My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 268 -
Chapter 268: Chapter 268
After their intimate union, Zhao Qingmei’s lips parted slightly as she gasped faintly.
An Jing too inhaled deeply, then placed his palm on her lower abdomen. In an instant, a warm current flowed through, converging into her dantian.
“What are you doing?”
Zhao Qingmei asked with feigned annoyance.
An Jing did not speak, and as the true qi within him continued to pour into her dantian, he sensed the changes in her qi sea and his brows fiercely furrowed.
The qi sea of an ordinary person would radiate a milky white luminescence, but Zhao Qingmei’s qi sea was an ominous black, and that dark glow stemmed from the Demon Seed at the heart of her qi sea.
The cultivation techniques of the Demon Sect always favored unorthodox paths, and the “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture” was the most extreme among them. Especially the latter layers, which were terrifyingly fiendish to even hear about.
In reality, the germination of a Demon Seed was extremely difficult. Without the assistance of someone like Nan Weiping, a great grandmaster, it would take significant time for Zhao Qingmei, despite her talents, to cultivate a Demon Seed.
Indeed, the Demon Seed could generate an abundance of true qi, causing Zhao Qingmei’s cultivation to swiftly advance.
As the Demon Seed started to take root and sprout, it would reach the stage of full fruition, known as the Heavenly Demon Realm or the Ninth Layer, which is also referred to as “falling into demonhood.”
Once this realm is reached, the person’s strength would surge, and according to An Jing’s estimation, it would be somewhat like the “Great Sun Tathagata Mantra,” but the difference is that the influence of demonhood is ceaseless, while the “Great Sun Tathagata Mantra” only takes effect during its implementation.
However, the germination and growth of the Demon Seed is not as simple as it seems on the surface; it’s accompanied by unimaginable crises.
Firstly, the Demon Seed would affect one’s mental will, with perils unpredictable, like a solitary boat in a stormy sea, rootless and almost certain to perish.
Moreover, now that Nan Weiping has tampered with the Demon Seed, Zhao Qingmei’s mental state has become even more dogmatic. If a cultivator is not careful, under the sway of these mental influences, at best they could deviate and fall into demonhood, at worst, they would be beyond redemption, both physically and mentally destroyed.
Throughout history, most practitioners of the “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture” ended up in ruin and death, including many strong-willed and fortunate experts.
Sensing the mental fluctuations from the Demon Seed, An Jing’s brows furrowed slightly, “Something’s not right about this Demon Seed…”
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Qingmei asked.
The majority of her rapid cultivation advancement is credited to this Demon Seed, so upon hearing An Jing’s words, she became somewhat anxious.
An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei seriously and said, “This Demon Seed is affecting you at every moment, a slight carelessness could lead you to fall into demonhood.”
Zhao Qingmei laughed lightly, “So you’re concerned about that. I’m well aware of it, and the ‘Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture’ describes and explains it thoroughly. I believe it has no effect on me at all.”
An Jing shook his head gravely and said, “You are mistaken, the most dangerous aspect of the Demon Seed is precisely this, the stronger one’s determination, the more it affects you. It will make you become more dogmatic and obstinate, and it’s this insidious influence that is truly terrifying.”
If it were someone like Tan Yun, with his disposition, the Demon Seed would have little influence on him. But for someone like Zhao Qingmei, with her strong and mature mind, the impact would be even more significant.
Zhao Qingmei leaned gently into An Jing’s embrace and said softly, “Brother, don’t worry, I have it all under control.”
An Jing felt the Demon Seed had already taken over Zhao Qingmei’s qi sea and could not help but worry. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “What if we abandon the Demon Seed…”
Zhao Qingmei pursed her lips and said, “How could that be possible? The Demon Seed is now one with my dantian. If it shatters, my dantian would also break, and all my cultivation would come to nothing.”
“With your talent, starting cultivations anew would also be quick.”
“Start over with cultivation?”
Zhao Qingmei sat up abruptly, frowning, “The Demon Sect is fraught with danger from the outside and in disarray within. As the Sect Hierarch, how can I abandon my cultivation?”
“The Demon Sect boasts the Three Sects of Heaven, Earth, and Human, four chiefs, tens of thousands of disciples, and an army of over sixty thousand in the Black Armored Army. Their lives are in my hands. If I lose my cultivation, there would only be one outcome for them—death.”
An Jing parted his lips to speak but held back in the end.
This Demon Seed was essentially a ticking time bomb, akin to a double-edged sword. When wielded correctly, it could propel Zhao Qingmei’s cultivation forward in leaps and bounds. But if mishandled, it could just as easily cause grave harm to her.
Now, as the Demon Seed began to assert its influence, enriching Zhao Qingmei’s cultivation, persuading her to give it up for a fresh start seemed nearly impossible.
What if An Jing were in her shoes? He would likely choose as Zhao Qingmei did, placing faith in his own intellect and determination to suppress the Demon Seed’s influence.
“As long as my true nature isn’t affected, what does it matter if my cultivation surpasses Nan Weiping and nullifies any meddling she did with the Demon Seed?”
Zhao Qingmei consoled An Jing, “My husband need not worry, I will surely handle this matter well. Right now, the most urgent issue is Houjin. They dared to kill our sect’s experts within Dongluo Pass; it’s time they learn a lesson.”
As she spoke, a sharp light flashed in Zhao Qingmei’s eyes.
An Jing said nothing, still harboring his concerns.
This kind of obsession would magnify Zhao Qingmei’s inner desires, but what exactly were Zhao Qingmei’s desires?
Great ambitions and hegemony!?
Or something else!?
But Zhao Qingmei was, after all, no ordinary woman. She would not blindly obey An Jing’s words, nor would she allow An Jing to “manipulate” her.
An Jing gently caressed her smooth back, “Then you must be very careful, and don’t overexert yourself.”
“I know.”
Zhao Qingmei lay on An Jing’s body like a kitten, her hands becoming increasingly restless, her lips slightly opened with a trailing note.
“Brother~!”
…..
In the Northern Wilderness Path, outside Yuan City, at the East Camp.
The last time they slaughtered two hundred thousand Houjin troops, Marquis Wang Shiyi’s fame was boosted yet again. Although it was known in the court and among the people that this great battle had been won at the cost of the lives of hundreds of thousands of commoners, not many blamed Wang Shiyi.
Because deep down, many people understood that if Yan Country had shown weakness in the last battle, it would not only have mired the Northern Wilderness Path in the quagmire of war but also incentivised Zhao Country and the Southern Barbarians to take action. At that point, Yan Country would have found itself instantly surrounded by enemies on all sides.
So in that battle, defeat was not an option, victory was the only possibility.
This great victory not only boosted the morale of Yan Country but also made the Southern Barbarians and Zhao Country wary and hesitant to make any rash moves.
After all, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse, and Yan Country was not a camel, but a fierce tiger.
But Wang Shiyi and Li Qirong were clear that this was only temporary. Houjin, relentlessly sharpening their blades, would not stop their southern incursions just because they had lost two hundred thousand troops. They were simply licking their wounds, waiting for a better opportunity.
Storm clouds were looming, and the real battle was on the brink of an eruption. Not only might Houjin launch an attack, but when the time came, the Southern Barbarians and Zhao Country might also besiege Yan Country. This was Yan Country’s most significant concern.
After all, facing Houjin or Zhao Country alone, Yan Country had sufficient strength, but facing a coalition of multiple forces would spell disaster.
Being situated at the heart of the world, it seemed inevitable for Yan Country to face this.
Inside the tent, Wang Shiyi squatted on a chair, looking at the sand table in front of him and murmuring, “Damn Houjin bastards, it’s almost the new year, and they can’t let a person have a good rest.”
The movement of hundreds of thousands of troops was hard to conceal, especially since the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall were always monitoring Houjin’s army.
Added to that, information from both the Heaven and Earth Net and the Demon Sect rested beside the sand table, making it very difficult for Wang Shiyi to pretend he had seen nothing.
Li Qirong said with a deep voice, “Dongluo Pass is now a barrier for our Yan Country. If it falls, Houjin will be able to head south without restriction.”
Wang Shiyi picked up a bunch of grapes, held them in front of him, and then bit into one. He agreed completely with Li Qirong’s words, “Houjin’s troops are stronger than those of Yan Country, and they mainly have cavalry. If Houjin’s cavalry crosses You Mountain, what lies ahead is the vast plain, where it will be difficult to stop them.”
During the last battle, when Yan Country’s army ambushed Houjin’s forces, they also engaged in combat, so Wang Shiyi had some understanding of Houjin’s military strength.
In terms of individual combat capabilities, the ferocious and barbaric nomads indeed had an edge over the soldiers of Yan Country, and especially with the participation of masters from the Soul Seeker Mansion, their lethality was significant.
Li Qirong looked at Wang Shiyi, “There are only sixty thousand Black Armored troops inside Dongluo Pass. It’s too difficult for them to hold off hundreds of thousands of Houjin troops. We must move north to assist Dongluo Pass in resisting Houjin’s army.”
Wang Shiyi nodded slightly, “We must indeed move north, but the key is how and when to move. I’m sure Military Advisor Li has already made some plans, right?”
Looking at the bigger picture, Dongluo Pass and the Northern Wilderness Path were interdependent. Watching Dongluo Pass fall would mean that the Northern Wilderness Path would soon suffer. So when Houjin attacked Dongluo Pass, Wang Shiyi had to take action.
A cold light flickered in Li Qirong’s eyes, “If Houjin sends tens of thousands of troops to attack Dongluo Pass, the North Field will inevitably be left vulnerable. Heavenly Water City is the hub of the North Field. If we capture Heavenly Water City, we can definitely deal a heavy blow to Houjin, leaving them too stretched to respond effectively.”
Wang Shiyi felt a surge of shock upon hearing this.
This was not about rescuing Dongluo Pass, but about advancing northward to strike directly at Houjin’s territory. Indeed, this move was exceptionally brilliant.
It could relieve the crisis at Dongluo Pass and pierce straight into the heart of Houjin.
Wang Shiyi furrowed his brow, “If we truly capture Heavenly Water City, we will definitely be counterattacked by Houjin.”
Now was not the time for Yan Country to expand its territory.
Li Qirong had already considered this, “Heavenly Water City is a hub city in the North Field, and Houjin will certainly not let it fall into our hands easily. We can learn from Houjin and retreat after looting a large amount of resources.”
“Good! Damn them all!”
Wang Shiyi clenched his fists with excitement, feeling his blood boil with enthusiasm.
Moving north into Houjin was something he had long wanted to do.
Li Qirong spoke faintly, “This time, I am going to pay tribute to the spirits of tens of thousands of citizens from Yan Country in Heavenly Water City.”
Some said that Li Qirong lacked real skills, so he set up an ambush and killed two hundred thousand soldiers from Houjin; some said Li Qirong was too ruthless and disregarded the lives of civilians, so he planned to commemorate the spirits of tens of thousands of citizens on the city walls of Heavenly Water City.
Everything he did seemed to serve as proof.
……
The sands outside Dongluo Pass were vast.
An Jing stood atop a sand dune, watching the sunlight filter through the grains.
Ever since his Sword Dao reached the Sixth Realm, his enlightenment and cultivation of Sword Dao had slacked considerably, not just due to busyness but also because advancing even a tiny bit within the Sixth Realm was extremely difficult.
The Sixth Realm equates to having no sword in hand, no sword in heart.
A swordsman has completely forsaken his sword; without a sword, how could one continue to cultivate the Sword Dao and reach the Seventh Realm?
The Seventh Realm is renowned as the final stage of Sword Dao. None has been heard to have achieved this in ancient and modern times, except for some records in the “Sword Dao Tao General Outline.”
However, An Jing believed that there must have been swordsmen who attained this realm and that this “Sword Dao Tao General Outline” must have been authored by one such swordsman; otherwise, no one could depict the stages of Sword Dao so intricately and precisely.
The Seventh Realm of Sword Dao, integrating the sword and the self, to forget both the sword and oneself.
This state has transcended the secular world and truly reached the realm of immortals and buddhas.
To reach this realm is to be a god amongst swords, an immortal amongst swords, indeed the foremost swordsman of all time, ancient and modern.
At the Fifth Realm, An Jing could still draw upon the Sword Intent of the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor and receive hints from Lou Xiangzhen, so he had some inkling before entering the Sixth Realm; but after reaching the Sixth Realm, it felt like he had gone blind.
The Seventh Realm was a complete mystery to him.
This was not only a great challenge for An Jing but a problem that plagued countless unparalleled swordsmen of the Sixth Realm.
How could one reach the Seventh Realm?
Every day, An Jing would come to this desert, gaze at the grains beneath the sunlight, and immerse himself in the vast expanse of the desert, emptying his mind in relentless pursuit of the mysterious Seventh Realm.
In addition, he was also experiencing the realms of fist and kick body refining.
After swallowing the True Dragon Treasure Blood, he directly achieved a Purity Body, the result of his talent and the True Dragon Treasure Blood’s promotion.
Just as Jun Qinglin once said, some people are born with their spiritual lamp already lit.
The next realm after the Purity Body is Heavenly Human Communication, also the realm of Separating Heaven and Earth that Jun Qinglin practices.
An Jing had some doubts in his heart, wondering whether Heavenly Human Communication was stronger or Separating Heaven and Earth was more formidable—one merges with heaven and earth to borrow its power, the other separates from heaven and earth to release the constraints imposed upon oneself.
For An Jing, either option was like the Seventh Realm of Sword Dao—utterly clueless.
If talking about leveraging the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence with the “Nameless Heart Scripture” to rapidly ascend in cultivation, but as for these kinds of enlightenment, they require a great deal of time and a true understanding of Dao.
Achieving mastery in a single bound is impossible for a true expert.
“Integrated with the sword, forgetting both the sword and oneself….”
Looking at the sand before him, An Jing completely emptied his mind, sensing the grains and the sunlight, momentarily forgetting everything.
In his trance, he saw particles of sand dancing in the air, their speed growing slower and slower, until they came to a standstill. He could see the grains shining brightly under the sunlight, but that glow soon disappeared.
The light faded because the sun in the sky was setting.
He did not realize it, but he had been standing there contemplating until sunset, and the moon had already risen.
The desert night was lonely and frigid, a mere breath turning into a puff of white smoke.
An Jing drew out the Evil Suppressing Sword; its six blades now merged into one, showing a faint gleam under the moonlight on the ancient sword body.
The sky was cold!
The sword was cold too!
And he was even colder!
The sword light emitted by the Evil Suppressing Sword seemed chillier still, cold to the marrow.
“To forget everything, including the sword in hand, thus forgetting oneself.”
The next moment, the sword in An Jing’s hand disappeared as if it had never appeared, and he gently lifted his elbow.
In an instant, the world fell into icy coldness again, the kind that pierces straight to the heart, different from the sensation of cold.
Vast sword qi surged forth, illuminated by the moonlight, and it rolled mightily forward.
“Chi!”
The sword split mountains and rivers! The heavens shook and the earth quaked!
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The sword light whistled past, and the entire desert’s gravel shook, being flung more than three zhang into the air, forming curtains of yellow sand in the sky.
Each grain of sand shimmered with a cold light, piercing the mind.
“Whirr whirr!”
After a long while, the gravel heavily fell back to the ground, and finally, peace returned to the world.
An Jing stood in the desert, beneath the moonlight.
But if you looked closely, the Evil Suppressing Sword was still in his palm.
The sword was in his hand all along, and it had never disappeared.
“The selfless is not the self, not mine, not my self. This move, let’s call it the Selfless Dao.”
An Jing looked at the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, remembered the sword technique he had just grasped, and then whispered to himself.
Last time, he grasped an invisible and intangible sword technique called the Invisible Sword, and this time, he had grasped a new sword technique, called the Selfless Dao.
“Huh…”
An Jing exhaled softly. Grasping a new sword technique made it even clearer to him that reaching the Seventh Realm was not so simple, and there was a huge difference between it and the Sixth Realm.
This gap was indescribable, because to describe it would be to truly understand it, much like the distance between humans and the stars, visible but not clear.
“The Seventh Realm is truly reaching the realm of immortals and buddhas. Those who reach this realm, how terrifying and powerful they must be, will definitely have that feeling of being invincible in the human world.”
“Swoosh!”
An Jing sheathed the Evil Suppressing Sword and looked into the distance.
A figure emerged in the distance and finally landed in front of An Jing. It was Yu Qiurong, “Son-in-law, it’s getting dark, the Sect Hierarch has asked you to go back and rest.”
“Okay.”
An Jing nodded, following behind Yu Qiurong towards the inside of Dongluo Pass.
Yu Qiurong followed An Jing meekly, hesitated for a moment then said, “Son-in-law, let me hold the sword for you.”
“That would be good.”
An Jing casually threw the Evil Suppressing Sword to Yu Qiurong, stepping on the gravel and looking at the cold moon in the sky.
Yu Qiurong, holding the world-famous Evil Suppressing Sword and feeling the residual warmth on the hilt, couldn’t help but smile softly.
……
Time flew like an arrow, passing by swiftly.
In Dongluo Pass, North Field Road, the North Field seemed to be shrouded in smog of gunpowder, with a great battle imminent.
The end of the year arrived unnoticed.
As the year’s end approached and the weather turned colder, the number of caravans within Dongluo Pass dwindled, but this did not affect the city’s prosperity and bustle at all. Dongluo Pass was festively decorated, both inside and out, in anticipation of the new year.
Dongluo Pass, Fulu Street, Xianghe Pawnshop.
This pawnshop had been established in Dongluo Pass for a full thirteen years and could be considered a true old brand of the city.
The most numerous establishments within Dongluo Pass were gambling houses and brothels, with their backers being no secret, making Dongluo Pass the most famous den of iniquity in the world, with countless master thieves from Yan Country, Zhao Country, and Houjin squandering their dubious fortunes there each year.
To be able to set up a pawnshop in such a place required not only greasing palms but also having significant strength and means of one’s own, and Mao Xin, the shopkeeper of Xianghe Pawnshop, was just such a person.
At this moment, the shopkeeper of Xianghe Pawnshop, with a bundled package on his back, stood at the entrance of the pawnshop, looking up at the four gilded characters overhead.
Unnoticed, he had already lived here for thirteen years.
A hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but this light was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure.
The pawnshop accountant said with a smile, “Shopkeeper, rest assured that I’ll take good care of the shop while you’re gone.”
“With you here, I’m very at ease.”
Mao Xin laughed heartily and said, “I’ll leave it to you then, make sure to take good care of this pawnshop.”
“Shopkeeper Mao, I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave for the time being.”
Just then, an indifferent voice sounded.
The pawnshop keeper turned his head and saw it was a middle-aged man dressed in green, with a jade token hanging from his waist. The jade token bore the lifelike engraving of an Azure Dragon.
Azure Dragon Sect.
Having mingled in Dongluo Pass for many years, he naturally knew what the jade token represented.
As one of the four sects of the Demon Sect, the Azure Dragon Sect served as the Sect Hierarch’s personal guard and oversaw the Demon Sect’s punishments and rewards. Inside the Demon Sect, they were an existence that made even ghosts apprehensive.
The man before him was none other than Zhu Cheng, a powerful figure of the Azure Dragon Sect with Third Grade Realm cultivation.
“Lord Zhu, what wind has brought you here today?”
Mao Xin smiled, took out a piece of gold from his bosom, and discreetly approached the member of the Azure Dragon Sect, whispering with a laugh, “This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you’ll continue to look after Xianghe when I’m gone.”
He often handed out silver to maintain his connections, assuming the Azure Dragon Sect high-ranking member had come to seek a benefit as well.
Since he was going to leave, the pawnshop keeper was very generous.
Zhu Cheng weighed the gold in his hand and a cold smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, “Maybe Shopkeeper Mao didn’t hear me clearly just now. You won’t be able to leave today.”
Mao Xin was startled, but maintained a calm demeanor and said, “Oh? What is this about…?”
Zhu Cheng stated indifferently, “Our sect leader wishes to see you.”
Mao Xin was surprised and asked, “Why would the Sect Hierarch suddenly want to see me?”
“I don’t know. I’m just following orders. Please, come with me,” Zhu Cheng replied.
With that said, Zhu Cheng gestured for Mao Xin to follow him.
“Since the Sect Hierarch wishes to see me, it seems I have no choice but to go.”
Mao Xin nodded slightly and followed Zhu Cheng towards the Azure Dragon Hall.
In Dongluo Pass, the Demon Sect is heaven.
Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in Mao Xin’s eyes, and a sharp blade appeared from his sleeve and stabbed towards Zhu Cheng’s throat.
The speed of the blade was extremely fast and nearly undetectable.
“Clang!”
Just as it was about to pierce Zhu Cheng’s throat, a longsword blocked the short blade.
A smile appeared on Zhu Cheng’s lips, “Shopkeeper, you really hide your strength well, to be a Third Grade expert.”
Run!
Mao Xin felt a chill rush to the top of his head and frantically bolted into the distance.
“Seeking death!”
Zhu Cheng swung his longsword, and a narrow, black Sword Qi shot forth.
“Shick!”
The Sword Light hit Mao Xin’s back directly, slicing his flesh open, and Mao Xin fell heavily to the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat, unable to utter a word.
He extended his hand and scrambled towards the outside of Dongluo Pass.
As long as he could leave Dongluo Pass, he would be safe, and he could finally be reunited with his family.
But the distance, which clearly lay within an arm’s reach, was one he could no longer traverse.
Whoosh!
This scene unfolded extremely fast, causing an instant uproar on the street; the workers of Xianghe Pawnshop were all stunned, unable to snap back to reality.
Zhu Cheng indifferently ordered, “Seal off Xianghe Pawnshop, take Mao Xin into custody.”
……
Vermilion Bird Lane, Tubular Alley.
As usual, Lu He finished organizing the roll of names and headed home.
In his earlier years, he was a Taiping Advanced Scholar of Yan Country during its seventeenth year. After the imperial examinations, because he hadn’t bribed the relevant officials from the Ministry of Personnel, he was relegated to a remote area to serve as a minor official.
At first, Lu He was filled with resentment, but he soon bowed his head to fate and, going with the flow, engaged in corruption and bribery, amassing a substantial amount of silver. However, due to his failures in cultivating relationships above him, he was exposed before he had completed even two years in his position.
It was precisely at a time when the Human Emperor of Taiping had issued strict laws; corruption was a serious offense. Judging by the amount he embezzled, ten heads would not have been enough to pay for his crimes. With no other choice, he fled Yan Country and arrived at Dongluo Pass.
Given that he was formerly an Advanced Scholar, and still had some literary skills, he was quickly discovered and recruited by the Demon Sect into the Vermilion Bird Seat. Over the decades, he indeed made some accomplishments; not only did he acquire a residence with three courtyards, but he also took three concubines, and his days were rather comfortable. Naturally, he was utterly loyal to the Demon Sect. Nowadays, his position was ever-rising, and he was one of Mu Xiaoyun’s most capable aides.
Lu He muttered to himself, “Now that relations between Outer Heaven and Yan Country are easing, next year I’ll be able to return to Yan Country to see my old mother.”
Others might not be aware, but he knew very well that, with the aggressive stance of Houjin this time, the chances of the Demon Sect holding Dongluo Pass were extremely slim. The only opportunity would be to fall back to Yan Country’s territory.
Let these two colossi clash head-on, return to the Demon Sect inside Yan Country, and continue to work for the Sect while being even safer.
The next moment, a streak of cold light shot from a distance.
Although Lu He was a scholar, he wasn’t completely ignorant of martial arts; he was a practitioner with Fourth Grade Cultivation and deftly avoided the cold arrow that surged towards him with innate instinct.
“Buzz buzz!”
The cold arrow struck the ground fiercely, quivering incessantly, showing the terrifying force behind it.
“Who!?”
Feeling a chill in his heart, Lu He shouted, “Come out, you sneaky rat!”
“Kill him!”
A low shout erupted as two figures dressed in black charged from all sides towards Lu He.
With a single glance, Lu He was taken aback—both of these assailants had higher Cultivation levels than his.
“Run!”
Without a second thought, Lu He desperately fled towards the distance.
With a leap, the two men swiftly gave chase. Their movements were as fast as lightning, and just as they were about to strike Lu He, a longsword blocked their path.
“Not good!”
Both assassins felt a chill in their hearts. It was too late to retreat.
“Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!”
As the longsword descended, a storm of Sword Qi formed around it, instantly turning the two men into a mist of blood that sprayed across the alley.
Lu He now gasped for air, looking ahead.
He saw a sword-wielding man appear at the end of the alley.
“Yi, the Head of the Seat!?”
Lu He was slightly astonished, then quickly came to his senses, “Is there no need for a survivor? These people are clearly premeditated.”
Yi Daoyun coolly replied, “All these are death soldiers from the Soul Seeker Mansion, the Sect Hierarch has ordered their complete extermination.”
“Soul Seeker Mansion…”
Lu He murmured to himself, his heart trembling uncontrollably.
Unexpectedly, even the experts of the Soul Seeker Mansion had infiltrated Dongluo Pass. They were audacious indeed; it left one to wonder if there were any top experts from the Soul Seeker Mansion still within the Pass. Additionally, based on the actions of the Soul Seeker Mansion, it seemed the Houjin army would soon arrive…
And this bloody scene was repeatedly played out in Dongluo Pass, as the scouts of Houjin were one by one captured and netted by the experts of the Azure Dragon Seat, while the experts of the Soul Seeker Mansion were intercepted and slain by the experts of the White Tiger Seat, leaving not a single survivor.
This was the Demon Sect’s response to Houjin.
……
Inside Dongluo Garden, in the hall.
An Jing, Zhao Qingmei, Yu Qiurong, Duanmu Xinghua, and Mu Xiaoyun were seated in the hall.
The other experts of the Demon Sect also had their own families, with only Duanmu Xinghua, Mu Xiaoyun, and Yi Daoyun truly alone, so Zhao Qingmei invited the two to celebrate the new year together.
Mu Xiaoyun reported the Demon Sect’s financial earnings for the past year at the side. Compared to last year, this year’s overall revenue tended to decline. On one hand, there were sanctions from Houjin, as well as heavy compensation needed for the casualties of the Black Armored Army, along with other various expenses. Fortunately, the Demon Sect could now spread its teachings in Yan Country, which not only allowed the Demon Sect to continuously absorb fresh blood but also helped balance its financial power to a certain extent.
After Mu Xiaoyun finished, it was Duanmu Xinghua’s turn to report.
The power of the Demon Sect also suffered a heavy blow this year. Initially, Jiang Renyi of the Earth Sect and countless Earth Sect experts were exiled and executed. Then there was Yuan Feng’s betrayal and the battle with the Russell Clan—events that caused the Demon Sect to lose a significant number of masters.
But the strength of the Demon Sect had also expanded. For example, a top Great Sword Immortal, Ghost Swordsman, was added. Furthermore, Jun Qinglin had emerged from seclusion. This undoubtedly elevated the Demon Sect to a higher level of top-tier strength, which was even more formidable than the current Zhenyi Sect.
Zhao Qingmei contemplated for a moment before asking, “How many experts of First Grade Cultivation and Second Grade Cultivation do we have in the sect now?”
Duanmu Xinghua answered, “There are seventeen people at the realm of First Grade, among them eight are First Grade Human Flowers, five are First Grade Earth Flowers, two are First Grade Heavenly Flowers, and the rest are newly promoted to the First Grade Realm. As for Second Grade, there are twenty-nine people. The majority of these First and Second Grade Cultivators are from the Heavenly Sect, followed by the Earth Sect.”
Zhao Qingmei’s brows furrowed tightly. The year had indeed been tumultuous and had caused the Demon Sect to lose a number of experts in the First Grade Realm, leading to a downtrend in overall strength.
Furthermore, the seventy thousand Black Armored Army had been greatly devastated, and now barely numbered over sixty thousand with the reserves included, clearly insufficient against the hundreds of thousands strong Houjin army.
An Jing, seated to the side, was preoccupied with eating peanuts, her eyes occasionally drifting towards Mu Xiaoyun, her thoughts inscrutable.
Yu Qiurong noticed An Jing’s subtle movements and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“We also received a secret report this afternoon.”
Duanmu Xinghua seemed to remember something and said, “The old Sect Hierarch has emerged from the forbidden land of the Snow Mountain clan, but afterwards, his whereabouts became unknown.”
Jiang Shang came out!?
An Jing and Zhao Qingmei exchanged glances.
Upon hearing this, Yu Qiurong’s brows also knitted together tightly.
In her heart, an enemy of Zhao Qingmei was her own enemy.
Zhao Qingmei said softly, “Conduct a full search; I want to know his whereabouts.”
When it came to her own master, Zhao Qingmei knew his power better than anyone else. Back in the day, even Ye Ding of the Zhenyi Sect had not been able to defeat him. Later, Ye Ding was ambushed by Qi Xuan Dao, and his power had not increased by much, while Jiang Shang had consistently made steady progress over the decades.
Now, his strength was definitely above Ye Ding’s. Since Ye Ding was of the Four Qi Cultivation, Jiang Shang’s Cultivation was likely at the peak of Four Qi, or even close to the realm of Five Qi, which indeed presented a formidable enemy for An Jing and Zhao Qingmei.
“Understood.”
Duanmu Xinghua nodded, her heart feeling somewhat forlorn.
What she feared the most was internal strife within the Demon Sect. If Jiang Shang could return to the Demon Sect, how terrifying would the power of the Demon Sect become by now?
But as it stood, a confrontation between the two sides seemed unavoidable, especially since Jiang Renyi’s fate was unclear.
Moreover, with the recent suspected emergence of a traitor, it was difficult to say whether it was one of Jiang Shang’s hooks. If so, could it be Lin Tianhai, Yi Daoyun, or another master?
Duanmu Xinghua suppressed the thoughts in her heart, feeling increasingly anxious and unsettled as she pondered.
After some casual conversation, Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, rubbed her temples, and said, “Alright, let’s set aside the matters within the sect for now. Next, let’s wait for some good news.”
Confused, Mu Xiaoyun asked, “Good news? May I know what this good news is?”
“Soon, you’ll find out.”
Zhao Qingmei looked towards Mu Xiaoyun, “You’ve been working hard during this period; take today to relax since it’s New Year’s Eve.”
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The Vermilion Bird Seat was in charge of all the Demon Sect’s operations, finances, expenses, and was known as the busiest and most important department within the sect.
Previously, the Head of the Vermilion Bird Seat was Yu Qiurong, but after Mu Xiaoyun had made significant contributions, authority was gradually transferred to Mu Xiaoyun.
Sincerely, Mu Xiaoyun responded, “I am grateful to the Sect Hierarch for taking me in; I keep it in mind constantly, daring not to slack off for fear of failing your expectations.”
“The best thing is that you keep it in your heart,” Zhao Qingmei said, looking into those eyes and uttering a profound statement.
Somehow, when those eyes were fixed on her, all her secrets seemed to be seen through in an instant, giving her an uncomfortable feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
“Sect Hierarch!”
Just at that moment, an expert from the Azure Dragon Hall entered the hall, “Head Lin has arrived.”
Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly, “Let him in.”
Soon, Lin Tianhai entered the grand hall, where everyone present was an experienced Jianghu master, naturally sensing the scent of blood on him.
This made both Duanmu Xinghua and Mu Xiaoyun frown subtly.
Lin Tianhai cupped his fists and said, “Sect Hierarch, all seven spies from Houjin have been captured, one of them couldn’t withstand the torture and confessed. Zhang Zihao is indeed the traitor, and it was he who poisoned the Poison King. He is currently in Heavenly Water City in the Northern Wilderness, but Yu Dou was killed by someone else, and it is said to be the work of someone within our Demon Sect.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Qingmei asked with a smile upon hearing this, “Yu Dou was a master at the peak of the Third Grade Realm. There aren’t many in our sect who could kill him, are there? Have you found out who it was?”
Lin Tianhai replied, “Not yet. These spies from the Soul Seeker Mansion don’t hold high positions, their purpose was to gather information on Dongluo Pass, and this traitor’s status is not ordinary, evidently having a separate line of communication with Houjin. However, we found dozens of secret letters at the Houjin spies’ base, all evidence of people from our Demon Sect secretly communicating with Houjin.”
With that, Lin Tianhai produced several secret letters.
Zhao Qingmei asked indifferently, “Who are they?”
Lin Tianhai listed a series of names, “Earth Sect’s Chang Yu, Pu Caide, Si Baishan, Azure Dragon Sect’s Sha Yongjian, Wu Zheng…”
Duanmu Xinghua felt a chill in her heart; she recognized some of the names, shocked that these people had unknowingly pledged allegiance to Houjin.
It seemed that under the tremendous pressure of the vast might of Houjin, many skilled masters of the Demon Sect couldn’t bear the burden and had developed second thoughts, ready to switch allegiances at any time.
Finding out beforehand was a relief. If a sudden betrayal occurred during actual combat, the Demon Sect, already at a disadvantage, might have faced the final straw that broke their back.
Suddenly, Duanmu Xinghua felt a sense of lingering fear and grew even more admiring of Zhao Qingmei, who, despite her youth, was careful and steady in her actions, meticulous in every way.
Unbeknownst to all, she had set up a mesh of Heaven and Earth Net.
Zhao Qingmei said expressionlessly, “Kill them all.”
Lin Tianhai hesitated for a moment before asking, “Sect Hierarch, should we not investigate these people further? Perhaps we can obtain information about the bigger fish behind this.”
“No need.”
Zhao Qingmei replied with a cold smile, “I’m curious to see what kind of waves this fish can make.”
“Understood.”
Lin Tianhai cupped his fists again and then turned to leave.
Lin Tianhai had barely left when Yi Daoyun came in, his sword still dripping with fresh blood, obviously having survived a fierce battle.
Considering Yi Daoyun’s realm as a master of One Qi, the fact that he had to take action meant that his opponent must have been strong.
“Sect Hierarch, all the assassins sent by the Soul Seeker Mansion to kill our sect’s masters have been slain, not a single one left alive. Among them, five were of First Grade Realm, nine of Second Grade Realm, and seventeen of Third Grade Realm.”
“Very good.”
Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly, “Hang their corpses outside Dongluo Pass and let them be exposed to the sun for three days as a warning to others.”
Even for the Soul Seeker Mansion, losing so many masters would surely be a painful blow.
An Jing had known for some time that Zhao Qingmei was planning to make a move against Houjin, but even now, hearing the report of the battle outcome, he couldn’t help but secretly marvel in his heart.
His wife was decisive and resolute in action, swift in cutting through the mess like a sharp knife.
Capturing the Houjin spies and arranging a counter-ambush in advance, she managed to kill a large number of Soul Seeker Mansion masters in one fell swoop.
This series of measures undoubtedly boosted morale and alleviated the pressure for the upcoming major battle while also delaying Houjin’s advance.
However, An Jing still had worries in his heart. Fundamentally, the hundreds of thousands of Houjin troops were the most lethal and troublesome.
Right then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall again, and Lin Tianhai returned after leaving, cupping his fists and saying:
“Sect Hierarch, the Great Elder and Second Elder from the Sealing Demon Platform have arrived.”
…….
