My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

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. @@novelbin@@

“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—!”

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—hot 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.

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.

…..