Chapter 141: Establishing Authority in Heavenly Demon Hall! Can you guys even lift this sword?

Heavenly Demon Hall, the core of the Demonic Cult's power.

Above the ninety-nine black jade steps, the massive hall doors were like the mouth of a giant beast, devouring all the light.

Gu Lan followed behind Ye Hongzhuang, feeling a heavy sense of oppression surging from inside the hall with every step he took.

That was a terrifying aura formed by the gathering of dozens of Golden Core Stage and even Nascent Soul Stage old monsters.

"Afraid?"

Ye Hongzhuang, walking ahead, suddenly stopped, turned her head slightly, and a trace of teasing danced in her Phoenix eyes.

"A little."

Gu Lan nodded honestly, his hand subconsciously tightening around the hilt of the soul-devouring sword at his waist.

"The old fellows inside probably can't wait to tear me apart and swallow me alive, right?"

"Rest assured."

Ye Hongzhuang reached out and very naturally helped him straighten his slightly crooked collar, her affectionate movements resembling a young wife seeing her husband off.

But to outsiders, this scene was utterly terrifying.

"As long as you obediently stand by my side and back me up."

"Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you."

With that, she flicked her sleeves and turned to step into the grand hall.

In that instant, the somewhat lazy aura of a little woman completely vanished, replaced by the empress's awe-inspiring majesty that looked down upon the world.

"Enter!"

Gu Lan took a deep breath, straightened his back, cradled his sword, and followed inside with an unbothered, swaggering gait.

…

Inside the grand hall, the light was dim, with only the everlasting lamps on both sides emitting an eerie green glow.

Dozens of Elders dressed in black robes lined both sides, each exuding a cold aura with gazes as sharp as knives.

The moment Gu Lan walked in, all gazes focused on him.

Jealousy, greed, killing intent… Various negative emotions surged like a tide.

Especially the Grand Elder standing at the head of the left side, whose hand wrapped in thick bandages was still trembling slightly, looking at Gu Lan with eyes that practically breathed fire.

"Greetings, Exalted One!"

Although the Elders were dissatisfied in their hearts, under Ye Hongzhuang's coercion, they still had to kneel together.

"Rise."

Ye Hongzhuang walked straight toward the purple-gold throne on the high platform and turned to sit down.

She did not let Gu Lan stand below the platform, but instead pointed to a spot beside the throne.

"Sword-Wielding Envoy, stand here."

"Understood!"

Gu Lan didn't stand on ceremony either, walking straight up to the high platform, standing beside Ye Hongzhuang, and looking down condescendingly at these Demonic Cult bigshots.

This feeling of being 'above ten thousand people, yet under only one person'…

Hmm, it feels pretty great.

"Exalted One!"

The Grand Elder finally couldn't hold back anymore, stepping forward with a hoarse voice.

"This brat is a Righteous Path undercover agent! His origins are unknown! How can he stand above the sacred hall?!"

"Even… even letting him hold such an important position as Sword-Wielding Envoy!"

"This old man refuses to accept this! All the Elders refuse to accept this!"

"Right! We don't accept this!"

"Please reconsider, Exalted One! Do not let beauty ruin the state!"

The crowd below instantly exploded into an uproar, with a group of Elders chiming in and spittle flying everywhere.

Ye Hongzhuang supported her cheek with one hand, coldly watching this group of buffoons.

"Dissatisfied?"

A cold smile curved the corner of her mouth.

"Then in your view, what should be done?"

"Kill him!"

Roared an Elder with a fierce, fleshy face, "Or cripple his cultivation and throw him into the Myriad Snake Cave!"

"And that sword!"

The Grand Elder stared intently at the soul-devouring sword at Gu Lan's waist, his eyes full of greed.

"The soul-devouring sword is a supreme treasure lost by our Holy Cult for many years! How can it fall into the hands of an outsider?"

"It must be handed over! To be jointly kept by the Elder Council!"

"Oh? You want the sword?"

Ye Hongzhuang turned to look at Gu Lan, giving him a look that said 'let's see your performance'.

Gu Lan understood tacitly.

He took a step forward, untied the demonic sword from his waist, and raised it up together with that 'original-flavored scabbard'.

"The Elders are right."

Gu Lan said with an 'earnest' face.

"This sword is indeed a hot potato, and I'm afraid to hold it too."

"Since the Grand Elder wants it…"

With a casual toss, he threw the sheathed longsword toward the Grand Elder.

"Then I'll give it to you!"

"What?!"

The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this brat to be so cowardly, giving it away just like that.

But his reaction was extremely fast, his eyes filled with wild joy, and he reached out his intact hand to catch it.

"Consider yourself sensible! Once this old man gets the sword, I'll deal with you slowly!"

However.

The moment his hand was about to touch the scabbard.

"Hum—!!!"

The soul-devouring sword, which had been as quiet as a chicken, suddenly trembled violently.

A terrifying repulsive force erupted from the blade, causing the demonic runes on the scabbard to also light up with blinding red light.

"Boom!"

A stream of black demonic fire gushed out from the hilt, slamming directly into the Grand Elder's palm.

"Ah—!!!"

The Grand Elder let out a miserable scream even more wretched than last night's.

His intact hand was instantly ignited by the demonic fire, its flesh charring and rotting at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even the bones were burned with a sizzle.

"My hand! My hand!"

The soul-devouring sword didn't fall to the ground, but instead made a circle in the air. As if possessing spiritual intelligence, it disdainfully avoided the other Elders who wanted to snatch it, and finally…

With a "whoosh".

It flew back into Gu Lan's hand, taking the opportunity to rub against his palm with an aggrieved look that said 'Master save me, a pervert is touching me'.

The entire audience fell into dead silence.

Everyone looked in horror at the sword, and then at the Grand Elder rolling on the ground.

"This… this sword has a spirit?!"

"It… it only recognizes that brat?!"

Gu Lan held the sword and looked at the Grand Elder with an innocent face.

"Oh my, Grand Elder, what's wrong with you?"

"I already said I'd give it to you, why couldn't you lift it?"

"Could it be… you're old and have osteoporosis?"

"You! You framed this old man!"

Enduring excruciating pain, the Grand Elder pointed at Gu Lan, his hand trembling.

"Enough."

Ye Hongzhuang spoke up at the right time, her voice cold.

"The soul-devouring sword is an ancient demonic weapon, and only the chosen one can wield it."

"You bunch of trash, you can't even hold a sword, yet you still want to keep it?"

"What a joke!"

She stood up, a powerful coercion sweeping across the entire audience.

"Starting today, Gu Lan is the master of the soul-devouring sword, and also my Sword-Wielding Envoy."

"Whoever dares to object again…"

She pointed at the still-smoking Grand Elder on the ground.

"This is the outcome."

The Elders were struck dumb with terror, lowering their heads one by one and not daring to say another half-word.

Even the Grand Elder had both of his hands crippled, so going up there would just be serving themselves as food!

"Gu Lan."

Ye Hongzhuang turned to look at Gu Lan, a flash of appreciation in her eyes.

"Since they have no objections, I will give you your first task."

"A task?" Gu Lan was slightly stunned.

"Half a month from now is the 'Righteous-Demonic Grand Competition'."

A playful smile curved the corner of Ye Hongzhuang's mouth.

"I want you to represent the Demonic Cult in the battle."

"And…"

"On the arena, in front of all the Cultivators in the world, that Senior Sister of yours, Jiang Wanqing…"

"Win her back for me!"

"To be a foot-washing maid!"

Gu Lan: "…"

Win her back? To be a foot-washing maid?!

Sect Master, are you worried that I won't die fast enough?

This isn't a martial arts competition at all.

This is clearly a large-scale family ethics tragedy scene!