My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Sword Immortal in the Sunset

Atop Abyss Lake.

Xiao Qianqiu gazed quietly into the distance at the disappearing figure, seemingly lost in a trance.

From simple to complex was the experience of his early life; from complex to simple was his cultivation in later life.

The great path is simple; the great path is silent.

In that moment, he was blessed with enlightenment.

The glow of the Heavenly Venerate’s Mirror in his palm dissipated, clearly unable to be used for a short time.

“Brother Xiao, are you alright!?”

Ling Yuanjing hurried over, asking.

“I’m fine.”

Xiao Qianqiu shook his head, sighing lightly, “Just now, brother Song was swallowed by the evil dragon; my energy was broken, and I couldn’t stop it.”

The Black Flood Dragon had charged out; he saw it, too, but was too powerless to intervene.

Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin both looked somber. In the blink of an eye, their fellow disciple of many years had died before their eyes, without even leaving a body behind.

“Brother, who won between you and Lou Xiangzhen?”

Sima Changlin asked.

At the last moment, Lou Xiangzhen’s sword tip rested at Xiao Qianqiu’s brow. If it had moved forward even slightly, he couldn’t bear to think about it—but he couldn’t help but wonder—

Did Xiao Qianqiu really lose?!

“Winning or losing doesn’t matter anymore.”

Finally taking his eyes off, Xiao Qianqiu chuckled lightly, his laugh inscrutable yet profound. He shook his head again, “Let’s go.”

With that, Xiao Qianqiu flew off into the distance.

Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin exchanged a glance.

They quickly followed.

Jia Shiwu noticed that the man next to him wearing a conical hat had been silent all along and couldn’t help but say, “My lord…”

“Lou Xiangzhen, oh Lou Xiangzhen, why did it have to come to this?”

The man in the conical hat shook his head, and then said no more.

“Elder, who won and who lost?”

The Five Poison Young Master looked puzzled and turned to the solemn Feng Lingyue.

Although Xiao Qianqiu had blood on his face and looked disheveled, suggesting he had been severely injured, he still managed to employ movement techniques over the lake surface, indicating he had not yet reached a desperate standstill. On the other hand, considering Lou Xiangzhen…

“Let’s say Lou Xiangzhen won.”

Feng Lingyue sighed deeply. Who won and who lost, everyone had their own ideas, especially since in what everyone saw as a fight to the death, no one actually died.

Watching Xiao Qianqiu’s retreating figure, Luo Chongyang thought to himself, “Xiao Qianqiu’s momentum being broken is not necessarily a bad thing for him, it might even lead to a transcendental breakthrough!”

Xiao Qianqiu, precocious and transcendent in disposition, had always been a standout among the young generation from the moment he entered the martial world, vastly surpassing his peers and never defeated even by elder experts.

A figure like him, in any era, would be a peerless entity.

The recent sword strike from Lou Xiangzhen, though it seemed to break his momentum, also gave Xiao Qianqiu a sliver of chance.

The natural way of Daoist skill is that nothing can be established without being destroyed first.

If established, then how formidable would Xiao Qianqiu become?

“Let’s go.”

On the carriage, Zhao Chongyin slowly said.

“Yes.”

Bai Aunt nodded, then the sound of the carriage wheels arose, moving towards the distance, gradually fading away.

Wang Yue too took a long time to regain his composure. He said nothing but turned and left, followed by the experts of the Blue River Sect exchanging confounded glances.

In the world, masters from all directions inevitably sighed with admiration. This battle deeply moved them; such a ground-shaking confrontation between two top experts, it was long before everyone gradually dispersed.

Abyss Lake once again became calm, only a white-haired elder remained, unwilling to leave for a long time.

The white-haired elder gazed at the tranquil lake surface, as if reliving half his life, filled with emotion, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Who in the Four Seas knows me; how many times has a single sword crossed the horizon.”

……..

The Canglang River, sunset.

The Canglang River stretched thousands of miles at a glance, with rolling waves.

The Canglang River, originating from the boundless East Sea, continued unceasingly, cutting across Yunhua Road, Lingnan Road, and Beihuang Road as its endpoint.

This river, cutting through high mountains, circling plains, flying across canyons, leaping over hills, roared turbulently, embracing countless rugged mountains with an imposing momentum.

The Black Flood Dragon lay coiled atop the Canglang River; the surrounding water seemed to have a mind of its own, controlled by the dragon to form a curtain of water.

As the sun set, the river shimmered with a halo of light, and at that moment, everything turned serene and silent.

Lou Xiangzhen’s Peach Blossom Sword was embedded in the riverbank, and his whole body seemed to lean on the sword’s hilt. His face was as pale as could be, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth down to the ground, seeping into the soil.

An Jing looked at Lou Xiangzhen in front of him, this swordsman renowned for defeating grandmasters and battling alone against the number one expert of the Great Yan Martial World, now so wretched for the first time.

“They won’t be able to catch up now,” An Jing said from beside him.

Lou Xiangzhen reached up to touch the blood at the corner of his mouth.

“They won’t catch up. That Song Chengbiao was swallowed by your Black Flood Dragon in one bite, and Xiao Qianqiu is also injured; they certainly won’t catch up.”

An Jing breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Let me treat your wounds first.”

Lou Xiangzhen shook his head and gazed into the distance, his demeanor no longer that of a renowned Sword Immortal who had shaken the world for many decades, but more like an ordinary old man.

“Let this old man take a few more looks at this setting sun.”

An Jing’s heart trembled, and he fell silent.

Lou Xiangzhen’s voice was calm yet faintly weak, and his voice was hoarse, no longer as resonant as before.

“Xiao Qianqiu, with his Four Qi Grandmaster skill and Master Realm cultivation, sees a significant gap between any of the Five Qi. Although my Sword Dao has reached the Sixth Realm, but… Xiao Qianqiu is not far behind. His path has already taken shape, along with the Heavenly Venerate’s Mirror in his hand, an exotic treasure left by the ancestors of the Mystical Sect…”

An Jing stepped forward, supporting Lou Xiangzhen’s body.

He knew that Lou Xiangzhen’s last sword was exerted with all his might, and he was already burned out.

In combat at higher levels, it comes down to the right time, geographical advantage, and harmony among people.

Xiao Qianqiu had the momentum and the Exotic Treasure, enjoying the advantage in timing.

Both men had an equal share of the geographical advantage; it was hard to say who was superior.

Harmony among people depends on the Dao and Skill. In terms of the Dao, Xiao Qianqiu held the advantage, while only in Skill did Lou Xiangzhen manage to gain the upper hand through his advanced years.

All things considered, Lou Xiangzhen had to have exhausted all his Essence to shatter the Heavenly Venerate’s Mirror!

“Originally, I thought my last sword, ha, let it be, let it be, it was just a thought… Young man, no need to support me, I have some words to discuss with you.”

Lou Xiangzhen pushed An Jing away and then sighed gently.

An Jing nodded and said, “I’m listening.”

Mustering strength in his body, Lou Xiangzhen continued, “The Mystical Sect is divided into three, and so is the momentum and fortunes. Xiao Qianqiu is an exceptional figure not commonly seen in the Zhenyi Sect. He is bound to try to collect the ‘Jade Emperor Scripture’. Only with the ‘Jade Emperor Scripture’ can he have a greater assurance of reaching the Grandmaster Realm and rightfully revitalize the Mystical Sect. Thus, you are bound to face him in battle.”

“And revitalizing the Mystical Sect isn’t as simple as it appears. As the once number one Sect, many do not wish to see its return, including the Great Yan Emperor. Hence, your journey is fraught with responsibility and challenges.”

“Having embarked on this path, you can either continue or become a corpse on this road, waiting for others to step over your body and proceed.”

An Jing nodded, somewhat melancholic, “I understand.”

Countless masters of the Zhenyi Sect had died by his hand.

Some paths, once embarked upon, offer no way back.

It was the path he had to take!

The only path, and moreover, the path he could only take…

Lou Xiangzhen continued, “This battle could only be considered half-fought. Although I broke Xiao Qianqiu’s momentum and inflicted heavy damage on him, allowing him no time to focus on you for now, if you were to fight him again in the future and he hasn’t transformed through this battle, your chances of victory… will increase. However…”

Lou Xiangzhen paused slightly, his expression grew serious, “But if he has transformed after this setback, breaking through his current realm to a higher extremity… I fear myriad dangers await you.”

He then took out the emerged Holy Essence Gu from his bosom.

“The Holy Essence Gu has hatched. Take good care of it. There’s still a wisp of remaining Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence inside it. With proper nurturing, it will continue to release more Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.”

“…”

An Jing carefully received the Holy Essence Gu, remaining silent.

He knew in his heart that not only was he skilled in the Ghost Valley Heart Method, but he also possessed the incomplete Daluo Heart Method, thus becoming a thorn in the side of the Zhenyi Sect.

If he wanted to stand between heaven and earth, it was inevitable that he would battle the Zhenyi Sect sooner or later.

“As the foremost sect, if you unify the Mystical Sect, you will surely make history. The Ghost Valley Sect, Daluo Sect, and Zhenyi Sect will then fade into the mists.”

Lou Xiangzhen’s eyebrows lowered.

He gazed at the distant sunset, where the vast river melded with the sky, his eyes slowly misting over.

“A true man should carry a three-foot sword and establish an unparalleled name. The things you want, you have to secure for yourself.”

His eyelids seemed to grow heavier.

His strength was dissipating steadily.

But Lou Xiangzhen had not finished speaking!

“In my life, as a young man, I gained fame; I was unrivaled for a time, and all under heaven called me a once-in-a-century swordsman! My future was bright and clear!”

In middle age, defeated by Sword God Liu Moyuan, I fell into decline for decades, losing myself in Jianghu, and thought I had seen through worldly fame and fortune and chose to seclude within the court.

It was only after Jiang Sanjia’s death that I truly understood and recognized, being born between heaven and earth, how could one live a mediocre life?”

Lou Xiangzhen asked, as if questioning An Jing and himself.

“The ups and downs of life, like the clouds in the sky, gather and disperse unpredictably; what I’ve been pursuing all my life is now within my grasp, yet there’s some regret in my heart that I fear cannot be resolved in this lifetime.”

An Jing was silent, understanding the regrets Lou Xiangzhen spoke of.

Lou Xiangzhen felt increasingly weak, as if even speaking took too much effort: “It’s normal for a life not to end perfectly. Initially, it was my ignorance in choosing; later, I knew better but chose to give up. With circumstances like mine, this is already the best outcome.”

“Young man, I really look forward to the day… the day you become the Sect Leader of the Mystical Sect.”

“Isn’t there still one last thing you want to accomplish?”

“Yes.”

Lou Xiangzhen watched the orange sunset, the golden light softly rippling with the sea waves.

In those shifting lights and shadows, there appeared to be layers of life’s scenes.

A life fleeting like a passerby from the dust lands, inviting the clear wind and bright moon to sing along with wine in hand, how many times can one be intoxicated in a lifetime?

Seventy years of storms, the seasons of spring’s glow and autumn’s yield, come and go.

Dreaming of returning to his homeland, the first time he entered the Ghost Valley and learned swordsmanship, he set his ambition to be the world’s first swordsman.

Practicing day and night, not caring for the stars and the way home.

By fourteen, he had mastered the Peach Blossom Sword Intent, defeating the Chief Disciple of the Blue River Sect; at twenty-two, he traveled across Jianghu, traversing thousands of miles and defeating a multitude of young sword masters, beginning to show his edge.

Then, soundly grounded, he reached the Fifth Realm at thirty-eight and upon first entering, defeated three veteran swordsmen immersed in it for years, solidly establishing his fame across the world.

Some called him the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, others, for the dreamlike illusions brought forth when he wielded his sword, like blossoming peach flowers, named him the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal.

At forty!

Lou Xiangzhen, alone with his sword, went to the Yu Heng Sword Sect and defeated two Sword Servants.

In today’s Jianghu, he was the only one at the age of forty to defeat those two Sword Servants, reaching the peak of his fame, unrivaled for a time.

Unexpectedly, the Sword God emerged, and with just three sword strikes, he defeated the newly risen number one swordsman in Jianghu, causing the name of Sword God to resound through heaven and earth once more.

No one noticed the disheartened, lonely swordsman in the corner.

Those three strikes broke Lou Xiangzhen’s fighting spirit and his path in Sword Dao.

Undoubted, undoubted, they said undoubted…

But Lou Xiangzhen fell into confusion.

Subsequently, he drifted for decades, his Sword Dao cultivation stagnant, wandering aimlessly in Jianghu, drifting through the Four Seas, homeless.

Zhao Country, Great Yan, Houjin, Southern Barbarians, Pure Land… all bore his footprints and traces.

The sharpness of the sword quietly faded away.

Not until his sixtieth year did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, willingly confining himself to a drawn circle, no longer caring about the grudges of Jianghu, letting go of all disputes, letting go of sixty years of obsession, and even letting go of the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand.

Not until Jiang Sanjia in Yujing City, sought a hint of fate, and ultimately died struck by lightning.

That bolt of lightning not only struck Jiang Sanjia to death but also awakened Lou Xiangzhen.

The rights and wrongs of this world, along with its grudges and grievances, are all trivial matters besides life and death.

The Blue River Sect killed Bai Qun with two swords, and Five Poison Mountain even reached the Three Qi Realm in a single night, intimidating all the heroes.

Above Abyss Lake, he pointed his sword at the number one person in the Great Yan Martial World, combating a Four Qi Sect Leader Grandmaster alone with the cultivation of a Three Qi Grandmaster.

That day, he finally became the world’s leading swordsman.

Better late than never…

Lou Xiangzhen had no regrets.

For thousands of years in the way of the sword, few have shone for a century.

Some have called him the pinnacle swordsman of the world, regarding him with respect; others have despised him, showing disdain.

This life was full of rises and falls, floating and sinking, much like a stage where one never knows the climax or the brilliance of life until the last moment.

Life is but a few centuries; holding a three-foot-long Qingfeng, being the world’s top swordsman once, with drums echoing and yellow sand stretching far, he carved out a peerless reputation, quelled the waves of the four seas, and severed the endless worldly desires.

With wine in his belly, a thousand dauntless ambitions surged, and he couldn’t help but declare that a true man should live like this!

And now, all these have turned into fleeting clouds of the past.

A lonely sunset, a rising sun, such is the unchangeable truth of the world.

Lou Xiangzhen leaned on the hilt of his sword as if he had fallen asleep.

“Let’s go, I would like to enjoy this splendid scenery alone.”

“…..”

An Jing remained silent, not speaking.

After a long time, he nodded in agreement.

“Okay”

Then he jumped onto the back of the Black Flood Dragon and slowly floated away with the water waves.

Lou Xiangzhen’s eyes were somewhat vacant as he gazed at the vast expanse of rivers emitting an orange halo in the distance.

As the sun set in the west, he watched the surging river for a long, long time.

……..

Five days later.

Great Yan, Northern Border, a frontier town.

At the end of the town, there was a tofu shop.

The owner of the tofu shop was a woman in her fifties, short in stature, with hair as white as silver threads, eyes thin as shuttles when smiling, and forehead wrinkles deep as mountains and ravines, profoundly etching her life and hardships.

At that moment, she was diligently slicing tender tofu.

Just then, a young boy approached cautiously, it was Zhu Kai.

“What are you doing here again?” the woman frowned at the boy.

Zhu Kai chuckled nervously and said, “Aunt He, I just came to look around, just to look.”

Tofu He sized up Zhu Kai and said, “You lad, ever since that old man left, I haven’t seen you around for a long time. Tell me, what brings you here today? Has that old man returned?”

Zhu Kai scratched his head and said, “He hasn’t come back, and I just wanted to ask because my dad said you definitely know.”

“I don’t know a damn thing.”

Tofu He said irritably, “He and I have nothing to do with each other; how would I know where he went or what he did?”

Zhu Kai looked unconvinced, wanting to say something but not knowing how to put it.

Tofu He, with a hint of interest, said, “You lad, do you really believe that old wreck knew swordsmanship?”

Zhu Kai nodded earnestly and said, “I believe in Old Xiang; he has hardly ever lied to me. He said he would come back once he becomes the top swordsman in the world.”

Tofu He chuckled lightly and said, “The top swordsman in the world, huh?”

“Yes.”

Zhu Kai nodded.

“Then just keep waiting,” Tofu He replied and continued slicing the tofu in front of her.

Her words seemed to be spoken to Zhu Kai but also to herself.

Hearing this, Zhu Kai sighed softly, and then left reluctantly.

“The top swordsman in the world?”

Tofu He looked at the tofu in her hand and murmured to herself, “Perhaps that’s the path he has been obsessed with his whole life, and I’m just an inconspicuous grass along that path.”

She knew Lou Xiangzhen very well; it was his lifelong obsession, he was devoted to it for a lifetime.

Yes, wasn’t that precisely why she was attracted to Lou Xiangzhen back then?

Holding a three-foot Qingfeng, traversing all directions, a burst of sword qi that must be released to feel satisfied.

The story is not long, nor is it difficult to tell.

However, her heart suspended in midair could no longer fly over thousands of mountains and rivers.

Later, the wind from the South Mountain scattered the grain heaps, and the waters of the North Sea flooded the gravestones.

Have people truly just missed each other like this?

….

Yujing City, Feihua Lane.

In a house, a scholar was seriously and carefully reading a letter in his hand.

This scholar was none other than Zhou Xianming.

“Alas, the ways of the world are hard to predict.”

After a long while, Zhou Xianming let out a sigh, his expression tinged with a trace of sorrow.

The letter bore the signature of Lin Mianhong.

And the news she relayed was about the recent upheavals in Yu State City.

Zhou Xianming clutched the letter tightly, murmuring softly, “Doctor An is dead, Officer Han has retreated into the monastery….”

He hadn’t expected that in just a few months, Yu State City had completely changed, undergoing earth-shattering transformations.

Still fresh are the faces and laughter, the warm nagging now unreachable.

He remembered how Doctor An used to urge him to take care of his health, to avoid the brothels, to stay away from the cold wind, often praising him as a ‘simp,’ a term unlikely to be heard from anyone else ever again.

The first time Doctor An had called him a ‘simp,’ he was quite astonished and puzzled, but then Doctor An explained it meant he was serious about his feelings, deeply in love.

This made Zhou Xianming sigh inwardly, riches are easy to acquire, but true friends are hard to find.

Wasn’t Doctor An also like that towards Mrs. Zhao?

“Doctor An, such a good person, why did you have to die young?”

“Back when I was severely beaten by the men in black, only you came to see me, and even took me to the brothel to listen to music to soothe my wounded heart. You were also generous, knowing I was impoverished, often treating me to drinks. Even the money I needed for my examination was provided by you and Mrs. Zhao.”

Thinking of this, Zhou Xianming heaved a long sigh, then jolted, “Does this mean I no longer need to repay that money?”

“Once I return to Yu State City, I must build a grand tombstone for Doctor An, and hire the most famous paper effigy master to craft a brothel for you to send to the afterlife, and then some beauties….”

“Don’t worry about this matter, I absolutely won’t let my younger sister find out, this is all I can do.”

…..

Zhou Xianming rambled on and before he knew it, a whole morning had passed.

He had been talking to himself in the room all morning, and suddenly came to his senses, realizing he would never see Doctor An again, his nose suddenly felt sour.

Life and death happen in an instant.

“Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou.”

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door.

“What is it? Come in and talk.”

Zhou Xianming’s voice was somewhat heavy.

With the room door pushed open, a young scholar entered, excitedly saying, “Master Lv is hosting a banquet at his residence, inviting the top twenty scholars of the imperial examination to attend. Aren’t you going to get ready?”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming slightly furrowed his brows, “Master Lv is hosting a banquet?”

Master Lv was none other than the chief examiner of the imperial examination, Lv Fang.

If Zhenyi Sect uniquely shines in the Jianghu, then in the imperial court, the Lv Sect is the courtly equivalent of Zhenyi Sect.

Lv Guoyong, a veteran official through three dynasties and also the Grand Secretary for over sixty years, has held regency powers, his influence permeating the court. His disciples have formed a faction of their own within the court, known as Lv Sect.

However, Lv Guoyong himself has been tight-lipped and restrained, even being strict with his own followers.

It can be said that any scholar who clings to this powerful support is almost guaranteed a meteoric rise in their official career.

However, there have been recent rumors that the head of Lv Sect, Lv Guoyong, due to health issues, hasn’t appeared in court for a long time and there are whispers of his intention to retire, though the truth of these speculations remains unknown.

“Yes, hurry up, Xu Zongshun and Zuo Zixin are both going.”

The scholar quickly tugged at Zhou Xianming’s sleeve and headed towards the door.

Zhou Xianming, not daring to delay, followed the scholar towards the Lv Mansion.

Yujing City is divided into the Inner City and the Outer City, with Feihua Lane in the Outer City, while Lv Mansion is next to the Crossroads Square in the Inner City.

The two hustled through the bustling streets, crowded with people coming and going, and soon reached the entrance to the Lv Mansion.

The vermilion gate exuded an ancient charm, manifesting grandeur and magnificence.

“Who are you two? Are you here to attend the banquet?”

The gatekeeper, seeing two people hurriedly approaching, asked softly without an imposing tone.

The scholar quickly produced a seal, “Yes, this is my private seal, East Lin Road scholar Gao Wenxu, and this is Jiangnan Dao’s chief graduate, Zhou Xianming.”

Upon hearing the name ‘Zhou Xianming,’ the doorman was greatly shocked and quickly said, “Oh, it’s Scholar Zhou, please come in.”

It is said that in this imperial examination, the answer sheets of this scholar had astonished the family head, Lv Fang, who recognized him as a once-in-a-generation talent. This banquet, not widely known to others, was reportedly prepared especially for this scholar.

“Thank you.”

Zhou Xianming bowed and then proceeded inside the Lv Mansion.

Upon entering the mansion, they were greeted with paving of white jade stone and roof tiles that reflected brilliant radiance; pavilions, towers, bridges, and streams were artfully arranged showing a grand setup.

Under the guidance of a servant of the Lv Mansion, they quickly arrived at a lively hall.

At that moment, the hall was a scene of joy and celebration, filled with singing and dancing.

Sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged man. The man, in his fifties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, had a face that was honest and sincere, appearing slightly younger than Li Fuzhou. This was Lv Guoyong’s son, the chief examiner of this session, Lv Fang.

“Master, Scholar Zhou has arrived.”

A servant from Lv Mansion stepped forward and bowed.

Instantly, all eyes turned towards Zhou Xianming.

“Oh? Has Zhou arrived? Please, take a seat quickly.”

Upon hearing this, Lv Fang immediately smiled and urged.

“Master Lv is too kind.”

Zhou Xianming bowed to Lv Fang, then took his seat.

Apart from Zhou Xianming and Gao Wenxu, the hall was already filled with scholars, including all the top twenty candidates from this examination, among them Zhou Xianming’s old acquaintances, Zuo Zixin and Xu Zongshun.

The two looked somewhat displeased upon seeing Zhou Xianming.

……

PS: There was an error in chapter 163 regarding Old Liu, which has been changed to Old Hao. Today’s piece was a bit choppy; I didn’t write much, and didn’t have time to complete the plot involving Zhou Xianming due to revisions needed. There’s one last part of his travels in Jianghu left.