The argument from the direction of the Sharp Gold Hall made everyone turn their heads.

Unlike the other three halls, which had many disciples and were at full strength, the Sharp Gold Hall had only sent three people this time.

Their Hall Master, Kan Feichen, was also clearly heavily injured.

Even if he weren’t injured, Kan Feichen’s strength was only comparable to Wang Huo’s. To make a move would be to invite humiliation.

He might even suffer the same fate as Wang Huo.

But even so, he was still better than Jiang Qiu, the Hall Master of the Talisman Hall, who had chosen to back down under everyone’s expectant gazes.

This was the kind of backbone a Sword Sect disciple should have!

Although Jiang Qiu was the Sword Sect’s number one expert, his prestige was not high, mainly due to his cowardly nature.

"Let me handle this."

Zhu Ju stopped the two of them and slowly walked forward.

"Oh!"

Mengg Shan turned and sized him up from head to toe.

"And who might you be?"

"I am Zhu Ju." Zhu Ju cupped his hands and began his practiced introduction.

"A native of Yidu. I’ve long heard of..."

"He is my Martial Grand-uncle!" Before he could finish, Su Fei, who was standing behind him, hurriedly interjected.

"An elder of the Sword Sect!"

Hmm?

At these words, not only did Mengg Shan look astonished, but even the Sword Sect disciples were completely baffled.

Since when did the Sword Sect have such a young elder?

"My Martial Grand-uncle is a descendant of a senior who left Tianzui City long ago to travel afar. He has returned to the Sect for a visit this time."

Su Fei took out a token and handed it to Kan Feichen.

"Master, look."

He had great confidence in Zhu Ju, but this was a Sword Sect affair. Naturally, he couldn’t let an outsider intervene.

And it just so happened that he had something that could prove his identity.

Kan Feichen took it instinctively, and after examining it, he nodded. "This is indeed the token of a Sect senior."

He then passed it to Jiang Qiu and Xiao Meng.

"It is indeed a senior’s token."

Jiang Qiu nodded.

"But this is a very old object. I’m afraid we can’t confirm his identity based on this alone."

"And why not?" Xiao Meng, her red lips stained with blood, spoke through clenched silver teeth.

"If he weren’t a disciple of our Sword Sect, who else would be willing to step forward at a time like this?"

"After all, a certain someone, despite being a Sword Sect disciple and possessing a Magical Artifact bestowed by an elder, can still stand by and do nothing!"

Jiang Qiu’s expression froze.

"Heheh..." Mengg Shan chuckled lowly.

"It doesn’t matter."

He pointed his Double Mace at Zhu Ju with both hands and shouted,

"Since you want to fight in the Sharp Gold Hall’s place, I’ll grant your wish. Let’s see you take out your Flying Sword."

How could a Sword Sect disciple not have a Flying Sword?

Zhu Ju raised his hand.

A Flying Sword radiating an earthy yellow light slowly emerged from his Sword Pouch, hovering in mid-air with its tip pointing upward.

Eh?

Su Fei’s face showed his surprise.

’I remember him seeming to have a set of Flying Swords. Or was what I saw before just an illusion formed from Sword Qi?’

"BUZZ..."

The body of the sword trembled lightly, its sound like a great Copper Bell.

An Earth Element Sword!

As soon as the Flying Sword appeared, disappointment showed in the eyes of many Sword Sect disciples, and they couldn’t help but shake their heads and sigh.

As people who dealt with Flying Swords every day, they could tell the grade of this sword at a glance.

A Middle Grade Flying Sword.

While not bad, it was clearly a tier below a truly exceptional Flying Sword.

Even among Middle Grade Flying Swords, this Earth Element Sword was far from comparable to the Demon-slaying Sword or the Fire Separation Sword that had appeared earlier, let alone the Talisman Hall’s Invisible Sword.

For a Sword Sect disciple, their Flying Sword accounted for the vast majority of their strength.

If the Flying Sword was weak, their killing power would be limited!

Moreover, the Flying Sword Zhu Ju wielded was built for weight and impact, not sharpness. They feared it wouldn’t be able to break through defenses.

"Hah..."

Mengg Shan scoffed, the disdain on his face growing more obvious.

"How disappointing. So this is all the great Sword Sect amounts to. And a Sect senior is an even bigger joke!"

"Enough."

"Die!"

He lifted his Double Mace, his eyes wide. Stomping hard on the ground, he charged toward Zhu Ju.

"CLANG!"

The Flying Sword hummed.

Zhu Ju formed a Sword Pointing with his hand and lightly flicked it forward.

"SWOOSH!"

The Earth Element Sword transformed into a streak of dim yellow light and shot toward the charging figure.

It was a ramming attack!

No Sword Qi, no Sword Light, and no exquisite Sword Technique. He simply commanded it to smash forward like a copper hammer.

’It’s over?’

’How foolish!’

’How could this happen?’

This scene made all the Sword Sect disciples’ faces fill with despair. Su Fei was even more dumbfounded, his expression one of utter disbelief.

The results of the previous clash were still fresh in their minds. Even Hall Master Xiao Meng’s Demon-slaying Sword couldn’t withstand a direct confrontation with him.

"Haha..."

"Come!"

Mengg Shan laughed loudly, the veins on his arms bulging. His Golden Mace became a blur as it smashed violently down toward the Flying Sword.

"CLANG..."

A visible sound wave instantly swept across the entire area.

The Earth Element Sword’s momentum halted, freezing it in place. Mengg Shan, holding the Double Mace, was unable to bear the force and staggered backward.

"Hmm?"

Seated in the main seat, Emperor Kou, the Vice Hall Master of the Demon Exorcism Hall who had remained impassive until now, narrowed his eyes and slowly sat up straight.

"How can this be?"

Mengg Shan’s face was filled with astonishment. He gritted his steel-like teeth, planted his feet as if they were rooted to the ground, and with a sudden twist of his body, swung his mace again.

The Double Mace crossed, and a brilliant golden light erupted.

Across from him, Zhu Ju’s expression was unchanged; he simply pushed his Sword Pointing forward again.

The light from the Earth Element Sword’s body flared, and a torrent of Earth Element Qi gathered madly as it struck out with even greater force.

"BOOM!"

With this strike, the Earth Element Sword sent Mengg Shan flying several dozen feet, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

Cultivators in this world open their Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, and while their Magical Power is pure, its quantity is limited.

But Zhu Ju had not only opened his Forehead Ancestral Acupoint but also five other acupoints. The ’Magical Power’ in his body was several times that of others.

Nothing else was needed.

By simply channeling his Magical Power, he could make an unremarkable Flying Sword erupt with unbelievable force.

’A Great Mage?’

’I’ve even slain a True Man before!’

The arena erupted in a clamorous uproar.

The eyes of the Sword Sect disciples burned with fervor as they stared intently at the Flying Sword suspended in mid-air.

The few Great Mages, however, looked baffled, their gazes shifting back and forth between Zhu Ju and the Earth Element Sword.

’How could this be?’

’The Flying Sword is clearly of poor quality, so how can it possess such terrifying power?’

"Impossible!"

Mengg Shan struggled to his feet, his long hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and crimson as he glared furiously at Zhu Ju.

"This is impossible!"

"Again!"

Heart Demon Curse!

A faint halo flickered from his Sea of Consciousness, and countless dense runes suddenly appeared on Mengg Shan’s body.

The runes were tightly connected to his Skin and Flesh, Tendons and Bones, internal organs, and Blood Marrow, like intertwined steel bars.

A terrifying power erupted violently.

"Stubbornly unrepentant!"

Zhu Ju shook his head, his eyes suddenly focused.

"SWOOSH!"

The Earth Element Sword trembled lightly. It was as if countless afterimages flashed past, then were all stripped away, leaving only the pure essence of the strike.

The Flying Sword flickered in an instant, like a dreamlike bubble, breaking through all obstacles and piercing Mengg Shan’s forehead.

The ’Magical Power’ from Breaking Six Acupoints wasn’t just six times that of One Acupoint; it was a qualitative transformation born from a quantitative change.

"Stop!"

Emperor Kou roared, thrusting a hand forward. A fierce power surged out, but it failed to stop the Flying Sword.

"PFFT!"

Mengg Shan’s body fell backward and slowly collapsed to the ground.

"CLANG..."

His Double Mace fell to the ground, having been sliced in half by the Earth Element Sword, now in four pieces.

"Mengg Shan!"

Emperor Kou’s eyes flew wide open. In a flash, his body lunged toward Zhu Ju.

"You dare kill my beloved disciple? You’re courting death!"

While in mid-air, he stretched his limbs, and a Bone Rod emerged from his palm, thrusting fiercely at Zhu Ju.

With a light tap of the Bone Rod, the air suddenly thundered.

Meanwhile, Emperor Kou’s body was also changing. Thick white fur appeared on his skin, and his facial features twisted and deformed.

A White Ape!

Emperor Kou’s Demon Body was, in fact, a White Ape.

The White Ape’s physique wasn’t as exaggerated as other Demon Bodies; it looked more like an ordinary ape.

And this ordinariness was precisely the symbol of a Second Decline True Man.

Only by suppressing the body’s contortions and mutations, allowing reason to take control, could one enter the Second Decline form.

At this moment, a Demon True Man could truly control their own power and Demon Qi, allowing them to attack without restraint.

"CLANG..."

The Earth Element Sword returned to intercept, but with a light tap from the unknown Bone Rod, the Flying Sword was instantly sent flying.

Emperor Kou closed in again.

"SWOOSH!"

The Sword Pouch at Zhu Ju’s waist trembled, and the other four Flying Swords shot out in sequence, flying murderously toward the approaching figure.

Five Elements Sword Technique!

The Five-Colored Flying Swords weaved through the air, converging on the White Ape with astonishing speed and unbelievable force.

"CLANG..."

"DING DING DANG..."

Afterimages flickered and Powerful Qi surged.

"BOOM!"

The entire hall collapsed with a deafening roar. A White Ape holding a Bone Rod shot out from the rubble, battling the five Flying Swords.

For a moment, it was impossible to tell who was stronger.

"A True Man!"

"A Second Decline True Man!"

This scene made everyone present’s expression change drastically.

The Sword Sect disciples who rushed out of the ruined hall were all ecstatic, while the expressions of Emperor Kou’s followers flickered with uncertainty.

To be able to go toe-to-toe with the Vice Hall Master of the Demon Exorcism Hall, such strength undoubtedly belonged to a Second Decline True Man.

However, Treasure Artifact True Men do not experience the ’Celestial Human Three Declines’ like Demon True Men do, so the term ’Second Decline True Man’ doesn’t apply to them.

Of course, although a Treasure Artifact True Man does not lose their sanity, their lifespan is not as long as that of a Demon True Man.

"I never would have thought!"

The White Ape’s figure flickered amidst a blur of staff shadows as it shouted,

"Besides the Plum Blossom Sword Saint Yun Wuya, the Sword Sect actually has another Treasure Artifact True Man. You’ve hidden yourselves well."

"Break for me!"

Moving Mountain Staff!

The sky full of staff shadows suddenly condensed, and a violent force collided with the Five Elements Flying Sword, sending a gale of Powerful Qi blasting out for a hundred meters.

"HUU..."

Zhu Ju let out a slow breath, his eyes gleaming with divine light. He had pushed the Five Elements Sword Technique, combined with the Five Elements Flying Sword, to its absolute limit.

The exquisite control over the Flying Swords from the Divine Soul Power of the Magic World, and the immense Giant Power contained within the True Qi of the Main World, had merged into one.

This made the Flying Swords fast, precise, ruthless, and fierce...

He cycled through various Sword Formulas, and areas of past confusion or awkwardness were smoothed out one by one under the pressure of his opponent.

’As expected!’

’Blindly pursuing solitary Cultivation is not the best method.’

’Only by sparring with fellow experts can I find flaws I would not normally notice.’

"Be careful!"

Xiao Meng of the Mountain-Shattering Hall suddenly cried out.

"SWOOSH!"

A faint, almost imperceptible premonition of danger appeared behind Zhu Ju, like a venomous snake striking at the vital point on the back of his neck.

’He’s done for!’

The Sword Sect disciples’ faces changed drastically.

Unlike a Demon True Man, although a Treasure Artifact True Man’s strength would increase to some extent after advancing to the True Man realm, their Power of Physical Body was far from comparable to a Demon Body. They were still mortal flesh.

If he were injured...

"CLANG..."

A five-colored Spiritual Light appeared around Zhu Ju, blocking the sneak attack.

The Five Elements Ring!

The Five Elements Ring, spinning around his body, suddenly contracted inward, and a long, thin poison needle was instantly crushed to dust.

"PFFT!"

His heart-blood refined Magical Artifact was destroyed. Among the people from the Demon Exorcism Hall, one man’s face turned deathly pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"It was you?"

Zhu Ju turned his head, his eyes shining brightly.

Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light!

"SWOOSH!"

A flash of light.

The Cultivator at Mage Peak stared wide-eyed as his Divine Soul was slain, and he collapsed to the ground, all signs of life gone.

"Bastard!"

Enraged by the sight, Emperor Kou surged forward, and a massive, mysterious phantom appeared behind him.

He was clearly about to get serious.

Zhu Ju took a step back and held up a hand. The Jile Spirit House appeared in his palm, and countless Papermen and Skin Puppets swarmed out of it.

The Five Elements Flying Swords trembled, the Five Elements Ring spun, and the Jile Spirit House floated in mid-air.

?

Emperor Kou’s steps faltered.

His gaze paused on Zhu Ju, then swept over the panicked Sword Sect disciples and the members of the Demon Exorcism Hall.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

Pressing his lips together, he slowly lowered the Bone Rod in his hand and waved to the members of the Demon Exorcism Hall.

"The Sword Sect truly lives up to its legacy from ancient times. Its foundations are indeed profound. Today, I have truly seen it for myself."

"We’re leaving!"

If the fight continued, he had no confidence in a certain victory.

And if the clash between two Second Decline True Men were to go unrestrained, everyone else present today would surely die.

This... was not worth it!

Furthermore, this was a critical time for the Demon Exorcism Hall in their dealings with the Wuk Family. It would be a disaster if their strength were weakened.

It was better to retreat for now and reconsider their plans.