My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Advancement in Cultivation with Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence

Zhou Xianming, like a dark horse, seized the position of top scholar in the imperial examination, catching everyone by surprise.

You should know, before Zhou Xianming entered Yujing City, not many knew his name, but now, it is renowned throughout the city.

“All of you are pillars of our Confucian school, with limitless futures. Gathering here today is indeed a fortunate matter,”

Lv Fang raised his glass and smiled at the people below, “Please drink this cup fully.”

“Master Lv, please!”

All the scholars present raised their cups and stood up.

After Zhou Xianming gulped down his drink, he couldn’t help thinking to himself, “This is truly good wine, worthy of the Lv Mansion.”

“Please, have a seat,”

Lv Fang said with a smile to everyone.

Upon hearing this, everyone carefully took their seats.

Lv Fang glanced around, feeling emotional, and said, “Looking at all the distinguished young men of Great Yan here, I am filled with emotions. It reminds me of my own imperial examination years ago, I was about your age then, and in the blink of an eye, decades have passed.”

In the morning, watch the water flow east, and by sunset, see the sun sink in the west.

Time flies by like a white steed flashing by a crevice, never to return, especially when seeing these young, immature faces, how can one not sigh with emotion.

Zuo Zixin smiled and said, “Master Lv is in his prime, vibrant and robust, still possessing a demeanor that could swallow rivers and mountains.”

“I am aware in my heart that my body is old,”

Lv Fang waved his hand, “You are in the prime of your youth, the true pillars of the future Great Yan.”

“Master Lv is too kind,” “Master Lv is very healthy, why speak of being old?”

The scholars quickly voiced.

Lv Fang glanced at the teacups and teapot on the table, chuckled softly: “Looking at the teapot and teacups, doesn’t it resemble the current situation of our Great Yan, surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides, not knowing who the real threat to my heart is.”

“Zixin, you give a comment first,”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, and then came to a realization.

This banquet was a facade, the real intent was to assess everyone in advance.

Zuo Zixin, just over twenty, felt thrilled upon hearing Lv Fang’s question, yet he spoke calmly, “Currently, Yan and Zhao countries have been developing peacefully for over twenty years. Zhao Country has been our archrival, and I suspect they have long harbored hostile intentions towards our Yan Country. In my view, we should be cautious of Zhao Country’s Black Ice Platform and the five major military divisions. However, we also need to be wary of Houjin on the grassland. When necessary, we can offer some benefits to Houjin, which most of the short-sighted people on the grassland would accept in exchange for being held at bay…”

The scholars present all nodded in agreement, clearly in favor of Zuo Zixin’s words.

Pacifying Houjin and confronting Zhao Country are mainstream ideas among many in the Court.

Yan and Zhao countries have been in conflict for centuries, and the deep-seated hostility and hatred are hardly solvable, so many naturally harbor a hostile mentality towards Zhao Country, considering it the archenemy of Yan.

Moreover, the existence of Zhao Country thwarts the true unification under one rule.

In their view, Houjin, having been established for only about twenty years, is deemed to have an inferior system. The resources on the grassland are also scarce, and both the population base and prosperity are far less than that of Great Yan and Zhao Country.

Furthermore, thirty years ago, the Marquis of Yan led his iron cavalry more than a thousand miles, annihilating two large and seven medium tribes on the grassland, and even took Tianbei Mountain, securing a great victory. Later, the Marquis planned to enter the heart of the grassland to battle the then grassland dominator, current Holy Master of Houjin. However, internal unrest in Yan and a surprise attack by Zhao halted these plans and led to a ceasefire.

It was the Marquis’ invasion that stirred up the northwest of the grassland, directly speeding up the unification of Houjin over the grassland.

Thus, in some people’s eyes, the grassland tribes are but barbarians, insignificant and hardly worth mentioning, with some even believing that Houjin still lives a primitie life of drinking blood.

But Zhou Xianming frowned slightly; he had personally visited the grassland, thus he knew the current situation of Houjin well.

The modern Houjin had already changed significantly, especially in terms of development over the recent decades, which could be described as transforming in leaps and bounds.

Without truly traveling and understanding the situation, one cannot grasp the current state of affairs in the world.

The ambition of the Holy Master of Houjin is vast, and many of their systems not only emulate Yan and Zhao but are also modified based on Houjin’s national conditions, giving rise to vigorous vitality. Furthermore, with Yan and Zhao harboring mutual hostility blocking trade, all trade between Yan and Zhao can only occur via Houjin and Dongluo Pass. This has brought great profit to Houjin over these decades.

If we still focus solely on Zhao Country, we would undoubtedly suffer huge losses.

Seeing everyone nodding, except for Zhou Xianming who remained silent, Lv Fang couldn’t help but ask, “Xianming, do you have any other thoughts?”

“I do have some observations,”

Zhou Xianming clasped his hands together, speaking earnestly, “Our attention should not only be focused on Zhao Country, but should also be placed on Houjin, which might even pose a greater threat than Zhao Country. I have a premonition that in as short as half a year or as long as a year, Houjin will definitely invade our Great Yan Border, and we must be vigilant against this.”

“…”

Hearing Zhou Xianming’s words, the scholars present all furrowed their brows, thinking that it was a time of peace under the Human Emperor, perhaps not a flourishing golden age, but far from chaotic, right?

Could it be that two million iron-armored soldiers are just for show?

“Great Yan is powerful. How dare Houjin invade the borders of Great Yan?”

Zuo Zixin said coldly.

The barbarians of the plains had long experienced the ferocity of Great Yan’s cavalry, and with Houjin newly established for merely twenty years, how could they dare?

Yet, Xu Zongshun was shaken.

Zhou Xianming fell silent, deciding to close his mouth.

However,

Zuo Zixin clearly did not want to let the matter drop.

He pressed on, “How dare Houjin invade our border? Do tell.”

His voice grew deeper by half a tone.

His tone also grew heavier.

“Great Yan is indeed powerful, and it is true that Houjin fears our two million iron-armored soldiers, but in prosperous times…”

Zhou Xianming paused momentarily, then countered, “How can you be so sure?”

He tossed the question back to Zuo Zixin.

Zuo Zixin took a deep breath, passionately exclaiming, “People live in peace and happiness, our military is strong and stable. Is this not a sign of a flourishing age?”

“You still see too superficially.”

Zhou Xianming, seemingly anticipating Zuo Zixin’s response, shook his head.

He stood up, holding a wine cup in his hand.

“You only see the prosperity of Yujing City, where the people live and work in peace. You indulge in reading poetry and enjoying peace at home, yet you overlook the changes now occurring in Jianghu. The Xuanyi Guard is exhausted from their constant missions across Jianghu, especially after last year’s heavy losses, including several of the Great Heavenly Gang. The Buddhist are crossing eastward, and the Demon Sect stirs restlessly. These are all signs of approaching chaos.”

“Since ancient times, Jianghu has always been a reflection of the Court.”

Zhou Xianming spoke very calmly, yet his voice carried an irresistible mystique.

Starting with the affairs of Jianghu, Zhou Xianming skillfully led the discussion, guiding the other’s thoughts.

“It’s just the turmoil within Jianghu. Last year, there were already whispers of the Demon Sect returning to Great Yan, and yet, has there been any movement?”

Zuo Zixin was unconvinced.

The menace of the Demon Sect is indeed unparalleled, but that was a story from twenty years ago. Now, things have changed. With the Xuanyi Guard, the Zhenyi Sect, and six other major sects under the Great Yan Dynasty’s reign, the Demon Sect would be courting death by invading Great Yan.

“The Demon Sect has yet to move, but that doesn’t mean they are immobile.”

Zhou Xianming shook his head, “Have you considered that pulling one hair might affect the whole body? The Demon Sect might just be waiting for Houjin to make a move, while Houjin waits for Zhao Country and Yan Country to go to war. Zhao Country, in turn, seeks to provoke a war between Houjin and Yan Country. Everyone is waiting for the right ‘Qi Mechanism.’

“It’s like hunters stalking a wolf, all waiting for someone else to make the first move to reap the benefits. Last year, there were rumors of an envoy from Houjin visiting Great Yan. The news was half true; the true part was that Houjin did send an envoy, but the false part was that the envoy was to Great Yan; rather, it was to Zhao Country.”

Having said this, Zhou Xianming bowed to Lv Fang and returned to his seat.

The entire banquet hall was silent, all scholars furrowed their brows in deep concern.

Even Zuo Zixin was filled with doubts and suspicions.

After a few more drinks, feeling somewhat tired, Lv Fang eventually left his seat.

Zhou Xianming also felt quite bored and stood up to bid farewell to a few acquainted scholars with a clasped fist.

“This Zhou Xianming is no simple man.”

Xu Zongshun watched Zhou Xianming’s departing figure and murmured to himself.

The words Zhou Xianming had spoken, upon careful listening, were truly chilling and frightening. If what he said was true, then Great Yan was already surrounded by crises on all sides.

The people present were no fools; hearing such incisive commentary, many would carefully and deeply reflect, realizing that there indeed were problems.

Zuo Zixin’s expression was somewhat grim, and he remained silent.

Inside the Lv Mansion,

Zhou Xianming walked leisurely, his expression calm as he headed towards the exit of the mansion.

Just then, a middle-aged man quickly approached, saying, “Zhou Jieyuan, please walk slowly.”

“What is it?”

Zhou Xianming recognized the man as the steward of the Lv Mansion.

The steward of the Lv Mansion smiled and said, “Master Lv invites Zhou Jieyuan to the inner residence for a talk.”

Lord Lv!?

Upon hearing the butler of the Lv Mansion speak thus, Zhou Xianming’s heart was shaken. ‘Lord Lv’ needs no further mention, for he is none other than Lv Guoyong, the current head of the Confucian sect, the Grand Secretary for three dynasties, whose power spans across the entirety of the Great Yan.

Unexpectedly, he had invited him to visit the inner residence, a place not just anyone could enter at will.

“Very well, then I will trouble you.”

……

Zhenyi Sect, Heavenly Venerate Hall.

The mountains were high, dangerous, and secluded, imbued with vitality, swirling mists among flying clouds, the majestic landscapes resembling a flying dragon traversing the skies, while the divine spots looked as enchanting as a fairy descending to the mortal realm—a truly fitting setting for the National Religion of the Great Yan.

Atop the summit stood the majestic, splendid jade tower.

The Hall Leader of the Heavenly Venerate Hall had, for decades, been devotedly serving the statue of the Heavenly Venerate within the hall.

Be it windy, rainy, cloudy, or sunny, to him it was all the same.

At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his body and mind merged with the heaven and earth.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and soon after a black-robed daoist entered, “A secret letter from Qing Feng Hall. Please have a look, Uncle Master.”

This daoist was He Chen, the peak master of the Tongxuan Peak.

His injuries had healed considerably by now, and he was able to move freely, but his internal injuries were not fully recovered yet, requiring further recuperation.

Yu Ying opened his eyes and took the secret letter, reading it carefully.

Soon, a sharp light flickered in his cloudy eyes, “Have you read this secret letter?”

He Chen’s expression was a bit somber as he nodded and said, “I have.”

The secret letter detailed the battle at Abyss Lake, explicitly recounting every significant aspect of it.

Especially about Xiao Qianqiu’s injuries and how Song Chengbiao was devoured whole by the Black Flood Dragon, perishing both in body and path.

This news had already spread in Jianghu, causing a massive stir.

Yu Ying took a deep breath and said, “Ghost Swordsman, is a thorn in our side that must be removed.”

Concerning the Ghost Swordsman, the pile of messages and secret letters had stacked quite high on the desk. Initially, the Ghost Swordsman was only at the Human Flower Realm, then he moved to the Earth Flower Realm and even defeated the Great Real Yu Huai of the Heavenly Flower Realm.

What’s even more unbelievable, on Nanhua Mountain he killed Liang Mo, fought seven great masters on Xuanqing Mountain, defeated the Defeating Heaven Sword in Huang Yao Town—his rate of improvement in strength was astonishing.

At this pace, no one knew what level he might reach in the future, which gave Yu Ying a profound sense of unease.

He Chen gravely asked, “Uncle Master, what should we do now?”

The Ghost Swordsman had slain so many masters of Zhenyi Sect; the deep-seated hatred had been formed, and right and wrong no longer had any importance. What mattered the most was who survived in the end.

“If I am not mistaken about his strength, he should be around a Half-step Master, but definitely not at the Grandmaster level,”

Yu Ying pondered and said, “This time Lou Xiangzhen won’t die but will be severely injured. He may not be able to take action for some time, effectively unable to protect him completely. Now, as long as a Grandmaster level master makes a move, we should be able to kill him.”

Yu Ying, through the intelligence received, could basically determine that the Ghost Swordsman’s strength had definitely not reached the Grandmaster Realm.

He Chen said in a heavy tone, “The Ghost Swordsman rides the Black Flood Dragon. His strength is not to be underestimated; he should have the strength of a Second or Third Qi Grandmaster. Should we ask Hidden Mountain… ?”

“There’s no need,”

Yu Ying waved his hand and said, “Why bother Hidden Mountain over dealing with one Ghost Swordsman? Besides, it’s already too late to act now. We just need two Grandmasters, one to trap the Black Flood Dragon, and another to capture him.”

He Chen slightly nodded, “It seems Uncle Master already has a plan.”

Although Xiao Qianqiu is the Sect Leader, he usually does not involve himself in the many affairs of the Zhenyi Sect, most of which are handled by Ling Yuanjing.

But the real powerhouse backing Ling Yuanjing is none other than Yu Ying, the Hall Leader of the Heavenly Venerate Hall.

That is to say, the actual person in charge of the Zhenyi Sect is Yu Ying.

While on the surface, Xiao Qianqiu is often secluded in his meditation chamber, not interfering in the affairs of the Zhenyi Sect.

Yu Ying put the secret letter aside and slowly said, “I will write two letters, one to the Old Man Qingfeng, and one to Feng Lingyue.”

He Chen’s heart stirred, and he nodded, “The Monk Shang Mo Yun was killed by the Ghost Swordsman. As long as we promise some benefits in capturing the Ghost Swordsman alive, he is very likely to make a move. As for Feng Lingyue… it will be challenging.”

The Monk Shang Mo Yun was killed by the Ghost Swordsman; his senior disciple was slain, setting a deep grudge. Initially, the Old Man Qingfeng was wary of Lou Xiangzhen and the Black Flood Dragon and had not made a move, but now that an opportunity had presented itself, how could he remain indifferent?

In Jianghu, debts of gratitude and revenge are clearly distinguished, especially for someone like the Old Man Qingfeng, a veteran of Jianghu. How could someone with dozens of lives on his hands be tenderhearted?

Yu Ying indifferently said, “For Feng Lingyue, just give him a promise.”

“I understand,” he said.

He Chen’s body trembled.

What was Feng Lingyue most afraid of? It was nothing more than seeing the Five Poison Sect, to which he had dedicated most of his life, perish. And now, the biggest threat to the Five Poison Sect was the Demon Sect, as the Five Poison Sect was a branch derived from it. The Demon Sect would never allow the Five Poison Sect to roam freely and grow stronger day by day.

Lately, the Demon Sect had been restless, apparently planning to return to Great Yan, causing immense worry in Feng Lingyue’s heart.

As long as the Zhenyi Sect was willing to give Feng Lingyue a promise to advance or retreat together with the Five Poison Sect, it wouldn’t be difficult for Feng Lingyue to hold back the Black Flood Dragon— in fact, he was very willing to do so.

……

Beihuang Dao, You Mountain.

A handsome man with an elegant demeanor stood on the summit of a cliff, gazing at the distant vast sea of clouds.

Behind him was a woman with a gentle smile and ordinary appearance. In her arms, she held a sword, the ninth ranked Phoenix Sword on the Famous Sword List.

These two were Lin Yiyang and Qiu Wanxia.

Seeing Lin Yiyang silent for a long time, Qiu Wanxia couldn’t help but ask, “Are you still thinking about that great battle the other day?”

“Lou Xiangzhen’s swordsmanship.”

Lin Yiyang looked ahead, “It’s like those peach blossoms, dancing in the wind, rising and falling. I still cannot forget the scene of that day when he ascended to the Yu Heng Sword Sect.”

When Lou Xiangzhen challenged the Sword God upon ascending the Yu Heng Sword Sect, Lin Yiyang was only eight or nine years old. He had forgotten some of the details of the battle then, but he vividly remembered how Lou Xiangzhen looked after his defeat.

That resentment, bewilderment, and despair…

A few days ago, Lou Xiangzhen had fought a peak battle against Xiao Qianqiu, and he had been there as well.

It seemed as if he had witnessed the life of a top swordsman.

Qiu Wanxia nodded and said, “Lou Xiangzhen’s greatest strength isn’t his natural talent in swordsmanship, but his ability to climb out of endless darkness, experiencing many ups and downs to achieve what he has.”

Lin Yiyang turned his gaze away and said, “If it weren’t for our teacher’s suppression, perhaps he could have gone further.”

Qiu Wanxia smiled and said, “Maybe, but fate is unpredictable in this world, no one can say for sure.”

Lin Yiyang looked at the woman in front of him, as if he had something to say but eventually hesitated.

Both seemed to sense something and turned their gazes towards the mountain path.

Before long, a figure slowly approached.

It was the Heavenly Sword, Cui Daoxian.

Upon seeing the two, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Both of you, I’ve finally found you.”

Lin Yiyang responded indifferently, “You really are persistent.”

As far as Cui Daoxian was concerned, he didn’t have much interest, especially after seeing that the Heavenly Sword had already been defeated by the Ghost Swordsman.

Cui Daoxian laughed and asked, “Swordsman, is there one who is not persistent?”

“Is a contest necessary today?”

“Yes, I came to Great Yan to visit the top swordsmen of the realm.”

“However, your current cultivation is only at the Half-step Master, and I have reached the Grandmaster Realm,” Lin Yiyang replied calmly.

After battling the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, Lin Yiyang had returned to the Yu Heng Sword Sect and reached the Grandmaster Realm. He had been repressing his realm for several years as his Three Flowers Merged. Progressing to the Grandmaster was just a matter of course with the resources of the Yu Heng Sword Sect. He achieved breakthrough soon by depending on the Sword Pond in the Ancestor Hall, bypassing years of hard cultivation.

“A Grandmaster already?”

Cui Daoxian’s brow furrowed slightly.

If it was the Grandmaster Realm, there was no need for a contest between them; defeat was certain for him.

This was a crushing disparity in skill and Dao, unless his techniques far surpassed Lin Yiyang’s.

“Yes,” Lin Yiyang confirmed.

Cui Daoxian bowed slightly and said, “Then, I will first visit Dongluo Pass. I will come to challenge Sect Master Lin after I have ascended to Grandmaster.”

With that, he prepared to leave.

“Wait.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yiyang frowned slightly, “You insist on competing with me?”

“Indeed.”

Cui Daoxian nodded seriously and said, “Once Cui enters the Sword Tomb again, I will never leave it for the rest of my life, so this time I must visit the masters of swordsmanship from all over the world to fulfill my heart’s wish.”

After returning to the Sword Tomb in Zhao Country, Cui Daoxian would not leave the Sword Tomb again, so this time he must visit the swordsmen from all over the world.

Lin Yiyang did not speak again, but turned to glance at Qiu Wanxia.

Qiu Wanxia smiled and said, “Senior Cui actually wants to see the Yu Heng Unrivaled Sword of our Yu Heng Sword Sect, why not let me spar with senior and see how it goes? My cultivation is also at the Grandmaster Realm.”

Cui Daoxian looked at the woman who always had a smile, and said, “You!?”

Everyone knew that Lin Yiyang had a female sword servant by his side. The sword servant was not particularly beautiful, but she always greeted people with a smile, as if bathed in spring breeze, very kind and approachable.

However, nobody expected such a woman to also be at the Grandmaster Realm.

Cui Daoxian could not help but think to himself: Yu Heng Sword Sect, second only to the Zhenyi Sect, really lives up to its reputation.

Qiu Wanxia nodded and said, “Yes, I also know the Yu Heng Unrivaled Sword.”

“Good, today let me witness the unique skills of the Yu Heng Sword Sect.”

Cui Daoxian thought carefully and realized that since he had found Lin Yiyang, it would be somewhat regrettable and disappointing if he did not see the Yu Heng Unrivaled Sword.

Qiu Wanxia handed the Phoenix Sword in her arms to Lin Yiyang, then took out her own longsword from her waist.

Seeing this, Cui Daoxian indifferently said, “You can use the Phoenix Sword.”

“No need.”

Qiu Wanxia took a few steps forward, “Senior Cui, please.”

“Alright.”

“Zing!”

Cui Daoxian drew his longsword, his fingers gently caressing the blade, a sharp gleam suddenly appearing in his eyes.

Qiu Wanxia smiled, her body leaping forward, her steps gliding.

Chi chi chi chi!

Several bursts of sword qi surged from the blade, fierce as thunder.

“Too slow!”

Cui Daoxian smiled faintly, a moon-white sword light emerging in his hand.

The sword light seemed gentle and slow, but the moment Qiu Wanxia’s sword qi rushed towards him, it blocked them all.

Bang bang bang bang!

The sound of the sword qi exploding could be heard, Qiu Wanxia’s feet skimming the ground as she slid backward.

It seemed that in the first exchange, Qiu Wanxia had already fallen into a disadvantage.

Qiu Wanxia’s expression remained undisturbed, her longsword swinging forward.

At that moment, when the light flowed, a violent wind rose in the midair, four extreme lights from around shining and reflecting upon each other.

Boom!

The four extreme lights seemed to transform into wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, fiercely overwhelming Cui Daoxian from above.

“Four Symbols Sword Technique!?”

Cui Daoxian saw this and immediately frowned.

The Four Symbols Sword Technique was a famous True Martial Level sword technique of the Great Yan and also one of the top techniques of the Yu Heng Sword Sect.

“A single point of moonlight permeates the starry sky!”

Cui Daoxian moved his longsword, the sword like the brightest point in the starry sky.

Whoosh!

With one sword move, the mountains and rivers trembled!

In midair, suddenly a bizarre and multicolored light clashed fiercely, both Qiu Wanxia and Cui Daoxian’s pupils reflecting those vivid colors.

Thud!

Qiu Wanxia’s body shook, her feet stomping on the ground.

“Interesting,”

Cui Daoxian, having been put at a slight disadvantage, gripped his sword hilt tightly, “Attack!”

As Cui Daoxian activated his inner strength, the sword in his hand instantly transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards Qiu Wanxia.

Fast!

Extremely fast!

In the blink of an eye, as Qiu Wanxia swung her arm, a light as refreshing as the breeze passed through, and her longsword glowed with flecks of light, speeding forward incredibly fast.

Clang!

The tips of the two swords met mid-air, creating ripples of inner strength that radiated outward from the point of contact.

The Fifth Realm!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, countless golden and gray lights burst forth from the tips of the two swords, reflecting off each other.

Suddenly, bursts of golden light erupted from Qiu Wanxia’s hand, forcing Cui Daoxian to repeatedly retreat and gradually getting suppressed.

Finally, Cui Daoxian used his killer move, a full-power attack, where pale white Sword Qi congealed into a thin line, flashing through the void.

All the clouds and mist ahead were swept away and shattered by Cui Daoxian’s sword.

Stabilizing the situation, Cui Daoxian held his breath and focused, slashing diagonally with his sword, sending a beam of intense Sword Qi through a gap towards Qiu Wanxia.

Yu Heng Unrivaled Sword!

Qiu Wanxia smiled faintly, her longsword dancing rapidly in her hand, sending out waves of invisible Sword Qi, rushing forward to strike.

Clash!

A loud, massive sound of metal colliding echoed, and two figures passed through the explosive flow of inner strength, subsequently crossing each other.

Clang!

The sword in Cui Daoxian’s hand snapped into two, falling to the ground.

“Senior Cui, thank you for your leniency!”

Qiu Wanxia held her sword with one hand and then sheathed it, her lips still curled into a faint smile.

Cui Daoxian was defeated!

Defeated by Lin Yiyang’s Sword Servant.

Lin Yiyang, watching this scene from aside, had a calm expression, as if everything that had happened was to be expected.

Cui Daoxian was stunned. It took him a while to recover, and he couldn’t help but let out a wry smile, “It turns out your Sword Dao has already reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Realm. You’re just one step away from the next level.”

Everyone knew Lin Yiyang had high Sword Dao cultivation, but they didn’t expect the Sword Servant by his side to also be a swordsman very close to the Sixth Realm.

It’s hard to imagine that such an outstanding swordsman would willingly remain an obscure Sword Servant.

“Ah, I’ve lost again.”

Cui Daoxian shook his head, then turned to Qiu Wanxia, “Your Sword Dao seems to be similar to…..”

“Exactly,”

Qiu Wanxia knew what Cui Daoxian wanted to ask and immediately nodded in agreement.

“It seems you truly are the one who has cast fame and fortune under your feet. I won’t disturb you any longer,” Cui Daoxian said,

He bowed with his hands clasped and then walked down the mountain.

Lin Yiyang, watching Cui Daoxian’s disappearing figure, commented softly, “I told you, this Heavenly Sword is nothing special.”

Qiu Wanxia laughed beside him, “I just used my full strength. Otherwise, I might not have been able to match him, and he was somewhat careless,”

Cui Daoxian evidently hadn’t expected Qiu Wanxia’s Sword Dao to be so profound; otherwise, he might not have been defeated so thoroughly.

Moreover, his thirty years of cultivating a single sword intent had been broken by An Jing and wasn’t so perfect.

Combining all these factors, Cui Daoxian was defeated.

But a loss is a loss.

“So beautiful,”

Looking at the woman with clear and kind eyes before him, Lin Yiyang couldn’t help but say.

It was as if the most beautiful thing in the world lay right in front of him.

“What is truly beautiful?”

Qiu Wanxia asked with curiosity.

Lin Yiyang coughed and pointed towards the sky, “I mean, the clouds over there are really beautiful.”

Qiu Wanxia followed Lin Yiyang’s finger and said with a hint of disappointment, “So it’s just clouds.”

Lin Yiyang whispered, “Of course, Junior Sister is beautiful too.”

Hearing this, the smile on the woman’s lips deepened.

……

In the Northern Wilderness path, within a dense forest.

The crisscrossing branches and the lush, uneven dome woven from leaves and vibrant clouds rested under the clear azure sky.

Black Flood Dragon lay in an open area while An Jing sat under a tree, holding the Holy Essence Gu given to him by Lou Xiangzhen.

The Holy Essence Gu, the size of a fist, had jet-black, lustrous eyes and teeth growing in its mouth, making it extremely tough. Its body was transparent, and looking through its spine, one could clearly see a strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.

“Old Lou still has a conscience,” An Jing inhaled deeply. A complete strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was a rare treasure; not even a One Qi Grandmaster might possess a strand, after his demise, without timely extraction of the spiritual essence or Heaven and Earth Essence, it would dissipate quickly.

With a complete strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, it would be enough for him to directly break through to a Half-step Grandmaster.

Thinking this, An Jing extended his finger, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence on the Holy Essence Gu was sucked out by him.

Then his eyes closed slightly, and he inhaled the remaining Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence into his body.

The moment the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence entered An Jing’s body, his body trembled fiercely. He could feel countless streams of pure essence, as if drawn by something, forcibly surge through the slightly porous hairs all over his body towards his inside.

Due to the immense influx of essence, An Jing even felt his skin starting to stretch painfully, yet these streams of pure essence did not slow down because of his sensations.

Instead, they surged with even more ferocity; the last streams of pure essence, having nowhere to go, wildly moved under An Jing’s skin.

As they moved, his skin bulged, and it appeared as if small snakes were lurking beneath the skin, looking rather terrifying.

An Jing, of course, was unaware of his ghastly exterior; he could only concentrate on circulating his mental method, constantly monitoring any movement within his body.

The streams of essence inside his body did not heed An Jing’s commands, but instead targeted his bones and blood with great precision.

Wherever they collided, the bones and blood transformed into gold in an instant, and within this golden hue, An Jing could vaguely feel something invade the bone marrow and intermingle with it.

These streams of essence made his bones and blood even tougher; his originally golden bones shone even brighter and became more resilient.

An Jing’s body trembled minutely, his skin turned unusually ruddy, and cold sweat covered his forehead, finally falling down his face like a small rain.

An Jing could clearly feel a severe pain surge within his body, the pain made him gasp for air through his teeth.

Inside, the golden bones and blood deepened over time.

At that moment, the Three Flowers of Heaven, Earth, and Man appeared behind him, and then started to shake, gleaming brightly.

The Three Flowers solidified, his essence, qi, and spirit had reached a focal point.

But at this moment, there was not a single connection.

And this was just the beginning.

As An Jing expected, after a few calm breaths, a pain ten times more intense than before suddenly spread from the meridians within his body.

At that instant, An Jing felt as though he had been thrown into a blazing fire, the fierce flames seeming eager to reduce his body to ashes, mercilessly releasing an increasing heat.

The golden essence originally throughout his body had completely vanished; the bones, blood, and meridians within, now faintly radiated a pale golden light, looking as if made of gold, such that it seemed to conceal infinite power.

Advancing to Half-step Grandmaster also refined the bones and blood within his body, preparing for the Refining Golden Bone.

The massive streams of pure essence voluntarily surged into his meridians, which would have caused pain if it had been before. But now, the influx of essence made the meridians impulsively expand and contract, integrating the massive essence without causing any pain to An Jing.

This essence was immense yet so pure it astonished him; it was so purified that it no longer required any refinement by An Jing, and for some reason, it met no resistance from An Jing and was almost as easy to control as moving his own arm.

The massive essence circulated along the routes of the “Daluo Heart Method” and the “Ghost Valley Heart Method”, and after a circulation, like a burst from a mountain torrent, it surged continuously into the Dantian with a thunderous roar.

Meanwhile, the Three Flowers on An Jing’s back swayed continuously, as if beams of light emerged.

That light quickly interwove, bringing the Three Flowers into a slight connection, releasing beams of light, swaying together, simultaneously swinging in unison.

Three Flowers Merged, Half-step Master!

In an instant, the inner strength in his dantian had filled up more than thirty percent.

That mysterious feeling, as if traveling between heaven and earth, made his flesh and divine soul momentarily separate; but it was only for an instant.

A vast breath of heaven and earth surged up in his heart, and An Jing only felt a warmth throughout his body, his mind completely opened up.

About several dozen breaths later, An Jing finally opened his eyes, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “It feels like my strength has increased quite a bit.”

He couldn’t help but feel his inner strength deepen, and even the strength of his flesh had improved a lot; now, the strength of his body was even comparable to that of a true master.

An Jing’s thoughts involuntarily focused on the Earth Book.

Cultivation: Half-step Master

Life Fate: Favorable Star Shining (rising)

Root Bone: Once in a Hundred Years

Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Skill, Hidden Sword Skill, Sword Control Technique, Nine-character Sword Technique, Soaring Nine Heavens Body Technique, Daluo Heart Method, Concealing Qi Technique, Hundred-step Flying Sword (Ninth Layer), Ghost Valley Heart Method (Second Profound), Nine Yang Divine Finger (Eighth Layer), Brahma Heart Sees Me, Great Sun Tathagata Mantra.

Prompt One: The host’s Life Fate has not yet taken root (remaining three months); when displaying martial arts, do not let others know the host’s identity, otherwise, the host will receive a dark opportunity.

…..

Seeing the Hundred-step Flying Sword, An Jing secretly thought: “Has the Hundred-step Flying Sword already reached the ninth layer?”

In general True Martial arts, including Heavenly Martial arts, there are ten layers, and reaching the tenth layer is Perfection, which is the limit.

An Jing’s Hundred-step Flying Sword had been stuck at the eighth layer for half a year, but now it had finally progressed from the eighth layer to the ninth layer, presumably due to the insights gained during the battle between Lou Xiangzhen and Xiao Qianqiu that day.

That battle, where Lou Xiangzhen fought a Four Qi Grandmaster as a Three Qi Grandmaster, was rare in the world.

Especially since this Four Qi Grandmaster was currently the number one expert in the Great Yan Martial World and also wielded an exotic treasure from the Mystical Sect.

At that time, the swordsmen present all had their realizations, yet An Jing’s understanding was the deepest.

Compared to the other swordsmen, his Sword Intent was more vast, his foundation deeper, thus advancing to the Sixth Realm was more difficult, but should he reach the Sixth Realm, his Sword Skill would be stronger.

Now contemplating this great battle, his Sword Intent grew even more solidified, though there was still some distance to breaking through that barrier.

“He reached the Sixth Realm before me, doesn’t that mean I lost him ten jars of fine wine?”

Remembering the past bet, An Jing couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Lou Xiangzhen had been his companion all along, protecting him, and providing someone to converse and alleviate boredom with; now that he was gone, An Jing indeed felt a bit lonely.

“Hmm!?”

As An Jing was about to get up, something fell out of his embrace.

It was the invitation handed to him by the middle-aged woman during the battle at Abyss Lake; An Jing had taken it but hadn’t had the chance to open it until now.

“Zhao? Who could it be?”

An Jing opened the invitation, and there was only one line on it: Daluo Heart Method Fragment, Bo City on Lingnan Road, given by Zhao Chongyin.

“Zhao Chongyin? Daluo Heart Method Fragment?”

When An Jing saw this, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Above Abyss Lake, Xiao Qianqiu had used both the “Ghost Valley Heart Method” and the “Beidou Seven Stars Technique”; the two seemed to have something in common, and it was said that he had also developed a hand technique from this, suggesting that simultaneous cultivation of two mind methods from the “Jade Emperor Scripture” would be greatly beneficial.

Although An Jing currently possessed the “Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture,” this mind method still required a long time to cultivate, and starting anew obviously wasn’t very cost-effective.

The “Great Sun Tathagata Mantra” was similar to a Buddhist blessing on oneself, not a standard Buddhist mind method, offering a temporary, significant increase in strength, but it carried slight side effects.

If he could obtain the full “Daluo Heart Method” in addition to the “Ghost Valley Heart Method”, it would not only enhance his strength but would also be greatly beneficial for breaking through the Grandmaster barrier.

“It seems this Zhao Chongyin is using an open strategy,” An Jing murmured to himself.

Zhao Chongyin—who was he but the current Crown Prince.

Jiang Sanjia had once told him that the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai, was close to the Zhenyi Sect, whereas the Crown Prince seemed to have a feud with it.

It was now clear; the Crown Prince was either trying to win him over or showing goodwill towards him.

An Jing took out a map, and then found that on top of Lingnan Road was Capital Road, which was Yujing City; if he headed north, he would naturally pass by Lingnan Road.

“Well then, let’s first go meet this Crown Prince of Great Yan.”