My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 223 - The Downfall of the Ancient Dynasty and the Rising Suspicion (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

Chapter 223 -223 The Downfall of the Ancient Dynasty and the Rising Suspicion (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

“Sect Hierarch!”

The eyes of the Demon Sect experts all lit up at the sight of the newcomer.

It was none other than Zhao Qingmei, standing on the back of the Black Flood Dragon.

“Swish, swish!”

At that moment, she leaped into action, positioning herself in front of An Jing with the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in hand.

“Hmm!?”

...

She then abruptly realized that Qiu Fengsheng had breathed his last, which made her heart tremble.

Qiu Fengsheng was a renowned master of the Second Qi Grandmaster level, and now such a famously mighty expert was dead!?

Who could have killed him?

Zhao Qingmei turned her head to look at An Jing, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise, “How did he die?”

“I killed him,”

An Jing said softly.

The Demon Sect members present all silently watched the swordsman, amazed by his terrifying prowess, for a Second Qi Grandmaster level powerhouse had just perished under his sword.

If word of this were to spread, probably no one would dare to say that Lin Yiyang was the world’s first swordsman anymore.

“You fool!”

Zhao Qingmei quickly stepped in front of An Jing, looking at his slightly pale face with concern, her hands roaming over him, searching.

An Jing grinned, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong there.”

“What nonsense are you talking about!?”

Zhao Qingmei’s face turned red all of a sudden.

Had they been alone, it might not have been an issue, but standing behind her were Duanmu Xinghua, Yu Qiurong, and several other Heavenly Sect experts.

An Jing, seeing Zhao Qingmei’s flushed face, found it even more amusing and his smile deepened.

The Demon Sect members nearby, witnessing the couple’s tender moment, quickly turned their heads away, pretending not to see.

Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing, “And you’re laughing? What if I had been late?”

If the Black Flood Dragon had accompanied her this time, the situation wouldn’t be as it was now. She had calculated everything: An Jing and Duanmu Xinghua, plus the Black Flood Dragon, would have certainly been able to get away safely, even if Qiu Fengsheng appeared. They might not have been able to kill him, but they could have definitely left unharmed.

But what Zhao Qingmei hadn’t expected was that An Jing would not take the Black Flood Dragon with him, instead having it lie in wait at Dongluo Pass to protect her.

Now, her heart was filled with both anger and distress.

After all, the Evil Suppressing Sword was still within the Black Flood Dragon, and to deceive her, An Jing didn’t even bring it with him.

“You wouldn’t have been late,”

An Jing shook his head. He had a clear idea of what he was getting into by coming to the Luo Su Clan. If he hadn’t obtained the Sun Essence and reached the Second Qi Realm, with his own strength combined with Duanmu Xinghua and the other Heavenly Sect experts, he still would have been able to hold off Qiu Fengsheng.

By the time Zhao Qingmei and the Black Flood Dragon could have arrived, striking together, Qiu Fengsheng would have been unlikely to escape death.

He just hadn’t expected that Qiu Fengsheng would suddenly have an epiphany in the midst of battle.

An Jing took out the Heavenly Flipping Seal from within his clothes and handed it to Zhao Qingmei, saying, “Fortunately, there was the Heavenly Flipping Seal, or I wouldn’t have been able to block that seal technique from Qiu Fengsheng.”

Zhao Qingmei had given him the Heavenly Flipping Seal before they went to the Luo Su Clan, for it carried her essence, allowing An Jing to use it a few times.

“You rest here; I will go kill two people,”

Zhao Qingmei took the Heavenly Flipping Seal and glanced meaningfully at the two men nearby, Cha Wei and Chuck.

At that moment, both men appeared frightened and kept backing away.

Cha Wei clenched his teeth and said in a low voice, “Sect Hierarch, I was misled by Chuck. Now that I have seen the error of my ways, could you grant me a way out?”

Chuck gave Cha Wei a scornful glance and said coldly, “Cha Wei, when death is imminent, why bother letting others trample on your dignity?”

Half of the Heavenly Sect’s forces had perished, many at the hands of these two men.

According to the Demon Sect’s way of doing things, even if they broke both knees, they would certainly not survive today.

Bloodshot eyes flashed in Cha Wei’s eyes as he shouted in rage, “If not for you, how would such a disaster have come about today? I was the one who listened to your slander, which led me to commit such a catastrophic blunder.”

“Hahahaha.”

Chuck burst out laughing, “Then it must be me who beguiled you; you can blame it all on me.”

Cha Wei hastily looked at Zhao Qingmei and said, “Sect Hierarch, you heard him, it’s all Chuck’s bewitching lies. I was momentarily deceived by his trickery. Spare my life, and I will forever be a faithful and dedicated servant to the Demon Sect, my loyalty unwavering.”

Zhao Qingmei’s gaze was icy cold, “Your ‘loyalty’ isn’t worth a penny.”

A chill filled Cha Wei’s heart, and his eyes swiftly turned to the laughing Chuck, as murderous intent surged within him.

“Shick!”

Chuck’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. When he lowered his head, he saw a sharp weapon that had pierced through his chest, the blade still dripping with fresh blood.

Following the weapon’s trail, the assailant revealed himself as Cha Wei—it could only be Cha Wei who would ambush him.

“You….”

With a mix of pathos and ridicule in his eyes, Chuck’s body heavily collapsed to the ground as the weapon was withdrawn.

Seeking credit, Cha Wei looked towards Zhao Qingmei and said, “Sect Hierarch, the traitor Chuck is dead.”

“You should die too.”

Zhao Qingmei’s expression carried a touch of indifference as a cold light flickered into existence.

Two Mandarin Duck Twin Blades appeared, followed by dark lotuses emerging under her feet.

“Sect Hierarch!”

Cha Wei was startled and hastily raised his weapon to defend himself.

“Clang, clang, clang, clang!”

With only mediocre strength among the Grandmasters and a heart full of terror, Cha Wei was grievously injured by the Yuan Blades after just a few exchanges, his body swaying unsteadily as blood gushed forth.

“Sect Hierarch, please spare my life!”

Knowing he was no match for Zhao Qingmei, Cha Wei knelt to the ground with a ‘thump.’

Not everyone can face death with composure. Some choose to die honorably, while others desperately cling to life.

Is clinging to life shameful? Perhaps it is shameful.

“I will only let you die.”

After Zhao Qingmei spoke, the Twin Blades in her hand swept forward, and a fine head soared into the air before tumbling through the gravel. Cha Wei’s body also fell to the ground.

An Jing pulled out the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence that had executed Sun Xiu and smiled, “Here’s another strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. With these three strands, maybe you’ll be able to break through the shackles and reach the Second Qi Realm.”

Zhao Qingmei shook her head and commanded in a rare tone, “Sit down. Heal your injuries before we discuss further.”

“Alright then.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing immediately sat down cross-legged.

Zhao Qingmei touched the three strands of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and they instantly poured into An Jing’s body. Her True Qi also surged within him, helping An Jing absorb the three strands of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Zhao Qingmei felt the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence gradually assimilating. Her red lips slightly parted as she exhaled a breath.

Despite the Heavenly Flipping Seal shielding him from that Seal Technique, An Jing’s internal injuries would still take time to heal.

“Sect Hierarch.”

Duanmu Xinghua and the others came over.

Zhao Qingmei glanced at them and said indifferently, “Keep this matter to yourselves for now. It’s not yet appropriate for others to know.”

“Understood.”

The Demon Sect experts present were no fools. Naturally, they understood the pros and cons of keeping the identity of the Ghost Swordsman hidden within the Demon Sect and announcing it to the world.

Duanmu Xinghua sighed, “Sect Hierarch, you’ve kept us in the dark for so long.”

Who could have imagined that the infamous Ghost Swordsman seeking to take down the Demon Sect was actually the husband of the Sect Hierarch herself—an expert arguably equivalent to a Second Qi Grandmaster.

Zhao Qingmei remained silent, herself having only recently learned of it.

Yu Qiurong glanced at the Heavenly Sect experts behind her and whispered, “Sect Hierarch, this time our Heavenly Sect has suffered great losses…”

The Heavenly Sect experts present all looked somewhat sorrowful, their loss today far greater than when the Demon Sect was expelled from Great Yan twenty years ago.

Duanmu Xinghua snorted, “But Houjin has suffered even more severe losses. Mansion Master Qiu Fengsheng from Soul Seeker Mansion died in the hands of the Russell Clan. We should declare this to the world, so everyone knows the might of our Demon Sect.”

Though the Demon Sect had fared a heavy casualty toll, the slaying of the Soul Seeker Mansion Master was a significant victory. Once the news spread, it would surely stir up a storm across the lands.

“We must deal with the pressing matters at hand first,”

Zhao Qingmei pondered for a moment and said, “Qiurong, you stay here to look after your husband. Sect Master Duanmu and I will take care of the Russell Clan’s issue. We must hurry back to the Demon Sect afterward.”

“Yes.”

Yu Qiurong nodded.

The chief and the great elder of the Russell Clan were now dead, but the affairs of the Russell Clan were not yet settled.

Then Zhao Qingmei extracted the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence that was about to dissipate within Qiu Fengsheng’s body. Afterwards, she and Duanmu Xinghua headed towards the interior of the Russell Clan, while the remaining Heavenly Sect experts were seated on the ground, tending to their injuries.

Yu Qiurong looked at An Jing, who was seated on the ground healing his wounds, with a mix of three parts doubt and three parts curiosity. She couldn’t help but think, “That girl Tan Yun probably doesn’t know.”

Tan Yun couldn’t keep a secret to save her life; had she known, she would have spoken up back at the Fengyun Hall.

At this moment, An Jing had just made a breakthrough in his cultivation, and after a great battle with Qiu Fengsheng, even though he had the absorption of spiritual energy from the “Nameless Heart Scripture,” he was nearly at his limit. But upon receiving these three strands of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, it was like drought-stricken land blessed with timely rain.

Not only was his injury gradually healing, but his cultivation was also becoming more stable.

Time passed, and approximately an hour later, An Jing slowly opened his eyes.

“Where is my wife?”

An Jing glanced around and noticed only Yu Qiurong nearby, along with a black flood dragon rolling and thrashing about in the distance.

Yu Qiurong blinked and said, “The Sect Hierarch went to handle the matters of the Russell Clan.”

An Jing nodded upon hearing this and then looked towards Qiu Fengsheng, who was still standing in front of him.

Nobody understood the events of that instant better than he and Qiu Fengsheng did.

Qiu Fengsheng was on the verge of reaching the realm of Heavenly Human Communication, but just at that critical moment, An Jing also had an epiphany. Based on the “Nameless Heart Scripture” and the “Sword Dao General Outline,” he also created a sword technique.

An Jing’s thoughts fell upon the Earth Book, and some changes began to take place upon it.

Cultivation: Master (Second Qi)

Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining (rising)

Root Bone: Once in a Millennium

Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword (Ninth Layer), Nine Yang Divine Finger (Eighth Layer), Brahma Heart Sees Me, Heavenly Intent Four Symbols Sword Technique (Eighth Layer), Incomplete Nameless Heart Scripture (Fifth Layer), Nameless Sword Form First Form.

Prompt One: The host’s life fate has taken root.

Prompt Two: A dark opportunity is approaching.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Prompt Three: There is a purple opportunity in the land of Extreme Flame.

…….

An Jing looked at the words on the Earth Book and thought to himself, “Since it’s the first sword technique I created and the sword moves are invisible and formless, let’s call it Invisible Sword.”

The vigorous letters on the Earth Book began to change rapidly, and the Nameless Sword Form became Invisible Sword.

Invisible Sword differed from Hidden Sword Skill; Hidden Sword Skill was about concealing killing intent and the sword itself, but Invisible Sword was more profound. The moment the sword was drawn, it really seemed to disappear.

At the last moment, by using the Heavenly Flipping Seal, An Jing had taken Qiu Fengsheng’s attack with the Three Elements Seal Technique head-on. Then, before Qiu Fengsheng could borrow the power of heaven and earth, he had cut him down with one sword.

If there had been any mishap in any part of it, the outcome might have been completely different.

For the moment, the body of Qiu Fengsheng stood erect, his head hanging slightly.

An Jing walked forward to look at the deceased Three Qi Grandmaster, his heart growing heavier with contemplation.

Qiu Fengsheng was skilled in calculation; indeed, he was deeply scheming, not only meticulously planning but also prepared to turn Mu Xiaoyun and Cha Wei with his strategy, laying dark pieces on the board.

But as he himself said, in a game of strategy, what both sides dread most are the hidden moves. The ones that deliver a fatal blow to the enemy are never those that are visible but those that are invisible.

“Hmm?”

An Jing’s brow furrowed slightly as he noticed that Qiu Fengsheng’s body was starting to soften.

For some reason, he had a vague feeling that there was something odd about Qiu Fengsheng in front of him, and he couldn’t help but reach out and touch Qiu Fengsheng’s bones, only to be met with a sensation that was soft and limp, like tofu.

“What’s going on here?”

An Jing’s brow furrowed deeply; he knew that a master of such high caliber was not ordinary. And Qiu Fengsheng, having cultivated a Heavenly Martial Level Heart Method and reaching the Master Realm, definitely should have had a body tempered to Golden Bone. It was impossible for his body to suddenly become soft after death.

His True Qi circulated within his own body, but nothing out of the ordinary was found.

Yet, as the soft and pliable bones revealed, there was a hint of inexplicable mystery.

……

In the Northern Wilderness Road, within the great central army camp.

Wang Shiyi, clad in heavy armor, crouched on the commander’s seat, his face set in concentration at a sand table covered with densely packed flags.

The war between Yan Country and Zhao Country had been raging for more than a month, with Yan Country constantly in a defensive position. Their only counterattack came a few days ago with a sudden assault on Heavenly Gate Pass.

This maneuver was extremely subtle, but to those who lacked understanding of military tactics and formations, it seemed inconsequential.

For there hadn’t been a great victory, nor had many Houjin soldiers been slain, rendering the move hollow and fruitless in the eyes of some.

Even now, the streets of Yan Country bustled with rumors that Wang Shiyi was planning to betray Great Yan, defecting to Houjin. Such rumors were rife and many citizens believed them.

The common people of this world are kind-hearted but also foolish.

One should know that on the Northern Wilderness Road, Wang Shiyi’s forces outnumbered those of Houjin. Although the Houjin cavalry was numerous and highly mobile, darting to and fro,

the course of the war should not be so one-sided, almost allowing the Golden Eagle Banner and Black Feather Banner to advance unopposed, especially with the Black Feather Banner capturing thirteen cities in a fortnight.

Even the Great Yan Court was in an uproar, with daily impeachments against Wang Shiyi piling up like snowflakes. Every day’s court session debated whether to remove him from his post and who should succeed him.

Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin stepped forward to withstand tremendous pressure, silencing a swath of criticism. Despite this, there were still many who gossiped in secret.

Li Qirong, looking at the sand table, said, “Black Feather Banner’s Bai Ying has already fallen into the trap, while the head of the Golden Eagle Banner, Chen Shi, is rather clear-headed.”

“However, it’s time to close the net. If we don’t do it now, young Qiu Lun might not be able to hold on any longer.”

Heavenly Gate Pass was currently under fierce counterattack from the Houjin forces. Without needing reports from informants, one could imagine how brutal the battle must be.

Wang Shiyi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the sand table as if visualizing the unfolding of the battle and subsequent changes, ensuring every step, every detail was perfect.

For this battle, he had been planning since before the New Year, and today he was finally ready to close the net. He would not allow, nor could he afford, any errors.

“Alright.”

It was a long while before Wang Shiyi took a deep breath and said, “Close the net!”

Wang Ningshui, at his side, revealed a gleam of anticipation in her eyes; after waiting so long, they were finally closing the net.

Looking at Li Qirong, Wang Shiyi asked, “Qirong, what do you think should be done with the defectors?”

“Defectors?”

Li Qirong shook his head, “These two Houjin armies have attacked cities and killed countless people on the Northern Wilderness Road, committing innumerable evils. If we are to fight them, we must strike them hard, so this time, Great Yan should not take any prisoners.”

A gleam flashed in Wang Shiyi’s eyes.

Yet, Wang Ningshui looked slightly astonished, “You mean to kill nearly two hundred thousand troops?”

In Jianghu, wiping out a family might only involve dozens of people, at most a hundred. But here, a scholar was proposing the execution of two hundred thousand soldiers.

“Alright, let it be so. As a funeral offering for the countless Great Yan citizens who died tragically during this period,” Wang Shiyi said, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he began issuing commands.

As Wang Shiyi gave the order, the hidden Great Yan troops of the Northern Wilderness Road started to move, a huge net beginning to tighten around the nearly two hundred thousand soldiers beneath the Golden Eagle Banner and Black Feather Banner.

A brutal battle was drawing to its close.

……

Two days later, in North Field, Heavenly Water City.

Elegant pavilions, tranquil and surrounded by lush woods, rugged rockeries, and a clear spring flowing from the distance, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Within the pavilion, Zongzheng Yue reclined in her chair, eyes closed, an air of serene ease about her.

In front of her was a young man with fair skin and delicate features. He was currently groveling on the ground, ceaselessly massaging her smooth, pale thighs.

This man was Zongzheng Yue’s external paramour, Wanyan Lin.

Zongzheng Yue, massaging her temple, said in a low voice, “It’s been two days since Mansion Master Qiu left, how come there’s no word yet?”

Qiu Fengsheng’s schemes were, in her eyes, almost certain to succeed. The Demon Sect was bound to suffer heavy losses, but two days had passed without word of victory, causing ripples of unease within her.

Wanyan Lin kneaded her thigh, smiling, “Princess should rest assured, with Mansion Master Qiu’s strength, being a Three Qi Grandmaster, there are hardly three people in the Demon Sect who could be his match.”

Zongzheng Yue gently caressed Wanyan Lin’s cheek, sighing lightly, “The Demon Sect has stood for a thousand years with deep roots; it won’t be so easily dealt with.”

If she succeeded against the Demon Sect, Zongzheng Yue would be credited with the main achievement. If she failed, she would surely face the censure of the Houjin Court.

After all, this movement involved so many troops and made such a commotion. The Flying Horse Banner and Heavenly English Banner were still engaged in fierce battles with the Demon Sect’s Black Armored Army at Sanfeng Pass, with countless Houjin soldiers dying daily.

Now that Zongzheng Yuan had perished, the only person capable of contesting her claim to the throne in Houjin was Zongzheng Ming. Once she secured this military achievement, her prestige would instantly surpass Zongzheng Ming’s, positioning her as the foremost heir in Houjin.

Wanyan Lin bowed his head, “Wanyan Lin doesn’t understand these matters. Wanyan Lin will only accompany Her Highness, dedicated to delighting the Princess.”

“That’s enough,” said Zongzheng Yue with a hint of indulgent smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Report!”

Just then, Zeng Zhen ran over in a hurry from a distance, his expression extremely panicked, gasping for air, he said, “Princess, something terrible has happened!”

Zongzheng Yue’s heart pounded faster, but she still asked sternly, “What has happened?”

Zeng Zhen’s face was ashen. He steadied his mind before saying, “The Mansion Master… he’s dead!”

“What did you say!?” Zongzheng Yue stood up abruptly, looking at Zeng Zhen in utter shock, “What did you just say? Say it again.”

Zeng Zhen repeated himself, “Princess, Mansion Master Qiu has died.”

Zongzheng Yue felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her mind going blank.

Mansion Master Qiu Fengsheng is dead!?

He was the expert personally recruited by her father, Zongzheng Huachun, and it was because of him that the Soul Seeker Mansion had developed so rapidly over the past few years. And now such a supreme expert had died?

Wanyan Lin, who was looking down, also displayed an incredulous look, clearly surprised by this outcome.

After a long while, Zongzheng Yue came back to her senses and asked, “What exactly happened?”

Zeng Zhen took a deep breath and said, “Mansion Master Qiu died at the Russell Clan. According to intel, he was surrounded and killed by the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, Duanmu Xinghua, and a group of Heavenly Sect experts. Not a single one of our Soul Seeker Mansion experts who went there survived.”

Zongzheng Yue’s eyes carried a trace of confusion, “The Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect went there? How is that possible? Wasn’t she at Sanfeng Pass?”

Mansion Master Qiu Fengsheng had once said that as long as Jiang Shang did not return to the Demon Sect and the old geezer at the Sealing Demon Platform didn’t come out of seclusion, he wouldn’t die.

What exactly was going on?

Zeng Zhen calmly analyzed, “My suspicion is that Ouyang Ping is also hidden among them. Although the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect only has a One Qi cultivation, she’s an exceptional genius and practices the Demon Sect’s highest martial art ‘Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture’. Her strength should be around the Second Qi level. Three Second Qi Grandmasters working together are what brought about Mansion Master Qiu’s great misfortune.”

Zongzheng Yue furrowed her brows and said, “But the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect was clearly at Sanfeng Pass. How could she have gone to the Russell Clan? Even at the fastest speed, it wouldn’t be possible…”

Mansion Master Qiu Fengsheng had already calculated the time. When he and the Russell Clan joined forces against the Demon Sect, the Flying Horse Banner and Heavenly Eagle Banner tested the pressure on the Dongluo Pass.

“This….”

Zeng Zhen paused as well, then shook his head.

It was as if Zongzheng Yue had thought of something, sighing, “The Demon Sect may have hidden its true strength. This time, they must have taken our measure. It’s a pity that we did not have the courage to risk everything, and we missed an opportunity.”

Zeng Zhen asked, “So what do we do now, Princess?”

Zongzheng Yue fell silent for a long moment before saying, “Send orders to the commander of the Heavenly Eagle Banner to withdraw from Sanfeng Pass.”

Now that Houjin was fighting against both Great Yan and the Demon Sect, it was like fighting on two fronts, especially since Great Yan’s battle situation had also become very unfavorable.

Heavenly Gate Pass, an important route, had been occupied by the son of the Pingyang Guard, and both the Golden Eagle Banner and the Black Feather Banner were trapped on the Beihuang Dao, under siege by the enemy. The Houjin army had launched fierce attacks on the Heavenly Gate Pass in the past few days but still failed to capture it.

The multifaceted warfare had already stretched Houjin thin, and signs of fatigue were beginning to show.

“Yes.”

After hearing the orders, Zeng Zhen withdrew.

“Princess.”

Wanyan Lin, standing beside the silent Zongzheng Yue, spoke quietly.

Zongzheng Yue frowned and said, “Perhaps this entire plan against the Demon Sect was a mistake.”

“Report!”

Just then, another figure rushed over in frantic haste.

Dressed in armor, it was clearly an orderly.

Zongzheng Yue asked with knitted brows, “A military report from Sanfeng Pass?”

The orderly said, “No, from the Beihuang Dao.”

Zongzheng Yue first breathed a sigh of relief, and then commanded, “Speak.”

The orderly bowed and said, “On the Beihuang Dao, Black Feather Banner’s commander, Bai Ying, led an arrogant advance with an army of seventy thousand and fell into an ambush by Wang Shiyi of Yan Country at Yiling Mountain. Commander Bai Ying was personally beheaded by Wang Shiyi, and the seventy thousand Black Feather Banner forces were routed, suffering heavy casualties. The Golden Eagle Banner, surrounded by Great Yan’s army of three hundred thousand, saw its commander, Chen Shi, perish in the chaos of battle. Prisoners and defectors were pitilessly executed, and only a scattering of fleeing soldiers are making their way back along the Yan-Zhao border, still pursued by people from the Great Yan martial world. It is estimated that less than a thousand will make it back to Houjin.”

Upon hearing such disastrous news, Zongzheng Yue’s body swayed, she staggered, nearly falling.

……

Great Yan, Yujing City.

“A great victory! A great victory at Yiling Mountain!”

“Clippity-clop! Clippity-clop!”

A galloping horse dashed through the streets, and the soldier on the horse held up a military report, shouting aloud.

Onlookers on the street saw this and quickly moved out of the way.

“Yiling Mountain? Could it be the Northern Wilderness Path?”

A student suddenly woke up, ecstatically said, “Could it be that Wang Shiyi has dispatched troops?”

In an instant, the whole street was buzzing with noise.

“A victory report from the Northern Wilderness Path is here?!”

“Quick, quickly let my father know of this news.”

……..

Naturally, what caught the attention of the people of Yan Country the most was the ongoing battle between Yan and Zhao at the Northern Wilderness Path, of which Yiling Mountain was part.

Suddenly, Yujing City was in an uproar.

Inside the Golden Throne Hall, the civil and military officials were all abuzz with discussion.

This scene of heated debates had been ongoing for dozens of days.

Some suggested dismissing Wang Shiyi from his position as chief commander, others advocated for Wang Shiyi to send troops immediately, and yet others proposed to dispatch the Pingyang Marquis, who was stationed in Yujing City, to support the Northern Wilderness Path.

In short, everyone in the court had their own opinions and arguments.

Lv Guoyong, as usual, stood in the front row, hunched over and slightly bowed, seemingly almost asleep amidst the noisy environment.

Zhao Mengtai took a deep breath and declared, “Wang Shiyi commands a powerful force yet repeatedly misses opportunities. In my view, he should be dismissed.”

This was the second time he had proposed to dismiss Wang Shiyi. The previous time Zhao Chongyin had intervened, and now with the Northern Wilderness Path’s military situation being critical, he once again brought up the idea of changing the commander.

Immediately, many people stood up and echoed his opinion.

Zhao Chongyin shook his head and said, “Changing the general right before battle is a grave taboo.”

Then another group of people stood up to agree with Zhao Chongyin’s viewpoint.

Aside from them, many people remained silent or seemed to be waiting for something.

The butt determines the brain’s thoughts; with everyone in the court holding different positions, their ideas naturally varied, each with their own calculations and their own pronouncements.

Zhao Tianyi’s expression was as still as water, looking down at the chaos below.

“A great victory! A great victory at Yiling Mountain!”

Suddenly, a sound came from outside the Golden Throne Hall, and immediately, the Golden Throne Hall became exceptionally quiet.

The orderly rushed in and promptly knelt on the ground.

“A great victory at Yiling Mountain, our Great Yan army has slain a total of 142,123 members of Houjin’s Black Feather Banner and Golden Eagle Banner.”

In an instant, the Golden Throne Hall was silent, and the expressions of everyone present became incredibly animated.

Lv Guoyong also opened his eyes.

“Excellent!”

Zhao Chongyin was the first to burst into laughter, “Marvelous, slaying a 140,000-strong army, this is the most significant victory report in many years.”

Only then did everyone come back to their senses and became excited and exhilarated.

“This is indeed a great victory.”

“Good, well killed!”

“140,000 soldiers, that’s equivalent to annihilating two large armies of Houjin!”

“The barbarians are always barbarians, and they dare to move south to graze their horses?”

…..

Everyone in the court was thrilled, clapping and cheering.

As much resentment as there was before, there was now just as much satisfaction.

The Minister of Revenue, Fang Shaohan, was exceptionally pleased, “Such a great victory, we of Yan Country have not had one for decades.”

“Indeed, a worthy Marquis.” Yue Tingchen couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Zhao Mengtai’s lips curved up, his face bearing a smile, though it was unclear whether it was genuine or not.

Zhao Chongyin looked over and said, “Second Prince, there’s no need to dismiss this Marquis now, right?”

Zhao Mengtai bowed slightly and said, “With such a great victory, not only should he not be dismissed, but naturally he should also be rewarded—and rewarded handsomely at that.”

Zhao Chongyin looked at his brother and felt a slight chill in his heart. A sharp sword isn’t fearful; what’s frightening is a sword sheathed in its scabbard.

“Such great deeds shall be recorded first. When the Human Emperor governs, he will surely award the honors.”

Zhao Tianyi nodded subtly, adding, “Although our forces have annihilated Houjin’s army of two hundred thousand, giving them a painful lesson, we still cannot afford to take them lightly. Let’s not forget the hungry wolf in the south that is restless.”

The civil and military officials in the court all nodded in agreement.

This time after annihilating two of Houjin’s armies, they had dealt a blow to the core of Houjin, but it hadn’t caused them true critical damage. Moreover, Zhao Country was still coveting from the side.

The national strength of Zhao Country wasn’t inferior to Great Yan, especially under the oppressive and brutal rule of the Black Ice Platform. With a supply of elixirs similar to Blood-Loathing Pills, even common soldiers of Zhao Country were force-fed elixirs, making them unusually brave. The individual combat capability of Zhao’s soldiers was extremely strong, completely suppressing the regular soldiers of Yan Country. This was the reason why Yan Country was often at a disadvantage in the wars against Zhao Country.

If Zhao Country also went to war and joined hands with Houjin, then Yan Country would face pressure several times greater than now.

Now that the alliance between the two countries was almost a foregone conclusion, it was only a matter of time before they faced such pressure. Everyone couldn’t help but make preparations for rainy days ahead.

Zhao Mengtai chuckled softly, “I do have an idea.”

Zhao Tianyi said indifferently, “Let’s hear it.”

Zhao Mengtai spoke solemnly, “News came yesterday that the Mansion Master of Houjin’s Soul Seeker Mansion was ambushed and killed by many experts from the Demon Sect. Their army has already withdrawn from Sanfeng Pass. It seems they haven’t managed to chew through the tough bone that is the Demon Sect. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Whir!

As soon as Zhao Mengtai finished, an uproar filled the Golden Throne Hall, discussions buzzed so loudly that they could have lifted the roof.

“Are we really going to collaborate with the Demon Sect? That’s just preposterous.”

“The Demon Sect consists of rebels; how can we stoop to conspire with rebels?”

“If even Buddhism can spread east, why can’t we consider the Demon Sect? Besides, we’re only working with the Demon Sect to fight against Houjin.”

….

Zhao Chongyin raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Nowadays, with Great Yan possibly facing a pincer attack from both Houjin and Yan Country, collaborating with the Demon Sect indeed seems like one of the best choices.

After all, compared to Houjin and Zhao Country, the Demon Sect’s threat was the smallest on its tiny patch of land.

Zhao Tianyi pondered for a moment, seemingly swayed. His eyes turned to Lv Guoyong, asking, “Does Minister Lv have any good suggestions or thoughts?”

Zhao Mengtai sneered inwardly. If Yan Country and the Demon Sect mended their relationship, then Li Fuzhou might also have the chance to escape from his predicament.

Sure enough, Lv Guoyong opened his eyes and said, “It’s possible.”

Zhao Chongyin interjected discreetly, “I think this matter still requires further consideration. There’s no need to reach a conclusion right now. After all, we’ve just won a great battle, and Houjin has been setback by the Demon Sect. It’s unlikely that they can regroup and mount an offense in such a short amount of time.”

Listening to Zhao Chongyin’s words, everyone present nodded.

The Demon Sect is not the same as Buddhism; after all, the Demon Sect has a history of rebellion.

Zhao Tianyi narrowed his eyes and decided, “Very well, we shall discuss this matter further later.”

The issue of alliance with the Demon Sect was not urgent at the moment.

…….

As the situation in the world changed like a whirlwind, the Demon Sect had beheaded the Mansion Master of Houjin’s Soul Seeker Mansion, Qiu Fengsheng, causing Houjin’s army at Sanfeng Pass to retreat hastily. The skirmish between the Demon Sect and Houjin had ended in a complete victory for the Demon Sect, shaking the whole world. Then, the Marquis of Yan Country slaughtered an army of one hundred and forty thousand from Houjin, causing another shock.

The consecutive defeats forced the ferocious tiger, Houjin, to retract within its territory, licking its wounds alone.

The death of Qiu Fengsheng, Mansion Master of Houjin’s Soul Seeker Mansion, stirred a great disturbance in Jianghu. After all, Xi Yuanjun, formerly a deputy governor of the Xuanyi Guard, was the very person killed.

Moreover, he was an expert from Zhao Country’s Black Ice Platform, now the Mansion Master of Houjin’s Soul Seeker Mansion.

Such an expert’s death at the hands of the Demon Sect seemed logical yet surprising at the same time.

The Demon Sect had stood for a millennium, with profound heritage, but since being driven out of Great Yan, it had gradually declined. Though it had regained some vigor over the past twenty years, its prestige was far from comparable to what it once was.

In particular, when the Ghost Swordsman led many experts to attack the Demon Sect, the prestige of the Demon Sect plummeted. Many began to realize that the Demon Sect could be subdued, that Dongluo Pass could be breached, but this battle made people tremble with fear again.

An emaciated camel is still larger than a horse, not to mention that this camel hasn’t died yet.

The Demon Sect is still that Demon Sect, and a high-profile expert like Qiu Fengsheng has died by their hands.

Dongluo Pass, within the serene courtyard.

The summer heat blazed, and the sound of cicadas rose and echoed.

In the room, Zhao Qingmei, dressed in a flowing white chiffon, sat on the bed.

At this moment, An Jing’s head rested upon her fair, round thigh.

“Ah–!”

An Jing opened his mouth.

Zhao Qingmei picked up a grape from the plate, gently peeled it, and placed it into his mouth.

As her delicate jade hand reached out, An Jing bit playfully at her finger.

“You’re being naughty again.”

Zhao Qingmei tapped An Jing’s forehead and chided coquettishly.

An Jing chuckled, “My lady, you seem to be less busy these days?”

Since returning from the Russell Clan, Zhao Qingmei had pushed aside the trivial matters of the Demon Sect and stayed by An Jing’s side, just as she had in Yu State City.

This made An Jing feel almost as if he were back in Yu State City.

Only there was no Jishi Hall, no Han Wenxin, and no Zhou Xianming or Little Blackie, but there were new additions, such as Yu Qiurong, Poison King Liu Simiao, Lin Tianhai, and others.

Zhao Qingmei looked down at An Jing, who was lying in her arms, and whispered, “Brother, do you miss the life we had back in Yu State City?”

“It’s alright,” An Jing replied with a smile.

The carefree days in Yu State City were difficult to come by now.

Unless he could resolve all his grudges and resentments.

These included the elusive Jiang Shang, and the Zhenyi Sect’s Xiao Qianqiu. Both were beyond his power to deal with.

It was only when he could truly pierce a hole in the heavens with his sword, with no one in his way, that he might have his wishes fulfilled.

Zhao Qingmei pursed her lips and said, “I have already found out about that Heavenly Hidden Organization that came with you last time.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing revealed a hint of curiosity, “Oh?”

He had been very curious about the people behind Su Lian and Su Yue who wanted to meet him.

Zhao Qingmei placed a grape in An Jing’s mouth before speaking, “Thousands of years ago, there was a powerful dynasty known as the Great Qin Dynasty. This dynasty had numerous experts, even Grandmasters to guard it, and the Qin Human Emperors, bathed in dragon’s blood, wielded unimaginable power as Martial Arts Emperors. Many of them were Grandmaster-level experts, and such a formidable dynasty mysteriously fell without any records in history. Their ancestral lands were split in two, resulting in the opposing states of Zhao and Zhou.”

“The Great Zhou Dynasty was not as mighty as the Qin, but it was still prosperous. During its reign, several Grandmasters emerged, and the Great Zhou even sent troops to conquer Zhao Country, almost reaching the capital of Zhao, inexplicably though, the Great Zhou too was destroyed, and the reason for its downfall remains unknown.”

“Afterward, there was the chaos among the Nine Kingdoms, and ultimately the Yan Country emerged victorious, establishing what is now the Great Yan.”

An Jing nodded, he was aware of this history.

The reasons for the downfall of the dominant Qin and Zhou dynasties were a blank. Many people seemed to be seeking the answer to what caused such powerful dynasties to fall overnight without leaving the slightest trace.

What did this history have to do with Heavenly Hidden?

Seeing the confusion in An Jing’s eyes, Zhao Qingmei said, “Heavenly Hidden was established by the Royal Family of the Great Zhou Dynasty to investigate the fall of the Qin Dynasty and to protect the Zhou royalty.”

“They sought you out, most likely because you carry the bloodline of the Great Zhou royal family.”

After pondering for a moment, An Jing said, “It is said that the fall of the Great Zhou was related to a sealing, do you know about this?”

Jiang Sanjia once mentioned it to An Jing, who remembered it clearly because he himself was born of the Zhou royal bloodline.

Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing earnestly and said, “Our Demon Sect’s ancient records also contain some notations. The Zhou royal family created the Evil Suppressing Sword to suppress the sealing and made a series of resistances, but still, they could not escape their doom, and even the royal bloodline of the Zhou was exterminated.”

“Years later, many who carried the Zhou royal bloodline met gruesome deaths.”

“This indicates that those with the Zhou royal bloodline may hold some secrets, and someone wants to eradicate anyone of the Zhou royal lineage.”

Initially, the Evil Suppressing Sword was not made for sealing, but was then divided into six parts to suppress the Earth Veins.

Listening to this, An Jing’s expression became solemn, “My lady, do you mean there might be an invisible hand covering this world, targeting those who carry the Zhou royal bloodline?”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, “Heavenly Hidden sought you out mainly because of the Evil Suppressing Sword in your possession, or perhaps to restore the Zhou Dynasty, or to confront those behind the scenes.”

An Jing fell silent. A mountain seemed to weigh upon his shoulders, a burden heavier than the madness of Jiang Shang or Xiao Qianqiu of Zhenyi Sect.

……..