My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: One Man, One Sword, Defends a City

The next day, at noon.

Billowing smoke engulfed the area outside Sanfeng Pass, the vanguard cavalry of Houjin had already commenced their deadly approach. This pass served as a vital thoroughfare between Houjin and Dongluo Pass, a route frequently traveled by merchants, bustling with activity.

Now, with Houjin’s ban on trade with Dongluo Pass, the area had grown desolate, especially after the previous grand battle where tens of thousands of soldiers perished, lending the site an even more eerie atmosphere.

The Black Armored Army, having received news early on, also made preparations. Defensive fortifications had been laid all around the environs of Sanfeng Pass.

It was an undisputed fact that Houjin’s iron cavalry was the finest in the world.

The most crucial aspect of a cavalry unit is horsemanship, and the people of Houjin, who grew up on the grasslands, were naturally expert horsemen adept in archery and horsemanship without the need for formal training. In contrast, average citizens of Yan Country could hardly afford horses, with some impoverished families never having the chance to mount a horse in their entire lives; naturally, they could not match the innate quality of the Houjin.

Furthermore, bolstered by their absolute advantage in numbers, the troops of the Houjin army bore an air of arrogant invincibility.

The leader of the Tianying Banner coldly and icily surveyed the terrain ahead, his eyes steeped in forbidding chill, and he barked, “I’ve heard the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect is stunningly beautiful, a national beauty. We’ll capture this Sect Hierarch first, then head south to snatch the Empress of Great Yan.”

“Kill–!”

“Capture the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect alive!”

Behind him, his deputy general upon hearing this, immediately bellowed deeply from his Dantian.

“Charge into Dongluo Pass! Capture the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect alive!”

“Charge into Dongluo Pass! Capture the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect alive!”

…..

One after another, the Houjin iron cavalry unsheathed their weapons and howled, then madly charged toward the defensive fortifications ahead.

Meanwhile, the Tianying Banner leader withdrew to the rear, well aware that the fiercest among the Demon Sect were the martial experts from Jianghu. If he were killed, his troops would inevitably lose their composure.

The thunderous pounding of horses’ hooves shook the ground like muffled thunder, making the earth tremble and the sound deafening to the ears.

“There are traps–!”

But just as the Houjin cavalry had charged a few dozen yards forward, the ground suddenly collapsed, and the foremost riders fell into traps that had been carefully prepared in advance, their horses impaled by the sharp cold glint of weapons, the Houjin riders atop them naturally not spared either.

Ranks of Houjin cavalrymen fell, unable to rein in their steeds, and swiftly the traps filled with the blood of Houjin soldiers.

The following Houjin soldiers practically treaded upon the corpses of their compatriots as they pressed forward.

After the first wave of traps came the second—lines of caltrops—and countless more Houjin riders fell victim, tumbling from their horses.

Due to the narrow paths at Sanfeng Pass, even the Tianying Banner leader was powerless to outflank.

“Continue the attack for me. These are merely minor tricks,” the Tianying Banner leader ordered solemnly. “After breaching Dongluo Pass, lay down your arms for three days. Wealth and women will be yours for the taking.”

The Houjin cavalrymen pressed on with relentless assaults, but the Demon Sect’s defensive fortifications were rapidly depleted.

Qin Bin watched the encroaching Houjin cavalry with a calm demeanor, “The vanguard of Houjin numbers tens of thousands. Holding Sanfeng Pass this time seems unlikely.”

He was well aware that these defenses would be effective in balanced combat, but against the hundreds of thousands in the Houjin army, they were practically useless.

By his side, Duanmu Xinghua frowned and said, “Even if we cannot hold, we must stand our ground.”

Behind them lay Dongluo Pass—should the Houjin army, fierce as wolves, breach it, the consequences would be dire.

Qin Bin said nothing but waved his hand to signal the Black Armored soldiers, “Fire the arrows!”

Just as the Houjin cavalry nearly closed in, a volley of arrows rained down from the sky, striking the iron armor of the Houjin soldiers.

No matter how thorough the armor’s protection, there were always gaps where arrows could viciously penetrate, and while the men may have armored protection, their horses did not.

“It’s poisoned–!”

The Houjin soldiers who had been arrow-struck barely managed to pull them out before feeling their bodies weaken, collapsing to the ground—as did countless horses.

Without a single clash, Houjin already suffered significant losses.

But there were far too many Houjin soldiers, and the ground was covered with blood and bodies, which they trampled upon, continuing their onslaught.

Quickly, the road paved with corpses allowed the Houjin cavalry to nearly breach the defense line of the Black Armored soldiers.

“Kill–!”

Following Qin Bin’s command, both sides fully engaged in combat. Exhausted and fearful, the Houjin soldiers found themselves overwhelmed and at a disadvantage.

Moreover, numerous Demon Sect experts fought alongside the Black Armored army, further decimating the ranks of Houjin officers.

Duanmu Xinghua agilely weaved through the chaos, seizing the opportunity to attack the Tianying Banner leader.

“Stop her! Quick!”

The Deputy General of the Heavenly Eagle Banner, seeing an old woman with white hair wave her palm and soldiers fall dead to the ground, knew she must be a high-ranking expert of the Demon Sect. He immediately ordered his experts to step forward and block her.

The Houjin soldiers around them charged towards Duanmu Xinghua, suddenly putting tremendous pressure on her. The soldiers seemed nearly endless and impossible to kill off.

“Swoosh! Swoosh!”

Duanmu Xinghua’s True Qi surged, and with a leap, she charged towards the Deputy General.

Run!

Seeing the Grandmaster rushing towards him, the Heavenly Eagle Banner Deputy General hurried towards the distance without daring to linger for a moment.

Soon, numerous Houjin soldiers surrounded Duanmu Xinghua again, and at that moment, all she could do was watch as the Deputy General disappeared from her sight.

After all, he was riding a horse without any hindrance, while she was surrounded by Houjin soldiers, with high-ranking experts from Soul Seeker Mansion blocking her path from time to time.

Seeing this, Qin Bin also sighed inwardly, thinking that if Sect Master Duanmu had been just a bit faster, she might have been able to kill that Deputy General.

Time kept passing, and Sanfeng Pass was like a meat grinder, claiming countless lives every moment, including those of both the Houjin soldiers and the Black Armored Army.

Blood ran like rivers, corpses scattered across the fields—this was the cruel reality of war.

“So what if they are Grandmaster experts?”

The Deputy General who had fortuitously survived rode on with a hint of smugness, shouting commands to the Houjin soldiers as he went.

“Kill them all—!”

Even Duanmu Xinghua’s pupils shrank at seeing this, and the next moment her True Qi surged mightily within her, lashing out toward the enemy in front.

Boom!

Her True Qi torrented out like a tidal wave, instantly causing countless Houjin soldiers to fall to the ground.

“Not good!”

The Deputy General hiding among the crowd suddenly found himself exposed in front of Duanmu Xinghua, his face showing a look of terror.

Seizing this moment, she soared forward again, reaching out her palm toward him.

The Deputy General’s body instantly turned into a mist of blood, scattered between heaven and earth.

The surrounding Houjin soldiers trembled in horror.

Terrifying!

It was too terrifying!

Many soldiers witnessed the deterrence of a Grandmaster for the first time, as she took the enemy’s head amidst thousands of troops.

The morale of the Black Armored Army surged overwhelmingly, thoroughly overpowering the Houjin soldiers.

“Indeed a Grandmaster, as expected,” Qin Bin couldn’t help but exclaim.

He now understood why a nation’s strength was not only determined by its army, for a Grandmaster expert could completely change the course of a battle.

The last time the Demon Sect managed to hold back the Houjin at Sanfeng Pass was solely because Zhao Qingmei and Yi Daoyun cut down the leader of the Flying Horse Banner, ultimately leading the Black Armored Army of seventy thousand to rout nearly two hundred thousand of the Houjin forces.

The Black Armored Army was now suppressing the Houjin, largely thanks to Duanmu Xinghua’s extraordinary display of power.

Meanwhile, at the Blade Pass, a tough battle was also underway. Fortunately, with high-ranking experts like Yi Daoyun and the White Tiger Sect present, and due to the rugged terrain which was unfavorable for Houjin cavalry, not many experts had been sent by the Houjin.

……

Dongluo Pass.

An Jing sat atop the Heavenly Demon Hall, with Li Fuzhou standing below.

Having received news from the Sealing Demon Platform that an anomaly had occurred at the Sealing Demon Well, An Jing now knew that Zhao Qingmei had entered the well to cultivate. He was left in full charge of the Demon Sect’s affairs.

Li Fuzhou frowned deeply, saying, “According to intelligence, the Yan Kingdom Court’s troops did not come to the rescue of Dongluo Pass. They made no preparations for reinforcements but instead employed a direct strike at Heavenly Water City, drawing the fire from under the pot. This information was only uncovered recently, indicating a meticulous plan and arrangements. Even we were not notified. I presume this must be Li Qirong’s strategy.”

An Jing inhaled deeply. Wang Shiyi’s tactic of drawing the fire from under the pot was indeed vicious. Currently, the central city of Heavenly Water City in North Field was vulnerable. If it could be taken, it could even threaten the Houjin’s homeland.

However, with no reinforcements arriving at Dongluo Pass, the Demon Sect was left mired in a quagmire, forced to resist the Houjin to the bitter end.

If they persisted until the Houjin retreated, all would be well, but if they couldn’t last until that happened, the Demon Sect would be entirely obliterated in this battle.

An Jing revealed the news given by Mu Xiaoyun before his death, “There is also a Houjin cavalry unit coming from a lesser-known path, heading straight for Dongluo Pass. If I’m not mistaken, among them are the experts of the Great Snow Mountain, and Jiang Shang might even be among them…”

Li Fuzhou felt a chill within upon hearing this.

The pressure on the Demon Sect in this encounter was already immense, and this news only added insult to injury.

Could they really hold Dongluo Pass?

Doubt started to appear in Li Fuzhou’s heart as well.

An Jing pondered for a long while and said, “You go with Lin Tianhai first, taking the sect’s secret missives, the families of our followers, and all the valuables, and retreat towards Yan Country.”

Make a decision and stick with it, to avoid being influenced by chaos. Hesitate and fail to act, and you’ll surely face hardship.

“But what about you, son-in-law…”

Li Fuzhou’s eyebrows knit together as he spoke.

An Jing waved his hand and replied, “Don’t worry, as long as I have the Black Flood Dragon, even tens of thousands of troops won’t be able to stop me.”

Having heard this, Li Fuzhou nodded slightly. The Black Flood Dragon could fly, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to stop one who wished to escape. Moreover, with An Jing’s current strength, how many experts in the world would dare claim they could kill him?

“Okay.”

Li Fuzhou did not hesitate any longer and hurriedly went towards the outside of the hall.

Withdrawing to Yan Country was undoubtedly the best choice right now.

Soon, Lin Tianhai also entered and asked in a hurry, “An Tributor, are we really evacuating?”

“That’s right.”

An Jing said in a deep voice, “Lin, send a secret letter to Sect Master Duanmu, Yi, the Great Elder, and the Second Elder right away. If we can’t hold it, we must retreat. Better to preserve the green hills than to worry about not having firewood.”

Lin Tianhai’s lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but then he let out a long sigh.

He could only helplessly accept this reality.

Then, the whole of Dongluo Pass became noisy and chaotic. Many of the civilians living in Dongluo Pass were the families of the Demon Sect followers, plus the wealth accumulated over so many years. It would be virtually impossible to take everything away at once.

Li Fuzhou was swift and resolute in his actions, allowing everyone only three hours’ time. After three hours, they were to evacuate from the South Gate towards Yan Country.

The once peaceful Dongluo Pass had become immensely chaotic, even leading to instances of looting. Lin Tianhai and the experts of the Azure Dragon Sect maintained order, executing on the spot those who deliberately caused disturbances.

An Jing stood atop Dongluo Tower, observing the chaotic scene below at Dongluo Pass, then his gaze shifted to the distance, causing his brows to furrow involuntarily.

“Son-in-law.”

At that moment, Yu Qiurong came over and asked, “Are we really leaving Dongluo Pass?”

“That’s right.”

An Jing nodded. Marquis Wang Shiyi did not dispatch reinforcements, and there was virtually no possibility of defending Dongluo Pass. Even if they stubbornly held on, the probable outcome would be heavy casualties.

Yu Qiurong, looking at the place where she had lived since she was young, suddenly felt a surge of reluctance.

This was just a frontier city, but it bore countless memories and experiences for her. From now on, these would only live on in her mind.

An Jing’s eyes were slightly closed as he felt the sound of the breeze on his face, “You go first with Li Fuzhou and the others. I will catch up with you all very quickly.”

“But…”

There was a hint of unease in Yu Qiurong’s eyes.

An Jing said sternly, “If you stay here, you will only distract me.”

Hearing An Jing say this, Yu Qiurong could only nod helplessly. As An Jing had said, with her current strength, staying in Dongluo Pass would only be a burden to An Jing.

“Son-in-law, take care!”

Yu Qiurong pursed her lips, glanced at the back of An Jing, then turned and headed towards the South Gate.

An Jing leaped up to the walls of Dongluo Pass.

Since the Black Armored Army had been dispatched elsewhere, the city walls were now deserted.

An Jing calmly sat down, his left hand resting on the Evil Suppressing Sword as he stared quietly into the distance, waiting calmly.

Behind him, Dongluo Pass was in turmoil, noisy and chaotic. Everyone seemed fearful and tense, emotions that were quickly spreading.

The Houjin army was coming!

Those fierce nomads from the grasslands were descending southward!

Dongluo Pass was truly caught in a desperate situation!

Under the weight of this oppressive mood, everyone was heading towards the wide-open Southern City Gate. The streets were in disarray, homes, and shops were all in turmoil.

Some were dragging their families, others carried large and small bundles, some led horses and ox carts, and even more carried valuables, pots, chairs, as though they wanted to take everything with them.

There were also fires being set, with the flames spreading unchecked to the surrounding areas. In such an atmosphere, there was no one to put out the fires.

Leaving their homes behind, the people who were at a loss gradually disappeared into the distance. Dongluo Pass was left in a mess.

This was the eve of a great battle.

And An Jing’s eyes gently closed, the noisy hustle and bustle behind him gradually dwindled, and the cries and shouts soon vanished completely, leaving only the rising flames licking the sky and the thick black smoke piercing the heavens.

Time passed, and roughly an hour later, An Jing heard the thunderous sound of horse hooves approaching.

They’re here!

The iron cavalry of Houjin had finally arrived!

Soon, the ground trembled incessantly, yellow smoke swirling up as the rolling thunderous noise echoed in one’s ears.

Endless ranks of Houjin’s cavalry appeared before Dongluo Pass, their dense formation emitting a tremendous oppressive force.

These Houjin horsemen, each clad in armor and mounted on tall, strong horses, had evidently traveled hundreds of miles in haste, yet their expressions held no trace of panic or disorder.

These were the true elite soldiers of Houjin, each with a wild and ruthless glint in their eyes, mixed with a hint of excitement.

Leading them were none other than Jin Lv and Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

“Hya!”

Jin Lv waved his hand, signaling for the troops behind him to halt, his eyes fixating on An Jing atop the city walls.

He had initially wanted to defend Heavenly Water City, but considering the assault on Dongluo Pass was a critical step for Houjin’s southern campaign, he decided to come personally.

Looking at the seemingly futile fortifications of Dongluo Pass, his heart was filled with puzzlement.

“Ghost Swordsman!?”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King furrowed his brows as well, gazing at the young man in white, a longsword planted into the ground beside him, his eyes calm to the point that it was unsettling. No one else stood by his side.

One man.

One sword.

One city.

Apart from the Ghost Swordsman, he couldn’t think of any other top-tier expert from the Demon Sect.

An Jing glanced at Jin Lv, committing his features to memory before turning to the prairie grandmaster beside him, “Indeed, you must be Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, correct?”

“Correct.”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King replied loudly and firmly, his voice resonating from his dantian.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, dubbed the second greatest expert of Houjin, was a top-tier powerhouse recognized by various forces across the land.

As their gazes met, it seemed as though sharp, cold radiance surged between them.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King spoke indifferently, “We of Houjin have come with an army of a million strong. How can the insignificant Dongluo Pass stand against us? I offer you a chance to live: Bring the Demon Sect and submit to Houjin now. Even when we invade Yan Country, you could still be regarded as contributors.”

An Jing looked at the arrogantly unfettered Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, “What if I said no?”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s expression remained unchanged, “Many will die.”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The countless Houjin cavalry behind him bellowed loudly.

Their robust voices pierced the sky, while the boundless killing intent surged towards An Jing, as if forming tangible waves.

“Hahahaha!”

Seeing this, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King couldn’t help but burst into triumphant laughter.

The southward campaign of Houjin, and Dongluo Pass, was their first step.

An Jing remained indifferent and composed, showing no change whatsoever.

Whoosh!

Just then, a golden light emerged from within his embrace, bringing with it a sweeping majesty. The white clouds were dispersed, revealing an ancient, vast black gate.

Behind it, it seemed that something terrifying was brewing.

The originally cheering Houjin soldiers suddenly fell silent, their knees trembling.

A powerful voice seemed to come from the heavens themselves, resounding in all directions.

“Barbarians from all sides who dare to trespass, exterminate their lineage, eradicate their offspring!”

“Kill—!”

As the sounds of killing echoed behind the black gate, they resounded like the morning bell and the evening drum in the ears of everyone, startling the warhorses of the Houjin cavalry. The entire Houjin army was caught off guard, sending men toppling over horses in chaos.

Countless Houjin soldiers were trampled to death under the hooves of horses, blood flowing everywhere.

“What is this….”

Watching the sudden apparition, Jin Lv’s face suddenly changed dramatically.

But as quickly as the apparition had appeared, it vanished.

An Jing touched the Imperial Jade Seal of the Great Zhou Dynasty in his bosom and felt a stirring in his heart. He could sense the countless military spirits from the seal. Could it be that those military spirits had not returned to Fengdu?

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s expression also darkened, and he felt something odd. Zeng Zhen should have succeeded.

“Great Dharma King, are you waiting for him?”

An Jing lifted his hand, and a bloody head was thrown from atop the city walls, landing in front of Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

On closer inspection, it was the head of Zeng Zhen from the Soul Seeker Mansion.

“Hmm!?”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s eyes suddenly narrowed sharply. Had the infiltration failed?

What exactly was going on at Dongluo Pass now?

Jin Lv spoke gravely, “Great Dharma King, we can’t wait any longer. There is no movement inside Dongluo Pass. The high-ranking experts of the Demon Sect might have already withdrawn. This Ghost Swordsman is just delaying our time.”

“No one else?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King revealed a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Could it be that this vast Dongluo Pass was left with only the Ghost Swordsman?

One man guarding an entire city?

How could the Ghost Swordsman dare to do so?

What exactly was he relying on?

Jin Lv looked at An Jing, who was sitting atop the city wall, his white garments fluttering, his demeanor calm and detached, and felt a greater sense of gravity in his heart.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King stared intently at An Jing above, “Well, today this Dharma King shall see if your sword is truly as sharp as the rumors say.”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s body soared, rushing towards An Jing on the city head.

His robust True Qi burst forth as he floated up, exploding outwards in all directions.

Four Qi Grandmaster!

Moreover, the robustness of his True Qi was even greater than Ye Ding’s.

Ye Ding, plagued by the Black Ice Profound Qi, found it extremely difficult to reach the rank of Four Qi Grandmaster, so his Cultivation within the Four Qi was not considered powerful.

And Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, a peer of Ye Ding, similarly backed by the powerful forces of Great Snow Mountain, had access to plentiful resources as well.

Boom!

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s body vibrated, and he sent a palm strike forward containing ferocious and fierce True Qi, which surged wildly towards An Jing.

Whoosh!

An Jing’s body soared like a majestic eagle. His Evil Suppressing Sword slashed towards Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, seeing An Jing taking the initiative to strike, maintained his composure and stretched out his hand, intending to grab the Sword Radiance directly.

The Body Refining Martial Arts cultivated by Great Snow Mountain endowed its practitioners with physical bodies as formidable as the top Buddhist experts.

The moment Mu Yuan Great Dharma King touched the Sword Radiance from An Jing, sixty-four sword lights burst forth, heading straight for Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s internal organs.

Forceful!

Dominant!

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s palm strike was all about being unstoppable.

Both men employed no fancy moves, clashing with each other in the most direct and toughest manner.

An Jing’s True Qi poured in relentlessly, the Sword Light flourished in an instant, and the full might of the Evil Suppressing Sword, with the chill of the Sixth Realm, swept past.

“Shii!”

The Sword Light pierced through the True Qi palm print with no hesitation.

A cold air inundated the area, engulfing Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

The sword was cold!

The heart was even colder!

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s body rushed to evade, not daring to clash head-on with the sword light.

The sword light whistled past, leaving a bloody mark on the arm of Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, and their bodies crossed paths.

Without having crossed swords, he would never have known how terrifying the notorious Ghost Swordsman could be; the sharp Sword Qi directly pierced through his handprint, and had he not reacted extremely fast, that sword would have penetrated his throat.

“Indeed, one of the top swordsmen in the world.”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King touched the fresh blood on his arm, the chill intensifying, “You must have reached the Three Qi Realm, haven’t you?”

He could hardly imagine that the Ghost Swordsman’s cultivation had improved again, actually reaching the Three Qi Realm.

But considering the deaths of many grandmasters such as Ye Ding of Blue Sky Island, Yu Ying, Feng Lingyue, Chu Yun, Qu Renlin, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence they left behind, it seemed somewhat acceptable.

Such a person, if allowed to grow unchecked, would surely become a scourge to Houjin in the future.

With this thought, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s desire to kill reached an extreme intensity.

An Jing stood single-handedly with his sword atop the city wall, his white clothes flapping fiercely in the wild wind.

“Great Dharma King, what do you think of this place?”

“This place is very good.”

“It is good that the Great Dharma King is satisfied with his place of burial.”

“Do the dry bones in the tomb dare to speak so boldly?”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King laughed angrily, his True Qi spinning wildly, his body radiating red glows.

The gigantic body of Mu Yuan Great Dharma King seemed to be within a golden sea of fire, with all the bloody air around him scattered by the terrifying flames.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King performed Great Snow Mountain’s Golden Flame Technique, with the Golden Flame Body being the second most powerful body refining martial arts after the ancient Great Snow Mountain tower technique.

Using millennium-old ice to temper the body, a flame nurtured by True Qi within the body maintained the balance of yin and yang.

This body refining martial art was extremely brutal, with several disciples of Great Snow Mountain dying each year from cold poison, but all who succeeded later became top experts of Great Snow Mountain.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s face turned extremely solemn. Looking at An Jing below, surrounded by flames, he clenched his fist, and a golden sea of fire appeared in the sky, brightening the city wall in an instant.

Golden Flame Burning Heaven!

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King pressed down with one palm, the air around trembled, and the terrifying sea of fire in the sky bore down on An Jing.

An Jing’s eyes were filled with that red glow, not daring to be careless. In his hand, the Evil Suppressing Sword shone brightly, with lightning intertwining in the sky like writhing dragons.

Four Symbols Sword Technique! Swift as lightning!

An Jing thrust his sword forward, and the thunder in the sky crashed down.

Boom! Boom!

The palm print collided heavily with the lightning, and from the center, a wave of terrifying True Qi surged out, rolling outwards in waves.

The ground beneath, centered around An Jing, saw the city wall begin to crack and collapse for dozens of yards.

Humming! Humming!

The Evil Suppressing Sword emitted a terrifying and moving sword chant, and An Jing’s arm also trembled, it was clear that Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s full-strength strike was not so easily received.

After all, he was a Four Qi Grandmaster, and moreover, a grandmaster who had entered the Four Qi many years ago, his True Qi forceful and domineering.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s heart chilled at the sight of An Jing catching his full-force strike.

Such a young age to reach the realm of Three Qi Grandmaster, even more terrifying than Xiao Qianqiu, and to shoulder a Four Qi Grandmaster as a Three Qi Grandmaster, that was even more terrifying.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King sneered, his huge body surrounded by glazed flames. His palms came together, and the giant knife on his back was drawn, a ball of flame instantly appeared upon the blade.

Swoosh!

With the appearance of the flaming knife, it seemed as if the surrounding air had ignited, boiling over.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King, holding the knife, swung it down at An Jing with a momentum like no other.

This flaming knife, formed by the hallucination of True Qi, was one of the secret techniques of the Golden Flame Technique, only cultivable after refining the Golden Flame Technique to the tenth layer, capable of cleaving grandmasters and slicing vengeful ghosts.

Wherever the flaming great knife passed, it brought with it roaring flames and fierce wind, as if it intended to split the Dongluo Pass’s wall in two.

An Jing saw the flaming great knife cleaving down, the Nameless Heart Scripture running, his True Qi surging forth, then the Evil Suppressing Sword he held up, its blade manifesting an aura of piercing cold.

Clang!

“`

The Evil Suppressing Sword and the flaming giant cleaver collided heavily, the sound of metal clashing echoed across the sky, and the frenzy of unrivaled True Qi swept out like a hurricane. Both figures were violently shaken at that moment and each was thrown back several yards.

Whoosh!

This clash showed that the two were evenly matched.

An Jing executed the Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, holding the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, and with a shake of his arm, a blood-red Sword Radiance emerged from the cold blade like a dream, sweeping towards Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

The Nine-character Sword Technique! Lin Character Secret!

The blood-colored Sword Radiance raged out, chilling the heavens and earth as if they were all enveloped in its piercing cold aura.

The complete Evil Suppressing Sword, the third most famous sword in the world, inherently sharp and cold, became even more formidable in the hands of a peerless Swordsman like the Ghost Swordsman.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s expression was extremely grave, An Jing’s swordsmanship skill and execution were impeccable.

It was as if he had reached a high realm where no matter how one defended, it could not be blocked, as if trapped in a dead angle, different from any Swordsman he had encountered before.

In Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s memory, only the Sword Demon Hao Tian could be considered on par with him.

At this moment, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King regarded the Ghost Swordsman as a high-level expert of the same realm, being extremely cautious in his heart, and directly deployed one of the top three deadly moves from the Golden Flame Technique, his True Qi billowing out all around him.

In the slightly blood-red sky, a golden flame wheel emerged, seeming to twist the surrounding air with its heat.

Golden Flame Burning Sky Wheel!

The flame wheel, about several yards in diameter, obscured the sky and was terrifying in its momentum.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King felt blood seeping through his skin, but he had too much on his line to care, slashing his cleaver towards An Jing.

Boom!

The giant red flame wheel pressed towards An Jing.

In an instant, An Jing felt a heavy breath hit his face, as if a mountain had collapsed.

Boom!

With his body and sword radiance soaring, the coldness in An Jing’s eyes seemed capable of freezing the air before him, and the sharp Sword Radiance caused the distant Houjin soldiers to tremble.

Is this a Sword Immortal from Outer Heaven!?

All from Houjin were shocked, never imagining such a fearsome Swordsman existed in the world.

Hum! Hum!

The sounds of the Sword Radiance and the roaring flame wheel formed a stark contrast, but both were heart-shaking and soul-stirring.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s face was frosty, and the flames on his flaming giant cleaver grew even more intense, even shining with brilliant golden light.

The Nine-character Sword Technique! Dou Character Secret!

An Jing turned the Evil Suppressing Sword, cutting down in the direction of the air flow, with the sword’s edge honed to perfection.

It was as if the surroundings turned into a hell, with countless mountains of blades appearing in everyone’s eyes, sending a jolt through all present.

At the moment when the Sword Light fell, the empty sky was torn apart by a faint trace, the dazzling Sword Radiance descended from the skies, enveloping the flame wheel.

Boom!

The flame wheel spun crazily, bursting forth with a killing intent, and collided head-on with the dazzling Sword Radiance.

Upon contact, the flame wheel turned into a flame behemoth, swallowing An Jing’s Sword Light in one gulp.

“Roar!”

Then the flame beast roared at An Jing.

“Is that all?”

A chilling smile appeared on the corner of Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s mouth, looking at the young man standing amidst the ruins.

“Is it?”

Amidst the surrounding shock, An Jing coldly shouted, raised the Evil Suppressing Sword slightly, his left hand pushing rapidly towards his right arm which rested on his shoulder, all his True Qi seemingly channeling into his right arm and then into the sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The surging True Qi infused into the Evil Suppressing Sword caused it to emit a series of agitated sounds, which seemed to turn into tangible waves, rippling towards the distant horizon.

In the midst of the air waves, a black tide rose, with boundless sharpness sweeping through the black light.

The sword in An Jing’s hand became icy cold!

An Jing’s eyes also turned icy cold!

“`

His entire being suddenly became icy cold!

The frigid gleam spread hundreds of yards around him.

From the Evil Suppressing Sword, an overwhelming sharpness permeated the air, darkening the sky and earth, even the flowing breeze seemed to slow down.

Jin Lv looked on in astonishment at the tumultuous waves of black energy, feeling as if he were in Hell itself, the scene shockingly overwhelming.

Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Technique!

Amidst the black waves, a gigantic longsword pierced through the heavens and earth, slashing mightily towards what lay ahead.

Phut!

The colossal sword cut across, the red giant beast roared in fury and then was cleaved in two by the blade’s edge, turning into a vast expanse of red True Qi that dispersed into the sky.

The remaining Qi Force scattered towards the Houjin soldiers about to charge, piercing the armor that even normal iron weapons could hardly penetrate, shredding countless Houjin cavalry into bloody mist sprayed on the land.

A great upheaval ensued, sending men and horses into disarray.

Jin Lv’s face turned extremely ugly, never expecting a Ghost Swordsman to halt the Houjin attack on Dongluo Pass.

Is this the power of a top Grandmaster?

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King took successive steps back, leaving deep footprints with every retreat.

When he finally steadied himself, his arm holding the giant blade was drenched in blood.

An Jing’s sword-wielding hand was also trembling slightly, but his eyes were fixed on the Houjin army, saying, “Jiang Shang, you too are a titan of the Demon Sect. Why hide in the shadows?”

In the moment when the Qi Force had dissipated, he sensed an extremely strong presence within the Houjin camp. It was brief, but he still caught it.

As An Jing’s words fell, chaos erupted among the Houjin forces.

Following that, an elderly man with white hair and a childlike face, with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes, walked out from the crowd.

No one could have imagined that such a benevolently-faced old man was the biggest devil in the world.

Jiang Shang looked at that face and shook his head, “I thought we’d never see each other again.”

With his Four Qi Cultivation, he had never sensed that the doctor in Yu State City was actually a martial arts expert; no one would believe it if he spoke of it.

Was it his own failing eyesight, Jiang Shang wondered, or had this young doctor concealed himself too well?

“Indeed, life is so unpredictable,” An Jing replied, assessing Jiang Shang. He felt that Jiang Shang looked healthier than when they last met, his eyes brighter and more spirited.

Could it be that this old fiend actually found the Undying Blood? An Jing was shocked inwardly.

Jiang Shang smiled faintly, “Let little Qingmei come out. I have some personal words to share with her.”

An Jing’s Evil Suppressing Sword pointed directly at Jiang Shang, “Personal words should stay forever in the heart.”

Jiang Shang glanced at An Jing, a cold glint in his calm eyes.

The howling wind swept through like blades, harshly scraping against people’s faces.

An Jing’s grip on the Evil Suppressing Sword tightened; his presence surged towards Jiang Shang like a reversing tide.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King moved his arm, switching his giant blade to the other hand, a subtle detail that An Jing caught.

Yet Jiang Shang stood immovable as a towering mountain, dissipating the surrounding Qi Force, saying, “I could disregard what happened between you and my disciple, even pretend I don’t know, and the Demon Sect could be left completely to you. But now, the southward march of the Houjin is an overwhelming tide. Do you really intend to go against it?”

An Jing scoffed, “Overwhelming tide? Who says so?”

Jiang Shang said coldly, “I say so.”

An Jing responded, “Merely saying it doesn’t make it so.”

Jiang Shang agreed with An Jing’s statement, “Correct, saying it is useless; it’s about what one does.”

An Jing asked, “So what do you intend to do?”

“To kill you once again,” Jiang Shang replied.

An Jing laughed, yet the wind around them grew even fiercer, seeping through the gaps in the armor, giving everyone a piercingly cold sensation.

Jiang Shang didn’t laugh, because he was serious.

…….