My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: The Demon Sect Sect Hierarch Finally Emerges (Thanks to Brother Jian Ling for the reward)

Zhao Country’s Imperial City, Cloud Tower.

In Zhao Country, one might not know where the Forbidden Palace is located, but one must definitely know where the Cloud Tower is.

Within the entire territory of Zhao Country, the influence of Black Ice Platform far surpasses that of the Royal Family. It can be said that the Royal Family is merely a puppet, pushed forward by the large hand of Black Ice Platform and holding power in name only.

And the Cloud Tower is the heart of Black Ice Platform, as well as the place where Qi Wushuang, the Lord of Black Ice Platform, usually convenes meetings.

Compared to the usual bustle inside the Cloud Tower, this moment felt as if it suddenly transitioned from the sweltering heat of high summer to the biting cold of deep winter.

Quiet!

...

As still as the silence of death!

The numerous experts in the hall all wore icy expressions, each of them not daring to so much as breathe too loudly.

And the elder at the head was the Lord of Black Ice Platform, the real person in control of Zhao Country, Qi Xuan Dao.

At this moment, the elder’s back was turned toward everyone; he remained silent, but it seemed as if an enormous mountain was pressing down upon his shoulders.

That kind of oppressive weight appeared as if it would completely crush him.

The death of Qi Shu had been relayed to Zhao Country almost instantly by a special breed of falcon.

All of Zhao Country was shaken by the news.

After a long while, the elder finally spoke, “Lv Qiujian stays, the rest of you may leave.”

“Yes.”

The others around rose, offered the elder at the head a bow, and then one by one departed.

Now, only one man remained in the entire conference hall.

The man, dressed in flowing white garments with streaks of silver interspersing his black hair, stood tall and straight, a black longsword hanging at his waist.

Lv Qiujian, the wielder of the Proud Frost Sword, was Qi Xuan Dao’s second disciple, and Qi Shu’s senior disciple brother.

One of the top three swordsmen in the world, ever since Tang Taiyuan was executed at the Eight Feet Platform, the foremost swordsmen of the world had decreased by one.

Lv Qiujian appeared to be only in his fifties, but he had begun his martial journey a full four years earlier than Lou Xiangzhen.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Qi Xuan Dao stared at the plaque above his head, imprinted with the words ‘Unparalleled Under Heaven.’

Among his three disciples, Qi Shu had a temperament least like his own, yet he was Qi Xuan Dao’s favorite. Now, this beloved disciple was dead.

“Master.”

Lv Qiujian spoke softly.

Qi Xuan Dao slowly said, “Xiao Sanzi liked to take risks in his actions, naturally attracted to danger, fate deemed he would face a calamity sooner or later.”

Lv Qiujian remained silent; when Qi Shu had prepared to go to Yan Country, he had tried to protest, but Qi Shu ultimately did not heed his advice.

Not only this time, Qi Shu had never listened to Lv Qiujian since childhood.

Qi Xuan Dao inquired, “Who killed Xiao Sanzi?”

According to the reports, the one who killed Qi Shu was the Ghost Swordsman, but Qi Xuan Dao had no recollection of such a person.

Lv Qiujian said gravely, “This person is a swordsman who emerged while Master was in seclusion these past six months. He is quite strong; supposedly a successor of the Daluo Sect. Not only has he slain several true beings of the Zhenyi Sect, but he also defeated the Heavenly Sword Cui Daoxian and the Sword-bearing Eunuch Zhong Binru. Moreover, he has a Black Flood Dragon as his steed…”

He paused before continuing, “Most importantly, his sword is the Evil Suppressing Sword that hasn’t acknowledged a master for thousands of years.”

“Great Zhou’s Yunlong!?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Xuan Dao slowly turned around, his eyes filled with a trace of astonishment and uncertainty.

If there was someone else present, they would see that Qi Xuan Dao’s visage was not as aged as one might imagine. His face was full of vitality, his skin so fine it could be punctured with a flick, reminiscent of a newborn baby.

Only his eyes were cloudy and full of vicissitudes, as if hiding countless tales of years gone by.

Lv Qiujian nodded, “Behind this swordsman, there has also been a supremely mysterious grandmaster who severely wounded Houjin’s Mu Jin Dharma King with a single punch. He is suspected to be a Four Qi or Five Qi Grandmaster. I think my junior brother must have intervened to deal with this swordsman for this reason.”

Qi Xuan Dao’s murky eyes glinted as he sighed deeply, “Has Tian Yin finally emerged?”

Lv Qiujian replied, “It seems so. Hundreds of years ago, we Black Ice Platform did not pursue them to the bitter end, allowing them a breather. This neglect has allowed them to rise from the ashes today.”

Qi Xuan Dao was silent for a while before he spoke, “The people of Tian Yin must be utterly eradicated, we cannot leave them any more opportunities.”

Lv Qiujian thought for a moment and then said, “Master, this swordsman has previously killed several experts of the Zhenyi Sect; should we join forces with Zhenyi Sect…”

An enemy’s enemy is a friend. The Ghost Swordsman’s reputation in Great Yan was not bad, but he had offended the National Religion of Great Yan, the Zhenyi Sect.

Put into the context of the martial world, the Zhenyi Sect was a behemoth.

“We need to survive,”

Qi Xuan Dao’s gaze narrowed slightly, “To capture this swordsman, only you or your senior martial brother have a chance to succeed, but even that chance isn’t big. Only with my personal intervention can we ensure nothing goes awry.”

The swordsman was a One Qi Grandmaster. For Black Ice Platform, capturing him was not difficult, but dealing with Tian Yin lurking behind him was not so simple.

Lv Qiujian frowned as he said, “Master, if you go to Yan Country, it may cause significant turmoil.”

Qi Xuan Dao was the Stabilizer; since Yan Country and Zhao Country were sworn enemies, Qi Xuan Dao’s presence in Yan would surely attract encirclement by numerous experts. Should he come to harm, Zhao Country would inevitably fall into chaos.

Other than the Zhao Royal Family, there were two other forces that had been eyeing Black Ice Platform, waiting for it to slip.

The geopolitical landscape was in a delicate balance, and the breaking of this equilibrium could easily lead to upheaval.

For instance, Yan Country, as one of the world’s major powers, had to contend with Houjin, Southern Barbarians, Zhao Country, Demon Sect, Buddhist Sect, and many other factions.

Yan had the strongest power, while the strength of Houjin and the others was considerably weaker, thus maintaining the world’s balance.

Now, with the growing strength of Houjin, while the Buddhist Sect had already gravitated towards Great Yan, maintaining the balance was not something one sect could manage alone. A disturbance in this equilibrium would certainly plunge the world into chaos.

Which is why the battle between Houjin and Great Yan had erupted.

Qi Xuan Dao slowly sat down and spoke softly, “Pressure Great Yan into handing over the Ghost Swordsman, and push the Zhao Country’s army forward by thirty miles to put some pressure on Pingding Hou.”

“Pressure?” Lv Qiujian asked.

Now, with Great Yan at war with Houjin, the pressure is immense. If Zhao Country were to add its weight, it would undoubtedly be like adding frost to snow. However, as Zhao Country and Yan Country are eternal enemies, the chances of them handing over a grandmaster so easily are somewhat unlikely.

Unless the leaders in Great Yan Temple are all short-sighted fools.

“By applying pressure, only then will I have the chance to personally visit Yan Country,” Qi Xuan Dao said.

A thought struck Lv Qiujian, and he said, “I understand. I’ll get right on it.”

With that, Lv Qiujian hurried out of the hall.

Qi Xuan Dao watched Lv Qiujian’s retreating figure and seemed to ponder something before letting out a long sigh after a good while.

…….

In Jiangnan Dao, Yu State City, Datong Teahouse.

The summer heat was intense, filling the air with an extra dose of irritability.

As the place in Jiangnan Dao best known for the swiftest spread of news, Datong Teahouse was as lively and bustling as ever, with all seats occupied.

At that moment, a storyteller at the front was vividly recounting a tale.

“Who says the relics of gold and ancient times are exhaustible? Ultimately, glory and decline all turn to emptiness.”

“Now, where did I leave off last time, last time?”

The storyteller paused and asked the surrounding audience.

“You just had a cup of tea and forgot? You were telling us about the Ghost Swordsman chasing Qi Shu,” someone in the crowd shouted.

“Then let’s continue,” the storyteller said, having his memory jogged. He cleared his throat and announced, “As mentioned last time, the Ghost Swordsman chased Qi Shu all the way to the outskirts of the North Camp of the Golden Eagle Banner. With the Golden Eagle Banner’s millions of troops behind him, Qi Shu felt emboldened and shouted at the Ghost Swordsman outside the camp, ‘Don’t be arrogant, swordsman! With these tens of thousands of troops at my back, let’s see how you can act wildly today!'”

“Instantly, the camp resonated with the sound of drums, and battle cries shook the sky. A hundred men pack a formidable presence, a thousand men resemble dense, dark clouds, and tens of thousands linked together seem to merge earth and sky, all filled with a swarming mass of people. Not to mention, these tens of thousands were brave and skilled Houjin soldiers. Any common martial artists from Jianghu who witnessed this scene would feel cold terror in their hearts. Who would dare rush into this large camp and throw their life away?”

“But what sort of man is the Ghost Swordsman? He’s an unparalleled swordsman who had defeated two great Sword Immortals. Suddenly, thunder and lightning roared in the sky, and dark clouds gathered overhead. The Ghost Swordsman, with an indifferent expression, shouted at Qi Shu, ‘Qi Ziyi, please die by my sword.'”

The entire Datong Teahouse fell silent, as everyone was immersed in the story, with only the sound of their even breathing.

“After those words fell, thunder rumbled closer. The Ghost Swordsman’s figure flashed, turning into a streak of light that cut through the Golden Eagle Banner’s large camp. Wherever he passed, a swath of bloodshed followed, with countless Houjin soldiers meeting a gruesome end under his blade. Only then did the people of Houjin realize the formidable prowess of the swordsman before them; terrified out of their wits, their hearts raced with fear. Qi Shu was especially like a man seeing a ghost, his famed grandmaster legs trembling as he frantically retreated. The Ghost Swordsman was a man of his word – proclaiming a kill meant a kill. A streak of light from heaven and earth flashed by in the blink of an eye, with the sword piercing directly through Qi Shu’s chest.”

“This Zhao Country grandmaster ultimately died within Houjin’s camp, his breath completely extinguished. The leader of the Golden Eagle Banner turned deathly pale from fright. Of the tens of thousands of troops present, not one dared to step forward. Eventually, the Ghost Swordsman left the scene as if carried by the wind, and for dozens of seconds after his departure, an eerie silence hung over the camp.”

……..

“Excellent!”

“Well told!”

As the storyteller’s voice trailed off, the once silent Datong Teahouse erupted in thunderous applause, and the common folk in attendance were red-faced and buzzing with excitement.

Although the news had already spread like wildfire throughout the city, it was not as gratifying and exciting as the storyteller described it.

Especially when it came to matters that boost national pride.

In a corner of the teahouse sat two bald Buddhist monks, who upon closer examination, turned out to be Jie Se and Jie Lu.

Jie Lu whispered, “Brother, this Ghost Swordsman truly seems to be a divine being.”

“Not bad,” replied Jie Se.

Jie Se, rubbing his head, said, “When he first split open the dungeon with a single sword stroke, injuring many prisoners, I was personally in charge of that incident. And when he was exchanging blows with Qingyang Wuji Liu Qingshan at the Fa Xi Temple, I was watching by the side. You could say I watched him grow up…”

As he spoke, a hint of pride appeared on Jie Se’s face.

At the same time, many people around them were quietly discussing.

“Did you hear? The Ghost Swordsman has leveled the Demon Sect Main Hall. It is said that many experts have gone there.”

“Kill, the demon fiends of the Demon Sect must be eradicated!”

“I’ve heard too. The Ghost Swordsman first killed that villain Qi Shu, and now he’s about to wipe out the Demon Sect. He truly is the hope of the Righteous Path.”

“I believe he will certainly restore peace and order to this world.”

……

Somehow, besides the news of the Ghost Swordsman killing Qi Shu amidst a thousand troops, another astonishing rumor spread through the Great Yan Martial World.

It was that the Ghost Swordsman was heading to Dongluo Pass to eradicate the Demon Sect Headquarters.

The entire Great Yan Martial World was suddenly abuzz with undercurrents, some believing, some doubting, for after all, the Demon Sect was one of the top forces in the world today, rooted for thousands of years.

The thought of eliminating it overnight seemed rather improbable.

Until yesterday, when the Elder of the Five Poison Sect, Feng Lingyue, called on the martial arts community to take part in this great battle to eradicate the demons.

With the spread of this message, the entire Great Yan Martial World boiled over with excitement, undoubtedly providing a dose of reassurance to many.

Feng Lingyue is a genuine Second Qi Grandmaster, one of the old generation experts of the martial arts world, regarded as a mythic figure by ordinary people.

It is well-known that the Demon Sect has been causing havoc in the Great Yan Martial World for decades, and there is no shortage of experts who have scores to settle with them but have been unable to dispense justice due to the enormous power of the Demon Sect.

A spark has ignited a prairie fire.

Suddenly, numerous experts began to converge on Yunlin City of their own accord, some to watch, some eager to take part in this grand battle to eradicate the demons.

Aside from the war between Houjin and Great Yan, this was the second most sensational matter of the day, and even managed to overshadow the conflict between Houjin and Great Yan within Jianghu.

Jie Lu glanced around then said, “Brother, the Ghost Swordsman intends to uphold justice and is preparing to go to Dongluo Pass to exterminate the fiends of the Demon Sect.”

Jie Se blinked and said, “That is naturally a good thing, but I think the Demon Sect won’t be so easily wiped out, right? The Ghost Swordsman has just been promoted to Grandmaster not so long ago…”

He was acutely aware that despite the fanfare, many of the experts who had arrived were merely there to spectate, and very few of them were actually bold enough to take a stand against the Demon Sect.

Because Han Wenxin was that kind of man.

“What nonsense are you spouting, monk?”

Just then, a sharp voice of admonishment resounded.

Following the direction of the voice, they saw a lady clad in white.

The woman was quite beautiful with a countenance that struck a chord. Adorned in a white robe, she held a treasure sword in her hand and glared at Jie Se, proclaiming, “This battle to eradicate demons will surely annihilate the Demon Sect. You should stop with your ridiculous blathering.”

Jie Se, confronted by the woman’s fierce demeanor, momentarily forgot his speech.

Upon spotting the treasure sword at the woman’s waist, Jie Lu hurriedly said, “You’re absolutely right, we will certainly extinguish the Demon Sect this time. My senior brother misspoke; Jie Lu apologizes to you on his behalf.”

Judging by her appearance, she was definitely a heroine who roamed Jianghu and, moreover, a supporter of the Ghost Swordsman.

“That sounds more reasonable. The Ghost Swordsman is destined to subdue the Demon Sect; there’s no doubt about it.”

Upon hearing Jie Lu’s words, the corners of the woman’s mouth slightly rose, and then she proceeded to walk towards the doorway.

Reluctantly, Jie Lu watched the woman’s departing figure and said to his senior brother, “She’s obviously a heroine from Jianghu.”

“Hmph.”

Jie Se snorted lightly, “If I weren’t in a good mood right now, else… hmph.”

“Else what?” Jie Lu couldn’t help but ask.

Touching his smooth head, Jie Se said, “I would make her pregnant.”

“Senior brother, you’re talking nonsense again.”

Jie Lu expressed his dissatisfaction, “That heroine looked so pleasant and her smile was so sweet. How could you say such vulgar things?”

With a cold smirk, Jie Se replied, “What do you know? Those who smile sweetly usually taste salty when you get to know them.”

……

In Lingnan Dao, at White Phoenix Town.

The steady rhythm of hammering echoed from a blacksmith’s shop.

A man and a woman walked in at a leisurely pace.

The man had an ordinary appearance, but the young woman at his side was strikingly lovely, drawing frequent glances of admiration.

The two were Yang Chong and Jia Meixian from the Four Symbols Sect.

Yang Chong’s sword blade had dulled, and since he had used it for a very long time, he had come to this small town near the sect to buy a new treasure sword.

For some reason, Jia Meixian insisted on following him.

Yang Chong said with annoyance, “I’m just here to buy a sword. Why are you following me?”

Jia Meixian replied quietly, “Senior brother, haven’t you heard that the Ghost Swordsman is going to eradicate the Demon Sect?”

Yang Chong’s brows creased slightly, “I’ve heard. With such widespread rumors, how could I not be aware?”

He didn’t pay much heed to the Ghost Swordsman; in his eyes, he admired the World’s First Swordsman, Lin Yiyang, far more.

Biting her lip, Jia Meixian suggested, “Senior brother, should we go to Dongluo Pass to take a look?”

“What did you say!?”

Yang Chong’s eyes widened.

Jia Meixian, with her head bowed as though she had done something wrong, murmured, “I said that I want to have a look at Dongluo Pass.”

“Impossible!”

Yang Chong’s frown deepened into a “川” character, “It’s absolutely out of the question, there isn’t the slightest possibility.”

He wouldn’t even consider it given that Dongluo Pass was a stronghold of the Demon Sect, and at the moment, with the looming convergence of storm clouds, it was said numerous experts were planning to go there. The dangers were unpredictable; it wasn’t just Third Grade experts— even First Grade experts were aplenty. How could he bring Jia Meixian into such peril?

He, Yang Chong, would absolutely not engage in such a foolish and deadly endeavor.

“Senior brother, let’s just go have a look…..”

“No, if you dare go, I will immediately report this to our master.”

Seeing Yang Chong so resolute, Jia Meixian could only sigh in resignation, knowing he would certainly not take her with him. She then reluctantly pulled out the wooden sword she kept close at hand.

Every time she saw this wooden sword, she remembered Han Wenxin and also the Ghost Swordsman who saved her that day.

Two unforgettable events happened on the same day.

One saved her; she saved the other.

Yang Chong no longer paid any mind to Jia Meixian and turned to the blacksmith still forging at the side, “Shopkeeper, get me a good sword. Price is not an issue.”

“Alright.”

The blacksmith handed his work to an apprentice and approached with a smile, “We have quite a few swords here…..”

Suddenly, the blacksmith’s eyes caught sight of the wooden sword, and a spark flashed in his gaze, “Young lady, where did you get this wooden sword from?”

Upon hearing this, Jia Meixian blinked and replied, “It was a gift from a friend, is there something wrong with it?”

The blacksmith said with a smile, “It’s quite nice. The craftsmanship looks very refined.”

Yang Chong also sighed and said, “My friend has a hard life.”

Every time he thought of that handsome and extraordinary face, his heart was filled with sighs, wondering if he would ever have the chance to meet him again in his lifetime.

The blacksmith did not say any more and went straight to the back hall to bring out two or three exquisitely crafted treasure swords. Eventually, Yang Chong chose an excellent treasure sword, paid the silver, and left.

“Master, everyone has left, what are you still watching?”

The blacksmith’s apprentice noticed that the pair of man and woman had been gone for a while, but his master was still watching the figures of the two.

“Demon Sect…..”

The blacksmith muttered to himself, “Master will go out for a while.”

“Master, how long will it take for you to return?”

“Several months.”

……

Jinghai Road, a fishing village.

Inside a dilapidated thatched cottage, there was a faint flicker of candlelight.

A forty-something year-old man was bent over under the light, mending a fishing net.

“Big brother!”

Just then, a startled voice came from outside the door.

The man lifted his head and smiled when he saw the person rushing in, “What good news is there this time?”

The newcomer, around thirty, had a slim build and a fair complexion, clearly not resembling the sun-battered visage of a fisherman.

The fair-skinned man said with ecstatic joy, “Big brother, Feng Lingyue and a top swordsman are going hunting at Dongluo Pass to prepare for eliminating the Demon Sect. Many experts are eagerly heading there, our vengeance can finally be sought.”

The man’s face was as calm as still water as he replied, “Ah Yi, haven’t we agreed? From now on, we’ve left Jianghu and will no longer concern ourselves with its affairs.”

The fair-skinned man, doused in cold water by his big brother’s response, then whispered, “Big brother, a grudge for a murdered father cannot be shared under the heavens. As his son, how can I not seek vengeance?”

The man set down the fishing net in his hands, grabbed the shoulders of the fair-skinned man, and said, “A peaceful life is hard to come by, why must we get entangled in these disputations again?”

“What peaceful life?” @@novelbin@@

Ah Yi broke free from the man’s grasp, his eyes tinged with a shade of crimson, “I just know that Jiang Shang killed my father, and I must avenge this deep-seated blood feud. There was no chance before, but now that someone is raising this banner, I, Ah Yi, must definitely join the cause.”

The man chastised, “Ah Yi!”

“Enough said. If you won’t go, then I’ll go alone.”

Ah Yi cast a disappointed glance at his big brother, then turned and walked towards the outside of the cottage.

Watching Ah Yi’s retreating back, the man sighed deeply.

The night deepened, the light grew weaker, until it was completely extinguished, engulfing the whole cottage in darkness.

…….

The news about the hunting at Dongluo Pass somehow spread, unsettling the Great Yan Martial World. Many experts with grievances against the Demon Sect were on their way to Yunlin City, ready to watch from the sidelines, to stoke the flames or even to kick the Sect while it was down, if an opportunity arose.

In no time, the Demon Sect was in a state of panic as countless disciples from all over returned to the Demon Sect Main Hall, including members of the Earth Sect, Human Sect, and various experts from the four chief sects.

Inside Dongluo Pass, undercurrents were also surging, numerous merchant caravans even changed routes, not daring to pass through these grounds anymore.

Dongluo Desert, Sealing Demon Well.

Zhao Qingmei sat cross-legged inside a cave where, within her dantian, there was a speck of ghostly black light.

This ghostly black light was constantly absorbing qi mechanisms from her body, growing brighter and brighter until it reached a critical point.

The light gradually dissipated, and a thumb-sized black orb floated within her dantian.

“Shoo shoo!”

The next moment, the black orb, like ice and snow visible to the naked eye, slowly melted into the dantian until it vanished.

The Demon Seed was born!

With the birth of the Demon Seed, Zhao Qingmei’s “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture” had successfully reached the Eighth Layer, and she suddenly felt that her speed of refining nature’s spiritual energy had more than doubled.

“Finally, it’s a success.”

Nan Weiping, seeing this, a gleam appeared in her eyes, followed by a nod of satisfaction.

Several dozen breaths later, Zhao Qingmei opened her captivating eyes and asked, “Senior, may I now leave the Sealing Demon Well?”

“Yes, you may.”

Nan Weiping remarked with a sigh, “You can pass through this Heart Gate now and leave.”

Hearing Nan Weiping’s words, Zhao Qingmei’s tranquil heart rippled slightly, and she looked upwards, seemingly lost in thought.

Nan Weiping said softly, “Go on, after you go out, look at the sunrise for this old body.”

Zhao Qingmei earnestly replied, “Senior, rest assured, once I find a way, I will not forget senior.”

Nan Weiping smiled, “Having this intention is good. Go on, I know you can’t wait any longer.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, grasped the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades firmly in her hand, and slowly walked to the mouth of the Heart Gate.

“Senior, wait for my return.”

“Very well.”

Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and stamped her foot on the ground. Her body transformed into a streak of ghostly black light, shooting towards the cave ceiling. Her body then merged into the stone wall, disappearing in an instant.

The cave became silent, eerily so.

Nan Weiping gazed at the stone wall for a long while.

Looking back, the world outside the cave was shrouded in darkness; if one looked long enough, it seemed as though there were countless twinkling lights, none of which were her residence.

An endless sense of loneliness once again invaded her.