My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

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 naïve 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. @@novelbin@@

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—the 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—it 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.

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.