Zhao Rui took the Shady Grass from all twelve brocade boxes and pieced them together. Sure enough, they formed a plant resembling a cactus.

The only thing missing was a piece from the very top.

’Who on earth has the missing piece?’

Zhao Rui frowned slightly. ’Based on their earlier conversation, it’s not likely Nie Sheng had it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so hysterical.’

’The man in black was out of the question.’

’And I don’t have it.’

’In that case...’

Zhao Rui’s eyes lit up as he instantly understood why Nie Sheng had given up all hope.

’So that’s it. His two disciples must have taken it and never sent it back.’

’That would also explain why he came looking for me so desperately, even after I refused to help him.’

’Such good disciples!’

The night was cold and bleak, the moon clear and bright.

An hour later, Zheng Huai Peak arrived in a great hurry with a team of Patrols.

When the men saw the scene before them in the beam of their flashlights, they couldn’t help but gasp.

The farmland at their feet was riddled with craters, looking as if it had been tilled by heavy mortar shells.

The sight was truly too horrible to behold.

The land was probably unusable for farming now.

On the bright side, if they wanted to raise fish, they wouldn’t have to dig a pond.

"Are you all right?"

Zheng Huai Peak looked at Zhao Rui with concern. Seeing his grave expression, he assumed he was injured.

"I’m fine. See that guy over there? He’s the one who killed the people from the Martial Alliance. Take him away."

Zhao Rui said, jerking his chin in the direction of the man in black.

"Right. Got it!"

Zheng Huai Peak quickly instructed the Patrols under his command to begin investigating the scene and cleaning up the mess.

These Patrols weren’t fools. They naturally knew better than to tactlessly try and question the man who could beat a major fugitive into such a state.

An hour later, Zhao Rui drove Zheng Huai Peak’s car back to his own place, took a nice, long shower, and finally went to bed.

Counting the two great Demons, Zhao Rui had now dealt with four members of the Demon Sect.

Whether intentional or not, the feud was now set in stone.

Furthermore, judging by their actions, their goal wasn’t as simple as starting a sect and recruiting a few disciples.

They were clearly aiming for the country itself.

For reasons both public and private, Zhao Rui could never be on their side.

The Zhao Rui of the past had only seen the peace and prosperity on the surface: Martial Dao tournaments held in full swing, people cheerfully chasing after their favorite martial arts stars.

It was as if in this society, the Martial Dao was nothing more than a "plaything."

But now he knew just how much gore and violence lay hidden beneath all that glamour and prosperity.

It was just that most of it had been concealed.

’What else is there that I don’t know?’

Zhao Rui slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

...

Mount Emei, Emei Sword Sect!

In a great hall, Nun Lejing’s long eyebrows drooped over her solemn face. With one palm pressed in a prayer gesture, she chanted the name of Amitabha Buddha.

"Master, it is highly likely that these Demons have already infiltrated the territory of the Eastern Barbarians. We have reports that the Nine Erosion Sect is one of the organizations sheltering them..."

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a lion’s nose and a wide mouth, his voice clear and loud. Standing in the hall in a leather uniform, he looked exceptionally formidable and energetic.

"Governor, the Emei Sword Sect and our brethren in the Martial Arts world are already stretched thin maintaining stability within the Huaxia Realm. We are powerless to do anything about matters in Woguo!"

Nun Lejing replied, her brow furrowing at the man’s suggestion.

"Master, you misunderstand. The Court has no such intention. It’s just that the Boundary Wall is now in peril, the nations of the world are each fighting for themselves, and the higher-ups are afraid that..."

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Nun Lejing’s eyes. She said coldly, "Emei has a thousand-year-old legacy. We have the power to protect our own sect and do not require the Governor’s concern."

The Governor’s pupils constricted at her words, but he smiled. "What Master says is true. This so-called ’great change unseen in a thousand years’ is a crisis, but is it not also an opportunity?"

"Take care, Master!"

With that, the Governor swung his uniform cloak, made of a jacket-like material, turned, and strode out of the great hall.

Following behind him were four men in the same sharp, functional attire.

Each one’s gaze was like lightning and their steps were steady and powerful, a clear sign that they all possessed formidable Martial Arts.

Once the men had left, a nun from Liao Jing’s retinue put her palms together and said, "Senior Sister, if we offend the Court, I fear it will be detrimental to Emei."

"How can such contemptible scoundrels represent the Court? The Court of today would never side with the Wokou! A bunch of traitors, nothing more."

Nun Lejing was so furious even a Buddha would be moved to anger, and her tone spared no face for the so-called Governor.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The attendant nuns behind her fell silent upon hearing this.

"How many Divine Swords have emerged? Were there any warnings?"

A moment later, Nun Lejing turned to glance at her junior sister and asked casually.

"Three have emerged. Among them, Bai Xuening’s Celestial Frost Sword is of exceptional quality. It can make up for the absence of the Qiushui Sword."

"There have been no warnings, but it does seem to be as the Court said. The Boundary Wall is thinning, and the Spiritual Qi it exudes seems to be growing denser."

"As expected. A chaotic era is fast approaching. My sword will once again drink the filthy blood of these demons and heretics."

Nun Lejing let out a cold laugh, then suddenly sighed.

"It is only the common folk who will suffer. Amitabha Buddha!"

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Everyone began to chant the Buddha’s name in unison, and a solemn air instantly filled the great hall.

「In the Eternal Life Cave, on the rear of Qingcheng Mountain.」

The Little Daoist Child yawned, fiddling with a Spirit Crystal from the Crystal Pool. Bored out of his mind, he muttered to himself, ’I possess three thousand Skillful Methods, all of which lead to immortality. I wonder, which one would you like to learn?’

’This disciple wishes to learn the technique that breaks ten thousand skills with a single sword, just like the two Elders! Fry those sons of bitches with lightning!’

’Excellent. I shall now transmit this Magic to you. Go, and be quick with your Cultivation!’