My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 220 - Crisis in Extreme Flame Land

Chapter 220 -220 Crisis in Extreme Flame Land

After mid-July, the scorching sun was like a furnace, as if the entire land had transformed into a molten forge.

In the newly fragrant wine district, the alleyways of Dongluo Pass might no longer buzz with the bustle of the old days, but the playhouse was still abuzz with voices and activity, teeming with excitement.

Arched gateways, pavilions, cloisters, reflective walls, and the stage itself were all ornately carved, their majestic presence captivating and full of whimsy.

At the very center of the main archway, there was a beautifully elegant square table, on which were arranged rare fruits, pastries, and seeds along with tea.

Zhao Qingmei, dressed in a snow-white robe, sat at the center, holding a handful of seeds, her beautiful eyes fixed on the stage below.

Beside her were Duanmu Xinghua, Yu Qiurong, Mu Xiaoyun, Tan Yun, and others.

...

“In the courtyard of the Xie family, the remnants of night stand tall, swallow nests on the carved rafters. The moon sails across the silver wall, distinguishing not the mass of flowers – how to discern the scent?”

“This emotion has turned into a memory, the mandarin ducks shattered. The rain stops, and a slight coolness lingers, like a dream from eleven years ago.”

The sourc𝗲 of this content is frёeωebɳovel.com.

As the music resounded, a young woman stepped onto the stage with small, graceful steps. The opera singer’s voice alternated between passionate, melodious, resounding, and deep tones, the fluctuating melody swiftly captivating the audience.

Duanmu Xinghua gently tapped her fingers on the wooden table, softly harmonizing, her mind involuntarily filled with memories of past splendor.

Back then, the Demon Sect was at its zenith, commanding awe worldwide, with its three sects, four seats, and five poisons. Back then, the most formidable swordsmen were not Lin Yiyang or Lou Xiangzhen, but rather the Sword God and Sword Demon. At that time, the newly enthroned emperor of Great Yan was just beginning to flex his imperial muscle, and Houjin was still in chaotic warfare, far from its present unification.

Scenes from those bygone days flashed before her eyes, causing even a master like Duanmu Xinghua to sigh deeply within her heart.

The grand dynamics of the world were as unpredictable as clouds in the sky, with one wave of masters followed by another. And what power does one individual have against this overwhelming tide?

“Sect Master Duanmu, is it really that pleasing to hear?”

After the song ended, Tan Yun, sitting beside Duanmu Xinghua, asked softly.

For her, these arcane plays were almost like spoken stories: well-sung yet unable to truly captivate.

Feeling quite bored, she had already polished off two plates of pastries.

Duanmu Xinghua chuckled lightly, “Life is merely like this opera; as soon as one finishes singing, another takes the stage.”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyes shimmered as she continued cracking seeds in her hand.

Tan Yun chuckled, saying, “Sect Master Duanmu’s words are too mysterious, just like my master’s reading habits. No wonder he too likes listening to operas.”

Yu Qiurong glanced at Tan Yun with annoyance, thinking, Can the kind of opera your master Li Fuzhou listens to even compare to this one?

Mu Xiaoyun also started laughing. Although she had never met this member of the Demon Sect, she often heard tales of his romantic exploits. Now, hearing it from his own disciple made it all the more amusing.

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Xinghua scolded with a smile, “You girl, are you making fun of your master like that?”

Tan Yun replied earnestly, “I’m not. I’m only telling the truth.”

Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, “It is indeed the truth, but it should not be mentioned again.”

Hearing Zhao Qingmei, Tan Yun quickly shrank her neck and dared not speak further.

Within the Demon Sect, those she feared the most were Li Fuzhou and Zhao Qingmei; Li Fuzhou for his strictness and Zhao Qingmei due to a deep-seated fear.

Now that the Sect Hierarch had spoken, she dare not utter another word.

Duanmu Xinghua, however, patted Tan Yun’s head, quite fond of Li Fuzhou’s disciple and even more so than of Zhao Qingmei.

A person who talks a lot shows they carry little worries, living happily and simply; one who talks little shows greater burdens, living restrained and clear-minded.

“Here,”

At that moment, Yu Qiurong passed the pastries in front of her to Tan Yun.

Tan Yun’s eyes lit up as she took the pastries, “Thanks, Qiurong sister.”

Yu Qiurong smiled, “I hope these pastries will keep your mouth busy.”

“Certainly, certainly,”

Tan Yun, holding the plate, quickly found a corner to herself.

Seeing this, everyone present giggled even more.

“Hierarch!”

Just then, Shui Zhongyue hurriedly walked in from outside the playhouse and whispered, “The intelligence has come back.”

Zhao Qingmei spoke succinctly, “Speak.”

Shui Zhongyue said gravely, “Indeed, a disturbance has occurred within the Russell Clan, and just a half-moon ago, Sun Xiu of Soul Seeker Mansion suddenly went into seclusion, with still no word up till now.”

Sun Xiu, a top expert from Soul Seeker Mansion, originated from Yan Country as a Heavenly Flower Realm expert. He established the Heavenly Cloud Sect and was renowned. However, due to lax supervision, his disciples caused much chaos in Jianghu, eventually stirring the soil on Taishui’s head and provoking the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai.

Zhao Mengtai was not one to hold his breath — a man who would surely avenge any and all slights. He would not easily let matters rest.

In this way, within a mere few months, Heavenly Cloud Sect was leveled to the ground, completely vanishing from the Great Yan Martial World.

Meanwhile, Sun Xiu had escaped from Yan Country and sought refuge in the Soul Seeker Mansion in Houjin. With Qiu Fengsheng’s aid, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he even reached the Grandmaster Realm.

Previously, Qiu Fengsheng had studied under the Black Ice Platform, famous for its elixirs, which could overdraw potential to enhance strength. The most famous of these was the Blood-Loathing Pill, but that was just one of the myriad lesser-known elixirs.

Qiu Fengsheng, naturally, was quite familiar with these elixirs, and originally, the Xuanyi Guard had planned to have Qiu Fengsheng concoct a batch of these elixirs, though it was unknown why they later abandoned this plan.

Some say that Qiu Fengsheng was unwilling to divulge his alchemy methods; others say the Royal Family was reluctant to use elixirs to control the Xuanyi Guard. In any case, rumors abounded, with numerous conflicting accounts, but very few knew the actual truth.

However, Qiu Fengsheng’s joining the Soul Seeker Mansion was indeed a contribution, directly boosting the mansion’s capabilities significantly.

It could be said that Soul Seeker Mansion owes its current grand scale to Qiu Fengsheng’s indelible contributions.

“In seclusion?”

Zhao Qingmei scoffed, “Does he even need to be in seclusion?”

The whole world was aware of how Sun Xiu had broken through to the Grandmaster level, by overextending all his potential. Not only would he be ‘enslaved’ henceforth, but it would also be very difficult for him to reach the Second Qi Grandmaster’s Realm in this lifetime. He really needn’t bother with further cultivation.

Duanmu Xinghua spoke softly, “Sect Master, it appears that the Russell Clan is behind this mischief.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, “Since the matter has been investigated thoroughly, then tomorrow, Sect Master Duanmu may set out for the Russell Clan, but remember to be cautious.”

Duanmu Xinghua clenched her fists, a trace of cold light flashing in her eyes as she spoke, “Do not worry, Sect Master, I am not yet infirm.”

Zhao Qingmei smiled, “When the time comes, have Qiurong and my husband go together. It will be a good opportunity for Qiurong to go to the Extreme Flame Land and rid her body of the Ice Soul Poison.”

Duanmu Xinghua furrowed her brows slightly, “This…”

This trip to the Russell Clan was fraught with immense danger; they might have to face two One Qi Grandmaster masters, and Duanmu Xinghua might not be able to spare the effort to protect this young doctor.

The most crucial aspect was that there could be other complications, and any harm befalling this young doctor would be unfortunate.

Zhao Qingmei smiled, “Just be reassured, Sect Master Duanmu.”

“Understood,” she responded.

Hearing Zhao Qingmei’s words, Duanmu Xinghua felt a shiver in her heart.

Zhao Qingmei’s words clearly carried a deeper meaning—could it be that she…

“My husband’s side cannot be without someone to take care of him.”

Zhao Qingmei glanced around nonchalantly before falling into thought.

Upon hearing this, Tan Yun momentarily paused in her actions, her wide eyes turning towards Zhao Qingmei.

Could it be that the Sect Master plans for me to become a maid for her husband?

Zhao Qingmei glanced at Yu Qiurong and said, “Qiurong, once your injuries heal, you should stay by my husband’s side.”

“Sect Master, if I am not by your side, then who will take care of you?” Yu Qiurong hurriedly said.

She had always been Zhao Qingmei’s personal maid, and the thought of caring for a man—even though that man was the Sect Master’s husband—made her somewhat reluctant.

Tan Yun also blinked and couldn’t help but mutter softly, “Sister Qiurong doesn’t know how to take care of men…”

Zhao Qingmei glanced at Tan Yun, who sat in a corner, and softly chuckled, “I think Tan Yun isn’t too busy; she might as well stay with me.”

“Me!?”

Tan Yun was momentarily stunned, forgetting to chew her pastry, her expression somewhat bewildered. She did not understand why Zhao Qingmei had suddenly taken such an interest in her.

She recalled the first time she had ventured to Great Yan; Zhao Qingmei hadn’t wanted her by her side, fearing that she might slip up.

If given a choice, she would rather stay beside An Jing, but unfortunately, she had no such option.

Zhao Qingmei declared, “This matter is thus settled.”

Mu Xiaoyun and Duanmu Xinghua exchanged glances, both women naturally understanding that the Sect Master assigning Yu Qiurong to the young doctor’s side likely had deeper implications.

Yu Qiurong sat down, thought it over carefully, and seemed to grasp Zhao Qingmei’s intentions.

About half a cup of tea later, Zhao Qingmei lightly laughed, “Head Mu, I remember you mentioned this morning that you had matters to attend to—go handle them now, don’t delay.”

“Understood,” responded Mu Xiaoyun.

Mu Xiaoyun rose to her feet, clasped her fists, and exited the theater.

Duanmu Xinghua watched Mu Xiaoyun’s retreating figure and said, “This Mu Xiaoyun indeed has some talent, the only pity being that she entered the sect recently and has yet to establish any significant achievements.”

Zhao Qingmei’s smile deepened, “Whether or not she can accomplish the task depends on herself.”

……

At Dongluo Pass, within the separate courtyard.

An Jing was sitting cross-legged on the bed, with the “Nameless Heart Scripture” circulating within him.

Once one reached the Grandmaster Realm, one could refine the spiritual energy from nature and absorb it directly, though the speed of refining nature’s spiritual energy was extremely slow. Typically, for a Grandmaster practicing the heart method, it might take half a year or even a year to refine a strand of nature’s spiritual energy.

However, the “Nameless Heart Scripture” allowed one to directly absorb the spiritual energy from the air, which was several times faster than the usual self-refinement by Grandmasters.

Furthermore, due to the transformation of An Jing’s Root Bone, the efficiency of absorbing the spiritual energy was extremely high. Even so, it could not compare to the speed of his first dual cultivation with Zhao Qingmei.

Directly advancing from First Grade to the Human Flower Realm, that was the true definition of rapid progress.

“Huh…”

An hour later, he slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a murky breath.

“After reaching the Grandmaster Realm, the improvement has indeed slowed down a lot. If I continue at this pace, it might take several more years to reach the Second Qi,” he said.

Even with the cultivation of the extraordinary martial arts heart method like the “Nameless Heart Scripture,” he still felt his progress in cultivation was very slow.

At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard.

Soon, the voice of the Poison King Liu Simiao came from outside the door.

“Brother An, are you there?”

“I’m here.”

An Jing collected all his aura and slowly stepped out the door.

Outside were indeed Liu Simiao and Lin Tianhai, the head of the Azure Dragon Sect.

An Jing smiled and said, “So it’s Senior Liu and Senior Lin. May I know what brings you both here so unexpectedly?”

Poison King Liu Simiao usually stayed in his Poison Cave within the Demon Sect concocting poisons and rarely showed himself, while Lin Tianhai was also a very busy man, whose duty within the Azure Dragon Sect was specifically to ensure the safety of the Sect Hierarch.

Their visit today surely meant there was some matter at hand.

“This time, it’s mainly me who has come to seek Doctor An,” Lin Tianhai said with a smile. “I’ve heard that Doctor An is skilled in medicine, but less so in martial arts. Considering this, why not learn some poison techniques and martial arts from the Poison King, so you also have sufficient ability to protect yourself?”

The Poison King was highly skilled in poison techniques, and his cultivation was naturally not weak. With First Grade Cultivation paired with his mastery in poison techniques, even a typical expert of the Earth Flower Realm would not dare to underestimate him.

In the Great Yan Martial World, inheriting the skills of the Poison King would also be considered a great story.

Liu Simiao stroked his beard and nodded, “As long as Brother An is willing to learn, I am willing to teach everything I know.”

An Jing pondered for a while and then said, “Actually, compared to poison techniques, I would prefer to learn swordsmanship.”

Swordsmanship!?

Lin Tianhai and Liu Simiao exchanged glances, then both frowned.

“Brother An, you might not realize,” Liu Simiao hesitated for a moment, then said, “Swordsmanship is primarily about killing and requires a lot of actual combat to learn. It also consumes a great deal of attention, time, and moreover…”

He paused, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Lin Tianhai, however, was straightforward, “Learning swordsmanship requires great innate talent. Some people train for years and only barely reach the first entry level. Yi Daoyun, head of the White Tiger Sect, is a swordsmanship genius. After cultivating for over forty years, he has only just earned the reputation of a Sword Immortal. If you want to make achievements in this area, I’m afraid it’s a bit late now.”

“With your proficiency in medicine and learning poison techniques rapidly, and with Brother Liu’s guidance, it’s not impossible for you to surpass Brother Liu in the future.”

Liu Simiao nodded; An Jing’s medical skill was so high, his talent in poison techniques surely wouldn’t be lacking.

After all, the arts of medicine and poison were closely related.

Starting to learn swordsmanship at his age, wouldn’t it be a misguided adventure?

An Jing glanced at them both and seriously said, “I still want to practice the sword and become a swordsman.”

Lin Tianhai squinted his eyes and snorted, “What good is practicing swordsmanship? If you really want to learn a weapon, I can teach you the spear technique.”

Whenever ‘swordsman’ was mentioned, Lin Tianhai always thought of that legendary Ghost Swordsman that made him sigh unceasingly.

An Jing, curious, asked, “Why does Head Lin hold such a grudge against swordsmen?”

“Hahaha.”

Liu Simiao burst into laughter upon hearing this, “Brother An, you don’t know; this matter goes back to that Ghost Swordsman who has long passed to the other side.”

“Brother Liu.”

Lin Tianhai spoke in a deep voice.

“What is there to fear, Brother An is not an outsider.”

Liu Simiao waved his hand and said, “Originally, when Sect Leader Lin was on a mission in Great Yan, he was captured by the Ghost Swordsman, who threatened Sect Leader Lin saying he would castrate…”

“Shh!”

Before Liu Simiao could finish, Lin Tianhai’s face had already turned dark, “Brother Liu!”

“I won’t speak of it, I won’t speak of it.”

Seeing this, Liu Simiao gave a forced laugh and said no more.

“Senior Liu, I’ve been looking for you for a while, and when I heard you came here, I hurried over.”

Just then, a seductive, light laugh came from outside the door.

Following the voice, there was a stunningly beautiful woman standing there, it was Mu Xiaoyun, who had just returned from the theater garden.

Liu Simiao glanced at the enchanting Mu Xiaoyun and said indifferently, “I am preparing to impart all my knowledge of poison techniques and martial arts to Brother An.”

Mu Xiaoyun looked at An Jing and smiled, “I heard from the Sect Hierarch that Doctor An plans to go to the Russell Clan with Sect Master Duanmu.”

“Oh?”

Liu Simiao furrowed his brows upon hearing this and said, “Is it because of Yu Qiurong’s Ice Soul Poison?”

Mu Xiaoyun replied, “That should be the case.”

Liu Simiao nodded, “Well then, we can only wait for your return, Brother An, to discuss this matter.”

Lin Tianhai also said, “Then you should think it over carefully and decide what to do.”

In his view, studying poison arts and martial arts with the Poison King was naturally the best choice, studying swordsmanship was just a waste of time.

An Jing waved his hand, “I will think it over carefully.”

Afterward, the three of them headed towards the courtyard exit.

Liu Simiao asked, “What do you need me for?”

Mu Xiaoyun chuckled lightly and said, “I was wondering if Senior Liu still has any Hundred Bone Withering?”

Liu Simiao raised an eyebrow and asked, “What do you need the Hundred Bone Withering for?”

This Hundred Bone Withering was a torturous poison. Swallowing it wouldn’t cause death, but it was like thousands of steel needles simultaneously piercing the body—arms, chest, thighs… even the eyeballs.

Even the toughest individuals would break under the influence of Hundred Bone Withering, which the Demon Sect specifically used for interrogations.

Most of those who took this poison either confessed everything or chose to sever their own meridians and die.

Mu Xiaoyun took a deep breath and said earnestly, “It is necessary. I ask Senior Liu to lend it to me.”

Liu Simiao looked deeply at Mu Xiaoyun, then took out two porcelain bottles from inside his sleeve, “The red one is Hundred Herbicide, and the white one is the antidote.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

Mu Xiaoyun took the bottles, a glint of sharpness flashing in her eyes.

……

The night deepened.

The moon hung thinly in the sky, where the remnants of darkness and the nascent light mixed to form swathes of pale gray.

Zhao Qingmei was sitting upright in meditation on the bed, opposite her sat An Jing, and the two were engaged in their last conspiracy.

“The matter with the Russell Clan must be true.”

“Good, then tomorrow I will go with Sect Master Duanmu and the experts from the Heavenly Sect.”

“I feel there’s something odd there. If I go, do you think the Houjin army might suddenly attack Dongluo Pass?” Zhao Qingmei voiced her concerns apprehensively.

In front of others, she had to display a calm demeanor, as if everything was under her control, but with An Jing, she could be herself.

An Jing nodded, “It’s very likely, but aren’t you at Dongluo Pass? There’s also Elder Ouyang.”

Since Houjin had already shown its hand, they would not hold back, and the matter with the Russell Clan obviously seemed premeditated and cautious.

“If Houjin dispatches a large army…”

Zhao Qingmei clenched her fist slightly, “Then I will quickly resolve the crisis at Dongluo Pass and then rush to the Russell Clan as fast as possible.”

An Jing nodded, saying, “Alright, then I’ll keep the Black Flood Dragon with me.”

Zhao Qingmei quickly responded, “No, you must keep it close at hand. Qiu Fengsheng, that old man, is very likely to be inside the Russell Clan as well.”

After all, Qiu Fengsheng was a Second Qi Grandmaster. If the Black Flood Dragon was by her side, she would feel somewhat more at ease.

An Jing pondered for a long time and did not speak again.

In fact, he saw Dongluo Pass as equally dangerous. In recent days when he had attacked the Demon Sect, the sect had already played all the cards it could, especially with Yuan Feng’s betrayal and Jiang Shang’s disappearance. The mysterious Great Elder was still in seclusion, and Soul Seeker Mansion must have already investigated all these events.

Upon closer inspection, the layout of Soul Seeker Mansion was indeed very ingenious.

The Demon Sect would not give up on the Russell Clan. With that being the case, Soul Seeker Mansion would be able to strike against the experts coming to support from the Demon Sect. However, if the Demon Sect dispatched a large number of experts, Dongluo Pass would become vulnerable, offering an opportunity for Houjin to strike.

If they could not hold on this time, the Demon Sect would definitely suffer a significant loss of Primordial Energy, let alone confronting the heroes of the world; it would be very difficult even to survive.

Zhao Qingmei went on chattering, “Furthermore, the Russell Clan’s Great Elder, Chuck, is a Grandmaster with One Qi Cultivation. The reason he and the clan leader of the Russell Clan became Grandmasters is firstly due to the secret grounds of the Russell Clan and secondly because all the resources of the clan were concentrated on these two. Although their cultivation is at the Grandmaster level, their actual strength is not high. As for the missing expert of the Soul Seeker Mansion, Sun Xiu, he is a body-refining Grandmaster whose strength surpasses these two. But for you, they are like just a few kittens…”

She wished she could crush them all and tell everything to An Jing, even though she had already repeated these tiresome words twice.

An Jing took off his cloak and smiled, “I know, the only thing we need to worry about is Qiu Fengsheng from the Soul Seeker Mansion.”

“Husband,”

Zhao Qingmei’s gaze was intense as she clenched her fist, “Wait for me, and together we’ll kill Qiu Fengsheng.”

With the Black Flood Dragon, Duanmu Xinghua, and themselves, there was a great chance for the couple to slay a Second Qi Grandmaster expert.

“Alright.”

An Jing chuckled lightly as his fist gently bumped Zhao Qingmei’s.

……

On the other side of the desert, the Russell Clan.

Inside a mud house, the candlelight flickered.

A tall and burly old man with a fierce look in his eyes was sitting on a chair. In front of him was a freshly roasted calf.

The elder held a sharp dagger and skillfully sliced, with chunks of fragrant meat falling into his palm.

This man was none other than Chuck, the Great Elder of the Russell Clan.

“Great Elder, Lord Qiu has arrived.”

Just then, a voice came from outside the mud house.

“Good, I’m coming.”

A gleam of sharp light flashed in Chuck’s eyes, and he quickly walked out of the mud house.

Two people were standing outside.

One of them Chuck recognized as Soul Seeker Mansion’s expert, Sun Xiu; the other, naturally, was Mansion Master Qiu Fengsheng from the Soul Seeker Mansion.

“Lord Qiu.”

Chuck gave a saluting gesture, speaking with slight respect.

Second Qi Grandmaster, even when Jiang Shang came to the Russell Clan, he was only at this level.

At all times, the biggest fist was the ultimate reason, unless your fist wasn’t big enough.

“There’s no need for formalities.”

Qiu Fengsheng gave a faint smile, “It seems that Great Elder Chuck is enjoying a delicious meal.”

“Look at me!”

Chuck slapped his head, “Please come in, Lord Qiu. This calf was just freshly roasted; it’s extremely delicious.”

Then, the group walked back into the mud house.

Inside, the mud house was lavishly decorated. Not only was exquisite tea ware placed on the table, but there was also a screen behind it and even a jade ruyi on a cabinet.

The setting was antique, resembling the guest hall of a sophisticated gentleman.

Chuck said, “Please have a seat.”

Qiu Fengsheng and Sun Xiu both took their seats.

Sun Xiu practiced the Horizontal Thirteen Refinements, a form of Martial Arts that belonged to the body-refining path. Although he hadn’t been able to refine a Golden Bone even after advancing to Grandmaster, the Horizontal Thirteen Refinements made his physical body sturdier than those Grandmasters who had refined a Golden Bone.

Thus, just sitting there, he exuded a sense of stability, as solid as a mountain.

Qiu Fengsheng had another kind of charm, every gesture of his bathed people in a spring breeze, calming their hearts and minds.

“With Lord Qiu’s arrival, the anxiety weighing on my heart has completely dissipated,” Chuck laughed heartily.

If the Soul Seeker Mansion of Houjin hadn’t initiated contact with him, even if granted another bout of courage, he would never dare to make such a move, given the formidable reputation of the Demon Sect among the Russell Clan.

As he spoke, he personally poured a cup of tea for both Qiu Fengsheng and Sun Xiu.

Qiu Fengsheng didn’t touch the teacup, instead saying, “According to the intelligence, people from the Demon Sect will depart tomorrow and will be able to cross the desert to arrive here the day after tomorrow. The ones coming should be Duanmu Xinghua and experts from the Heavenly Sect.”

“Duanmu Xinghua?”

Hearing this, Chuck burst out laughing, “With Lord Qiu here, even if the Hierarch of the Demon Sect arrives, it would be hard for him to escape death.”

Qiu Fengsheng’s eyes narrowed into slits, “Even when a lion fights a rabbit, it uses all its might.”

In the back of his mind, Qiu Fengsheng felt that Duanmu Xinghua’s visit this time was not simple. It was very likely that Ouyang Ping might be hiding among the experts from the Heavenly Sect, but naturally, he would not share this thought with Chuck.

After all, the more experts that came, the better for him.

“What Lord Qiu says is very true,” Chuck nodded, adding subtly, “As long as we eliminate the Heavenly Sect, the Demon Sect will lose its fangs, and then my Russell Clan can cooperate peacefully with Houjin, but just…”

Qiu Fengsheng calmly stated, “Rest assured, the benefits promised to you will definitely not change.”

A flicker of joy passed through Chuck’s eyes, “I, Chuck, am willing to go through fire and water for Lord Qiu, and will not refuse any request.”

Watching this, Sun Xiu’s mouth curled into a cold smile.

Once the Demon Sect is eliminated, what use will they have for keeping you Russell Clan?

…….

The next day, under a blazing sun and amidst swirling sands,

dozens of robust camels appeared outside Dongluo Pass.

An Jing, Yu Qiurong, Duanmu Xinghua, and other experts from the Heavenly Sect prepared to go to the Russell Clan, while Zhao Qingmei and other high-ranking members of the Demon Sect came to see them off.

Cha Rong of the Russell Clan sat quietly atop a camel in the distance, waiting.

Duanmu Xinghua, leading a camel, bowed to Zhao Qingmei and said, “Hierarch, rest assured, with me here, Doctor An will surely be protected.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly and glanced at An Jing. Despite discussing thoroughly the night before and making meticulous arrangements, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat uneasy.

An Jing chuckled lightly, “Don’t worry, with Sect Master Duanmu here, there will be no problems.”

Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath and said, “It’s getting late, you should set off now. The desert sands are fierce; remember to be cautious of sandstorms.”

“Alright.”

An Jing and the others mounted their camels and followed Cha Rong towards the Russell Clan.

Tan Yun looked towards the direction of the desert and couldn’t help feeling worried, “I really don’t know why my son-in-law insists on joining this fray. Wouldn’t it have been better to send the Poison King?”

She also vaguely felt that heading to the Russell Clan was extremely dangerous.

Only after the camels had completely disappeared from view did Zhao Qingmei say, “Let’s go back.”

As they spoke, members of the Demon Sect walked towards the interior of Dongluo Pass.

The swirling sands swept through, engulfing everything in their path.

The camels moved swiftly across the desert and were also effective in avoiding sandstorms.

Encountering a sandstorm would be a significant challenge even for Jianghu experts, and as they were potentially going to encounter experts from the Soul Seeker Mansion at the Russell Clan, they naturally needed ample strength and energy.

Dongluo Pass was already at the edge of the desert. Crossing the nearly two thousand miles of Dongluo Desert would lead them to the Russell Clan.

Cha Rong, familiar with this route, had traveled more than twelve hundred miles by evening.

The hot weather suddenly dropped, and the temperature also became cold.

Cha Rong pointed to an open campsite ahead and said, “Let’s rest up ahead.”

“Good.”

Duanmu Xinghua looked at the seated camels, which already appeared very tired, as there was still eight hundred miles left to travel the next day.

After the group of dozens reached the campsite, they dismounted and rested.

An Jing, Cha Rong, Duanmu Xinghua, and Yu Qiurong were seated around a fire, while the other experts from the Heavenly Sect sat around another fire.

An Jing glanced at Cha Rong and politely said, “Elder Cha Rong, once we reach the Russell Clan, may we have the privilege of using your clan’s secret place once?”

“Extreme Flame Land?”

Cha Rong frowned slightly, “That is a secret territory of our clan, usually not accessible to anyone outside the Russell Clan. What do you need with the secret territory?”

An Jing pointed to Yu Qiurong and said, “Miss Yu has the Xuanyin Poison in her body and requires the yang energy from the Extreme Flame Land to neutralize it.”

Cha Rong looked at Yu Qiurong with a slight quirk in his expression. “Xuanyin Poison? The Extreme Flame Land can indeed remove the Xuanyin Poison, but I know of an optimal method.”

Duanmu Xinghua asked, “What is the optimal method?”

Cha Rong’s lips curved up slightly, “Like us men who enter the Extreme Flame Land, our bodies contain a vast amount of Primordial Yang. Just engaging in the acts of the bedroom will suffice…..”

At that moment, Cha Rong suddenly felt a cold glare stabbing at him like a dagger into his heart, the owner of those eyes being none other than Yu Qiurong.

An Jing glanced at Cha Rong but said nothing.

The harmony of yin and yang, indeed this man’s Primordial Yang energy would be an optimal choice, but for clear-sighted people, it’s apparent that Yu Qiurong is a virtuous maiden, and such direct propositions are inconvenient to pronounce.

“When we reach the Russell Clan, Qiurong, you first use that secret territory,” Duanmu Xinghua said authoritatively.

An Jing showed a friendly face to Cha Rong, Duanmu Xinghua, however, would not. The Russell Clan is after all but a small clan that survives by attaching itself to the Demon Sect, and the so-called secret territory naturally belongs to the Demon Sect.

Do the people of the Demon Sect need permission to use their own secret territory?

Cha Rong forced a couple of embarrassed chuckles, his face filled with awkwardness. Before him stood an elder woman who is the Sect Master of Heavenly Sect, possessing overwhelming authority within the Demon Sect. Even the clan leader would probably not dare utter a word against her.

An Jing shook his head, Cha Rong was the epitome of the type who bullied the weak and feared the strong. When treated kindly, he would put on airs of superiority, but to Duanmu Xinghua who treated him like a slave or a dog, he could only swallow his pride and remain silent.

People like him are far too common in this world!

Perhaps this is just the way the world works.

As night deepened, a cold wind began to blow incessantly, sharp as blades.

The many experts of the Demon Sect were sitting in meditation, resting and recuperating.

An Jing opened his eyes to find Yu Qiurong standing in the desert, her gown flapping in the cold wind. “Why haven’t you rested yet?”

“The wind is too strong.”

Yu Qiurong looked up at the full moon above, finding a random excuse.

An Jing asked, “Could it be that you are reflecting on the past?”

Yu Qiurong, also a person from the Russell Clan, inevitably remembered her childhood upon returning to the Russell Clan.

“No.”

Yu Qiurong seemed reluctant to say more and sat down cross-legged, closing her eyes.

“By the way, how did Qingmei join your Demon Sect?”

An Jing was curious, always interested in Zhao Qingmei’s past, but Zhao Qingmei never shared anything with him.

Yu Qiurong, with her eyes closed for rejuvenation, said, “She was brought into the Demon Sect by Jiang Shang at the age of nine, personally taken as a disciple in the Heavenly Demon Hall.”

An Jing continued, “Do you know about her life prior to that?”

“Not sure.”

Yu Qiurong paused for a long moment then shook her head.

An Jing did not ask any further as the night once again fell silent.

The night passed without incident, and soon it was dawn.

Cha Rong chuckled lightly, “Let’s go. We should arrive by the evening.”

The group set off again, and after about four and a half hours, they finally reached the territory of the Russell Clan at dusk.

The Russell Clan is a tribe of about one hundred thousand people, mostly living in mud houses. The sudden appearance of outsiders made the tribespeople gather around them.

Cha Rong stepped forward, said something to the people of the Russell Clan, and then they dispersed.

Turning around, Cha Rong looked at Duanmu Xinghua and said, “Sect Master Duanmu, let’s go see the clan leader first.”

Duanmu Xinghua nodded and remained silent.

Yu Qiurong suddenly looked ahead and whispered, “That place right there is the secret territory of the Russell Clan.”

An Jing also looked in that direction. Not far ahead, there was red and yellow smoke rising, blurry and unclear, but the astonishing yang energy contained within could be felt.

“Hint Three: There is a Blue Opportunity nearby (‘Extreme Flame Land’).”

An Jing was moved, the Earth Book had not prompted such a Blue Opportunity for a long time. The last time was True Dragon Treasure Blood.

And what blue opportunities lie within this Extreme Flame Land?

“Follow me.”

Leading the way, Cha Rong cleared the Russell clansmen from their path, leaving the streets eerily deserted.

After passing a few rows of yellow earthen houses, the group arrived at the entrance of a uniquely styled one, “The clan leader has been severely injured by a mysterious martial arts master and has not yet recovered.”

“Wait outside for me.”

Duanmu Xinghua instructed, then entered the earthen house with An Jing and Yu Qiurong.

Upon entering, they saw an old man with snowy white hair and a pale face sitting in the center, his life force faint.

The old man smiled bitterly when he saw Duanmu Xinghua enter. “Sect Master Duanmu, long time no see. I am unwell and unable to rise to greet you.”

Duanmu Xinghua waved her hand and said, “Clan leader, there’s no need for formalities.”

An Jing glanced at the old man, realizing that he was the clan leader of the Russell Clan.

“Ah.”

The Russell Clan leader sighed, “It was my carelessness that allowed me to fall into a trap set by villains, requiring Sect Master Duanmu to come personally.”

Duanmu Xinghua asked, “How strong was that person?”

The Russell Clan leader shook his head. “His cultivation was not much different from mine, definitely a body refinement expert. I was no match for him.”

“It was Sun Xiu.”

Duanmu Xinghua said flatly, “This person is a body refinement expert who managed to enter the Grandmaster realm with the help of Qiu Fengsheng.”

Zhao Qingmei had provided her with all the intelligence before she arrived.

The Russell Clan leader’s eyes darkened, “So, it’s true that Chuck is colluding with the Soul Seeker Mansion.”

Although he had suspected it, hearing Duanmu Xinghua confirm it still stoked his inner anger.

An Jing nodded. Looking at the clan leader, he said intensely, “Your injuries appear severe?”

The clan leader looked at An Jing, raising an eyebrow in surprise, “You are!?”

Duanmu Xinghua spoke, “This is a tributor from our Demon Sect.”

“So, he’s a tributor from the Demon Sect.”

The Russell Clan leader was shocked, having never heard of a tributor in the Demon Sect before, but seeing Duanmu Xinghua’s manner, he replied, “That person’s cross-training is ironclad; we fought several dozen exchanges, and just two of his punches severely damaged my internal organs.”

Hearing this, An Jing felt something was strange, but couldn’t immediately pinpoint what it was.

“Where’s Chuck now?”

Duanmu Xinghua thought for a moment before asking.

The Russell Clan leader gritted his teeth, “I don’t know his current whereabouts. All our top experts have been wiped out by him, but according to intelligence secretly sent by some clanspeople, tonight he plans to gather all the gold, jade, and herbs in the clan and then take them all to trade with Houjin.”

“Fortunately, you arrived in time, Sect Master Duanmu. If you had come a day later, he might have already left.”

Tonight, huh!?

An Jing narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

Duanmu Xinghua’s mind also started to calculate rapidly, “Qiurong, you go with Doctor An to the Extreme Flame Land to neutralize the Ice Soul Poison. I’ll handle things here for now.”

“I understand.”

Yu Qiurong, grasping Duanmu Xinghua’s intent, turned to An Jing, “Let’s go ahead.”

An Jing pondered for a moment, recalling the blue opportunity in the Extreme Flame Land, and then followed Yu Qiurong out of the clay house.

Watching them leave, Duanmu Xinghua said softly, “Then it’s settled for tonight. I want to see who this mysterious master behind Chuck really is.”

With her current status as a Second Qi Grandmaster, dealing with two First Qi Grandmasters was not very challenging.

She had Yu Qiurong take An Jing away because it allowed Yu Qiurong to quickly eliminate the Ice Soul Poison and also to keep An Jing away from tonight’s battle.

No one knew what might happen, and if something were to happen to Doctor An, she would be in a difficult position.

The Russell Clan leader’s eyes flashed with a subtle sharpness, “Then tonight, I must trouble Sect Master Duanmu.”

…..

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