Chapter 202 The Demon Cult Leader Finally Comes Out (Thanks to Jianling Brothers for the Reward)

Chapter 202: The Demonic Cult Leader Finally Emerges from Seclusion (Thanks to Brother Jian Ling for the reward)

Zhao State Imperial City, Cloud Tower.

In Zhao State, one might not know where the Forbidden Palace is, but one must know where the Cloud Tower is.

Within the entire territory of Zhao State, the Black Ice Terrace's influence was far greater than that of the Imperial Family. It could be said that the Imperial Family was merely being pushed forward by the large hand of the Black Ice Terrace, and the Imperial Family was more of a nominal Puppet.

And the Cloud Tower was precisely the core of the Black Ice Terrace, and also where the Black Ice Terrace Master Qi Wushuang usually held meetings.

Compared to the usual bustling activity within the Cloud Tower, it was now as if it had suddenly transitioned from the scorching heat of summer to the biting cold of winter.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

All the experts in the main hall had icy expressions, not daring to breathe a sound.

And the old man at the head was the Black Ice Terrace Master, Qi Xuandao, the true controller of Zhao State.

At this moment, the old man stood with his back to the crowd, silent, but those behind him seemed to see a mountain pressing down on his shoulders.

That kind of heavy pressure seemed to be about to completely crush him.

Qi Shu was dead. This news quickly spread to Zhao State via special falcons.

The entire Zhao State was shaken by it.

After a long while, the old man finally spoke, "Lvqiu Jian, stay. The rest of you may leave."

"Yes."

The surrounding people heard this, rose, bowed to the old man at the head, and then left one after another.

Only one man remained in the entire meeting hall.

The man was dressed in flowing white robes, with a few strands of silver mixed in his black hair. He stood ramrod straight, with a black long saber hanging at his waist.

Aoshuang Saber, Lvqiu Jian, Qi Xuandao's second Disciple, and Qi Shu's Senior Brother.

One of the three greatest Saber Experts in the world. Since Tang Taiyuan was killed at Eight Zhang Platform, there was one less top Saber Expert in the world.

Lvqiu Jian looked only in his fifties, but he had entered the Jianghu four years earlier than Lou Xiangzhen.

Qi Xuandao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the plaque above with the four large characters 'Unparalleled' inscribed on it.

Among his three Disciples, Qi Shu's personality was the least like his, but he was his most beloved. Now, this most beloved Disciple was dead.

"Master."

Lvqiu Jian said in a low voice.

Qi Xuandao slowly said, "Little Sanzi likes to take risks in his actions, and his nature makes him enjoy walking in danger. He was bound to face a tribulation sooner or later."

Lvqiu Jian did not speak. When Qi Shu was preparing to go to Yan State, he had tried to stop him, but Qi Shu ultimately did not listen to him.

Not just this time, Qi Shu had never listened to Lvqiu Jian since childhood.

Qi Xuandao asked, "Who is the person who killed Little Sanzi?"

According to the intelligence, the person who killed Qi Shu was the Ghost Swordsman, but he had no impression of this Ghost Swordsman.

Lvqiu Jian said in a deep voice, "This person is a Swordsman who emerged during Master's half-year seclusion. His strength is good. It is said that he is a successor of the Da Luo Sect. Not only did he kill several Immortal Masters of the Zhenyi Sect, but he also defeated Cui Daoxian, the Great Sword Immortal, and Eunuch Zhong Binru, Sword Master. Moreover, he has a black Flood Dragon under him."

Speaking of this, Lvqiu Jian paused before continuing, "The most important thing is that his sword is the Town Evil Sword, which has never recognized a Master for thousands of years."

"Great Zhou Cloud Dragon!?"

When Qi Xuandao heard this, he slowly turned around, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

If anyone were present at this moment, they would see that Qi Xuandao's face was not as old as imagined. His complexion was rosy, and his skin was delicate, like that of a newborn infant.

Only his eyes were cloudy and full of vicissitudes, as if countless years of past events were hidden within them.

Lvqiu Jian nodded, "Behind this Swordsman, there once appeared an extremely mysterious Grandmaster expert. He heavily injured Dharma King Mujin of the Later Jin with a single punch, suspected to be a Four-Qi Grandmaster or Five Qi Grandmaster. I think Junior Brother must have acted against that Swordsman because of this."

A ray of light appeared in Qi Xuandao's cloudy eyes, and he sighed, "Has Heaven's Shadow finally appeared?"

Lvqiu Jian said, "It should be. Hundreds of years ago, our Black Ice Terrace did not wipe them out completely, giving them a chance to breathe. That's why they have resurfaced now."

Qi Xuandao was silent for a while before saying, "The people of Heaven's Shadow must be completely eradicated. We cannot leave them any more opportunities."

Lvqiu Jian thought for a moment and said, "Master, this Swordsman once killed several experts of the Zhenyi Sect. Should we unite with the Zhenyi Sect?"

The enemy of an enemy is a friend. Although the Ghost Swordsman had a good reputation in the Great Yan Jianghu, he had offended the Zhenyi Sect, the national religion of Great Yan.

The Zhenyi Sect, when placed in the Jianghu of the world, was also a behemoth.

"We want him alive."

Qi Xuandao's eyes narrowed slightly, "To capture this Swordsman, only you or your Senior Brother have a chance, but even then the chance is not great. Only if I personally take action can we ensure absolute certainty."

This Swordsman was at the Realm of One Qi Grandmaster. It was not difficult for the Black Ice Terrace to capture him, but the Heaven's Shadow behind him was not so easy to deal with.

Lvqiu Jian frowned and said, "If Master goes to Great Yan, it might cause a commotion."

Qi Xuandao was the stabilizing force. Yan State and Zhao State were sworn enemies. If Qi Xuandao went to Yan State, he would surely be surrounded by many experts. Once he made a mistake, Zhao State would surely fall into chaos.

The Zhao State Imperial Family and two other forces had long been eyeing them, waiting for the Black Ice Terrace to make a mistake.

The various situations in the world were in a very delicate balance. Once the balance was broken, chaos was likely to arise.

For example, originally, Yan State in the world had to face the encirclement of many forces such as Later Jin, Southern Barbarians, Zhao State, the Demonic Cult, and Buddhism.

Yan State's strength was the strongest, while Later Jin and other forces were very weak, which maintained the balance of the world.

But now that Later Jin was strong, although Buddhism had already leaned towards Great Yan, this balance could not be maintained by Buddhism alone. Once the balance was broken, chaos would surely arise.

Therefore, the war between Later Jin and Yan State had now occurred.

Qi Xuandao slowly sat down and softly said, "Put pressure on Yan State, make them hand over the Ghost Swordsman, and then have the Zhao State army advance thirty li to put some pressure on Marquis Pingding."

Lvqiu Jian said, "Pressure?"

Now that Yan State and Later Jin were at war, the pressure was immense. If Zhao State were added, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury. However, Zhao State and Yan State were sworn enemies, so asking them to hand over a Grandmaster like this was somewhat unlikely.

Unless the Imperial Court of Great Yan was full of short-sighted people.

Qi Xuandao said, "By putting pressure on them, I will have the opportunity to personally go to Yan State."

Lvqiu Jian's heart stirred, and he said, "I understand. I will go and do it now."

With that, Lvqiu Jian hurriedly walked out of the hall.

Qi Xuandao looked at Lvqiu Jian's disappearing back, and for a long time, he sighed, not knowing what he was thinking.

Jiangnan Province, Yu Prefecture City, Datong Teahouse.

The summer sun was scorching, and the air was filled with a touch of irritability.

As the fastest place for news to spread in Jiangnan Province, the Datong Teahouse was as lively as ever, with a full house of distinguished guests.

At this moment, a storyteller in front was vividly narrating.

"Who says the tales of Jin and Gu are endless? Prosperity and decline are ultimately empty."

"Speaking of last time, where did we leave off last time?"

The storyteller paused and asked the surrounding listeners.

"I just had a cup of tea and forgot. You were talking about the Ghost Swordsman chasing Qi Shu," someone shouted from below.

"Then let's continue."

The storyteller heard this, suddenly realized, cleared his throat, and coughed lightly, "Last time, the Ghost Swordsman chased Qi Shu to the outside of the Golden Eagle Banner's large camp. Qi Shu, relying on the tens of thousands of Golden Eagle Banner soldiers behind him, immediately felt confident. He then shouted at the Ghost Swordsman outside the camp: 'Swordsman, do not be arrogant! With tens of thousands of soldiers behind me, how can you be so presumptuous today?'"

"Immediately, drums roared in the camp, and shouts of killing shook the sky. The Aura of a hundred men is magnificent, a thousand men are like a dark, oppressive cloud. Tens of thousands of men connected together, as if heaven and earth were connected, with a vast sea of people in between. Not to mention that these tens of thousands were all brave and skilled Later Jin soldiers. Ordinary Jianghu experts would shiver with fear at this sight. Who would dare to rush into this large camp to die?"

"But who was this Ghost Swordsman? He was a Peerless Swordsman who had defeated two Great Sword Immortals in a row! One only heard thunder rumbling in the sky, and dark clouds covered it. The Ghost Swordsman's expression was indifferent and calm. He shouted at Qi Shu: 'Qi Ziyi, please die by my sword!'"

The entire Datong Teahouse was silent. Everyone was immersed in the story, with only the uniform breathing of the crowd.

"As the words fell, thunder rolled in. The Ghost Swordsman's body moved, transforming into a stream of light that plunged into the Golden Eagle Banner's large camp. Wherever his body passed, there was a pool of blood. Countless Later Jin soldiers died tragically under his sword. At this moment, the Later Jin people realized how formidable the Swordsman in front of them was. One by one, they were scared, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and their hearts chilled. Qi Shu was even more terrified, as if he had seen a ghost. The famous Grandmaster expert's legs trembled, and he retreated desperately. But the Ghost Swordsman was a man of his word. He said he would kill him, and he did. A stream of light flashed across the sky, so fast that it was just a blink of an eye. That sword flew straight through Qi Shu's chest."

"This Zhao State Grandmaster expert died within the Later Jin large camp, his breath completely cut off. The banner Master of the Golden Eagle Banner was even more terrified, his face ashen. None of the tens of thousands of soldiers present dared to step forward. Finally, the Ghost Swordsman floated away, and for dozens of breaths after he left, the large camp remained deathly silent."

"Good!"

"Well said!"

As the storyteller's voice fell, the previously silent Datong Teahouse erupted in thunderous applause. The common people present were flushed with excitement.

Although this matter had long been widely rumored, it was not as enjoyable and exciting as the storyteller's narration.

Especially such a matter that enhanced national prestige.

In a corner of the teahouse, there were two bald monks. Looking closely, they were Jie Se and Jie Lu.

Jie Lu murmured, "Senior Brother, this Ghost Swordsman is truly a Divine Being."

"Not bad."

Jie Se stroked his head and said, "When he split open the dungeon with a single sword, he injured many prisoners. I was personally responsible for that matter. Also, when he exchanged blows with Liu Qingshan, the Qingyang Wuji, at Faxi Temple, I was also watching from the side. You could say I watched him rise."

Speaking of this, a hint of pride appeared on Jie Se's face.

At the same time, many people around were discussing in low voices.

"Have you heard? The Ghost Swordsman leveled the Demonic Cult Headquarters. It is said that many experts went there."

"Kill, we must eliminate the Demonic Cult evildoers!"

"I also heard that the Ghost Swordsman first killed that villain Qi Shu, and now he is going to eliminate the Demonic Cult. He truly lives up to being the hope of the Righteous Path."

"I believe he can definitely bring a bright and clear world to this land."

For some reason, besides the news of the Ghost Swordsman killing Qi Shu amidst tens of thousands of soldiers, another astonishing piece of news circulated in the Great Yan Jianghu.

That was, the Ghost Swordsman was going to Dongluo Pass to level the Demonic Cult Headquarters.

The entire Great Yan Jianghu suddenly surged with undercurrents. Some believed it, some doubted it. After all, the Demonic Cult was one of the top forces in the current world, and it had been rooted for thousands of years.

To annihilate it overnight was somewhat impossible.

Until yesterday, Ancestor Feng Lingyue of the Five Venoms Sect called upon fellow Martial Forest practitioners to participate in this demon-exterminating battle.

As this news spread, the entire Great Yan Jianghu completely boiled over, undoubtedly giving many people a sense of reassurance.

Ancestor Feng Lingyue was a genuine Two-Qi Grandmaster, an elder generation expert of the Jianghu, and one of the Martial Forest legends in the eyes of ordinary people.

It should be known that the Demonic Cult had been wreaking havoc in the Great Yan Jianghu for decades, and countless experts held grudges against them, but due to the Demonic Cult's vast power, they were unable to seek justice.

A single spark had already become a prairie fire.

For a time, countless experts spontaneously headed to Yunlin City; some came to observe, while others wanted to participate in this demon-extermination war.

Apart from the war between Later Jin and Great Yan, the two most sensational events in the world today were this matter, and in the Jianghu, this matter even overshadowed the war between Later Jin and Great Yan.

Jie Lu glanced around, then said, "Senior Brother, Ghost Swordsman wants to uphold the Righteous Path and is preparing to go to Dongluo Pass to eradicate the Demonic Cult's fiends."

Jie Se blinked, "This is naturally a good thing, but I don't think the Demonic Cult is that easy to destroy, is it? That Ghost Swordsman only recently advanced to Grandmaster."

He knew very well in his heart that despite the great prestige now, many of the experts who went there were merely going to watch the excitement; very few truly dared to make a move against the Demonic Cult.

Because he, Han Wenxin, was such a person.

"What nonsense are you monks spouting?"

Just then, a delicate shout rang out.

Following the sound, it was a woman in white.

The woman was quite beautiful, dressed in a white gown, holding a precious sword in her hand, and glared at Jie Se, saying, "This demon-extermination war will surely wipe out the Demonic Cult; you stop spouting nonsense."

Jie Se looked at the woman's aggressive Aura and for a moment forgot what to say.

Jie Lu saw the precious sword at the woman's waist and quickly said, "The benefactor is right; this time, the Demonic Cult will surely be wiped out. My Senior Brother misspoke a little, and Jie Lu apologizes to the benefactor here."

Judging by her appearance, she must be a female knight errant wandering the Jianghu, and also a supporter of that Ghost Swordsman.

"That's more like it. Ghost Swordsman will definitely be able to flatten the Demonic Cult, that's for sure."

Hearing Jie Lu's words, the woman's mouth curved slightly upwards, then she walked towards the door.

Jie Lu looked at the woman's departing back with reluctance, saying, "Senior Brother, that woman, one look and you know she is a female knight errant of the Jianghu."

"Hmph."

Jie Se snorted lightly, "If it were me, my temper is better now, otherwise… Hmph, hmph."

"Otherwise what?" Jie Lu couldn't help but ask.

Jie Se touched his smooth head and said, "I'd definitely get her pregnant."

"Senior Brother, you're talking nonsense again."

Jie Lu said somewhat displeased, "That female knight errant looks so good, and smiles so sweetly, how can you say such vulgar words?"

Jie Se sneered, "What do you know? If it smiles sweetly, it usually tastes salty."

Lingnan Province, Baifeng Town.

The sound of intense hammering came from a blacksmith shop.

A man and a woman slowly walked in.

The man's appearance was ordinary, but the young woman beside him was exceptionally charming and beautiful, making people frequently turn their heads.

These two were Yang Chong and Jia Meixian of the Four Symbols Gate.

Yang Chong's sword blade was bent this time, and the sword had been used for a long time, so he came to this small town not far from the Four Symbols Gate to buy a new precious sword.

For some reason, Jia Meixian insisted on coming along.

Yang Chong said impatiently, "I'm just here to buy a sword, why are you following me?"

Jia Meixian whispered, "Senior Brother, haven't you heard about Ghost Swordsman wanting to flatten the Demonic Cult?"

Yang Chong frowned slightly and said, "I've heard. This matter is making a lot of noise now, how could I not have heard?"

He didn't care much about Ghost Swordsman; in his mind, he admired Lin Yiyang, The World's Number One Swordsman, even more.

Jia Meixian bit her lip and said, "Senior Brother, how about we go to Dongluo Pass to take a look?"

"What did you say!?"

Yang Chong's eyes widened.

Jia Meixian lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong and whispered, "I said I want to go to Dongluo Pass to take a look."

"Impossible!"

Yang Chong's brows furrowed into a '川' character, "This matter is absolutely impossible, not the slightest possibility."

Not to mention that Dongluo Pass was the Demonic Cult's lair, and at this moment, it was a gathering of forces. It was said that countless experts planned to go to Dongluo Pass, so who knew how dangerous it would be? Let alone Third Rank experts, there were quite a few First Rank experts. What if he took Jia Meixian and they encountered danger?

He, Yang Chong, would never do such a foolish act of seeking death.

"Senior Brother, just go and see."

"No way. If you dare to go, I'll immediately report it to Master."

Seeing Yang Chong's firm resolve, Jia Meixian could only sigh helplessly. She knew Yang Chong would definitely not take her, so she could only take out the wooden sword from her embrace.

Every time she saw this wooden sword, she would think of Han Wenxin and the Ghost Swordsman who saved her that day.

Two unforgettable things happened on the same day.

One saved him, and one was saved by him.

Yang Chong no longer paid attention to Jia Meixian and said to the blacksmith who was still hammering nearby, "Shopkeeper, give me a good sword. Price is not an issue."

"Alright!"

The blacksmith handed his work to his apprentice and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "We have many swords here."

Suddenly, the blacksmith's eyes fell on the wooden sword, and a gleam of light appeared in them, "Little girl, where did this wooden sword come from?"

Jia Meixian heard this, blinked, and said, "My friend gave it to me. Is there something wrong with it?"

The blacksmith smiled, "It's very good; the craftsmanship looks exquisite."

Yang Chong also sighed and said, "My friend is a person with a hard life."

Every time he thought of that handsome and extraordinary face, his heart was filled with sighs, wondering if he would ever have the chance to see him again in this lifetime.

The blacksmith stopped talking and went directly to the back room to take out two or three well-crafted precious swords. Finally, Yang Chong chose a superior precious sword, paid the silver, and left.

"Master, they're all gone, what are you still looking at?"

The blacksmith shop's apprentice noticed that the pair had been gone for a long time, but his Master was still looking at their retreating figures.

"Demonic Cult."

The blacksmith murmured to himself, "Master needs to go out for a trip."

"Master, how long will it be until you return?"

"A few months, perhaps."

Jinghai Road, Fishing Village.

In the dilapidated thatched hut, a faint candlelight flickered.

A man in his forties, using the light of the lamp, lowered his head and mended fishing nets.

"Big Brother!"

Just then, a startled cry came from outside the door.

The man looked up at the person who rushed in, and couldn't help but smile, "What good news is it this time?"

The person who entered was about thirty years old, with a thin build and a pale complexion. One look and you could tell he was not like a sun-beaten fisherman.

The pale man said ecstatically, "Big Brother, Ancestor Feng Lingyue and a top Swordsman are meeting at Dongluo Pass, preparing to eradicate the Demonic Cult! Many experts are eagerly going, and we can finally avenge our great grudge!"

The man's expression was as calm as water, and he said, "Ah Yi, didn't we say we would withdraw from the Jianghu from now on and no longer meddle in Jianghu affairs?"

The pale man saw his Big Brother's reaction, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him, then he whispered, "Big Brother, the hatred of killing one's father is irreconcilable. As a son, how can one not seek revenge?"

The man put down the fishing net in his hand, grabbed the man's shoulders with both hands, and said, "This peaceful life was hard-won. Why should we get involved in this mess again?"

"What peaceful life?"

Ah Yi abruptly shook off the man's arms, his eyes tinged with crimson, "I know, Jiang Shang killed my father, and I must avenge this blood feud. Before, there was no opportunity, but now that someone is raising this great banner, I, Ah Yi, will definitely support this cause."

The man shouted in a low voice, "Ah Yi!"

"Enough, Big Brother. If you don't go, I'll go myself."

Ah Yi looked at his Big Brother with disappointment, then turned and walked out of the house.

Watching Ah Yi's departing back, the man couldn't help but sigh.

As night deepened, the candlelight grew weaker and weaker, until it completely darkened, completely engulfing the entire room.

The news of the meeting at Dongluo Pass somehow spread, and the Great Yan Jianghu became completely turbulent. Many experts with grudges against the Demonic Cult rushed to Yunlin City, preparing to observe from the sidelines and watch the fire from across the river, ready to add insult to injury to the Demonic Cult if the opportunity arose.

For a time, the Demonic Cult was also in a state of alarm, with countless Demonic Cult members returning to the Demonic Cult Headquarters from various places, including the Earth Sect, Human Sect, and various experts from the Four Chief Seats.

Within Dongluo Pass, undercurrents also surged. Countless merchant caravans even changed their routes, daring not to pass through there anymore.

Dongluo Desert, Demon Sealing Well.

Zhao Qingmei sat cross-legged inside the stone cave. In her Dantian, there was a faint dark black glow.

This dark black light continuously absorbed the Qi from her body, and the light grew brighter and brighter until it reached a critical point.

The light gradually dissipated, and a thumb-sized black light cluster floated in her Dantian.

"Swoosh, swoosh!"

The next moment, that black light cluster was like ice and snow, melting into the Dantian little by little at a visible speed, until it disappeared.

Demonic Seed Born!

With the gestation of the Demonic Seed, Zhao Qingmei's Nine Nether Purgatory Demonic Codex also successfully reached the eighth layer. She immediately felt that her speed of refining Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had more than doubled.

"Finally successful."

Nan Weiping saw this, a gleam of light appeared in her eyes, then she nodded with satisfaction.

After about a few tens of breaths, Zhao Qingmei opened her captivating eyes and asked, "Senior, can I leave this Demon Sealing Well now?"

"You can."

Nan Weiping sighed with emotion, "You can now pass through this heart gate, and you can also go out."

Hearing Nan Weiping's words, a ripple appeared in Zhao Qingmei's calm heart, and she looked up, lost in thought.

Nan Weiping gently said, "Go. After you go out, help this old one see the sunrise."

Zhao Qingmei said earnestly, "Senior, rest assured. When I find a way, I will definitely not forget Senior."

Nan Weiping smiled and said, "It's good that you have this intention. Go, I know you've been impatient for a long time."

Zhao Qingmei nodded, tightened her grip on the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades in her hand, and slowly walked to the entrance of the heart gate.

"Senior, I'll be back."

"Good."

Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, stomped her foot on the ground, and her body transformed into a dark black light, rushing towards the top of the cave wall. Her body this time merged into the stone wall, instantly disappearing.

The entire stone cave became quiet, eerily terrifying.

Nan Weiping looked at the stone wall for a long time.

Looking back, the outside of the stone cave was a dark expanse. After looking for a long time, she found that there seemed to be countless flickering lights, but none of them were her destination.

An endless sense of loneliness encroached again… PS: Please vote, my friends.