My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Competing for the Title of The World’s First Swordsman (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

While Houjin and Yan Country were at war, a grand Heaven Sacrificing Ceremony was about to unfold. The ceremony itself was already sensational, attracting the attention of many. Moreover, with the addition of the Dulu Sword Meeting and the titles of The World’s First Sword and The World’s First Swordsman, it was exceedingly eye-catching.

The border was tumultuous, and the situation in Jianghu was oscillating dramatically, on the verge of erupting at any moment.

On East Lin Road, the forests were covered with heavy snow, presenting a vast expanse of whiteness.

In the snowy field, an old man was sitting cross-legged. This stalwart old man had a giant blade next to him. The blade, about seven feet long, was as tall as a man and engraved with the figure of a tiger roaring through the forest, so vivid it seemed it might break free from the blade at any moment. The blade itself was as bright as water, even colder than this harsh winter.

This man was Mu Yuan Great Dharma King from Great Snow Mountain of Houjin. At this time, he was surrounded by other masters from Great Snow Mountain, including Mu Xuan Dharma King and Mu Li Dharma King.

Mu Xuan Dharma King was a lean man with protruding cheekbones and hollow eyes, dressed in the garb of Yan Country’s poor. Placed on the street, he appeared more like a refugee from Yan Country than the renowned Dharma King of Houjin.

Next to him, Mu Li Dharma King was a woman, formerly the queen of the Black Feather Tribe. She was exceptionally talented in martial arts and, with the ample resources of the Black Feather Tribe, had acquired various martial arts from all over the world. Her cultivation was profound and inscrutable. Later, the Black Feather Tribe had allied with Zongzheng Huachun, and this former queen of the Black Feather Tribe had joined Great Snow Mountain and become one of its Dharma Kings.

The Black Feather Banner was annihilated on Beihuang Dao, with hundreds of thousands dead or wounded. As the former queen of the Black Feather Tribe, she was naturally filled with resentment. So, when she heard about the mission to assassinate the Crown Prince at Zhong Mountain, she followed Mu Yuan Great Dharma King without hesitation.

Though the foundation of the Great Snow Mountain couldn’t compare to the Black Ice Platform, it was still formidable. After all, it had always been a sacred ground for the nomads, and its support was crucial for Zongzheng Huachun’s rapid unification of Houjin.

“Zhong Mountain is not very tall or steep, making it extremely suitable for ambushing troops,” Mu Yuan Great Dharma King murmured softly. “This time Zhao Mengtai is well-prepared, not only with dozens of Death Soldiers he’s raised but also countless members from the Five Gangs Alliance, masters like the Sword Demon and Tianpeng Ancestor, as well as a large number of soldiers equipped with multiple child-mother Xuan Yang iron crossbows and poisoned arrows. Furthermore, with our involvement, killing Zhao Chongyin should not be difficult.”

When Grandmaster-level fighters rush into a military formation, apart from the sea of soldiers tactic, another element that could lead to their death is the child-mother Xuan Yang iron crossbows. These arrows could break the Force Qi.

The child-mother Xuan Yang iron couldn’t break the Force Qi all at once. Depending on the strength of the crossbow bearers, those resisting also needed corresponding Force Qi to counteract.

This would undoubtedly cause the surrounded masters to use up more energy. Once the inner strength and True Qi inside their bodies were exhausted, even Grandmaster-level fighters would find it difficult to escape the soldiers’ formation.

Moreover, these arrows were also laced with potent poison. A slight mishap resulting in getting poisoned would require True Qi to suppress the onset of the poison, making it even more deadly.

Mu Li Dharma King’s eyes grew cold as she said, “Such meticulous arrangements, Zhao Chongyin has no escape. It seems Zhao Mengtai is determined to have his elder brother killed this time.”

Two top Four Qi Grandmasters, along with three Three Qi Grandmasters, in addition to countless soldiers and Jianghu experts and the Death Soldiers raised by Zhao Mengtai – this was almost all the forces Zhao Mengtai could muster.

On Zhao Chongyin’s side, besides three hundred Imperial Guards, there were twelve Xuanyi Guard Great Heavenly Gang members and the newly appointed Xuanyi Guard Great Commander, Taiping, the Human Emperor’s personal Three Qi Grandmaster guard, Xu Qianyue.

Even if Zhao Chongyin had a Four Qi Grandmaster by his side, how could the Crown Prince withstand given the current disparity in power?

Mu Xuan Dharma King said indifferently, “Once the Crown Prince of Yan Country dies, the Taiping Human Emperor will definitely not remain seated, and at that time, all the tricks he’s hiding will be fully exposed.”

A cold smile appeared on the corners of Mu Li Dharma King’s mouth, “I am quite curious about what kind of trick he is selling in his gourd.”

The Great Yan Emperor, having retreated to recover from heavy injuries, presents a mix of truths and falsehoods that are difficult to grasp. Although many believe he hasn’t broken through these shackles, everyone knows the Great Yan Emperor would definitely set up his strategies, causing constant fear and suspicion among all forces of the world.

After all, this man is not only an emperor who has been sitting in Great Yan for over forty years but also a Five Qi Grandmaster.

Zhao Country and the Southern Barbarians are also worried about this, so as soon as a slight flaw appears in the Great Yan Emperor, he will undoubtedly be attacked by forces from all around the world.

At that time, it will be much easier for Houjin, with the entanglements of the Southern Barbarians and Zhao Country, to move southward.

Mu Xuan Dharma King said solemnly, “Although this matter has been meticulously arranged, we still need to be careful.”

Mu Li Dharma King said, “Ren Meng has already sent a message; there has been no disturbance in Yujing City.”

“I’m not talking about Zhao Chongyin and the Taiping Human Emperor.”

Mu Xuan Dharma King narrowed his eyes into slits and said, “I’m talking about Zhao Mengtai. As soon as Zhao Chongyin is killed, this man will definitely turn ruthless. At that point, it’s hard to say whether he will turn against us. For him, it would kill several birds with one stone; not only would he get rid of his most significant political rival, but by killing us, he could also claim credit and clear all suspicions. Even if the truth does come out in the end, with the Crown Prince dead and his possession of our heads, he would have no choice but to succeed to the position.”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King gave a faint smile, “Zhao Mengtai may have his plans, but I naturally have my own as well. Once the Sacrificial Heaven Ceremony begins, rumors will stir in Yujing City. At that time, Yujing City will definitely be restless, and does Zhao Mengtai really think that Wei Bangfu belongs to him? Did the Five Gangs Alliance swear allegiance to him for some meager benefits?”

“Zhao Mengtai is just a small insect climbing in my hand; I can kill him whenever I want,” said the Great Dharma King, as he stretched out his hand and then clenched it fiercely.

While Zhao Mengtai is a partner, they each hold cards against each other, keeping their ace hidden.

Until the last moment, no one knows whose victory will end this arrangement.

Throughout history, those who are not afraid of death are most likely to die.

Because those who are not afraid of death often disregard their own demise, they are accustomed to walking on the edge of the knife, using their lives as gambling stakes, and habitually making high risks for high returns.

But anyone who often walks by the river does not avoid wet shoes; someday, they will misstep and fall, and just once is enough to ensure they never recover.

…..

Several days later, a sliver of light in the morning twilight, a swathe of afterglow in the dusk.

Dragon Head Rock soared a thousand feet from the ground, its peak precipitous, covered with bizarre rocks. One giant cliff stood upright while another stretched horizontally above it, piercing into the waist of Heavenly Pond Mountain like a proud rising dragon, its aura extraordinary.

At the foot of Zhong Mountain, a tea pavilion gathered masters from the Four Seas, most of whom were swordsmen.

The waiter, dressed in a thick jacket, shuttled between tables, continually refilling the tea.

In the distance, the ear-piercing sound of metal clashing could still be heard, as if a fierce battle was unfolding.

The waiter had grown accustomed to it. For the past month, local officials had begun preparations for the heaven-worshipping ceremony, dispatching people daily to clean up the mountain and build the sacrificial Lu Platform.

In addition, they strictly inspected suspicious movements within several miles.

Even the tea houses along the way couldn’t avoid a round of looting and had to pay some benefits fees to continue operating.

As the heaven-worshipping ceremony drew closer, countless martial world experts gathered here, and these experts, who lived by the sword, naturally engaged in fights and killings upon meeting.

Just yesterday, three swordsmen from Jinghai Road died, one of whom was an expert from Outer Heaven Island.

Outer Heaven Island belonged to an overseas island. Due to its remote location, neither the Yan Kingdom nor Zhao Country wanted to waste the effort to involve themselves, making Outer Heaven Island a no man’s land. Previously, many hidden experts had sought refuge on Outer Heaven Island amidst turmoil.

Therefore, in everyone’s mind, Outer Heaven Island was considered a very mysterious place.

Inside the tea pavilion, people were discussing loudly, mainly focusing on the heaven-worshipping ceremony and the Dulu Sword Meeting.

“The Crown Prince, representing the Human Emperor, is holding the heaven-worshipping ceremony. It seems that His Majesty has already completely decided on the successor,” one person said.

“That must be the case, or why else would they suddenly hold this heaven-worshipping ceremony? It’s clearly to build momentum for the Crown Prince,” another replied.

“Everything is now set in stone, and the palace’s turmoil will also end with this heaven-worshipping ceremony,” another added.

“I’m curious about the Dulu Sword Meeting. I heard that the Ghost Swordsman from the Demon Sect is on his way here,” a swordsman mentioned.

“Sword Demon and Ghost Swordsman, I wonder who is truly the world’s first swordsman,” someone mused.

“The glory of the Dulu Sword is only fitting for the world’s first swordsman to possess,” another affirmed.

….

In a corner of the tea pavilion sat an old man with white hair and beard, seemingly indifferent to the discussions around him, sipping his tea with a serene and calm expression.

This man was Liu Moyuan, the Sword God of the Yu Heng Sword Sect.

He did not know what game the Human Emperor was playing with this heaven-worshipping ceremony, and since he was not versed in plots and tricks, he did not bother to ponder over it; he had dedicated most of his life to the Sword Dao.

Worldly affairs, after all, mattered less than the matters of the sword to him.

But on a certain day when the Sword Dao could no longer progress, he suddenly realized that he should do something for the Yu Heng Sword Sect, like defeating that once-in-a-generation Sword Immortal Lou Xiangzhen with three swords, maintaining his reputation for decades, and keeping the Yu Heng Sword Sect standing as the second greatest in the Great Yan Martial World.

The Yu Heng Sword Sect ranked second only to the Zhenyi Sect in the Great Yan Martial World thanks to his significant contributions.

Today, he emerged to firstly pursue the Dulu Sword, secondly to fulfill a task entrusted to him by the Crown Prince.

As long as he completed this task, he could take the Dulu Sword.

Liu Moyuan believed that with his strength, once he acquired the Dulu Sword, even facing a Five Qi Grandmaster, he would have a fighting chance. Then, even if the Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect possessed the Treasure Venerate’s Mirror, he would not be his match.

He would then naturally become the first and foremost expert in the Great Yan Martial World.

A young man carrying a jar of wine approached quickly and said, “Grandmaster, I have bought the buns.”

This youth, named Zhou Hong, was the most talented swordsman among the current disciples of the Yu Heng Sword Sect. Liu Moyuan had been training him closely by his side. Just last month, he had achieved Fourth Realm’s cultivation, which was enough to be considered a first-rate swordsman in this vast martial world.

He was exceptionally gifted and young, and very diligent in his approach to swordsmanship. The only thing Liu Moyuan disliked was his flippant attitude.

After handing the parchment paper to Liu Moyuan, Zhou Hong took a big gulp of wine and flashed a satisfied grin.

Liu Moyuan softly said, “A top swordsman should drink less and spend less time with women, as indulge…

Liu Moyuan silently shook his head. Zhou Hong seemed serious this time, but he would soon cast aside the painstaking advice, as he had never encountered setbacks or hit walls and fundamentally didn’t understand the principles of life and the Sword Dao.

However, after all, he was very young. A person had to experience trials and tribulations to grow, just like Lou Xiangzhen back in the day. If he hadn’t been defeated by Liu Moyuan, he might have reached the Sixth Realm of Sword Skill, likely practicing the Fast Sword Dao rather than the current Human Sword Dao.

Among several superior Sword Daos, the Human Sword Dao was the most difficult to gauge.

Ordinarily, it did not possess the powerful force of the Heavenly Sword Dao, but once driven to a desperate situation, the power exhibited by the Human Sword Dao was absolutely superior to that of the Heavenly Sword Dao.

Moreover, the cultivation method of the Heavenly Sword Dao was also elusive and hard to find. Among the many teachings left by Sixth Realm swordsmen through the ages, it had often been said that the Human Sword Dao was the most likely to reach the Seventh Realm.

The Human Sword Dao was more like Confucianism. Suddenly grasping the Dao could lead to rapid and immense progress, leaping forward a thousand miles in a single day.

Swordsmanship and moves could be taught, but the Sword Dao was the swordsman’s own path, one he had to comprehend on his own.

Liu Moyuan gently sipped his tea, remaining silent.

Zhou Hong also glanced at his ancestor and asked, “Ancestor, between the Ghost Swordsman and the Sword Demon, who do you think is stronger?”

Swordsmen all over were endlessly curious about the abilities of these two, and Zhou Hong was no exception.

“I do not care about them,”

Liu Moyuan set down his teacup and stated indifferently, “Because neither of them is as strong as I am.”

The words of Liu Moyuan were profoundly ordinary, as if he was mentioning an insignificant triviality.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hong was shocked and looked at the ancestor before him.

The current debate was about which of the two swordsmen was the finest, but everyone had forgotten about the supreme swordsman from the same era as the Sword Demon.

Liu Moyuan gazed at the towering Zhong Mountain. “The moment a swordsman strikes, you must tell yourself that you are the strongest swordsman, and your sword is the sharpest in the world. Only then can you be unstoppable.”

Having said this, Liu Moyuan got up.

“I understand,” Zhou Hong replied, nodding incessantly.

“No, you do not understand,”

Liu Moyuan looked at the young man before him. “You are not yet a true swordsman.”

A Fourth Realm swordsman was considered a first-class swordsman in Jianghu, a master in the eyes of ordinary people, but at this moment, in Liu Moyuan’s heart, he was not even considered a swordsman.

“Climb the mountain.”

Liu Moyuan walked toward Zhong Mountain, his solitary and straight figure seeming to merge with the mountain, indelibly imprinting itself in Zhou Hong’s mind.

……

Compared to other tall mountains, Zhong Mountain did not stand out, but the path up the mountain was bitterly cold, sending chills through anyone’s heart.

The snow on both sides of the stone steps had been swept clean.

These hundreds of stone steps would be a great trouble for ordinary people, but for those skilled in the martial world of Jianghu, it was naturally a trivial matter.

An Jing stepped on the stone stairs, leaving footprints with each step as he climbed up Zhong Mountain, every hundred steps or so he could see the guards of East Lin Road.

Beyond that, many Xuanyi Guards in black were investigating the passing Jianghu people, with strict scrutiny.

And when encountering Jianghu masters dressed in the attire of major sects, they generally allowed them to pass directly.

Before long, An Jing had climbed up Zhong Mountain.

Looking up at the heavenly plateau, the peak was shrouded in clouds and mist; the mountain path twisted and turned like a colorful ribbon falling from the clouds. Below, the climbers looked like tiny white dots, scattered on the ribbon, slowly moving upward.

On Zhong Mountain, all sorts of buildings and facilities had been thoroughly renovated.

Even the mountain road had been refurbished, giving it a brand new appearance.

Three days before, Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin had begun fasting, two days before he wrote the sacrificial text on the prayer board, the day before he slaughtered the livestock, prepared the sacrificial offerings, and arranged the offering vessels.

On the last day, Zhao Chongyin reviewed the prayer board, offered incense, inspected the divine seat, viewed the sacrificial beans and kitchen, saw the livestock sacrifice, and finally returned to the fasting room to fast.

On the eve of the Sacrificial Day, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites led his subordinates in arranging the divine tablets, offering vessels, and sacrificial offerings; the music department prepared the orchestra setup; and finally, the Assistant Minister of Rites conducted a comprehensive inspection.

Only when all these preparations were in place could the grand ceremony of heaven worship begin the following day.

And on the eve of this grand ceremony, another grand event was set to take place.

The Dulu Sword Meeting.

The Dulu Sword was an important vessel for the ceremony, but it was displayed by Zhao Chongyin to demonstrate his prowess to the heroes of the world.

On Zhong Mountain, a sacrificial altar had already been set up, circular in shape, surrounded by torches on all sides, with a gigantic cauldron in the center.

This cauldron was nine feet tall, three feet three inches wide, and three feet nine inches deep; its neck and the beast-faced decorations on its three legs were robust and solemn, while the two handles, standing about one foot eight inches above the bronze body of the cauldron, added a majestic presence to the whole apparatus.

The world’s first sword, the Dulu Sword, was now placed inside this large cauldron.

Around the altar stood three hundred guards in armor, their expressions cold and serious.

All the guards were from the Imperial Guards, each highly skilled; any one of them placed in the military would be a top expert. Merely three hundred in number, they emanated an aura of solemnity and forbiddance, showing their formidable nature.

At the four corners of the altar had gathered countless figures from the martial world.

Among them were disciples in identical attire, wandering warriors in unique garbs, and even experts dressed in attire from Southern Barbarians and Zhao Country.

Leading them were Lin Yiyang of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, Jia Shiwu of the Four Symbols Sect, and Zuo Biwen, Valley Master of Youfeng Valley, and in the crowd were several other masters whose skills were no less than those mentioned, all with a hint of gravity in their eyes.

At this moment, Zhao Chongyin stood at the center of the altar, with Minister of Rites Zhu Yongfang by his side, and also Yu Tingchen from the Ministry of Industry, who had arrived “fashionably late” the previous day.

Zhu Yongfang and Yue Tingchen casually chatted, with Zhu Yongfang quite curious about the Dulu Sword Meeting, while Yue Tingchen concurred with his remarks.

Zhao Chongyin glanced at Yue Tingchen, then turned to look at the crowd below and declared loudly, “Today, your presence here is indeed an honor for this Crown Prince, all wishing to witness the elegance of the world’s first sword. However, there is only one world’s first sword, and only the world’s first swordsman is worthy of beholding it. Thus, this Crown Prince has organized this Dulu Sword Meeting to see who truly is the world’s first swordsman of our times.”

A swordsman from Zhao Country shouted from within the crowd, “Your Highness, can the world’s foremost swordsmith take this world’s first sword?”

Zhao Chongyin scanned in the direction of the voice and replied, “If you have the ability, by all means, take it.”

Whoa!

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately stirred a buzz among the crowd.

The Dulu Sword was the world’s premier sword, innately possessing astonishing sword qi; even a common swordsman, simply by holding the Dulu Sword, could instantly become a top expert.

Among the many swordsmen present, how many could remain indifferent to the world’s top sword?

In the hearts of swordsmen, a treasured sword was even more precious than a beauty.

After all, with an unparalleled treasure sword, one could possess even more beauties.

Following Zhao Chongyin’s words, the competition of the Dulu Sword Meeting officially began.

Swordsmen successively took the stage.

Initially, those who stepped forward were swordsmen seeking fame within the martial world, possessing decent strength and aspiring to stand out. Their goal in attending this sword meeting was not the Dulu Sword itself, but to showcase their prowess.

They also knew that they could not afford the world’s premier sword.

As time progressed, well-known swordsmen began to act, making the Dulu Sword Meeting increasingly lively, especially when swordsmen from the Fourth and even Fifth Realm participated, intensifying the competition.

The Dulu Sword Meeting was in full swing, and the duel among the swordsmen delighted the onlookers.

A swordsman laughed heartily, leaped up, and landed on the altar.

He was an old man with long white hair and a beard, holding a longsword that shimmered with the cold light of autumn water, startling the onlookers.

Many recognized the newcomer and were taken aback.

Jiao Youyun, a renowned swordsman from Yan Country and a contemporary of Lou Xiangzhen, had not reached the Sixth Realm but had attained the Fifth Realm decades ago.

Jia Shiwu and Zuo Biwen slightly raised their eyebrows.

Swordsman Jiao Youyun moved incredibly fast, defeating a fellow Fifth Realm swordsman with just a few strokes, causing a stir among the spectators.

Those swordsmen who had been eager to try their luck were now disheartened and held their peace.

Swordsman Jiao Youyun caressed the blade and laughed, “Has no one contested this Dulu Sword yet?”

“I will!”

About a few breaths later, a clear shout rang out.

Upon hearing this voice, everyone looked over; it belonged to Lin Yiyang of the Yu Heng Sword Sect.

“Sect Master Lin is making a move, he is a Swordsman of the Sixth Realm.”

“I didn’t expect him to make a move right off the bat.”

…..

Clearly, many people were greatly excited by Lin Yiyang’s declaration.

Jiao Youyun’s brow furrowed deeply before he gripped his longsword tightly, “Then today, I shall learn of Sect Master Lin’s brilliant moves.”

“One move!”

Lin Yiyang glanced at Jiao Youyun and spoke indifferently.

Jiao Youyun took a deep breath, not angered by Lin Yiyang’s words.

“Shhh!”

A chilling Sword Light stabbed towards Lin Yiyang, enormously sharp and carrying the pressure of the Fifth Realm.

For an ordinary expert, the pressure of the Fifth Realm would be suffocating, but his current opponent was Lin Yiyang, one of the top swordsmen of the current era who had reached the Sixth Realm.

“Swish!”

Lin Yiyang’s sleeves fluttered as he drew the Phoenix Sword.

Fast!

It was too fast!

So fast that barely a few in the audience saw how he drew his sword, they only saw his sleeves flutter and the next moment, Jiao Youyun’s body shook and he was sent flying backward.

“Wow!”

Jiao Youyun stabilized his body, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He then cupped his fists towards Lin Yiyang and said, “Thank you, Sect Master Lin, for showing mercy.”

Even knowing Lin Yiyang’s formidable strength, everyone was still shocked to see a Fifth Realm Swordsman repelled by a single strike.

This move also entirely discouraged many Fifth Realm swordsmen who had thoughts of challenging him.

After all, Swordsman Jiao Youyun was also of the Fifth Realm and even possessed the cultivation level of the Earth Flower Realm, yet he was no match for Lin Yiyang in one move; there was no point for them to step forward.

Lin Yiyang stood above, the breeze continuously fluttering his clothes, his eyes calm and untroubled.

“Good.”

Zhao Chongyin couldn’t help but clap his hands and said, “Brother Lin is truly a prodigy; to have reached the Sixth Realm in swordsmanship at such an age is rare in the world.”

Lin Yiyang was not even fifty, his cultivation had reached the Master Level of One Qi, and his swordsmanship had attained the Sixth Realm. If nothing unexpected happened, he was destined to become one of the top swordsmen in the martial realm.

The only pity was, he was born in the wrong era.

Not only were there top older swordsmen suppressing him in this era, but there was also a once-in-a-lifetime freak of nature.

In the crowd, a swordsman dressed in black looked at Lin Yiyang, his eyes as calm as an abyss.

Next to him, an ugly-faced old man full of wrinkles spoke softly, “Brother Hao, what do you think of this youth’s future prospect?”

In the old man’s hand was a blade, twelve inches long, with a convex outward curved edge and its widest part was about one and a half inch. One side of the blade’s back was sharp, with three concave teeth between the edge and the tip, the blade itself was considerably sharp, and the copper handle was diamond-shaped.

The Demon Blade Lingying was indeed the blade of Tianpeng Ancestor, one of the world’s four great swordsmen.

Tianpeng Ancestor was a nomadic figure, extremely mysterious, known only for his scarce blade skill and elusive whereabouts. But in fact, he had been roped in by Zhao Mengtai a few years ago.

His collaboration with the Sword Demon was unlike others; he was a loyal subordinate of Zhao Mengtai, and Tianpeng Ancestor played a significant role in the vast growth of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.

However, to conceal his strength, Zhao Mengtai still allowed Tianpeng Ancestor to leave the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and stay by his side.

Sword Demon looked at Lin Yiyang, who was the center of attention at that moment, and said indifferently, “When we are all dead, he might become a great master. Sadly, he met the Ghost Swordsman of the same era.”

Tianpeng Ancestor shook his head and said, “Indeed, it’s unfortunate. You could say he is talented, but not talented enough to dominate the masters of the next era. He can only wait for the old generation of masters to die.”

In this world, how many geniuses exist? Each era has its own geniuses, but how many can truly dominate the masters of the previous era?

Moreover, among the geniuses of the previous generation, it’s possible for a freak capable of dominating the geniuses of their own generation to emerge.

In such tumultuous times, merely surviving is not easy, let alone standing out.

“The last time in Yujing City I let him go, this time I’ll let him see my sword.”

The Sword Demon knew Lin Yiyang was not to be feared—it was only the Ghost Swordsman who was worthy to challenge him decisively, and now was the time to force out this Ghost Swordsman.

Lin Yiyang quietly let out a breath and looked instead towards the crowd.

At that moment, a figure clad in black emerged from the crowd.

The elder was tall, dressed in black, and held a longsword that seemed to have fresh blood flowing upon it.

The Blood Tears Sword!

This was indeed one of the top ten famous swords of the current world, the Blood Tears Sword.

Lin Yiyang’s pupils fiercely contracted.

When Sword Demon Hao Tian drew out the Blood Tears Sword and stepped forward, the entire Dulu Sword Meeting was thrown into total uproar.

“The Blood Tears Sword! This is the Blood Tears Sword!”

“It really is the Sword Demon, he’s actually still alive!”

“Oh heaven! I can’t believe Hao Tian is still alive. Decades ago, he had already reached the Sixth Realm in swordmanship.”

……

Everyone was buzzing and their eyes carried a mysterious look of shock.

After all, the Sword Demon was once one of the twin giants of the sword path, and one of only two Swordsmen of the Sixth Realm in the whole world.

Numerous Swordsmen revered him like a deity, and his fame was etched deeply into everyone’s hearts like carved in stone.

Xu Qianyue spoke softly from a distance, “It was him who killed Zongzheng Yuan back then.”

The Sword Demon had acted twice in Yujing City, once killing Zongzheng Yuan and Mu Jin Dharma King, and once he struck against the Ghost Swordsman.

Killing the Ghost Swordsman can be understood, as it was a contest for the title of the world’s number one swordsman. However, what could have been the purpose of killing Zongzheng Yuan?

The entire Dulu Sword Meeting was noisy, and discussions surged like tides, all gazes were firmly fixed on the Sword Demon.

Minister of Rites Zhu Yongfang murmured, “I never thought that after so many years, the Sword Demon would still have such an imposing presence.”

Most masters in the Jianghu are unrestrained and unruly, and sometimes even the laws of the Yan Kingdom Court are ignored, but at this moment upon seeing the Sword Demon, the expressions of the gathered Jianghu masters drastically changed.

Yue Tingchen said indifferently, “This is what makes a top swordsman terrifying.”

As Lin Yiyang watched Sword Demon Hao Tian step forward, panic surged within him, and the mountainous pressure suddenly struck, almost suffocating him.

He knew, this was the Sword Skill of the Sword Demon.

The Heavenly Dao Sword’s Sword Skill!

Sword Demon looked at Lin Yiyang and said, “Now there are three Swordsmen of the Sixth Realm in the world, Lou Xiangzhen, the Ghost Swordsman, and you. Let me start with you, and by the way, settle old scores.”

Old scores!?

Many people frowned upon hearing this, wondering if there was some feud between the Sword Demon and the Yu Heng Sword Sect.

“Now let’s see what you are capable of.”

Lin Yiyang’s Phoenix Sword shook, and a gleam of cold light flashed in his eyes.

Lin Yiyang’s sword dao in cultivation was the Fast Sword Dao, just like Yan Gang, the top talent of Houjin.

It belonged to the Moderate Sword Dao, a sword dao that pursued speed, ultimate speed.

The Sword Demon said, “You practice the Fast Sword Dao, therefore, I shall use fast sword to decide the outcome with you.”

“Whoosh!”

As soon as the words fell, Lin Yiyang only felt a gust of wind, and the Sword Demon had already rushed in front of him.

“Clang clang clang clang!”

The crowd could only hear a series of metallic sounds and see some sparks, nothing more.

This was a grandmaster-level duel, no longer perceptible to ordinary people.

Especially since the Sword Demon was a top grandmaster, his strength completely surpassed Lin Yiyang’s existence.

Lin Yiyang instinctively drew his sword, but as the sword had just extended three inches, it was blocked by the Blood Tears Sword. No matter how fast or how many times he struck afterward, the Sword Demon was always a bit faster, blocking all his offensive paths.

“Too slow, your sword is too slow,”

the Sword Demon said while exchanging blows with Lin Yiyang.

In just an instant, Lin Yiyang was completely suppressed.

Lin Yiyang was clenching his teeth tightly, facing the storm-like sword attacks from the Sword Demon; he could only barely defend himself and had no chance to organize an effective counterattack.

Originally, people thought there would be a fierce battle between the two, but as soon as they crossed swords, people realized that the Sword Demon’s strength was far superior to Lin Yiyang’s, his tone even carried a bit of ease and self-satisfaction.

“That’s it, faster, even faster!” the Sword Demon laughed.

Lin Yiyang felt extremely frustrated, but no matter how fast his sword moved, the Sword Demon’s sword in front of him always seemed faster by a notch; he was completely no match for him.

“Rip!”

The Sword Demon’s sword directly slashed Lin Yiyang’s clothes, revealing a blood mark.

“Slow, too slow,” the Sword Demon said, smiling at the sight of fresh blood.

Lin Yiyang furrowed his brows and clenched his teeth, speeding up his sword once more.

Qiu Wanxia’s eyebrows were tightly locked; she knew Lin Yiyang was no match for the Sword Demon, but given Lin Yiyang’s character, he would definitely not admit defeat.

“Hiss!”

“Faster, even faster!” the Sword Demon urged upon seeing the blood on Lin Yiyang’s body, as if his own blood was burning and boiling.

After a while, Lin Yiyang had already sustained seven or eight cuts, and blood dripped onto the ground, staining it a stark crimson, stinging the eyes of everyone present.

Lin Yiyang continued to grit his teeth and persist, but his sword was getting slower.

The Minister of Rites, Zhu Yongfang, whispered softly, “Your Highness, it seems Lin Yiyang is completely no match for the Sword Demon.”

This Sword Demon was a wanted criminal by the Court, while Lin Yiyang was the Sect master of the Yu Heng Sword Sect. If this wanted criminal were to win the chief position of the Dulu Sword Meeting, how would the Court handle this?

Zhao Chongyin spoke calmly, “There’s no need to worry, let’s just watch.”

All the martial arts experts present could see that Lin Yiyang was no match for the Sword Demon.

Jia Shiwu sighed, “He’s just too powerful.”

Even Lin Yiyang, a Sixth Realm Swordsman, was no match for the Sword Demon.

Zuo Biwen furrowed his brows and said, “If the Sword Demon wins the chief title of this Dulu Sword Meeting…”

Others might not know, but Zuo Biwen knew a thing or two, that the Sword Demon Hao Tian might not be a person from Yan Country.

On the platform, Lin Yiyang had already been struck by several swords.

He practiced fast sword, yet his sword was always slower by a bit compared to the Sword Demon, making it impossible for him to be his opponent.

And the Sword Demon, true to his name, was not only dominant in the fight but was completely toying with and humiliating this man once praised as the world’s top swordsman.

“Enough!”

The next moment, a sharp voice came through.

Qiu Wanxia leaped forward, standing in front of Lin Yiyang, and said, “Let this battle end here.”

The Sword Demon’s expression remained unchanged, his Blood Tears Sword still dripping with fresh red blood. “Oh, are you admitting defeat?”

“I… I…”

Lin Yiyang had lost too much blood, and his brain was on the verge of passing out, but his swordsman instincts told him he absolutely could not admit defeat.

“You’ve won.”

Qiu Wanxia, holding a blood-covered Lin Yiyang, then walked towards the audience below.

The Sword Demon glanced at the two, saying nothing.

Below the stage, there was silence, and not a sound was heard.

This swordsman, once the finest in the world, had just defeated a Sixth Realm swordsman with ease, displaying his dominance and strength, and he looked as though he hadn’t even put forth his full effort, how could this not make one’s heart tremble.

For a long time, there was silence, and the atmosphere felt incredibly oppressive.

Hao Tian glanced around and said, “Well, if no one is coming forward, then I won’t be polite regarding the Dulu Sword.”

The people present looked at each other. If Lin Yiyang was defeated in such a short time by him, how could they dare compete with this Sword Demon for the sword?

Zhu Yongfang was somewhat anxious. The Dulu Sword was always a royal artifact, never meant to be presented to the victor of the sword meeting, it was solely the Crown Prince’s decision.

If it fell into Lin Yiyang’s hands, there might still be a chance to reclaim it, but if the Sword Demon got it, that would be highly troublesome.

Zhao Chongyin’s expression was completely calm, without a ripple.

“It seems there really is no one, what a disappointment,” the Sword Demon said and laughed loudly as he walked toward the Giant Cauldron.

His steps were neither fast nor slow.

But each step fell like it was on one’s heart, causing an uncontrollable racing heartbeat.

“Wasn’t the Ghost Swordsman supposed to come?” someone asked curiously.

Everyone was puzzled and then sighed.

“Shh!”

The next moment, a fierce cold light fell from the sky, followed by endless strong winds, as if they were colder than the weather in deep winter.

It was a sword light!

An incredibly sharp sword light!

And this sword light was aimed right where the Sword Demon was about to step next.

The Sword Demon’s breath hitched, and all his body hairs stood on end, and the foot he had raised was withdrawn.

“Thump!”

That sword light struck heavily on the ground where the Sword Demon was, instantly emitting a deafening sound, shaking Zhong Mountain to its core, and everyone’s bodies trembled.

The Giant Cauldron also swayed from side to side, the flames around it nearly going out, and then a voice resounded.

“Hao Tian, why are you in such a hurry?”

Following the voice, everyone saw a young man in white walking slowly out, an ancient longsword in his hand flashing a cold light under the sun.

…..

PS: A monthly ticket, brothers.