My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 275 - : Turbulence at the Dulu Sword Meeting

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Turbulence at the Dulu Sword Meeting

Southern Barbarians, Holy City.

Among all Southern Barbarian tribes, there is a sacred place that everyone yearns for, and that is this Southern Barbarian Holy City.

The centralization of power in Zhao Country has become exceedingly severe, with almost all matters being handled by the Black Ice Platform, but there are still some existences within Zhao that can restrain its influence. With the suppression by the Black Ice Platform, they have become extremely weak, still rife with internal contradictions.

However, the Southern Barbarians are different; their centralization is absolute, with all resources in the hands of the tribe’s wizards and Great Wizards, who must be loyal to the leader of the Southern Barbarians.

Moreover, the people of the Southern Barbarians are extremely fanatical and blind. In the Southern Barbarians, their leader is their only faith—some zealous individuals even believe that dying for him is the highest honor.

So, there are internal conflicts among the Southern Barbarian tribes as well, but these internal conflicts are absolutely controllable, even part of the unique way the Southern Barbarians raise Gu insects.

In the dark, eerie Southern Witch Temple, a few dim candle flames flicker, casting ominous shadows on people’s faces, revealing merely the eerie, attention-grabbing patterns and statues around the hall, which evoke an innate fear.

In the center of the hall stand eight Southern Barbarian experts.

These eight are the leading figures among the Southern Barbarians, the tribe’s Great Wizards.

In the Southern Barbarians, one who can be called a Great Wizard has the spirit of the Gu insect in their body fused with their Dantian, and their cultivation has also reached the Grandmaster Realm.

At this moment, eight Grandmasters are gathered, each looking humble and submissive, kneeling on one knee.

Among them, Cong Chu, the Great Wizard, is kneeling at the very front; the double-headed snake on his neck lacks its usual ferocity and liveliness, lying motionless on Cong Chu’s neck, its triangular eyes not daring to look at the figure in front.

Because the one seated at the head of the room is none other than the leader of the Southern Barbarians, Ha Cha.

He appears to be in his forties, with a chin devoid of any facial hair—utterly smooth—giving him a very youthful appearance, his brows exuding an air of austere dignity. His hair is styled in the unique topknot of the Southern Barbarians, dressed in ordinary clothes like those of a commoner. His garment is colorfully adorned with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, clouds and is so wide it looks like a cape.

Cong Chu, the Great Wizard, said, “Apart from those guarding the borders and those in seclusion, everyone has arrived.”

The leader of the Southern Barbarians glanced around and said, “Everyone should be aware of the war in the north, right?”

“We are.”

All the Great Wizards present nodded. Nowadays, the conflict between Dongluo Pass, Houjin, and Yan Country had spread throughout the world. As Great Wizards of the Southern Barbarians, except those in seclusion or on the borders, how could they not know of this great war?

Overall, Yan Country is the only one to truly benefit from this conflict, having taken the strategically important city of Heavenly Water City in the North Field in the wake of Houjin’s attack on Dongluo Pass.

Meanwhile, the Demon Sect has completely lost Dongluo Pass and has been forced to retreat in disarray back to Yan Country.

The leader of the Southern Barbarians continued, “The Houjin armies are amassing to march into the North Field once more, while Yan Country’s reinforcements are rushing to Heavenly Water City. The great battle between the two nations has begun, and not long ago, Qi Xuan Dao of Zhao Country’s Black Ice Platform sent Lv Qiujian here to Southern Witch to propose a joint venture to conquer; yesterday, he came to the Holy City again, wishing for Southern Witch to deploy troops and annihilate Yan Country to divide the realm into three.”

To annihilate Yan Country and divide the realm into three?

As these words were spoken, a tremor went through the minds of the Great Wizards present, their eyes shining with a glint.

They’ve been confined to the southern border for far too long, yearning to cross that boundary and enter the rich, vast territory of Yan Country. Their opportunity had been thwarted by Yan Country’s overwhelming power, leaving them no chance.

Now, with Yan Country not only facing Zhao Country but also the glowering Houjin, and beset with internal strife, it seemed poised to topple, and the Southern Barbarians were already eagerly anticipating their chance.

“I think this is an excellent opportunity for our Southern Witch,” said Liang Su, the Great Wizard, earnestly.

Liang Su, the Great Wizard, was responsible for supporting the Seven Evils Sect, and Liang Mo was his nephew.

The rest of the Great Wizards agreed one after another. They had long been restless, their lips quivering with eagerness.

Even though envoys from Yan Country had been sent to the Southern Barbarians, offering considerable benefits, and the Southern Barbarians had assured them they would not violate the border,

what did such a vague verbal agreement amount to?

Just then, one Great Wizard frowned and said, “But the ancestral teachings once stated we should not set foot in the ancestral lands… ”

Ancestral teachings?

This statement made everyone present frown with concern.

Within the Southern Barbarians, there are ancestral teachings that have been passed down through the ages, dictating that Southern Barbarian forces must not expand into their ancestral lands. Initially, the people of the Southern Barbarians adhered strictly to these teachings, but as time passed and the world changed, these teachings gradually faded from memory, or rather, were deliberately no longer mentioned.

After all, who would willingly give up a promising world to live in an inconsequential corner?

Great Wizard Cong Chu sneered, “As the Great Zhou Dynasty fell into decline, we still adhered to our ancestral teachings, missing the opportunity to return to our ancestral lands. Now, as the Yan Kingdom is on the verge of collapse, if we stubbornly refuse to adapt and continue to cling to the ancestral teachings, it will undoubtedly be another missed opportunity to vie for domination of the world.”

The Great Wizard Gena agreed wholeheartedly, “That’s right, Great Wizard Cong Chu speaks sense.”

Great Wizard Liang Su nodded as well, “Indeed, blindly adhering to the ancestral teachings has caused us, the Southern Witches, to miss out on great opportunities.”

Great Wizard Jine even glared at the questioning Great Wizard and said, “We absolutely cannot miss this opportunity again.”

The Great Wizard who brought up the ancestral teachings sighed in his heart, said nothing more, knowing that to continue would arouse public anger.

“This is indeed a rare opportunity that comes once in a thousand years. If we don’t seize it now, who knows how long we’ll have to wait, so….”

Ha Cha stood up, looked at everyone with fiery eyes, and said, “I have already agreed to join forces with Lv Qiujian and Zhao Country to hunt Yan Kingdom. However, we still need to discuss how exactly we shall conduct the hunt, and how to ensure the greatest benefit for the Southern Witches. This is the reason I called you all here.”

The people present remained composed upon hearing this, but inside, they were all delighted.

To divide the world into three parts, if this becomes reality, they will be able to possess a rich and vast ancestral land.

This would be a feat that the ancestors of the Southern Barbarians had not achieved in a thousand years!

Great Wizard Cong Chu pondered for a moment and said, “There’s an old saying that a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. In my opinion, it would be best to act when Zhao Country and Houjin have drawn most of Yan Kingdom’s firepower. However, we must not hesitate too much and miss the perfect opportunity, allowing Zhao Country and Houjin to pluck all the fruits of victory.”

The other Great Wizards agreed with this sentiment.

A snake is most dangerous when it lurks in the shadows.

Afterward, everyone shared their views, discussing their perspectives on the upcoming great war, and even began a meticulous study and division of the territories within Yan Kingdom’s nine domains.

Ha Cha looked at the map of the world, remained silent, particularly when his gaze fixed on Zhao Country and Houjin. His brows furrowed, contemplating if the Yan Kingdom indeed perished, these two behemoths would border the Southern Barbarians.

Would the Southern Barbarians truly be able to withstand these two mighty forces then?

Therefore, it was now necessary to be wary of both Houjin and Zhao Country.

Only the Great Wizard who mentioned the ancestral teachings heaved a long sigh in his heart.

The world was truly about to be thrown into chaos.

…..

The battles of the north soon spread throughout the land.

No one was surprised by the fall of Dongluo Pass; what was somewhat unbelievable, however, was the death of the Five Qi Grandmaster Jun Qinglin and that Yan Kingdom had actually captured Heavenly Water City.

After all, a Five Qi Grandmaster was only a step away from becoming a Great Grandmaster, and most would not fight to the death but rather preserve a chance to break through their shackles.

Once those shackles were broken, one could gain a lifespan of three hundred years and become the strongest in the world, changing the entire situation of the world.

Now it seemed that not only had the Demon Sect lost Dongluo Pass, but it had also lost a Five Qi Grandmaster, suffering an unprecedented heavy blow.

And Wang Shiyi’s taking of Heavenly Water City was also a surprise, especially since Great Yan was under immense pressure. Most people thought that Yan Kingdom would adopt a defensive stance, and no one expected Wang Shiyi to dare to attack Houjin territory, turning defense into offense—a bold move indeed.

The battle between Houjin and Yan Kingdom had begun, naturally drawing the attention of all the powers in the world.

Yan Kingdom, Northern Wilderness Dao, Mu City.

Snow swirled in a flurry, and the cold wind was like a knife, blanketing the entire city.

As a border city of Yan Kingdom, Mu City had never been considered prosperous or developed, particularly after the outbreak of the war between Yan Kingdom and Houjin. Although unbreached, it led to a large exodus of Mu City’s civilians to the south, and now, the city seemed somewhat desolate.

On a street to the south of the city, a young man and woman were walking side by side.

The man was dressed in a white silk robe, with an antique longsword resting on his back.

The woman beside him was of uncommon beauty, her delicate features as if painted, wearing a pink plum-colored cotton coat with a lotus auspicious cloud pleated skirt and draped in a light blue plum blossom shawl. Standing amid the vast snowflakes, she seemed to blend into the plum blossoms around her.

These two were An Jing and Zhao Qingmei.

After a long year, they once again set foot within the borders of Yan Country.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, landing on the shoulders and in the hair of the two figures.

An Jing looked up and let out a long sigh in his heart.

Since Jun Qinglin had managed to kill the leaders of the Water Cloud Banner and Flying Horse Banner, he must have been able to leave unscathed, the only reason he wouldn’t have left would be because his essence was entirely depleted.

Now, looking back at the battle that took place beneath the sandy winds between Zongzheng Huachun and Jun Qinglin, he abruptly realized that Jun Qinglin’s wounds weren’t minor at all.

Zongzheng Huachun’s intent wasn’t just to spar with Jun Qinglin, by that time he must have already inflicted severe injuries on him.

The Holy Master of Houjin was worried that Jun Qinglin might truly break through that barrier, even though he himself knew the chances were slim to none, but people like him prefer to nip any dangers in the bud.

The battle between the two that day must have been even more perilous than Qi Xuan Dao had faced, or perhaps Zongzheng Huachun’s strength even surpassed that of Qi Xuan Dao…

As for Jun Qinglin’s return to the Sealing Demon Platform, he didn’t even attempt to break through the barrier, which An Jing found strange at the time, but now everything became crystal clear.

Because Jun Qinglin had already been grievously wounded by Zongzheng Huachun and simply lacked the strength to break the barrier, he just didn’t want to share the grim reality with An Jing.

Their last meeting was frozen in time at the New Year’s banquet.

From beginning to end, Jun Qinglin never said goodbye or left any last advice.

Perhaps to him, it was just a trivial matter, not something he wanted to burden others with.

Thinking back to that lonely silhouette under the setting sun, An Jing suddenly felt a pang of sadness and discomfort, as if something was stuck in his throat.

Jun Qinglin was too lonely.

Over the span of a hundred years, he witnessed the deaths of his parents, his elder brother, his beloved, and his younger disciple Feng Lingyue; loneliness became the most scorching poison in this world.

All he saw were memories.

If he couldn’t reach the realm of a Great Grandmaster, dragging his wounded body and barely clinging to life was utterly pointless.

“Zongzheng Huachun…”

An Jing muttered to himself in a low voice.

This Five Qi Grandmaster capable of severely injuring Jun Qinglin, just how formidable was his power? Was he one of the highest-level Great Grandmasters in the world?

Zhao Qingmei, too, was filled with melancholy thoughts, not only troubled by the grim situation the Demon Sect currently faced, but also unsettled by Jiang Shang’s words.

If Jiang Shang was right, being now in Yan Country meant they were surrounded by danger, and the most critical question was whether the Peaceful Human Emperor had already learned of this matter, and whether Jiang Shang would eventually reveal it?

An Jing, looking at Zhao Qingmei in silence, asked, “Still worried?”

Zhao Qingmei shook her head, “They have already retreated to Yan Country’s territory, and Wang Shiyi’s armies are still in North Field, the war between both sides is about to begin, I just feel a bit…”

With that, she extended her delicate hand.

The snowflake fell into her palm and melted into water.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m considering where to establish the new main hall for the Demon Sect.”

“That indeed needs careful thought.”

With a large number of the Demon Sect’s followers having migrated from Dongluo Pass, the sect needed to choose an appropriate location for its main hall.

Just then, a commotion arose from afar.

“Hurry, run!”

“Houjin is attacking again.”

A group of peasants could be seen carrying bundles and various items, moving en masse toward the outskirts of Mu City.

This situation was no longer a rarity; ever since the news of the Dongluo Pass’s fall spread, a massive wave of migration had begun among the common folk of the border towns along the Beihuang Dao. Countless people headed south, leaving behind only some frail elderly and forlorn orphans without support.

The Houjin were preparing to move south. The thought of the fierce, barbaric nomads of the plains struck fear in everyone’s hearts, a panic that was rapidly spreading.

Zhao Qingmei watched these people, exhausted from trying to escape their fate, and muttered to herself, “Where are they going?”

The question seemed to be addressed to An Jing, yet also to herself.

If the world were truly plunged into chaos, where would there still be a Pure Land? Even powers such as the Demon Sect couldn’t withstand the colossal force of the Houjin, so what could ordinary folk do?

In the face of the overwhelming tide, they were but insignificant droplets, swept along by the surging current.

And when would it all come to a stop?

An Jing watched the figures of the common folk, who were leaving their homes behind in the bitter cold and snowy landscape, and sighed without reason.

Suddenly, Zhao Qingmei spoke up, “Husband, I have something serious I need to discuss with you.”

An Jing looked at Zhao Qingmei and asked, “What is it?”

Zhao Qingmei took a deep breath, “Jiang Shang said that I’m a descendent of the Yan Imperial Family.”

A descendant of the Yan Imperial Family!?

An Jing’s pupils dilated suddenly, and then he had an epiphany.

He now finally understood the meaning of the words spoken by the Taiping Human Emperor in the Imperial Study Room that day and the promise he had been asked to make.

Zhao Qingmei waved her hand in front of An Jing, “What’s wrong? Is it hard to believe?”

“Indeed, it’s surprising,”

An Jing chuckled upon hearing this.

What could be more surprising than finding out that one’s wife was the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect?

If Zhao Qingmei were to tell An Jing now that she was the reincarnation of a fairy, he wouldn’t feel any surprise at all.

Zhao Qingmei blinked, frowning, “I feel like you’re just humoring me. Aren’t you shocked at all?”

She had thought that telling An Jing would leave him astonished, yet he seemed not to react much at all.

An Jing held Zhao Qingmei’s cheeks in his hands, “Whether you are the Sect Hierarch or a descendant of the Yan Imperial Family, doesn’t it all come down to the same thing? You are still my wife, aren’t you?”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, “That is also true.”

An Jing pinched Zhao Qingmei’s cheeks, “No matter who you are, you just take good care of me.”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she glared fiercely at An Jing.

Seeing this expression, An Jing immediately felt a wave of joy inside him and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

After a long while, Zhao Qingmei said, “Jiang Shang also mentioned that my parents were killed by the Taiping Human Emperor.”

As she spoke, a sense of melancholy inevitably arose in Zhao Qingmei’s heart.

The internal situation within the Yan Country had already become exceedingly chaotic. The Second Prince and the Crown Prince were locked in a power struggle, and externally, the Zhao Country and the Houjin were eyeing them hungrily.

An Jing gently brushed the snowflakes off Zhao Qingmei’s head, asking, “What would you like to do?”

It was self-explanatory why Jiang Shang chose this time to reveal such information to Zhao Qingmei; naturally, he intended for Zhao Qingmei to lead the Demon Sect in defection.

But between Jiang Shang and the Houjin, the Yan Country and the Taiping Human Emperor, if An Jing had to make a decision, he would still lean towards the Yan Country.

Besides, Jiang Shang’s words might not even be true; it could all be a deception from the very beginning.

“I’m not entirely sure, because I can’t entirely trust Jiang Shang’s words, and I don’t want to delve into this matter for the time being,” said Zhao Qingmei, taking a deep breath, “For now, let’s choose You Mountain as the base for our main hall.”

You Mountain lies within the boundaries of Beihuang Dao.

Furthermore, when the Houjin army invaded Beihuang Dao, they made their way to the You Mountain range, which serves as the final barrier of the Capital Road.

If the Houjin army were to march southward again, they would inevitably pass through You Mountain, and a great battle may be unavoidable then.

Deep in her heart, Zhao Qingmei had already made up her mind to first resist Houjin, leaving the grudges from many years ago to rest within her for the time being.

With Yan Country now rife with crises, the whole of Yan Country and even the Demon Sect would cease to exist should Houjin advance southward. What would those past enmities matter then?

Moreover, she didn’t want a repeat of the incident at Dongluo Pass, nor did she wish to see countless Yan Country citizens displaced and forced from their homes, and she definitely did not want more tragedies to occur on this already suffering land.

“Alright.”

An Jing held that jade-like hand and looked into those pure eyes, free of any impurities.

Although she was obstinate and even seemed indifferent at times to others…

Just like over the matter of the Demon Seed, An Jing and she had had their differences. Even knowing the potential great harm of the Demon Seed, Zhao Qingmei still chose to trust herself.

Some people’s inherent kindness cannot be changed.

Her wife, too, held the righteousness of home and country in her heart.

Zhao Qingmei looked into An Jing’s eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

An Jing smiled and said, “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about the Demon Seed…”

“That’s impossible.”

Zhao Qingmei wrinkled her nose and huffed, “As the Sect Hierarch of this Demon Sect, what would I have left if I lost all my strength?”

Unless it were a last resort, she would definitely not shatter the Dantian within her body.

An Jing added from the side, “You still have me.”

Zhao Qingmei felt sweet inside, but she retorted, “Right, I have you, a big master waiting for me to serve you, a master who can’t be chased away no matter what.”

……

At the entrance of Jishi Hall in Yu State City,

Ever since the Doctor of Jishi Hall mysteriously ‘died,’ the gates of Jishi Hall have been tightly shut, now even locked with a chain.

Only a black mongrel dog, which had been roaming around Jishi Hall for years, lay languidly at the entrance, indifferent to passersby without so much as a bark.

The people of Yu State City knew this dog belonged to the Doctor of Jishi Hall, and even after the Doctor’s ‘death,’ the dog remained loyal, guarding the premises. Thus, passersby would feed it from time to time, and soon enough, the dog’s reputation as a faithful hound spread among the neighbors. Even Lang Qi, Judge of Yu State City, praised its duty-bound and loyal nature when he visited.

In the deep winter, the north wind is biting, with silver-gray clouds thundering across the sky, and a cold surge brings a howling snowstorm down upon us.

On the river dock, Tan Yun, draped in a white fox fur, her jet-black hair coiled neatly into a bun, with a loose jade hairpin and a golden dangler inserted. Long strings of pearl decorations dangle tremblingly.

She also carries an assortment of pastries bought from the street, occasionally picking up a piece to nibble on.

Following Tan Yun are Jin Wuwang, the steward of Lv Mansion, and several adept members of the Lv Sect, encircling her like the stars around the moon.

Looking at the familiar place before her, she fell into reminisce. She remembered clearly that no matter how cold it was, she used to get up to do laundry, and Xiao Heizi always followed by her side.

How others perceive Zhao Qingmei, she doesn’t know, but she thinks Zhao Qingmei is wonderful.

As the saying goes, only the drinker knows whether the water is cold or warm.

Back then, the meals served in Yu State City were made by none other than the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, who even encouraged Tan Yun to share in them. No matter how much Tan Yun ate, Zhao Qingmei never commented. Somehow, she felt that even the food prepared by the chefs at the Lv Mansion could not match what Zhao Qingmei made.

At that time, she was not the granddaughter of Lv Guoyong, nor did she have a Grandmaster backing her. She didn’t ponder over many things and the most she thought about was what to have for lunch and dinner.

But those days were truly happy.

Yu State City is still the same old Yu State City, but the people are no longer the same…

Just then, a figure hurried to Jin Wuwang’s side and took out a secret letter.

After Jin Wuwang opened the letter, he immediately said to Tan Yun, “Miss, there have been updates regarding the Demon Sect.”

“Go on,” Tan Yun urged, her heart trembling upon hearing this.

The Demon Sect had been attacked by Houjin’s great army, which concerned her greatly since not only did it involve her childhood friends and the elders who had watched her grow up, but also her master. Most importantly, there was also that son-in-law…

Jin Wuwang spoke in a low voice, “Most of the Demon Sect’s followers have retreated to the Northern Wilderness Dao. Ouyang Ping and Houjin’s Dharma King Mu Xuan both suffered internal injuries from their clash, but there are no reports of other Demon Sect experts sustaining major injuries. It seems there should be no further issues.”

“That’s good, that’s good…” Tan Yun sighed with relief upon hearing this.

Jin Wuwang shook his head and said, “Miss, you needn’t worry. The Demon Sect losing a Five Qi Grandmaster is both a bad thing and a good thing.”

Tan Yun’s eyebrows furrowed, and she glared at Jin Wuwang, “Why is it a good thing?”

Jin Wuwang let out a light laugh and explained, “Having a Five Qi Grandmaster is like having a sharp sword dangling over the heads of both Houjin and Yan Country. The Demon Sect naturally draws a lot of attention and will face covert resistance from the Yan royal family and sly tricks from Houjin. But now that Jun Qinglin is dead, Yan and Houjin will focus more on each other. Those two can use this time to further improve their cultivation.”

In this world, everyone’s eyes were on the moves of a Five Qi Grandmaster, not knowing when the Grandmaster might suddenly reach the Great Grandmaster level and change the course of the world’s affairs.

The Demon Sect has indeed suffered a monumental setback, losing their main hall and a Five Qi Grandmaster, which has reduced the attention from others. The most formidable within the Demon Sect are the couple An Jing. Both of them have incredibly high talent. Now that their cultivation has grown, just a bit more time, and their strength might not fall short of Jun Qinglin.

If one were to calculate carefully, the death of Jun Qinglin is certainly more detrimental than beneficial, but Jin Wuwang only wanted to offer some comfort to Tan Yun.

Thinking this, Jin Wuwang also felt a wave of emotion, wondering just how far the Ghost Swordsman could go with such talent at a young age.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Tan Yun’s face fell. After all, she didn’t think this was a good thing at all, but being not very articulate, she didn’t know how to argue with Jin Wuwang.

Seeing Tan Yun’s reaction, Jin Wuwang fell silent and spoke no more.

“The dog I raised is called Xiao Heizi.”

Tan Yun mumbled as she walked towards Jishi Hall, “I wonder if it’s dead now.”

With that, she hastened her steps towards Jishi Hall.

Jin Wuwang shook his head and then followed after her.

The cold wind howled and fewer people were drinking tea at the Datong Tea House. In the middle between Jishi Hall and Datong Tea House was a small wooden room stuffed with a large amount of cotton and silk.

This doghouse was made by Fa Xi Temple’s Monk Jie Se, who would check on it whenever he came down the mountain to do good deeds.

“Woof~! Woof!”

Like always, Xiao Heizi lay resting in the doghouse when suddenly, it shuddered and hurriedly came out.

It immediately spotted the figure in the snowstorm, the very person who had brought it here for the first time, allowing it to feel warmth.

“Woof woof!” “Woof woof!”

Xiao Heizi, with its short legs, ran frantically toward Tan Yun, and then circled around her excitedly.

Tan Yun picked up Xiao Heizi, her face alight with joy, “Uncle Jin, look, it still recognizes me.”

“Woof woof! Woof woof!”

Xiao Heizi’s tail wagged non-stop, and it kept yapping excitedly.

Jin Wuwang remarked from the side, “Sometimes dogs understand feelings better than humans.”

“Xiao Heizi, oh Xiao Heizi, you do have a conscience.”

Tan Yun’s hand caressed Xiao Heizi, and memories of the misty rain that year and the summer flooded back to her, along with a dog besides all the memories worth reminiscing over.

Tan Yun turned to Jin Wuwang and asked, “Uncle Jin, can I take it back with me?”

Jin Wuwang could not help but smile, “You are the young lady, we will listen to everything you say.”

“That’s great.”

Tan Yun was delighted, taking out the pastries she had prepared at all times and teasing the little black cub in front of her.

Jin Wuwang glanced at Three Temple Mountain outside of Yu State City, saying, “Take good care of the young lady here.”

“Yes.”

Everyone hurriedly responded in agreement.

Tan Yun quickly asked, “Uncle Jin, where are you going?”

Jin Wuwang bent down and said, “Young lady, I need to make a trip to Fa Xi Temple. Before Lv Gong arrived, he instructed me to deliver a letter to a disciple of the Buddhist sect.”

“Oh, I see, then go ahead.”

Tan Yun nodded and turned her gaze to Jishi Hall in front of her, without asking further.

Jin Wuwang signaled to several people, then turned and headed towards the outskirts of the city.

……

In the Northern Wilderness Dao, You Mountain, early morning.

For An Jing, You Mountain was not unfamiliar; it was here that he had once broken into the North Camp and killed that Qi Shu.

You Mountain can be considered a notable mountain, but compared to Xuanqing Mountain, Nanhua Mountain, and Zhenyi Mountain, it naturally fell short. It lacked Xuanqing’s wonders, Nanhua’s height, and Zhenyi’s elegance, but it possessed its own unique dangers.

At this moment, deep in the winter season, the entire mountain range was covered in heavy snow, a picture of silver-wrapped splendor.

The city of You next to You Mountain had changed its marching route due to An Jing’s past actions, avoiding slaughter, and has become a somewhat populated city in the Northern Wilderness Dao.

Inside a quiet and elegant three-section compound in the city, many experts of the Demon Sect had already gathered.

Zhao Qingmei and An Jing were sitting at the top, with Ouyang Ping, Li Fuzhou, Lin Tianhai, Duanmu Xinghua, Yi Daoyun, Yu Qiurong from the Demon Sect, and many other experts sitting below them.

The expressions of all the experts present were solemn, even carrying a hint of sorrow.

Although many experts of the Demon Sect had retreated from Dongluo Pass, the Black Armored Army under their command had been mostly annihilated, and the Great Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform had died at Sanfeng Pass.

This time, the Demon Sect had suffered a very severe loss.

“I did not consider everything beforehand,” Zhao Qingmei inhaled deeply and said, “The war between Yan Country and Houjin was inevitable, and it was extremely difficult for us at Dongluo Pass to survive between these two forces.”

She had also had Duanmu Xinghua send secret letters to Wang Shiyi and the Yan Kingdom Court before. Wang Shiyi had replied that he would send troops, but unexpectedly, he directly attacked and took down Heavenly Water City, completely disregarding the tens of thousands of Houjin troops in front of Dongluo Pass.

However, through this battle, the Demon Sect had exerted all its strength, and with the Demon Sect’s contributions to Wang Shiyi’s conquest of Heavenly Water City, any opposition from the Yan Country’s Jianghu and the Court to the Demon Sect’s spread of teachings had been thoroughly quelled.

Li Fuzhou shook his head and said, “The Sect Hierarch is not to blame; Li Qirong is too venomous in his schemes.”

Duanmu Xinghua also consoled, “A setback may prove a blessing in disguise. Returning to Yan Country allows our Demon Sect to better absorb followers and strengthen ourselves.”

A chill flashed in Zhao Qingmei’s eyes, “Let’s set the position of the Main Hall in You Mountain for now. Everyone, rest assured, we will eventually take back Dongluo Pass.”

Li Fuzhou was completely bald and immediately understood the depth of Zhao Qingmei’s words, standing up and saying, “We will definitely follow the Sect Hierarch and reclaim Dongluo Pass.”

Following that, the other experts also stood up to express their stance, their demeanors filled with iron-blooded determination and cold resolve. The battle of Dongluo Pass had dealt the Demon Sect a heavy blow.

However, the Demon Sect was at a significant military disadvantage, and the cultivation of many of its experts could hardly affect the outcome of the battle. But now, with Yan Country and Houjin at war, it was entirely different; they could interfere from the sidelines and enact revenge on Houjin.

“Houjin and Yan Country have not yet begun fighting; we will discuss this matter later,” Zhao Qingmei looked towards Li Fuzhou and said, “How is the investigation of the forces along the Northern Wilderness Dao going?”

“It has been thoroughly investigated long ago.”

Li Fuzhou replied, “The primary forces in the Northern Wilderness’ Jianghu are the Five Poison Sect and the Ma Family. There’s no need to say much about the Five Poison Sect, it was originally a branch of our Demon Sect and is now one of the Seven Sects. The Ma Family, on the other hand, is the leading family in the Northern Wilderness Dao. They have a foot in both the underworld and the officialdom, with connections within the Court. As for other forces, they are also involved in this.”

As he spoke, Li Fuzhou took out a piece of white paper from his bosom.

Zhao Qingmei narrowed her beautiful eyes into slits and said, “Send a greeting letter to Dai Danshu, and tell him that I will definitely visit the Five Poison Sect in half a month. He should prepare himself accordingly.”

A glint of cold light flashed in Li Fuzhou’s eyes, “Yes.”

Yi Daoyun stood up and said, “Sect Hierarch, with the death of Feng Lingyue from the Five Poison Sect, there’s no need for you to go personally; I can handle it.”

The Five Poison Sect was superficial in depth, relying entirely on the great expert Feng Lingyue. With his death on Blue Sky Island, the Five Poison Sect was essentially not worth mentioning.

Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, “No, this time I must go there myself. Meanwhile, let’s also invite that Ma Family and the many forces of the Northern Wilderness Dao to come along.”

Upon hearing this, Yi Daoyun did not say any more.

The Demon Sect experts then discussed the establishment of a main hall in You Mountain and branch halls in other locations before everyone slowly departed.

Now, only An Jing and Zhao Qingmei were left in the grand hall.

Zhao Qingmei asked, “My husband, you said you wanted to go to Beili Volcano?”

An Jing said earnestly, “I need to make a trip there. Inside Beili Volcano, there’s Volcanic Essence, and there’s also an Exotic Beast, Honghu. The Dulu Sword Meeting might attract who knows what kind of experts, so I must prepare.”

The Dulu Sword was the number one famous sword in the world. An Jing was very interested in the Dulu Sword, as only it could sever the Nine Heavens Profound Iron beneath the Sealing Demon Well. Most importantly, Lin Yiyang would be attending the Dulu Sword Meeting, and the Sword God behind him might also appear.

An Jing planned to resolve the old grievances between Lou Xiangzhen and the Sword God once and for all.

As for the Sword Demon, An Jing found it difficult to fathom. This person had killed both Houjin’s Zongzheng Yuan and the Mu Jin Dharma King and had sought to kill both him and the Exalted Vajra, making it impossible to guess his true intentions.

However, with the Dulu Sword Meeting involving the top sword in the world, this mysterious supreme swordsman might very well appear, and so An Jing needed to be cautious.

With many experts likely to be present, An Jing, with his current strength, was confident in dealing with ordinary Four Qi Grandmasters, but he could not guarantee victory against a supreme Four Qi Grandmaster.

After all, others might also reside in the Sixth Realm or possess levels of Heavenly Human Communication.

If An Jing’s Dao was already a step weaker, and if someone else’s Skill was also extremely high, he could not guarantee victory.

Regarding Beili Volcano, it was a dangerous place in Yan Country. The Exotic Beast Honghu was also a major scourge, devouring countless people each year. This trip there to lure away Honghu’s Divine Soul would also yield a beast even stronger than the Black Flood Dragon, making it a multi-beneficial endeavor.

Zhao Qingmei said, “I am confident in your strength, but still, be cautious.”

“You should go ahead with your work. I need to start preparing for my trip.”

An Jing nodded slightly and then walked towards the outside of the hall.

With the Demon Sect newly established, Zhao Qingmei had many matters to attend to, and he also needed to prepare for his trip to Beili Volcano.

Just as An Jing stepped out of the courtyard, a figure appeared not far away, seemingly waiting for something.

An Jing looked at the person in front of him and asked, “Second Elder, weren’t you going to inspect You Mountain?”

The man was Ouyang Ping.

Ouyang Ping took out a letter from his bosom and said, “This is a letter from the Great Elder for you. He said I must personally deliver it to you.”

An Jing took the letter and nodded solemnly.

Jun Qinglin had left him a letter, which meant that from the moment he emerged from the Sealing Demon Platform, he never thought they would meet again; otherwise, he wouldn’t have left this letter.

“Now that the letter is delivered, I will take my leave.”

Ouyang Ping waved his hand and headed in the direction of You Mountain.

…….

PS: Recommending a book, “Accidentally Saved a Public Enemy of Jianghu”.