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect was impossible. Otherwise, after Zhao Qingmei became the Sect Hierarch, he wouldn¡¯t have harbored so many ulterior motives. However, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s entry into the Grandmaster level had indeed thrown a cold bucket of water on Jiang Renyi, instantly cooling his ambition. With his abilities, competing with Zhao Qingmei for the position of Sect Hierarch was indeed not enough. But now, things were different, Zhao Qingmei was trapped in the Sealing Demon Well, and the Demon Sect had no Sect Hierarch. Yuan Feng said indifferently, ¡°With the support of the Sealing Demon Platform, as long as you want to become the Sect Hierarch, it is a certainty. Duanmu Xinghua, Yi Daoyun, and Lin Tianhai, those people are loyal to the Demon Sect, not Zhao Qingmei. Now that Zhao Qingmei is trapped in the Sealing Demon Well, they won¡¯t say they support you to become the Sect Hierarch, but they definitely won¡¯t obstruct.¡± Jiang Renyi thought for a moment and said, ¡°Zhao Qingmei has two confidants, one is Yu Qiurong, and the other is Qin Bin, the leader of the Xuanwu Sect. These two are not easy to deal with, especially that Qin Bin, who commands the most elite Black Armor Iron Guard¡­¡± Yuan Feng said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, what waves can a Third Grade Cultivation person stir up?¡± Jiang Renyi shook his head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m talking about those seventy thousand elite troops, the only elite soldiers of the Demon Sect. If they were gone, Houjin could destroy Dongluo Pass in an instant¡­¡± These seventy thousand elite were the sole living force of the Demon Sect, and also one of the capitals for competing for supremacy in the world. Yuan Feng smiled from the side, ¡°Rest assured, I have already reached a cooperation agreement with Houjin. Now the Demon Sect and Houjin are allies united at heart, so there is absolutely no need to worry about Houjin.¡± Jiang Renyi looked at Yuan Feng, his brows furrowing deeper. The Demon Sect cooperating with Houjin? Wasn¡¯t this akin to seeking a tiger¡¯s skin? It was known that Houjin had long harbored ambitions to swallow Dongluo Pass and had merely been fearful of the experts of the Demon Sect. Jiang Renyi pondered for a while and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll return to Dongluo Tower with Elder Yuan first.¡± ¡­¡­ Mt. Xu, midway up the mountain. Dense forests layered upon each other, obscuring the sunlight, making it somewhat chilly. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Qi Shu landed, taking a deep breath, ¡°Half a day and a night have passed without encountering any obstacles, presumably the experts within the Great Yan Martial World have all headed south.¡± Leng Xiao nodded, expressing his admiration, ¡°Lord Qi, this move of yours is indeed brilliant.¡± It must be said that Qi Shu¡¯s tactic was somewhat ruthless. Meng Zhaodou and Tang Taiyuan clearly saw the people from Black Ice Platform heading south, but secretly Leng Xiao took Princess An Le northwards. By the time they realized it, the time taken for one action and then a counteraction was sufficient for them to escape the trap. North of Mt. Xu was the Great Yan border region. Once in the Great Yan border region, Great Yan¡¯s control weakened significantly, making it extremely difficult to track their whereabouts. Zhao Xuening was limp, her complexion pale as paper, seemingly on the verge of fainting at any moment. Qi Shu nodded slightly, then looked towards a dilapidated temple in the distance and said, ¡°There¡¯s a broken temple ahead, no Qi Mechanism present. Let¡¯s rest there first.¡± Since the battle with Tang Taiyuan, Qi Shu had yet to rest. Now, having escaped the encirclement, it was naturally time to rest well and recover some strength. As he spoke, the two walked into the temple. The moment they entered the temple, Qi Shu¡¯s brows fiercely knitted together. This was a Land Temple. The stone statues inside were dilapidated, neglected for many years and appeared very disordered. Not far from a stone statue, a man in black robes was sitting cross-legged with a bonfire rack in front of him, apparently preparing to grill something. This man was none other than An Jing. At this moment, seeing Qi Shu, he too was momentarily stunned. Wasn¡¯t it said that Qi Shu was in Pingling preparing to head south? How did he suddenly appear on Mount Xu? ¡°Save¡­ save me¡­.¡± Zhao Xuening was dazed, looking at the figure in black robes ahead, immediately recalling a past brief encounter. This man in black robes knew the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, and thus must be an expert. Currently, with only a faint consciousness, Zhao Xuening subconsciously saw An Jing as her last straw. ¡°Who are you?¡± Leng Xiao raised his eyebrows, his gaze cold as he looked at An Jing. An Jing, seeing Leng Xiao¡¯s tense face, couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°A passing stranger, do you believe that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Leng Xiao said coldly. Zhao Xuening clearly recognized this person and had not sensed any Qi Mechanism from start to finish. The person before them was very likely someone with ulterior motives. ¡°We meet again.¡± Qi Shu, however, remembered and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet again here; it seems we really are fated.¡± ¡°Can we refuse such fate?¡± An Jing sighed, his hand touching the hilt of the Evil Suppressing Sword. Hearing An Jing say this, Zhao Xuening¡¯s eyes dimmed. The man in black robes seemed reluctant to make a move, otherwise, he would have acted when the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva was defeated that day. ¡°If you can¡¯t save me, just kill me instead.¡± With this thought, Zhao Xuening looked towards An Jing, her eyes showing a hint of readiness for death; she would rather die than bear such humiliation. An Jing looked at those phoenix eyes; the most fearsome people in this world are those who aren¡¯t afraid to die. ¡°Fate is not something you can just decide to take or leave as you wish,¡± Qi Shu shook his head and after he finished speaking, he glanced at Leng Xiao beside him. Leng Xiao immediately understood and stepped forward, appearing before An Jing in the next moment. ¡°Bang!¡± With one palm strike, the immense force and mighty Qi shook the air, causing a booming sound. An Jing turned his body and easily dodged the palm strike. ¡°Hm?!¡± Leng Xiao¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. Currently, he was a Half-step Master through medicinal enhancements. Although this status as a Half-step Master was weaker compared to usual, it still signified him as an expert of the Half-step Master level. Leng Xiao struck out with his palm again, but he then realized that no matter how fast or fierce his palm wind was, the man in the black robe easily dodged it, as if toying with him. Leng Xiao, known as ¡®Xiaoxiang Water Cloud,¡¯ was once a senior expert of the Great Yan Martial World, having a significant reputation. Later, when he could no longer advance in cultivation, he withdrew from the Jianghu. Unable to resist the temptation of the Black Ice Platform later, he joined it. After consuming the elixir of the Black Ice Platform, his power greatly increased, and he became a Half-step Master. ¡°Indeed, quite interesting. Then, take another palm strike from me,¡± he announced. Leng Xiao shouted explosively, as all the Inner Strength in his body surged, converging into his arm. ¡°Boom!¡± He struck out his palm, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, his Inner Strength continuously surged, creating spirals of Qi Force. ¡°I will take your head then,¡± An Jing took a light breath, his palm resting on the hilt of the Evil Suppressing Sword at his waist, and then he drew it out sharply. Buzz! Buzz! The Evil Suppressing Sword emitted a sound that trembled the heavens, its three-blade fusion¡¯s power enhanced once again. The sword light was fast! Faster than a blink of an eye! Leng Xiao only felt he blinked once, and the sword light had already reached his neck. Not good! Dread filled his heart, and he attempted to retreat quickly to avoid the exceedingly cold sword light. But it was too late, the sword was even faster than his thought. ¡°Puff!¡± The sword light swept across, and a fountain of blood sprayed forth, followed by a fine head flying into the air. The head tumbled through the air, eventually landing at Qi Shu¡¯s feet, its fierce eyes still staring at him, the terror within them not yet faded. ¡°Thud!¡± Leng Xiao¡¯s body heavily fell to the ground, blood still flowing continuously. ¡°Gulp!¡± Zhao Xuening also suddenly perked up, swallowing her saliva as she watched the scene unfold before her. On the way here, she had witnessed Leng Xiao entering among the Xuanyi Guard like no one else was present, even her uncle Zuo Biwen couldn¡¯t capture him, such a high-level expert. But now, he was gone with a single sword strike. ¡°The Evil Suppressing Sword!?¡± Qi Shu¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted. In that instant, he threw Zhao Xuening who was in his hands aside, ¡°Are you that Ghost Swordsman?¡± Zhao Xuening scrambled and stumbled away, this being the only chance she had had to move in several days besides for necessities and meals. ¡°Perhaps no one has told you that this fate also involves a sword.¡± An Jing¡¯s arm was level with the ground, and the blood from the Evil Suppressing Sword dripped to the ground. In the dilapidated temple, where statues were broken and winds howled mournfully, the two stared at each other, like volcanoes ready to erupt. Qi Shu, with a grave expression, spoke first, asking, ¡°Is your surname Wu?¡± ¡°Does my surname matter that much?¡± An Jing¡¯s demeanor was somewhat indifferent. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Since entering the Jianghu, many had inquired about his identity or name but asking his surname was a first. ¡°It matters a lot.¡± ¡°How much does it matter?¡± ¡°Enough to decide how you die.¡± ¡­.. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Ghost Swordsman Pursues Qi Shu Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Ghost Swordsman Pursues Qi Shu In the Land Temple. The temperature in the air was plummeting rapidly, as if it had grown much colder. Leng Xiao¡¯s body convulsively twitched symbolically before blood began to flow continuously, staining the ground red. Qi Shu¡¯s eyes were like deep pools, without a ripple. And An Jing, without further thought, fixed his eyes on Qi Shu ahead. The sound of the wind howled as the two stared at each other from across the distance. The next instant, Qi Shu¡¯s body leaped and vanished from his spot. He attacked the moment he said he would, giving An Jing no time for a war of words. Fast! Too fast! Although Qi Shu had sustained some minor injuries, his cultivation as a Second Qi Grandmaster far surpassed that of Elder Qingfeng, and even the Grandmaster Meng Zhaodou couldn¡¯t withstand more than a few moves against him. From this, it was clear that the difference of one Qi in the realm of Grandmasters meant a groundbreaking shift in strength. An Jing¡¯s heart tightened, and he thrust the Evil Suppressing Sword forward. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The sword quivered as it shot forward like a spirit snake darting rapidly. ¡°Ding!¡± Qi Shu¡¯s figure appeared in front of the blade, twisted his footstep to dodge the sharp Sword Light, then flicked his finger. That casual flick, as if containing the power of an explosion, traveled along the sword, sending a numbing force up An Jing¡¯s arm, nearly causing the Evil Suppressing Sword to slip from his grasp. The Second Qi Grandmaster was indeed formidable. In the blink of an eye, Qi Shu¡¯s arm reached out again, seemingly unwilling to give An Jing any chance, aiming straight for his throat. Whirr, whirr, whirr! Sword Light flashed, and multiple sharp edges flew down. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Qi Shu felt a chill and hastily turned his claw into a palm, slamming it ruthlessly forward. ¡°Bang!¡± This palm of Hand Force landed solidly on An Jing¡¯s chest. ¡°Step, step, step¡­¡± An Jing retreated continuously, each step leaving a deep dent in the ground, testament to the domineering Force of Qi Shu¡¯s palm. Qi Shu stared intently at the man in the black robe, slowly saying, ¡°The people of Tian Yin have been hiding for three hundred years, but they can¡¯t hide any longer.¡± An Jing responded indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you understand.¡± Qi Shu clenched his fists, making a crackling sound. An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly; he could feel the surging, vigorous Qi Force, rolling and emerging like the ceaseless flow of a river. Qi Shu threw a heavy punch at An Jing, turning into a wild current of True Qi that caused the air to tremble. A gleam of sharpness appeared in An Jing¡¯s eyes and he swung the Evil Suppressing Sword while silently reciting the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra. Golden light shone like thousands of arrows, and behind An Jing an ancient Great Buddha appeared, radiating a supreme and irresistible force. Om! An Jing swung out his arm holding the Evil Suppressing Sword with a surge of golden light on his body¡¯s surface, the explosive momentum dispersing the surrounding windstorms. That sword, with tens of millions of pounds of force, shattered the air in front, carrying an indescribable terrifying power that swept forth and slammed head-on into the incoming Fist Force. Bang! The two violently collided, causing the whole Land Temple to tremble at that moment as An Jing was forced to step back. After retreating several steps, a glint of cold light appeared in An Jing¡¯s eyes, followed by a pointing of his left hand. Nine Yang Divine Finger! Crack! Crack! Visible cracks swiftly spread out from under An Jing¡¯s finger, quickly engulfing the vast current of Qi Force. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, the huge stream was filled, and with a loud bang, the True Qi burst that could drown a Half-step Master shattered and dispersed into white smoke. The Qi Mechanism exploded, An Jing¡¯s blood surged and all his organs throbbed with pain. At this moment, his Inner Strength surged like a tide, and with the three combined sword bodies of the Evil Suppressing Sword, every move was infused with the force of an erupting volcano. ¡°Interesting¡­.¡± Qi Shu¡¯s figure appeared, looking at the Sword Qi that An Jing had shattered and shaking his head, he said, ¡°If this is all you have, survival will be difficult.¡± As soon as these words fell, Qi Shu waved his sleeve, and the explosive stream of True Qi turned into a sweeping barrage of countless arrows, raining down upon An Jing like an unavoidable storm. Boom! Boom! White streams of Qi Force danced, forming shimmering shards like a sky full of falling stars. An Jing¡¯s heart shuddered, an unprecedented sense of crisis surged to his mind. Evasion was critical! Clutching the Evil Suppressing Sword, An Jing had no intention of going head-to-head with Qi Shu. Whoosh! An Jing¡¯s figure suddenly vanished from the spot, executing the Soaring Nine Heavens movement technique. Bang bang bang! The overwhelming Qi Force descended heavily upon the ground, and the resulting tremors that followed broke the silence far and wide. The stone statue instantly shattered, and the entire Land Temple lay in ruins, a complete mess. Fortunately, Zhao Xuening was hiding in a corner and was not affected. An Jing barely dodged the assault but felt a chill in his heart. Boom! The very next moment! As if a volcano had erupted all at once, a terrifying Qi Mechanism burst forth, breaking through the roof of the Land Temple. With an indifferent expression, Qi Shu exerted a powerful True Qi pressure that made An Jing¡¯s breathing stall. The boundless True Qi, like a storm, raged across the sky. Qi Shu clenched his fist, and the Fist Force roared in like the tide. In a matter of breaths, the Fist Force seemed to condense into a layer shining with starlight. Following it was the overwhelming Qi Mechanism, a sweeping chill that resembled a dazzling galaxy. From a distance, it was indeed spectacular. However, beneath that splendor lurked a heart-palpitating danger. The layer of starlight magnified rapidly in An Jing¡¯s pupils, and he took a deep breath, his expression becoming slightly solemn. The Nine Stars Fist grew more formidable with each punch, especially the ninth punch. It was rumored that the ninth punch was akin to a meteor falling, its vast Heavenly might unstoppable. Few could execute the ninth punch, and even fewer could withstand it. The enormous Fist Force descended like a mountain, erupting with a thunderous noise. An Jing could distinctly feel as if the air around him had exploded, as if he were in a strange and terrifying space. Humming! Humming! Without the slightest hesitation, An Jing gathered all his Inner Strength onto the Evil Suppressing Sword, from which dazzling light began to shine. The Evil Suppressing Sword was raised, and An Jing, along with the sword, merged as one with heaven and earth. The Sword Skill rose, majestic and towering like mountains and rivers, elusive yet magnificent. Hundred-step Flying Sword! An Jing seemed to disappear, leaving only a Sword Radiance that pierced through heaven and earth, descending from the skies. ¡°Such a formidable Sword Dao¡­..¡± Qi Shu¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of seriousness, unable to sense such majesty from any other swordsman before. And the moment the Sword Light and Fist Force collided, the heavens and the earth seemed to pause. ¡°Crack crack crack crack crack!¡± The Sword Light instantly shattered, and a great deal of the Fist Force was also diminished. ¡°Bang bang bang bang!¡± The remaining force crashed viciously against the golden light around An Jing¡¯s body, then turned into waves of Qi Force. Blood trickled down An Jing¡¯s mouth as he gasped for air. Qi Shu¡¯s gaze was icy; his Nine Stars Fist had only begun to exert its power, while the Ghost Swordsman opposite had already given it his all. ¡°Roar!¡± At that instant, a low roar erupted from the distant horizon. Following the sound, Qi Shu saw a massive black Flood Dragon soaring into the sky. ¡°Black Flood Dragon!?¡± Such an Exotic Beast was extremely ferocious and brutal by nature, known to feed on humans as recorded in ancient texts, yet here it was being subdued by someone. The Black Flood Dragon glared furiously at the Qi Shu ahead, baring its teeth and displaying its fierceness. Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s heart somewhat relaxed, but he did not completely lower his guard. Despite the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s display of ferocity, without the experience of battle, it was uncertain if it could match Qi Shu. Qi Shu¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, intimidated by the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s formidable force, he did not rush to act. ¡°Tap tap tap tap¡­.¡± At that moment, a figure approached from afar. The man, clad in a black cloak and robust in stature, had a particularly pale face. He was carrying two plump wild chickens in his hand. Qi Shu¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, shocked, ¡°Who are you?¡± To approach within ten paces of him without making a sound, there were not many in this world who could achieve that. This was none other than Prince Xu returning from hunting. Prince Xu didn¡¯t answer Qi Shu¡¯s question but instead countered, ¡°Do you know where this place is?¡± Qi Shu¡¯s brows remained knitted, his mind racing to think of any experts in Great Yan who could be hidden in that drainage ditch for a thousand years. ¡°This is my territory, how dare you strike at my friend on my ground?¡± An Jing¡¯s gaze turned icy, and his body trembled, his foot stomped vigorously, and the ground beneath him collapsed, while his figure turned into a black light and instantly disappeared from the spot. A tide of corpse Qi surged like rivers and seas, rushing towards Qi Shu. Without any fancy moves, just a punch slammed down, and the air seemed to be squeezed and deformed. Qi Shu had no hesitation and his true Qi surged into his arm as he threw a punch in response. ¡°Bang!¡± The moment their fists collided, Qi Shu¡¯s face changed dramatically and he retreated step after step towards the rear. ¡°Strong!¡± The overbearing force shook the Qi and blood in his body violently, and then that raging corpse Qi directly rushed into his internal organs. ¡°I really want to see who you are!¡± Qi Shu shouted coldly, his momentum continually rising, and he threw another punch. His Nine Stars Fist had a continuous, unending flow of Qi force, growing stronger as it progressed, so he was not afraid even though he was at a disadvantage at the moment. An Jing didn¡¯t use any martial arts but simply punched out. Thus, the two wildly overbearing fists collided heavily. Boom! A violent burst of light swept through heaven and earth, as if a raging sun rose from the place where the fists met, and terrible true Qi shockwaves ravaged the ground, which collapsed layer by layer under the impact. Bang! As true Qi swept through, Qi Shu¡¯s figure was sent flying backward again. He stepped through the air, each step leaving a depression in the ground beneath him. It was only after retreating dozens of steps that he managed to forcefully stabilize himself. ¡°Again!¡± Standing in that Qi force gale, An Jing looked like an unbeatable statue, overtly dominating as he punched out once more, except this time, as his fist roared, not only the terrifying physical strength burst forth, but also that overwhelming flowing corpse Qi like a deluge. It was like a black torrent piercing through heaven and earth, and anything in its path would be utterly destroyed. Seeing this, Qi Shu felt his heart leap to his throat. He quickly circulated the true Qi in his body and punched towards the front one after another. ¡°Bang bang bang bang bang!¡± But at the moment his fist collided with the black torrent, it instantly shattered and turned into nothingness. ¡°Ah!¡± The aftermath of the black Qi force swept through, causing Qi Shu¡¯s hair accessories to shatter, his clothes to tear, and blood to stream from his mouth, immediately looking extremely distressed. Three punches! Just three punches! Qi Shu, the one who had stirred up troubles in the Great Yan Martial World, who had escaped from under Bai Mei, and had fought Meng Zhaodou, the Second Qi Grandmaster, was now severely injured by An Jing with just three punches. ¡°Is this An Jing¡¯s true strength?¡± Seeing this, An Jing revealed a hint of astonishment. An Jing¡¯s strength was truly formidable; Qi Shu was also a top-level expert, yet now he was utterly powerless against An Jing. An Jing¡¯s strength may very well be at the Third or even Fourth Qi Grandmaster level; compared to Xiao Qianqiu, he probably wouldn¡¯t be much less. ¡°You¡­ who exactly are you?!¡± Qi Shu¡¯s face was filled with horror as he stared at An Jing; he had never heard of such a formidable expert in Great Yan before. An Jing turned to look at An Jing and said, ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Kill.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Since they had already offended each other, they might as well go all out. Any revenge that could be avenged should not wait for another day. Moreover, Qi Shu was a Second Qi Grandmaster; if his body could produce Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence after death, it might even aid in his own cultivation. ¡°Alright.¡± An Jing, upon hearing this, looked towards Qi Shu. His eyes were devoid of any emotion, just like how he had looked at the dead deer the night before. Feeling a chill in his heart, Qi Shu felt the threat of imminent death and quickly reached for his waist. ¡°Be careful!¡± An Jing saw Qi Shu¡¯s subtle movement and hurriedly shouted a warning. No sooner said than done. Qi Shu took out a palm-sized object and threw it towards the ground. Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke emerged, engulfing An Jing. Right after that, with a fierce glint in his eyes, Qi Shu charged towards An Jing. ¡°Courting death!¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits when he saw this. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The Black Flood Dragon roared angrily, and the sky above was covered with dark clouds. Suddenly, a thunderbolt that resembled an angry dragon crashed down from the sky, falling straight like a black sword. Qi Shu felt a twinge in his heart and subconsciously retreated backward. ¡°Bang!¡± The black lightning struck the ground heavily, shaking Mount Xu. A deep pit nearly thirty feet wide appeared before them, still emitting black smoke. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon, seeing this, roared triumphantly. ¡°Such a terrifying Black Flood Dragon¡­¡± Qi Shu was secretly alarmed, and at the same time, the black smoke surrounding Mount Xu gradually dissipated, spreading a thick corpse qi. ¡°If I don¡¯t leave now, it¡¯ll be too late¡­¡± Heart set, Qi Shu could no longer care about the princess in the temple. He immediately executed the Shrinking Land into Inches technique and fled toward the distance. ¡°He¡¯s running?¡± An Jing watched the direction in which Qi Shu disappeared, frowning immediately. At that moment, the corpse qi of King Xu broke through the black smoke left by Qi Shu. ¡°Where did that guy go?¡± King Xu asked. ¡°He ran. I¡¯ll give chase now.¡± Seeing King Xu break free, An Jing leaped onto the dragon¡¯s back in an instant. King Xu nodded, expressing difficulty, ¡°Unless there¡¯s a special situation, I cannot leave this place.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s doubtful he¡¯s a match for the Black Flood Dragon.¡± An Jing shouted lowly, ¡°Fast, catch up to him!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon let out a low roar and then shook its body, chasing after him. ¡­¡­ Two hundred li south of Pingling. Among the woods, the killing intent was pervasive, a bloody battle waged on. Countless corpses lay on the ground, dyeing the forest a vivid red. At this moment, Lin Zisheng leaned against a large tree, gasping for air. In front of him stood several experts from the Great Yan Martial World, including Youfeng Valley¡¯s Valley Master Zuo Biwen, Blue River Sect¡¯s Elder Zhao Liangdong, and Dai Danshu of the Five Poison Sect, among other martial arts masters. They had him surrounded, sealing off any chance of survival. The experts of the Black Ice Platform couldn¡¯t form an effective resistance and were all slain in less than half an incense stick¡¯s time. Dai Danshu said coldly, ¡°Lin Zisheng, why betray Great Yan to side with Zhao Country, willing to be someone else¡¯s dog?¡± The grudge between Yan and Zhao had lasted a long time and penetrated the blood of everyone involved. Dai Danshu himself had participated in the wars between the two countries and had killed numerous generals from Zhao Country. Lin Zisheng wiped the blood from his mouth and sneered, ¡°Dai Danshu, you are also the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, how can you ask such a foolish question?¡± ¡°Sect Leader Dai, don¡¯t waste words on him.¡± Zuo Biwen held back Dai Danshu, who was about to speak, and said gravely, ¡°Tell us, is Princess An Le in Qi Shu¡¯s hands, and is he headed south right now?¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Lin Zisheng burst into laughter without replying. Seeing this, everyone present frowned deeply. ¡°Swish! Swish!¡± ¡°Swish! Swish!¡± Just then, a figure descended from afar. It was none other than Meng Zhaodou. ¡°Lord Meng!¡± Zuo Biwen and Dai Danshu both greeted him with a bow. Meng Zhaodou¡¯s expression was rather grim, ¡°Qi Shu has disappeared without a trace. He¡¯s nowhere to be found along the way; we may have been deceived. This Lin Zisheng might just be bait.¡± On his rapid journey southward, despite his incredible speed, he had not seen Qi Shu since their brief encounter at Pingling. This was somewhat strange, unless Qi Shu had hidden himself in that little valley and did not emerge. ¡°What!?¡± Zuo Biwen exclaimed, and his eyebrows knitted into a ¡®Chuan ¡® shape. Upon hearing Meng Zhaodou¡¯s words, Lin Zisheng¡¯s smile suddenly froze on his face. Upon realizing the implications, ¡°Qi Shu and Leng Xiao¡­¡± Considering what the two had said, Lin Zisheng felt as if struck by a bolt of lightning. So much for covering for him; turns out he was nothing but a pawn to be discarded. ¡°Foolish!¡± Dai Danshu looked at Lin Zisheng, the corner of his mouth curled in scorn. ¡°Speak, where is Qi Shu now!?¡± Zuo Biwen¡¯s features twisted into a ferocious mask as he grabbed Lin Zisheng by the collar and roared. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know either.¡± Lin Zisheng gave a bitter smile. Meng Zhaodou pondered for a moment and said, ¡°All the checkpoints along the Great Yan and Zhao Country borders are guarded by soldiers. Brother Wind and Lord Tang have also headed to Jiangbei Dao. If Qi Shu is alone, the chances of him being discovered are very slim, but if he¡¯s with the Princess, it would be impossible not to expose their whereabouts¡­¡± Thinking of this, a cold gleam flashed in Meng Zhaodou¡¯s eyes, ¡°Could it be that Qi Shu has made a feint to the north?¡± As his words fell, the entire forest fell into silence. All the masters who heard this felt a chill in their hearts. They knew that a high-level cultivator like Qi Shu would definitely require another master of the same level to deal with him. Moreover, most of the masters capable of confronting Qi Shu were in the south of Pingling. Even if the news was sent to Yujing City, Qi Shu would have likely already escaped by now¡­ ¡°Then¡­ what do we do now?¡± At this moment, Zuo Biwen¡¯s mind was in complete disarray, and he was panicking. He didn¡¯t dare to imagine the disgrace it would be if Qi Shu had indeed abducted Zhao Xuening. Moreover¡­ It wasn¡¯t just Zuo Biwen feeling this way, all the masters present had a shadow cast over their hearts. If Qi Shu really had left Great Yan, the consequences would be unimaginable. Meng Zhaodou took a deep breath and said, ¡°You continue the search to the south, I will head north.¡± Having said that, Meng Zhaodou performed the Shrinking Land into Inches technique and rapidly moved toward the north. Suddenly, the forest became quiet once again. Zuo Biwen stared fixedly at Lin Zisheng, ¡°A dog like you who betrays his own side should go to hell!¡± With that, Zuo Biwen clenched his palm tightly. ¡°Crack!¡± Lin Zisheng¡¯s neck was twisted, and his internal organs were shattered by the powerful Qi Force, cutting off his breath instantly. ¡°That¡¯s too easy a death for this traitor,¡± scoffed the Five Poison Young Master. ¡­¡­ North of Xuwang Mountain. In the forest, a figure staggered forward hastily. This person was Qi Shu, the man whom the Great Yan Martial World was currently searching for, and he looked somewhat flustered at the moment. Shrinking Land into Inches is a hallmark of a Grandmaster, but it consumes a lot of True Qi and is not a method used for traveling long distances. Qi Shu, after a fierce battle on Xuwang Mountain, had very little True Qi left and dared not use Shrinking Land into Inches excessively. ¡°What is the background of that person? Aside from Bai Mei on the Capital Road, how could there be such a strong master?¡± Qi Shu¡¯s face was gloomy as he recalled the encounter. Not only was that person¡¯s strength nearly equal to Bai Mei¡¯s, but his origins were also extremely mysterious, and his martial arts had no recognizable style. ¡°Ghost Swordsman, Tian Yin¡­¡± The more Qi Shu thought about it, the more frustrated he was. This time, not only had he failed to kill the Ghost Swordsman, but he had also lost Princess An Le and sustained serious injuries, a total loss. Suddenly, the sky above became overcast with clouds, and it darkened instantly. ¡°This is bad!¡± Qi Shu cursed inwardly and immediately stopped, hurrying away into the distance. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± A thunderous noise erupted from the clouds, striking exactly where Qi Shu had just been. The ground exploded, stones flew, and a vast expanse of black smoke appeared. Qi Shu looked into the distance and saw the Black Flood Dragon soaring in mid-air, with a man in a black robe standing on its back. An Jing wore a faint smile and said, ¡°Why the rush? Do you really want to miss the fate between us?¡± Qi Shu glanced at An Jing and then leaped, instantly appearing several yards away. ¡°Chase after him,¡± An Jing narrowed his eyes and commanded. With a low growl, the Black Flood Dragon rapidly pursued. ¡°Boom!¡± Qi Shu stepped on a tree limb and continued to flee into the distance, with thunder blasting behind him. If he was even a step slower, he could have been struck by the lightning. ¡°Old man, quite the runner you are. No wonder so many people couldn¡¯t catch you,¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but sneer as he watched Qi Shu¡¯s agile form ahead. ¡°Shh!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword flew from its scabbard, turning into a streak of cold light heading towards Qi Shu. In the blink of an eye, the cold light split into three sword lights, each carrying an edge of biting cold. Sword Control Technique! The Hundred-step Flying Sword and the Sword Control Technique had similarities, but also differences. The Sword Control Technique¡¯s power focussed on a single point, showing weakness thereafter, was a move intended to kill. Qi Shu only felt a bone-chilling pain in his back and, as if by instinct, his True Qi gathered in his fist before he struck backwards with all his might. ¡°Bang!¡± Two of the Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s blades were directly hit, while the remaining blade was evaded by Qi Shu. Although he had broken An Jing¡¯s sword move, that thunderbolt still mercilessly struck down. ¡°Boom!¡± The thunder raged across Qi Shu¡¯s body, jolting every inch of his skin and flesh, making his already wretched state even more withered. Such a thunderbolt was powerful enough to directly kill a Half-step Master. Fortunately, Qi Shu¡¯s will was extremely firm, and he gritted his teeth and continued to rush toward the distance. The Black Flood Dragon¡¯s large eyes gleamed with excitement, following closely behind him, constantly brewing thunder and ready to strike Qi Shu at any moment. Running all the way, they had inadvertently covered a distance of thirty li. Qi Shu led the way, while An Jing stood on the back of the Black Flood Dragon. An Jing, standing on the dragon¡¯s back, said coldly, ¡°Qi Shu, I refuse to believe that the True Qi in your body is as inexhaustible as the ocean¡¯s waters, even the ocean will run dry one day.¡± At this moment, Qi Shu was extremely bedraggled; he had roamed the Jianghu all his life and had never suffered such humiliation, he swore in his heart that as long as he escaped with his life, he would return today¡¯s humiliation a hundredfold, no, a thousandfold. On the official road, at a tea shed. A young hero couldn¡¯t help but grip his teacup tightly with a face full of indignation, saying, ¡°It¡¯s outrageous that Qi Shu, that old thief, is so despicable; it¡¯s infuriating that I lack the strength to kill him.¡± ¡°This man is truly despicable and shameless, I wonder if so many masters from Great Yan have surrounded and possibly executed Qi Shu by now.¡± The bearded giant next to him was also filled with righteous indignation. The name of Qi Shu was now thunderous in the Great Yan Martial World, making everyone gnash their teeth in anger. After all, kidnapping Princess An Le was a matter concerning the honor and disgrace of the entire Great Yan. The young hero was about to speak when he saw the bearded giant looking up at the sky in horror, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The bearded giant stumbled with his words, ¡°That¡­ that is¡­¡± The young hero looked where he was pointing and exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s actually a Flood Dragon! It¡¯s really a Flood Dragon!¡± The Flood Dragon was a creature mentioned only in ancient texts, and now it was appearing before their eyes in reality; how could they not be excited? ¡°There¡¯s someone on the dragon¡¯s back, could it be the rumored Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°Who is he chasing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it seems to be Qi Shu.¡± ¡°How could it be Qi Shu!?¡± ¡°My God, the Ghost Swordsman is chasing Qi Shu, he¡¯s really after Qi Shu.¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s follow and see.¡± ¡­¡­ At that moment, everyone looked up at the sky, their hearts swelling with emotions and shock. But Qi Shu and the Black Flood Dragon moved too fast, vanishing into the sky in the blink of an eye. The crowd seemed to snap to their senses and frantically gave chase. Qi Shu in the lead, Black Flood Dragon in pursuit. Qi Shu¡¯s speed was extremely fast, and each time he was almost caught, he used the Shrinking Land into Inches technique to momentarily create some distance. Although the Black Flood Dragon was incredibly fast in flight, it was hard to catch up with Qi Shu, who was running for his life. The chase stretched for over three hundred li. Passing tea stands and cities along the way, it attracted countless Jianghu masters; everyone was struck with astonishment and followed along, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. But their Cultivation was not high, and they simply couldn¡¯t keep up with the two figures. Nevertheless, a dense and spectacular procession had already formed along the way, a sight truly rare to behold. The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s pursuit of Qi Shu over three hundred li! When word of this spread, the name of the Ghost Swordsman would shake the world. Three hundred li had brought them outside the boundaries of Capital Road, and unknowingly, they¡¯d arrived at the Great Yan Border. Fifty li further north would be Houjin. The wind and sand rose as it howled. At this moment, Qi Shu¡¯s face was tired, and his body was swaying. Not only did he have to run all the way, but he also had to keep an eye on the pursuit behind him, which had caused his nerves to be stretched to their limits; he felt as if he was on the verge of collapsing. ¡°Boom!¡± Suddenly, a dull thunder resounded, instantly waking him up considerably and igniting the anger in his heart once more. ¡°Ghost Swordsman, if you let that Black Flood Dragon release another thunderbolt, believe it or not, I¡¯ll hide in the Great Yan cities. When the thunder strikes then, it will be the Great Yan commoners who die.¡± Unable to bear it anymore, Qi Shu staggered to a halt and turned around to bellow his fury. Three hundred li! He had been chased for a full three hundred li! Qi Shu was a top expert from Zhao Country, a man of high status and authority; when had he ever suffered such humiliation? Rushing all this way, the True Qi within him was nearly depleted; if it continued like this, he would sooner or later be tired to death. ¡°Our fate, wasn¡¯t it you who chose it?¡± An Jing had no desire to waste words with Qi Shu. ¡°Kill him for me!¡± After all, if a grudge had been formed, then best to resolve it decisively¨Csimply kill and be done with it. The Black Flood Dragon let out an enraged roar, and in an instant, thunder and lightning resounded throughout the sky. Qi Shu nearly coughed up blood. Now, he was filled with regret. Knowing that such a doomed fate awaited him in this decrepit temple, he would rather have never set foot in it his entire life. Before he even had the chance to catch his breath, the lightning was already crashing down. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The roaring thunder was deafening. If struck by it, even someone with Qi Shu¡¯s cultivation would be stripped of a layer of skin. Qi Shu could only hurriedly dodge the bolts, not letting the violent lightning strike him. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The thunder struck the ground, instantly creating a vast crater and flinging debris into the air. Though Qi Shu was unharmed, the ordeal left him in even more of a sorry state. ¡°Not good!¡± Qi Shu felt the sky darken above him and, looking up, he saw the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s claw striking down at him. Such an exotic beast had a formidable and powerful body. Even with his Master Cultivation, being hit by such a claw would be no small matter. Qi Shu could only dodge awkwardly again as the claw tore a huge pit into the ground, illustrating the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s fearsome power. ¡°Hiss!¡± An Jing leapt into the air, the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand as if surrounded by a blazing flame, its bright glow shining brilliantly, blinding Qi Shu¡¯s eyes. The blade quivered as if carrying the furious wrath of starfire burning the heavens. Four Symbols Sword Technique! Fire Burning Sky! The Four Symbols Sword Technique was the signature move of the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor, a genuine Heavenly Martial Level martial art. ¡°Seeking death!¡± A glint of sharpness flashed in Qi Shu¡¯s eyes. That enigmatic Xu Wang was too powerful, beyond his match, and the Black Flood Dragon was an extremely ferocious exotic beast. Wasn¡¯t he capable of dealing with this Half-step Master? Bang! Qi Shu threw a punch, shattering the flames that were before him. The scattered flames were pierced through, and immediately, three streaks of cold light emerged, stabbing towards him like meteors. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± Qi Shu was caught off guard, rapidly retreating backwards. Hundred-step Flying Sword! Those three streaks of cold light charged forward rapidly, as if they were three peerless swordsmen. It had to be said that the Evil Suppressing Sword was a blade born to be wielded by An Jing. The three Flying Swords were one with the wind, one like thunder, magnificent in its power, and the last, with fire, flames surging tumultuously. They embodied the Four Symbols Sword Technique¡¯s Wind Unstoppable, Thunderous Movement, and Fire Burning Sky. The peak of the Fifth Realm sword skill was pushed to the utmost, a formidable, unstoppable force spreading out. Qi Shu retreated dozens of steps before he took a deep breath, his fingers clenching tightly as Qi Force thundered sonorously to life. He formed a fist with one hand and hurled it ruthlessly towards the oncoming sword light. Boom! The moment his fist landed, True Qi surged over him like a blanket and transformed into a fiery meteor beneath his fist. Nine Stars Fist! Earth Fire Meteor! Qi Shu¡¯s punch was aggressively dominant, its awe-inspiring might such that even ordinary One Qi Grandmasters would have their courage shattered under its force, unable to confront it. Against An Jing, he dared not hold back any True Qi, and intended to slay him outright, as this was his only chance for survival. Boom! The two terrifying forces clashed. Boom boom boom! Qi Force spread out in shockwaves, surrounding stones shattered, and a gust of wind suddenly rose, blurring the vision of both combatants. ¡°Tap tap tap tap¡­¡± An Jing was forced back by the shockwave of Qi Force, continuously retreating. With a resolute heart, Qi Shu, who was drained of True Qi, began burning his Essence Blood. As the Essence Blood boiled and burned, that abundant power once again surged through his body. Boom! Qi Shu stomped on the ground, causing it to explode, and from the center of his footprint, a web of cracks like spiderwebs formed. This moment was as if mountains crumbled and the earth split apart. Under his feet was no longer the earth, but rather an expansive, unbounded Star River. Nine Stars Fist! Nine Star Chain! Qi Shu¡¯s eyes held unfathomable depths as he threw a punch forward. The fearsome Fist Force vibrated through the air, and even the air itself seemed to crackle with the impact, like a massive mountain plummeting down, unstoppable. ¡°Old man, are we fighting to the death?¡± An Jing raised his arm, and the Evil Suppressing Sword suddenly flew out, as if the mountains and rivers reversed themselves on that blade edge in an instant. A massive flying sword appeared out of nowhere, spanning the world, a boundless sharp qi surged forth, piercing Qi Shu¡¯s heart with a chill. This sword light soared to the skies! This sword skill shook the mountains and rivers! One after another, terrifying sword radiance surged, the bone-chilling sharpness seemingly freezing the True Qi in Qi Shu¡¯s body, rendering him unable to move. Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Flying Immortal! This was the ultimate martial arts of the Unity Sword Technique. An Jing had always treated this move as a secret skill and had cultivated it to the realm of perfection, completely mastering it. The huge flying sword rose, the closer it got, the more one could feel its piercing chill. When the sword tip touched the Fist Force, it was as if the air itself had solidified. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± An Jing and Qi Shu both vomited blood, injured by the reverberating force. Thud! A deep sound echoed. The ground beneath their feet suddenly collapsed, and a ring-shaped shockwave wreaked havoc, lifting up waves of crippling Qi Force several meters high, thundering towards the distance. The sound of crashing and howling filled the air! Countless trees turned into flying sawdust, and the surroundings became a wasteland. An Jing bit the tip of his tongue, and his body leaped forward. ¡°Shick!¡± The cold sword light pierced through the rolling Qi waves, relentlessly advancing forward as if it was going to completely submerge Qi Shu ahead. At this moment, Qi Shu was already exhausted, his eyes bulging with rage, he could only watch as An Jing charged towards him. ¡°Am I really going to die?¡± This was the last thought in Qi Shu¡¯s mind. He had envisioned his own death, but never expected it to be today. The Evil Suppressing Sword¡¯s tip flickered with a cold light, extremely sharp, the clear ringing of the sword resonating in all directions, aiming straight for Qi Shu¡¯s forehead. ¡°Not good!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Just then, a terrifying presence arrived from afar, a formidable force that An Jing had never encountered before. It was like a mountain on one¡¯s chest, leaving no room to breathe, causing the brain to enter a state of blankness. A giant palm descended from the sky, crashing down fiercely. ¡°Bang bang bang bang!¡± An Jing¡¯s Sword Qi was completely neutralized, and his body was so pressed down that he couldn¡¯t move, only able to roar, ¡°Kill him for me.¡± The Black Flood Dragon roared, and clouds gathered in the sky, followed by a thunderbolt that crashed down hard on Qi Shu. ¡°Boom!¡± Qi Shu had no chance to resist and was directly hit by the thunder, instantly losing consciousness and collapsing on the ground. The giant palm didn¡¯t bother with An Jing anymore, it grabbed Qi Shu¡¯s body in one swoop. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± An Jing struck with the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, a beam of sword light swept towards the giant palm. But the palm¡¯s shadow moved incredibly fast, vanishing with Qi Shu¡¯s body in the blink of an eye. ¡°Sizzle sizzle!¡± ¡°Sizzle sizzle!¡± The piercing sword light swept across the ground, immediately stirring up a storm of flying sand and a cloud of dust. ¡°So fast!¡± An Jing frowned tightly as he watched the direction in which the palm disappeared, ¡°The person who made the move must be a top-notch Grandmaster, could it be someone from Houjin?¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon instinctively let out a low roar, seemingly unsettled by the sudden intervention of the top-notch expert. An Jing soothed the Black Flood Dragon, then began to contemplate. He was just a bit away from killing Qi Shu, but a Houjin top Grandmaster interfered. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only However, the ability of this Grandmaster from Houjin was indeed remarkable. From such a distance, he managed to repel An Jing and saved Qi Shu. Even in Houjin, there would be no more than three with such cultivation. Who exactly was that person? He managed to save Qi Shu, which means Zhao Country and Houjin must be colluding. An Jing took a deep breath, and regretfully said, ¡°Qi Shu did not die today; I fear this feud is now firmly established. However, with his injuries, it will take him several years to recover.¡± Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Chapter 180: The Ghost Swordsman Whose Fame Spreads Across the World Chapter 180: Chapter 180: The Ghost Swordsman Whose Fame Spreads Across the World Great Yan Border. The wind and sand stretched endlessly, vast and boundless, the wild and unrestrained spirit was awe-inspiring, and it also made one feel an endless fatigue. This place was far from the bustling noise, and even birds wouldn¡¯t linger here. The heavy weight of time pressed on this vast land, hardly capturing that moment of grandeur from years past; yesterday, today, and tomorrow were all frozen together. Only drought-resistant Russian olives and poplars grew here, occasionally accompanied by clumps of half-fathom-high tamarisk grass, all solemnly guarding this piece of land together. This feeling surpassed that of the oceans and mountains, making one truly understand what emptiness and vastness were. An Jing held the Evil Suppressing Sword, gazing into the distant direction. It seemed his mind was still contemplating the remaining power of that one palm, or perhaps admiring the distant vast land. ¡°Rustle! Rustle!¡± At the same time, countless Jianghu experts swarmed in from afar. These people were dressed in various garments, but the anxious expressions on their faces were unanimously identical; they all wanted to know how the pursuit of Qi Shu by the Ghost Swordsman had ended. ¡°That¡¯s the Ghost Swordsman!¡± Someone who spotted An Jing at the front hastily shouted. The crowd all stopped and looked over. The yellow sand was swept up, and the sound of the wind howled. The black-robed man¡¯s coat fluttered in the strong wind, his body as straight as a spear. The ground around was a mess, with traces of fresh blood visible. The Black Flood Dragon was now circling mid-air, silently waiting for something. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Where is Qi Shu?¡± ¡­¡­ Everyone¡¯s hearts were filled with doubt. Among the crowd, a woman stepped forward slowly and crisply shouted, ¡°Sir, may I know where that thief Qi Shu is now?¡± This woman¡¯s face showed a few lines of wrinkles, but her features were very beautiful and charming, with a hint of allure in her eyes. The Unrivaled Sword, Wang Ningshui. An expert from the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall. ¡°The mysterious expert from Great Snow Mountain saved him,¡± An Jing quietly withdrew his gaze and responded softly. On hearing this, everyone present felt a pang of regret, but then they were all shocked. ¡°That Qi Shu boy, chased for over three hundred li, has taken quite a fall this time.¡± ¡°If not for someone from Houjin taking action, Qi Shu would have undoubtedly died.¡± ¡°Such a despicable and shameless person, and he still managed to escape.¡± ¡°Could Great Snow Mountain be secretly colluding with Black Ice Platform?¡± ¡°Houjin barbarians, they even dare to invade our ancestral land?¡± ¡­.. Although everyone felt some regret, Three hundred li! The Ghost Swordsman had chased Qi Shu for a full three hundred li. One must know, Qi Shu was also a top expert in Zhao Country, initially making a name for himself no less than Xiao Qianqiu, and even surpassing him by a fraction. It was only later that Qi Shu gradually got overshadowed by Xiao Qianqiu. Xiao Qianqiu, hailed as the once-in-a-generation genius, most likely to enter the Great Grandmaster Realm, was not something to be ashamed of being surpassed by. With Qi Shu¡¯s talent, in a time of scarcity, he could still hold up this world. Zhao Country also regarded Qi Shu as the next Qi Wushuang, and Qi Shu did not disappoint the expectations of others, achieving the Second Qi Grandmaster cultivation by his early fifties. Now having suffered such humiliation and run three hundred li with his tail between his legs, if not for the expert from Houjin intervening, he might have died within Great Yan territory, killed under the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s sword. Looking at that figure, everyone was somewhat solemnly respectful. An Jing quietly exhaled, deep in thought. Now being at the Half-Step Master level, how he could truly reach the Grandmaster level by Three Flowers Gathering at the Top. If it were solely depending on his own cultivation, it would take decades of hard work to reach, but he couldn¡¯t wait that long now; he needed to find a way to quickly ascend to Grandmaster. ¡°Two more months, I guess, to reach Grandmaster within two months,¡± An Jing paid no attention to the crowd, his figure leapt, landing on the back of the Flood Dragon. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon roared, its powerful sound vibrating the sky, echoing in all directions. Everyone watched the scene before them, the peerless swordsman bathed in a golden orange sunlight, every move he made was indescribably expressive. Everyone¡¯s eyes carried a solemn respect as they shuffled to the sides to make way. Wang Ningshui watched the figure gradually fade away, unable to refrain from calling out. ¡°Sir, when will you become the World¡¯s First Swordsman?¡± An Jing, however, did not speak again, as the Black Flood Dragon moved extremely fast, vanishing from everyone¡¯s sight in the blink of an eye. ¡­.. Land Temple on Mount Su. The temple was now a mess, a sight full of devastation wherever one looked. Zhao Xuening couldn¡¯t hear the outside noises anymore, and cautiously poked her head out. ¡°Whew¡­..¡± Seeing no one around, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh before forcefully climbing out. Now that there was no one, if she stayed in this place, who knew whether Qi Shu would come back to kill again. ¡°Princess?! What are you doing here?¡± Just then, a sharp voice rang out. Zhao Xuening raised her head and saw a man standing outside the broken temple. The man was exceptionally handsome, with a delicate beauty to his features that seemed to rival even Zhao Xuening¡¯s. ¡°Little Table?¡± Zhao Xuening¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw who it was. This man was Zhuo Yuchang, who had used some connections to be released from the Heavenly Prison and had planned to go to Dongluo Pass to pick flowers. Unexpectedly, as he passed by Xu Wang Mountain, he sensed a disturbance in the qi mechanism and sneaked up the mountain waist to investigate. Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s mouth twitched as he said, ¡°I am no longer a eunuch in the palace, Princess. You can just call me by my name.¡± Zhao Xuening quickly called out, ¡°Little Table, come help me, let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Hearing this, Zhuo Yuchang helped Zhao Xuening towards the outside of the temple, while asking, ¡°Princess, what in the world happened?¡± Nowadays, south of Pingling, Jianghu was completely chaotic. Everyone was frantically searching for Qi Shu¡¯s whereabouts. All kinds of true and false news, complicated and intertwined, had bewildered many in the martial world. In short, the entire court and Jianghu were in complete disarray. Zhao Xuening took a deep breath and said, ¡°The criminal Qi Shu was preparing to head north to hand me over to Houjin, but unexpectedly encountered that Ghost Swordsman here, and then the two of them started fighting; now their whereabouts are unknown¡­.¡± ¡°Ghost Swordsman!?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yuchang couldn¡¯t help but recall that ¡®extra-large¡¯ bellyband, a surge of unpleasant memories rushing to his mind. If it weren¡¯t for that ¡®extra-large¡¯ bellyband, he wouldn¡¯t have been sent to the Heavenly Prison. Seeing the expression on Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s face, Zhao Xuening asked, ¡°What, do you know this person?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Zhuo Yuchang quickly shook his head, ¡°That Ghost Swordsman is extremely mysterious in Jianghu, how could I possibly know him? But I do know someone who does.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Qiu Lun, the son of the Pingyang Marquis.¡± ¡°Qiu Lun!?¡± Zhao Xuening¡¯s expression also turned strange, as she had a profoundly deep impression of Qiu Lun. Zuo Linglong had once tried to arrange a marriage between herself and Qiu Lun. When Zhao Xuening first met that water-tank-like fat man, a sense of aversion sprang up within her¨Cit was clearly not a person, but a big meatball! To her surprise, without her saying anything, Qiu Lun had outright refused. Which nobleman or high-ranking official¡¯s son didn¡¯t try to win her favor, pleasing her in every possible way? Only Qiu Lun avoided her as if she were a viper, as if he had seen a ghost. He even blatantly called her an ugly monster. Besides, she always felt that this man¡¯s way of thinking was somewhat abnormal. According to the saying that like attracts like, the brain of that Ghost Swordsman also seemed to be abnormal, since normal and abnormal people do not mix. However, her escape this time was indeed thanks to that Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± she said. Zhao Xuening didn¡¯t ponder any longer, instead urging Zhuo Yuchang to hurry towards the distance. The two hurried down Xu Wang Mountain and ran towards Yujing City. ¡°Someone!?¡± Just as they reached the foot of the mountain, Zhuo Yuchang felt a familiar qi mechanism swiftly approaching from ahead. ¡°Princess, I still have matters to attend to, I must take my leave today,¡± he said. As Zhuo Yuchang set Zhao Xuening down and tried to escape towards the distance, ¡°Grandson, where are you going?¡± Just as Zhuo Yuchang took a step, a dry hand landed onto his shoulder. ¡°Grand¡­ Grandfather, how did you come here?¡± Zhuo Yuchang turned around, looking at the white-browed elder behind him, his face stricken as if in mourning. The white-browed eunuch turned to look at Zhao Xuening, bowing slightly and saying, ¡°This old servant has come late to rescue, causing fright to the Princess.¡± Zhao Xuening let out a big sigh of relief, saying, ¡°No harm, it was my carelessness that gave Qi Shu an opportunity, causing so much chaos and concern for you all.¡± With this man here, she knew she was safe. The white-browed eunuch said, ¡°Princess, let¡¯s return to the palace quickly, the Empress is currently very anxious¡­.¡± Zhao Xuening frowned slightly and said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s hurry back.¡± Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s face darkened, thinking of something, ¡°Grandfather, I just remembered, I borrowed something from someone yesterday and need to return it today. How can a man fail to keep his word? I, Zhuo Yuchang, as a man, always keep my promises; please allow me to fulfill my commitment¡­.¡± The white-browed eunuch said indifferently, ¡°You borrowed that woman¡¯s bellyband, didn¡¯t you? In my opinion, it¡¯s better not to return it; besides, you are not really a man, just a eunuch, and the most important thing for a eunuch is to know his place.¡± ¡°Grandson, better come back with me.¡± Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s face turned red, then he sighed deeply, seemingly resigned. ¡­.. Three days later, Yujing City, Baiyu Palace. The woman at the head wore a fiery red dress with golden auspicious clouds embroidered on the skirt, her sharp and charming phoenix eyes smiling, a phoenix perched in her hair bun holding a bright pearl, casting a magnificent and charming light. This person was the current Empress of Great Yan, Zuo Linglong. The man who had just rushed there was Zhao Mengtai. Zuo Linglong, still shaken, said, ¡°This was indeed perilous. If it wasn¡¯t for that Ghost Swordsman fighting with Qi Shu, Qi Shu might have truly escaped.¡± At this moment, Zhao Xuening had already returned to the Imperial Palace, and news had spread throughout the world that the Ghost Swordsman had pursued Qi Shu for over three hundred miles and was ultimately rescued by a master from Houjin at the Great Yan Border. This invisibly elevated the fame of the Ghost Swordsman to a new height. Many young heroes sought to emulate the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s attire, and even some flower-picking thieves wore black robes, lingering in the fragrant boudoirs and dark chambers, significantly increasing their chances of success. Since no one in Jianghu knew what the Ghost Swordsman looked like, whether male or female, or how old they were. Some wealthy widows and courageous heroines even posted tens of thousands in rewards, eager to glimpse the true face of the Ghost Swordsman, quickly turning it into a hot topic in Jianghu. It was not just women who were curious; even some men wondered about the true identity of this mysterious figure. Many youngsters in Jianghu sought the whereabouts of the Ghost Swordsman, hoping to become his disciple and learn his profound and inscrutable sword skills. For a time, the name of the Ghost Swordsman was immensely notorious in Jianghu, truly renowned throughout the world, and supported by countless followers. Zuo Biwen, despite the warrants from the Zhenyi Sect, openly declared that the Ghost Swordsman would be a distinguished guest should he come to Youfeng Valley. Zhao Mengtai spoke in a deep voice, ¡°The strength of the Ghost Swordsman shouldn¡¯t be that formidable. It must be his Black Flood Dragon.¡± He constantly monitored the strength of the Ghost Swordsman. Although it was said that he had killed an old master like Qingfeng of the One Qi Grandmaster level, he was still far from possessing the power to pursue a Second Qi Grandmaster. ¡°Regardless, this is a favor.¡± Zuo Linglong took a deep breath and said, ¡°I heard that the Ghost Swordsman is on the wanted list of the Zhenyi Sect, but I am not sure if it¡¯s true.¡± Zhao Mengtai nodded, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Zuo Linglong tentatively asked, ¡°Then is there a chance for reconciliation?¡± ¡°It is unlikely.¡± Zhao Mengtai shook his head. Zuo Linglong was not very concerned about the matters of Jianghu, but she vaguely knew about the recent battle at Abyss Lake between Xiao Qianqiu and Lou Xiangzhen, and it seemed that the Ghost Swordsman was also involved. The Zhenyi Sect was definitely not going to give up on the Jade Emperor Scripture, and if they asked the Ghost Swordsman to surrender the Jade Emperor Scripture, it would undoubtedly break the backbone of a swordsman. Zuo Linglong pondered for a moment, then thought of something, and asked, ¡°What did Elder Lu say?¡± ¡°Elder Lu agreed,¡± Zhao Mengtai smiled, ¡°With Xuening¡¯s appearance and status, there should be few men in this world who can refuse her. Now it just depends on whether Xuening is satisfied.¡± Zuo Linglong slightly nodded, ¡°Although he is Elder Lu¡¯s student, we still need to see his character.¡± ¡°Mother, rest assured, I will handle this matter.¡± Zhao Mengtai stood up, preparing to take his leave: ¡°Since Xuening has rested, I shall visit her next time¡­ ¡°Empress, the Crown Prince has arrived.¡± Just then, a beautiful palace maid walked in. Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengtai paused mid-sentence, and his eyebrows involuntarily furrowed. Zuo Linglong nodded, ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The palace maid spoke and retreated out. Zhao Mengtai smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good, it¡¯s been a while since I have seen my brother.¡± Zuo Linglong could clearly see this ¡®cordial brotherly¡¯ facade, as the two brothers were already at odds with each other in the imperial court, a situation that is inevitably sad in an imperial family. If Zhao Xuening were a boy, would she still be as close to Zhao Mengtai? Soon, a man with a friendly smile and elegant demeanor entered, It was indeed Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin. ¡°Your son pays respects to mother,¡± Zhao Chongyin bowed to Zuo Linglong above him. ¡°No need for such formalities.¡± Zuo Ling smiled slightly, ¡°You came today to see Xuening as well, but she has just rested.¡± Zhao Chongyin¡¯s smile lingered, ¡°That is indeed a pity. However, it is my duty to pay respects to mother after being away for so long, and it provides a chance to see my younger brother whom I haven¡¯t seen in a long time; I do have important matters to discuss with him.¡± Saying this, Zhao Chongyin glanced at Zhao Mengtai. Zuo Linglong said, ¡°Crown Prince, please take a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you, mother.¡± Zhao Chongyin straightened his clothes and then sat down, his demeanor graceful and his face always carrying a pleasant smile that naturally endeared him to others. However, Zhao Mengtai¡¯s expression was stern and even carried a hint of mockery, ¡°Your Highness, I hope you did not come today just to boast?¡± The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion had been his work for decades. Now, not only had it suffered heavy losses, but it was also forced underground, which could be said to have cost Zhao Mengtai a major limb. Upon hearing this, Zhao Chongyin glanced at Zhao Mengtai and smiled, ¡°Of course not. I actually came to discuss Qi Shu.¡± Zhao Mengtai¡¯s fingers lightly tapped on the table, his expression indifferent, ¡°Please speak, Your Highness.¡± Zhao Chongyin said, ¡°Younger brother, as you know, Qi Shu was able to escape this time entirely because of the intervention of a top expert from Houjin, who did not enter Great Yan¡¯s territory and managed to fend off a peerless swordsman like the Ghost Swordsman. There are only a handful of such experts.¡± ¡°Houjin and Zhao Country, one is a jackal, the other a tiger; it now seems they both view Great Yan as a fat sheep.¡± Zhao Mengtai remained silent, the hint of a dark look in his eyes completely withheld. Although there had been rumors of Houjin moving south for three years now, years had passed since that speculation, somewhat making people complacent. But today¡¯s episode with Qi Shu gives a glimpse into the situation. It was clear that Houjin and Zhao Country had reached some understanding, and now everyone knew their intentions. What worried both Houjin and Zhao Country now was whether the Great Yan Emperor truly reached that Great Grandmaster level. While others might not be aware, Zhao Mengtai knew very well that the Emperor had not achieved this Great Grandmaster level but had instead suffered backlash injuries, and his internal injuries might be more serious than expected. This was also why he had been somewhat anxious lately. Great Yan was surrounded by formidable foes, and the situation was precarious. Zuo Linglong also furrowed her brows deeply, feeling extremely worried. The ruin of a nation and the fall of a dynasty weighed more heavily on the heart than mountains, especially since she was the current Empress of Great Yan, with her own fate and her daughter¡¯s bound together with the nation¡¯s fortune. Zhao Chongyin continued, ¡°The Jin Envoy will soon arrive in Great Yan, seemingly with matrimonial intentions, but their true purpose is likely espionage.¡± ¡°Regardless of the intelligence, both Houjin and Zhao Country might send out troops; the only differences are the methods and timing of their deployment.¡± Zhao Mengtai couldn¡¯t help but nod. The Holy Master of Houjin had indeed mastered the ancestral art of warfare to perfection, never engaging in battles unless success was assured. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to say.¡± Zhao Chongyin took a deep breath, then stood up and said, ¡°Empress Mother, I will take my leave now.¡± After finishing his statement, Zhao Chongyin slowly exited the Baiyu Palace. Zuo Linglong watched Zhao Chongyin¡¯s retreating figure, then turned to look at Zhao Mengtai, who had remained silent the whole time. ¡°Mengtai.¡± ¡°Empress Mother, don¡¯t worry, I am not someone who fails to see the bigger picture.¡± Though Zhao Mengtai¡¯s face wore a smile, his heart was growing colder. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s stratagem was indeed cruel and ruthless. Now, with Great Yan surrounded by formidable enemies, to compete against him would be akin to throwing Great Yan into turmoil. Moreover, what he said today in the Baiyu Palace was partly a reminder for himself and partly intended for Zuo Linglong¡¯s ears. But if he didn¡¯t make a move now, once the Crown Prince truly consolidated his power and won over the people¡¯s hearts, would he still have a chance? ¡­.. Dongluo Pass, beneath the Sealing Demon Well. ¡°Are you implying that the world is now divided into three, and it¡¯s no longer the era of the Qin Dynasty¡¯s unification?¡± Nan Weiping asked intermittently, lying on the ground. During this time, she would often ask about the world outside when she had nothing else to do, thus she understood the current state of affairs. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhao Qingmei stated faintly. Upon hearing this, Nan Weiping couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°The times now really aren¡¯t suited for me anymore, perhaps staying here is the best destiny for me.¡± Such a lengthy passage of time had worn down her ambitions and aspirations, prompting her to utter these words involuntarily. Zhao Qingmei glanced at Nan Weiping and asked, ¡°Does that mean you still wholeheartedly wish to escape the Sealing Demon Well?¡± After a long silence, Nan Weiping responded, ¡°I want to see the sunrise and sunset again.¡± Who could have imagined that this individual, once a Grandmaster, now simply yearned to witness the sunrise and sunset? Although it seemed a rather ordinary desire, for her, it was seemingly impossible due to the Nine Heavens Profound Iron within her. Zhao Qingmei remained silent but closed the diary she had been reading. Nan Weiping looked at Zhao Qingmei and said, ¡°Young girl, how about you comb my hair?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll take the opportunity to harm you?¡± Zhao Qingmei raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not afraid.¡± Nan Weiping shook her head and leaned back against Zhao Qingmei, ¡°You need me if you want to leave the Sealing Demon Well, so you wouldn¡¯t kill me.¡± Zhao Qingmei looked at the serious expression on Nan Weiping¡¯s face and broke into a smile, nodding, ¡°Alright.¡± Then, Zhao Qingmei pulled out a comb and went behind Nan Weiping. The comb glided through her tangled, salt-and-pepper hair, lifting strands of silver with it. Nan Weiping commented, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for this special cave, my hair would likely be full of lice by now.¡± Zhao Qingmei casually asked, ¡°Why were you trapped here, Elder?¡± Nan Weiping waved her hand, ¡°The past is the past, let¡¯s not mention it.¡± Zhao Qingmei said nothing more, instead she focused on meticulously combing the hair, afterward twisting it into a bun and securing it with a hairpin she carried. Nan Weiping felt her temples and the bun on her head, saying, ¡°Will you lend me your bronze mirror to see?¡± Zhao Qingmei went to a stone table to hand over her bronze mirror. Through the mirror, Zhao Qingmei also observed Nan Weiping¡¯s visage. Eyes tinged with red, skin like dried bark, cheekbones hollowed out, her appearance having long lost the traces of youthful beauty. It was hard to imagine what she looked like when she was young. ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Seeing her own reflection, Nan Weiping burst into laughter, then turned to Zhao Qingmei, ¡°Young girl, what if I asked you to stay here forever with me, what would you think?¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Impossible.¡± Nan Weiping¡¯s smile faded as she muttered to herself, ¡°Indeed, being born so beautiful and enchanting, it would be a waste to confine you in the Sealing Demon Well during your prime.¡± Neither spoke again, and the cave seemed to quieten further. ¡°I¡¯ll go fetch tonight¡¯s dinner.¡± Zhao Qingmei turned to leave the cave. Suddenly, Nan Weiping raised her head and looked towards the ceiling of the cave, saying, ¡°The door is right above you.¡± ¡°A door!?¡± Zhao Qingmei, upon hearing this, immediately looked up. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only All she saw above were rows of characters, and nothing else¨Cwhere was there any sign of a door? ¡°The door, that¡¯s a ¡®heart gate.''¡± Nan Weiping spoke softly. ¡­¡­ PS: I¡¯m not sick, nor do I have other matters today, just feeling a bit tired, this is enough for today. Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 183: The Origins of Tan Yun in the Lv Sect Chapter 183: Chapter 183: The Origins of Tan Yun in the Lv Sect In Lin Garden. An Jing felt a sudden shock in his heart upon hearing Lv Fang¡¯s words. Li Fuzhou is here?! He really has some nerve, daring to come to this Lv Mansion. Not to mention the rumor that he was a betrayer within the Lv Sect, but also he is currently the master of the Demon Sect, his hands stained with who knows how much blood of the Xuanyi Guard. The moment Li Fuzhou set foot in Lv Mansion, the Heaven and Earth Net might have already received his information. On the other hand, Zhou Xianming remained indifferent. Although the name was very familiar, there were simply too many people with the same name in the world, and he did not make any association. He didn¡¯t believe that the accountant from Jishi Hall was the vicious master of the Demon Sect. After a long silence, Lv Guoyong asked, ¡°Who did he bring with him?¡± Lv Fang quickly bowed, his voice somewhat trembling, ¡°A girl of about eighteen or nineteen. She looks¡­ looks a lot like elder sister.¡± Lv Guoyong maintained an expression as calm as water, ¡°Where are they now?¡± Lv Fang replied, ¡°In the guest hall.¡± Lv Guoyong did not say anything but got up and walked out of the garden. Lv Fang bowed to An Jing and quickly followed Lv Guoyong. Suddenly, only An Jing, Lv Jingchun, and Zhou Xianming were left in the entire courtyard. Watching the two leave, Lv Jingchun sat down as if relieved and then strangely said, ¡°This person from the Demon Sect really has guts to dare to come to my house.¡± Zhou Xianming frowned deeply and said, ¡°This Li Fuzhou was a student of my teacher before, so he must have had some important matter.¡± About this senior brother, he also often heard from others how talented and extraordinary he was, acclaimed both in scholarship and martial arts throughout Jianghu. As early as his twenties, Li Fuzhou obtained the title of third-degree scholar, unlike him who achieved significance only in his thirties. An Jing glanced at Zhou Xianming and asked, ¡°Do you know any experts from the Demon Sect?¡± He suddenly remembered that when they were in Yu State City, the two were very close, and there was a time when Zhou Xianming would call Li Fuzhou out every night to visit the opera houses. Zhou Xianming, slightly annoyed, said, ¡°Zhou is innocent and has nothing to do with the Demon Sect.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s also follow them and take a look.¡± Zhou Xianming hesitated for a moment, ¡°Isn¡¯t that inappropriate?¡± An Jing said indifferently, ¡°Li Fuzhou is a ruthless and vicious master of the Demon Sect. What if he suddenly attacks Old Lv?¡± Zhou Xianming upon hearing this also nodded and said nothing more. Lv Jingchun was about to say that there were also experts within Lv Mansion, but he just opened his mouth and yet said nothing. Actually, he was also curious in his heart about the people of the Demon Sect, whether they really were as fierce and ruthless as the rumors, looking formidable at a glance. ¡­¡­ In the Lv Mansion, Guest Hall. Tan Yun sat upright in her chair, her eyes constantly looking around. Li Fuzhou, however, looked indifferent, sitting in his chair and drinking tea, making it unclear what he was actually thinking. ¡°Tat tat tat tat¡­¡± Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door. Li Fuzhou put down his teacup and stood up, reverently greeting the hunched-back old man at the doorway, ¡°Student Li Fuzhou, pays respects to Teacher.¡± His movements were cautious and sincere, and the degree of his bow was perfectly judged. Just like the topknot on his head, not a hair was out of place, combed very conscientiously. Lv Guoyong looked at the student in front of him, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for decades, and stretched out his dry palm to pat his shoulder, just as when they first met. ¡°No need for such formality.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lv Guoyong¡¯s old eyes then shifted to Tan Yun standing behind Li Fuzhou. And Tan Yun also curiously looked at Lv Guoyong, the Grand Secretary to three emperors of the Great Yan Dynasty, this noble of the land under heaven, but why was he staring at her? Lv Guoyong looked at the girl in front of him, his expression somewhat absent-minded, and after a long while, he said, ¡°Your name is Tan Yun, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun hastily imitated Li Fuzhou¡¯s actions and paid his respects to Lv Guoyong. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Lv Guoyong nodded slightly and gradually made his way to the head of the table, where he slowly sat down. Li Fuzhou, observing Lv Guoyong¡¯s movements, remarked, ¡°Teacher, you have aged.¡± Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, more than two decades had gone by. Lv Guoyong looked at his student¡¯s fully gray hair, feeling an inexplicable bitterness in his heart. He remembered the first time he met Li Fuzhou, who was but a youth, and now his hair was fully gray. Lv Guoyong gazed at the student he once was most proud of, ¡°Fuzhou.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for him, Li Fuzhou might have had limitless possibilities. Just like in the past, Li Fuzhou stood upright and said, ¡°Your student is here.¡± Lv Guoyong sighed softly, ¡°Birth, aging, sickness, and death are just the common lot of humanity. A hundred years is but a handful of dust in the human world; I am not afraid of death.¡± Li Fuzhou responded, ¡°For some, becoming a handful of dust in the human world is extremely difficult, and they still have to be constantly trampled upon by others.¡± Lv Guoyong, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°After death, everyone is trampled underfoot. This is an unchanging truth. Can you change this truth?¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head, ¡°I cannot.¡± How high must one¡¯s cultivation be to change this truth!? Li Fuzhou had been practicing martial arts for over twenty years, yet he was still unclear about it. Lv Guoyong glanced at Tan Yun, who was looking down, and asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to Yujing City for twenty years, so what brings you here today?¡± Li Fuzhou took a deep breath, his face serious as he said, ¡°Firstly, to visit my teacher, and secondly, to demand a truth from Tang Taiyuan.¡± Lv Guoyong looked at Li Fuzhou¡¯s expression and remained silent. The entire Guest Hall suddenly became quiet. Tan Yun, listening to the cryptic discussion between the two, felt dizzy and couldn¡¯t help but complain internally: This is so boring. When can we leave this place? Meanwhile, Lv Guoyong looked at Tan Yun again and after a long silence finally spoke, ¡°The truth of Tang Taiyuan is not something easily demanded.¡± Who is Tang Taiyuan? The Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard, one of the Great Yan Emperor¡¯s confidants, one of the top masters in all of Great Yan, even Qi Shu might not be his match. As he once said, ¡°In this world, in my hands, how many can survive?¡± ¡°To be shattered to pieces, I would not hesitate.¡± Li Fuzhou, his expression utterly calm, said, ¡°Besides, teacher, you once told me that the reason scholars read is for a truth, and if there is no truth, then what is the purpose of reading? I have practiced martial arts for twenty years, all for the sake of a truth today.¡± Lv Guoyong looked at his most proud disciple before him and nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Only two brief words. Li Fuzhou glanced at the impatient Tan Yun and said, ¡°I originally did not plan to bring her, but given the complicated situation in the world today and some chaos within the sect, I have become slack in disciplining this girl. She is a bit stubborn and very gluttonous.¡± ¡°I always feel that the teacher should meet this child.¡± Upon hearing Li Fuzhou¡¯s words, Tan Yun¡¯s face turned red, and she quickly lowered her head, indignantly thinking to herself: Master actually speaks of me like this, after all I had thought of how to honor and care for him in his old age¡­ Lv Guoyong looked at Tan Yun and laughed, ¡°Each person has their fate and law. I think it¡¯s quite good, at least in her eyes, one can see a glimmer of light.¡± ¡°Father.¡± Just then, three figures appeared at the door. The person in the lead was Lv Fang, followed by Zhou Xianming and the black-robed An Jing. ¡°Huh?! Ghost Swordsman!¡± Tan Yun rubbed her eyes, hardly believing she would meet the Ghost Swordsman here, and immediately felt an immense surge of excitement. ¡°Master Lv.¡± An Jing stepped forward, glanced at Li Fuzhou, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect we would meet again.¡± Li Fuzhou was also filled with doubt: ¡°How are you here?¡± How could the Ghost Swordsman appear in Lv Mansion? Could he have always been a man of the teacher? An Jing smiled warmly, ¡°I am good friends with Master Lv.¡± Lv Guoyong stroked his beard and smiled, ¡°Indeed, a friend I just made.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s heart was filled with doubt, and Tan Yun became incredibly excited. Yet the most expressive face wasn¡¯t either of them; it was Zhou Xianming, standing behind Lv Fang. At this moment, as he looked at Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun, he seemed as if struck by a bolt from the blue, ¡°You¡­you¡¯re Mr. Li?¡± The Li Fuzhou from Jishi Hall was actually Li Fuzhou; had Zhou Xianming not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it. Li Fuzhou smiled and said, ¡°Xianming, we meet again.¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s mouth twitched for a while, revealing a smile uglier than crying before he looked towards Tan Yun, ¡°This¡­who is this?¡± Tan Yun blinked her eyes, ¡°Mr. Zhou, don¡¯t you remember me?¡± She had intended to flaunt her fists, but then she remembered how she had given Zhou Xianming quite a bit of silver and had urged him to visit her master¡¯s place for a performance¨Cthis was definitely not something to reveal. Li Fuzhou smiled and said, ¡°My disciple.¡± Zhou Xianming swallowed, hardly believing his own eyes, and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Then¡­is Doctor An also¡­?¡± Since both Tan Yun and Li Fuzhou were from the Demon Sect, could Doctor An also be a master of the Demon Sect? Li Fuzhou shook his head and said, ¡°He is not; he¡¯s just a regular doctor.¡± Zhou Xianming said regretfully, ¡°So you mean he really died?¡± Li Fuzhou did not speak again, as more questions would inevitably lead to the involvement of the Sect Hierarch. Tan Yun¡¯s expression grew somewhat dim; whenever An Jing was mentioned, she would recall her days in Yu State City, perhaps the happiest time of her life. Lv Guoyong looked at Tan Yun and said, ¡°Fuzhou, since that¡¯s the case, you should stay here for now.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s face showed hesitation. Staying at the Lv Mansion could indeed bring trouble to Lv Guoyong. Whether for him or for Tan Yun. Seeing Li Fuzhou remaining silent, Tan Yun hurriedly bowed to Lv Guoyong, saying, ¡°Old sir, then we shall impose without hesitation.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Lv Guoyong, seeing Tan Yun behave like that, couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Lv Fang, go prepare the dinner now; tonight, I want to drink a few cups.¡± Lv Fang promptly responded, ¡°Yes, father.¡± It had been a long time since he had seen Lv Guoyong smile like that. Lv Guoyong then supported himself on his chair to rise, ¡°I¡¯ll go rest a while, we¡¯ll talk more later tonight.¡± As he said this, he shakily walked towards the outside of the hall. Li Fuzhou and others didn¡¯t come forward to help, just watched Lv Guoyong leave. Lv Fang also carried a slight smile, ¡°Fuzhou, then I¡¯ll get busy; we¡¯ll drink more tonight.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Li Fuzhou smiled in response. Lv Fang nodded, took a long look at Tan Yun, and then left straight away. Once both Lv Fang and Lv Guoyong had left, Lv Jingchun suddenly became more lively and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°And to think, this little girl does bear some resemblance to the portrait of my aunt.¡± Tan Yun creased her brows and demanded, ¡°Who are you, you little chubby boy? You can eat messy, but you can¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Lv Jingchun hurriedly said, ¡°Really, I¡¯m not making this up!¡± Seeing that Tan Yun seemed about to probe further, Li Fuzhou said in a low voice, ¡°Tan Yun.¡± Hearing Li Fuzhou¡¯s words, Tan Yun stuck out her tongue and fell silent. To the side, An Jing was deep in thought, wondering if Tan Yun also had ties to the Lv Sect. Seeing the expressions of Lv Guoyong and Lv Fang, it seemed quite possible, yet no one seemed to be spelling it out. Could there be some concealed complications? ¡°Xianming, let¡¯s talk over here.¡± Li Fuzhou was pulling Zhou Xianming with him out of the guest hall towards the door and did not forget to call out to the motionless Tan Yun, ¡°Tan Yun, come here too.¡± Although Tan Yun was somewhat reluctant, she quickly followed. ¡°Wait!¡± An Jing, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help but say. Li Fuzhou looked at An Jing and asked, ¡°What is it? Is there something else?¡± What a crafty old fox! An Jing took a deep breath and smiled, ¡°Sect Master Li, do you remember what you said last time?¡± Li Fuzhou shook his head and said, ¡°What did I say? I have said too much throughout my life; I remember some but have forgotten others.¡± An Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he said, ¡°Last time you mentioned that if I was willing to join the Demon Sect, you could tell me¡­¡­¡± When Li Fuzhou heard this, he said in surprise, ¡°Really? Did I say that?¡± Tan Yun quickly added, ¡°Master, you did say it. Have you forgotten? It was outside Yuan City.¡± Li Fuzhou glanced at Tan Yun and said indifferently, ¡°You remember quite clearly, don¡¯t you?¡± Tan Yun shrank his neck and stopped speaking. Li Fuzhou turned to An Jing with a forced smile, ¡°Perhaps I did say it, but I have forgotten.¡± This Ghost Swordsman was indeed strange; last time he had been vehement and indignant when invited to join the Demon Sect, yet now he seemed eager to do so. This man must be watched! An Jing knew Li Fuzhou was difficult to deal with and sighed, ¡°Sect Master Li, let¡¯s speak frankly. In Jianghu, I have already offended the Zhenyi Sect, and there¡¯s no way out for me in Great Yan anymore.¡± Li Fuzhou did not believe the words of the Ghost Swordsman before him and thought to himself, ¡°You want to join my Demon Sect? It¡¯s not impossible, but the Demon Sect is not just for anyone.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows. Li Fuzhou smiled and said, ¡°As long as you can defeat Lin Yiyang and show me your strength and determination, I am willing to vouch for you.¡± Defeat Lin Yiyang!? An Jing¡¯s frown deepened; this crafty old man was actually challenging him to fight Lin Yiyang. Seeing this, Li Fuzhou walked away without changing his expression but laughed coldly in his heart. If the Ghost Swordsman gave up at this point, it would be normal. But if he really went to challenge Lin Yiyang, that would be very suspicious. Vouch for the Ghost Swordsman? The Sect Hierarch¡¯s order was to capture him alive. ¡­¡­. The weather was fine, and the air was clear. North Gate of Yujing City. At this moment, the area outside the North Gate was surrounded by soldiers, with a man in brocade standing in the center. This man was Zhao Chongyin. Behind Zhao Chongyin stood Xi Yuanjun, the deputy commander of the Xuanyi Guard, dressed in a large fur coat. Bai Jing whispered beside him, ¡°Yan Gang passed by Mengjiabao and killed the Soul Stealing Sword again. It is said he has issued a challenge to the sword immortals of Great Yan, including Lin Yiyang and the Ghost Swordsman.¡± Zhao Chongyin said nothing and continued to look into the distance. Xi Yuanjun¡¯s face showed a trace of seriousness, ¡°The Soul Stealing Sword is dead then?¡± He knew the Soul Stealing Sword, a swordsman with old credentials and very high cultivation. It was rare for Houjin to have a thirty-three-year-old Fifth Realm swordsman. Bai Jing continued, ¡°Yan Gang¡¯s swordsmanship is Fast Sword. It¡¯s said that his first strike broke the Soul Stealing Sword¡¯s sword body, and the second strike pierced straight through his throat.¡± A hint of cold light flashed in Xi Yuanjun¡¯s eyes, ¡°A fierce sword indeed; he never spares his opponents in duels. It seems he came not to compete but to kill.¡± Along the way, Yan Gang had already killed dozens of renowned swordsmen of Great Yan, causing even some well-known swordsmen to panic and flee southward. Only a few Fifth Realm swordsmen swam against the current, looking to challenge Yan Gang, but their chances too appeared to be slim. ¡°Here he comes.¡± Zhao Chongyin¡¯s eyes suddenly sharpened. The sound of hooves thundered closer, and soon dust clouds rose as dozens of robust horses galloped from afar. The men on the horses wore leather and carried bows and long knives. Only the leader was a man in a black long coat, looking elegant and graceful. The newcomer was Zongzheng Yuan. As they approached just about a mile away from the city gate, Zongzheng Yuan leaped down from his horse. Seeing this, although some were reluctant, they dismounted their horses, except for a burly old man in leather who remained indifferent. Zhao Chongyin and Zongzheng Yuan exchanged glances and then both smiled. Zongzheng Yuan clasped his fists and said, ¡°The personage before me must be His Highness the Crown Prince of Great Yan. I am deeply ashamed that Your Highness has come so far to greet us.¡± Clasping his fists and bowing, this was indeed the etiquette of Great Yan, and whether in gestures, attire, or demeanor, Zongzheng Yuan gave no inkling of being a man from Houjin. ¡°Leader Yuan has traveled thousands of miles to come here; what is this modest reception in comparison?¡± Zhao Chongyin looked past Zongzheng Yuan, and immediately noticed the elderly man still on horseback, smiling as he said, ¡°This must be the Dharma King Mu Jin of the Great Snow Mountain, right?¡± The elderly man opened his eyes but did not dismount. Instead, he placed his left hand on his chest and bowed slightly, saying, ¡°Your Highness, I offer my respects.¡± His eyes were calm yet sharp, sweeping over them and sending shivers down their spines. Such a formidable master! Xi Yuanjun couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. Dharma King Mu Jin, the grandmaster who had rescued Qi Shu at the borders of Great Yan and whose cultivation was at least in the Second Qi Realm, indeed stood among the top warriors of Houjin, probably here specifically to protect Zongzheng Yuan. Zongzheng Yuan, standing beside him, explained with a smile, ¡°In Houjin, this is the highest form of etiquette.¡± Zhao Chongyin waved his hand and said, ¡°Leader Yuan need not explain; I, too, have studied the etiquette of Houjin extensively.¡± Dharma King Mu Jin ranks only below the Holy Master within the Great Snow Mountain hierarchy. In Houjin, where strength is paramount, hardly anyone dismounts their horse except the high-ranking Zongzheng Huachun. Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed briefly upon hearing this. Zhao Chongyin continued, ¡°I have prepared a banquet for you, so tonight you can rest well.¡± Zongzheng Yuan casually asked, ¡°I wonder if it will be possible to meet the Great Yan Emperor tomorrow? Leader Zongzheng Yuan has important matters to convey to the Great Yan Emperor during this mission.¡± Immediately, the skilled warriors of Houjin pricked up their ears to listen. Zhao Chongyin replied, unperturbed, ¡°Leader Yuan is here to enjoy the journey, there¡¯s no need to rush this meeting, and touring our magnificent Yujing City first would not be too late.¡± Zongzheng Yuan smiled and said no more. Zhao Chongyin glanced at Yan Gang behind Zongzheng Yuan and smiled, ¡°This must be Houjin¡¯s genius swordsman, right? Truly an extraordinary hero.¡± Zhao Chongyin had encountered many swordsmen, including the Ghost Swordsman, Lin Yiyang, Zhong Binru, Cui Daoxian, and Lou Xiangzhen, sword immortals among them, and except for the Ghost Swordsman whose age was unknown, the youngest was Lin Yiyang, who was also forty-six. None of them possessed the sharpness this swordsman before their eyes did. Merely standing there, he made one feel the outflow of sharpener and a dominating aura. Yan Gang¡¯s body twitched as he responded indifferently, ¡°Thank you for the compliments, Your Highness.¡± His expression carried a touch of lethargy and casualness, as if Zhao Chongyin¡¯s words were merely stating the fact. Seeing this, Xi Yuanjun involuntarily frowned. Zongzheng Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°Your Highness praises too highly. Yan Gang here is considered a genius swordsman in Houjin, but among the Great Yan martial world, he might not really be ranked at the top. Let¡¯s enter the city first.¡± Upon hearing Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s remark, Yan Gang¡¯s eyebrows tightened, and pride surged within him. To him, these great sword immortals were no big deal; had he been born a decade earlier, would there still be a contest for the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman? Dharma King Mu Jin then opened his eyes to glance at Zongzheng Yuan, his look bereft of any sentiment. Zhao Chongyin extended his hand and said, ¡°Please!¡± ¡­¡­ Under the ink-like moonlight, in Yujing City, at the Lv Mansion. Along the corridor, the lamps glowed dimly, illuminating the area. At this moment, the main hall was lively with guests clinking their cups in constant revelry. Having finished his meal, Lv Jingchun found an excuse and staggered out, shaking his head. He was reluctant to stay with Lv Guoyong and Lv Fang, feeling the atmosphere suffocating, and as if the sect leaders and grandmasters looked down on him through tinted glasses, treating him as if he were just a worthless layabout. The moon does not lose its luster when waning; a broken sword should not forsake its standard. He too was a man of great ambitions and ideals, not someone who merely relied on the legacy of his forefathers. ¡°Why can Zhou Xianming marry Princess An Le and not I?¡± Indignant, Lv Jingchun pulled out an invite from his robe, his eyes gleaming, ¡°Later, let my sister-in-law introduce me to a few heroines from the martial world; it doesn¡¯t matter if their martial skills are great, as long as they are beautiful.¡± The invitation bore a prominent ¡®Qi¡¯ character. Of course, his grand ambition was simple: to marry a beautiful woman. ¡°Hey, tubby!¡± Just then, a crisp voice called out from behind Lv Jingchun. Jing Chun was startled and turned his head back, slightly relieved as he said, ¡°Tan Yun, what are you doing?¡± The person who came was indeed Tan Yun. Tan Yun asked sternly, ¡°You said this afternoon that the portrait of your aunt resembles me somewhat, is that true or false?¡± She was rather naive, but she wasn¡¯t a fool. During the day, the expressions of Lv Guoyong and Lv Fang had seemed strange to her. Jing Chun raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°It does resemble you a bit, do you want to see it?¡± Tan Yun nodded and said, ¡°Yes, take me to see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even dream about it.¡± Jing Chun sneered, ¡°That¡¯s in my grandfather¡¯s study, he doesn¡¯t allow anyone to enter privately. If he finds out I sneaked you in, he would break both of my legs.¡± In the Lv family, the person Jing Chun feared the most was naturally his grandfather, Lv Guoyong. Sneaking Tan Yun into Lv Guoyong¡¯s room¨Cif Lv Guoyong found out, would there be a good outcome? Tan Yun snorted coldly, showing her clenched fist and threatened, ¡°If you don¡¯t take me there, do you believe I¡¯ll break your third leg?¡± If Jing Chun had never seen Tan Yun before, he might have been fooled by her identity as a Demon Sect expert, but recalling how she had wolfed down food at the banquet earlier and now seeing the threatening posture she held in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. I might just be a blockhead, but you are nothing but a glutton. ¡°Watch the punch!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Seeing Jing Chun¡¯s mocking smile, Tan Yun immediately threw a punch at him. Jing Chun had learned martial arts and studied various subjects since he was a child, dabbling in everything and excelling in none. However, other than his own father and grandfather, no one else dared to hit him. ¡°Ouch¡­ you¡­ you actually hit me!¡± Jing Chun covered his nose, looking at Tan Yun with a face full of shock. This crazy woman, she actually dared to hit him. He was the grandson of the Grand Secretary, Lv Guoyong, and the only son of the Minister of Personnel, Lv Fang. Who didn¡¯t hold their nose in the air when they saw him? ¡°I did hit you, now hurry up and take me there.¡± Tan Yun looked at her clenched fist, feeling a sense of triumph in her heart. Since she was young, the education she had received was that fists solved all problems; if fists couldn¡¯t solve it, then the fists weren¡¯t hard enough. ¡°Just you wait, I¡¯m going to tell my dad right now.¡± Jing Chun ignored Tan Yun and headed straight towards the Dining Hall. ¡°You want to leave?¡± Tan Yun grabbed Jing Chun¡¯s clothes and lifted the chubby fellow up. Jing Chun cried out frantically, ¡°Let¡­ let go of me, if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll scream, I¡¯m telling you, the Lv Mansion has many Hidden Guards.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± This time, Tan Yun didn¡¯t speak, but punched him fiercely again. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°If you dare to yell, I¡¯ll punch you until you stop.¡± Tan Yun brandished her fists. ¡°No no no¡­ I¡¯ll take you there,¡± Jing Chun said, his face mournful at the sight of that fist. Upon hearing this, Tan Yun put down Jing Chun, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Jing Chun, tears streaming down his face, secretly vowed to vehemently complain about her later, and that old man Li Fuzhou would be dragged down with her. ¡°Move it!¡± Tan Yun kicked Jing Chun on his buttocks. Jing Chun howled, ¡°I know, no more hitting, no more hitting.¡± Shortly after the two disappeared, a figure emerged from the distance. This person was the steward of the Lv Mansion. At that moment, he watched the two figures leave and couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°So alike, she is the spitting image of the young lady, but their temperaments are worlds apart, truly interesting¡­¡± Jing Chun found it very strange, always feeling that the Lv Mansion was not as it usually was. Tan Yun said somewhat impatiently, ¡°Are we there yet?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here, we¡¯re here, right there.¡± Jing Chun quickly pointed ahead, fearing a beat too slow would earn him another beating. Tan Yun peered at the quaint house ahead, surrounded by loquat trees, appearing exceptionally desolate under the night sky. Jing Chun plopped down on the ground and then said, ¡°You go inside, I wouldn¡¯t dare to even if you killed me.¡± ¡°Coward, I¡¯ll go in myself then,¡± she snapped. Tan Yun huffed, pushed the door open, and entered. ¡°Tan Yun, you¡¯re doomed!¡± Seeing Tan Yun walk in, Jing Chun scrambled away into the distance, muttering under his breath, ¡°Dare to hit me, dare to hit me, how dare you hit me! I¡¯m going to tell my dad, tell my grandfather! Just you wait and see.¡± Before long, Jing Chun had disappeared within Lv Guoyong¡¯s courtyard. Tan Yun pushed the door to the study open. What met her eyes was a pair of couplets, their bold and vigorous strokes visible under the faint moonlight. ¡°To toil to recognize all the world¡¯s characters, to aspire to read all the books in the human world.¡± In the center of the room was a large Huali marble desk, covered with assorted famous scrolls and numerous precious inkstones, amidst a forest of brushes in various holders. To the east, there was a large imperial porcelain vase, full of crystal ball-like white chrysanthemums. Hanging on the center of the west wall was a finely painted ink landscape, with a pair of couplets on either side, clearly the work of a master, and the bed had green embroidered silk canopies with insects and flowers hanging above it. The entire study exuded a simplicity and clarity, brimming with a dashing and elegant scholarly air. Tan Yun picked up a tinderbox and lit the candle on the table. ¡°It¡¯s that portrait.¡± Guided by the flickering candlelight, she saw the portrait on the wall directly facing the desk. ¡°Mother¡­.¡± Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but look over, and her heart suddenly shivered. It was the portrait of a beautiful woman, not a national beauty, but still exceptionally gorgeous, especially the slight upturn at the corners of her lips. In an instant, myriad memories surged in her heart. Some fell from the sky, some were lost in the human world. Beneath the cold winds and snow, she remembered the intricate sugar figures, the insatiable buns, and even the worn-out quilt and the chipped porcelain bowl. Her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face. ¡­¡­ Moonlight like water, casting over the earth. At the dining hall banquet. Lv Guoyong sat at the head of the table, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. At the other end sat Li Fuzhou, Lv Fang, An Jing, and Zhou Xianming. An Jing, observing the expressions and conversations between Li Fuzhou and Lv Guoyong, quietly speculated, seeming to dismiss the rumors as untrue. There were rumors that Li Fuzhou had defected from the Lv Sect to join the Demon Sect and that Lv Guoyong, furious, had ordered the Xuanyi Guard to pursue and kill Li Fuzhou. But the teacher-student conversation appeared entirely normal now, mostly recounting old times or discussing trivial matters, hardly indicative of any grievance. There might be hidden details unknown to outsiders. Li Fuzhou raised his glass and said, ¡°Teacher-brother must have known I¡¯ve come to the capital, and I guess he also knew I would come to Lv Mansion.¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s teacher-brother, who was the Imperial Censor Grandmaster Zhao Tianyi. Lv Guoyong said indifferently, ¡°Let him know if he knows, it¡¯s just a few more impeachments against me.¡± With Lv Guoyong¡¯s vast influence, a few petitions weren¡¯t enough to topple him. Li Fuzhou¡¯s expression darkened as he said, ¡°What I fear is that he knows Tan Yun is here as well.¡± Li Fuzhou finished his drink in one gulp, and Lv Guoyong also raised his glass to sip. The Lv Sect, with its vast influence in the royal court, looked splendid and had long since become a thorn in the side of others, and the Human Emperor also harbored dissatisfaction towards it. From ancient times, powerful ministers in their later years never escaped a certain fate. And what about Lv Guoyong, the Grand Secretary through three dynasties? Didn¡¯t Zhao Tianyi still end up as the Human Emperor¡¯s eunuchful scribe? Suddenly, Lv Guoyong looked up at the beautiful moonlight and sighed, ¡°Fuzhou.¡± Li Fuzhou poured a cup of wine, looking at Lv Guoyong without speaking. ¡°These years have been hard on you.¡± Lv Guoyong suddenly said and then drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. Li Fuzhou seriously replied, ¡°Teacher, that determination to do what one knows shouldn¡¯t be done, how many times can one experience that in life?¡± Lv Fang also looked at Li Fuzhou, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply in his heart. ¡°Well said.¡± Lv Guoyong shook his head, turned to Zhou Xianming, and said, ¡°You are still young and have a promising path ahead, remember not to choose the wrong path, especially you, Xianming.¡± Li Fuzhou also looked at Zhou Xianming. As the Sect Master of the Demon Sect, he naturally knew some information. The Royal Family intended to recruit Zhou Xianming as a Prince Consort. For Zhou Xianming, this was indeed a great fortune. Once he became the Prince Consort, he could not only leverage the power of the Lv Sect but also operate without their constraint, and most importantly, gain the support of the Royal Family, stepping into a high position in the royal court in one move. Zhou Xianming spoke in a deep voice, ¡°I have my own judgment, Teacher.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you have your judgment. It¡¯s important to do what you truly believe is right.¡± Lv Guoyong nodded and then turned his eyes to the always silent An Jing, smiled, and said, ¡°Young friend, come, let¡¯s have a drink.¡± ¡°Please, Elder Lv!¡± An Jing also raised his glass. Li Fuzhou felt puzzled, wondering why his always aloof teacher would show such warmth and seemingly intent on befriending this Ghost Swordsman. Could it be that the Ghost Swordsman harbored some secret? The Sect Hierarch also said to capture this man alive. Maybe the Ghost Swordsman had some secret? ¡°Grandfather! Grandfather!¡± Just at that moment, a crying shout erupted. Lv Jingchun hastily ran in, fell in front of Lv Guoyong, and burst into tears. ¡°What happened?¡± Lv Fang furrowed his brows and shouted, ¡°What intolerable nonsense is this?¡± Lv Jingchun raised his head, wiped his tears, and said, ¡°Father, I was beaten.¡± It was evident that Lv Jingchun had a bruised nose and a swollen face, looking very much the worse for wear. Lv Fang was also quite surprised, ¡°Who did it?¡± Lv Jingchun pointed at Li Fuzhou, growled, ¡°It was Tan Yun, Li Fuzhou¡¯s apprentice Tan Yun, she¡¯s the one who beat me. Grandfather, Father, you must stand up for me, it hurts so much.¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Before Lv Jingchun could finish, a slap fiercely came down. Lv Jingchun was completely stunned, looking at Lv Fang in disbelief, ¡°Father, it was Tan Yun who beat me, why are you hitting me?¡± ¡°Hit him, hit him hard!¡± Lv Guoyong¡¯s expression darkened as he spoke. ¡°Understood.¡± Hearing Lv Guoyong¡¯s words, Lv Fang grabbed Lv Jingchun and headed towards the outside. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Father, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Father? I am your son Jingchun!¡± ¡°Father! It hurts so much.¡± ¡­. Soon, cries and howls of pain echoed from outside. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Convergence of Storms in Yujing City Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Convergence of Storms in Yujing City ¡°Father, Jing Chun has learned his lesson,¡± Returning to the banquet at last, Lv Fang rolled up his sleeves, his fists visibly red. An Jing, seeing this scene, became even more convinced. He hadn¡¯t expected the normally lively and playful maid to have such an identity. And yet, Lv Guoyong did not acknowledge her directly, suggesting there must be complexities involved. ¡°Gulp!¡± Zhou Xianming, witnessing this, swallowed hard, silently reminding himself to keep away from this ¡®Miss Lv¡¯. Lv Guoyong said indifferently, ¡°Well done. This useless boy accomplishes nothing, not even capable of being a prodigal. It¡¯s necessary to give him a sound beating from time to time, to teach him a lesson.¡± Lv Fang nodded, then added, ¡°That girl went to father¡¯s study.¡± Li Fuzhou frowned slightly, wanting to say something but then hesitated. Lv Guoyong pondered for a while and then said, ¡°Let her be.¡± Afterward, they drank a few cups, and Lv Guoyong, claiming to be tired, excused himself and left. ¡°I am somewhat weary as well.¡± Li Fuzhou gestured to Lv Fang and also left. An Jing bowed to Lv Fang and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for Mr. Lv to bother on my behalf. I plan to visit the study again to borrow some books.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formality,¡± Lv Fang smiled and said, ¡°Since you are a friend of my father, feel free to browse the library at your leisure.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± An Jing nodded and slowly walked out of the banquet. Zhou Xianming watched An Jing¡¯s departing figure and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Who is this man¡­?¡± He says he is a friend of Lv Guoyong and also knows the leader of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou. Certainly, he must be no ordinary individual. Watching the disappearing figure, Lv Fang said quietly, ¡°He¡¯s a new top expert in the Jianghu lately. I think you might have heard of him.¡± Zhou Xianming was startled and quickly asked, ¡°Could it be the Ghost Swordsman who slew the great true person of the Zhenyi Sect, defeated the Heavenly Sword, and pursued Qi Shu for three hundred miles?¡± Having previously been a storyteller in Yu State City, he naturally knew the subtleties and strengths of the Jianghu. Therefore, his understanding of the forces in Jianghu was greater than that of an average scholar. The recently famous Ghost Swordsman was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated experts in the Jianghu in recent years. Lv Fang nodded, ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± Zhou Xianming murmured, ¡°So it¡¯s him, I thought he was active in the south, never expected him to come to the north.¡± ¡­¡­. In the dim corridor of the Lv Mansion, Tan Yun walked while recalling the portrait she had just seen. Compared to the earlier turmoil, her heart was now very calm, as tranquil as the water in the well, without a single ripple. Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead. In the faint moonlight, the man was hunched over and moving very slowly. It was Lv Guoyong, holding a food box in his hand. Tan Yun leaned forward slightly and said, ¡°Old Master Lv.¡± Lv Guoyong chuckled and said, ¡°Little girl, this is the eight treasures cake I had the chef make just now. I saw you enjoyed it quite a bit earlier.¡± Looking at the food box in front of her, Tan Yun quickly waved her hands and said, ¡°No, that¡¯s too kind of you.¡± ¡°Take it.¡± Lv Guoyong forcibly placed the food box in Tan Yun¡¯s hands. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tan Yun looked at the food box in her hands and said softly. Neither of them spoke for a while, as if time had stopped. After a long while, Lv Guoyong heaved a long sigh and asked, ¡°Do you harbor any hatred in your heart?¡± This question seemed to be posed to Tan Yun, and yet it felt as though it was directed to the heavens above. Tan Yun shook her head and said, ¡°Mother often mentioned a phrase.¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°Past events are like a breeze past the ear, one should remain calm and unruffled.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Guoyong suddenly fell silent. With a hint of brightness in her beautiful eyes, Tan Yun said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what it means, but I think that living should be about being happy. If there are unhappy things, it¡¯s better to just forget them.¡± Looking at the young girl in front of him, Lv Guoyong couldn¡¯t help but ask himself, ¡°Can they really be forgotten?¡± Tan Yun nodded earnestly and said, ¡°Yes, you can, for example, think more about those things that once made you very happy. When my mother was healthy, the jelly she made was really delicious. Also, when I was in Dongluo Pass, I often went to play in the city after practicing my skills. I felt very happy during those times. And in Yu State City, I had a dog, and my master was also very kind to me, although he died¡­¡± Pausing here, Tan Yun continued, ¡°There are always very happy things in life. When you¡¯re unhappy, just think more about them, and you¡¯ll feel much better.¡± Seeing a fleeting dimness in Tan Yun¡¯s eyes, Lv Guoyong asked, ¡°The master you mentioned, did he die?¡± Tan Yun nodded, her tone somewhat somber, ¡°He was very kind to me, and he took good care of me. He once said that as long as you keep thinking about someone, they aren¡¯t really dead, at least they still live in your heart.¡± ¡°I will always remember him. I believe he will also live in this world in another way.¡± Saying this, Tan Yun forced a smile, revealing two rows of teeth like shattered jade. Lv Guoyong stretched out his withered hand and gently touched Tan Yun¡¯s hair. Some people, when they find a glimmer of light in the darkness, wish to pull that light into the darkness, while others wish to chase after that light. At that moment, Lv Guoyong noticed that the candlelight was lit again in the distant library and said, ¡°This youngster really is impatient.¡± It was so late, yet someone was entering the library, definitely not Lv Jingchun who had just been scolded severely. Tan Yun picked up a piece of Babao cake from the food box and put it in her mouth, curiously looking over, ¡°Old Lv, who are you talking about?¡± Lv Guoyong said in a deep voice, ¡°That elusive youngster from today¡¯s banquet.¡± A thought struck Tan Yun, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman?¡± ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± ¡°What is he doing there?¡± ¡°He wants to find a method to quickly advance to the Grandmaster Realm; I told him there¡¯s a method in the book library of the Lv Mansion.¡± ¡°Is there really one?¡± ¡°There is, but that method is very difficult.¡± ¡°Old Lv, you should go rest first. I need to leave for a while,¡± said Tan Yun. Seeing this, Tan Yun quickly grabbed the food box and hurried towards the direction of the library. Watching Tan Yun¡¯s anxious figure, Lv Guoyong couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Did I ever say I was tired?¡± ¡­.. The library. In the Lv Mansion, there was a pavilion specifically for storing books. This pavilion was five stories high and filled with various books, including the Six Arts Summary, Philosophers, Poetry and Prose, Military Books, Mathematics Summary, and Skills Summary, among other categories of books. An Jing searched from one floor to the next, but still couldn¡¯t find the method to promotion to Grandmaster that Lv Guoyong had mentioned. ¡°Old Lv wouldn¡¯t deceive me.¡± An Jing pondered for a moment, ¡°Back in his youth, Old Lv must have read the Philosophers the most.¡± With that thought, he went to the second floor of the Philosophers section, checking from one bookshelf to another, even flipping through one book after another. Every book here bore traces of having been read, and beside them were annotations with personal insights and feelings, clearly read attentively. Time passed like flowing sand, and before he knew it, the time it took for an incense stick to burn had passed. Suddenly, as An Jing flipped through a book titled ¡°Shu Kingdom Chronicles,¡± a silver paper fell out. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing picked up the paper from the ground, and his eyes instantly brightened. ¡°Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, also known as Three Yangs Gathering. The intrinsic meaning of the three flowers is the three yangs: Yang within Yin, Yang within Yang, and Yang within Yin and Yang. When these three yangs converge, one enters a state of complete self-forgetfulness, with a mind as clear as the sun¡¯s rays, suddenly bright and feeling immensely cool.¡± ¡°For the three yangs to converge, besides needing one¡¯s mind to fully reach a state of unity, a massive amount of essence, various heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth can all be integrated into oneself, forming a substantial amount of yang energy. At the base of Beili Volcano, there exists Volcano Spirit, which belongs to the essence of heaven and earth, abundant in yang energy, and is extremely conducive to forming yang energy. Remember three things, you must commit them to heart: first, do not absorb the Volcano Spirit until you have achieved unity within yourself; second, the base of Beili Volcano is highly dangerous, with exotic beasts lurking; third, those with heavy yin energy within their bodies should not absorb Volcano Spirit to refine yang energy, otherwise it will cause a sudden imbalance of yin and yang.¡± Volcano Spirit of Beili Volcano? An Jing quickly glanced over, and then inspected it twice more carefully, his eyebrows slightly raised. There are three points mentioned here, all are very important, besides the last one, the first and second points require special attention from An Jing. Especially the first point, one must achieve body and mind unity to truly reach the state of Three Flowers Gathering. This state, he had incidentally seen on Li Fuzhou¡¯s body before. Li Fuzhou, like Lin Yiyang previously, was capable of directly advancing to the Grandmaster Realm but suppressed the qi mechanism within their bodies. The advantage of such an advancement is obvious. When advancing to the Grandmaster Realm, one can quickly reach the state of One Qi Grandmaster. However, each of them had stayed at the realm of Half-step Grandmaster for a long time, nurturing the qi mechanism within their bodies. Naturally, An Jing couldn¡¯t follow their example. ¡°Next, after reaching the state of body and mind unity, one can go to the base of Beili Volcano. However, heading to the base of Beili Volcano also carries dangers¡­¡± An Jing pondered for a moment before placing the silver paper back into the portfolio. Just then, footsteps sounded from the stairs. An Jing looked in direction of the sound and immediately saw Tan Yun coming upstairs with a food box and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Did you specifically come to bring food for me?¡± ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Tan Yun glanced at the Eight Treasures cake in her hand and said subconsciously, ¡°Yes¡­ yes, I did.¡± An Jing unceremoniously took over the food box, saying, ¡°Thanks. I was just feeling a bit hungry.¡± Saying this, he sat down on the ground, picked up an Eight Treasures cake from the box, and began eating. Earlier at the banquet, he had focused on drinking and had not eaten much. Tan Yun also squat down and asked, ¡°Do you really want to join our Demon Sect?¡± An Jing nodded and replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Tan Yun curiously looked at the man in the black robe and asked, ¡°But why did you refuse the last time outside Yuan City?¡± An Jing picked up another piece of Eight Treasures cake and asked, ¡°Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?¡± Tan Yun hastily said, ¡°The truth, of course. Who wants to hear a lie?¡± An Jing looked at Tan Yun and said mildly, ¡°In this Demon Sect, there is someone very important to me.¡± A very important person!? It shouldn¡¯t be the Sect Hierarch. Tan Yun¡¯s heart started pounding, nearly jumping into her throat. She remembered the Ghost Swordsman had once said he knew the Groom. If the two knew each other, it would be impossible for him to love the Sect Hierarch again, especially since the Sect Hierarch¡¯s temperament would only make her love the Groom, not anyone else. And he had saved her before; maybe he joined the Demon Sect for¡­ Thinking of this made Tan Yun¡¯s heart race even faster. An Jing ate the Eight Treasures cakes heartily, consuming three or four pieces before stopping. It must be said that the chef of the Lv Mansion still had quite impressive skills. Tan Yun softly said, ¡°Back in Huang Yao Town, thanks to you, if it weren¡¯t for your timely appearance¡­¡± An Jing waved his hand and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s a trivial matter, not worth mentioning.¡± If it had been Li Fuzhou being pursued and hunted by the Xuanyi Guard under similar circumstances where his power allowed, An Jing would have intervened to help. ¡°For you it¡¯s a trivial matter, but for me, it was a significant event. For a drop of water given, a spring should be returned.¡± Tan Yun glanced at the food box and noticed that An Jing was nearly finished with it. She hurriedly reached into the box and grabbed a piece of Eight Treasures cake. An Jing clapped his hands and said, ¡°For a drop of water received, a spring should be repaid.¡± Somehow, he felt it was odd for Tan Yun to say that phrase. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Tan Yun paused with the pastry in hand, looking at An Jing somewhat strangely. An Jing stretched out his thumb to wipe the pastry crumbs from the corner of Tan Yun¡¯s mouth. ¡°You had pastry on your face.¡± Tan Yun laughed reflexively, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll eat it when I¡¯m hungry later.¡± An Jing: ¡°¡­¡­¡± That¡¯s just like you, Tan Yun. Seeing An Jing fall silent, Tan Yun¡¯s face flushed red as she quickly explained, ¡°No no no, I mean¡­we should cherish food, how can we waste it?¡± An Jing spoke indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just eat as you like.¡± At that moment, Tan Yun was eating much more reservedly than before; An Jing found this change somewhat unsettling. Tan Yun reluctantly looked at the food box with the eight treasures cake and said, ¡°I¡¯m already full. Lately, I don¡¯t know why, but my appetite has increased. I can eat a whole piece of cake now.¡± Who are you trying to fool!? An Jing took a deep breath, trying hard to control his emotions. Tan Yun seemed to recall something, and cautiously asked, ¡°By the way, you said you knew my master. Did he ever say anything to you?¡± An Jing shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun breathed a sigh of relief. A thought struck An Jing, though his expression remained indifferent, ¡°He often told me he was very poor, saying that someone nearly left his house empty by eating everything.¡± Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s eyes widened, and she blinked rapidly, ¡°Ah¡­ yes, my master can eat a lot; he can eat eight crabs in one meal. He loves crabs, and I can¡¯t stop him¡­ If I had known it would come to this, I should have let him eat to his fill.¡± ¡°When there¡¯s time to pay respects at the end of the year, I¡¯ll burn a few crabs for him, hoping he can understand my feelings underground.¡± If one were to take off the mask now, one would be able to see An Jing¡¯s face turning completely dark. Crabs, they were his biggest inner shadow, to the point that he hardly ate crabs afterward. An Jing waved his hand casually, ¡°That Dr. An is really lucky to have married such a beautiful wife.¡± Remembering Li Fuzhou¡¯s words, Tan Yun stared at An Jing asking, ¡°Miss? Why do you bring up the Miss?¡± Li Fuzhou had warned Tan Yun to never reveal the sect¡¯s secrets to the Ghost Swordsman. Although Tan Yun was naive, she was not foolish and certainly wouldn¡¯t easily divulge the sect¡¯s secrets to the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°I was just asking casually.¡± An Jing said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m just curious why your Miss, with her status, would marry An Jing.¡± Tan Yun shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± How could she possibly understand Zhao Qingmei¡¯s thoughts? An Jing pondered silently, it seemed like Tan Yun was also cautious around him; had she detected his attempt at prying? Tan Yun looked out the window and said somewhat reluctantly, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I should go back. I¡¯ll come to see you the day after tomorrow.¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows, ¡°The day after tomorrow, do you have something to do these next two days?¡± The purpose of Li Fuzhou¡¯s visit to Yujing City wasn¡¯t just to meet Lv Guoyong and hurriedly leave, was it? ¡°Yes, the day after tomorrow is the big wedding of the son of the Marquis of Pingyang. My master said we should attend the wedding, to meet an old friend,¡± Tan Yun thought for a moment and felt this wasn¡¯t a secret of the Demon Sect, so she mentioned it. ¡°Marquis of Pingyang¡¯s son¡¯s big wedding?¡± An Jing blinked, ¡°Qiu Lun?¡± Tan Yun picked up the food box, ¡°I¡¯m going back. If I don¡¯t return now, my master will start to worry.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Okay¡± Tan Yun picked up the food box and slowly walked toward the stairs. An Jing watched Tan Yun¡¯s retreating figure and mused silently, ¡°What exactly is Li Fuzhou doing in Yujing City this time?¡± ¡­¡­ Yujing City, Marquis of Pingyang¡¯s mansion. The mansion was brightly lit and decorated, truly lively. At this moment, everyone in the Pingyang Marquis¡¯ residence was very busy, each wearing a festive expression. As one of the three marquises of the Great Yan Dynasty and with the Marquis himself and the Marquis of Martial Guarding being generals, the Pingyang Marquis was essentially the leader of the military officials. Today was the marriage of the Pingyang Marquis¡¯ son, the biggest event in Yujing City besides the arrival of the Houjin envoy. On the practice field, Qiu Heng held a long spear in his hand. The spear technique was agile and swift like dancing pears, advancing sharply, retreating quickly, and changing unpredictably. He was undoubtedly a master spear expert of his time. He finished with a fiercely spirited Hui Ma Spear maneuver. ¡°Dad, everything is nearly ready, just waiting for the big wedding the day after tomorrow,¡± Qiu Lun, with a big belly, came over joyfully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, within five years I promise to give you three or four grandsons.¡± Qiu Heng put down the spear and placed it on the rack, then sat on a chair nearby, ¡°Since you were little, I knew you would handle anything you wanted to do, I didn¡¯t call you over to ask about the wedding preparations.¡± Qiu Lun, a bit puzzled, asked, ¡°Then what is it?¡± Qiu Heng said gravely, ¡°Your wedding tomorrow might see bloodshed.¡± Qiu Lun nodded naturally, ¡°That¡¯s bound to see some blood.¡± ¡°Pesky boy.¡± Qiu Heng glared at Qiu Lun disapprovingly, ¡°I mean, having your wedding at this critical moment will attract a lot of trouble.¡± Qiu Lun¡¯s face cooled upon hearing this, speaking calmly, ¡°Who dares to cause trouble? Are there really people who are not afraid of death?¡± Qiu Heng slowly said, ¡°The Houjin envoy has entered the capital; the Crown Prince is still holding them. That¡¯s the first trouble. And Li Fuzhou has appeared. That might be the second trouble.¡± Qiu Lun paused, then asked, ¡°Is Li Fuzhou really that dangerous?¡± Li Fuzhou was the main leader of the Demon Sect, but in Qiu Lun¡¯s view, his reputation was inferior to the leader of the Heavenly Sect, and even the Heavenly Sect¡¯s leader wouldn¡¯t dare enter Yujing City alone; this Li Fuzhou dared, which he couldn¡¯t understand. Qiu Heng took a big sip from his teacup, speaking gravely, ¡°Do you know why everyone says Li Fuzhou is a prodigy? He took to Martial Arts after leaving the Lv Sect, and within less than thirty years, his strength has reached the Half-step Master, still suppressing his current realm.¡± ¡°Most importantly, he is the only one in the world who can nurture the Dantian in the Literary Palace as a scholar, his future is boundless. ¡± Qiu Lun furrowed his brows, ¡°Two different cultivation paths, and Li Fuzhou¡¯s ability to integrate them is indeed remarkable, but what¡¯s his real purpose for coming to Yujing City?¡± Qiu Heng paused for a long while before responding, ¡°This ties back to an old incident. You know how the Human Emperor has been treating the Lv Sect, right?¡± Qiu Lun nodded, the Lv Sect¡¯s power was immense and deeply rooted, casting a huge shadow over the Court, and the Human Emperor had been subtly suppressing the Lv Sect in recent years ¡ª a fact known to all. But a thin camel is still bigger than a horse, not to mention that this camel wasn¡¯t dead yet. Qiu Heng continued slowly, ¡°Back then, Li Fuzhou was so prominent in Yujing City, overshadowing all the young talents of his generation, with his brilliance shocking everyone. Then, a rumor spread through the streets that Li Fuzhou had the credentials to inherit the Lv Sect.¡± On hearing this, Qiu Lun¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Human Emperor was already wary of the Lv Sect; now a young prodigy had emerged from Lv Sect, how could the Human Emperor be at ease? This rumor was clearly designed to kill two birds with one stone. ¡°To kill Li Fuzhou and to strike at the Human Emperor¡¯s heart.¡± Qiu Lun asked, ¡°So you mean the Human Emperor purposely suppressed Li Fuzhou, forcing him to leave the Lv Sect?¡± Qiu Heng replied, ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s why I admire Li Fuzhou. Not wanting to drag the Lv Sect into turmoil and cause unrest within the Great Yan Dynasty, Li Fuzhou and Zhao Tianyi took a different path.¡± Zhao Tianyi bent his knee to the Human Emperor, becoming the Human Emperor¡¯s scribe eunuch, and was even given the Zhao surname. But Li Fuzhou was different; he left Yujing City alone, elegant and carefree. Qiu Heng reflected, ¡°When he left, the Human Emperor dispatched the Xuanyi Guard to kill him. To save his life, Li Fuzhou had no choice but to join the Demon Sect.¡± On hearing this, Qiu Lun also felt introspective; he hadn¡¯t realized that Li Fuzhou¡¯s defection to the Demon Sect had such secret reasons behind it. He had long found the stories circulated in the Jianghu strange. The Xuanyi Guard were the Human Emperor¡¯s weapon; how could Lv Guoyong possibly wield such a weapon? Now, it seemed this was the real story. Qiu Lun thought for a moment and then asked, ¡°So, is Li Fuzhou here to seek justice this time?¡± Qiu Heng took a deep breath, ¡°With his temperament, he is not one to court death, but now that the Human Emperor is severely weakened and the Houjin envoy has entered Yujing City, it¡¯s a time of much strife. Regardless, we must be extra careful tomorrow.¡± Qiu Lun nodded earnestly, ¡°I understand, but since Li Fuzhou has no beef with us, he shouldn¡¯t cause any trouble at my wedding. Others, seeing my father¡¯s face, naturally won¡¯t create disputes either.¡± Qiu Heng stood up and looked into the distance, ¡°The bloodshed I mentioned earlier was not his doing.¡± ¡°Then whose was it?¡± ¡°Houjin¡¯s genius swordsman, Yan Gang.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Qiu Lun raised his eyebrows at the mention of the name of this swordsman. He had almost heard it enough to develop calluses on his ears, with over a dozen renowned swordsmen of Great Yan having already died at his hand, causing turmoil in Jianghu. Had he not come to Yujing City, the death toll among swordsmen might have been even higher. A hint of murderous intent flashed in Qiu Heng¡¯s eyes, ¡°The Crown Prince has issued a secret order, he must die.¡± Qiu Lun¡¯s frown deepened, then he nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡­¡­ Yujing City, Spring Wind Tower. Located in Yujing City, Spring Wind Tower is quite a famous tavern, managed by an authentic Daoist from the Northern Wilderness. Therefore, the liquor sold here is very spicy and strong. At this moment, a swordsman wearing a leather jacket, tall and holding a black treasure sword, walked in. ¡°Sir, what would you like to order?¡± The waiter came over enthusiastically. ¡°Two jin of meat, three jin of liquor, and the strongest they¡¯ve got,¡± the leather-coated swordsman¡¯s accent was a bit strange, but the waiter could just about understand him. ¡°Right away!¡± The waiter hurriedly shouted to the back hall, ¡°Two jin of meat, three jin of Fire Blade.¡± Hearing this, the leather-coated swordsman then found a corner to sit down. Soon, both the liquor and meat were served. The leather-coated swordsman grabbed the meat with one hand and gulped down the strong liquor from the jar with the other, displaying a spirit of boldness and unruliness. ¡°Did you hear? That Houjin swordsman, Yan Gang, wants to challenge a Sword Immortal.¡± ¡°Him, challenge a Sword Immortal level swordsman?¡± ¡°Thinking a Fifth Realm swordsman can challenge a Sword Immortal? Ridiculous indeed.¡± ¡°Barbarians will be barbarians, probably not fully civilized yet.¡± ¡­.. At this moment, two people at the next table started discussing. Upon hearing the word ¡®barbarians¡¯, a cold gleam flashed in the eyes of the leather-coated swordsman. An interested young man at the neighboring table said, ¡°Did you know? A hundred years ago, the prairie was just like those desert tribes, all barbarians who drank blood and ate raw meat, only in recent years have they started to eat cooked food.¡± ¡°Their sword techniques are all stolen from our Great Yan. Do you think they have any top-notch swordsmen? Look at Zhao Country with Cui Daoxian, and the Demon Sect has the White Tiger Sword Immortal. What does the vast Houjin have?¡± ¡°They have Yan Gang, don¡¯t they? He¡¯s the genius swordsman of Houjin.¡± ¡°Him? Absolutely ridiculous.¡± ¡°Facing a real Sword Immortal, I bet he wouldn¡¯t last ten moves.¡± ¡°Ten moves? I¡¯d say three moves would be generous.¡± ¡°The White-clothed Sword Immortal, Lin, the Sect Leader, is in Yujing City, would he dare to challenge him?¡± ¡°I bet Yan Gang is regretting it now. He should have said he¡¯d challenge Yi Daoyun or Cui Daoxian, since neither of them are in Yujing City.¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± The entire tavern burst into intense discussion, the mockery and satire in the tones almost completely undisguised. The leather-coated swordsman¡¯s face grew increasingly gloomy, as if about to drip water. Finally, he clenched his fists, picked up the sword on the table, and walked out of the tavern. The very moment the leather-coated swordsman¡¯s form disappeared, the young man still freely mocking Yan Gang saw this and a cold smile appeared on his lips. ¡­¡­ May thirteenth. Suitable for: moving into a house, construction, visiting the nobility, seeking wealth, marriage. Avoid: relocating, burial, construction, roofing, installing beds. The sun was not scorching, and there was a gentle breeze. An Jing sat cross-legged in the courtyard, feeling the universe around him and seeking the sensation of unity between body and mind. Behind him, the Human Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower appeared and disappeared intermittently, casting a faint glow. Flowers wither, fragrance unfading; mind at peace, self at ease. Only by reaching a state of true inner peace can one attain this unity of body and mind. For the past few days, An Jing had been searching for that state but always lacked that final touch. Another half an hour passed, and An Jing heard footsteps and slowly opened his eyes. He saw Lv Jingchun approaching with a limp, his face bruised and swollen. The moment he saw An Jing, a glimmer of light sparkled in his eyes. ¡°Uncle Ghost, I need your help with something,¡± he said. An Jing glanced at Lv Jingchun and asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± With a dry laugh, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°My elder brother is getting married today. Given my appearance, it¡¯s not suitable for me to go. I¡¯d like you to deliver this wedding gift for me.¡± ¡°The wedding card and gift are here. Just mention it to my brother when you arrive.¡± As he spoke, Lv Jingchun carefully took a box out of his bosom. An Jing took the box and saw inside a pair of jade mandarin ducks. The jade was dense and smooth, incredibly resilient, with a crystalline and translucent hue, gentle and elegant. The craftsmanship was exquisite and lifelike, indicating its significant value at a glance. Twiddling his thumbs, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°In my current state, I can¡¯t meet my friends, so I had to turn to you, Uncle Ghost.¡± An Jing nodded slightly and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make the trip for you.¡± Even if Lv Jingchun hadn¡¯t invited him, An Jing had planned to attend the wedding feast to see Imperial Concubine Rong, who was rumored to have a connection with the Pingyang Marquis and would be present. Jiang Sanjia was reportedly forced to death by this Imperial Concubine Rong, Mu Xiaoyun. Patting his chest excitedly, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, if there¡¯s anything you need in the future, just tell me. Lv Jingchun will certainly not shirk.¡± After a moment of thought, An Jing asked, ¡°What have Li Fuzhou and Tan Yun been doing these last couple of days?¡± ¡°Li Fuzhou has been studying, Tan Yun went out to buy a few new clothes, and then she has been cooking in the kitchen.¡± As Lv Jingchun mentioned this, there was a hint of fear in his eyes, ¡°I heard that what she cooked knocked a dog unconscious with just one bite. It took a while for it to wake up. In my opinion, marrying a doctor would be best for her.¡± Confused, An Jing asked, ¡°Why is that?¡± Lv Jingchun honestly replied, ¡°Because after eating her cooking, you can be sent immediately for treatment.¡± Looking at the chubby young man in front of him, An Jing was speechless: ¡°¡­..¡± With a chuckle, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, rest assured, if there¡¯s any movement from their side, I¡¯ll report to you immediately.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing well. I¡¯ll be leaving now,¡± said An Jing. An Jing patted Lv Jingchun¡¯s shoulder, then took the invitation and the wedding gift and walked off into the distance. ¡°Uncle Ghost is truly a good man,¡± Lv Jingchun remarked as he watched An Jing¡¯s departing figure. ¡°I must not let him down.¡± He had never been trusted so much in his life. Cloaked in black, An Jing walked out of the Lv Mansion, with the Evil Suppressing Sword hidden behind him. By now, Yujing City was bustling and lively. Today, the son of the Pingyang Marquis was getting married, and even the city¡¯s commoners were joyous, which reflected the Pingyang Marquis¡¯s prestige and reputation in the city. After all, the Pingyang Marquis was one of the few generals who had gained the upper hand in battles against Zhao Country. About fifteen minutes later, An Jing arrived in front of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. The entrance to the Pingyang Marquis Mansion was crowded and lively. Sedans and carriages had already blocked the intersection. Descending from them were princes, ministers, high officials from the court, and famous experts from Jianghu. Qiu Lun, clad in a particularly large festive robe, displayed a smile as radiant as blooming daisies and was greeting the guests at the entrance. An Jing stood at the doorway, about to step forward, when he happened to see several familiar figures. It was a father and daughter pair, both exceptionally handsome and elegant. The daughter was even more stunningly beautiful, a beauty that could topple cities and states. Their appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone at the door. ¡°Sect Leader Dai, Miss Dai, please, come in quickly,¡± he called out. Qiu Lun eagerly greeted the arrivals. ¡°Nephew Qiu, congratulations,¡± Dai Danshu, looking at Qiu Lun, who was bulky as a mountain of flesh, felt a surge of emotions. If it hadn¡¯t been for that incident with his son back then, this joyous scene as an in-law should have taken place on the Five Poison Mountain. Who could have known that Wu Qiren would turn out to be an impostor by the Ghost Swordsman? A thought crossed Qiu Lun¡¯s mind, and he said with a smile, ¡°Miss Dai¡¯s cultivation has improved again. That¡¯s truly delightful and praiseworthy.¡± He remembered seeing Dai Ling last time when she was merely at the First Grade. Now, she had already formed the Human Flower, and even the Earth Flower was about to manifest. Such rapid progression was truly astounding. Dai Ling¡¯s expression was icy, and she gave a detached nod. The father and daughter then slowly walked inside. An Jing, standing at a distance, slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°It must be the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence left by old man Qingfeng.¡± He had lost his ability to move after a battle with old man Qingfeng and had left in a hurry without killing him, only to find out later that Qingfeng had died. At that time, only Feng Lingyue was present, and it must have been him who took Qingfeng¡¯s Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and later gave it to Dai Ling for cultivation, enabling her to reach the peak of the Human Flower. Soon, the Minister of Industry, Yue Tingchen, the Minister of Revenue, Fang Shaohan, and other high officials from the court personally arrived. An Jing slowly stepped out and headed towards the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Ghost Swordsman! Upon seeing the visitor, Qiu Lun¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Big brother, you¡¯ve come?¡± ¡°Yes, this is a congratulatory gift.¡± An Jing took out the jade stone that Lv Jingchun had prepared for him. ¡°Big brother, let me see what gift you have prepared.¡± Qiu Lun directly opened the box, and his eyes immediately shone as he recognized the exceptional nature of the jade stone. An Jing watched Qiu Lun with amusement, ¡°What do you think?¡± This fat man really had thick skin, daring to open it right in front of him. Qiu Lun tossed it to someone nearby, then gave a thumbs up, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re my big brother, always so generous.¡± An Jing smiled and said, ¡°Little bird, after all, you call me big brother, so it¡¯s only proper.¡± Little bird¡­ Hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Qiu Lun chuckled dryly, ¡°Big brother, there¡¯s a chance today to make a name for thousands of generations, are you interested?¡± The trap for Yan Gang was set, now just waiting for Yan Gang to fall into it, and then to strike him down with the sharpest sword. An Jing raised his eyebrows, ¡°Do I still need to make a name for myself?¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun nodded slightly. One of the six great Sword Immortals of the present, who has an exotic beast, the Black Flood Dragon, under his command, swallowed Song Chengbiao, a Half-step Master of Zhenyi Sect, and his Evil Suppressing Sword carried the fresh blood of Yu Lin and Yu Huai, two great real people of Zhenyi Sect, he defeated Cui Daoxian with the Defeating Heaven Sword, and pursued Qi Shu for three hundred miles. His military achievements were outstanding, and his fame was widespread; otherwise, he would not have become one of the six great Sword Immortals. Moreover, there was a lesser-known deed, the slaying of the Grandmaster, old man Qingfeng. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only A man¡¯s name, a tree¡¯s shadow. Ghost Swordsman, three words that implied deterrence. Qiu Lun said softly, ¡°Big brother, you must have seen that Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu just went in, and Ling Yuanjing and He Chen from Zhenyi Sect have already arrived.¡± ¡°As long as Xiao Qianqiu doesn¡¯t show up, it¡¯s fine.¡± An Jing smiled faintly, then proceeded to enter the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Defeat the Second Qi Grandmaster with One Punch Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Defeat the Second Qi Grandmaster with One Punch A Houjin expert walked up to Yan Gang and then shakily extended his hand, placing a finger under his nose, whispering, ¡°Dead¡­ dead, Yan Gang is dead.¡± Even Mu Jin Dharma King found it difficult to remain calm at this moment, his expression grave. Yan Gang was the leading swordsman of Houjin, a genius swordsman highly regarded by Zongzheng Huachun, who claimed that he would certainly become one of the top swordsmen of his time, his future boundless. In Houjin, where swordsmanship was not particularly prevalent, a top swordsman was exceptionally rare. Therefore, Yan Gang not only had a great reputation in Houjin but was also the subject of much attention and expectation. But now, he had died by the sword of the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Such a terrifying Sword Dao.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King kept recalling the stroke of the Ghost Swordsman, his brows tightly furrowed. He had seen the swordsmanship of top swordsmen before, but never anything as ¡®distinctive¡¯ as that of the Ghost Swordsman, giving him a sense of substantial weight as if facing a mountain. The practice of weapons such as swords, blades, and spears is divided into seven realms, and different methods lead to different intents, thereby creating many schools of thought. By comparison, the realm distinctions in hand-to-hand combat and body refining are much simpler, with just one way, divided into four major realms: Body and Mind Unity, Flawless Body, Heavenly Human Communication, and Heavenly Man Unity. To advance to the Master Realm, one must reach the first boundary of Body and Mind Unity. For ninety-nine percent of experts, reaching the Body and Mind Unity realm is extremely difficult. The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva from the Buddhist sect, who perfected the True Martial level Martial Arts ¡°Vajra Immortal Body,¡± was at the Master Realm level of Flawless Body. Xiao Qianqiu, before his battle with Lou Xiangzhen, was also at the realm of Flawless Body and was on the verge of touching Heavenly Human Communication; whether he reached this realm or not is unknown. As can be seen, the difficulty of progressing in body refining realms is immensely challenging, much more so than increasing power with blades and swords in the early stages, and the demands are also extremely high. Thus, even among the world¡¯s top hand-to-hand combat and body-refining masters, many renowned Master Realm experts are only at the level of Flawless Body. Those who can reach Heavenly Human Communication are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; such experts are either old monsters or hidden away in some obscure corner cultivating, rarely appearing in the martial world. It is even an unknown number whether they exist at all. Although it is very difficult to progress in realms of hand-to-hand combat and body refining, each advancement brings a visibly significant increase in strength. It¡¯s even more exaggerated than the latter three stages of weapon prowess. Until now, An Jing had only practiced the Buddhist ¡°Brahma Heart Sees Me¡± and ¡°Nine Yang Divine Finger¡± in terms of hand-to-hand combat and body-refining techniques. As he was devoted to the Sword Dao, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to these two types of martial arts and has not yet reached the realm of Body and Mind Unity. However, reaching that realm is not difficult for someone with his talent; the only challenge is when he will achieve Body and Mind Unity. The place fell silent for a long time before a Houjin expert spoke in a low voice, ¡°Dharma King, what should we do now?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King said with a deep voice, ¡°Take Yan Gang¡¯s body. We¡¯re leaving.¡± Afterward, a group of Houjin experts carried Yan Gang¡¯s corpse and began walking towards the door. Just as Mu Jin Dharma King left, his eyes glanced at An Jing intentionally or otherwise, the killing intent in his gaze fleeting. ¡°Ah, such auspicious blood, just looking at it is lucky.¡± Qiu Lun came over at this moment, looking down at the fresh red blood on the ground and mumbled to himself. Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng also called out, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t mind this, keep eating and drinking as you were.¡± ¡°Well killed.¡± Many officials in the temples were inwardly delighted to see this, how could they not be excited that the spirit of the Houjin people had been dampened? Gao Sheng, watching the Ghost Swordsman still drinking with Li Fuzhou, slowly said, ¡°I fear that Ghost Swordsman may not live out the night, given that Mu Jin Dharma King glanced at him when he was leaving.¡± Tang Taiyuan indifferently said, ¡°Although this man saved Princess An Le and killed Yan Gang, he has turned against the National Religion and has also made friends with the Demon Sect¡¯s Li Fuzhou; surely he is a disaster waiting to happen.¡± Gao Sheng nodded, fully agreeing with Tang Taiyuan¡¯s latter statement. Good and evil are merely different sides of the same coin, or different interests. The Ghost Swordsman had said while killing Yan Gang that he was exacting repayment for a life because Mu Jin Dharma King had previously saved Qi Shu. In the eyes of the people in the Great Yan Martial World, Yan Gang might have been arrogant and deserved punishment, but to the people of Houjin, he might as well be a hero. One man¡¯s poison is another man¡¯s honey. One man¡¯s bandit is another man¡¯s hero. Just as Tang Taiyuan put it, with no ambiguity, to him the Ghost Swordsman, who got along well with the Demon Sect¡¯s Li Fuzhou, is undoubtedly a villain. Gao Sheng pondered for a moment then reminded, ¡°Lord Tang, you need to be careful in the upcoming battle at the Eight Feet Platform.¡± If an ordinary Half-step Master dared to challenge Tang Taiyuan, in Gao Sheng¡¯s eyes, it would undoubtedly be a death wish. Let alone a Half-step Master; even a One Qi Master would be undoubtedly doomed. But today¡¯s challenger was Li Fuzhou. In Gao Sheng¡¯s view, there were many scholars in the world, ninety-nine percent of whom were deadbeats in their studies, but Li Fuzhou was the only one he had seen so far who had brought life to his reading. Tang Taiyuan¡¯s complexion was as calm as the abyss, ¡°This old man shall present his head to the Human Emperor.¡± Gao Sheng did not speak, but he was looking forward to the fight on the Eight Feet Platform. Yue Tingchen sighed, ¡°Such a formidable swordsman, no wonder he¡¯s gained such a great reputation in just a year¡¯s time and is held in such high esteem by the divine prognosticator Jiang Sanjia.¡± His martial arts realm was not high, but that did not prevent him from knowing Yan Gang¡¯s formidability. The fact that such an impressive Yan Gang was killed by a single sword strike was testament to the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s prowess. Yue Tingchen spoke in a voice that was neither loud nor soft, just enough for Mu Xiaowan to hear clearly. The three words ¡®Jiang Sanjia¡¯ felt like needles pricking sharply into her heart. It was an uncomfortable feeling. Jiang Sanjia had true affection for her, but she took advantage of him and even drove him to his death eventually. She wanted to bury this not so glorious past. But the emergence of the Ghost Swordsman constantly reminded her of that unsightly history. Mu Xiaowan, watching An Jing¡¯s figure, sneered to herself, ¡°Since you want to kill me so badly, I¡¯ll give you a chance then.¡± The crowd on the scene showed varied expressions, displaying a diverse range of emotions¨Csome felt unfettered joy, while others harbored hidden murderous intents. Qiu Lun walked over to An Jing with a smile and said, ¡°Big brother, I toast to you with this cup.¡± An Jing lifted his cup with an impassive face and transmitted his voice, ¡°The death of Yan Gang, it seems, was a settled matter long ago.¡± From the fat man¡¯s demeanor, it was clear that today was a trap set up. If it wasn¡¯t Lin Yiyang making a move, then it would be him. After thinking for a moment, Qiu Lun also transmitted his voice, ¡°Big brother should be careful of the Jinmu Dharma King.¡± No matter what, having used the Evil Suppressing Sword to kill Yan Gang today and fulfill the secret order from the Crown Prince, the Jinmu Dharma King would not let this slide without revenge. Logically speaking, with Yujing City being home to many experts and powerful individuals like the rain. Even the Jinmu Dharma King, at the peak of the Second Qi Grandmaster level, would not dare to act rashly. However, considering the Ghost Swordsman had previously offended the Zhenyi Sect, just now confronted the white-browed eunuch, and now, was getting along famously with Li Fuzhou, he clearly belonged to the category of ¡®neither favored by grandmother nor loved by uncle¡¯. If the Jinmu Dharma King targeted him, the Royal Family might not step in to protect him. An Jing spoke lightly, ¡°I understand.¡± After another moment of thought, Qiu Lun transmitted, ¡°From what I know, Mu Xiaowan used to be quite close to the Second Prince, but ever since the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion fell, she has not been as enthusiastic as before. However, she still has close ties to the Second Prince. Actually, the Crown Prince is a very good option for you, big brother. You might consider¡­¡± In Qiu Lun¡¯s eyes, although An Jing was currently facing enemies on all sides, having rescued Princess An Le and slain Yan Gang were both meritorious deeds for Great Yan. If he could establish a connection with the Crown Prince, it would be highly beneficial. Despite his rough exterior, Qiu Lun¡¯s mind was as fine as a thread. Indeed, An Jing transmitted back, ¡°I have my own thoughts, you need not worry.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll head over there first, big brother.¡± Qiu Lun smiled and then walked off towards a distant location. Li Fuzhou watched Qiu Lun¡¯s retreating figure and said, ¡°This meat mountain is quite crafty.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Extremely sly.¡± Li Fuzhou then turned to Tan Yun, who was earnestly ¡®chewing thoroughly and eating slowly¡¯, and said, ¡°Tan Yun, hurry up and eat. Once you¡¯re full, we¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Tan Yun wiped his mouth and asked in confusion, ¡°Master, why leave so quickly? Didn¡¯t you want to see your old friends?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen all the old friends I wanted to,¡± Li Fuzhou replied. He pointed towards the distance, indicating the officials, Ling Yuanjing, Jia Shiwu, Zuo Biwen, and others. Tan Yun blinked and realized that when his master said he was going to ¡®see¡¯ old friends, he really just meant to ¡®see¡¯ them. Li Fuzhou glanced at An Jing and said, ¡°Besides, if we don¡¯t leave now, what will we do if we get into trouble later?¡± He had killed the Houjin genius swordsman, and the Jinmu Dharma King did not look like someone who would easily let things go, which would surely lead to trouble. ¡°Alright then,¡± came the response. Tan Yun reluctantly looked at the remaining half of the roast chicken on the table. His eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°Mr. Zhou has not eaten yet; maybe I should bring some for him. Otherwise, all this food would go to waste. Master, have you not always taught me to be frugal?¡± An Jing almost laughed out loud at the side, clearly, he just wanted to eat, no? Li Fuzhou arrived without even a simple invitation, and he didn¡¯t give any congratulatory gift or money. Now, after mooching off a meal, he was even thinking of taking away leftovers. Li Fuzhou sighed deeply and said, ¡°As you wish.¡± Tan Yun gestured at a servant of Pingyang Marquis Mansion, then whispered a few words to him. The servant from Pingyang Marquis Mansion paused for a moment when he heard this, quickened his steps towards the kitchen, and soon returned with some parchment paper, handing it to Tan Yun. Tan Yun did not stand on ceremony and packed the tasty delicacies from the table into a piece of parchment paper. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Fuzhou gestured a cupped hand salute to Qiu Heng and started walking towards the door. Tan Yun also followed with satisfaction. After An Jing drank another cup, he was about to stand up when a figure calmly approached. It was none other than the East Palace¡¯s Junior Preceptor, Bai Jing. Bai Jing smiled and said, ¡°It seems that your swordsmanship has improved once again, congratulations are in order.¡± An Jing indifferently replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing praiseworthy about that.¡± Bai Jing took out an invitation from his bosom and said, ¡°This is a Heroic Invitation from the Crown Prince for you.¡± ¡°Heroic Invitation?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow. Bai Jing smiled and explained, ¡°The Crown Prince has invited experts from the six major sects, as well as some old masters from Jianghu, to hold a heroes¡¯ meeting on the seventeenth of May. Given that you possess the ¡®Daluo Sect¡¯s¡¯ mental method and the ¡®Ghost Valley Sect¡¯s¡¯ mental method, you may attend as the sect leader of the Daluo Sect, especially since the Daluo Sect is still officially registered with the Ministry of Revenue.¡± An Jing glanced at the Heroic Invitation and waved his hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in this heroes¡¯ meeting.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but then he still reclaimed the invitation and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave. If you¡¯re ever interested, you¡¯re welcome at Yuhua Villa at any time.¡± After speaking, Bai Jing returned to his seat. In Jianghu, some people are accustomed to being unconventional, like the previously mentioned Lou Xiangzhen, and now, the Ghost Swordsman before them. Seeing this scene, many people became thoughtful. Jia Shiwu frowned and said, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is really too¡­¡± The Second Prince had extended an olive branch to him, clearly intending to protect the Ghost Swordsman, yet he refused. Concerned, Jia Meixian asked, ¡°Grandfather, will there be trouble?¡± Jia Shiwu shook his head without speaking. Dai Danshu spoke in a low voice, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is too arrogant.¡± Zuo Biwen thought for a moment and then said, ¡°I will go and have a word with him.¡± ¡°Brother Zuo.¡± Dai Danshu stopped Zuo Biwen with a hand and said, ¡°He has already refused; anything more you say would be in vain.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Zuo Biwen showed a hint of difficulty. Indeed, the Ghost Swordsman had refused the Crown Prince¡¯s goodwill; anything he could say now wouldn¡¯t change the situation at hand. An Jing stood up, cupped his hand towards Qiu Heng, and said, ¡°Marquis, I shall take my leave now.¡± With a solemn nod, Qiu Heng replied, ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Big brother.¡± Qiu Lun thought for a moment and still called out loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to drink a few more cups?¡± In an instant, everyone¡¯s attention turned to them. ¡°Hahaha.¡± An Jing burst into laughter and walked towards the gate under everyone¡¯s gaze. ¡°He might die.¡± Qiu Wanxia murmured, watching An Jing¡¯s retreating figure. Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s temperament was extremely violent and ruthless; given that the Ghost Swordsman had killed a genius from Houjin in front of everyone, he would surely seek revenge. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Yiyang slowly rose and followed. He Chen looked at Ling Yuanjing beside him and asked, ¡°Junior brother?¡± After a long contemplation, Ling Yuanjing said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡­¡­ Outside the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, the sky was clear, and the sunlight was warm. Many beggars who had been standing at the door asking for celebratory money also dispersed, as if to spread the news of Yan Gang¡¯s death throughout Yujing City in an instant. Only a few pedestrians remained, along with some people who were coming out of the wedding banquet and ready to leave. But everyone who saw the black-robed man walking out was stunned for a moment, and then they all made way for a path. After walking about a dozen steps, An Jing suddenly paused and looked into the distance. In front stood an old man dressed in the attire of Houjin. He was alone in the middle of the street, with no one else around. ¡°It¡¯s Mu Jin Dharma King.¡± Someone whispered, ¡°He hasn¡¯t left yet.¡± Then there was silence all around as everyone watched the two of them. Mu Jin Dharma King said to the black-robed man in front, ¡°Your sword is very fast, faster than Yan Gang¡¯s.¡± An Jing, expressionless, replied, ¡°His sword was too slow.¡± ¡°I want to know exactly how fast your sword is.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King smiled and said, ¡°With a single move, we¡¯ll decide the superior and determine life and death, what do you think?¡± As the words of Mu Jin Dharma King fell, everyone around became solemn. The title of Dharma King in the Great Snow Mountain is not something any expert can assume at will; the vast Houjin only has the top sect of Great Snow Mountain, and it can be said that seventy percent of the experts come from there. The Great Snow Mountain has only five Dharma Kings, and Mu Jin Dharma King is one of them. Moreover, the Great Snow Mountain holds a lofty position in Houjin. The status of a Dharma King is comparable to that of a heavyweight minister of the state. Even royal nobles like Zongzheng Yuan find it difficult to command a Dharma King level expert on a regular day. This time, as Houjin¡¯s envoy to Great Yan, Mu Jin Dharma King was ordered by Zongzheng Huachun to accompany and protect them, which speaks volumes. Mu Jin Dharma King became famous early among the five Dharma Kings. His most famous battle was the debate between Buddhist and the Great Snow Mountain thirty years ago. Mu Jin Dharma King fought with the Buddhist Da Yan Vajra. It is said that the two fought for a day and a night at the summit of the snow mountain, ending in a draw. The snow mountain is said to have been turned into a puddle by their True Qi. The battle ended in a draw, and both sides ceased the fight. Buddhist Vajra usually cultivated physical techniques, and compared to the Bodhisattva Fruit Position, they specialized in combat capabilities, being extremely powerful even among peers of the same realm. Although this Da Yan Vajra has long since passed away, when he was alive, his cultivation was at the peak of One Qi Grandmaster, and he even had the record of surviving a fight with a Second Qi Grandmaster. Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s ability to fight Da Yan Vajra to a draw demonstrates his formidable strength. Now, thirty years later, Mu Jin Dharma King must have improved from the past. Throughout Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s life till now, he has only suffered two defeats: one at the hands of another Dharma King, and another to Zongzheng Huachun. Besides these, he has not known any other defeats. Although Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s reputation in the Great Yan martial world may not be as great as Feng Lingyue and Qi Shu, true experts who have traveled the world know that Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s strength is not at all inferior to theirs. At this time, Lin Yiyang and Qiu Wanxia also came out. Besides them, there were Ling Yuanjing, Jia Shiwu, Dai Danshu, Zuo Biwen, and other Great Yan martial world experts. Nobody expected that Mu Jin Dharma King would seek revenge so quickly, just as the Ghost Swordsman stepped out. Lin Yiyang indifferently said, ¡°At the same realm, the number of moves doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Zuo Biwen nodded and added, ¡°That¡¯s right, if the Dharma King really wants to contest, just like before, he can suppress to the same realm.¡± If they were to clash directly, how could the Ghost Swordsman, with his Half-step Master cultivation, be a match for Mu Jin Dharma King? But at the same cultivation realm, with the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s Sword Dao, Mu Jin Dharma King might not be his match. ¡°That¡¯s just child¡¯s play. We rely on actual strength.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at An Jing and challenged, ¡°Sir, do you dare to take my strike?¡± ¡°This Mu Jin Dharma King is really despicable.¡± Qiu Lun couldn¡¯t help but snort lightly, ¡°Big brother, weren¡¯t you going to have a few more drinks with me? Let¡¯s go back and continue drinking.¡± It was clear to everyone that Mu Jin Dharma King was trying to regain face, hoping to kill the Ghost Swordsman with one strike, just like he did with Yan Gang. Mu Jin Dharma King glanced at Qiu Lun with a dark expression, clearly annoyed by the fatty giving the Ghost Swordsman a way out. All eyes at the scene turned to An Jing, with some feeling joy and others concern. The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s ability to slay a One Qi Grandmaster was no secret to those present, but the gap between a One Qi Grandmaster and a Second Qi Grandmaster was not trivial. Moreover, Mu Jin Dharma King could very well be at the peak of Second Qi Grandmaster, on the verge of advancing to the level of Three Qi Grandmaster. ¡°Don¡¯t dare? Is this really the kind of sword immortals Great Yan boasts of?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King sneered mockingly. He knew that people from Great Yan were the least tolerant of provocation. ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager for a contest, I can oblige you with a match.¡± Just then, a hoarse voice echoed from afar. Who is it?! The sudden appearance of the voice attracted everyone¡¯s attention, and they couldn¡¯t help but look toward the source. They saw a man dressed in the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s great mantle, with an extraordinarily pale complexion, walking out. He had no fluctuations of qi mechanism around him, identical to An Jing. Had he not spoken up, everyone would still have thought he was just an ordinary commoner from the street. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Tang Taiyuan was slightly surprised when he saw this. The clothes worn by the man were indeed those of the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Great Heavenly Gang, but among the many Heavenly Gang members of the Xuanyi Guard, he did not recognize this one. This person was none other than Prince Xus. Prince Xus walked up to An Jing and smiled, ¡°I haven¡¯t arrived too late, have I?¡± ¡°Just on time.¡± An Jing looked at Mu Jin Dharma King in front of him. As early as when he was confronting the Chamberlain, he had already crushed the ancient jade Prince Xus had given him. Mu Jin Dharma King looked at Prince Xus and asked with knitted brows, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man before him seemed to have appeared out of thin air; he could not sense any breath of life from him at all. Prince Xus indifferently said, ¡°It¡¯s not important who I am. Right now, I just want to know if I can kill you with one move.¡± Whoosh! A stir went through the surrounding area, and everyone¡¯s expressions changed subtly. To kill Mu Jin Dharma King in one move ¨C even a Four Qi Grandmaster would probably find that difficult, wouldn¡¯t they? Just who was this person making such a brazen claim? Ling Yuanjing said with a grave voice, ¡°Who is this? Where did this madman come from?¡± Gao Sheng was also curious, ¡°An accomplice of the Ghost Swordsman?¡± Bai Jing was also very surprised in her heart, ¡°The Ghost Swordsman has another expert by his side? How is that possible!?¡± If this was the aid Ghost Swordsman had refused to recruit for the Crown Prince, she was somewhat curious. The White Browed Chamberlain saw Prince Xus and his white eyebrows deeply furrowed, ¡°That mysterious Grandmaster?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King heard Prince Xus¡¯s words and laughed, ¡°You¡¯re probably not aware of who I am, are you?¡± In this world, there was actually someone claiming they could kill him in one move. If it had been the Human Emperor of Great Yan, or the old monster from the Hidden Mountain of the Zhenyi Sect, or even the thousand-year-old turtle under this pond floor, it would indeed make him panic. But some randomly emerging expert claiming to kill him in one move? ¡°Come on then.¡± Prince Xus swept his great mantle and looked toward Mu Jin Dharma King. ¡°Well, then let me test your prowess. Let¡¯s see if your bark is as tough as your bite.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King sneered, but he was not the slightest bit careless or sloppy in his heart. Ssssssssss¡­¡­. The moment he finished speaking, a gust of wind surged around them, as if blades were scraping across everyone¡¯s faces. And the body of Mu Jin Dharma King was dazzling to the extreme, emitting robust power. With each movement, he seemed capable of splitting heaven from earth. Great Snow Mountain is currently one of the world¡¯s topmost Body Refining Sects aside from Buddhist Vajra. Mu Jin Dharma King was practicing a Heavenly Martial level Body Refining Method, the Divine Statue Technique. Boom! Boom! Boom! Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s True Qi surged forward, stomping his feet, and visible cracks appeared on the ground¡¯s stone slabs, spreading out towards the distance. His martial prowess and Universal Benefit Bodhisattva¡¯s also had achieved the Flawless Body. And his figure shot out like a ghost, appearing in front of King Xu in just a breath¡¯s time. Mysterious light patterns spread across his body. Divine Image Heaven and Earth! Jinmu Dharma King¡¯s eyes flashed with cruelty as he immediately deployed his ultimate skill. Although he roared wrathfully, his attack was made with full force. An ethereal shadow emerged behind him, as if a sculpted relic of a distant past flickered in and out of existence. Boom! Jinmu Dharma King¡¯s fist expanded instantly as he threw his punch, which landed heavily like a mountain, shattering the air and splitting the ground with its terrifying power. However, as many gazes shifted to King Xu, they couldn¡¯t help but be stunned to find King Xu standing motionless, allowing the earth-shattering punch to come his way. ¡°Does this man not know to dodge?¡± Many exchanged perplexed looks. Jinmu Dharma King had seized the initiative with an impressive offensive momentum. Normally, one would prioritize avoidance to escape the sharpness of the attack and then counterattack with their own force, but why did this person appear like a wooden doll, standing still? Under the numerous astonished gazes, the horrific punch finally howled its way toward King Xu. Just as it was about to hit his chest, King Xu finally made his move. He extended his palm, and a vast force surged from his fingers. Bang! The moment of impact was accompanied by a world-shaking loud noise. A visible shock wave ravaged the surrounding streets, cracking them with fissures as cobblestones burst apart. Dust billowed, slowly dissipating. Gazes then shifted, and their expressions subtly changed as they saw the two combatants clashing fists in the middle of the street. The stone slabs around King Xu turned to dust, but a slab under his feet remained intact as if nothing had happened. Moreover, not an inch of his body had moved! Bai Mei, the eunuch, had his eyes narrow, clearly not expecting King Xu to so effortlessly withstand Jinmu Dharma King¡¯s ferocious punch. In the midst of the widespread shock, Jinmu Dharma King¡¯s own expression changed. A terrifying force instantly spread within him as his blood coursed through his body rapidly. A vast, supremely domineering force erupted from the clash of fists. His punch seemed not to have struck the man¡¯s fist but had collided with a mountain. ¡°Thump!¡± In the next moment, an explosive wave of force violently dispersed. Jinmu Dharma King¡¯s complexion drastically shifted, and he stumbled backward repeatedly, retreating dozens of steps before finally collapsing to the ground with a thud, coughing up fresh blood. Silence! All became eerily quiet. Only the teetering Jinmu Dharma King continued to cough up blood. King Xu scratched his head and turned around, somewhat apologetically saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t manage to kill with one punch, my apologies.¡± Everyone was horrified as they looked at King Xu as if they had seen a ghost. The words they had thought flippant he had meant seriously. He really had intended to kill Jinmu Dharma King with a single punch. That was a Second Qi Peak Grandmaster, and not just any, but a Second Qi Peak Grandmaster with a mastery in body refining. ¡°Who exactly is he?¡± Ling Yuanjing asked, his voice trembling. To have severely injured a Second Qi Grandmaster with one punch ¨C this strength was hardly inferior to that of Sect Leader Xiao Qianqiu. The Ghost Swordsman had such a formidable master by his side. What was his identity, his background? It wasn¡¯t just Ling Yuanjing; Jia Shiwu and Zuo Biwen also wore shocked expressions as a tempest of awe surged in their hearts, refusing to subside. This fair-skinned man was truly too strong. ¡°Who is this expert¡­¡± The eunuch Bai Mei was especially grave, feeling the unplain force of that punch much more acutely than the others, knowing full well its might. ¡°Too strong¡­¡± Qiu Lun, staring at the blood-coughing Jinmu Dharma King, couldn¡¯t help but take in a sharp breath. He would have never imagined that ¡®Big Brother¡¯ beside him actually had such a formidable master who was not afraid of Bai Mei, the eunuch. From this day forward, the Great Yan Martial World likely had one more top-tier master. An Jing, witnessing the clash between King Xu and Jinmu Dharma King, had an epiphany, as if the truth had been poured into him, especially the seemingly ordinary punch thrown by King Xu that seemed to hold profound and deep principles. Inner and outer cultivation, unity of body and mind. This was the fundamental requirement for advancement to the Master Realm. Watching the two Grandmasters battle, he took that critical step. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It took An Jing nearly dozens of breaths to recover, and then he glanced indifferently at the Jinmu Dharma King kneeling on the ground. ¡°Okay.¡± The Prince of Su nodded, following An Jing as they left. Throughout the heavens and earth, all eyes were fixed on An Jing and the Prince of Su until a long while later, when a burst of discussion erupted. ¡°Who is that person? He actually severely injured the Jinmu Dharma King with a single punch.¡± ¡°Too terrifying, he seems to be the protector of the Ghost Swordsman.¡± ¡°What exactly is the background of the Ghost Swordsman?¡± ¡°These people from Houjin really like to humiliate themselves.¡± ¡­.. Everyone was discussing animatedly, eyes filled with shock and bewilderment. The scene just now was too unbelievable. ¡°This Ghost Swordsman is not to be trifled with.¡± Yue Tingchen murmured to himself, then scanned the surroundings and noticed that Bai Jing had already hurriedly left. ¡­¡­ In the Dongluo Desert, beneath the Sealing Demon Well. Zhao Qingmei looked up, revealing her fair neck, as her beautiful eyes gazed up at the well¡¯s opening above. Ever since the wooden puppet climbed up two days ago, it had not come back down. Zhao Qingmei knew Yu Qiurong¡¯s temperament; such a situation would not occur without reason. It must be that some changes had occurred in the Demon Sect. Recalling that Yuan Feng had previously visited the East Camp, she seemed to understand what had happened. ¡°The Sealing Demon Platform?¡± Zhao Qingmei muttered to herself, feeling increasingly cold inside. She couldn¡¯t help but walk towards the cave. Nan Weiping saw that Zhao Qingmei¡¯s hands were empty and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°What? No food again today?¡± Zhao Qingmei replied indifferently, ¡°It seems that the Demon Sect has encountered some troubles.¡± Nan Weiping chuckled, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®The human heart is separated by the belly¡¯¨Cno one can see through someone else¡¯s heart. Worldly affairs are unpredictable, and not everyone is as you imagine them to be. Not all are as they appear. Only by experiencing these things can you truly see through people¡¯s hearts.¡± ¡°To them, you seem to have no hope of escape. It¡¯s normal for some changes to occur.¡± Pople¡¯s hearts are fickle and changeable, something she had seen far too often, to the point of growing accustomed to it. Zhao Qingmei shook her head, her eyes always carrying a hint of coldness, ¡°I firmly believe that some people will never change.¡± ¡°Yes, some people never change. But how can you be sure that they are the unchanging ones?¡± Nan Weiping waved her hand and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t have any food, with your strength, you probably won¡¯t last half a month. What do you plan to do?¡± With her Great Grandmaster cultivation and her body known as a Demi Immortal, she needed the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence to survive without food. How could Zhao Qingmei, a Grandmaster, survive here without food or water? ¡°I still have some.¡± Zhao Qingmei took out a black package from outside the cave and slowly opened it, revealing some dry food and several water skins. Nan Weiping was surprised, ¡°You were prepared?¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s always wise to plan ahead for safety, to think of danger in times of peace. Once is enough for a desperate situation.¡± Ever since she could contact Yu Qiurong, she had asked her to prepare dry food and water to prevent any special circumstances. Especially when Yuan Feng went to the East Camp, it made Zhao Qingmei feel a bad premonition. Now, her guess was not wrong. ¡°Interesting.¡± Nan Weiping looked at the stunning woman in front of her and couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs up, ¡°How long before you can reach the eighth layer of the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯?¡± Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, ¡°About half a month, that should be enough to reach the eighth layer.¡± These past few months had been incredibly long for her, feeling as though she was in constant torment, and now, only half a month of that torment remained. But in her heart, Zhao Qingmei was extremely grateful for these months, which made her inner strength much more resilient. What doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger. Nan Weiping asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the first thing you are going to do after getting out? Kill the usurper?¡± Zhao Qingmei replied very calmly, ¡°Correct, I must personally kill anyone within the Demon Sect who dares to usurp the throne.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Hearing this, Nan Weiping couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°I definitely don¡¯t want to fight and kill, I just want to watch the sunrise. The people of this world can¡¯t be killed off.¡± Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, ¡°I am different from my senior, some people don¡¯t wish for me to see the sunrise.¡± Upon hearing this, Nan Weiping sighed softly and said no more. That¡¯s how it is in Jianghu. Zhao Qingmei picked up some dry food and water and walked towards the exit of the cave, then slowly sat down cross-legged, involuntarily taking out a paper figure from her bosom. Fortunately, longing is silent; unfortunately, longing is silent. Gently stroking the paper figure, Zhao Qingmei¡¯s eyes held a glimmer of gentleness. All the paths were her own choice, back then she followed Jiang Shang to the Demon Sect, and later, she returned to Yu State City on her own. She would, of course, bear the storms on the path she had chosen. ¡°Once I¡¯m out, everything will start to get better.¡± Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, placed the paper figure on her heart, and began to silently recite the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡± As the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± began to circulate, black Qi surrounded her, forming spiraling whirlwinds that enveloped her entire body. ¡­¡­. In Yujing City, Feihua Alley. A cool breeze continuously blew through the alley. An Jing, feeling that breeze against his face, became completely calm. Wang He, holding four or five stuffed buns in one hand and stuffing them into his mouth, asked inarticulately, ¡°Jing¡¯an, these are quite tasty, how¡¯d you get them?¡± An Jing smiled and said, ¡°Bought them with silver.¡± Wang He asked curiously, ¡°Can it be borrowed?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t borrow it, the small business is tough for others as well.¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Take all of these with you, I won¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Then, thank you very much.¡± Wang He, devouring two buns at a time, said, ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back soon, because I can¡¯t be away from Wang He Mountain for long, especially now that I can feel the tremors from beneath the earth becoming even more intense. It¡¯s possible I might not be able to come out to find you again next time¡­..¡± Saying this, Wang He¡¯s expression turned somewhat somber. ¡°Is that so, that¡¯s truly a pity.¡± Hearing this, An Jing also felt somewhat disappointed. He initially planned to have Wang He accompany him to Beili Volcano in search of Volcano Spirit, but now it seemed unlikely. Wang He looked earnestly at An Jing and said, ¡°If you need to find me, you can come at any time.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± An Jing nodded solemnly. Wang He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± An Jing replied, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Wang He¡¯s figure leaped and instantly used the technique of Shrinking Land into Inches, vanishing from Feihua Alley in an instant. ¡°Life is unpredictable; who knows when the next meeting will be.¡± As An Jing watched the figure fade away, he turned and walked out of the alley. ¡°Amitabha!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Suddenly, an aged voice echoed. An Jing turned towards the source of the sound and saw an old monk with a kind and gentle expression, standing with his hands clasped together before him. An Jing raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Master Puhui, it seems we truly have fate.¡± This old monk was indeed Master Puhui from the Buddhist sect. Master Puhui spoke softly, ¡°Today, I have come specifically to seek you out.¡± Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 187 Suspicions Arise in the Demon Sect Chapter 187: Chapter 187 Suspicions Arise in the Demon Sect Is it for the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡±!? Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s mind raced, and the first reason he thought of for Universal Benefit Bodhisattva seeking him out was the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡±. The only link he had with the Buddhist sect was the relic he possessed and the Buddhist martial arts he had learned. An Jing calmly asked, ¡°May I know the purpose of the Master¡¯s visit today?¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva pressed his hands together and slowly said, ¡°The donor¡¯s aura is profound and bears the seal of Buddhism, just as I said before, you are indeed destined to be associated with Buddhism.¡± An Jing smiled, ¡°Being able to meet Universal Benefit Bodhisattva time and again, we are certainly fated.¡± ¡°Since the donor is a forthright person, I will not beat around the bush any longer.¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva took a deep breath and asked, ¡°May I know if the donor possesses any Buddhist cultivation methods?¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Back on Five Poison Mountain, he had openly used the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡±. The Ghost Swordsman was originally at a disadvantage against four Half-step Masters, but as soon as the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡± was deployed, the tides were turned instantly, and many masters were present at the time, so it was normal for Universal Benefit Bodhisattva to be aware of it. ¡°The martial arts that the donor has learned, when executed, does a golden Buddha appear behind you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The donor has not studied Buddhist Law, have you?¡± ¡°No.¡± An Jing answered truthfully, as these were not secrets that couldn¡¯t be spoken of. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva took a deep breath, his expression growing more solemn, ¡°Then it must be so.¡± An Jing said, ¡°What does the Master mean, please speak freely.¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, with a grave expression, said, ¡°The donor should be aware that today there are three exceptional secret scriptures circulating in the world: the Mystical Sect¡¯s ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, Demon Sect¡¯s ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯, and our Buddhist ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯. These three martial arts.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to mention the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯, as the donor knows it even better than this poor monk. The Demon Sect¡¯s ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ has been lost for countless years, and even the Demon Sect members are still searching for it. Only the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ remains within Buddhism, and actually, the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ is not complete; one could say that from the time it came into Buddhist hands, it was already incomplete.¡± Top-level experts in Jianghu are naturally familiar with these three martial arts. But not many know the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ is incomplete; only the top Buddhist experts are privy to this fact. An Jing¡¯s eyes flicked up, ¡°Does the Master imply that the martial arts I possess is the incomplete portion of the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯?¡± The ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡± and ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡± did have many similar aspects in their names. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva nodded, ¡°Buddhist rankings are divided into Bodhisattva and Vajra, and within the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯, there ought to be two secret techniques. However, our Buddhist sect currently only has the Bodhisattva¡¯s secret technique, lacking that of the Vajra, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, what the donor holds should be that Vajra Secret Skill.¡± An Jing did not respond upon hearing this. The ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡±, although formidable, indeed seemed more like a secret skill within a mental method, much like the ¡°Heavenly Demon Myriad Forms¡± within the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡±, or the Paperman Substitute Death Skill of the ¡°Ghost Valley Heart Method¡±. Moreover, Buddhist martial arts are rumored to require study of Buddhist Law to practice, yet he had managed to cultivate this ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡± with ease. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva looked at An Jing calmly, revealing his purpose for this visit, ¡°Donor, would you be willing to return this incomplete part to Buddhism?¡± Last time in Ping County, Universal Benefit Bodhisattva had intended to bring up the matter, but with the presence of royal experts, it was inconvenient to disclose these Buddhist secrets. After contemplating for a moment, An Jing said, ¡°I am willing to exchange this secret skill for the Buddhist ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯. Of course, I can guarantee I won¡¯t share it with others. What do you think, Master?¡± Upon hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Universal Benefit Bodhisattva fell silent. The ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡± was Buddhism¡¯s supreme martial arts, and even Universal Benefit Bodhisattva himself had not practiced the Bodhisattva¡¯s secret technique within it, and now it might have to be entrusted to someone outside of Buddhism. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Our Buddhist sect is willing to exchange three relics with the honored one.¡± An Jing laughed, ¡°Are three relics as precious as this secret skill?¡± No one knew better than he how terrifying the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡± was. Once it fell into the hands of a Buddhist Vajra, their strength would surely rise to another level, which meant an increase in the Buddhist sect¡¯s strength. Although three relics were extremely precious, they were far from having the same real value as the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡±. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva pressed his hands together, ¡°As for the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯, this poor monk does not have the authority to decide.¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°Then that¡¯s a pity.¡± On that day, he took a relic from Buddhism, and now he had returned half of the ¡°Concealing Qi Technique¡±. He had no debts of gratitude owed to Buddhism and would certainly not give the ¡°Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡± to Buddhism for nothing. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, after a thought, said, ¡°If the donor has the time, you are welcome to visit Dragon Spring Temple.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Feeling a movement in his heart upon hearing this, An Jing considered. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva said he had no authority, but invited him to Dragon Spring Temple, which clearly indicated that there were other high-level Buddhist experts within the temple, with positions and power perhaps even higher than Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva let out a light laugh and said, ¡°Then I shall not impose any longer, this poor monk awaits the donor¡¯s good news.¡± After speaking, Universal Benefit Bodhisattva promptly left. ¡°Dragon Spring Temple¡­..¡± An Jing muttered to himself before heading towards the Lv Mansion. ¡­¡­. The moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the night deepened. In Yujing City, at the Honglu Institute. Whether it was the Great Yan Dynasty¡¯s grand ceremonies, suburban sacrifices, worship, court assemblies, banquets, scripture reading sessions, title conferrals¡­and many other affairs, even including foreign officials paying respects and tributaries from various regions, all were introduced by the Honglu Institute. The officer from the Institute beamed with a joyous smile and asked, ¡°I wonder whether today¡¯s music and dance pleased you?¡± Zongzheng Yuan, filled with emotion, replied, ¡°Excellent. It¡¯s been several years since I¡¯ve seen such a dazzling Seven Plate Dance.¡± Compared to Yan Gang and the Houjin-accented Mu Jin Dharma King, Zongzheng Yuan seemed more a man of Great Yan, speaking the official language smoothly and having a good temper, not at all resembling a leader from Houjin. The officer from the Honglu Institute stood up and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that the leader is satisfied. Seeing that it¡¯s getting late, I won¡¯t disturb your rest any longer.¡± After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the officer took his leave. The moment the officer from the Honglu Institute left, Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly turned grave, and he hurried towards the back courtyard. Before long, they arrived at the entrance of a side chamber. ¡°Leader Zongzheng.¡± The two Houjin experts bowed hurriedly when they saw Zongzheng Yuan. Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s face unusually cold, ¡°How is Mu Jin Dharma King?¡± The Houjin expert on the left replied in a low voice, ¡°The Dharma King¡¯s injuries seem quite severe, he is still recuperating in the room.¡± Zongzheng Yuan nodded slightly and then pushed the door open to enter. Inside the side chamber, Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s face was deathly pale, sitting cross-legged on the bed with golden light swirling around him, shining brightly. After about half an incense stick¡¯s worth of time, Mu Jin Dharma King slowly opened his eyes, ¡°Leader Zongzheng.¡± Zongzheng Yuan asked in a deep voice, ¡°How are your injuries?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King let out a sigh, ¡°Even after taking the Snow Lotus Seed, a healing holy medicine from my Great Snow Mountain, I still need at least a month to recover.¡± One punch! That mysterious Grandmaster expert¡¯s mere punch had nearly annihilated him, body and Dao alike. Zongzheng Yuan questioned doubtfully, ¡°Who exactly is that person?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King was also frowning deeply, speculating, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but my guess is that he is very likely connected to the Royal Family of Zhao Country.¡± Qi Shu once mentioned to him that the Ghost Swordsman seemed to have a complex relationship with the Royal Family of Zhao Country. Within Yan Country, the temples and Jianghu were plagued with internal strife; similarly, Zhao Country was no exception. The Black Ice Platform controlled the entire country, and the Royal Family naturally did not want to be a mere puppet. The struggle between these two forces had been ongoing for hundreds of years. Even during the original chaos of the Nine Kingdoms, it was the internal strife within Zhao Country that caused them to miss this immense opportunity, allowing Yan Country to unify the Nine Kingdoms and rise to power. And the cause of Zhao Country¡¯s internal strife was none other than Black Ice Platform and the Royal Family. Black Ice Platform had suppressed the Zhao Royal Family for hundreds of years, extinguishing numerous counterattacks from the Royal Family. Over the past few centuries, it seemed that the Zhao Royal Family had eventually capitulated and gradually receded from the core power struggle of Zhao Country, allowing Black Ice Platform to take complete control and govern Zhao Country. Zongzheng Yuan sighed deeply, ¡°What a pity that Yan Gang died just like that.¡± He had held extremely high expectations for Yan Gang; given time, he would have certainly become one of the top Swordsmen in the world, and even had the chance to replace Lou Xiangzhen as the number one Swordsman. But who could have thought that Yan Gang would meet such a premature demise. Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s face looked somewhat ugly as well, Yan Gang was a young prodigy Swordsmen of Houjin, arrogant and prideful in character. He had refrained from stopping Yan Gang in the past because he too was after Lin Yiyang¡¯s head. But who would have thought that Yan Gang, who cultivated the Fast Sword, wouldn¡¯t be able to block even one strike from the Ghost Swordsman at the same level of cultivation? Mu Jin Dharma King, thinking of Xu Wang, looked extremely grave, ¡°That person¡¯s strength is too formidable, not the slightest bit weaker than the Great Dharma King.¡± His own cultivation was at the Second Qi Peak, yet he had not been able to withstand that person¡¯s single punch. Zongzheng Yuan nodded slightly, ¡°Within Great Yan, hidden dragons and crouching tigers abound, concealing countless experts. This is also one of the reasons I am wary of Great Yan.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King, unusually silent, seemed to agree with Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s statement. Zongzheng Yuan took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn, ¡°Now Zhao Chongyin is intentionally dragging things out with me, it seems he is preparing for something, and with Dharma King injured, I¡¯m afraid it will take some time before we can return to Houjin.¡± ¡°` Without the accompaniment of the Mu Jin Dharma King, Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s head might have been separated from his body as soon as they left Yujing City. Even though the Mu Jin Dharma King did not support his tribe, now that both of them had arrived in Houjin, they were like grasshoppers on the same rope, and Zongzheng Yuan had no choice but to rely on the Mu Jin Dharma King, a Second Qi Peak Grandmaster. The Mu Jin Dharma King also nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after my injuries heal.¡± It seemed that the Honglu Institute in Yujing City was quite safe, at the very least Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin of Zhao Country would find a way to protect them. ¡°Then give Zhao Chongyin time to prepare,¡± said Zongzheng Yuan with a hint of coldness in his eyes. ¡°Dragging this out will also be a significant drain for Yan Country.¡± Continuously taut bowstrings naturally incur great damage, and the same is true for people. ¡­¡­ At the Lv Mansion, a quiet courtyard. In the courtyard stood a huge camphor tree, with walls and corridors around it filled with various exotic herbs: some with trailing vines, others with climbing creepers. Bathed in the moonlight, they glimmered with faint luminescence¨Cfragrant and rich, incomparable to the scent of flowers. An Jing was sitting cross-legged in the center of the yard, eyes firmly closed, letting the breeze brush over him. In his mind, he was replaying the moment when King Xu struck with his fist; that casual and natural posture as if it contained some profound principle of Dao. ¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± An Jing shook his head; he clearly felt he had reached the realm of Body and Mind Unity, but for some reason, it felt different from what he sensed from Li Fuzhou. At the Cao Mansion in Yu State City, Li Fuzhou sat on a stone chair, his entire being in slight harmony with the vast universe. Though it lasted only for a moment, An Jing still found it unforgettable to this day. ¡°Uncle Ghost, Uncle Ghost¡­¡± Suddenly, an urgent voice came from afar. Lv Jingchun hurried in, panting and drenched in sweat when he reached An Jing. An Jing looked at the plump young boy before him and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard about it, I¡¯ve heard everything¡­¡± Lv Jingchun looked at the man in the black robe before him with admiration and said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, you killed the top talent swordsman of Houjin with a single sword strike, that¡¯s really amazing.¡± The events at the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, in just a few short hours, had spread throughout Yujing City, especially the mysterious expert behind the Ghost Swordsman who severely injured the Houjin Dharma King, leaving people aghast and utterly shocked. Countless people were guessing the identity of the Ghost Swordsman and wondering about the numerous experts behind him. An Jing waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a trivial matter.¡± To him, indeed, it was a trivial matter; killing a master in the Heavenly Flower Realm and the person who grievously wounded the Mu Jin Dharma King was not him. Seeing An Jing¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Lv Jingchun hurriedly asked, ¡°Uncle Ghost, what do you think of me?¡± An Jing gave a puzzled glance to Lv Jingchun and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Excitedly, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°Let me join you.¡± This was his purpose; he wanted to join the mysterious force behind the Ghost Swordsman, thinking that if he did, the Ghost Swordsman and that mysterious expert would protect him anytime in the future, wouldn¡¯t they? ¡°Join me?¡± ¡°` An Jing glanced at Lv Jingchun. Even if he truly intended to recruit followers, he would never consider someone like Lv Jingchun¨Ca ¡®straw bag¡¯ who could be left bruised and swollen by Tan Yun. The aptitude of Lv Jingchun was truly mediocre, but being born into a prestigious family like the Lv Sect, his ordinary talents were even more pronounced next to the many outstanding talents surrounding him. Indignant, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, since I was young both my grandfather and father said I was no good, but I believe I am capable. I¡¯m already twenty-two this year; I must accomplish something remarkable.¡± To be born as lowly as an ant, yet to possess the aspiration of a swan. Though life may be frail, one should have an indomitable spirit. An Jing nodded and asked, ¡°Where do you think your strengths lie?¡± Lv Jingchun found himself at a loss for words, stuttering, ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± An Jing patted Lv Jingchun¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink¨Ctomorrow is a new day.¡± ¡°Uncle Ghost, I will definitely make you see me in a new light,¡± declared Lv Jingchun. Then, as something occurred to him, he asked, ¡°By the way, how attractive is the new bride?¡± An Jing couldn¡¯t help but recall the appearance of Fang Jinxiu and sincerely replied, ¡°Attractive.¡± With a goofy smile, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°My brother mentioned that he would also find me a spirited heroine.¡± Seeing the hopeful expression on Lv Jingchun¡¯s face, An Jing fell silent. Just then, a crisp voice called from outside the door, ¡°Eh, chubby, what are you doing here?¡± Looking toward the voice, he saw a woman dressed in a light purple palace attire, her shapely figure undulating in all the right areas, especially her chest, which heaved impressively. Although her features were not strikingly beautiful, they were very delicately formed, and her long eyelashes fluttered over a pair of dewy, large eyes. Why is it her, this calamity!? Upon seeing the newcomer, Lv Jingchun¡¯s eyeballs bulged forthwith. The person who had just arrived was Tan Yun. ¡°Oops, I suddenly remember I haven¡¯t done my evening studies yet,¡± said Lv Jingchun, patting his head as if he just realized something and scampered away towards the distance. If I can¡¯t beat her, at least I can outrun her. Tan Yun watched Lv Jingchun¡¯s retreating back, looking very curious, ¡°Why is he running so fast?¡± An Jing shook his head and then turned to Tan Yun, ¡°What, has your master agreed to let you out?¡± Li Fuzhou was very wary of him and never allowed Tan Yun to have any contact with him alone. With a worried look, Tan Yun said, ¡°No, my master is in seclusion, so I sneaked out.¡± ¡°Li Fuzhou is in seclusion?¡± ¡°Yes, my master is preparing for the Eight-Foot Platform trials. This time, the trials seem very important. He said that after it¡¯s over, he¡¯s going to return to the Demon Sect to see the Sect Hierarch.¡± ¡°The Sect Hierarch!?¡± An Jing heard this and remained outwardly calm as he said, ¡°Is your sect hierarch currently at the Demon Sect Main Hall?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan Yun wore an expression of concern, especially recalling the recent news from the Demon Sect Main Hall. Jiang Renyi had become the new sect hierarch of the Demon Sect, Duanmu Xinghua resumed control over the Heavenly Sect, and the previous Heavenly Sect leader, Yu Qiurong, had disappeared without a trace. Inside the Demon Sect, there was a sense of chaos, with sighs of apprehension spreading quietly. Having grown up in the Demon Sect Main Hall, the place was as a home to Tan Yun; naturally, she did not want the Demon Sect to experience turbulence. But now, with Zhao Qingmei trapped at the bottom of the Sealing Demon Well, almost without a chance to escape, it was not unreasonable for the Demon Sect to elect a new leader. After all, the vast Demon Sect cannot be without a master for a day. However¡­ Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but let out a heavy sigh, ¡°So in a couple of days, I will have to go back to the Demon Sect with my master. Since my master is still in seclusion, today I came to say goodbye to you; I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll meet again.¡± An Jing looked at Tan Yun and smiled, ¡°Maybe sooner than you think.¡± So soon!? Tan Yun¡¯s heart throbbed, asking, ¡°Do you really want to join the Demon Sect?¡± An Jing let out a long sigh, saying, ¡°I would like to join the Demon Sect, but as you see, your master thinks I have ulterior motives and is quite guarded against me.¡± Seeing the troubled An Jing, Tan Yun felt a mix of confusion and indecision. For some reason, she felt that the Ghost Swordsman bore no malice toward her, and he had even once saved her life. If he could truly join the Demon Sect, that would be wonderful, but the others within the sect deeply disliked and were cautious of him. An Jing, observing Tan Yun¡¯s expression, earnestly continued, ¡°You know I am acquainted with Doctor An, so my desire to join the Demon Sect is genuine. Remember, it was I who saved the leader of the Azure Dragon Sect.¡± Now, he truly meant to join the Demon Sect wholeheartedly. Tan Yun, blushing at his earnest gaze, bit her lip, and said, ¡°Rest assured, once I return, I will definitely report the true situation to Sect Hierarch Jiang. By then¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± An Jing¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°Who did you say is your sect hierarch?¡± ¡°Sect Hierarch Jiang, our Demon Sect¡¯s new leader, Jiang Renyi.¡± Tan Yun sighed, her mood dejected, ¡°I actually don¡¯t like him much. He is the old hierarch Jiang Shang¡¯s son, and it was Jiang Shang who killed my cousin¡¯s husband. I want to avenge him, but I know I¡¯ll never be able to in this lifetime.¡± Please enter your email address below to sign up for our emails. An Jing stood as if struck by thunder, completely stupefied. Qingmei was actually trapped in the Demon Sect, and the Sect Hierarch was Jiang Renyi. Lin Tianhai had mentioned that one of Li Fuzhou¡¯s other reasons for going to Yu State City was to protect the safety of the Sect Hierarch. Jiang Shang was in Yu State City, and he was also the previous Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. Qingmei possessed the Heavenly Flipping Seal of the Demon Sect, within which lay the Demon Sect¡¯s supreme cultivation technique. Could it be that the people of the Demon Sect were after the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± within the Heavenly Flipping Seal? Could it be that the members of the Demon Sect wanted the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡± so much that they had Qingmei return, and Qingmei, not wanting to hand over the scripture, had entrusted him to guard it with extreme caution? And was Jiang Shang¡¯s attempt to kill him also for the Heavenly Flipping Seal? An Jing felt his heart sink to the bottom of the valley and asked, ¡°What is the Sealing Demon Well, and why can¡¯t people come out once they go in?¡± Tan Yun, facing the suddenly emotionally changed An Jing, fell silent. An Jing frowned and demanded, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking!?¡± Tan Yun bit her lip and said, ¡°It¡¯s a forbidden land of our Demon Sect, and once someone enters for the second time, it is impossible to come out. No one has ever been able to break this rule.¡± An Jing remained silent, his heart growing colder and colder. Tan Yun, feeling the slight chill in the air, carefully asked, ¡°Why are you asking about the young lady¡¯s matter?¡± An Jing looked straight at Tan Yun with a cold voice, ¡°Tan Yun, is it true that you don¡¯t like the current Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect?¡± Tan Yun nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I still prefer¡­¡± An Jing spoke softly, ¡°How about I become the Sect Hierarch?¡± He had cultivated the Demon Sect¡¯s supreme martial arts, the ¡°Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡± giving him every right to become the Sect Hierarch. ¡°Ah!?¡± Upon hearing An Jing¡¯s words, Tan Yun was completely shocked. The Ghost Swordsman actually said he wanted to be the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect!? She shook her head, wondering if she had heard wrong. After a long while, Tan Yun regained her senses, ¡°You¡­ You want to be the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect?¡± ¡°I will eradicate the Demon Sect Main Hall and lead the Demon Sect back to the righteous path.¡± An Jing¡¯s voice was as cold as ice that had been frozen for ten thousand years. He was determined to storm into the Demon Sect Main Hall and rescue Qingmei from beneath the Sealing Demon Well. He also knew that with his current strength, it would be difficult to take the head of the Demon Sect Hierarch in the Demon Sect Main Hall, so this matter still required careful consideration. ¡°Gulp.¡± Tan Yun swallowed hard, looking in astonishment at the Ghost Swordsman before her. The thought of him commanding the masses from atop the Demon Platform made her heart beat even faster. Suddenly, the entire guest house became quiet. Tan Yun, remembering something, hastily said, ¡°Jiang Renyi is backed by a Grandmaster from the Sealing Demon Platform.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Do you know the specifics of his cultivation?¡± Tan Yun shook her head and honestly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Good.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. What is a Grandmaster to him? He had killed Grandmasters before, and once his cultivation reached the Grandmaster Realm, ordinary Grandmasters at the One Qi level were no match for him. With the Black Flood Dragon and if he could convince the King of Xu to lend a hand once more, the Demon Sect Main Hall wasn¡¯t impossible to assault. ¡°I¡¯m going back to cultivate.¡± Having thought this, An Jing turned and headed inside the house, ready to contemplate how to enlist all external forces to attack the Demon Sect. Tan Yun¡¯s mind was in a daze, so much so that she wasn¡¯t even clear on how she had left the guest house. The Ghost Swordsman wanted to become the lord of the Demon Sect? This sounded too ridiculous, but if it were true, it seemed quite good. ¡°Tan Yun, where have you been?¡± At that moment, a leisurely voice came from ahead. ¡°Master¡­ Master.¡± Upon recognizing the person in front, Tan Yun was startled. Li Fuzhou said indifferently, ¡°Have you been finding that Ghost Swordsman again?¡± Tan Yun forced a laugh, ¡°No¡­ no, I was just wandering around casually.¡± ¡°No?¡± Li Fuzhou¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. Feeling guilty, Tan Yun replied, ¡°Really, I haven¡¯t. The chubby kid, Lv Jingchun, can testify that I was just strolling around Jing Garden.¡± If master knew what the Ghost Swordsman and she had discussed, what would his expression be!? Would he agree? Could he end up fighting with the Ghost Swordsman?! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only At that moment, Tan Yun¡¯s heart was in chaos, feeling like her brain wasn¡¯t enough to comprehend everything. Li Fuzhou glanced at Tan Yun and said, ¡°You will stay in the courtyard these next two days, and you¡¯re not to go anywhere.¡± There must be a demon at work when things are out of the ordinary. The Ghost Swordsman¡¯s sudden change of attitude definitely had a purpose, and Tan Yun, with her single-mindedness, could very possibly be used by the Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Yes, master.¡± Tan Yun said in a low voice, her head drooping. Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Entering the Grandmaster Level at Eight Feet Platform Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Entering the Grandmaster Level at Eight Feet Platform ¡°` The wedding banquet of the Pingyang Marquis was the talk of the town, stirring up a storm of gossip, but there was another piece of news that caused an equally sensational uproar. This was none other than the challenge issued by the leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, Li Fuzhou, to the Xuanyi Guard Governor Tang Taiyuan on the Eight Feet Platform. In the blink of an eye, discussions about this battle could be heard everywhere in the streets and alleys. Who was Tang Taiyuan? In the martial world, there was no one who didn¡¯t know of him, the great Governor of the Xuanyi Guard, and the confidant of the current Human Emperor. The swordsmen of Great Yan reverently worshipped him as a divine figure. Although Tang Taiyuan was an official of the Great Yan Court and had never mingled in the martial fraternity, the world equated him with the Mo Luo Dharma King of Houjin, Tianpeng Ancestor, and the proud frost blade of the Black Ice Platform, collectively naming them the four great swordsmen of the world. That proud frost blade was the older martial brother of Qi Shu. The Mo Luo Dharma King and Tianpeng Ancestor¨Cone a Dharma King of the Great Snow Mountain and the other a rootless weed wandering the world¨Cwhile Tang Taiyuan inadvertently became the myth of the Great Yan Martial World¡¯s swordsmen. The leader of the Demon Sect¡¯s Human Sect, Li Fuzhou, was also a famous figure. Originally a distinguished scholar who grew resentful and left the Lv Sect to join the jianghu, his cultivation of martial arts barely exceeded thirty years, but he had become one of the renowned experts known throughout the world, having combined the Demon Sect¡¯s cultivation techniques with his own vast scholarly righteousness. But no one had expected that today Li Fuzhou would come to Yujing City to challenge Tang Taiyuan. Many experts in the world of jianghu regarded Li Fuzhou as a rare talent of his time, and exactly how rare his ¡®rare¡¯ talents were, made people eager to uncover. Everyone was looking forward to this duel between the two of them. In the Lv Mansion, within a quiet courtyard. Zhou Xianming yawned and after a quick wash, stepped outside, only to see a hurried Lv Jingchun, ¡°Jingchun, why are you in such a rush so early in the morning?¡± The plump young man glanced at Zhou Xianming with annoyance, ¡°Early? The sun¡¯s already high in the sky.¡± He could not understand why everyone thought Zhou Xianming had potential yet saw him as nothing but a fool, despite getting up earlier than Zhou Xianming and spending more time reading. Was there no reason in this world? Zhou Xianming swung his head and replied, ¡°I stayed up late last night reading and practicing my calligraphy, which is why I slept late.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Jingchun immediately rebuked him, ¡°You liar, your room was dark last night. You weren¡¯t reading or writing; weren¡¯t you off to the brothels to listen to music again?¡± Zhou Xianming¡¯s favorite pastime was indeed sitting in the brothels, listening to the coarse songs of the young women. While others might not know, Lv Jingchun was well aware of his habits. Zhou Xianming walked over to Lv Jingchun and slung an arm around his shoulder, ¡°Why be so angry? Next time, I¡¯ll bring you along.¡± Lv Jingchun shrugged off Zhou Xianming¡¯s hand and huffed, ¡°Vulgar. I won¡¯t go to such a place again. I plan to practice martial arts seriously and train diligently from now on.¡± Uncle Ghost used to say that cultivating martial arts was all about preserving yang and locking essence. Zhou Xianming, ever smiling, took no offense and then noticed the clothes in Lv Jingchun¡¯s hands, asking, ¡°What¡¯s that you¡¯re holding?¡± Lv Jingchun, suddenly prideful, shook the black robe in his hands, ¡°See? Uncle Ghost¡¯s clothes.¡± Zhou Xianming paused, wondering if Lv Jingchun had gone and stolen the clothes of the Ghost Swordsman. But that was impossible; how could he, with his skills, steal the clothes of the Ghost Swordsman? Lv Jingchun quickly donned the black robe with agile movements, cockily raising an eyebrow at Zhou Xianming, ¡°How about that? Do I not carry the same chivalrous air, the same overwhelming aura of charging into battle and slaying amidst the mortal world?¡± His tone was filled with a strange excitement and fervor. Given Lv Jingchun¡¯s naturally shorter stature and plump figure, the black robe was filled out completely, and his belly even protruded prominently, displaying a picture of affluent rotundity. He looked out of place compared to the slim figure of the Ghost Swordsman. At the same time, Lv Jingchun also stepped onto a chair, assuming a ¡®king of all I survey¡¯ pose as he looked down at Zhou Xianming. Zhou Xianming spoke melancholically, ¡°Where did you get this garment?¡± ¡°I had the servants make it overnight, how about that?¡± ¡°The material is quite nice; I think it¡¯s better than what the elder wears. You might as well gift him a set of what you¡¯re wearing, so he doesn¡¯t look so destitute.¡± ¡°Right, you¡¯re absolutely correct. How did I not think of that?¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Jingchun¡¯s eyes sparkled. Uncle Ghost wasn¡¯t willing to let him join, but he could corrode that resolve with money. Eventually, Uncle Ghost might agree and even teach him the unrivaled swordsmanship. Lv Guoyong¡¯s status and position naturally precluded any overt displays of greed or corruption, but his family¡¯s wealth was surely beyond compare to that of ordinary people. Zhou Xianming shook his head, filled with silent reflection. Lv Jingchun fluffed the fabric of his robe and boasted, ¡°Old Zhou, how do I look in this robe compared to Uncle Ghost?¡± Zhou Xianming shook his head, stating, ¡°You are worlds apart.¡± ¡°` ¡°You don¡¯t understand a damn thing! The valiant and heroic spirit of those in Jianghu is not something a poor wretch like you could comprehend.¡± Lv Jingchun glanced at Zhou Xianming, their feelings for each other could hardly resonate. Zhou Xianming raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°You rushed over early in the morning just to show me this?¡± ¡°Almost forgot about the real business.¡± Lv Jingchun slapped his forehead and then hurried off towards An Jing¡¯s residence. Zhou Xianming watched Lv Jingchun¡¯s retreating figure and said in a low voice, ¡°You don¡¯t resemble a Ghost Swordsman but rather a fat swordsman.¡± Lv Jingchun, however, did not hear Zhou Xianming¡¯s muttering and quickly made his way to An Jing¡¯s doorstep. ¡°Thump, thump!¡± ¡°Uncle Ghost! Are you awake?¡± An Jing was sitting cross-legged on his bed, experiencing the profound mystery of body and mind unity, and opened his eyes upon hearing this sound. ¡°Come in.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Jingchun outside carefully pushed the door open, ¡°Uncle Ghost, there¡¯s an eunuch looking for you outside.¡± An Jing frowned and said, ¡°An eunuch!?¡± Lv Jingchun replied, ¡°It¡¯s the Chief Eunuch Ping De from Kunning Palace.¡± Kunning Palace!? An Jing nodded slightly. Imperial Concubine Rong was the master of this Kunning Palace¨Ccould this eunuch be seeking him out with a hidden agenda? Lv Jingchun said with a sycophantic smile, ¡°That old eunuch is currently waiting in the side hall; if you don¡¯t want to meet him, Uncle Ghost, I¡¯ll send him away right now.¡± An Jing said indifferently, ¡°Take me to meet him.¡± ¡­¡­. In the side hall of the Lv Mansion. An old eunuch slightly bowed, almost curling into a ball, with a very young and handsome little eunuch standing beside him. This old eunuch was none other than Eunuch Ping De, and the young eunuch at his side was the famous flower thief from Jianghu, Zhuo Yuchang. Zhuo Yuchang advised, ¡°On this visit, adopted grandpa said that he hopes to calm things down, turning conflict into alliance, and we must remember not to cause any troubles.¡± Eunuch Ping De nodded and said, ¡°This old servant understands.¡± By now, it was well-known that behind the Ghost Swordsman was not only the world¡¯s number one swordsman, Lou Xiangzhen, but also a mysterious and extremely powerful grandmaster expert. Even the Great Yan Royal Family had to carefully consider whether to woo him or to make an enemy of him. The visit of Eunuch Ping De and Zhuo Yuchang today was intended to ease the atmosphere between the Royal Family and the Ghost Swordsman. They at least did not want the Ghost Swordsman to align with the Royal Family but also did not wish to become adversaries. Not long after, footsteps were heard from outside. Following the sound, a man in a black robe was seen walking into the hall; he wore black boots, with a tall and sturdy figure, his pace steady and unhurried. Lv Jingchun followed behind, puffing out his chest with a somewhat triumphant expression. Eunuch Ping De hurriedly said, ¡°This old servant Ping De offers his respects.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities, Eunuch,¡± An Jing responded, then looked curiously at Zhuo Yuchang standing behind Ping De. ¡°We meet again.¡± When Zhuo Yuchang saw An Jing, his face got awash with embarrassment, wishing he could find a crevice to crawl into whenever he thought of that oversized bellyband. An Jing said with a playful smile, ¡°To come and go as you please, it seems your adopted grandpa must be no ordinary person.¡± It was known that Zhuo Yuchang was a renowned flower thief within Jianghu, albeit with a rather unique method of picking flowers. Zhuo Yuchang let out an awkward laugh and said, ¡°The adopted grandpa you met yesterday is indeed the one who sent me here today.¡± An Jing nodded slightly; Qiu Lun had mentioned that Zhuo Yuchang¡¯s adopted grandpa was the Chamberlain with white eyebrows. As one of the three great eunuchs serving the Human Emperor, though the Chamberlain might not hold as much power as the Eunuch Zhao Tianyi, his status was even higher than Zhao¡¯s. The current Human Emperor even addressed this white-eyebrowed eunuch as a respected father, which reflected his position within the Royal Family. An Jing asked, ¡°What did he send you to do?¡± Zhuo Yuchang didn¡¯t speak, but Chamberlain Ping De said, ¡°The honorable officer heard that you have been searching for the burial site of Jiang Sanjia. When Officer Jiang died, it was this old servant who personally buried him, right in the northern sector of Yujing City, inside Wangjing Mountain. We have come today especially to guide you there.¡± An Jing had only asked Lv Fang about the whereabouts of Jiang Sanjia¡¯s remains; he hadn¡¯t expected the white-browed eunuch to act so quickly. It seemed they were trying to ease the tension from the previous day¡¯s disagreement. An Jing fell silent for a while, then let out a long sigh and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Chamberlain Ping De gestured with his palm. The party then left the Lv Mansion, and without making a sound, Lv Jingchun followed An Jing as they headed toward Wangjing Mountain. Along the way, An Jing inquired about some specific details of the celestial divinations conducted on the Qintian Platform that day. Chamberlain Ping De recounted everything without missing a word, speaking in great detail. An Jing asked, ¡°So you¡¯re saying it was the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai, who initiated the petition? And Imperial Concubine requested that Jiang Sanjia perform the divination?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Chamberlain said softly. An Jing nodded, then fell silent again. In his letter, Jiang Sanjia had already mentioned that upon his return to Yujing City, it was very likely that the Second Prince Zhao Mengtai would inquire about his true identity. But An Jing was somewhat puzzled in his heart. Jiang Sanjia had loved Mu Xiaowan deeply, yet why would Mu Xiaowan force the death of someone who loved her? He remembered that Lou Xiangzhen had once vaguely mentioned that Mu Xiaowan had connections with the Zhenyi Sect. Could it be that the mastermind behind this was the Zhenyi Sect? Could it be that the Zhenyi Sect had obtained the ¡°Ghost Valley Heart Method¡± from Jiang Sanjia long ago? All these matters were unknown to An Jing, but he was aware that things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± As they passed a tavern, An Jing paused and looked over at it. ¡°Uncle Ghost, what¡¯s wrong? Could it be assassins?¡± Lv Jingchun was startled and quickly scanned the surroundings, his heart instantly rising to his throat. Chamberlain Ping De and Zhuo Yuchang also became somewhat nervous after hearing this. In Yujing City, who would be so blind as to attack them? The man by their side was the unparalleled Sword Immortal, not to mention the grandson of the foremost scholar of the day, Lv Jingchun. An Jing slapped Lv Jingchun on the back of his head and said, ¡°What assassin? Go and buy me two jars of wine.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ So you just wanted to buy wine.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Jingchun¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of disappointment, and then he scurried toward the tavern. Shortly after, he returned carrying two jars of fine wine. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing took the jars of wine and said. Beyond Yujing City to the north lay Wangjing Mountain. Verdant peaks solemn for a thousand years, green foliage dripping jade, boulders resting among the waves. Chamberlain Ping De led the way, and before long they arrived at a dense forest. Slanting sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the forest floor with a mottled pattern of shade. Chamberlain Ping De pointed to a grave mound in the distance and said, ¡°That is Officer Jiang¡¯s grave.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing walked slowly toward it. The grave mound was just a pile of earth, without even a gravestone or wooden marker for identification. If not for Chamberlain Ping De¡¯s guidance, no one would have guessed it was the resting place of the divine fortune teller of the Ghost Valley Sect from Jianghu. ¡°Sanjia, I have come a bit late.¡± An Jing sat down directly on the ground facing the grave mound, then opened the seal of the wine jar he was holding. They say in shallow engagement, speak deeply, and avoid speaking of the profound. Strangely enough, Jiang Sanjia had not been like that with him. Jiang Sanjia was still in Fuyang Village when An Jing would often visit him, mainly to join him for a drink or watch him sit by the river and fish. Perhaps it was due to An Jing¡¯s rescue from the dungeon that Jiang Sanjia harbored gratitude, or perhaps it was the ancient jade he accepted from Mu Xiaoyun and the fact that he stole Xue Chen¡¯s corpse from the Three Temples Mountain Faxi Temple, which earned him some respect. Or maybe it was because both practiced the Daluo Heart Method and belonged to the Mystical Sect at their core, or perhaps Jiang Sanjia¡¯s bleak twilight years, neglected by all, stirred a complex sentiment for the past in him. It could also have been because of An Jing¡¯s words, ¡°What? If the Daoist Master does it, can I not do it?¡± All in all, it¡¯s probably impossible for anyone to clarify. The depth of friendship is not necessarily tied to the length of acquaintance. ¡°Sanjia,¡± An Jing poured the wine from the jar onto the ground, ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten what I said. The day I set foot on Zhenyi Mountain, I¡¯ll definitely bring good wine and a roasted chicken.¡± The wine spilled onto the earth, then seeped into the soil. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I might have actually died at Jiang Shang¡¯s hands. By the way, I also met Old Lou. He has become the world¡¯s number one swordsman, stepping into the Sixth Realm. It¡¯s a pity he didn¡¯t come today.¡± ¡°These past several months of separation felt like years. Before, I was not keen on entering the jianghu, but unconsciously, I¡¯ve already stepped into it.¡± ¡°Maybe, from the moment I married my wife, I unknowingly entered the jianghu, or perhaps it was from the moment I rescued you.¡± ¡°Life is but a dream in drunken stupor, return to find the person the same, only to lament that time flies too quickly.¡± Saying this, An Jing took a big gulp of wine from the jar. In the distance, Chief Eunuch Ping De, upon seeing this scene, sighed, ¡°The disciples of the Ghost Valley Sect have never had a good ending since ancient times.¡± Zhuo Yuchang spoke slowly, ¡°The Dao cannot be fully predicted, the world is ever-changing, those who vainly attempt to divine the heavens are freaks by nature.¡± Lv Jingchun appeared perplexed while watching An Jing sitting by the grave, speaking intermittently. What he saw in the jianghu was mostly chivalry and carefree spirit, but today, facing the tomb, he was jolted back to reality; the jianghu not only boasted heroic loyalty but also deception and helplessness, with corpses piled one upon another. ¡°The jianghu, it truly is a dangerous place,¡± Lv Jingchun sighed endlessly. The three stood under the tree for a long time, until the sky began to dim, when An Jing finally stood up slowly. On the other side, may it also be as splendid as this mortal world. On the way back, when Zhuo Yuchang wasn¡¯t paying attention, Chief Eunuch Ping De slipped An Jing a waist badge, saying, ¡°My lord, this is the waist badge of Kunning Palace. The Empress said you are welcome to visit anytime.¡± Having said that, Chief Eunuch Ping De nonchalantly left with Zhuo Yuchang. An Jing gripped the waist badge in his hand, a faint cold light flashing in his profound eyes. ¡­¡­ Dongluo Pass, Dongluo Tower. The room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, and the delicate sunlight streamed through the intricate carvings of the latticed windows, shining upon the center where there lay a soft wooden bed with exquisite carvings, a guqin placed in the corner; a bronze mirror sat on a wooden dressing table, beside which were some rouge pots. Jiang Renyi stood beside the table, casually flipping through a confidential letter, finding it so uninteresting that he put it down again. Sitting below him was the pale Yu Qiurong, whose spirit seemed diminished, fragile as a willow in the wind, ready to fall at any moment. Jiang Renyi looked at the delicate beauty before him and said, ¡°Yu Qiurong, I have given you three days already. How have you considered it?¡± Yu Qiurong replied indifferently, ¡°Impossible, just give up on that notion.¡± Jiang Renyi chuckled softly, walked over to Qiurong, and gently traced her smooth, fair cheek with his finger. Qiurong gave Jiang Renyi a cold glance, then retreated further back. Jiang Renyi sighed and said, ¡°All you need to do is persuade Qin Bin to lay down his military power. Not only would I release you, but I would also drop food into the Sealing Demon Well to ensure my junior sister does not die. Why wouldn¡¯t you take such a favorable deal? Do you really think she can make it out?¡± As head of the Xuanwu Sect, Qin Bin controlled Dongluo Pass¡¯s only elite forces, with all his subordinates being confidants. Hastily killing him would likely incite mutiny among the soldiers, so naturally, Jiang Renyi hoped to take control of a complete Black Armor Iron Guard. Qiurong faced Jiang Renyi and said, ¡°According to my Demon Sect¡¯s rules, one can only elect a new Sect Hierarch if the current one has been missing for more than two years. Do you think you¡¯re worthy of the title now?¡± A sinister look crossed Jiang Renyi¡¯s eyes, ¡°My junior sister is trapped in the Sealing Demon Well, never to come out. Should I waste another two years just to wait? Besides, many Demon Sect masters have already agreed that I should take over the position.¡± ¡°Since you are so stubborn, I will tell you a harsh truth. Yesterday, I sent someone to the Sealing Demon Well to relay a message to my junior sister, saying that if she hands over the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,¡¯ I would spare your life. But she killed the messenger instead. This shows how much less important you are to her compared to the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture.¡¯ Why be so blindly loyal to her?¡± Unaffected by Jiang Renyi¡¯s words, Qiurong mocked, ¡°The Sect Hierarch is right not to give it to you.¡± Licking his lips, Jiang Renyi said, ¡°You truly are a fiercely loyal dog. Do you really think I have no way of dealing with you?¡± With the old Demon Sect masters like Duanmu Xinghua still around, and having just become the Sect Hierarch, he couldn¡¯t kill Qiurong outright, but it didn¡¯t mean he had no means of subduing her. ¡°Jiang Renyi, last time the Sect Hierarch spared your dog¡¯s life, have you truly forgotten?¡± Yu Qiurong stared straight at Jiang Renyi and said, ¡°I advise you to control yourself, for when the Sect Hierarch comes out, your death won¡¯t be too ugly.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Upon hearing Yu Qiurong¡¯s words, Jiang Renyi burst into laughter. His voice was loud, tinged with unabashed defiance. Yu Qiurong looked at the somewhat crazed Jiang Renyi, her eyebrows tightly furrowed. After a while, Jiang Renyi, perhaps tired from laughing, took out a porcelain bottle, ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± ¡°Red Beauty Drunk!?¡± When Yu Qiurong saw the porcelain bottle, her eyes immediately widened. This was the latest poison pill refined by the Poison King, and naturally she was aware of it; moreover, some time ago, Yu Qiurong had delivered this poison pill to Zhao Qingmei. ¡°Correct.¡± Jiang Renyi nodded slightly, and a cold glint surfaced in his eyes, ¡°This is a wonderful thing. It¡¯s said that Red Beauty Drunk can silently seep into the organs and bowels of a person, and when the poison acts, it¡¯s like countless venomous insects gnawing on the organs, making life worse than death. This agony lasts for several days before it ends¡­¡± Yu Qiurong looked at the Red Beauty Drunk, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead, her feet unconsciously retreating backward. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be fearless?¡± Jiang Renyi¡¯s mouth curved upward slightly, wearing a hint of a cold smile. The next moment, his figure appeared in front of Yu Qiurong, and he seized her chin, pouring the Red Beauty Drunk from his hand into her mouth. ¡°Mmm mmm¡­ mmm¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± Yu Qiurong felt the powder entering her mouth and with a surge through her throat, it moved into her abdomen. ¡°Swallow it,¡± Jiang Renyi pushed Yu Qiurong away and said, ¡°From today onward, if you don¡¯t agree to me, I will feed you some of this Red Beauty Drunk every day. At present, the dosage isn¡¯t large, and it won¡¯t act, but there will come a day when it will burst forth. Whether you want a swift death or prefer something quick and clean, the choice is yours.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Yu Qiurong lay on the ground, coughing continuously, without speaking. ¡°Sect Hierarch, a new secret letter has arrived.¡± Just at this moment, a voice came from outside the door. Jiang Renyi took a deep breath and said, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Geng Tianchou pushed the door and walked in, holding a secret letter from the Human Sect. Jiang Renyi immediately took the secret letter, opened it, and his eyebrows knitted tightly together, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman actually has a master behind him?¡± The information on this secret letter was about the situation in Yujing City of the Great Yan. Geng Tianchou spoke solemnly, ¡°Sect Hierarch, what should we do now? Lin Tianhai and Luo Zixiang, among others, are still on Capital Road, and Sect Hierarch Zhao wants the Ghost Swordsman captured alive, but I fear that will be difficult¡­¡± Not to mention that the Ghost Swordsman himself is one of the top Sword Immortals in the land, but he also has such a powerful master behind him. It is not wise for the Demon Sect to be his enemy. ¡°Have them come back immediately.¡± Jiang Renyi said coldly, ¡°Do they no longer care for their lives?¡± Geng Tianchou hurriedly responded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll send the order to Chief Lin right now.¡± After speaking, Geng Tianchou rushed out. Jiang Renyi took a deep breath and muttered to himself, ¡°My junior sister really loves to stir up trouble, insisting on provoking someone like the Ghost Swordsman. Let Black Ice Platform, the Zhenyi Sect, and Houjin worry about how to deal with this person.¡± He really didn¡¯t understand why his junior sister would want to capture the Ghost Swordsman alive. If there was a grudge, wouldn¡¯t it be better to just kill him? Could it be that there were secrets on the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s person? But regardless of the secrets, now was not the time to make an enemy of such a person. ¡­¡­ May 17th, in Yujing City, at the Lv Mansion. In a garden with fields. The fields were planted with seasonal vegetables and fruits, like cucumbers, radishes, watermelons¡­ The green branches and leaves were lush beyond compare, carrying the breath of life. At this moment, Lv Guoyong, his body stooped, held a ladle in his hands, continuously scooping and sprinkling water onto the fields. ¡°Father.¡± Lv Fang walked over at a gentle pace. Lv Guoyong paused his motion, saying, ¡°What is it?¡± Lv Fang spoke in a low voice, ¡°Li Fuzhou has left.¡± ¡°He left?¡± Lv Guoyong continued watering, his expression showing little change, ¡°Did Tan Yun also leave?¡± Lv Fang nodded, saying, ¡°Yes, he followed behind Li Fuzhou to Eight Feet Platform.¡± Lv Guoyong fell silent for a while, not speaking further. ¡°Father¡­..¡± Lv Fang looked somewhat hesitant. Lv Guoyong scooped another ladleful of water, saying, ¡°Just speak up if you have something to say.¡± Lv Fang said, ¡°Tang Taiyuan is a peak Second Qi cultivator, and also the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard. With the battle taking place at Eight Feet Platform in Yujing City, he naturally stands on invincible ground. Li Fuzhou¡¯s journey there is likely fraught with danger.¡± Not many people knew how ruthless and ferocious Tang Taiyuan could be, but if they knew what he had done, they would surely be shocked. Lv Fang inhaled deeply, continuing, ¡°Li Fuzhou is not only doing this for himself but also for elder sister. Decades ago, our Lv family has already yielded enough. Father, you have taken step after step backwards, allowing Zhao Tianyi to castrate himself and become a eunuch, Li Fuzhou was compelled to leave the Lv Sect, and elder sister also¡­¡± Speaking thus, Lv Fang paused and didn¡¯t continue. Lv Guoyong remained silent for a long time, finally saying, ¡°Let Jing Chun go then. It can be a gesture.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Fang¡¯s spirits lifted, ¡°I understand, Father.¡± After speaking, he hurriedly left. Lv Guoyong watched Lv Fang¡¯s retreating figure, staying silent for a long while before once more continuing to scoop and water. ¡­¡­. Yujing City, Eight Feet Platform. Eight Feet Platform was famous in Jianghu, as it was where the Yujing City Xuanyi Guard¡¯s yamen resided. On ordinary days, Eight Feet Platform was the place where the heads of Jianghu¡¯s outlaws were severed, hence this place was extremely heavy with the scent of blood, faintly exuding a sense of murderous aura. In the surrounding area, there were no other buildings or residential houses to be seen, not to mention people passing by. But today, compared to the usual quietness, it seemed somewhat bustling. Many masters from Jianghu were gathered on both sides of Eight Feet Platform, their eyes filled with a grave seriousness. This included Lin Yiyang from Yu Heng Sword Sect, Zuo Biwen from Youfeng Valley, the Five Poison Young Master from Five Poison Sect, Ling Yuanjing from Zhenyi Sect, He Chen, and many other great masters of Jianghu. There were also numerous experts from smaller sects, each top desperados of Jianghu, all formidable masters in their own right. A great battle might unfold today. Not far from Eight Feet Platform, on the spectator¡¯s stand, a tent had now been pitched. On the left side, a man dressed in a golden python robe¨Cit was Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin; on the right side was Zongzheng Yuan, the seventh son of the Houjin Holy Master. Zongzheng Yuan looked at Eight Feet Platform in front of him and smiled, ¡°I never expected that on this mission to Great Yan, I would have the honor to witness a battle between the top masters of the world.¡± Zhao Chongyin responded with a faint smile, ¡°Whether they are true top masters remains to be seen.¡± At that moment, however, Zhao Chongyin¡¯s heart was filled with worry. He could not comprehend why Tang Taiyuan had agreed to Li Fuzhou¡¯s request for a duel. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have dispatched a master to slay him directly? If Tang Taiyuan won today¡¯s battle, everyone would simply think it was as expected. But if Li Fuzhou won, the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s reputation, built up over hundreds of years, would be instantly ruined. Although the chances of Tang Taiyuan losing were very low, Zhao Chongyin felt this duel should never have occurred from the beginning. Zongzheng Yuan whispered, ¡°Li Fuzhou couldn¡¯t possibly be challenging Tang Taiyuan with just Half-step Master Cultivation. He must have some other methods, right?¡± His words seemed like a question to himself, as well as a question directed at Zhao Chongyin. After all, challenging Tang Taiyuan with just Half-step Master Cultivation was undoubtedly suicidal. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s gaze was piercing, ¡°Regardless of what Li Fuzhou does, I am confident that Commander Tang will certainly be victorious.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see,¡± Zongzheng Yuan said. Zongzheng Yuan smiled and said nothing more. At that moment, An Jing, clad in a black robe, stood with his arms crossed over his chest. He gazed at the surging crowd ahead of him, his heart also filled with curiosity about what skills Li Fuzhou possessed to challenge the Second Qi Grandmaster. Beside him stood Zhou Xianming and Lv Jingchun. Zhou Xianming¡¯s face revealed nothing, but his heart was heavy, because he knew very well the predicament Li Fuzhou faced today. The chances of winning were slim, and even if he won, he would likely be targeted. Lv Jingchun chuckled and asked, ¡°Uncle Ghost, how does the fabric of this new clothing feel?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± An Jing replied indifferently, ¡°You¡¯ve been very thoughtful.¡± Although Lv Jingchun seemed to be simple-minded, when he gave An Jing his robe, he presented him with two sets, one to wear and the other to change into whenever needed. ¡°Uncle Ghost, I¡¯m glad you like it.¡± Lv Jingchun smiled. Then, he noticed that the clothes on his body were somewhat different from those he had given, and just as he was about to ask, something strange happened on the Eight Feet Platform ahead. ¡°Place your bets, place your bets, the more you bet, the more you win!¡± A man with a figure like a mountain of flesh weaved through the crowd, shouting as he moved. This was none other than Qiu Lun, the son of the Pingyang Marquis. Seeing that person, Lv Jingchun¡¯s excitement soared as he shouted, ¡°Brother Lun!¡± ¡°Jing Chun.¡± Qiu Lun turned his head, then joy appeared on his face when he saw An Jing. ¡°Eh, Big Brother, you¡¯re here too!¡± Zhou Xianming was stunned by the man¡¯s mountainous physique. Could there really be someone so corpulent in the world? An Jing nodded slightly, ¡°Mm, I came to watch a duel of the experts today.¡± Qiu Lun wasn¡¯t surprised since the Ghost Swordsman was present when Li Fuzhou and Tang Taiyuan had agreed to their match. It was only natural for him to come to see their duel today. Suddenly, Qiu Lun remembered something, and with a grave face, he turned to Lv Jingchun and said, ¡°Jing Chun, that¡¯s rather underhanded of you, not attending your brother¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°I truly couldn¡¯t make it.¡± Lv Jingchun sighed deeply, ¡°I fell that day, and I¡¯ve only just recovered. Moreover¡­¡± An Jing coughed twice, interrupting, ¡°People are coming. No more talking.¡± ¡°Wooosh!¡± ¡°Wooosh!¡± Dozens of Xuanwu Arrest Officers clad in black robes emerged from the back hall, followed by several more wearing large black capes at the Great Heavenly Gang Level. The last to emerge were Xi Yuanjun, the Deputy Governor of the Xuanwu Guard, and the Great Commander, Tang Taiyuan. ¡°Look, Governor Tang has arrived!¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t that Demon Sect¡¯s Li Fuzhou shown up yet?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s not coming?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so; Li Fuzhou issued the challenge himself, how could he not show up?¡± ¡­¡­ With the appearance of Tang Taiyuan, the surroundings of the Eight Feet Platform instantly erupted with clamor. Tang Taiyuan, dressed in a black robe, seemed not to hear the discussions around him as he slowly walked onto the Eight Feet Platform. His black robe fluttered without wind, making a rustling sound. Tang Taiyuan, definitely one of the top experts in the Great Yan Dynasty. In the entire Great Yan, there were definitely no more than five people who could defeat him openly. One of the four great swordsmen legends of the Great Yan martial world, and a swordsman myth. It was just like the words he had said to Qi Shu of Zhao Country, bright as the scorching sun¨Cindeed, very few people could survive a battle with him. Tang Taiyuan¡¯s expression was calm as he stood silently on the Eight Feet Platform, not saying a word. Suddenly, his eyes opened, and a spark of light surged within them. ¡°Li Fuzhou has arrived!¡± ¡°Make way!¡± A clear shout arose, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound. The crowd parted like a tide, creating a path through the middle. Li Fuzhou walked over slowly, dressed in a white robe today that was without a speck of dust, his hair neatly combed. On his slightly aged face were those eyes as calm as the abyssal sea. Following behind him, other than Tan Yun, was a woman in her fifties. ¡°Liu Huiyun?¡± Seeing the woman¡¯s appearance, Qiu Lun couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. An Jing asked in a low voice, ¡°The name sounds somewhat familiar.¡± Qiu Lun explained quietly beside him, ¡°Liu Huiyun is the only bloodline of the Liu family. The Liu family was once a military marquis family of the Great Yan Dynasty. The entire family perished on the border in battle with Zhao Country. Her elder brother Liu Zixing and younger brother Liu Zhaoyu died on the frontier, and her father, Marquis Xin Tian, was assassinated by a master of the Black Ice Platform. They were a family of loyal martyrs. Back then, my father was just a thousand-man captain under Marquis Xin Tian; it was Marquis Xin Tian¡¯s promotion that brought him to his current status. Marquis Xin Tian was almost Li Fuzhou¡¯s father-in-law¡­¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing nodded, thinking to himself: The Liu family all died on the battlefield; they must have received great imperial grace. Could it be that Li Fuzhou brought Liu Huiyun here to protect Tan Yun? Tang Taiyuan frowned slightly when he saw Liu Huiyun, ¡°You should not have come.¡± Liu Huiyun met Tang Taiyuan¡¯s gaze and said indifferently, ¡°Yet I have come.¡± Li Fuzhou stepped onto the Eight Feet Platform, his white robe fluttering in the wind. At that moment, the howling grew louder, carrying with it a faint scent of blood stirring the air. Li Fuzhou opened his mouth and said, ¡°Li Fuzhou has arrived as promised.¡± The volume of his voice was moderate, yet it rang out like thunder in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Very well.¡± Tang Taiyuan looked at Li Fuzhou standing before him, feeling quite emotional. He reminisced about the first time he saw Li Fuzhou, then a young man in his prime, and now, in less than thirty years, he had reached the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm and appeared ready to break through to Grandmaster at any moment. It must be said that he truly was a prodigy. If he had continued devotedly practicing martial arts, his achievements might not have been inferior to Xiao Qianqiu. Unfortunately, the prime of life has passed, and one cannot start over again in life. Tang Taiyuan lifted his arm slightly, saying indifferently, ¡°Li Fuzhou, I admire your courage. You are the first in the Demon Sect to come to Yujing City to face death, doing something Jiang Shang wanted to do but did not dare to.¡± Jiang Shang, a name infamous in the Great Yan, a name that brought the Demon Sect to its zenith, an electrifying name. What he dared not do, Li Fuzhou has now done. The old scholar in a white robe, with sleeves fluttering, said aloud, ¡°Tang Taiyuan, today¡¯s Great Yan is too corrupt, it needs a cleansing to bring back the clear skies. Since others won¡¯t do it, won¡¯t speak of it, then today let me be the one to speak, the one to act.¡± Tang Taiyuan burst out laughing, ¡°Do you think you are a Saint?¡± His laughter had a clear ring to it. It has been so many years since a Saint appeared from the scholarly faction, as if the last one belonged to the distant past. Li Fuzhou shook his head as if filled with regret, ¡°Li Fuzhou is ignorant; after studying the sages¡¯ teachings for over twenty years, I couldn¡¯t bring forth a Saint, failing my father, my teacher, and my former self.¡± Decades have passed in the blink of an eye, his life divided into two parts, and also two calamities. Tang Taiyuan unsheathed his long sword, stating flatly, ¡°By not focusing on either martial arts or literature, you ultimately wasted your prime, ending up as an ephemeral mayfly, fading into obscurity.¡± As the long sword appeared, a cold sheen illuminated between heaven and earth, sending a chill down everyone¡¯s spine, as if suddenly transitioning from the sweltering heat of summer to the piercing cold of winter. Tang Taiyuan continued to ask, ¡°Facing life and death, do you have any regrets?¡± ¡°Born at dawn, I gaze upon the sunlight; born at night, I accompany the sun and moon, I have no regrets.¡± ¡°A mayfly will always be a mayfly, unable to glimpse the great Dao.¡± ¡°Then today, let this mayfly shake the great tree!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only After Li Fuzhou spoke, he took a step forward. Instantly, the bloodthirsty Qi of the Eight Feet Platform radiated outward in all directions, and a breaking-Qi mechanism, like rivers and seas surging, sent a tremble through everyone¡¯s heart. Three Flowers shone brightly, emerging behind him and then converging above Li Fuzhou¡¯s head. In almost the blink of an eye, Three Flowers Gathering at the Top was complete. At that moment, Li Fuzhou entered the Grandmaster Realm. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: 190 Chapter 190: 190 An Jing¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly; he had been waiting for someone from the Lv Sect to make a move. Unexpectedly, Jing Chun now seemed to want An Jing himself to take action. Even though he had many doubts in his mind, at this critical moment, he could no longer care for much. An Jing¡¯s wrist twisted, lightly tapping on the sword scabbard. ¡°Shi!¡± Three cold beams of sword light suddenly shot out from the scabbard, flying swiftly toward the front. Zhong Binru strode forward, reaching Tan Yun in the blink of an eye. ¡°Not good!¡± Tan Yun also sensed something was wrong and drew the Futu Sword in a sweeping motion. ¡°Child¡¯s play, daring to show off in front of an expert.¡± Zhong Binru¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he flicked his finger. ¡°Ding!¡± Tan Yun felt a tremendous force traveling through the Futu Sword, causing her arms to go numb and forced her to step back repeatedly, blood flowing from the tiger¡¯s mouth of her sword-holding hand. ¡°Hmm!?¡± Just as Zhong Binru was about to continue moving forward, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill from behind him. Immediately, he moved the Emperor¡¯s Sword behind him. ¡°Clang clang clang clang clang!¡± The sounds of metal clashing echoed, forming a storm of sword qi as the lights interweaved. Many masters were shocked by this scene; who could be powerful enough to fight equally with Chamberlain Zhong Binru? The three beams of sword light gradually merged into one, then flew back to their master¡¯s hand. Zhong Binru looked at the man in the black robe in front of him, his brow slightly furrowed, ¡°Ghost Swordsman, do you intend to oppose the Court and the Human Emperor?¡± An Jing¡¯s move instantly drew the attention of many people present. It was known that the Ghost Swordsman pursued and killed Qi Shu, slaying Yan Gang, and had already established a formidable reputation in the Great Yan Martial World. No one expected that he would intervene today on behalf of the remnants of the Demon Sect. Zongzheng Yuan looked at the distant figure in the black robe, ¡°Is he the Ghost Swordsman?¡± In the Great Yan Martial World, names like Zhong Binru, Lin Yiyang, and Lou Xiangzhen might resonate more with the people, given their decades of fame as sword immortals. But in Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s heart, among the six great sword immortals, the Ghost Swordsman was one of the most memorable. Zhao Chongyin frowned tightly, transmitting his voice to the elder behind him, ¡°Elder Su, are you confident you can handle the formidable person beside the Ghost Swordsman?¡± Elder Su responded indifferently, ¡°As long as they are not of the Great Grandmaster level, I can handle them.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Chongyin said no more. On the Eight Feet Platform, enveloped by the Pagoda, Li Fuzhou, whose strength was greatly diminished, plus the true qi he had expended after a battle, was now unable to break the deadlock against many masters. ¡°It seems very difficult for Li Fuzhou to leave today.¡± ¡°This Eight Treasures Exquisite Tower of Lord Ming is truly remarkable.¡± ¡°I wonder if the Ghost Swordsman can turn the tide.¡± ¡°It seems unlikely. Grandfather Guang De is of the One Qi Grandmaster level, and the Ghost Swordsman might not be able to defeat him. Moreover, even if there is that mysterious master behind the Ghost Swordsman, this is still Yujing City.¡± ¡­¡­ The discussions rose like a tide, everyone believing it was unlikely for Li Fuzhou to leave Yujing City today. After all, killing the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard and still managing to leave Yujing City safely, would be a tremendous blow to the prestige of the Great Yan Court! An Jing, holding the Evil Suppressing Sword, said with a light smile, ¡°I have always wanted to experience the chill of the Emperor¡¯s Sword; it seems today I finally have that opportunity.¡± Zhong Binru gaze was icy cold, he concisely replied, ¡°As you wish.¡± The moment after he spoke, he raised his arm, and a lustrous sword brilliance surged out from the body of the Emperor¡¯s Sword. ¡°You¡¯re using the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords right away?¡± From a distance, Lin Yiyang didn¡¯t focus on Li Fuzhou but instead watched the fierce battle between Zhong Binru and the Ghost Swordsman, two top-tier swordsmen. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! This Heavenly Martial-level sword technique was widely known, a legacy of an unparalleled swordsman from the Great Qin Dynasty thousands of years ago. Since then, it has never been lost, and top-tier swordsmen have always sought to learn it, making their name worldwide by wielding this technique. Later, during the conquest of the world by the Great Yan Dynasty, they annihilated countless sects, obtaining numerous martial arts manuscripts, including the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords. The Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords consisted of seven sword strikes, each strike doubling the power of the previous one, similar to Qi Shu¡¯s fist skill but also quite different. This sequence of Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords was a sword path of slaughter; by the fifth strike, the power was already astonishing, the sixth strike alone could directly slay a peer in the same realm, and wielding the seventh strike could even kill a master of a higher realm. Throughout history, many top-tier swordsmen practiced the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords, yet very few reached the seventh strike; most struggled to progress beyond the sixth. Qiu Wanxia smiled, ¡°It seems Zhong Binru takes the Ghost Swordsman very seriously.¡± Lin Yiyang crossed his arms and watched indifferently as the two top swordsmen dueled before him. Zhong Binru¡¯s figure soared, and the sword light surged toward him. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! White Cloud Sword! A flash of cold light appeared before him, and An Jing felt a cold, ruthless sword qi attacking his face, coming so suddenly and strangely. Clang! An Jing, without shifting his gaze, swung the Evil Suppressing Sword, easily breaking through the sword qi. Zhong Binru¡¯s eyes still cold as ice, the Emperor¡¯s Sword in his hand burst into dazzling brilliance, like a volley of thousands of arrows. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! Xia Dang Sword! Whoosh! Zhong Binru¡¯s figure, like a sudden dimming of the evening glow, instantly appeared right in front of An Jing, the Emperor¡¯s Sword carrying pure killing intent as it thrust forward. This second sword, blending swordsmanship with footwork, complemented each other. This sword was unbelievably fast. The footwork and sword moves almost merged into one, using the momentum of the charge to elevate the power of the sword to a new realm. A top swordsman, his steps seamlessly integrated with his sword moves, also carried a commanding killing intent. Clang! As the two swords collided, sparks flew everywhere! An Jing raised his Evil Suppressing Sword horizontally, directly blocking Zhong Binru¡¯s second strike. However, the sword momentum on the Emperor¡¯s Sword was not so easily dissipated; An Jing¡¯s feet rubbed against the ground, sliding backward, leaving a trail of brilliant sparks. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! Stabbing Star! Zhong Binru, seizing the momentum, quickly withdrew the Emperor¡¯s Sword, then thrust it forward again. This thrust, the sword light shot out explosively, its power several times stronger than before. ¡°So this is the Sword Immortal who wields the sword for the Human Emperor? He¡¯s really ruthless! One sword following the other, the Ghost Swordsman hardly has a chance to counterattack.¡± ¡°When he strikes, it¡¯s a killing move!¡± In such a short time, many experts present had the same thought flash through their minds. Zing zing zing¡­ Zhong Binru¡¯s thrust was off, not because of his lack of precision, but because An Jing¡¯s Evil Suppressing Sword and his Emperor¡¯s Sword were locked together. Then the entire sword spun, creating a surge as powerful as thunder. Four Symbols Sword Technique! Moves like Thunder! The sword light floated out, a thunderbolt resounding through the heavens and the earth. ¡°Four Symbols Sword Technique!?¡± Zhao Chongyin saw the sword light and immediately frowned. The signature martial art of the Four Symbols Sect, well known in the Great Yan Martial World, but it was unexpected that the Ghost Swordsman could execute the Four Symbols Sword Technique so effortlessly and skillfully. The battle between two great Sword Immortals was even more intense and eye-catching than Li Fuzhou¡¯s fight with many experts. Whoosh! One sword strike achieving nothing, Zhong Binru swiftly retreated, his gaze intently on An Jing. ¡°Truly worthy of being the Ghost Swordsman.¡± Zhong Binru took a deep breath, stepping forward, his body lunging, his hand wielding the Emperor¡¯s Sword, suddenly stabbing out hundreds of strikes in a moment. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! Long River! This sword light was majestically overwhelming, and then it all converged into a long river of sword qi, the coldness it emitted causing everyone present to shiver. An Jing raised his eyebrows, stepped forward, his inner strength gathering in his sword like a surging river, the blade of his Evil Suppressing Sword also emitting streaks of cold light. In an instant, the three blades merged into one. Sword Control Technique! Suddenly, the sword light unified and, with a slap from An Jing toward the front, it roared out, the air on both sides madly spilling around, abruptly turning into a wave of qi force. ¡°Boom!¡± The Evil Suppressing Sword was unstoppable, its momentum grand and magnificent. When the sword light collided with the river, the entire Eight Feet Platform area shook, and then from the center, a sword qi storm burst forth in all directions. ¡°Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!¡± The sword qi splintered on the ground, bursting into a series of sounds while also throwing up clouds of dust into the air. And in the next moment, Zhong Binru was already close at hand again. Zhong Binru flew towards An Jing, the Emperor¡¯s Sword raised high, its elegance paired with a chilling killing intent. An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship was not as flashy as Zhong Binru¡¯s, but the craftiness of An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship was even greater, and he executed it with utmost precision and speed. Ding Ding Dang Dang! The two fought from the ground to the air and then along the surrounding walls, their sword Qi colliding in the air, obscuring their figures from view. Such a spectacular duel of swordsmen had many spectators wide-eyed, afraid to miss any brilliant detail and live with regret for life. Zhong Binru¡¯s body suddenly spun, the Emperor¡¯s Sword circling around him. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! Snow Dance! Zhong Binru¡¯s sword light greatly intensified, and the surrounding temperature plummeted, soon followed by the emergence of bitterly cold snowflakes. At this moment, he had pushed his master cultivation to its limit. Each snowflake contained chilling sword light; this was already the fifth slash of the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords, and with Zhong Binru¡¯s sword momentum added, it was incredibly shocking. An Jing¡¯s inner strength circulated, and behind him surged a golden Buddha light. A golden Buddha with a grand and exceptional aura appeared. The golden Buddha pointed one hand to the sky and the other touched the earth, its form dignified, filled with limitless Zen spirit. Under the oppression of the master realm, he could only cast the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra. An Jing¡¯s inner strength flared like flames, leaving his mind somewhat ethereal and tranquil as he fiercely patted the Evil Suppressing Sword. Hundred-step Flying Sword! ¡°Shoo!¡± ¡°Shoo!¡± ¡°Shoo!¡± The body of the Evil Suppressing Sword split into three, each carrying a golden sword light as they rushed forward, then the gold sword lights multiplied, transforming into a sky full of sword shadows. The Hundred-step Flying Sword could freely control the sword, and under An Jing¡¯s exquisite Sword Control Technique, the three Evil Suppressing Swords seemed to turn into countless swords. In the sky, under the watchful eyes of the audience, those myriad sword lights met the swiftly approaching snowflakes. Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang¡­ The sword lights merged with the snowflakes, resulting in piercingly loud explosions. Having cast the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, An Jing was three times more fearsome than before, and he even subtly suppressed Zhong Binru¡¯s Sword Dao. ¡°Zoom!¡± An Jing pushed his Hundred-step Flying Sword to the limit, and the Evil Suppressing Sword shot out from the sword light, slicing open a very fine cut towards Zhong Binru. Zhong Binru had to admit he had been careless, having given An Jing an opportunity, now pressed down to this point, even unleashing the fifth sword was of no avail. ¡°So terrifying!¡± Only then did the people realize the power of the Ghost Swordsman. His strength was unassuming and low-key, noticeable only to those who clashed with him, allowing them to feel the startling peculiarity of his Sword Dao; even Zhong Binru, in the master realm, was still suppressed by it. One could only imagine how fearful his Sword Dao was. Clang Clang! Sparks flew, melting a lot of the snowflakes. Zhong Binru skidded across the icy ground, the frosty surface speeding up his motion, leaving behind a trail of afterimages. ¡°Enough!¡± ¡°Shoo!¡± Just then, a sharp shout rang out, and a figure appeared in the sky. The figure leaped up and landed with one foot on top of the Qi Mechanism Pagoda. ¡°Boom!¡± The Qi Mechanism Pagoda seemed to be crushed by a mountain, heavily falling to the ground, the ground around the center of the pagoda cracked open, and Li Fuzhou, at the center of it, looked as pale as a piece of paper. ¡°Master!?¡± Tan Yun, who had been on the sidelines, felt his heart clench at the sight. The man was dressed in a black python robe, his eyebrows white, his face rosy, and his eyes fierce and spirited. ¡°Greetings to the Honorable Lord!¡± Gao Sheng, upon seeing the newcomer, quickly bowed down in greeting. ¡°Honorable Lord!¡± Zhong Binru also cupped his fists towards the man. Zhao Chongyin, upon seeing the newcomer, also slightly relaxed his frown. ¡°Hmm!?¡± An Jing had also drawn his sword, watching the white-browed eunuch standing atop the pagoda, feeling a surge of anxiety. This white-browed eunuch was a real monster entrenched in the Imperial City, his strength probably no less than Xiao Qianqiu¡¯s, perhaps even slightly stronger. The situation today was indeed extremely difficult to resolve. Ling Yuanjing, He Chen, and Dai Danshu all heaved a sigh of relief at the arrival of the white-browed eunuch. Today, Li Fuzhou would find it difficult to escape even if he had wings. ¡°Scholar Li, how did it come to this?¡± The white-browed eunuch landed on the ground, looking at Li Fuzhou¡¯s somewhat pale face. He didn¡¯t understand why Li Fuzhou wouldn¡¯t even leave himself a way out and insisted on killing the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard, Tang Taiyuan. Facing this monstrous figure entrenched in the Royal Family, Li Fuzhou¡¯s expression remained undisturbed, ¡°A gentleman¡¯s word is as good as his bond. I once said I would ask Commander Tang to face death; thus, there is no reason for me to go back on my word.¡± The white-browed eunuch burst into laughter upon hearing this, ¡°Good, very good.¡± ¡°Your Honor.¡± Liu Huiyun stepped forward and spoke. The white-browed eunuch glanced at Liu Huiyun and said, ¡°The Liu Family is full of loyal martyrs. Do you want to use the grace left by your ancestors to save Li Fuzhou?¡± Taking a deep breath, Liu Huiyun said, ¡°Please, Your Honor, in consideration of my father and elder brother, perhaps you could spare Li Fuzhou¡¯s life. After all, he also has deep ties with my Liu family¡­¡± The white-browed eunuch¡¯s expression turned rather indifferent, ¡°If Li Fuzhou hadn¡¯t killed Commander Tang, sparing his life wouldn¡¯t be an issue, but¡­¡± If they let Li Fuzhou walk away so easily after he had killed the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard, where would the face of the Xuanyi Guard and the Great Yan Court lie? After all, Li Fuzhou was a thief from the Demon Sect. Upon hearing this, Liu Huiyun took out a token from his bosom and presented it with both hands, ¡°This is the Heavenly Grace Token bestowed by the Human Emperor, please, Your Honor, have a look.¡± The Heavenly Grace Token was a token bestowed by the Great Yan Dynasty to those who had made significant contributions to the nation. In the hundreds of years since the founding of the Great Yan, only five Heavenly Grace Tokens had been issued. Those holding this token could net Heaven¡¯s mercy and escape death once. One of these tokens was awarded to the loyal Liu Family. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s brow furrowed immediately upon seeing the Heavenly Grace Token. This was a Heavenly Grace Token issued by his father. If he killed Li Fuzhou today, wouldn¡¯t that be like slapping himself in the face? The grace and majesty of the Great Yan Dynasty that had been built over hundreds of years would be utterly depleted, an event even worse than the killing of Tang Taiyuan. The white-browed eunuch glanced at the token and said with a heavy voice, ¡°Do you truly wish to save Li Fuzhou?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Liu Huiyun presented the token with both hands. ¡°Very well.¡± The white-browed eunuch reached out his hand and swept up the Heavenly Grace Token, then glanced behind An Jing at Tan Yun, ¡°Li Fuzhou might be spared from death, but his disciple cannot.¡± Suddenly, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards Tan Yun. ¡°I¡­¡± Tan Yun, unaccustomed to such attention, found everyone¡¯s gaze converging on her and immediately panicked. Seeing this, Liu Huiyun quickly said, ¡°Your Honor¡­¡± ¡°A single Heavenly Grace Token can only save one life. Moreover, the Demon Sect is a taboo presence in our Great Yan,¡± The white-browed eunuch interrupted Liu Huiyun, his voice growing colder, ¡°The criminals of the Demon Sect who dare to intrude into Yujing City shall be killed without mercy!¡± ¡°Am I going to die today?¡± At this moment, Tan Yun¡¯s mind went blank, and she kept retreating backward, ¡°Am I to join my master in death? But I am still young, I haven¡¯t lived enough¡­¡± She naturally knew who the old eunuch before her was¨C he was the Chamberlain entrenched in the Royal Family, and if he decided to kill her, there were few in the world who could stop him. Just then, An Jing chuckled lightly, ¡°Old eunuch, I saved Princess An Le¡¯s life; can that act exchange for this one?¡± Instantly, all eyes were once again on the cloaked man. Everyone understood, implicitly. The Ghost Swordsman had saved Princess An Le from the hands of Qi Shu. For the Yan Royal Family, that was a favor of immense significance, and the royal house had to consider giving some face. The white-browed eunuch looked at An Jing, ¡°Only one of you can leave Yujing City alive, choose one.¡± As the Ghost Swordsman had interfered with the Court¡¯s arrest of Demon Sect criminals today, technically speaking, he could be considered an accomplice of the Demon Sect and sentenced to death; he himself was hardly safe, so how could he protect someone else? The white-browed eunuch didn¡¯t wait for An Jing to reply and continued, ¡°Even if that mysterious Grandmaster arrives, unless he slaughters his way through Yujing City, none of you will escape.¡± ¡°Let it be known that I said this.¡± Saying so, he took a step forward. ¡°Boom¨C!¡± A powerful aura descended like mountains, pressing down on everyone around the Eight Feet Platform, with An Jing bearing the brunt of the pressure. His face changed color immediately, and he kept retreating. ¡°Such a terrifying white-browed eunuch.¡± As An Jing observed the deep imprints of his retreating steps in the stone slabs, it was evident just how formidable the white-browed eunuch¡¯s oppressive strength was. ¡°Truly a figure worthy of guarding the palace.¡± Zongzheng Yuan was shocked when he saw this, ¡°Such cultivation is at least that of a Four Qi Grandmaster, and perhaps even more. The Demon Sect is likely in trouble today.¡± No one in the world could possibly slaughter their way through Yujing City. Both in the open and in secret, who knows how many masters are hidden across the world. Just as An Jing stepped back seven or eight steps, a delicate jade hand steadied him. ¡°There¡¯s no need to say more, I already know your intentions.¡± Tan Yun said in a low voice, her head bowed, ¡°If someone really has to die, let it be me. My life, compared to yours, is ordinary. There¡¯s no need for you to be in danger. I feel that my life has been worthy.¡± In truth, she was innocent, not foolish; she knew many truths in her heart. As the saying goes ¡®Blue is made out of Indigo but is more vivid than it.¡¯ She knew her own measure; she could never achieve the accomplishments of her master Li Fuzhou or Zhao Qingmei. Compared to such people with supreme mindsets and talents, she was inconspicuous. Being a small person, with small desires and small satisfactions, is true happiness. So her thoughts were simple: to see warm eyes every day, to eat her fill, to occasionally enjoy tasty pastries, and to see the person she wanted to see before closing her eyes at night¨Cthat was her happiness. Life was already so tiring; why make it even harder for oneself? Upon reflection, she felt that her short life had indeed been happy and fulfilling. An Jing laughed and said, ¡°Do you realize this means death?¡± Tan Yun also chuckled lightly, ¡°I know, and dying might not be bad. Maybe I¡¯ll see your uncle there; I wonder if he has missed me.¡± At the end, Tan Yun lowered her head. An Jing instinctively touched the hairpin on Tan Yun¡¯s head, ¡°Once you¡¯re dead, there will be no more pastries to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a glutton.¡± Tan Yun blushed, then said quietly, ¡°After I die, remember me, but don¡¯t seek revenge for me.¡± An Jing pinched Tan Yun¡¯s cheek, and then shouted toward another figure in the distance, ¡°Hey, chubby, where are you hiding and watching the show?¡± Hearing An Jing¡¯s shout, Lv Jingchun scampered out from among the crowd. Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin, seeing that person, showed a hint of surprise, ¡°Lv Jingchun?¡± The grandson of Lv Guoyong, he certainly recognized him, but didn¡¯t have a strong impression. The Lv Sect was a family of considerable standing, a clan of scholars and officials. Disciples from such a family usually stood out as young talents or were notorious for their extravagant ways, but Lv Jingchun was neither; the best description for him was ¡®mediocre.¡¯ ¡°Lord¡­ Lord,¡± Lv Jingchun, trembling, approached the eunuch with white eyebrows. The white-browed eunuch said indifferently, ¡°Jingchun, stand over there for now, let Grandfather Fan finish killing, then we can talk.¡± As he said this, the white-browed eunuch did not give Lv Jingchun a chance to speak. Just as the latter was about to step forward, he felt as if millions of pounds weighed on his shoulders. It¡¯s coming! Feeling the pressure, the white-browed eunuch sighed to himself. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Suddenly, a light cough echoed. Following the sound, an old man with a full head of silver hair, bent back, was seen standing in the distance. All the masters present had not noticed the old man quietly approaching the area around the Eight Feet Platform. ¡°Lord Lv!¡± Zhao Chongyin, Gao Sheng, Zhong Binru, and others all bowed in greeting. The elderly man was none other than the Grand Secretary of three dynasties, and the foremost figure of the Scholar Sect, Lv Guoyong. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Lv Jingchun¡¯s face lit with joy, and he ran over like a wild boar breaking free, ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± When would the Lv Sect ever leave important matters to him, Lv Jingchun!? Li Fuzhou, below the Qi Mechanism Tower, revealed a hint of a smile, as if everything was within his expectations. Lv Guoyong moved very slowly, and everyone in the area remained silent, quietly watching the old figure advancing. Lv Guoyong finally approached Tan Yun and spoke softly, ¡°Fan Daoji, you want to kill my granddaughter. Did you ask me, Lv Guoyong, first?¡± The voice of Lv Guoyong was neither loud nor soft, and even carried a hint of hoarseness. Whoosh! The moment his words fell, the entire area was abuzz. Everyone stared in astonishment at the disciple brought by Li Fuzhou, their hearts stirring like tumultuous waves. ¡°What! That woman is Lv Guoyong¡¯s granddaughter!?¡± Dai Danshu exclaimed in shock. No one would have thought that Li Fuzhou¡¯s disciple was actually the granddaughter of Lv Guoyong. After all, Lv Guoyong was the Grand Secretary throughout three reigns, a pillar of Great Yan. And his granddaughter was a master from the Demon Sect? ¡°Interesting.¡± Zongzheng Yuan couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter upon witnessing the scene. Zhao Chongyin blinked, his brows furrowed, as the woman before him was Lv Guoyong¡¯s granddaughter¨Cyet Meng Zhaodou had not informed him of such important news. Since the Human Emperor had ceased to deal with the political affairs, the Heaven and Earth Net could be said to be temporarily under his control. By reason, such intelligence should not have escaped their investigation. Could there be other secrets involved? Even though Tan Yun had somewhat guessed at some of this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tremor in his heart upon hearing Lv Guoyong himself announcing it. The eunuch with white eyebrows revealed a bitter smile upon seeing this, ¡°Brother Lv¡­.¡± Lv Guoyong said indifferently, ¡°Do you still want to kill?¡± The expression of the eunuch with white eyebrows changed, and after glancing around, he said, ¡°Who dares to kill Brother Lv¡¯s granddaughter is making an enemy of me, Fan Daoji!¡± His expression changed rapidly, as if the person who had spoken of killing was not him at all. A true master is not only quick to strike but also quick to change faces. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Upon hearing this, Lv Guoyong nodded, then looked up at the Crown Prince, ¡°Your Highness, may I take my granddaughter home today without issue?¡± Zhao Chongyin quickly stood up, saying, ¡°Of course, Elder Lv, please.¡± With the eunuch speaking like that, how could he dare to stop them? Lv Guoyong nodded, then glanced at Mr. Su behind Zhao Chongyin. Both men exchanged a look and then shifted their gaze away. ¡°Brother Lv, go ahead and take your granddaughter home.¡± The eunuch spoke slowly, ¡°However, this Li Fuzhou of the Demon Sect cannot go.¡± Liu Huiyun hastily interjected, ¡°I have the Heavenly Grace Token, why not?¡± The eunuch replied indifferently, ¡°Li Fuzhou can escape death, but he cannot escape punishment. I will not pursue his murder of Tang Taiyuan, but as a Sect Master of the Demon Sect, he killed many experts of Great Yan. There¡¯s solid evidence.¡± ¡°Your Heavenly Grace Token only ensures he won¡¯t die.¡± Liu Huiyun¡¯s mouth opened, and his heart immediately sank. Li Fuzhou laughed aloud, saying, ¡°Huiyun, no need for more words, I won¡¯t die anyway.¡± An Jing observed the scene, deep in thought. Li Fuzhou certainly couldn¡¯t leave Yujing City now. Firstly, the Great Yan Court would never allow the Demon Sect to gain such a powerful master. The principle of ¡®preventing future troubles by not allowing a tiger back to the mountain¡¯ was understood by all, and secondly, Li Fuzhou¡¯s remarkable actions at Eight Feet Platform, where he killed the Xuanyi Guard¡¯s Great Commander, had shocked the entire realm. If the Great Yan Court remained unresponsive, its authority would surely plummet. In the current situation of encirclement, even if Great Yan was truly corrupt, Lv Guoyong still had to uphold this grand tree, under which countless commoners of Great Yan resided. Lv Guoyong asked, ¡°How do you plan to deal with him?¡± The eunuch replied, ¡°Send him to the ninth level of the Heavenly Prison, to await the personal judgment of the Human Emperor.¡± Lv Guoyong fell silent, no longer speaking. ¡°Brother Lv, I will take my leave first.¡± The eunuch took a deep breath, bowed to Lv Guoyong, and then leaped over to Li Fuzhou¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Fuzhou looked serene, casting a reassuring glance at Tan Yun. The little girl who used to cry at the bedside had grown up indeed. ¡°Huiyun, remember to visit me.¡± Li Fuzhou said to Liu Huiyun, then followed the eunuch towards the distance. His figure faded calmly, as if strolling in a leisurely garden. Just like back then, when he roamed out of Yujing City alone, carefree and unrestrained. All eyes followed Li Fuzhou¡¯s figure, filled with mixed emotions. Some considered him a severe problem they wanted to eliminate, some viewed him as a legendary figure, some awaited his downfalls to ridicule, while others had already turned his stories into baffling legends. This was Li Fuzhou. ¡°Master!¡± Tan Yun couldn¡¯t help but call out, looking at Li Fuzhou¡¯s retreating figure. Liu Huiyun sighed and patted Tan Yun¡¯s shoulder. An Jing shook his head, knowing in his heart that with Li Fuzhou unharmed, it was already the best outcome. This game was an exchange, but the price Li Fuzhou paid was extremely small. He spared Tang Taiyuan and outwitted his own teacher Lv Guoyong and even the Human Emperor. ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± said Lv Guoyong in a low voice. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Just then, a cold voice rang out. The speaker was none other than the Sword Chamberlain, Zhong Binru. Liu Huiyun coldly said, ¡°What else do you want?¡± Zhong Binru looked at An Jing and said, ¡°Sir, our contest is not yet over; I have not unleashed my Sixth Sword.¡± The crowd that was ready to disperse paused at these words. Zhong Binru touched the Emperor¡¯s Sword in his hand and said, ¡°This sword can slay a Grandmaster of the same realm; even I cannot control it. Do you have the courage to try it?¡± Upon hearing this, murmurs immediately filled the surroundings. ¡°Could it be that this Zhong Binru is talking about the Sixth Sword of the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords?¡± ¡°This Sword might even claim the life of a Four Qi Grandmaster.¡± ¡°The Ghost Swordsman is only a Half-step Master. Can he withstand this sword?¡± ¡°Only a fool would agree to this.¡± ¡­¡­. No one believed the Ghost Swordsman would agree, for as a Half-step Master, to battle a Four Qi Grandmaster for so long without defeat was already incredibly impressive. If he really wanted to contest, he could simply wait until he breaks through his limitations and achieves the Grandmaster Realm. Upon hearing Zhong Binru¡¯s words, Tan Yun hastily said, ¡°You, a Four Qi Grandmaster, challenge a Half-step Master. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± Qiu Lun, pinching his nose amidst the crowd, reminded, ¡°Big brother, that¡¯s the Sixth Sword of the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords, capable of killing a Grandmaster.¡± The Sixth Sword of the Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords was terrifying, especially since Zhong Binru¡¯s cultivation was above that of An Jing. Lin Yiyang looked at An Jing and whispered, ¡°He has no way to retreat.¡± Zhong Binru, challenging him in front of everyone, if refused, the crowd might not say much, but it would still be a blow to the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s Sword Dao. A sword neither bends nor breaks! He didn¡¯t understand the Ghost Swordsman, but he understood swordsmen. An Jing glanced at the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand and said, ¡°Very well, I shall experience this Sixth Sword.¡± Tan Yun, standing by his side, was very anxious. She wanted to stop him but didn¡¯t know how to say it, especially after Zhong Binru¡¯s statement that the sword could kill a Grandmaster, which greatly alarmed her. ¡°Let him go,¡± said Lv Guoyong indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m putting my word here, Uncle Ghost won¡¯t lose,¡± boasted Lv Jingchun, looking up confidently. He had full confidence in the Ghost Swordsman, just as much as he believed in himself. Tan Yun fiercely glared at Lv Jingchun. This little fatty didn¡¯t understand anything. Zhong Binru¡¯s lips curved slightly upwards, ¡°Good, I shall not disappoint.¡± The battle between An Jing and Zhong Binru was highly compelling, as after Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s disappearance, the only swordsmen capable of competing for the title of the world¡¯s best were the Ghost Swordsman, Zhong Binru, and Lin Yiyang. Among them, Zhong Binru and Lin Yiyang were the most talked about since they were young and both at the Grandmaster Realm, with promising futures ahead. The Ghost Swordsman had always been mysterious. Nobody knew his exact age, and his cultivation had yet to reach the Grandmaster Realm. He was only able to compete with these two because he had recently gained tremendous fame from pursuing Qi Shu. Many experts present had also observed the earlier duel between the two. An Jing¡¯s swordsmanship was not as flamboyant as Zhong Binru¡¯s, nor as fiercely lethal, but his technique was peculiarly variable, making it difficult for others to predict. One might say, the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s swordsmanship had discarded the unnecessary and retained only the purest essence. His Sword Dao was unlike any other. ¡°The Sixth Sword is indeed capable of slaying those at the Grandmaster Realm and to think it is paired with the Great Yan Emperor¡¯s Sword,¡± Zuo Biwen said, gazing at the Emperor¡¯s Sword in Zhong Binru¡¯s hand, his expression extremely grave. ¡°Could the Ghost Swordsman possibly die under this sword?¡± suddenly asked Ling Yuanjing. He Chen also looked slightly startled. If the Ghost Swordsman were to die, then the ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture¡± would be thoroughly severed from its lineage. While the two pondered, Zhong Binru¡¯s figure swiftly shot forward, moving so fast that he was invisible to the naked eye, seemingly like an aurora piercing through the endless void, lunging toward An Jing. The two were among the top swordsmen of their time, their sword skills having reached the realm where they could do whatever they wished, a realm that was considered the ultimate Heart Sword Realm in the eyes of ordinary people. There was no sword in his hand, but there was one in his heart. Zhong Binru¡¯s eyes were filled with endless murderous intent, and with a swing of the Emperor¡¯s Sword in his hand, the sky turned gloomy as if doomsday had arrived. ¡°What¡¯s happening? This feeling is so oppressive.¡± Everyone felt their hearts tremble and looked up in astonishment at the dark sky. Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords! Starlight! The sword light merged with the starlight, and his entire being exuded an extremely ¡°Dangerous!¡± Jia Shiwu¡¯s hair stood on end, his eyes unblinking. ¡°This sword is terrifying.¡± As a fellow swordsman, Qiu Wanxia¡¯s heart almost stopped, overwhelmed by the might of this sword. If she were under this sword, she would undoubtedly be defeated. Lin Yiyang raised his head, his eyes fixed on the sky, but in his heart, he wished he could replace An Jing and battle Zhong Binru. He wanted to see if his Yu Heng Unrivaled Sword could contend with Zhong Binru¡¯s Life-taking Seven Immortal Swords. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Zhong Binru thrust the Emperor¡¯s Sword forward. In that moment, the Emperor¡¯s Sword burst forth with a light like exploding stars, dazzling to the extreme, blinding to the extreme. Suddenly, the heavens and earth turned much darker. Everyone looked up in shock to see the sky had turned pitch black, as if a great force was brewing within, making it hard for them to even breathe. And the Ghost Swordsman stepped forward. If behind Zhong Binru there was a sky full of starlight, then behind the Ghost Swordsman there was a vast galaxy. Both were at the Heart Sword Realm, but there was a fundamental difference between the two. An Jing silently chanted the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, burning all the inner strength within his body. His Evil Suppressing Sword transformed into a huge sword that surged forward, pierceing through the galaxy. Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Flying Immortal! Boom! The giant sword swept across the sky, cracking the heavens and earth. This sword instantly made Zhong Binru¡¯s expression change dramatically, even the esteemed Elder Su¡¯s expression became extremely solemn. An Jing¡¯s sword contained a truth of the great way that was not the slightest bit weaker than Li Fuzhou¡¯s Heavenly Human Communication? ¡°Such a vast sword dao¡­¡± Upon seeing this, Lin Yiyang¡¯s face rarely showed a change. Among those present, no one knew better than him the terror of the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s sword dao. The entire heaven and earth seemed to tremble at that moment. The sky was filled with wild thunder and the sound of thunder reverberated through the heavens and the earth. An Jing¡¯s sword had reached a level of might that even he had not anticipated. The sword light cut across the heavens and earth, heading towards the starlight. Boom! And just as the pattern of stars had just formed, the unstoppable punch from Wu Qiren exploded forth, striking heavily upon the star pattern without any hesitation. The collision was like a meteor striking the earth, and in that instant, time itself seemed to freeze, followed by an earth-shaking explosion that reverberated through the void. Above the sky, visible waves of Qi swept through, eventually reaching several yards away, turning the entire Eight Feet Platform upside down. The wave of Qi force surged from the point of impact. Countless people squinted, their eyes pained by the intense light, but they still did not take their eyes off the point of impact. Such a staggering clash of sword qi was earth-shattering. Thump! And as countless eyes watched, the rampaging wave of Qi in the sky suddenly exploded, spreading a terrifying shockwave, and then, those watching narrowed their eyes. Zhong Binru was the first to appear, his body covered in blood, his clothes turned into a blood-soaked garment, with the Emperor¡¯s Sword in his hand still trembling. But even so, he did not let go of the handle. ¡°Your sword dao has won¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhong Binru looked at An Jing opposite him, and after a long time, he finally spoke. As the dust in front settled, the Ghost Swordsman, clad in a black robe and holding the Evil Suppressing Sword, stood amidst it, his robe fluttering with the breeze, standing unmovable like a green mountain. ¡°Wow!¡± Just then, a vast wave of sword qi surged from afar, clearing the clouds above thoroughly clean. Everyone turned their gaze towards it. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 191 The Demon Sect Sect Hierarch Condenses the Demon Seed Chapter 191: Chapter 191 The Demon Sect Sect Hierarch Condenses the Demon Seed ¡°Swoosh!¡± Just then, a magnificent Sword Qi soared straight into the sky, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s attention. This Sword Qi was peerlessly sharp, piercing the heavens, making everyone present feel a chill in their hearts. ¡°It¡¯s Sect Master Lin!¡± Someone exclaimed in a low voice. All the experts present turned their eyes towards Lin Yiyang, each one of them deeply shaken. At this moment, Lin Yiyang was emitting Sword Qi all around his body, which faded into obscurity within a radius of one zhang, as if protected by some unfathomable charm. Gao Sheng frowned deeply, thinking to himself, ¡°Could it be that he has reached the Sixth Realm?¡± The Sixth Realm was almost equivalent to the status of the foremost swordsman in Jianghu. The only swordsman in the Great Yan Martial World who had reached the Sixth Realm was Lou Xiangzhen, but he had disappeared. In an instant, all eyes were fixed on Lin Yiyang. ¡°Such a profound Sword Dao.¡± After a long while, Lin Yiyang withdrew his gaze and looked towards the cloaked Ghost Swordsman in the distance. Their eyes met in mid-air. An Jing¡¯s eyes showed no ripples or wavering, but Lin Yiyang felt an overwhelming surge in his heart. After a long silence, Lin Yiyang suppressed the Sword Qi within him and bowed towards Zhao Chongyin above, ¡°Your Highness, Crown Prince, I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave.¡± After speaking, he paid no attention to the gazes of the crowd around him and walked away into the distance. Qiu Wanxia also gave An Jing a deep look and quickly followed behind Lin Yiyang. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s face showed no emotion, and no one knew whether he felt joy or sorrow in his heart. Watching the two figures departing, Lv Guoyong said softly, ¡°He was able to reach the Sixth Realm not only because of his innate talent but also with support from behind; perhaps you had half the credit for that.¡± Behind the Ghost Swordsman was the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen, while Lin Yiyang had the support of the Ancestor Hall from the Yu Heng Sword Sect. He had been half a step away from reaching the Sixth Realm, but now he had taken that final step. The key was not watching the duel between the two great Sword Immortals but grasping something from An Jing¡¯s Sword Dao displayed in the Sword Control Flying Immortal move just now. That vast and overwhelmingly powerful Sword Dao, even just grasping a hint of it, was enough to make his heart palpitate. The Sword Dao of a swordsman comes from their understanding of the Sword Dao, as well as their life experiences, their readings, and their expression of the world¡¯s Dao. Lv Guoyong might not understand the Sword Dao, but from that artistic conception, he knew that this young man¡¯s understanding of Sword Dao was far beyond that of other swordsmen. At the same time, it also restricted him. ¡°Perhaps so.¡± An Jing¡¯s hands trembled as he sheathed the Evil Suppressing Sword, his voice also slightly weakened. At this moment, his mind was clear and empty, not just because of the injury from the duel with Zhong Binru but also due to the backlash from the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Tan Yun asked the Ghost Swordsman in front of him in a low voice. An Jing shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Bent over, Lv Guoyong turned and walked away. Seeing An Jing and the others leave, Gao Sheng also quickly went away with Zhong Binru. Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath, frowning, ¡°Lin Yiyang has truly reached the Sixth Realm.¡± He Chen nodded silently without a word. Originally, everyone was excited to see the duel between the two great swordsmen, especially the Ghost Swordsman defeating Zhong Binru, who wielded the Emperor¡¯s Sword. Many even thought the Ghost Swordsman would become the world¡¯s foremost swordsman at the Eight Feet Platform today. Unexpectedly, Lin Yiyang suddenly had an epiphany and took that final step, reaching the Sixth Realm directly. This move stole the limelight from the Ghost Swordsman. Around the Eight Feet Platform, many experts sighed and gradually dispersed. ¡­.. The news from the Eight Feet Platform spread throughout the Great Yan Martial World like wildfire. A red sun slowly sank to the west, its setting rays casting a soft glow on a quiet courtyard in Yujing City. A maid with a broom in her hand was carefully sweeping the dust off the ground. Her movements were efficient, without any superfluous action, as if even sweeping had become an elegant and meticulous task in her hands. ¡°Creak¨C!¡± Just then, the courtyard door opened, and an elderly man with white hair, dressed in black, walked in slowly. The old man was very thin, with deep wrinkles on his neck and age spots spreading across his face. His black clothes were nearly washed white, and in his hand, he carried an ancient, weathered longsword. Everything about him appeared aged, except for his eyes, which were as bright as ever. ¡°Old Hao, you¡¯re back.¡± Seeing the elder, the maid quickly approached him with a respectful demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± replied the elder with a nod. The maid asked in a low voice, ¡°Did you find the person you were looking for, Old Hao?¡± Earlier that day, when the clouds in the sky dispersed suddenly, and a chill swept through, Old Hao had said he was going out to look for someone and had only now returned. The elder shook his head, ¡°He left quickly, but it doesn¡¯t matter. There will come a day when we meet again.¡± As if remembering something, the maid took out a letter from her chest, ¡°Right, shortly after you left, Old Hao, someone delivered this letter.¡± The black-clad elder took the maid¡¯s letter, then tore it open. On the glimmering white paper were only four bold characters, yet they contained endless murderous intent. The elder grasped the letter and, in an instant, it turned into a pile of powder and dissipated into the earth and sky, his lips curling into a faint smile. The maid asked, ¡°Elder Hao, is there something that brings you joy?¡± ¡°A smile does not necessarily mean happiness.¡± With that, the elder stood and walked towards the inside of the house. The maid, watching the elder¡¯s retreating back, felt a chill deep within her. She had been following the elder for two or three years, and despite her cleverness, she could never see through his thoughts, finding his heart as inscrutable as the starry sky above. You can see it, but you cannot fathom it. ¡­¡­. Yujing City, Lv Mansion. An Jing sat cross-legged in the courtyard, enjoying the vastness of the world ever since he reached the state of Body and Mind Unity. He felt he was only a step away from the Sixth Realm, but he had yet to take it. If others faced a mountain as a barrier, An Jing faced a sky; he had to ascend to traverse it. Once he crossed that sky, a different realm lay ahead. Suddenly, An Jing opened his eyes and looked towards the gate. Soon after, two figures walked in at a leisurely pace. It was Zhou Xianming and Lv Jingchun. Lv Jingchun, full of enthusiasm, said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, how is your recovery going?¡± An Jing replied indifferently, ¡°It will take a few days to heal.¡± His injuries were severe, and coupled with the backlash from the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, he needed time to recover. Lv Jingchun¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he said, ¡°Uncle Ghost, then during this time, could you teach me some swordsmanship?¡± Zhou Xianming shook his head, knowing Lv Jingchun¡¯s enthusiasm could be inconsistent¨Chot today, cold tomorrow, whether it was studying or anything else. His current passion for swordsmanship might soon be abandoned. An Jing waved his hand, ¡°We can talk about that later. I¡¯m planning to leave tomorrow.¡± He originally came to Yujing City to check on the top three duelists and to find someone from the Demon Sect to learn Qingmei¡¯s whereabouts. Now that he had met the top three and learned where Qingmei was, what reason did he have to linger in Yujing City? Lv Jingchun was taken aback, ¡°Uncle Ghost, your injuries haven¡¯t healed¡­¡± Zhou Xianming also frowned, ¡°Indeed, won¡¯t you stay at the Lv Mansion to recuperate for a few more days?¡± The Ghost Swordsman had many backers yet just as many enemies, between the distant Houjin and Zhao Country, not to mention the looming threat of the Zhenyi Sect from Great Yan. Now with injuries, was he really not afraid? ¡°No need, the injuries are not that significant.¡± An Jing waved his hand again and looked towards Lv Jingchun, ¡°How is Tan Yun doing?¡± Lv Jingchun said, ¡°She¡¯s been crying in her room, claiming her master is doomed. She even talked about taking Li Fuzhou¡¯s ashes back to the Demon Sect. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep¡­¡± Upon hearing about the Demon Sect, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but think of his own wife Zhao Qingmei. Looking back, Zhao Qingmei was also a victim, holding in her hands an Exotic Treasure and supreme martial arts of the Demon Sect, constantly being hounded by its experts, and now trapped within the Sect¡¯s secret grounds. The Demon Sect had lost the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture for a thousand years. Should they reclaim such martial arts, their strength would undoubtedly increase significantly. ¡°No wonder Zhao Chongyin said the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect had great ambition in his youth. Indeed, this Sect Hierarch¡¯s ambition is immense.¡± Thinking this, An Jing wished he could immediately storm into the Demon Sect and kill the Sect Hierarch, Jiang Renyi. He had let his thoughts run wild so many times before, but really, where was there so much right and wrong to ponder? Charging into the Demon Sect could never be a mistake. As An Jing mused, Zhou Xianming laughed, ¡°Predecessor, you and my friend really are alike.¡± An Jing solemnly replied, ¡°He is also my friend.¡± Zhou Xianming said wistfully, ¡°Yes, he was a ¡®very good¡¯ friend.¡± Just thinking that he would never see that person again made him feel somewhat complicated inside. An Jing glanced at Zhou Xianming, ¡°The palace exam is coming up soon, right?¡± By now, he was quite familiar with Zhou Xianming¡¯s circumstances: a deep rift between the Royal Family and the Lv Sect, with the Human Emperor deeply wary of the latter¡¯s growth and unlikely to sit by as the Lv Sect grew stronger. If Zhou Xianming didn¡¯t marry the Princess, his peaceful dreams and aspirations might be crushed. After all, a man must do something, especially someone like Zhou Xianming who had spent half his life studying. Marrying the Princess promised a boundless future, perhaps even achieving greatness equal to the likes of Lv Guoyong. But without such a marriage, he was bound to face unprecedented suppression in court. Even someone as remarkable as Li Fuzhou had been forced to leave Yujing City. The strife of those in power has always been so. There¡¯s no bloodshed to be seen, but it¡¯s more turbulent and intense than any sword fight or battleground. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s drawing near,¡± Zhou Xianming sighed deeply. The closer the palace exam approached, the more it felt like a death sentence, and even Zhou Xianming was beside himself with worry. An Jing did not speak; after all, his own situation was a mess. How could he advise others? Zhou Xianming was smart; he knew what choice to make and what the outcomes of his choices would be. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­..¡± Just then, a coughing sound came from outside the door. Lv Guoyong, leaning on the doorframe with a hunched back, made his way into the courtyard. ¡°Teacher!¡± ¡°Grandfather.¡± Zhou Xianming and Lv Jingchun both quickly got up to pay their respects. ¡°Elder Lv.¡± An Jing also cupped his hands in greeting. With a light laugh, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°Ready to leave?¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Yes, I was planning to ask for Elder Lv¡¯s permission to leave tomorrow morning.¡± An Jing held a deep respect for the elder Lv Guoyong before him. Lv Guoyong nodded slightly and then turned towards the other two, ¡°Xianming, Jing Chun, it¡¯s time for you to read.¡± ¡°Teacher (Grandfather), then we will go back to our reading.¡± Zhou Xianming and Lv Jingchun, understanding the hint, cupped their fists towards An Jing and quickly left the courtyard. Slowly sitting down, Lv Jingchun said, ¡°I¡¯m old, my body no longer serves me well, not like you martial artists whose bodies remain sturdy even at the age of a hundred.¡± An Jing also sat down and said, ¡°Elder Lv is strong at heart, no less than those martial Grandmasters.¡± ¡°You do have a way with words.¡± At this, Lv Jingchun laughed and asked, ¡°Do you know what is currently being widely talked about in the streets and alleys?¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°I do not.¡± Lv Jingchun¡¯s turbid eyes turned towards An Jing, ¡°Some say that since Lou Xiangzhen has disappeared without a trace, Lin Yiyang, having reached the Sixth Realm, is now the world¡¯s first swordsman.¡± The definite outcome of Li Fuzhou¡¯s slaying of Tang Taiyuan on the Eight Feet Platform has caused a huge stir, another hot topic being Lin Yiyang¡¯s advancement to the Sixth Realm. Originally, after the duel between the Ghost Swordsman and Zhong Binru, with one Sword Immortal after another falling to him, the Ghost Swordsman was indisputably the top swordsman, unrivaled at the time. But unexpectedly, Lin Yiyang, as an observer, directly reached the Sixth Realm. His rise instantly overshadowed the Ghost Swordsman, becoming many people¡¯s ¡®in name and in fact¡¯ world¡¯s first swordsman. After all, Lou Xiangzhen had vanished completely after the battle at Abyss Lake, disappearing from the world, with rumors already spreading that he had died. An Jing looked up and laughed, ¡°Let Sect Master Lin keep that title of the world¡¯s first swordsman.¡± Seeing the young man before him, Lv Jingchun¡¯s smile deepened. It should be known that this great renown was originally that of the Ghost Swordsman, but today he had entirely made way for Lin Yiyang. It¡¯s not just for someone as full of vigor as him, but any Jianghu swordsman would likely be somewhat dissatisfied. Lv Jingchun asked, ¡°Do you truly not care at all?¡± ¡°Does Elder Lv want to hear the truth?¡± ¡°Of course, the truth.¡± ¡°I care, but I cannot hold down such a title. Besides, today¡¯s event is actually a good thing for me,¡± An Jing said, and he really thought so. He originally went to the Eight Feet Platform just to watch Li Fuzhou and had no intention of fighting for the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman. Also, rumors of him challenging Lin Yiyang were everywhere in Jianghu, but he never responded to them. Firstly, his restrictions from the Earth Book were still in place, so attracting too much attention might lead to exposure. Secondly, the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman is not an easy one to hold. There is no first in literature, no second in martial arts; the heights are cold. To sit in such an exalted position naturally brings endless troubles. Thirdly, An Jing deeply knew that with his current strength, he was far from deserving of the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman. After all, with such a title, comes even more trouble. Can Lin Yiyang hold it down? Without relying on the prestige of the Ancestor Hall behind him, it would be extremely difficult to maintain the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman. ¡°Hahaha,¡± laughed Lv Guoyong, looking at the man in the black robe, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Too young, this swordsman before him was just too young, yet it was unexpected that someone so young would have such an open-minded nature. He knew how to sheathe his sharpness. For a swordsman, the most difficult thing isn¡¯t revealing his sharpness, but knowing when to properly conceal it. Yan Gang died at An Jing¡¯s hands for failing to do so. Otherwise, with Yan Gang¡¯s potential, he had a great chance of reaching the Sixth Realm someday. Lin Yiyang was similar, not entirely concealing his sharpness; he was just much smarter than Yan Gang, not easily testing others. Among today¡¯s publicly recognized swordsmen, the only one who truly could hold the title of the world¡¯s first swordsman was Lou Xiangzhen. Lou Xiangzhen had risen and fallen for several decades before reaching the Sixth Realm, and Li Fuzhou had also consolidated day and night to achieve the feat of slaying Tang Taiyuan on the Eight Feet Platform. One must keep the depth in the heart, not on the lips. Lv Guoyong looked at An Jing as if seeing a peerless weapon before him, knowing that once it was unsheathed, it would shine brilliantly. Only then would the world realize that this so-called world¡¯s first swordsman was nothing special. Looking intently at An Jing, Lv Guoyong said, ¡°Do you know what I am thinking right now?¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°Who in this world can guess the thoughts of Elder Lv?¡± Lv Guoyong said softly, ¡°I am thinking about how to keep you here in the Lv Sect.¡± ¡°I believe Elder Lv is jesting,¡± An Jing replied. ¡°` ¡°No, I¡¯m quite serious,¡± ¡°What method does Elder Lv plan on using?¡± ¡°Throughout history, the beauty trap has always been an almost invincible tactic against heroes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pity, for I am no hero.¡± Both individuals exchanged a glance and subsequently erupted into laughter. ¡­.. Dongluo Pass, Sealing Demon Well. In the dim and shadowy stone cave, darkness abounded. Nan Weiping sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at her hands as dry as tree bark, ¡°The river of time has swept away the splendor of youth, leaving behind only a body scarred deeply by the years, and a heart¡­¡± ¡°Sealing Demon Well, madness-inducing well¡­¡± As she spoke, a tinge of blood red surfaced in Nan Weiping¡¯s eyes, her fingers digging fiercely into her flesh, drawing blood that trickled down from her fingernails. Outside the cave, an inexplicable surge of Qi swirled tumultuously. Zhao Qingmei sat cross-legged by the cavern, surrounded by swirling black Qi that seemed to want to devour her whole. Within her, strands of black True Qi revolved around her Dantian. The True Qi was gloomy and glossy, exuding an air of enigma and mystique. The next moment, the swirling black Qi began to emit sounds, each distinct, as though encompassing all mannerisms of creation within heaven and earth. But upon closer examination, one could see that each was still the same person. The Realm of Myriad Forms! Zhao Qingmei had emerged from the Seventh Layer; her face had assumed myriad forms, too intricate for ordinary people to discern. Nevertheless, ultimately, these forms were all her own, not truly reaching Heavenly Demon Myriad Forms. Now, with the countless insights from the predecessors of the Demon Sect within the Sealing Demon Well and the careful guidance of Nan Weiping, her cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!¡± Zhao Qingmei¡¯s Dantian suddenly generated a spiral force, beginning to furiously absorb the black True Qi around her body. In just tens of breaths, the surrounding black Qi was all drawn into her Dantian. Her Dantian swelled with such immense currents of True Qi, roiling tumultuously as if heralding a volcanic eruption. ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Almost in the blink of an eye, the Dantian burst open, and the sea of True Qi shook wildly, surging towards the limbs and all the nexus points in the body. With the sudden backflow of True Qi, the Qi mechanism within her body also began to rise dramatically. Behind Zhao Qingmei, a black silhouette slowly emerged, aged and vast. As the Heavenly Demon surfaced, all forms ceased to converge into one, seemingly becoming a single, controllable face. Zhao Qingmei slowly opened her eyes, a black light emerging within her gaze, ¡°Just one more step, and I will reach the Eighth Layer.¡± Although she had not yet fully reached the Eighth Layer, her cultivation had already attained the peak realm of One Qi, and Second Qi didn¡¯t seem so far away either. Zhao Qingmei stood up and walked into the cave. ¡°Have you reached the state of Myriad Forms Heartless?¡± Nan Weiping took a careful look at Zhao Qingmei who walked in, instantly noticing something. She could no longer see through the realm within Zhao Qingmei, which meant she had reached the state of Myriad Forms Heartless. Every form was her, yet at the same time, none of them were. This state, profound and elusive, was known only to those who had reached it personally. Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and asked directly, ¡°Senior, how long will it take to condense the Demon Seed?¡± Having reached the state of Myriad Forms Heartless as mentioned by Nan Weiping, she was just short of condensing the Demon Seed to enter the Eighth Layer. To condense the Demon Seed is to nurture a Qi mechanism seed in the Dantian, and this seed is the Demon Seed. To ascend to the Ninth Layer of the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture, one must rely on the infinite Qi derived from this Demon Seed. Condensing the Demon Seed is not difficult. A gleam flashed in Nan Weiping¡¯s eyes, ¡°With my help, it would take as little as two days, or at most three days. According to the passage of time outside, this equates to roughly six to nine days.¡± Zhao Qingmei nodded, light flickering in her eyes, ¡°So it means I can leave this place in about seven to ten days?¡± Nan Weiping affirmed earnestly, ¡°Indeed, but let me warn you beforehand, condensing the Demon Seed is not without danger. If you face backlash when breaking through to the Ninth Layer, those with a weak heart may stray into the path of evil¡­¡± The Demon Seed could bring about tremendous opportunities as well as infinite calamities. This is the essence of the Demon Sect¡¯s martial arts; while offering rapid growth, it also carries great risks. Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, ¡°Senior, rest assured, I am aware of the risks.¡± ¡°Very well, let¡¯s begin,¡± Nan Weiping nodded. There was no need to worry about Zhao Qingmei¡¯s temperament; barring any major unforeseen circumstances, controlling the Demon Seed should be well within her grasp. Zhao Qingmei then sat down cross-legged with her back to Nan Weiping. With a flick of her finger, Nan Weiping sent a stream of black Qi surging forward, striking Zhao Qingmei¡¯s back firmly. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only At once, True Qi in Zhao Qingmei¡¯s Dantian gathered again. The swirling black Qi compressed into one another, forming a tiny black dot. Though just a tiny speck, the dot radiated an awe-inspiring might. The Demon Seed was taking shape. ¡­.. ¡°` Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Flattening the Demon Sect and Assisting the Buddhist Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Flattening the Demon Sect and Assisting the Buddhist Yujing City, Dragon Spring Temple. Dragon Spring Temple was also a millennium-old monastery. However, compared to the well-preserved Fa Xi Temple, Dragon Spring Temple seemed somewhat fragmented and dilapidated. Before Great Yan unified the realm, Dragon Spring Temple was burnt to the ground by the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect at that time. There had been some rebuilding and refurbishing, but it was indeed a shadow of its former glorious self. Two years ago, the Human Emperor ordered Yue Tingchen, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, to spend a fortune on renovating Dragon Spring Temple, which restored its antique appearance somewhat. Additionally, with the resurgence of Buddhism this year, the entire Great Yan Dynasty seemed to have ignited a fervor for offering incense and revering the Buddha, making Dragon Spring Temple much more lively. At this moment, the temple gate was bustling with people. Among them were young ladies from noble families seeking marital connections, scholars praying for their future, and women wishing for peace and prosperity. In the Grand Hall, there stood a man in a black robe. The man stood in the corner, inconspicuous as people passed by without noticing him, his ancient longsword hidden within his robe. At that moment, he was looking up at the Buddha statues above the Grand Hall. The eight-feet-tall sandalwood Buddha statue stood majestically. Its left hand drooped down forming the ¡°Wish-granting Seal,¡± symbolizing the fulfillment of all beings¡¯ desires, while its right hand curved up, forming the ¡°Fearless Seal,¡± signifying the removal of all beings¡¯ suffering. People continuously kneeled on the mats, kowtowing earnestly to the Buddha statues, their lips moving in prayer. The man in the black robe was An Jing, who, after leaving the Lv Sect, remembered the appointment with the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva and thus came to this ancient temple, Dragon Spring Temple. ¡°This honored guest, please come this way.¡± Just then, a monk slowly approached An Jing and said. An Jing nodded and followed the monk towards the back of the Grand Hall. They passed through a long corridor and up some steps to reach a side hall of the Grand Hall. This side hall was already sealed off and not accessible to ordinary folk. Inside the hall stood several Buddha statues, all with fierce expressions and eyes that seemed to blaze with fire. On the left side, below the Buddha statues, two old monks were sitting cross-legged. One of the monks had a kind and gentle face; he was indeed the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. The other was wearing a white kasaya, thin in stature, with eyes tightly closed, as if he was dozing off on his mat. The monk addressed the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, ¡°Two venerable masters.¡± The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva smiled and said, ¡°Honored guest, please have a seat.¡± At that moment, the old monk in the white kasaya also opened his eyes, and as they opened, it seemed as though golden light burst forth from within. ¡°Greetings to the two grand masters.¡± An Jing bowed to the two monks, then sat down cross-legged. The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva said, ¡°This is my elder brother, Wenwen.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing immediately clasped his fists and said, ¡°So it is Master Wenwen, my apologies for any disrespect.¡± Universal Literary Vajra, the current abbot of Leiyin Temple and one of the top masters in Buddhism, his cultivation was on par with Da Yan Vajra, at the very least, a master at the peak of the Second Qi. Indeed, Buddhism would not simply send an early Grandmaster like Universal Benefit Bodhisattva; there was also a master of Vajra Cultivation. ¡°No need for formalities,¡± said Universal Literary Vajra indifferently. ¡°The honored guest¡¯s name is also well-known to me. Speaking directly, how could the honored guest bring out the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ secret technique?¡± In contrast to the gentleness of Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, Universal Literary Vajra was much more direct in his speech. ¡°If your sect is unwilling to produce the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture,¡¯ I do not wish to insist,¡± An Jing chuckled lightly, ¡°As long as the two grand masters are willing to assist me with a favor, I am ready to offer the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡¯ with both hands.¡± Universal Literary Vajra asked upon hearing this, ¡°What favor?¡± An Jing directly said, ¡°I plan to head to Dongluo Pass and slay the traitors of the Demon Sect. I hope Buddhism can lend a helping hand.¡± With many high-level practitioners in the Demon Sect, it would be somewhat dangerous without the assistance of a master by his side, and Universal Literary Vajra was the best candidate for help. Upon hearing this, Universal Literary Vajra frowned, ¡°Is the honored guest jesting?¡± To enter Dongluo Pass and kill the traitors of the Demon Sect¨Ca slogan often chanted by the people of the Great Yan martial world, but was someone actually going to do it? Universal Benefit Bodhisattva also showed a hint of disbelief in his eyes. The Ghost Swordsman was actually planning to infiltrate the Demon Sect? It was known in Jianghu that he clashed with the Zhenyi Sect, but there had been no news of enmity with the Demon Sect. An Jing asked with a smile, ¡°Do I look like a man who jokes, Master?¡± The two looked at each other, both remaining silent. Seeing their silence, An Jing said, ¡°As long as the two masters are willing to join me in striking the Demon Sect, once the deed is done, the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡¯ will naturally not pose a problem.¡± This, however, might not come to fruition. Universal Literary Vajra thought to himself and then shook his head, ¡°This matter is too involved.¡± Not to mention whether the three of them could make their way into the Demon Sect and counter its demons, Buddhism shouldn¡¯t be opposing the Demon Sect at this critical moment. Buddhism, currently spreading its doctrines throughout Great Yan, had Zhenyi Sect as its main competitor. An Jing shook his head, speaking faintly, ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to discuss.¡± Buddhism was unwilling to provide assistance, and unwilling to hand over the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture.¡¯ Did they wish to reap benefits without giving anything in return? Seeing An Jing rising to leave, Universal Literary Vajra smiled and said, ¡°Hold on a moment, honored guest.¡± An Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°What else does the master wish to say?¡± Universal Literary Vajra pondered for a while, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for the donor to obtain this ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture,¡¯ but you must promise to never impart it to a second person besides yourself.¡± The Vajra Secret Technique was something Buddhism was determined to obtain. Possessing this secret technique would undoubtedly elevate Buddhism¡¯s strength to another tier. With chaos gradually emerging, who would want to miss the chance to enhance their power? As long as the Ghost Swordsman did not propagate ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture,¡¯ what harm would there be in allowing him to practice it? ¡°Very well.¡± An Jing nodded slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed. He had initially hoped that Buddhism could help him deal with the Demon Sect, but clearly, Buddhism did not wish to confront the Demon Sect directly. Universal Literary Vajra nodded towards Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, who then took out a skin scroll from his bosom, saying, ¡°This scroll contains the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture.¡¯ If you wish to practice it, you can stay at the Dragon Spring Temple to study it thoroughly until you have mastered it completely.¡± An Jing chuckled lightly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such trouble; lending me this copy to take a look will suffice.¡± Universal Literary Vajra narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Just a look, you say?¡± The higher the level of the Martial Arts Heart Method, the harder it is to practice, and the Heart Method of the Heavenly Martial level is already extremely difficult, not to mention those above the Heavenly Martial level. ¡°Of course.¡± An Jing also took out his favorite ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra¡¯ from his bosom and handed it to Universal Literary Vajra, ¡°This is the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra,¡¯ genuine or fake, the master will know at a glance.¡± Universal Literary Vajra glanced at it, a thought stirring in his mind. Having practiced Buddhist Martial Arts his whole life, he could naturally discern the authenticity of the Martial Arts. Meanwhile, An Jing also took a glance at the copied scroll, with countless characters instantly entering his mind, afterward focusing on the Earth Book. Cultivation: Half-step Master Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining, rising Root Bone: Once in a century Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword Ninth Layer, Ghost Valley Heart Method Second Profound, Nine Yang Divine Finger Eighth Layer, Brahma Heart Sees Me, Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique Sixth Layer, Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture Fourth Layer, Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture First Layer. Prompt One: The host¡¯s Life Fate is not yet deeply rooted, remaining one month. Do not reveal the host¡¯s identity through displaying Martial Arts, or else a black opportunity will arise. ¡­¡­.. An Jing nodded slightly; the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva and Universal Literary Vajra indeed hadn¡¯t deceived him with anything counterfeit. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± After finishing, An Jing handed the copied scroll back to the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva was momentarily stunned, ¡°You¡­ really aren¡¯t looking at it anymore?¡± The Ghost Swordsman in front of him had just glanced once; could it be that he had already learned the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯? Such a thing seemed impossible. Universal Literary Vajra also watched the Ghost Swordsman, wondering if this man had come specifically to deliver the Buddhist Secret Technique today? One should know that even the high monks of Buddhism took at least several months to practice to the first layer just by viewing this copy. An Jing smiled and shook his head, ¡°No need, I have already mastered it.¡± Hearing this, Universal Benefit Bodhisattva reluctantly accepted the skin scroll, sighing, ¡°The donor is indeed generous and virtuous, truly a rarity in this world.¡± In their minds, the Ghost Swordsman today seemed to have come specifically to give them the secret technique; the thought touched them both. Was it all a trial, a test before? Receiving the secret technique so willingly made Universal Literary Vajra feel rather ashamed; he pondered for a while, then asked, ¡°May I know why your excellency wants to infiltrate the Demon Sect?¡± An Jing calmly replied, ¡°Because of a person.¡± Universal Literary Vajra frowned and said, ¡°The Demon Sect is filled with numerous experts, especially at the Sealing Demon Platform, which is unfathomably deep. If your excellency goes alone, it might be very hard to come out alive.¡± Ordinary people in the Martial World might not know of this Sealing Demon Platform, but as a Dharma King of Buddhism, he naturally knew of this extremely mysterious platform, which constituted the foundation of the Demon Sect. An Jing said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s dangerous, I must go.¡± Even if the path ahead was a mountain of swords and a sea of flames, he had to proceed. Hearing An Jing¡¯s resolute words, Universal Literary Vajra sighed lightly, ¡°Given your kindness and grace today, this poor monk has no way to repay you. If your excellency truly wishes to go to the Demon Sect, this poor monk is willing to help alone, but this matter is not about the conflict between Buddhism and demons.¡± Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect; since a cause has been established, there naturally results an effect. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva clasped his hands and remained silent. An Jing heard this and laughed, ¡°Oh? Is the master really willing to help?¡± Universal Literary Vajra nodded, smiling, ¡°This poor monk is willing to go with the donor to resolve this matter of cause and effect; perhaps we may even witness your Excellency performing feats that will shock the world. This poor monk would then live without regrets.¡± An Jing¡¯s face was serious as he replied, ¡°Good, I will remember your kindness today, master.¡± The abbot of Leiyin Temple, that was the cultivation of a Second Qi Peak Grandmaster, plus with Duke Xu emerging from seclusion, and by then his own cultivation reaching the realm of a One Qi Grandmaster, he would have some assurance against the Demon Sect. After all, that was the Demon Sect, reputed to be an extremely dangerous place. Universal Literary Vajra asked, ¡°May I know when the donor plans to go?¡± ¡°This matter still needs more than a month.¡± An Jing pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Before then, I need to take care of a very important matter.¡± Since his cultivation was still at the Half-step Master Realm, he naturally needed to first go to Beili Volcano to obtain the Volcano Spirit and advance to the Grandmaster level before proceeding. Universal Literary Vajra nodded slightly, ¡°Good, then this poor monk will wait for the donor¡¯s message, and in the meantime, start practicing this ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Mantra.¡¯ ¡°Good, then let¡¯s agree on this.¡± An Jing stood up and bowed with clasped fists, ¡°Universal Literary Vajra, see you in a month¡¯s time.¡± Universal Literary Vajra turned to the side and said, ¡°Universal Benefit, please see the donor out.¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva rose and said, ¡°Yes, senior brother.¡± Speaking, the two of them walked towards the outside of the hall. Returning the same way, they walked from the side hall along the corridor towards the Grand Hall. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva whispered, ¡°The benefactor¡¯s kindness, Universal Benefit will keep in mind.¡± In his view, An Jing entrusting the incomplete secret technique to the Buddhist was a matter too profound to articulate. An Jing, baffled like a monk who could not make heads or tails of it, still said solemnly, ¡°Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, you flatter me; the kindness of Buddhism is also unforgettable for me.¡± Just as they were talking, An Jing noticed two figures ahead. They were two women, both extremely beautiful, one of whom was Princess An Le, Zhao Xuening. The woman beside Zhao Xuening bore a slight resemblance to her but was slightly older, and her temperament was entirely different. The woman¡¯s beauty was tinged with a heroic air, radiant like autumn dews on frost, her cheeks warm and eyes sparkling, like moonlight over cold rivers, dressed in a robe adorned with flying colorful phoenixes, majestic and elegant. ¡°Ghost Swordsman and Universal Benefit Monk,¡± Zhao Xuening¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, somewhat surprised in her heart; she hadn¡¯t expected to meet the Ghost Swordsman here again. Universal Benefit Bodhisattva placed his palms together and said, ¡°This humble monk has seen the Empress and Princess An Le.¡± ¡°The master is courteous.¡± Zuo Linglong chuckled lightly, then turned to look at An Jing, who was dressed in a black robe and said, ¡°Could it be that the gentleman is the Ghost Swordsman?¡± A black robe and a mask on his face, this was almost a signature look for the Ghost Swordsman nowadays. ¡°This humble commoner greets you.¡± An Jing said indifferently. Zuo Linglong was not particularly bothered by An Jing¡¯s aloofness and said, ¡°Sir, you are the benefactor of Xuening, who saved her previously. I have felt deeply ashamed for not being able to thank you in person. Today, fortunately meeting you, I can finally settle this debt of gratitude.¡± Speaking, Zuo Linglong bowed towards An Jing. An Jing waved his sleeve, his inner strength secretly supporting, immediately stopping Zuo Linglong and said, ¡°The Empress flatters me too much, it was but a minor deed that day.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Qi Shu wanting to kill him, he might not have intervened to save Zhao Xuening. Zhao Xuening bit her lip, feeling secretly annoyed in her heart; she knew that the Ghost Swordsman hadn¡¯t really intended to save her at that time. Zuo Linglong smiled charmingly, insisting, ¡°Sir¡¯s kindness, our mother and daughter, the Zuo family, will never forget; if there is a need in the future, we will certainly do our utmost to repay today¡¯s gratitude.¡± An Jing glanced at the peerlessly beautiful woman, ¡°The Empress is indeed thoughtful.¡± Whether the polite words were sincere or not, they were comforting to hear, worthy of the current Empress. Zuo Linglong, seeing Zhao Xuening not speaking, immediately said, ¡°Xuening, aren¡¯t you going to thank him?¡± Hearing Zuo Linglong say this, Zhao Xuening stepped forward towards An Jing and bowed, ¡°Xuening thanks you, sir, for your help that day.¡± Whether intentional or not, it was the Ghost Swordsman who had saved her, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. ¡°Princess, you are too polite, this humble commoner has urgent matters and must leave first, Master need not see me off.¡± An Jing bowed his hands and then walked towards the exit of Dragon Spring Temple. Zuo Linglong, watching An Jing¡¯s departing figure, couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°This Ghost Swordsman, truly a mysterious figure indeed.¡± She had just tried to make some connection with the Ghost Swordsman, but his words conveyed a sense of coldness and resistance. It¡¯s said that even Heaven and Earth Net has yet to uncover specific information about him, and the mysterious Grandmaster that appeared behind him seemed to come out of nowhere. Zhao Xuening slightly frowned her delicate nose and said, ¡°Skulking around, everywhere wearing a mask, sooner or later one day I¡¯ll pull off his mask and see if he¡¯s a human or a ghost.¡± Zuo Linglong patted Zhao Xuening¡¯s head, scolding, ¡°Xuening, be respectful.¡± Zhao Xuening stuck out her tongue and laughed, ¡°I¡¯m just teasing, who knows what kind of old monster is under the mask.¡± Universal Benefit Bodhisattva laughed and said nothing. ¡­¡­ As night fell like ink and moonlight flowed like water, Honglu Institute hosted a grand hall. Candles flickered. Zongzheng Yuan was seated cross-legged on a carpet, with an ancient zither in front of him. At that moment, his fingers continuously plucked at the strings, the sound deep and leisurely, clear as splashing jade, trembling like a dragon¡¯s roar. Beneath him, Mu Jin Dharma King was seated, holding a wine jar and continuously pouring wine into his mouth, uninterested in the music Zongzheng Yuan was playing. He really couldn¡¯t understand what was so appealing about this feeble ancient zither. After a while, Mu Jin Dharma King set down the jar and said, ¡°This Great Yan¡¯s wine is just like plain water, bland and tasteless.¡± Zongzheng Yuan paused his action and said, ¡°Perhaps the Dharma King is not used to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like you, leader, having spent several years here, long accustomed to tasteless wine.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King glanced at Zongzheng Yuan and said, ¡°Leader must not forget our purpose here; don¡¯t let Zhao Chongyin hold us back.¡± They had been in Yujing City for several days now, but it seemed they hadn¡¯t even met the Human Emperor yet, apart from having a meal, they had achieved nothing, completely led by the nose by Zhao Chongyin. Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly; if not for Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s serious injury, why would they be so restrained? At the very least, they could always leave Yujing City at any time, turning retreat into advance. Now with Mu Jin Dharma King injured, they could only stay in Yujing City, wasting time. Zongzheng Yuan took a deep breath and said, ¡°Dharma King, rest assured.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Mu Jin Dharma King walked toward the exterior of the house. ¡°The night has deepened, Zongzheng Yuan, remember to rest early.¡± Zongzheng Yuan bowed his head and continued to prepare to play his instrument. ¡°Hmm!?¡± But the next moment, he noticed that Mu Jin Dharma King stood at the doorway motionless and had not left. Zongzheng Yuan frowned and asked, ¡°What is it, Dharma King?¡± ¡°Step! Step!¡± Mu Jin Dharma King didn¡¯t speak, but his steps moved backward, retreating about four or five steps, and Zongzheng Yuan saw a figure. It was an old man in black with gray hair, an ordinary face without any expression, his hands clasped behind him. With every step he took toward the inside of the house, Mu Jin Dharma King stepped back. Even without seeing Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s expression, Zongzheng Yuan could guess what it was. Mu Jin Dharma King said with utmost gravity, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± From the figure before him, he suddenly felt a pressing sensation as if his heart was being struck, making his breathing quicken. The black-clothed old man said indifferently, ¡°I am here to kill someone.¡± ¡°To kill someone!?¡± Mu Jin Dharma King stared in shock at the black-clothed old man. This was the Honglu Institute of the Great Yan, and he was one of the five great Dharma Kings of Houjin. Moreover, his patron was Zongzheng Huachun¡¯s seventh son, Zongzheng Yuan, a renowned leader even within Houjin. He was there to kill someone!? Such a person was either a madman or one of the topmost experts in the current world. And to arrive at the Honglu Institute without a sound, he obviously couldn¡¯t be a madman. Mu Jin Dharma King was not stupid; his expression immediately darkened. ¡°Your courage is admirable. You must not be a nobody, I presume.¡± The next moment, without waiting for the old man to reply, he executed the shrinking land into inches technique to move far away. ¡°You can¡¯t escape.¡± The black-clothed old man¡¯s hand suddenly held a longsword. Fast! Fast to the extreme! At the moment the longsword was revealed, a bloody mark appeared on Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s neck. This speed was so swift, it completely surpassed the speed the naked eye could capture, as if it were faster than a flash of lightning. ¡°Thump!¡± Mu Jin Dharma King fell heavily to the ground, a thin red line visible at his neck, from which blood continuously flowed. ¡°Gushing¨C!¡± Mu Jin Dharma King¡¯s eyes were wide open, his mouth agape, as if he wanted to call for help or to shout. ¡°You¡­¡± Such a terrifying scene occurred in a flash, and even with Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s refined Qi cultivation, his complexion drastically changed. He was furious that Mu Jin Dharma King tried to leave him and escape alone, and shocked that Mu Jin Dharma King was killed with a single sword stroke. That was a Grandmaster at the peak of Second Qi, although gravely injured. But just like that, he was dead. By the time Zongzheng Yuan collected his senses, the old man had already retracted his longsword and turned to him. ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn.¡± Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s breathing stalled as he said, ¡°Senior, is there room to negotiate any terms?¡± He possessed power, ambition, wealth, status, talent, and even luck¡­ In short, dying like this was something he could not accept. ¡°I know what you want to say.¡± The black-clothed old man waved his hand and said, ¡°I am not interested in any conditions you could offer.¡± Hearing this, Zongzheng Yuan forced himself to remain calm and said, ¡°Senior is also a master of the sword. Could it be you¡¯re from the Sixth Realm, I wonder who is stronger or weaker compared to Lin Yiyang¡­¡± In the present world, few could claim to be the ultimate sword immortals, among whom the most formidable was Lin Yiyang, who had just reached the Sixth Realm. Who was this old man before him? Only by identifying this old man could he present something the other party deemed valuable. The black-clothed old man glanced at Zongzheng Yuan and said emotionlessly, ¡°There is no unbeatable sword, only unbeatable people; no unbeatable realm, only unbeatable Sword Dao. Even within the Sixth Realm, there are differences.¡± ¡°You are a talented, ambitious, aspiring person, with opportunities and a background. By rights, in the impending chaotic world, you should have a place; but do you know what you lack a little of?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A bit of luck.¡± The black-clothed old man spoke, lifting his arm. Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s breathing paused; then his body, as if boneless, slowly toppled down, severing all breath. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°This world is most fascinating because you never know what will happen tomorrow. Whether you are a powerful ruler or a profound and inscrutable Grandmaster, anyone might die tomorrow.¡± The black-clothed old man glanced at the corpse on the ground, murmured to himself, and walked toward the door. ¡°Past matters darken beyond pursuit, the road of forthcoming days, is bright and splendid.¡± ¡­.. PS: The old man appeared during the duel between Lou Xiangzhen and Xiao Qianqiu. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 193 The Three Religions Heart Method Ultimately Unites Chapter 193: Chapter 193 The Three Religions Heart Method Ultimately Unites ¡°` The next day, in Yujing City, the Honglu Institute. Zhao Chongyin stood at the entrance of the courtyard, taking in the pungent smell of blood, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. Minister of Rites Zhu Yongfang and Wang Yangyu of the Honglu Institute stood to one side, their faces equally grave. No one had expected to receive such shocking news early in the morning. Mu Jin Dharma King and Zongzheng Yuan had been killed in the dead of night, and what was crucial was that no one knew about it until their bodies were discovered in the morning. Surrounding them were dozens of Houjin experts, their faces ashen and contorted with grief. Besides them, a man dressed in a black cape stood outside the gate. The man appeared to be in his early forties, his countenance as indifferent as water. Whenever he looked at someone, it felt as though one was being eyed by a ferocious beast, making their heart race. After a moment, Bai Jing cautiously came forward and said, ¡°They¡¯re dead. Mu Jin Dharma King and Zongzheng Yuan were both killed by a sword thrust to the throat.¡± ¡°A sword thrust to the throat?¡± Zhao Chongyin¡¯s frown deepened. Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation might not have been high, but he was at least at the Second Grade Realm, and Mu Jin Dharma King, being a Second Qi Grandmaster, although severely injured by the enigmatic Grandmaster Ghost Swordsman, should have been able to defend against ordinary grandmasters after taking Houjin¡¯s healing holy medicine. To kill with a single sword thrust, the attacker must at least be at the Second Qi Grandmaster realm or possibly even higher. Go to oovgo.co Currently in the world, there were probably only the likes of Lou Xiangzhen who had such strength. His cultivation was in the Three Qi Realm, and he had reached the Sixth Realm; it wasn¡¯t impossible for him to kill a gravely wounded Mu Jin Dharma King with a single move. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been him.¡± Zhao Chongyin shook his head. Killing Zongzheng Yuan would have no benefits for Lou Xiangzhen, and it was also highly unlikely for Lou Xiangzhen to be in Yujing City. Considering the current situation in the world, there were essentially two types of people who would want to kill Zongzheng Yuan. The first were those involved in Houjin¡¯s fight for succession, as with Zongzheng Yuan¡¯s death, there would be one less powerful competitor. The second were those who wanted Yan and Houjin to start an all-out war, including members of the Black Ice Platform and those who wished to stir chaos in the world. ¡°Regarding this matter, your Yan Country must give a satisfactory explanation to my Houjin.¡± While Zhao Chongyin was deep in thought, a Houjin expert said in a stern voice. ¡°Indeed, an explanation is required.¡± The eyes of the surrounding Houjin experts glowed blood-red as they echoed the demand in a chorus. Most of them were loyal followers of Zongzheng Yuan. Naturally, seeing Zongzheng Yuan killed in such a way aroused great indignation in their hearts. At this moment, the man at the gate said, ¡°Crown Prince, this person is an exceptional swordsman expert. Capturing him will likely be very difficult.¡± Zhao Chongyin fell silent, not uttering a word. The Houjin expert huffed, ¡°Then this is a matter for your Great Yan Court to address. If you do not provide an explanation to Houjin, be prepared for an invasion by Houjin¡¯s million-strong army.¡± Zhu Yongfang and Wang Yangyu, two civil officers, turned pale with a mixture of shock and anger upon hearing this threat. If Houjin attacked, Zhao Country would surely kick them while they were down. Yan Country would be attacked from both sides, a truly perilous situation. Zhao Chongyin¡¯s pupils contracted slightly as he said with a faint smile, ¡°An explanation¨CI will certainly provide one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± The Houjin crowd all sneered in response. ¡°Governor Xu, I leave all of this in your hands.¡± Zhao Chongyin glanced at the man standing outside the gate. ¡°Your Highness can rest assured.¡± The man bowed slightly, a fleeting glint of murderous intent in his eyes. Afterward, Zhao Chongyin, along with Bai Jing and Zhu Yongfang, and Wang Yangyu walked towards the hall. Outside the hall, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly. Zhao Chongyin felt a mixture of emotions, ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected Zongzheng Yuan to die just like that.¡± In his view, Zongzheng Yuan was a talented individual, potentially a successor to Houjin¡¯s leadership. Yet unexpectedly, he had died so easily here. The world is full of uncertainties, no one knows what the next day may bring. This made Zhao Chongyin feel a twinge of caution; today¡¯s Zongzheng Yuan could be himself tomorrow. After pondering, Bai Jing asked, ¡°Crown Prince, will the hero¡¯s meeting still take place tonight?¡± Zhao Chongyin said nonchalantly, ¡°Now that Zongzheng Yuan is dead, the meeting is even more necessary.¡± The purpose of the hero¡¯s meeting was to discuss how to counter Houjin. Now that Zongzheng Yuan was dead, the ferocious tiger that was Houjin had even more reason to be aggressive. At this moment, sounds of collision and shrill screams came from inside the hall. The commotion lasted for dozens of breaths, and then the man surnamed ¡®Xu¡¯ emerged. ¡°Crown Prince, everything has been taken care of,¡± he said. A trace of blood still lingered on the man. Upon hearing this, both Zhu Yongfang and Wang Yangyu exchanged glances, a chill rising in their hearts. The Crown Prince is truly decisive. It seemed like the conflict between Houjin and Great Yan was inevitable. Zhao Chongyin nodded slightly and turned to Wang Yangyu, ¡°Minister Wang, seal off this news. It is not yet appropriate to spread it.¡± Wang Yangyu replied hastily, ¡°This official understands.¡± If today¡¯s events were made public, they would unquestionably create an uproar. Although the deaths of Zongzheng Yuan, Mu Jin Dharma King, and the others could not be kept under wraps forever, and the mastermind behind the scenes probably knew about it and might even spread the word, suppressing the news for now could at least give the border regions some time to prepare. ¡°` I just don¡¯t know how long this matter can be suppressed. ¡­¡­. In Yujing City, within the Lv Mansion, at the backyard. The ancient-styled room was filled with a subtle fragrance. ¡°Master!?¡± Tan Yun opened his eyes in a daze, then felt a shock in his heart and suddenly sat up. ¡°Awake?¡± Just then, the door opened, and Liu Huiyun walked in from outside. Tan Yun looked at Liu Huiyun, lightly biting his lip and said, ¡°Aunt Liu, I thought I was dreaming.¡± The battle at the Eight Feet Platform, where Li Fuzhou killed Tang Taiyuan with a palm strike, followed by the Bai Mei eunuch taking him away to the Heavenly Prison¡¯s Ninth Layer, seeming like it was all just a dream. Liu Huiyun sat down on the bed, touched Tan Yun¡¯s head, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Tan Yun looked up and asked, ¡°Will master die?¡± Every time he uttered the word ¡®die,¡¯ his heart clenched. He always felt like fate was playing tricks on him, as every important person kept drifting further away from him. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡± Liu Huiyun sighed deeply, ¡°The Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Prison is very dangerous, holding many experts from the Great Yan Martial World. To this day, no one has been heard to have come out from there.¡± The Great Yan Court had been in control of the kingdom for hundreds of years, which was not an easy or carefree task, especially when there were always top experts in Jianghu who wanted to challenge the Royal Family and scorn royal authority. These people either died or were imprisoned in the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Prison. For hundreds of years, people had been sent there regularly, which indicates how many old monsters from Jianghu were hidden inside, yet not a single person has ever come out alive from the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Prison. Upon hearing this, Tan Yun¡¯s expression grew somewhat dim: ¡°I once swore that I would take care of master in his old age, I¡­¡± Liu Huiyun pinched Tan Yun¡¯s tender cheek, and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°If your master heard what you just said, I wonder what he would think. Don¡¯t worry too much. Where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way, and your master wouldn¡¯t want you to be gloomy every day.¡± Looking at Tan Yun before her, a wave of pity arose in Liu Huiyun¡¯s heart. Tan Yun, Tan Yun¡­ his name contains the character for ¡®cloud¡¯. At that thought, Liu Huiyun¡¯s heart suddenly warmed as she remembered her own past dear friend. ¡°I understand. I will find a chance to rescue master,¡± Tan Yun nodded, then touched his belly and asked, ¡°Aunt Liu, what time is it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the hour of noon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s noon already, I was wondering¡­ Aunt Liu, did you bring the pastries on the table?¡± Tan Yun glanced at the pastries on the table and blinked his eyes. Liu Huiyun picked up a pastry from the table and handed it over, ¡°They were already here when I came. If you¡¯re hungry, have some first, especially since you didn¡¯t eat anything all night yesterday.¡± Tan Yun was starving and grabbed a piece of pastry from the parchment paper to stuff into his mouth. ¡°Eat slowly.¡± Liu Huiyun quickly poured a glass of water and said, ¡°After eating, go see Elder Lv. We planned to take you to thank the Ghost Swordsman who helped us the other day, but I didn¡¯t expect him to have left.¡± ¡°He left!?¡± Tan Yun¡¯s hands, holding the pastries, paused. Wasn¡¯t the Ghost Swordsman supposed to join the Demon Sect? Why had he left!? Liu Huiyun said, ¡°Yes, apparently he left early this morning. Such people in Jianghu, like the Divine Dragon, often appear and disappear unpredictably. Who knows when we will see him again?¡± For loner experts in Jianghu without organizations or backing, their whereabouts were always erratic. ¡°But, but¡­¡± Tan Yun began to get anxious. Liu Huiyun patted Tan Yun¡¯s hand and reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he is a good friend of Elder Lv, and there will always be another opportunity to thank him in person.¡± Tan Yun bit into the pastry in his hand and then made up his mind, ¡°Aunt Liu, I want to return to the Demon Sect for a bit.¡± Could it be that the Ghost Swordsman went directly to the Demon Sect? After all, he had been persistently asking about the Demon Sect. Moreover, now that her master was trapped in the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Prison, this was no small matter. She wondered whether the people in the Demon Sect would be willing to help with the rescue. All things considered, she had to return to the Demon Sect. ¡°You want to go back to the Demon Sect?¡± Liu Huiyun frowned deeply. Now that Li Fuzhou was locked in the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Prison and Tan Yun¡¯s identity had been revealed, was it necessary to return to the Demon Sect and be a demon¡¯s disciple? ¡°I want to go back and take a look, after all, it is where I grew up.¡± Tan Yun obviously would not speak of what he truly had in mind, instead giving a different reason. After thinking for a while, Liu Huiyun said, ¡°If you truly want to go back, I can accompany you for a visit.¡± Tan Yun looked at Liu Huiyun with a grateful expression, ¡°Then I will trouble Auntie Liu.¡± ¡°Eat quickly, or have some water first.¡± Liu Huiyun watched the young girl¡¯s face brimming with smiles. If Li Fuzhou hadn¡¯t left Yujing City back then¡­ But in life, there are no ifs. ¡­¡­. Yun Hua Dao, Xuanqing Mountain. Dense ink-colored clouds twined around the mountain, which was lush and verdant, with mountains nestling against water and water reflecting mountains, a picture of quiet harmony and a tint of solitude. It was now the early summer season, the weather somewhat hot and oppressive, with the robust chirping of cicadas audible throughout the forest. Once the ancestral court of the Mystical Sect, this place was renowned throughout the world, even surpassing Nanhua Mountain, the highest peak. But few sects chose to build their gates here, firstly because the Court had not issued Mountain Gate Orders, and secondly because with the Zhenyi Sect in its heyday, few dared to provoke such bad luck. Everyone knew that the Zhenyi Sect always wanted to revive its sect and prop up the might of the Mystical Sect. Amidst the mountain woods, the sound of a low howl echoed in all directions. Following the sound, one would see a gigantic Black Flood Dragon lying in the dense forest, occasionally opening its vast maw to growl, as if showing its domineering presence to the creatures around it. An Jing sat cross-legged on the head of the Black Flood Dragon, meditating and regulating his breath. The Inner Strength within his Dantian surged out towards his limbs, spreading to every corner of his body. Within the Dantian, where the qi of black and white intersected, faint golden glimmers started to emerge, with the golden light becoming brighter and stronger between the two. About half an hour later, the internal breath returned within his Dantian. ¡°Hoo¡­.¡± An Jing exhaled deeply, then opened his eyes, ¡°This ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ is indeed the ultimate Buddhist martial art, it¡¯s just a pity that the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ has yet to become one. Otherwise, I really could find a common thread among these three heart methods.¡± He was now cultivating the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯ and the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯, two ultimate martial arts. Although the ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ of the Mystical Sect was incomplete, because of ten years of trials, he had reached the Tenth Layer. Cultivating these three heart methods made him vaguely sense a certain connection between them, which was quite wondrous. However, compared to the rapid progression of the ¡®Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture¡¯, the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata Zen Scripture¡¯ showed no sign of progress after the first layer. An Jing silently speculated that perhaps only by studying Buddhist Law like the monks could he hope to make further progress. An Jing looked up at the building complex above and murmured to himself, ¡°It was upon the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate that I grasped the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra. Moreover, the Demon Sect¡¯s treasure, the Heavenly Flipping Seal, also reacted. Perhaps there could be some clues within the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate.¡± Beili Volcano lay on the border between Yun Hua Dao and Northern Wilderness Dao. Since he was passing by Xuanqing Mountain, it was naturally worth visiting the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate again to glimpse its true mysteries. Additionally, there was a peerless expert within Xuanqing Mountain. ¡°Wait here for me.¡± An Jing patted the Black Flood Dragon¡¯s head, then leaped up towards Xuanqing Mountain. The lush greenery was rampant in the forest, and there were even more visitors on the path seeking pleasure and admiration than the last time. An Jing arrived at the Heavenly Ascending Stairs, looking at the endless mountain peaks ahead, and he couldn¡¯t help but remember the first time he and Lou Xiangzhen climbed these stone stairs. ¡°As hard as it is to ascend to heaven, if given the chance in life, one ought to try.¡± He sighed softly and continued to climb the mountain alone. One step at a time, it took him a full hour to reach the summit of Xuanqing Mountain, Black Bull Ridge. The mountaintop was as usual, with people enjoying the view, and a few Daoists scattered about telling fortunes and divining with talismans. The once intact Thousand Mechanism Palace had collapsed thunderously, the result of An Jing¡¯s battle with the Zhenyi Sect. Yet to this day no one had repaired it, leaving the gigantic Thousand Mechanism Stone exposed. Next to the Thousand Mechanism Stone, a middle-aged Daoist in a Daoist robe huddled beside it, dozing off, with bunches of sandalwood and a talisman tube in front of him. The tube was filled with bamboo talismans. This person was Luo Chongyang. An Jing approached Luo Chongyang and asked with a smile, ¡°Do you still tell fortunes?¡± Luo Chongyang slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the man in black robes, and said, ¡°Same old rules, a hundred copper coins for fate, fifty for love.¡± An Jing handed over a hundred copper coins, ¡°Then let¡¯s see about the future.¡± Luo Chongyang took the coins and said, ¡°Please draw a talisman.¡± An Jing shook the talisman tube, and a stick fell out. ¡°Good talisman.¡± Luo Chongyang picked up the stick and smiled, ¡°The whale guards the Jianghu before its transformation, not yet permitted to ascend and leave the azure waves. One day, when it changes form, it leaps over the Yu Gate at once.¡± ¡°The meaning of the talisman is to endure when you must endure and be patient when you must be patient. Do not rush your actions; fame and success will come naturally.¡± An Jing asked with a smile, ¡°It seems I have drawn another top-grade talisman?¡± Luo Chongyang replied, ¡°A top-grade talisman.¡± An Jing glanced around and whispered, ¡°It seems your business hasn¡¯t been so good these past few days, Daoist.¡± Luo Chongyang put away the tube and said, ¡°Good or not, life goes on, so why bother with what is good or bad?¡± ¡°Indeed, life must go on, whether it¡¯s good or bad. This is life itself.¡± An Jing too sat down, gazing at the clouds drifting above, and remarked, ¡°Daoist leads such an easy and comfortable life, truly enviable.¡± Feng Lingyue, as a traitor to the Demon Sect, lived in constant fear, and the Demon Sect was still at Dongluo Pass, who knows how far from the Five Poison Sect. In contrast, Luo Chongyang, right under the nose of the Zhenyi Sect, could live so comfortably, which showed Luo Chongyang¡¯s extraordinary nature. Luo Chongyang stretched lazily and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you living quite comfortably yourself? Killing several Zhenyi Sect¡¯s real people and still carefree in the Great Yan Martial World, there aren¡¯t many like you.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked with a smile, ¡°How many has the senior killed?¡± Luo Chongyang replied indifferently, ¡°I have only killed one expert of the ¡®Hua¡¯ generation; not as many as you.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of confusion, ¡°The ¡®Hua¡¯ generation?¡± He knew that Xiao Qianqiu was of the ¡®Yu¡¯ generation, and it seemed that the previous Sect Leader Ye Ding was rumored to be of the ¡®Qing¡¯ generation, but he was unclear about those of the ¡®Hua¡¯ generation. Luo Chongyang glanced at An Jing and said, ¡°An old monster from Hidden Mountain. There aren¡¯t many of the ¡®Hua¡¯ generation left in Zhenyi Sect. After so many years, most of them have died, and one of them died by my hand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s wanted list now places you and me side by side. You should not underestimate the methods of Zhenyi Sect.¡± Zhenyi Sect, after all, is the national religion of the Great Yan, having grasped the world¡¯s reins for hundreds of years. Apart from the Yu Heng Sword Sect, the other major sects combined can¡¯t match its profundity. An Jing said, ¡°It seems we have the same enemy.¡± ¡°In this world, there are many masters with grudges against Zhenyi Sect, not just you and me.¡± Luo Chongyang smiled noncommittally, ¡°So, did you come here today specifically looking for me because of this matter?¡± As the saying goes, a tall tree catches the wind, especially such a towering tree as Zhenyi Sect. An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°Not entirely. I plan to join the hunt at Dongluo Pass and stopped by to visit on my way. Perhaps in the future, I might have the opportunity to collaborate with you.¡± Luo Chongyang looked at the Ghost Swordsman before him with interest, ¡°Hunt at Dongluo Pass? Do you intend to kill your way into the Demon Sect?¡± The Demon Sect, with its thousand years of profundity, is also extremely deep, perhaps not much less than Zhenyi Sect. This Ghost Swordsman, with his Half-step Master cultivation, wants to hunt at Dongluo Pass? An Jing asked directly, ¡°Are you interested?¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Chongyang burst into laughter. ¡°Jiang Shang also tried his best to recruit me in the past. My relationship with the Demon Sect is not particularly good, but I have few grudges with them as well. Why should I go to the Demon Sect Main Hall to seek death?¡± ¡°If you were to go to Zhenyi Mountain, however, I might just take an interest.¡± In his opinion, the Ghost Swordsman heading to the Demon Sect Main Hall was seeking his own death, since that was truly a lair of dragons and a den of tigers. An Jing simply smiled without speaking. He had long been prepared for Luo Chongyang¡¯s refusal. Luo Chongyang shook his head and said, ¡°You must have come to the wrong place. If you go to the Five Poison Sect to find Feng Lingyue, maybe he¡¯d be very willing to accompany you to Dongluo Pass.¡± An Jing said, ¡°He may not trust me.¡± Feng Lingyue had crossed his mind, but after careful consideration, he decided against it. First, he had his own grudges with the Five Poison Sect, and secondly, Feng Lingyue would certainly not trust him. Luo Chongyang nodded slightly without speaking. If Lou Xiangzhen were to take on the Demon Sect, a rallying cry might even resonate throughout the Great Yan Martial World, but the Ghost Swordsman was still somewhat lacking. A person¡¯s reputation casts a long shadow. The title of The World¡¯s First Swordsman carried significant weight. Especially after Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s battle by Abyss Lake, where his sword challenged the Daoist Crown of the Four Qi Grandmaster Xiao Qianqiu, becoming famous throughout the world. ¡°It¡¯s getting late; time to head back and rest.¡± Luo Chongyang glanced at the sky, picked up the blanket on the ground, ¡°I still advise you, don¡¯t go to Dongluo Pass. It¡¯s not a possibility you may die; it¡¯s a certainty you will.¡± After speaking, Luo Chongyang strode away lightly, heading off into the distance. An Jing watched Luo Chongyang¡¯s retreating figure and muttered to himself, ¡°How can one capture tiger cubs without entering the tiger¡¯s den?¡± As the sun neared setting, the tourists on Black Bull Ridge hurried down the mountain before darkness fell. The setting sun cast its afterglow over Xuanqing Mountain, and the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate seemed to have been draped in a veil. An Jing did not look at the Thousand Mechanism Stone. Instead, he sat in silence for a long while, quietly watching the clouds roll and unfold across the sky, and the sun set. ¡°Half with others, half with myself, half carefree; half awake, half inebriated, half like an Immortal.¡± After a long time, he seemed to snap out of his trance, then turned his head to look at the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate. The vast stone plate lay exposed in the natural world. If An Jing thought the stone plate before him exuded an incredible mystery the first time he saw it, today, looking at the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate, it seemed more like an ordinary boulder to him. A rock that had withstood countless years of wind, countless years of rain, and countless years of sunshine, bearing the marks of endless ages and vicissitudes. An Jing gazed at the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate with unparalleled calmness in his heart, as placid as an ancient well, without the slightest ripple or wrinkle, smooth as a water mirror. In that moment, he seemed to enter into the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate. Witnessing the countless years of wind, rain, and sunshine, his body and mind transformed into the stone plate, and within it, he saw an essence of profound mystery. At that point, ancient traces began to appear on the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate. These marks had some connection and seemed to form an ancient script. The marks emitted light, growing brighter and more spectacular, as if they were akin to a sun. ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± Cracks formed on the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate, growing larger as if something was trying to burst forth, ultimately unable to withstand the shining light. ¡°Boom!¡± The Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate suddenly exploded, sending a beam of light from the mountain top into the sky. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This beam was grand and majestic, containing deeply profound truths. ¡°Hm!?¡± Luo Chongyang, who was descending the Heavenly Ascending Stairs, halted abruptly, staring in amazement at the beam of light. ¡­¡­. PS: Another chapter will arrive before 12 o¡¯clock. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Entering Grandmaster with the Name of an Immortal Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Entering Grandmaster with the Name of an Immortal Twilight mists rose, and as darkness enveloped the vastness, a bright moon ascended the mountaintop of Xuanqing Mountain, casting its clear light everywhere, illuminating the eyebrows and hair of those it touched. A figure in a black robe was seated atop Black Bull Ridge, enveloped by white mists floating around him. If anyone from Jianghu were there, they could clearly see his Qi Mechanism seemed to be climbing relentlessly. In front of him, there was a faint, nearly imperceptible breath, which had just burst forth from the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The elusive breath drifted forward and plunged directly into An Jing¡¯s mind. Originally, there were three colored light spheres in his mind. The moment that breath charged in, all three light spheres paused, then, as if summoned by a sound from the unknown, they surged towards the breath. As the three colored light spheres merged with the breath, with every sphere that integrated, An Jing felt his brain stutter, as if experiencing a brief void, and when the three spheres fully amalgamated, a supremely wonderful sensation emerged. At that moment, the Earth Book showed a slight change, but An Jing had no time to pay it any mind. ¡°Buzz!¡± ¡°Buzz!¡± His entire brain became ethereal in an instant, losing all capacity for thought, as if his entire being was floating above the clouds. It might have been a moment, or it might have been decades. Boom! The next moment, his Dantian suddenly erupted, like a volcano bursting forth. Go to wuxiaworld.site The black Qi Mechanism on his left side collided fiercely with the white Qi Mechanism, causing his entire Dantian to shake violently, boiling over completely. An Jing felt an acute pain in his internal organs, intensely uncomfortable, nearly causing him to spew fresh blood. Before he could stabilize himself, the black and white Qi Mechanisms inside collided once more, like meteors crashing, creating a tremendous impact. Blood seeped from all seven of An Jing¡¯s orifices, bright red and unstoppable, yet the internal collisions did not cease. The last time, when he was on his way to Ping County, he had experienced similar phenomena, but the collisions were much milder than now. Currently, it seemed as if the black and white Qi Mechanisms were out of control, starting to collide violently. This collision of Qi Mechanisms created immense pain within his body, nearly causing him to faint. An Jing bit his tongue lightly, which brought a little calm to his reeling mind. As time dripped slowly away, the black and white Qi Mechanisms gradually merged, and the immense pain continued to torment An Jing. Boom! Suddenly, An Jing¡¯s body exploded, so to speak, with waves of terrifying Qi emanating from his Dantian. In just an instant, his strong and robust inner body was severely injured. An Jing felt his mind go blank, the scent of blood reaching the cap of his head. Almost instinctively, his Mental Method began to operate. An Jing looked inward at the increasingly integrated black and white Qi Mechanisms, sustained by tremendous pressure. Time trickled on, and An Jing was like a monk in deep meditation. At this moment, An Jing had turned into a bloody figure. The merging black and white Qi Mechanisms continued to resonate, intensifying the pain that shook his body, but An Jing seemed to have lost all sensation, one thought remaining in his mind. As the black and white Qi Mechanisms fused a bit, it was like a spark landing on a dry prairie. Boom! The moment the black and white Qi Mechanisms merged, the pain gradually began to dissipate. But just then, a quiet golden Qi Mechanism suddenly erupted and joined in. Seeing this, An Jing¡¯s heart jolted. He had anticipated intense pain, but instead of the heart-wrenching agony from before, there was a feeling of coolness. ¡°Whew¡­¡± An Jing lightly exhaled a breath. The original chaotic atmosphere in his Dantian completely disappeared, the three colored Qi Mechanisms continually merging, but it did not put him fully at ease. An Jing focused intently on the inside of his body, fearing any slight mistake. The pain just now had nearly knocked him unconscious; had he not endured it, he might now be a corpse. This perilous cultivation, his first encounter of its kind, demanded his utmost attention. The merging of the three colored Qi Mechanisms inside continued, following on quite calmly, even smoothly. When the three colored Qi Mechanisms finally amalgamated into one, the Qi Mechanism seemed to turn transparent, quietly floating in the middle of his Dantian. Although it was transparent, the terrifying power that burst forth from it could be felt. Just then, a Taoist stepped onto Black Bull Ridge. ¡°This Qi mechanism, could it be breaking through its shackles?¡± Luo Chongyang glanced at An Jing, who was meditating cross-legged, and then at the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate that had exploded into powder in front of him, his expression changing dramatically, ¡°Where is the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate?¡± What kind of object was the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate!? It was rumored that the founding ancestor of Mystical Sect had perceived the Supreme Martial Arts Heart Method, ¡°Jade Emperor Scripture,¡± from this stone. Normally, even divine weapons could hardly leave a mark on it, but now it had collapsed. How could Luo Chongyang not be shocked!? Luo Chongyang¡¯s eyes fixed intently on the black-robed swordsman sitting on the ground. Could it be this person!? ¡°No wonder he is a man of great fortune, no wonder the old man Lou Xiangzhen protected his path.¡± The Qi mechanism within An Jing had completely integrated and was continuously ascending. Later, this Qi mechanism began to wander out from the Dantian, moving through the limbs and flowing into every meridian. The intense pain that had been present just a moment ago vanished in an instant, and his entire body became warmly energized. ¡°Is this the hidden secret within the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate?¡± An Jing was greatly moved in his heart, and before he could enjoy it, the Qi mechanism began to wander continuously in the meridians as if it were operating according to some heart method¡¯s route. Moreover, the speed of operation was getting faster and faster, and it was almost uncontrollable. ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± At the same time, a glow flowed behind An Jing, and the phantom images of the Human Flower, Earth Flower, and Heavenly Flower also emerged, shining brilliantly in the night sky, and vaguely floating towards the sky. Three Flowers Gathering at the Top denotes the Grandmaster Realm. With everything falling into place and unity of body and mind, aided by the heart method, the three flowers of heaven, earth, and man began converging at the top. An Jing also felt the convergence of the Three Flowers inside his body, but he suddenly got a shock. Because the gathering of the Three Flowers required a vast amount of Essence, wasn¡¯t it common for nearly every Half-step Master to stay for years and consume numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or Elixirs during the process? An Jing had reached the Heavenly Flower Realm by relying on the Golden Pill, and the Essence accumulated over these months was nowhere near sufficient for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top. Thinking of this, he quickly suppressed the wandering Qi mechanism inside his body, trying to halt this breakthrough. But the transparent Qi mechanism carried on regardless, circulating one cycle after another. Each time he completed one cycle, the Three Flowers moved a few inches upwards. An Jing took a deep breath, immersing himself wholly in his own body, trying hard to control the internal Qi mechanism. The current situation was like having an exceptional beauty standing in front of him, but the man in front was impotent. How could he engage in the pleasures of the flesh? Was he supposed to force his way in? Under An Jing¡¯s control, the three flowers moved downward. ¡°Hm!?¡± Luo Chongyang saw this scene and was quite astonished. Could it be that this Ghost Swordsman did not intend to break through to the Grandmaster Realm? There were indeed many in Jianghu who could directly attain the Grandmaster Realm without actually stepping into it, and Li Fuzhou was among them. Not just him, there were quite a few others as well. For one thing, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top required a large amount of Essence to support the three flowers, and secondly, achieving the Grandmaster Realm also required Essence to reach One Qi. If one were to progress steadily, a deeply rooted Half-step Master progressing to Grandmaster could directly reach the One Qi Realm. However, just moments after the three flowers moved downwards, the transparent Qi mechanism inside started circling even faster, and then like a rapidly burning flame, it began burning An Jing¡¯s Essence Blood. ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s happening?¡± An Jing felt this condition inside his body and frowned deeply. Due to the lack of Essence for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, the transparent Qi mechanism began to burn the Essence Blood in his body. Essence Blood, much more precious than Essence, required the body to nurture, not only needing Essence but also a significant amount of time, but there were many places where Essence could be obtained. As the Essence Blood inside his body burned, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top became significantly smoother, and the initially slow-moving speed of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top increased by several degrees. But the amount of Essence required for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top was enormous, and just these few drops of Essence Blood were not enough. The Qi mechanism wandered even more frequently, frantically burning the Essence Blood inside his body. ¡°It needs to burn more Essence Blood!?¡± At this moment, An Jing, already somewhat weakened by the burning of Essence Blood, became anxious when he saw the Qi mechanism starting to burn his Essence Blood again. With far too much loss of Essence Blood, he would undoubtedly die. What use then was reaching the Grandmaster Realm? Thinking this, he tried hard to control the Qi mechanism, but it remained uncontrollable, merely continuing to burn the Essence Blood. As a large amount of Essence Blood burned, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top seemed to have entered the proper course. ¡°He really is a ruthless man¡­¡± Luo Chongyang saw the red mist of blood surrounding the Ghost Swordsman and was utterly shocked. He had seen people use their Essence Blood to escape or to fight to the death, but he had never seen someone use their Essence Blood to break through. This was truly an act of risking one¡¯s life for the sake of advancing one¡¯s cultivation. At this moment, An Jing had burnt a massive amount of Essence Blood, leaving him extremely weakened, his mind a complete blank, as if he was hovering between life and death. ¡°Boom!¡± The night sky burst into light as three flowers converged and rose above An Jing¡¯s head. Instantly, the authority of a Grandmaster manifested from his body. However, all of this was not yet over. The beautiful moonlit night sky reflected a beam of starlight that seemed to come from the ancient past, pouring entirely over An Jing¡¯s body. In the darkness, while others were sinking, he seemed to be in the light. ¡°Heavenly might!?¡± Luo Chongyang watched the beam of starlight, feeling his soul almost leaving his body, overwhelmed, his mind exploding like thunder. Advancing to the Grandmaster Realm, how could it possibly trigger the Heavenly Might!? It was rumored that advancing to the Great Grandmaster, which was akin to a half-immortal body, would bring about the descent of Heavenly Might, a blessing given by Heaven. But he had never heard of the Grandmaster Realm receiving such a divine blessing. Luo Chongyang thought to himself that perhaps he should befriend this Ghost Swordsman. ¡°Roar!?¡± Just then, a low roar echoed loudly. In the sky above, a black Flood Dragon came soaring from afar, its body circling around, its huge eyes fixed on An Jing who sat atop Black Bull Ridge. As the starlight gradually faded, the heavens and the earth suddenly became clear. The pale-faced An Jing opened his eyes and looked up at the sky, murmuring to himself, ¡°The pinnacle of martial arts is the summit of immortals; so it is.¡± Afterward, his thoughts fell upon the Earth Book. Cultivation: Grandmaster Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining (ascending) Root Bone: Once in a hundred years Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword Ninth Layer, Nine Yang Divine Finger Eighth Layer, Brahma Heart Sees Me, Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique Sixth Layer, Incomplete Nameless Heart Scripture (Third Layer) Prompt One: The owner¡¯s Life Fate is still not rooted and remains for one more month. Displaying martial arts must not reveal the owner¡¯s identity; otherwise, a dark opportunity will arise. ¡­¡­.. An Jing, seeing the words ¡®Incomplete¡¯ in front of the ¡®Nameless Heart Scripture¡¯ on the Earth Book, couldn¡¯t help but think: Could it be because it¡¯s incomplete that it¡¯s out of control, and to repair the incompleteness, the complete ¡®Jade Emperor Scripture¡¯ is required? After operating the ¡®Nameless Heart Scripture¡¯ just now, he fully understood the power of this ¡®Nameless Heart Scripture.¡¯ The speed of circulation was unlike any other martial arts heart method he had practiced before. It seemed as if the heart methods he had practiced before were of martial arts, but this ¡®Nameless Heart Scripture¡¯ had already transcended the concepts understood by mere mortals and resembled more of a cultivation method of immortals. Quite notably, An Jing could, with his movements, directly absorb the fine spiritual energy of heaven and earth, bypassing the refining process. This transformation was a qualitative leap from the usual martial arts heart methods. If such a heart method were to spread, probably every Grandmaster in the world would go crazy for it. Since ancient times, Grandmasters needed to refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth before they could properly absorb it into their bodies. Therefore, when reaching the Grandmaster Realm, cultivation often slowed down considerably. Who had ever heard of someone being able to directly absorb the spiritual energy of the world? An Jing knew that within this ¡®Nameless Heart Scripture¡¯ seemed to lie many secrets, waiting for him to explore and uncover. ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon saw An Jing open his eyes, and its dragon head moved down as if it wanted to nuzzle him. An Jing patted the head of the Black Flood Dragon, seemingly trying to stand up, but as he straightened his legs, he suddenly felt a wave of weakness throughout his body and nearly collapsed to the ground. The Three Flowers Gathering at the Top had depleted too much Essence Blood; now there was trouble. Ordinarily, even a Half-step Master who could advance to the Grandmaster Realm would remain for half a year to solidify the foundation, but only An Jing had stepped directly into the Grandmaster Realm without any preparation and had even burnt Essence Blood to break through the shackles. This had always been exceedingly rare throughout history. Originally his Golden Bone had already reached Perfection, now showing a layer of jade-like color, but due to the massive loss of Essence Blood, he did not feel the unprecedented vigor, but instead felt a sense of weakness. Luo Chongyang came over at this moment, smiling, ¡°Congratulations, nephew, on reaching the Grandmaster Realm.¡± To cause such an upheaval upon entering the Grandmaster Realm was unheard of to Luo Chongyang, especially coupled with the shattering of the Thousand Mechanism Stone Plate; he vaguely sensed that the Ghost Swordsman before him was no simple individual. An Jing took a deep breath, supporting the head of the Black Flood Dragon, and said, ¡°What¡¯s there to congratulate, now I am even weaker than before I entered the Grandmaster Realm.¡± Though he had reached the Grandmaster Realm, the depletion of his essence blood posed an even bigger problem. He could imagine just how pale his face must look beneath the mask. If it weren¡¯t for the streak of starlight that had shone upon him earlier, he might have already passed out. Luo Chongyang waved his hand and said, ¡°Hey, throughout history, so many have failed to enter the Grandmaster Realm, your smooth entry should indeed be celebrated.¡± An Jing raised his eyebrows and replied, ¡°Since when did I become your nephew?¡± If someone acts out of character, they must have an ulterior motive; Luo Chongyang¡¯s sudden change in attitude was definitely fishy. Luo Chongyang chuckled and explained, ¡°According to the hierarchy of the Mystical Sect, Yan Shaoshan is my brother in arms, and since you are his disciple, aren¡¯t you my nephew then?¡± An Jing, with a playful tone, said, ¡°So, if your nephew faces trouble, you won¡¯t help?¡± Luo Chongyang replied earnestly, ¡°If my nephew faces trouble, how can his grand-uncle stand by idly? It¡¯s just a matter of going to the Demon Sect together. I haven¡¯t seen Jiang Shang for a long time; this could be a good chance to exchange a few moves.¡± Delaying Jiang Shang was not a difficult task, and it was not a matter of life and death at the Demon Sect. It would also give him a chance to see just how the Ghost Swordsman managed to be so effective at Dongluo Pass. If he was previously somewhat disbelieving, he was now quite curious. What is the most valuable thing in the world? Thick skin. And what¡¯s the least valuable? Likewise, it¡¯s thick skin. An Jing looked at the Taoist in front of him and asked, ¡°Are you a match for Jiang Shang?¡± The name ¡®Jiang Shang¡¯ seemed to weigh heavily on Luo Chongyang, who said, ¡°We used to be evenly matched, but now it¡¯s unclear. Jiang Shang is a ruthless and brutal man. He stops at nothing for his cultivation. I¡¯m not sure how far his Cultivation has progressed; he might be at the Peak of Three Qi or might have reached the Four Qi Realm.¡± To others, Jiang Shang was a legend and a myth, but having had real interactions with him, he knew Jiang Shang better than most, which made him more aware of Jiang Shang¡¯s ferocity and fearsomeness. Luo Chongyang continued, ¡°He once killed a retired Second Qi Grandmaster from Jianghu to break through to the Three Qi Grandmaster level. Because of this, the Demon Sect faced collective attacks and was eventually driven out of Great Yan.¡± An Jing was somewhat astonished, ¡°So that¡¯s why.¡± It was his first time hearing that Jiang Shang had killed a Second Qi Grandmaster just to advance to the Three Qi Grandmaster level. Luo Chongyang explained, ¡°A Grandmaster can generate Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence within their bodies. Centuries ago, there were those who killed Grandmasters to enhance their Cultivation, but most of them, because they advanced too quickly in their Cultivation levels and had unstable minds, eventually succumbed to madness. Others were nipped in the bud. Jiang Shang belongs to the latter group, and he has been quite clever in not evoking the wrath of heaven and the masses.¡± ¡°Otherwise, whether he could have led the Demon Sect out of Great Yan remains questionable.¡± These were secrets of Jianghu, not known to the general public or spoken of in random rumors, hence An Jing, lacking information, was not aware of these intricacies. ¡°I see.¡± An Jing nodded and asked, ¡°Do you know how to quickly replenish the essence blood deficiency in my body?¡± The most important thing right now was to restore the essence blood in his body; otherwise, he would be too weak to unleash his full strength. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh? What method?¡± Luo Chongyang pointed at the Black Flood Dragon and said, ¡°If you take the essence blood from within this Black Flood Dragon and absorb it all, you can restore eighty percent of your essence blood in a short period of time without affecting your ability to exert your strength. The remaining twenty percent will need to be gradually recovered over time.¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Flood Dragon seemed to understand Luo Chongyang¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but let out a low roar, its eyes filled with malice. The Taoist appeared to have ignoble intentions, targeting its head. An Jing immediately said in annoyance, ¡°How can that be possible? Is there no other way?¡± This approach was even stupider than robbing Peter to pay Paul; the Black Flood Dragon was a major force and would be needed to confront the high-level experts of the Demon Sect at Dongluo Pass. ¡°There is another way.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Luo Chongyang said, ¡°Kill a few Grandmasters and stew them for you to make a soup.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes gleamed, ¡°Kill whom?¡± Luo Chongyang was taken aback; he had only been speaking casually, but this cheap nephew before him took it seriously. ¡­¡­. PS: Please subscribe to the full series. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Dragon Slayer Land Reveals Treasured Blood Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Dragon Slayer Land Reveals Treasured Blood Killing Grandmasters indeed allowed one to quickly acquire Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence and rapidly restore their Essence. However, simply killing Grandmasters to extract Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was certain to incur the jealousy of all Grandmasters in the world, and might even provoke a united attack from the world¡¯s experts. After all, no one wanted to one day become fodder in someone else¡¯s pot, or to unwittingly dress another in bridal robes. ¡°Killing a few Grandmasters is likely very difficult,¡± said An Jing with a shake of his head, ¡°Perhaps we should try a different method. Let¡¯s storm into the Zhenyi Sect.¡± An Jing looked at Luo Chongyang, ¡°Old Taoist, could it be that you desire the bait from the Zhenyi Sect? Are you deliberately deceiving me into this trap?¡± As the National Religion, everyone knew of the Zhenyi Sect¡¯s four great Peak Masters and the seven Real Humans beneath the Heavenly Venerate, but few knew these were merely the tip of the iceberg of the Zhenyi Sect. As Luo Chongyang himself had said, there was a Hidden Mountain within the sect, and one could not fathom how many old monsters were hidden within it. The previous Zhenyi Sect Leader, Ye Ding, had vanished without a trace. Jiang Shang and that Ye Ding were top tier experts of the same era, and Jiang Shang was still alive in the world today. Ye Ding, who cultivated the Mystical Sect¡¯s ¡°Beidou Seven Stars Technique¡± and sought to comprehend creation for Longevity and the path to immortality, was very likely stationed within Hidden Mountain even at that moment. Experts like these were countless within the Zhenyi Sect, and there were even one or two old monsters of the ¡®Hua¡¯ generation. It was merely a stroke of luck that Luo Chongyang had managed to escape from the Zhenyi Sect. Luo Chongyang let out a light chuckle; he knew all too well how difficult it was to attack the Zhenyi Sect¨Cmuch clearer than the Ghost Swordsman did. The two most dangerous places in Great Yan were none other than the Great Yan Palace, perched above mountains and rivers, and Zhenyi Mountain, which suppressed the Jianghu. Luo Chongyang gave it some thought and said, ¡°To replenish Essence Blood, a large amount of Essence is required. If there are precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, those could serve as well.¡± Go to wuxiaworld.site An Jing inquired, ¡°Uncle Luo, do you have any?¡± When things were fine, he was an old Taoist, but at the moment of need, he became Uncle Luo. An Jing, my frugal nephew, is not simple either, thought Luo Chongyang as he glanced at An Jing and took out his own purse, giving it a shake, ¡°I¡¯m so poor I jingle, where would I get any Silver Coins? These hundred Copper Coins were even given to me by you today. Have you possibly saved all your earnings from your decades of wandering the Jianghu?¡± An Jing shook his head; he did have some savings on him, but it was not Silver¡­ The two poor ghosts, old and young, exchanged glances. ¡°Actually, there is another way.¡± Luo Chongyang smashed his right fist into his left palm and said, ¡°In Great Yan, there are several mountain ranges that are beautifully picturesque, full of spiritual energy and wonder, where rare and exotic treasures are not uncommon. If you could obtain such a thing, it wouldn¡¯t be just about replenishing your Essence, there might even be a chance for you to reach the One Qi Realm.¡± After pondering for a moment, An Jing asked, ¡°Which place?¡± Luo Chongyang said seriously, ¡°In Lengping Mountain, there is Ghost Ganoderma.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t go to that place,¡± said An Jing as he immediately shook his head upon hearing these three words. What kind of place was Lengping? An Jing was well aware, having even visited the location, which was on the border of Jiangnan Dao. The capital of the Zhou Dynasty was located in Lengping. When the dynasty fell apart, the world was divided into nine parts, with the most powerful factions being Great Yan in the northern region and the Shu of the current Beihuang Dao and Nanping Dao. Great Yan embraced distant diplomacy while engaging in aggressive expansion, soon after annexing several smaller countries. Shu united with other states to resist Great Yan, and both sides claimed righteousness in a standstill that lasted for years. One side claimed to clear the king¡¯s side, while the other sought to exterminate traitorous subjects. Naturally, the final outcome was Great Yan¡¯s victory, but the battle was incredibly brutal, resulting in the deaths of seven hundred thousand soldiers. And this battle took place in Lengping. The souls of seven hundred thousand soldiers had no home to return to and eventually formed an overwhelming evil aura. Because Lengping was located in Jiangnan Dao, An Jing had once visited that ancient battlefield. At the time, he already possessed Fifth Grade Cultivation and was met with an overwhelming evil aura. By the time he returned to Yu State City, he had fallen gravely ill. He always felt that the land of Lengping was particularly harmful to him. Since then, he had kept his distance from Lengping. Lou Xiangzhen had also once mentioned to him that it was best not to go to Lengping, as rumors said the evil aura there had not dissipated for a long time and might even be connected to the Underworld. Occasionally, ghost soldiers would appear, and encountering them passing by would be a major trouble. An Jing simply wanted to repair the Essence within his body and was not yet desperate enough to risk himself. While it¡¯s true that fortune favors the bold, that saying generally applies to expendable ceramics because they have little value and can be easily replaced if broken. A few risks in life are enough. Constantly putting one¡¯s life on the line will eventually result in losing one¡¯s head. Luo Chongyang¡¯s mind raced as he said, ¡°Beyond Wangjing Sea lies Outer Heaven Island, where the population is sparse and spiritual treasures abound. It is said that immortals from overseas occasionally appear to enlighten all beings.¡± On the eastern side of Great Yan and Zhao Country, there weren¡¯t just a group of pirates causing trouble but also a vast, endless sea with countless islands. Because they were far from human habitation and worldly affairs, they were known as a paradise on earth. Fishermen near the islands often claimed to see immortals from overseas, and these were presumably the masters of the Grandmaster Realm who chose to live in seclusion in this area. ¡°No,¡± An Jing shook his head, ¡°That place is full of experts, and the journey is too long. Even with the round trip and the search, it will take at least three to four months.¡± Luo Chongyang sighed, ¡°Then my nephew can only wait slowly. You¡¯ve depleted too much. Without spirit pills, miraculous medicines, or heavenly materials and earthly treasures, it will take years to recover gradually.¡± The difficulty of restoring essence blood actually increases upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm. An Jing thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Could the Volcanic Essence from Beili Volcano help me recover my essence quickly?¡± He had originally planned to go to Beili Volcano to borrow the Volcanic Essence, absorb its essence, and thereby enter the Grandmaster Realm, or even to follow in Li Fuzhou¡¯s footsteps and directly reach the One Qi Realm. Now, this incomplete ¡°Nameless Heart Scripture¡± had pushed him to the Grandmaster Realm, but at a significant loss of essence blood, and it had not directly returned his essence qi to its place. Now, whenever he entered a meditative state, the spiritual energy from heaven and earth he absorbed would directly convert into essence blood, meaning he had the cultivation, but the true qi inside his body was extremely thin. ¡°It¡¯s difficult,¡± Luo Chongyang pondered for a moment and said, ¡°The Volcanic Essence from Beili Volcano is similar in effect to the Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect. Every year, many people from Jianghu go near Beili Volcano to absorb the Volcanic Essence. Compared to the Thunder Essence within the Five Poison Sect¡¯s Thunder Pool, the Volcanic Essence is extremely overbearing. Moreover, a large amount of essence is buried deep beneath Beili Volcano, where temperatures are extremely high. At the bottom of the volcano lives an exotic beast called Honghu, which belongs to ancient divine birds. Its strength is no small matter, and even Grandmaster experts dare not approach it lightly.¡± ¡°Most importantly, absorbing too much Volcanic Essence will leave fire poison in one¡¯s body.¡± As he said this, Luo Chongyang paused for a moment. An Jing frowned and asked, ¡°Absorbing this Fire Essence will leave fire poison behind?¡± The method left by the Sect Leader of Ghost Valley for Lv Guoyong mentioned that only those with extremely heavy yin energy should not absorb it¨Ccould it be implicitly referring to this fire poison? ¡°That¡¯s right, the Volcanic Essence is extremely domineering. Once absorbed by the human body, it will undoubtedly be difficult to purge the impurities. Centuries ago, there was a peerless expert who practiced the Burning Fire Technique with the help of this Volcanic Essence. In the end, significant fire poison developed within his body, burning everything to ash, leaving nothing but dust behind. After the disappearance of this peerless expert, which caused a great shock in Jianghu, nobody knew of his whereabouts. Only the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect, who was a friend of his, knew that this peerless expert had died from fire poison combustion.¡± Seeing that An Jing had not spoken, Luo Chongyang continued, ¡°However, it¡¯s not impossible for you to try. Beili Volcano is also considered one of Jianghu¡¯s great secrets, with many wondrous spiritual plants surviving around it. Furthermore, in the caves of Beili Volcano, there are many remnants of experts from Jianghu. It¡¯s possible that there are other opportunities. For example, Tian Liu from the Cao Gang once found the remnants of a very old person in Beili Volcano and acquired a part of the Soul Losing Hand and half of the Three Extremes Return to One technique, which helped him cultivate to the First Grade. What he obtained was but a small fraction, hardly worth mentioning.¡± Upon hearing this, An Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go there.¡± With the Earth Book in hand, as long as there were any opportunities within a certain range, he could find them with ease. Beili Volcano seemed like a good destination. Luo Chongyang pointed at the Black Flood Dragon and reminded, ¡°The Honghu at the bottom of Beili Volcano is formidable. In my opinion, this Black Flood Dragon should not approach within several dozen miles of Beili Volcano.¡± ¡°Exotic beasts can sense each other, and if that Honghu bursts out from the bottom of the mountain, the trouble will be significant. Although this Black Flood Dragon is an extremely fierce exotic beast, it may not be a match for that Honghu.¡± Luo Chongyang could naturally tell that the Black Flood Dragon in front of him had just molted, whereas the Honghu had been cultivating at the bottom of the volcano for who-knows-how-many years. The Black Flood Dragon was certainly no match for the Honghu. ¡°Roar!¡± Upon hearing Luo Chongyang¡¯s words, the Black Flood Dragon let out a low roar, seemingly dissatisfied with what he said. An Jing nodded and said, ¡°Then please accompany me on this journey, Uncle Luo.¡± Luo Chongyang chuckled softly, ¡°My nephew, I only agreed to accompany you to the Demon Sect, but this Beili Volcano¡­¡­.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Could it be that Uncle Luo wishes to negotiate terms with his nephew?¡± Luo Chongyang replied as if it were only natural, ¡°What terms? You¡¯re putting it so crudely. I should at least get some compensation, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°What does Uncle Luo want?¡± Luo Chongyang looked at the lazily reclining Black Flood Dragon, a gleam of light appearing in his eyes, ¡°One drop of essence blood from this Black Flood Dragon.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± An Jing immediately consented. One drop of essence blood was hardly significant for the Black Flood Dragon. Luo Chongyang straightened his robe and said, ¡°Let¡¯s descend the mountain first so that I can prepare properly.¡± An Jing nodded and said nothing more. Afterward, the two rode the moonlight down from Xuanqing Mountain. Unlike An Jing, who was extremely weak and drowsy on the back of the Black Flood Dragon. In a short while, they reached a small village at the foot of Xuanqing Mountain. At that moment, the night was utterly silent, and the village was pitch black except for a small courtyard still lit by lamp light. ¡°` ¡°You¡¯ll wait for me a moment here,¡± An Jing said and then walked into the courtyard. The tiles were damaged and the kiln was cold, yet the courtyard was simple but very clean and orderly. ¡°Creak¨C!¡± An Jing slowly pushed the door open. Hearing the knock, a woman in her early twenties with an ordinary appearance came out and smiled, saying, ¡°Uncle Luo, why did you come back so late tonight? The children have all fallen asleep, but I¡¯ve saved you some food.¡± An Jing looked at the woman and said, ¡°No need for the food, I am going to be away for a while to preach and teach. This is the copper coins I¡¯ve earned these days, and I¡¯m leaving all of it for you.¡± Saying so, he took out all of the copper coins from his purse and handed them to the woman. The woman, seeing this, hastily refused, ¡°Uncle Luo, if you give it all to us, what will you do¡­ keep some for yourself.¡± ¡°No need, to me, these are all but worldly possessions.¡± An Jing smiled and placed all of the copper coins on the table. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, you should also rest early and stop staying up late to mend clothes,¡± he said. Then, An Jing turned and walked out the door. The woman stood at the door and called out to An Jing¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Uncle Luo, take care on your journey and remember to come back early.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± An Jing smiled faintly and left the courtyard. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± An Jing leaned against the wall, constantly coughing. An Jing walked over and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± An Jing curiously asked, ¡°That woman is¡­?¡± An Jing looked to be over forty years old, but his real age might be even older than Lou Xiangzhen, and the voice of that woman sounded like she was just over twenty. An Jing said indifferently, ¡°A pitiful child. Her parents abandoned her at the doorstep of the Daoist temple. I took pity on her and adopted her, and then gradually took in more abandoned children.¡± An Jing, intrigued, said, ¡°You¡¯ve set up a Daoist temple?¡± A traitor from the Zhenyi Sect daring to set up a Daoist temple, that¡¯s quite some courage. An Jing nodded, ¡°I have.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Where?¡± An Jing looked at the distant moonlight and said slowly, ¡°On any barren piece of land in this world.¡± ¡­¡­ Houjin, North Field. In early summer, waves of grass ripple outwards, a few golden flowers adorn the verdant grasslands, each unique. Flocks of sheep, like clouds in the sky, spread across the vast expanse of the great grasslands. Groups of Houjin herdsmen walked leisurely in front of their homes, raced horses, and played, while women of Houjin stood in the distance singing and dancing. Qi Shu stood atop the grassland, calmly watching the scene before him. A woman came walking over slowly and said, ¡°Qi Ziyi, what do you think of my Houjin?¡± The woman in her thirties was dressed in a red robe, with deerskin boots beneath her feet, looking graceful and seductive with an air of valor in her demeanor. This woman was none other than the eighth daughter of the Holy Master Zongzheng Huachun of Houjin, Zongzheng Yue. ¡°Princess well wishes.¡± Qi Shu performed a Houjin salute to the woman and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine that Houjin has developed to such an extent these days. It¡¯s breathtaking and one must admit that under the current Holy Master¡¯s leadership, Houjin is increasingly resembling a prosperous dynasty.¡± Zongzheng Yue smiled, ¡°How does it compare to Great Yan?¡± Qi Shu almost responded without thinking, ¡°More thriving than Great Yan.¡± ¡°` Zongzheng Yue¡¯s smile deepened. Regardless of whether Qi Shu¡¯s words were sincere or not, having such a renowned master flatter him was indeed a pleasure. Zongzheng Yue looked to the south, a hint of light sparkling in her beautiful eyes. ¡°The ancestral lands are rich with heavenly treasures, and the people are as spirited as the land itself. Our grasslands are no less exceptional.¡± Qi Shu let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that this time, I wasn¡¯t able to obtain any news about that Taiping Human Emperor from Princess An Le.¡± This Taiping Human Emperor was ruthless and also a martial arts prodigy, the very existence that Zhao Country feared the most. If it weren¡¯t for the appearance of this Human Emperor in Great Yan and Xiao Qianqiu, who suppresses Jianghu, Zhao Country might have unified what is today¡¯s Yan Country long ago. The original goal of Qi Shu¡¯s mission was to find out if the Taiping Human Emperor had really suffered the serious injuries rumored. Zongzheng Yue said with a smile, ¡°Qi Ziyi, do you know what a true master is?¡± Qi Shu looked at the beautiful grassland woman in front of him. ¡°Oh?¡± There were few in the world who dared to speak of masters in front of Qi Shu. Qi Shu had reached the Second Qi Cultivation and was the only one who could closely follow behind Xiao Qianqiu, a glimpse is indicative of the whole. Had he not been previously injured by that mysterious Grandmaster and been wary of the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s Black Flood Dragon sitting below him, how could the Ghost Swordsman be his match? And the reason why the Ghost Swordsman¡¯s name resounded throughout the world and became famous was simply because he had chased him for more than three hundred miles. Zongzheng Yue looked into the distance, speaking slowly, ¡°A true master knows it¡¯s a trap, but he still enters it, and moreover, he breaks it.¡± ¡°Therefore, it doesn¡¯t matter whether the Taiping Human Emperor is alive or dead, Houjin will still move south to graze the horses.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Hearing this, Qi Shu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°The princess speaks truly, there are few women in the world as heroic as you.¡± Upon hearing Zongzheng Yue¡¯s words, Qi Shu completely understood Houjin¡¯s ambitions and became secretly vigilant. Houjin is a fierce tiger, and dealing with the Black Ice Platform is like negotiating with the tiger for its skin. It remains to be seen whether the hunter can kill this fierce tiger or if the tiger will turn and bite the hunter instead; one must prepare early, or else it will be too late for regrets. Zongzheng Yue slightly lifted her head to look at Qi Shu, saying, ¡°Qi Ziyi flatters me too much, I heard that you plan to return to Zhao Country?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Shu nodded, ¡°After this trip to Yan Country, and having consumed the Snow Lotus Seed bestowed by the Holy Master, I feel my cultivation bottleneck loosening. I plan to rush back to Zhao to break through my constraints.¡± Zongzheng Yue smiled and said, ¡°Then Zongzheng Yue congratulates Qi Ziyi in advance. I shall also tell you another piece of good news to add to your joy.¡± Qi Shu looked at Zongzheng Yue, asking, ¡°What good news?¡± Zongzheng Yue slowly said, ¡°In Great Qin¡¯s Dragon Slayer Land, there remains True Dragon Treasure Blood buried deep underground that Qi Ziyi could attempt to obtain with your abilities.¡± True Dragon Treasure Blood!? Upon hearing these four words, Qi Shu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The historical records note that only one true dragon has ever appeared. Back then, the Great Qin Dynasty deployed a million troops, dozens of Masters, and three Grandmaster Level experts to slay that dragon. In that battle, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and several Masters were lost, with even two Grandmasters perishing. One can imagine the tragic intensity of the battle that nearly drained all of Great Qin¡¯s national strength. However, the Qin royal family obtained the True Dragon Essence Blood, and every member of the Qin Dynasty¡¯s royal family possessed True Dragon Bloodline thereafter, advancing rapidly in their cultivation and becoming world-renowned Martial Arts Emperors, which allowed the Great Qin Dynasty to thrive for so long. Aside from that one true dragon, no other has appeared in the world since then. True Dragon Treasure Blood, although far inferior to True Dragon Essence Blood, was still an extremely rare treasure. Its absorption into one¡¯s body and bloodline would certainly transform one¡¯s potential, and even possibly provide an opportunity to reach the Grandmaster Realm. Instantly, Qi Shu¡¯s heart beat wildly as he murmured to himself, ¡°Great Qin¡¯s Dragon Slayer Land?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zongzheng Yue slightly nodded, ¡°Indeed, this is the news that the Great Wizard of the Southern Barbarians told my father, absolutely true.¡± Qi Shu bowed with his fist clenched, saying solemnly, ¡°Thank you for the news. I am deeply grateful.¡± For him, this news was a treasure beyond measure, as it would be for anyone. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pre-emptively wish Qi Ziyi great success.¡± Zongzheng Yue smiled, yet internally she thought to herself: Xiao Qianqiu, my father has indeed found you a worthy opponent. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 196: A Murderous Intent Appears in the Righteous Manor Chapter 196: Chapter 196: A Murderous Intent Appears in the Righteous Manor Two days later, outside Beili City, at the entrance of the charitable estate. The night was tranquil, with a waning moon hanging high, soft as fluff, light as a floating cloud, varying in depth, seemingly there and yet not. Under a large tree stood two figures, An Jing and Luo Chongyang. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± An Jing¡¯s body was still actively cycling the ¡°Nameless Heart Scripture,¡± absorbing the spiritual energy from heaven and earth, nurturing his essence blood. According to this pace, he wouldn¡¯t need the several years Luo Chongyang spoke of. Half a year might suffice for a nearly full recovery. But, half a year was still a very long time for An Jing. Luo Chongyang¡¯s eyes flickered with light as he said, ¡°Tomorrow, during the Yin hour, which is also when the Yin energy is the strongest, is the best time to enter the cave.¡± An Jing nodded, ¡°Then we shall rest at this charitable estate for a moment.¡± However, they only needed to wait in this place for a day and a night. Luo Chongyang took out a compass from his sleeve and said, ¡°You go ahead and enter the charitable estate. Uncle-Master will check out the cave terrain. If I don¡¯t return after a while, remember to enter the cave at the Yin hour.¡± An Jing asked, ¡°Does it take a whole day to check the terrain?¡± Luo Chongyang responded as if it were obvious, ¡°Of course, the cave¡¯s terrain is complex, so naturally I must thoroughly explore it for my nephew.¡± Go to wuxiaworld.site As he spoke, Luo Chongyang walked off into the distance. An Jing watched his back, murmuring lowly, ¡°This old Taoist, he probably has some schemes.¡± Compared to Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s sullen nature, Luo Chongyang was more like an old child at heart, possessing an unrestrained spirit and an ideal that transcended the secular world. In this world, everyone has their own calculations, and not everything centers around oneself. This trip to Beili Volcano, Luo Chongyang had his purpose, and An Jing had his. As long as they didn¡¯t encroach on each other and had no conflict of interest, they could cooperate wholeheartedly. An Jing turned and walked toward the charitable estate. This estate was originally established as a school by a nearby clan. Later, for some reason, the entire clan moved away, leaving behind dozens of empty houses. The Court didn¡¯t demolish them to provide convenience for travelers needing a place to rest. Entering the house, An Jing casually chose a pile of straw to sit on, placing the Evil Suppressing Sword before his knees. The ¡°Sword Dao General Outline¡± states that there are many types of swordsmanship, but truly superior swordsmanship is rare. Among them, the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor¡¯s Heavenly Dao Sword and Lou Xiangzhen¡¯s Human Dao Sword are considered superior sword techniques. Swordsmanship is a swordsman¡¯s expression of essence, energy, and spirit, so the higher the level of swordsmanship, the more difficult it is to reach the Sixth Realm. Yan Gang¡¯s Fast Sword Dao, for example, is not considered a superior sword technique, neither is the famous Killing Sword Dao; most swordsmen in Jianghu train in such moderate swordsmanship. An Jing had not considered any specific sword Dao to train in since he started sword training; his mind was more focused on integrating with all things, which is why he often referred to the Sword Dao General Outline. Later, his intricate fusion of sword techniques surpassed both the Heavenly Dao Sword and the Human Dao Sword, yet was not recorded in the Sword Dao General Outline. It was like rootless duckweed, requiring him to explore and comprehend by himself. An Jing touched the sword scabbard, his mind earnestly contemplating. Just then, several hurried footsteps came from outside the charitable estate. ¡°Brother Wu, we¡¯ve hurriedly covered seventy li; we should have shaken off Ning Cunzheng by now.¡± ¡°Sister Xu, there¡¯s nowhere good to rest nearby; let¡¯s make do in this charitable estate for tonight.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s just make do here for the night.¡± ¡­¡­ Several young men and women hurriedly entered, all appearing somewhat anxious. They were all dressed in white robes, with the same crescent emblem on their chests, clearly all disciples of the same sect. The leader was a young man with a horse face and a broad forehead, whose appearance was not handsome and could even be described as somewhat ugly. Beside him was a young girl whose looks were passable, but she was not stunningly beautiful. A few other young men and women followed these two, treating them as if they were stars surrounded by the moon. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Seeing the approaching figure, An Jing couldn¡¯t help but let out a light cough. ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡± One of the young women, startled by the sound, immediately called out in alarm. The others appeared as though facing a formidable enemy, weapons in hand raised, as they looked over in the direction of the sound. They saw a man in a black robe sitting cross-legged amongst the grass, coughing continuously. Wu Hao, seeing this, let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Junior Sister Xu, don¡¯t panic, it turns out it¡¯s just a sickly traveler.¡± Xu Wanling¡¯s heart, which had been in her throat, settled back in her stomach, ¡°You startled me. I thought Ning Cunzheng had caught up to us.¡± Wu Hao gave a laugh and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just make do here for the night. Junior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother Chen, start a fire and prepare something to eat.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied the two young men behind him, bustling about to start a fire. Xu Wanling looked at An Jing with suspicion but seeing the man in the black robe lying on the grass pile, still coughing continuously and apparently not faking, she finally relaxed a little. The campfire rose, crackling sounds filling the air, and soon the group of men and women began to talk in soft voices. After a moment of contemplation, Wu Hao said, ¡°We might have already shaken off Ning Cunzheng. It¡¯s good we avoided him, otherwise, we¡¯d be in grave danger.¡± ¡°My second senior uncle died at his hands, and now that he¡¯s returned to Great Yan, his cultivation is even more formidable than before. Bearing our master¡¯s orders, we must proceed with caution and absolutely cannot afford any mistakes.¡± Xu Wanling frowned and added, ¡°He has the cultivation of a Second Grade, yet he stoops to serving as a dog for Soul Seeker Mansion, working for Houjin. It¡¯s a shame he doesn¡¯t know the meaning of disgrace.¡± The other disciples around them nodded in agreement, their expressions grave. Although their voices were low, An Jing lying in the grass pile could hear everything clearly: it turns out that these people were disciples of the Yanhang Sect. Apart from the seven major sects, there were a total of hundreds of sects of various sizes registered with the Ministry of Revenue in Great Yan. Yanhang Sect was a sect with some reputation in Yun Hua Dao, but among the entire Great Yan Martial World, it could only be considered a second-tier sect. Its leader, Huang Tianhua, a practitioner at the Second Grade Realm, had a reputation for being charitable and friendly, garnering him quite a bit of fame. Listening to their conversation, An Jing learned that both the young man with the surname Wu and the young woman named Xu were disciples of Huang Tianhua, and were considered outstanding among the younger generation of the Yanhang Sect. Within a sect, there is a world of Jianghu. An Jing had encountered the wide world of Jianghu since starting his journey. Underneath this vast martial world were countless smaller worlds of Jianghu. ¡°It seems that Great Yan and Houjin will inevitably go to war given time, and Soul Seeker Mansion must be their preparation against the top fighters of the Great Yan Martial World,¡± An Jing thought quietly to himself after overhearing their conversation. He had, of course, heard of Soul Seeker Mansion, an organization Houjin used to rally martial artists from Great Yan, Zhao Country, and other places. It seemed there were many able fighters within it. Suddenly, Xu Wanling pointed at the figure lying in the distant grass pile and suggested, ¡°Brother Wu, why don¡¯t we give him some food?¡± Xu Wanling looked at the man in the black robe, alone and continuously coughing, and compassion arose in her heart. ¡°Alright,¡± agreed Wu Hao, picking up some dry food and quickly walking over to An Jing, ¡°Friend, would you like something to eat? This is some of the best jerky we have.¡± An Jing struggled to sit up and took the jerky, ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Thank you,¡± he replied. ¡°So pitiable,¡± Wu Hao said as he watched An Jing¡¯s condition, shaking his head. Carrying such a serious illness and lying alone in the middle of a charitable burial place, it made him wonder whether the sick man had no home to return to, possibly facing death with no one to collect his body. ¡°Sigh.¡± Wu Hao returned to his fellow sect members and let out a sigh. Xu Wanling asked curiously, ¡°Brother Wu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Wu Hao shook his head and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just lamenting the chaotic state of the world.¡± And in the distance, An Jing glanced at the dried meat in his hand and tasted a piece. It was fairly good, much tastier than the flatbread he had brought with him. Suddenly, his brows furrowed, and he thought to himself, ¡°Someone else is coming. There are two of them, one very close by the door, and the other about ninety feet away. The footsteps don¡¯t belong to that old Taoist, and there¡¯s a murderous intent¡­¡± Meanwhile, the people of the Yanhang Sect were completely unaware that someone had already arrived outside the righteous manor, and were tidying up the place, preparing to lie down and rest. ¡°Found you.¡± A cold voice sounded, echoing within the righteous manor. A middle-aged man holding a spear stood outside the door, his murderous gaze not the slightest bit concealed. ¡°It¡¯s Ning Cunzheng!¡± Upon seeing the newcomer, Wu Hao felt as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. The other disciples of the Yanhang Sect also turned pale, never expecting to be caught by the man before them after all their efforts to hide. Ning Cunzheng¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, ¡°You little fellows, keep hiding. I¡¯d like to see where you can run to now.¡± Xu Wanling bit her lip and coldly shouted, ¡°Ning Cunzheng, you should show some respect as an elder of the Great Yan Martial World, always bullying the young, and what¡¯s more, you¡¯ve thrown in your lot with the Soul Seeker Mansion, becoming Houjin¡¯s groveling dog. How pathetic.¡± Ning Cunzheng¡¯s eyes held a hint of cold indifference and mockery, ¡°What does a little girl like you know? Being alive anywhere is better than lying dead on the ground.¡± ¡°Today this old man will smash your heads, and then I¡¯ll see how Huang Tianhua reacts when I place them before him.¡± As he spoke, Ning Cunzheng waved his spear, and a fierce spear energy pierced through. With his Second Grade Cultivation, dealing with these youngsters was naturally a piece of cake. Even Xu Wanling and Wu Hao together were merely at Fifth Grade Cultivation. ¡°Bang Bang Bang Bang!¡± A single wave of spear energy swept over, and all the disciples of the Yanhang Sect fell to the ground. ¡°Your heads, Ning will take them.¡± Ning Cunzheng¡¯s eyes turned frosty, and just as he was about to raise his spear to kill, his brows suddenly furrowed deeply. He felt as if he¡¯d lost all his strength, his body and palms seemingly nailed in place, unable to move. ¡°Could there be a ghost within this righteous manor?¡± Cold sweat appeared on Ning Cunzheng¡¯s forehead. He had never encountered such a bizarre situation before. It wasn¡¯t just Ning Cunzheng, everyone from the Yanhang Sect equally found that they could not move at all. Xu Wanling was also in a great panic, asking, ¡°Brother Wu, what¡¯s happening? I can¡¯t move at all.¡± Wu Hao¡¯s face was also full of shock, ¡°I have no idea.¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Just then, a burst of loud laughter came from outside the manor. Looking towards the source of the laughter, they saw a woman dressed in black entering. The woman had her face veiled and was indiscernible, her voice sounding to be in her thirties, but she had a curvaceous figure, full of allure, easily stirring a man¡¯s desire. Ning Cunzheng quickly asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The woman ignored Ning Cunzheng and instead turned her gaze toward An Jing, who was lying on the ground, with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s true what they say, no need for the effort when ¡¯tis fate. The effort is nothing if the fortune is predestined.¡± An Jing was somewhat surprised and asked, ¡°You came specifically for me?¡± The woman in black took out a piece of incense, laughing, ¡°This is Snowy Mugwort, colorless and odorless. Anyone below the Grandmaster Realm who smells Snowy Mugwort will become completely powerless, as if subjected to an Immobilization Spell, and the effect can last the time it takes an incense stick to burn.¡± An Jing pondered thoughtfully, ¡°The person capable of concocting such a thing must not be ordinary.¡± Snowy Mugwort, just hearing about its effectiveness, one would know it¡¯s very precious and rare, certainly not something that could be easily concocted. Clearly, the woman in black had paid a significant price for him. Moreover, in the Jianghu, not many dared to come knocking on his door looking for trouble. ¡°Sir,¡± Ning Cunzheng whispered, ¡°I am from the Soul Seeker Mansion, may I ask if you possibly¡­¡± ¡°Silence!¡± The woman in black raised her eyebrows and swept her hand forward. ¡°Bang!¡± Profound Inner Strength surged from her palm and violently struck Ning Cunzheng¡¯s body, and with a ¡®bang¡¯, the Second Grade Cultivation Ning Cunzheng instantly turned into a mist of blood. Seeing this scene, the entire Yanhang Sect was petrified with shock, as if turned to stone. Wu Hao¡¯s face went pale to the extreme, and his heart thumped so wildly it felt like it could burst out. Too terrifying! It was indeed too terrifying! A Second Grade expert, a martial artist with Second Grade Cultivation, had just been turned into a blood mist with a single slap. Who in the world was this woman in black!? Wu Hao had seen experts kill like slaughtering dogs, but this was his first time seeing someone kill a high-level expert as if slaughtering a dog. An Jing lay in the pile of grass and said with a smile, ¡°If you want to kill me, could you at least let me die knowing why?¡± ¡°Kill you? How could I bear to kill you?¡± The woman in black¡¯s eyes gleamed as she playfully complained, ¡°Sister hasn¡¯t had enough time to dote on you.¡± With that, she extended her hand and a powerful Qi Force emerged from her palm, rushing towards An Jing. The Qi Force was as soft as snow, as if intending to envelop An Jing. But just as the Force Qi was about to touch An Jing, it suddenly came up against a burst of Supreme Yang True Qi, causing the Inner Strength to dissipate completely. ¡°Not good!?¡± The woman in black reacted extremely quickly, instantly thinking of something and swiftly retreating towards the outside of the charity estate. ¡°Sister wants to leave now? Isn¡¯t it a bit too late?¡± An Jing chuckled lightly. The woman in black moved with astounding speed, disappearing from the charity estate in the blink of an eye. But An Jing¡¯s speed was even faster, vanishing before the Yanhang Sect members could even blink. This was indeed the Master¡¯s Secret Technique, Shrinking Land into Inches. In a flash, the entire charity estate became eerily silent. Wu Hao looked at the disappearing figure of the man in the black robe, his lips trembling, ¡°Grand¡­. Grandmaster¡­.¡± That ¡®sickly man¡¯ was a Grandmaster! Just now, a legendary figure from the Jianghu was right before him, even staying under the same roof. If it weren¡¯t for that woman in black, and the events that just unfolded, he would never believe that the pitiful ¡®sickly man¡¯ was actually a master-class expert. ¡°Brother Wu, what Grandmaster? What are you talking about?¡± Xu Wanling¡¯s mind was in chaos, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask after hearing Wu Hao¡¯s words. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Wu Hao looked outside the charity estate, shaking as he said, ¡°That¡­ that person is a Grandmaster, that man lying on the ground in the black robe, is a Grandmaster predecessor.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Xu Wanling¡¯s face was full of astonishment, and she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. The Yanhang Sect disciples nearby, upon hearing Wu Hao¡¯s words, also felt their hearts quake, their eyes filled with disbelief. Just moments ago, a master-class expert had been right before their eyes, and they had been completely unaware? Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Appearance of the Divine Bird Exotic Beast Honghu Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Appearance of the Divine Bird Exotic Beast Honghu Outside Beili City, all was quiet. The woman in black moved like the wind, her toes touching a branch, darting forward like a dragonfly skimming the water¡¯s surface. The night hurried along, and soon they had covered several hundred yards. ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected this Ghost Swordsman to have entered the Grandmaster Realm.¡± When she saw that her snow-on-a-branch technique was ineffective against the Ghost Swordsman, she guessed that he must have entered the Grandmaster Realm. The Ghost Swordsman was one of the six Great Sword Immortals and had defeated two other Sword Immortals. Reaching the Grandmaster Realm, he was even three times more formidable than an ordinary grandmaster. How could she, with her Half-step Master Cultivation, possibly be his match? Therefore, she decisively chose to run. The night hurried on, and the woman in black, hearing no sound behind her, let out a slight sigh of relief. But the next moment, her pupils sharply contracted. There in the moonlight ahead, a figure in a black robe stood, his eyes indifferent like still water. It was the Ghost Swordsman! The woman in black shuddered, halting her step to stand on a thin sprig, her chest heaving. An Jing indifferently said, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± The woman in black, unfazed, even laughed, ¡°Where can your sister go? Just out for some air, to see the moon.¡± Go to wuxiaworld.site An Jing did not want to waste words with this woman, directly asking, ¡°Who are you, and what power do you represent?¡± Who exactly was this woman in front of him, and why was she causing him trouble? The woman in black blinked and said, ¡°If sister accompanies me to watch the moon, I¡¯ll tell you, how about it?¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°I want to see what makes you so confident.¡± Having said that, An Jing leaped forward, reaching out to grab the woman in black. The woman in black saw only a blur before another figure appeared in front of her, quickly sidestepping and raising her own palm to counter. ¡°Bang!¡± Their palms did not directly contact, but the resulting Qi Force was explosive, emitting a deafening sound. ¡°Tap tap tap tap¡­.¡± The woman in black felt as though she had been struck by a mountain, her inner breath boiling, her organs trembling, instantly turning her complexion pale. An Jing, expressionless, said, ¡°I used thirty percent of my strength in that palm, the next one won¡¯t be so lucky for you.¡± The woman in black ignored An Jing¡¯s threat and instead called out sharply, ¡°Sister, if you don¡¯t come out now, I might die by his hand, and you won¡¯t be able to live either.¡± There were others around!? An Jing¡¯s eyebrows lifted; he had only sensed one Qi Mechanism. Shortly after the woman in black spoke, a woman in white floated towards them from afar, bathed in the moonlight. The woman with a delicate waist and light steps, her wrists as white as porcelain under the gauze, her features exquisite and beautiful as a painting, her white clothes purer than snow, adding to her saintly and untainted appearance. ¡°My friend, Su Lian greets you respectfully,¡± she said. Compared to the woman in black, the woman in white was very polite and courteous, giving a gentle bow to An Jing as she spoke. An Jing watched the woman in white, but his brows were tightly knitted. Su Lian and the woman in black had the same Qi Mechanism, and if he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he would not have noticed that they were two different people. Seeing the woman in white appear, the woman in black immediately laughed coyly, ¡°Sister, aren¡¯t you going to join forces with me to take this Ghost Swordsman back?¡± An Jing looked at the two, asking, ¡°Who exactly are you, and why are you attacking me?¡± The woman in black, her seductive eyes shining, said, ¡°Attacking you is naturally to take good care of you.¡± As she spoke, without waiting for a response from An Jing, the woman in black charged at him. Fast! Very fast! If just moments ago the woman in black possessed only Half-step Master Cultivation, now she seemed to have suddenly broken through her constraints, turning into a master of the Master Realm. ¡°How has this woman in black suddenly increased in strength so much!?¡± In the blink of an eye, the woman in black had already rushed to her, her hand seeming to want to rest on her shoulder to capture him. ¡°Shing!¡± A cold light unsheathed, exploding like a cracked silver jug under the moonlight, casting a startling gleam towards the arm of the woman in black. ¡°Not good!¡± The woman in black quickly withdrew her arm, but the sword light still rushed towards her. The Evil Suppressing Sword was fierce as frost, the blade turning wildly, its tip like a venomous snake¡¯s tongue, striking terror into the heart. Even though the woman in black knew the Ghost Swordsman was formidable, especially having entered the Grandmaster level, she didn¡¯t expect him to be this formidable. The woman in black retreated dozens of steps, then wrapped her palms around, seemingly forming a special Seal Technique. Life and Death Seal! Yin Wind Burial! The woman in black shot into the air, swaying her body, casting a sinister seal technique toward the front. Bang! Bang! Bang! An Jing¡¯s palm turned, and a cold light suddenly appeared on the Evil Suppressing Sword. Nine-character Sword Technique! Dou Character Secret! Sword Qi enveloped the hanging moon like a mountain. The moment the sword qi collided with the seal technique, explosions erupted continuously, a force of Qi surged from the emptiness, and several large trees around were swept up, rapidly transforming the ground into a pocked landscape. Although both were in the Grandmaster Realm, the woman in black was somewhat flustered, floating backwards on the ground. ¡°Shoo!¡± An Jing knew his essence blood was depleted and he could not fully exert his strength nor afford a prolonged battle. He immediately leapt forward, his longsword moving like a dragon. Seeing this, Su Lian¡¯s eyebrows raised sharply, and she immediately stepped in front of the woman in black. Light and shadow intertwined, Su Lian also displayed a seal technique, seemingly identical to that of the woman in black. Life and Death Seal! Parting of Life and Death! Black and white Qi swirled in her palms, and under the moonlight, she appeared like a banished immortal from the mortal world. Her seal technique grew larger and larger until it burst forth from her palms. ¡°Break!¡± An Jing¡¯s expression did not change as he pushed forward with the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand. ¡°Boom!¡± Sword Control Technique! The blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword transformed into a beam of flowing light, piercing through the darkness ahead. Infinite sharpness burst from the body of the Evil Suppressing Sword, and soon struck the seal technique. ¡°Crack!¡± The seal technique shattered in an instant, scattering into the air, and much of the sword qi around the Evil Suppressing Sword also dispersed. Following An Jing¡¯s inhaling of True Qi, it returned to his palm. Both their seal techniques were instantly broken by the sword qi. ¡°Friend, hold on!¡± Seeing An Jing about to strike again, Su Lian quickly shouted. An Jing paused with the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand and spoke indifferently, ¡°Who exactly are you, and what is your purpose? If you do not speak now, do not blame me for being impolite.¡± The woman in black also knew of the prowess of the Ghost Swordsman before her and stood beside Su Lian without speaking. Su Lian took a deep breath and said, ¡°We are from Zhao Country. We came to find a friend because an elder in our family wanted to meet you.¡± An Jing¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light, ¡°Black Ice Platform!?¡± From his memory, only his connections with Qi Shu held such enmity; could it be that the two women before him were masters from the Black Ice Platform!? Thinking this, his heart filled with intent to kill. The woman in black then said, ¡°My sister is not a person from the Black Ice Platform.¡± Su Lian knew of An Jing¡¯s grievances with Qi Shu, and quickly smiled, ¡°Friend, rest assured, we are not people from the Black Ice Platform. This invitation from our elder is meant in good faith.¡± ¡°Good faith?¡± An Jing glared at the woman in black, ¡°You do not seem to carry good intentions.¡± ¡°This is my sister Su Yue; she acts somewhat rashly and impetuously. The herb on the snow only serves to deplete strength and carries no poison.¡± Su Lian gave An Jing a deep bow and said, ¡°Thus, I would like to apologize on behalf of my sister here.¡± An Jing glanced at the two, ¡°Who is your elder?¡± Su Lian replied, ¡°Our elder¡¯s surname is Jin, and since he is currently venerating our ancestors, he could not come in person.¡± ¡°Surname Jin?¡± An Jing thought for a moment, genuinely unaware of any renowned master by the surname Jin, and he was also not very familiar with the Jianghu of Zhao Country, except for its most famous top-class masters. Su Lian nodded slightly, ¡°Our family elder said that if you do not wish to come, he can wait.¡± An Jing raised an eyebrow, ¡°Wait?¡± Su Lian said, ¡°Yes, wait until you have time.¡± Su Yue¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°But not too long, as we are in a hurry to return.¡± ¡°Hold your tongue.¡± Su Lian frowned and chided. Hearing Su Lian¡¯s words, Su Yue immediately furrowed her eyebrows, ¡°Who are you telling to hold their tongue!? Don¡¯t forget who¡¯s the elder sister and who¡¯s the younger sister.¡± Su Lian said, ¡°Elder Jin said that during this trip, everything should be up to me.¡± Su Yue¡¯s lips curled up into a sneer, ¡°When did Elder Jin say such a thing? I never heard it.¡± ¡°You!¡± Upon hearing this, anger surged within Su Lian. ¡°Su Yue, if we weren¡¯t on a mission, I would definitely show you my prowess.¡± Su Yue nonchalantly said, ¡°Then let¡¯s see the truth under our hands. We¡¯ve fought hundreds of times; when have you ever won against me?¡± An Jing watched as their argument escalated and his heart suddenly stirred slightly, ¡°Ladies, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t go to meet your family elder, but I currently have some very important matters to attend to.¡± Su Lian smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s alright, we can wait as long as you have time.¡± Su Yue frowned slightly and said, ¡°How long will you need? Don¡¯t take half a year or a year.¡± An Jing laughed, ¡°If the two of you are willing to lend me a hand, I think I can make time quite soon.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know why this woman in black had significantly increased in strength, both of them currently possessed the standard of Master Realm, which was indeed a rare aid. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± This time, both of them agreed without any argument, instead showing a unanimous attitude. An Jing asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what it is about?¡± Su Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, smiled charmingly, and said, ¡°As long as you can make time to come with us, big sister will do anything for you.¡± ¡°Impudent!¡± Su Lian glared at Su Yue and then said to An Jing, ¡°When we came here, our predecessor had instructed us to protect our friend as much as possible if we got the chance, so a little favor is naturally not a problem.¡± Having heard this, An Jing smiled, ¡°Good, then, let¡¯s meet outside Yunlin City in twenty days.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not miss it.¡± Su Lian smiled, then turned to Su Yue and scolded in a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet? Why disgrace yourself here?¡± Su Yue cursed under her breath, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you when we get back.¡± The two figures, one black and one white, moved like the wind and soon disappeared into the forest. ¡°Those two are really strange.¡± An Jing watched their figures, his mind deep in thought. There were clearly two people, but he could only sense the Qi Mechanism of one. Moreover, the moment Su Lian appeared, the strength of Su Yue in black had suddenly reached the Master Realm. What exactly were their origins, and why did the person behind them want to see him? After pondering for a moment, An Jing shook his head and said, ¡°Forget it, for now, I will use the skills of these two to first behead the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect. Other matters are not important for the time being.¡± Taking a deep breath, An Jing returned to the righteous village. By the time he turned back, only a patch of blood foam was left on the ground. The group from Yanhang Sect had taken their chance to slip away after the medicine had worn off. ¡­¡­ Beili Volcano, inside a cave. Due to the extremely high temperature, the air carried a bit of dryness, and one could sense the sparse volcanic essence drifting around. In the profound darkness, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared; looking along that light, there was a Taoist in a blue Daoist robe holding a fire striker in one hand and a compass in the other. This Taoist was Luo Chongyang. Luo Chongyang, using the faint light, looked at the compass in his hand, ¡°The temperature is getting higher the further we go, it seems we are getting closer to the mouth of the volcano¡­.¡± The needle of the compass in his hand seemed to be drawn by some force, constantly pulling him forward. Luo Chongyang pondered for a moment, then placed the compass on the ground and took out a palm-sized porcelain bottle from his waist. On opening the bottle, a powerful Qi Force burst out from it, and one could faintly hear a deep roar. Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood. Luo Chongyang looked at the bottle in his hand, a smile appearing on his lips, ¡°With this Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood, perhaps I can find that True Dragon Treasure Blood.¡± His main purpose for coming to Beili Volcano was, of course, the rumored True Dragon Treasure Blood said to be hidden here. However, the True Dragon Treasure Blood was underground and extremely difficult to locate. Luo Chongyang had known about this from ancient texts of Zhenyi Sect and had come to this place two or three times, but he had never been able to find the True Dragon Treasure Blood. It was only when he saw the Black Flood Dragon under his cheap disciple¡¯s command this time, that he suddenly had an idea to use the Flood Dragon Essence Blood to evoke a resonance with the True Dragon Treasure Blood, perhaps leading him to it. True Dragon Treasure Blood, which was transformed by a True Dragon, although not as precious as True Dragon Essence Blood, was still one of the wonders of the world. The most important thing was that it could improve one¡¯s inherent Root Bone and expel impurities from the body. Why the Great Qin Dynasty remained prosperous was because the royal family descendants had True Dragon Essence Blood in their bodies. Through diligent cultivation of martial arts, they could easily reach the Purity Body state. Their cultivation of martial arts advanced at an astonishing speed, intimidating others. The reason Luo Chongyang had discouraged An Jing from letting the Black Flood Dragon come was because he feared that the Black Flood Dragon would sense the True Dragon Treasure Blood and compete for it with him, knowing well how tempting it was for the Black Flood Dragon. Luo Chongyang dropped the Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood onto the compass. As the Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood fell, the compass needle began to spin rapidly, finally pointing directly ahead. ¡°Is it still ahead?¡± Luo Chongyang frowned and continued moving forward. As they went deeper into the cave, the temperature increased more and more, searing heat waves surging forward, scalding even to the skin but fortunately, the old Taoist¡¯s cultivation was profound, and his skin thick enough. About a hundred feet further, heat waves assaulted them, as if they could melt iron and sever gold, while the volcanic essence grew denser and richer around them. This place was no longer accessible to ordinary Jianghu experts. In the originally pitch-black cave, a strange light seemed to appear ahead. Luo Chongyang¡¯s eyebrows locked tightly, ¡°The mouth of the volcano is ahead, could it be that the True Dragon Treasure Blood is at the bottom of the volcano?¡± At the bottom of the volcano, where the temperature is extremely high, even the Golden Bone of a Grandmaster could melt into a pool of molten blood and a wisp of white smoke. It would be very difficult to obtain the True Dragon Treasure Blood. Luo Chongyang had walked another hundred steps before finally reaching the mouth of the cave where a searing wave of heat washed over him, continuously lapping against his protective True Qi, mixed with a heavy, muffled sound. ¡°Gulug!¡± ¡°Gulug!¡± Looking down, he saw a sea of red, churning magma; merely looking at it was enough to feel the terrifying temperature. ¡°Swash!¡± The compass in Luo Chongyang¡¯s hand suddenly began spinning rapidly, the Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood within it transforming into streams of white vapor. ¡°Roar!¡± A loud, ringing sound emerged from the Black Flood Dragon Essence Blood, echoing throughout the entire volcano. Luo Chongyang furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on the magma below. As the sound stirred up, the whole volcano shook violently, the magma below churning and quivering as well. About dozens of breaths later, the trembling suddenly stopped. ¡°This is¡­¡± The sight only deepened the furrows on Luo Chongyang¡¯s brow, as he vaguely sensed a tremendous force emerging from the depths of the magma. Could the True Dragon Treasure Blood really be beneath this magma!? ¡°Boom!¡± The magma erupted violently, sending large splashes everywhere, followed by a fiery behemoth bursting forth, roughly glanced to have its wingspan tens of meters wide, with a vastly huge head and eyes like the essence of fire, burning everything. Honghu! This was indeed the exotic beast Honghu! The head of the Honghu radiated Yang Energy and a crisp, clear chirping sound resounded. The piercing noise struck straight into the depths of one¡¯s heart. In an instant, the surrounding temperature soared again, the heat waves fiercely assaulting Luo Chongyang¡¯s protective True Qi like violent tides. ¡°Run quickly!¡± A chill went through Luo Chongyang¡¯s heart, and without looking back, he sprinted away. ¡­¡­ Houjin, Royal Court. This was a palace of unique style and bizarre decorations, showcasing architectural features from various places of the world, and it was built just seventeen years ago, seemingly reflecting the ambition and aspirations of the Holy Master. At the palace gate, stood eight guards, clad in Houjin armor, towering and robust, with a broad road in front that could accommodate twelve horses abreast. ¡°Clatter! Clatter!¡± As the sounds emerged, a carriage appeared, drawn by eight white stallions, adorned with gold, silver, and jade, as well as jewels and pearls, its body engraved with dragon and phoenix motifs, displaying the luxurious and noble flair of an emperor. Upon seeing the carriage, the eight guards felt a chill and immediately knelt on one knee. The person inside was naturally the current ruler of Houjin and the Holy Master of the Great Snow Mountain. Not just in Houjin, even in Great Yan and Zhao Country, this Holy Master was a very renowned emperor. Throughout the grasslands, amidst hundreds of tribes over thousands of years, no one before this Holy Master had managed to unite them, evident of this ruler¡¯s skills and power. ¡°Holy Master!¡± Just then, a man hurriedly rushed out from within the palace. The few guards, seeing the man, were all stirred. This rushing man was no ordinary person; he was Jiren Tai, a high-ranking and powerful figure in Houjin. Normally calm and composed, his haste today clearly indicated a matter of great urgency. ¡°Whoa!¡± The driver of the carriage, hearing this, quickly reined in the horses. Jiren Tai approached the carriage, panting heavily, and said, ¡°Yujing City of Yan Country sent an urgent sealed letter by Silver Snake.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± A resonant voice came from inside the carriage. Houjin¡¯s Left Minister Jiren Tai spoke softly, ¡°Leader Zongzheng Yuan and Mu Jin Dharma King have been killed at the Honglu Institute, and all the rest of the Houjin experts are dead, while Yan Country has sealed off this news, keeping it confidential, ¡­¡± As he finished, the surroundings fell eerily silent, punctuated only by Jiren Tai¡¯s heavy breathing. The carriage remained silent, yet this silence felt terrifyingly ominous. Even the legs of the guards shook slightly. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Who was Zongzheng Yuan? He was one of Zongzheng Huachun¡¯s favorite sons, but now he was dead in Yan Country, and Yan Country had kept it secret; it was a piece of news potent enough to shake the world. After a long silence, that icy voice from inside the carriage issued orders. ¡°Order Chen Shi and Bai Ying to mobilize the camp, head south to graze the horses, and hang the sword at Heavenly Gate Pass for seven days.¡± ¡­.. PS: With the Beili Volcano plot coming to an end, the protagonist now heads to the Demon Sect to acquire his ¡°Golden Finger,¡± making the plot more exhilarating from here on. Please be patient and stay tuned.