My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Life is Nothing But Ups and Downs

Early November, Ling City.

After receiving a secret letter from Zhao Qingmei, An Jing headed south immediately.

The battle at Blue Sky Island quickly became the talk of Jianghu, overshadowing the Buddhist and Demon Sect conflict in Yujing City. This battle was particularly notable because it was a life-or-death duel meant to resolve deep-seated grudges.

Life-or-death duel—that wasn’t merely a competition, it was intended to draw blood and determine survival.

Those seasoned in Jianghu could vaguely sense the extreme danger of this trip to Blue Sky Island. Coupled with the Demon Sect’s notorious ferocity and brutality, there weren’t many who harbored thoughts of merely watching the fight.

Apart from the Zhenyi Sect, only a few sects with deep-seated hatred against the Demon Sect attended the challenge on Blue Sky Island, including the Five Poison Sect and two smaller sects.

As for other sects, they chose to remain silent, after all, the Demon Sect had declared that past grievances would not be pursued further. They saw no need to venture to Blue Sky Island for a fight to the death.

However, in terms of support, they actively responded favorably toward the Zhenyi Sect.

An Jing traveled swiftly and eventually arrived at Ling City.

Blue Sky Island was still in the south, not far from Ling City.

Had he not possessed the “Nameless Heart Scripture” cultivation technique, which provided him with an almost endless supply of True Qi, he would not have been able to reach the border of Jinghai Road so swiftly.

But maintaining this full pace took a severe toll on his spirit, and he needed a good rest.

Ling City could not compare to Yu State City, but it was still quite prosperous.

The streets were bustling with people, ox carts, and horse carts continually passed by, and in the west of the city, there was a dock where one could see black canopy boats, merchant ships, and banners of armed escorts passing to and from various places.

Jinghai Road was notorious for its many pirates, especially those from the Wangjing Sea, known as one of the top five gangs, who were regarded by traders as the foremost of the three scourges.

An Jing walked to the riverbank, where his attention was caught by a black canopy boat.

The boat had red flags inserted on both sides, and an old boatman at the bow was rowing, besides him sat an elderly man in white, brewing tea.

This white-robed old man was Jun Qinglin, who had recently emerged from the Sealing Demon Platform.

An Jing waved his hand, and the old boatman, seeing this, hurriedly moved toward the shore.

“Great Elder really knows how to enjoy himself, admiring the tea and the scenery,” An Jing remarked as he sat across from Jun Qinglin and poured himself a cup of tea the latter had brewed.

The boatman continued rowing, heading into the distance.

Jun Qinglin took a sip of tea and said, “What lies before the eyes are all things of the past, there’s really nothing much to admire in the scenery. I’m mostly observing the people and seeing how this world differs from the past.”

An Jing poured another cup for Jun Qinglin and asked with a smile, “Great Elder, with your arrival, my heart is also put at ease.”

Jun Qinglin, with a playful smile, responded, “Oh?”

An Jing slowly said, “Blue Sky Island is merely a hundred miles from Zhao Country. In the past, Qi Shu died by my hand. With Zhenyi Sect stirring trouble, the masters of the Black Ice Platform will definitely take action.”

The thing An Jing feared the most about this trip to Blue Sky Island was not the power of Yan Country’s Jianghu, for other than the Zhenyi Sect, Jianghu masters from Five Poison Sect might also surround and attack him, but there was also a great chance that the Black Ice Platform would be involved.

Ye Ding choosing Blue Sky Island as the location was also an indication to the Black Ice Platform.

This showed that in Ye Ding’s view, he had become a significant threat, enough to warrant the use of the Black Ice Platform to ensure his elimination.

Black Ice Platform!

That terrifying and mysterious power!

Zhao Country’s strength was not inferior to Yan Country, and the Black Ice Platform was the absolute ruler of Zhao Country.

Possessing elixirs like the Blood-Loathing Pill and the Primordial Spirit Pill, it had recruited countless masters, even enabling some half-step masters to reach the level of a One Qi Grandmaster, or even a Second Qi Grandmaster.

Its strength was definitely superior to the Zhenyi Sect, and it could even be considered the number one sect in the world, which also represented the greatest crisis hidden on Blue Sky Island.

Jun Qinglin tapped his fingers on the table, “They say the early achiever might not ultimately succeed, and the late arriver might not fail. This Qi Xuan Dao bloomed late which is really baffling. His first thirty years were unremarkable compared to the top talents of the world, but in the next thirty years, he surpassed all his peers. It’s his current strength that concerns me the most.”

As the leader of the Black Ice Platform, his capabilities were undeniably powerful, but not many knew exactly how strong he had become.

Perhaps even the masters within the Black Ice Platform were unaware since Qi Xuan Dao had not acted in many years.

“What if the masters from the Black Ice Platform do come?”

An Jing responded with a forced smile, “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, yet little does it know that beneath the tree a famished slingshot waits. Now, Great Elder, you are that hidden hunter beneath the tree, ready to ensnare them all in one fell swoop.”

Jun Qinglin laughed lightly, “If you can anticipate the Black Ice Platform making a move, wouldn’t Ye Ding, that old fellow, guess as much?”

An Jing furrowed his brows, also somewhat puzzled in his heart.

“Ye Ding, his actions this time are not as simple as imagined, maybe he also has a backup plan,” Jun Qinglin hinted.

Jun Qinglin looked at the river, saying, “You have never met this person, and most of what you’ve heard about him is hearsay, which is often hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood, so you should no longer take it as a basis.”

“You killed a master of the Zhenyi Sect, and the Zhenyi Sect killed our Sect Leader of Outer Heaven, these are facts, how can grudges be resolved with a few words?”

“Especially since you killed two true masters and a great peak master, right or wrong, this is a fact. If they remain silent, what will the disciples within the sect think, what will the people under the heavens think of this great national religion?”

An Jing’s eyebrows knitted into a knot, “This event, settling years of accumulated grievances, is indeed a good thing for our sect, but I’m afraid these grievances are not easy to settle.”

Not to mention whether people from Black Ice Platform on Blue Sky Island will come, if Ye Ding dies at Blue Sky Island, would the Zhenyi Sect really stop at that?

Jun Qinglin indifferently said, “It depends on whether the Zhenyi Sect wants a few people dead, or a crowd.”

……

Five Poison Mountain, Five Poison Sect.

Not far from the Thunder Pool, there was a pavilion.

This pavilion was where Feng Lingyue cultivated.

In his youth, Feng Lingyue enjoyed beautiful slaves, fine foods, and exquisite clothing, and even as he aged, he still favored luxury, always dressed exceptionally compared to the modest attire of ordinary masters.

This was his unique hallmark.

Feng Lingyue sat at the head, sipping on expensive tea with a serene expression.

“Elder Ancestor.”

Three figures appeared outside the door.

The visitors were precisely the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, Dai Danshu, the Great Elder Cheng Quan, and Dai Ling.

Feng Lingyue gestured with his hand, “You’ve all arrived, take a seat.”

“Thank you, Elder Ancestor!”

The three, uncertain why Feng Lingyue had summoned them, cautiously sat down.

Feng Lingyue cut straight to the point, “The Ghost Swordsman has already been invited to Blue Sky Island. I’m not sure about others, but I, Feng Lingyue, must go.”

The grudge between the Demon Sect and the Five Poison Sect was not just ordinary Jianghu rivalry.

Dai Danshu took a deep breath, saying, “This time a senior from the Zhenyi Sect, Great Heavenly Yang Ye, took action, and it happened on Blue Sky Island; it won’t be easy for the Ghost Swordsman to escape.”

Dai Danshu could naturally smell the crisis of Blue Sky Island, and even if An Jing had defeated the Exalted Vajra, he did not believe the Ghost Swordsman could safely get past Blue Sky Island.

“The battle of Blue Sky Island isn’t that simple.”

Feng Lingyue waved his hand, his face unusually solemn, “If the Ghost Swordsman dared agree, I suspect there might be something odd about this matter.”

Instinctively, he felt the battle of Blue Sky Island would be perilous.

Dai Danshu and Cheng Quan also fell silent, their presence filling with lethal intent; of the seven major sects, only the Zhenyi Sect and the Five Poison Sect attended, which was telling.

Dai Ling hesitated, saying, “I also feel that, Elder Ancestor, perhaps…”

“I must go to Blue Sky Island.”

Feng Lingyue knew what Dai Ling wanted to say and cut her off, “Even if it might be extremely dangerous, even if it may cost me my life.”

“Elder Ancestor!”

“Elder Ancestor!”

Hearing this, both Dai Danshu and Cheng Quan turned pale.

Feng Lingyue was the pillar of the Five Poison Sect; if anything really happened to him, the Five Poison Sect would immediately become like the Blue River Sect—relegated to the bottom of the major sects, unable to withstand the onslaught of the Demon Sect.

“This battle of Blue Sky Island has two possible outcomes; the first scenario is that I do not die, naturally, that would be the best outcome. The other is that I die…”

Feng Lingyue paused, then said, “In that case, you should return to the Demon Sect.”

“Elder Ancestor.”

Dai Danshu hurriedly said, “The Five Poison Sect is your life’s work, and if it really comes to it, Elder Ancestor, you could…”

“No need to say more, you all may return to the Demon Sect, but I cannot.”

Feng Lingyue waved his hand, calmly saying, “I swore an oath when I left the Demon Sect that I would never return in this life; moreover, after so many years of conflict with the Demon Sect, they might accommodate me, but I may not be able to live with myself.”

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a mix of sadness and confusion.

Especially Dai Ling, who felt as if her life lost all meaning at the thought of joining the Demon Sect.

Previously, she had always thought that Zhang Zhixing was motivated by revenge. If he joined the Demon Sect, how would he seek his revenge?

Feng Lingyue, upon reading this, burst out laughing and said, “I am merely analyzing one possible outcome. Why be so sad when the battle of Blue Sky Island is still uncertain?”

After about three or four breaths of silence, Dai Danshu stood up and said with a fist salute, “Then I wish the ancestor a triumphant victory.”

“Then I wish the ancestor a triumphant victory.”

The other two also stood up.

Feng Lingyue stepped out of the pavilion, gazing at the majestic Five Poison Mountain. He couldn’t help but laugh aloud, proud of the Five Poison Sect he had founded.

…..

Zhenyi Sect, side hall.

The mountain was enveloped in a vast cloud sea, with towering green pines and jade towers standing amidst the mist that gently rose.

Xiao Qianqiu was playing a game with Ye Ding.

Ye Ding, holding a black piece, looked at the chessboard before him, which resembled a starry river, then laughed lightly and said, “I lost.”

“You are too courteous.”

Even though his opponent was both his teacher and a father figure, Xiao Qianqiu did not concede even slightly.

Xiao Qianqiu asked, “Master, after you descend the mountain this time, will you visit Xuanqing Mountain?”

Ye Ding smiled faintly and replied, “I met him half a month ago.”

Xiao Qianqiu calmly said, “Has junior master returned to Zhenyi Mountain?”

Ever since Luo Chongyang had killed a high-ranking master of the Zhenyi Sect, he had never returned to Zhenyi Mountain, not even to pay his respects when his own grandmaster passed away.

“It is precisely because of him that I made up my mind to come down from the mountain.”

Ye Ding nodded slightly, then reflected, “Master was right, he was the only one among us three who had a chance to reach that realm.”

Xiao Qianqiu said, “Junior Uncle is a true cultivator.”

Ye Ding picked up a chess piece and put it back in the basket. “What’s funny is that the original Zhenyi Sect couldn’t accommodate a true cultivator, yet now it can accommodate a hundred thousand disciples.”

“Everything in the world changes, had it not been for Uncle Yu Ying and master, Zhenyi Sect might not have its present status.”

“But now, Zhenyi no longer needs us.”

Xiao Qianqiu’s hands paused momentarily, a ripple stirred in his heart that had been calm for many years.

This ripple was different from the one he felt when facing Lou Xiangzhen’s sword.

Ye Ding saw clearly, Zhenyi Sect reached the pinnacle because of power, but now its roots were rotting due to the very same power, its mere surface was enough to look daunting and horrifying.

The tides of time were changing, and a grandmaster was becoming a castoff of the era.

“There are some things, you understand even if I do not speak them, I will just mention a few important matters.”

Ye Ding continued picking up the pieces into the basket, “Zhenyi Sect is the state religion of Yan Country, its fate is tied to the fate of Yan Country. Only if Yan Country prospers can the state religion prosper, and if Yan Country falls, Zhenyi will also decline.”

“Currently, Yan Country is beset with crises and the court is also fraught with infighting, more difficult than imagined. Houjin has developed into a fierce tiger within twenty years, there must be some mystery and clues involved, that Houjin Holy Master is also a rare dominant ruler, just like the Taiping Emperor, also a Martial Arts Emperor, but much younger, and will certainly become a major threat. Besides Houjin, Zhao Country and the Southern Barbarians are also eyeing us covetously, you could say the situation is extremely dangerous.”

Xiao Qianqiu just listened quietly, not saying a word.

If it weren’t so, how could the Buddhist and Demon Sects have a foothold?

Ye Ding continued, “About court struggles, do not intermeddle. The Emperor dislikes these things the most. As for the current Emperor, whether he has broken through his constraints I am not sure, but he definitely has his own schemes. You have achieved the Creation from seizing the heaven and earth, your future is limitless, all you need is some time.”

“After the battle of Blue Sky Island, no matter who lives or dies, Zhenyi Sect and Outer Heaven should no longer bring up any past grievances, consider it a resolution for the tens of thousands of disciples of Zhenyi Sect and those in Jianghu. However, you as the Ghost Swordsman have a doctrinal dispute with him, Zhenyi Sect originated from Mystical Sect, unifying Mystical Sect is the longtime wish of numerous ancestors of Zhenyi Sect, I couldn’t achieve it in my time, I hope you can.”

Xiao Qianqiu slightly raised his eyebrows, “Master….”

Ye Ding calmly said, “Did you catch all that?”

Xiao Qianqiu nodded, “I have noted it all.”

Ye Ding placed the last chess piece down and said, “The junior brother has been waiting for me for a long time, take my luggage, I and he should also be descending the mountain now.”

As he spoke, Ye Ding stood up and walked towards the outside of the hall.

At that moment, Yu Ying, dressed in a black Daoist robe, stood at the doorway and bowed as he saw Ye Ding.

“Senior brother!”

Ye Ding asked, “Have you paid your respects at the Heavenly Venerate Hall?”

Every morning that Yu Ying spent cultivating on Zhenyi Mountain, he would go to the Heavenly Venerate Hall to worship and light three sticks of incense.

“I’ve paid my respects.”

“Good.”

Ye Ding, looking at the white-haired Yu Ying in front of him, was filled with emotion, “Junior brother, do you think Zhenyi Mountain looks different from when we first climbed it?”

Yu Ying glanced over, “Is it different? I haven’t really paid attention.”

“Yes.”

Ye Ding pointed at a thick pine tree in the distance and said, “That old pine tree next to Zhenyi Hall died seventeen years ago; you even peed on it. Chongyang secretly told me.”

Yu Ying shook his head and laughed, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten completely. Back then, that kid even threatened to tell our master, but later, I traded him ten sugar figures to keep the secret, and yet he ended up telling you.”

Ye Ding also laughed, “I traded with him for just three sugar figures.”

Yu Ying asked, “By the way, how did that pine tree die? With my boyish urine, it should have grown robust.”

Ye Ding responded, “There were too many insects, and they made many holes in the pine tree.”

Yu Ying, looking at the majestic Jade Tower in front of him and the fairy-like green mountains in the distance, spoke softly, “Brother, do you really not need me anymore?”

Ye Ding, looking towards the distant view, said quietly, “It’s not us they need anymore.”

Yu Ying fell silent and didn’t speak.

“Master.”

At this moment, Xiao Qianqiu came out carrying his luggage.

“Let’s go.”

Soon, the three of them headed down the mountain, encountering many disciples of the Zhenyi Sect along the way. Seeing the three of them, the disciples quickly bowed deeply and shouted with utmost respect, “Ancestors!”

Ye Ding murmured quietly, “How many years has it been since I came down the mountain?”

It sounded like he was asking himself, but it also seemed directed at Yu Ying.

Yu Ying, looking at the grass and trees on both sides, thought for a long time before saying, “I just came down the mountain recently.”

Over the years, coming down from the mountain had always been to kill for the Zhenyi Sect, the last time being the Ghost Swordsman, the time before that Yan Shaoshan, and this time was still to kill.

After that, the three walked down in silence.

Xiao Qianqiu remembered the many years ago, when Ye Ding accepted him as a disciple, leading him step by step up Zhenyi Mountain, explaining every grass and stone, every mountain and rock.

And now, he was sending Ye Ding down the mountain, one step at a time.

No matter how the world changes, life will always cycle, and a new beginning will slowly unfold a new scroll.

Such is life, nothing more than climbing up and down a mountain.

Eventually, the three reached the base of the mountain.

Ye Ding spoke first, “Qian Qiu, go back.”

Yu Ying stood by, looking at the long staircase, the tranquil mountains, and the vast sky, as if trying to imprint everything in his eyes, his heart.

He had done many things, perhaps good, perhaps bad, perhaps deeds best left unseen, but among the three, it was he who had invested the most effort.

His life, had been scattered across this mountain.

Hearing this, Xiao Qianqiu turned around to ascend the mountain again but stopped after two steps, “Allow me to see off Master and Second Uncle.”

Ye Ding didn’t speak, just watched Yu Ying from the sidelines.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Yu Ying returned to his senses and said, “Brother, let’s go.”

Ye Ding asked, “Don’t you want to look a bit longer?”

Yu Ying started laughing and said, “It’s etched in my heart now, I doubt I’ll ever forget.”

“Then let us embark.”

Ye Ding laughed heartily and walked into the distance.

Xiao Qianqiu, watching their fading figures—one black, one white—bowed deeply towards the distance and said loudly, “Farewell Master, Uncle!”

…..

PS: Another update coming tonight.