As night fell, the sky was thick with dark clouds. A group of fifteen or sixteen people sped along the road. Three flew rapidly through the sky ahead, while those on the ground ran with their heads down, their speed... even faster than many animals known for their swiftness!

Under the overcast sky, the robes of an old man with white hair and a youthful face fluttered, giving him a leisurely air. To his left and right were Yu Guang and Elder Peng, flying slightly behind him, both also appearing quite relaxed.

The old man suddenly spoke, "Yu Guang, I heard you let a little chick get away last night?"

Yu Guang’s expression was awkward. He released his Inner Strength to form an invisible barrier in front of him, blocking the whistling wind, and said, "Master, it was a trivial matter. It’s not worthy of your personal attention."

The old man let out a strange laugh. "Don’t think I’m unaware of your little schemes. You want to use Virgin Primordial Yin to raise your cultivation. All these years, you’ve secretly done it... if not a thousand times, then at least eight hundred, right?"

The muscles on Yu Guang’s face twitched violently. ’Master isn’t giving me any face at all,’ he thought. ’And Elder Peng is right here.’

"You think others don’t know about your sordid affairs?" the old man sneered. "Do you know why I’ve never passed the Virgin Yin Technique on to you?"

Yu Guang replied deferentially, "Your disciple does not know."

"You already possess the strength of a Tier Six Sword Sect, but your brain is hardly any sharper than an ordinary person’s!" the old man said mercilessly. "You’re too arrogant. You suffered a setback once, yet you still weren’t more careful. According to you, Ling Xiao’s elixirs are so miraculous. How could you not think that woman would have some on her?"

Shame showed on Yu Guang’s face. "Your disciple had already taken her Space Ring. Who would have thought... who would have thought she would still have an elixir hidden on her person..."

Yu Guang had actually figured it out during the day. The woman must have had another elixir on her. Although he didn’t know how she managed to get it into her mouth and break free from the White Jade Red-eyed Python Tendon, one thing was certain: without an elixir to restore her strength, Feng Ling could never have escaped!

"Idiot! Couldn’t you have just stripped her naked after catching her and then tied her up!?" the old man berated him, exasperated by his incompetence.

Elder Peng, who was flying alongside them, nearly plummeted from the sky. ’Master Yu is as crude as ever,’ he thought. ’To think a man who has lived over two hundred years would still say such things.’

Yu Guang lowered his head. "Your disciple has been taught a lesson."

A bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Immediately after, a torrential downpour began. The three in the air all used their Inner Strength to form an eggshell-like defensive barrier. The heavy rain pelted it, bouncing off and sliding down its curved surface.

The dozen or so Demon Sword Masters and Demon Swordsmen below were in a much sorrier state. In truth, the Demon Sword Masters Master Yu had brought from his family could also fly, but not for extended periods. For them, flying consumed too much Inner Strength. If they flew all the way to Penzes City, they would likely collapse from exhaustion before they even had to fight anyone.

Running on the ground conserved most of their energy, but being drenched by the heavy rain, they were all soaked to the bone like drowned rats. Fortunately, the heat generated by their high-speed running was enough to keep their bodies warm. If they were ordinary people, they would have had to stop traveling altogether in such a downpour.

...

Listening to the pouring rain outside, Feng Ling, who was sitting across from Ling Xiao, asked, "In this kind of weather, they probably won’t come, will they?"

Ye Zi, sitting beside Ling Xiao, countered, "This kind of weather is perfect. It’s the easiest way to cover one’s tracks! Back then... Ahem, anyway, I’m sure they’ll come!"

Several exquisite side dishes and snacks were arranged on the table. Feng Ling’s spirits had already lifted. That incredibly bitter bowl of medicine had indeed worked as intended. Feng Ling had to admit that when it came to medicine, probably no one was more proficient than Ling Xiao. No wonder all those people from the hidden clans and sects were pouncing on Penzes City like cats that had caught the scent of fish.

As Feng Ling thought about it, she suddenly realized, ’Aren’t I also one of those cats who caught the scent?’

Lightning flashed continuously outside, illuminating the world as bright as day for an instant. The sound of dense raindrops merged into a single roar, and the rolling thunder never ceased.

Ling Xiao thought to himself, ’Could it be that Ancestor Qingyang of Shushan has shown his divine presence? The more severe the weather, the greater the effect of the Blood Slaughter Celestial Sword Array!’ Because of this, not only was Ling Xiao not worried, but he was actually even more confident.

At midnight, at Ling Xiao’s... Marquis’s Mansion. Yes, he was a Marquis now.

Above the main gate of the Marquis’s Mansion stood three figures. The old man with white hair and a youthful face had eyes like lightning as he surveyed the rooms below. Looking toward the inner residence, he asked casually, "I hear the girls around that kid are all stunning beauties? Even the maids?"

Yu Guang, dressed in yellow robes, looked down at the quiet Viscount’s Mansion and nodded. "That’s right. What... Master, are you tempted too?"

The old man with white hair and a youthful face gave a couple of sinister chuckles. "If there really are some top-quality women, your master will naturally perform a little ’replenishing’! What, are you unwilling?"

Yu Guang said with a subservient expression, "How would your disciple dare?"

"Hmph. Fine. You don’t have to resent me in your heart. After this is done and Master obtains that Alchemy Secret Manual, I will pass this Replenishing Skill on to you! In the future, when the Second Prince becomes the Emperor, will you have to worry... about a lack of beauties for you to ’replenish’ from?"

This time, Yu Guang was overjoyed, his eyes filled with excitement. "Thank you, Master!"

Elder Peng could only pretend not to hear from the side. He said, "Didn’t they say there’s a Sword Emperor expert here? Logically... we’ve been here for a while now. Even if he’s slow, he should have sensed us. Why is there still no movement?"

They had planned it out tonight: Yu Guang’s master, Master Yu Tian, would be responsible for restraining the giant Sword Emperor. The two of them would subdue Ling Xiao. The other Demon Sword Masters and Demon Swordsmen would be responsible for cleaning up the entire mansion—for example, killing all the men and gathering all the women in one place, or collecting the treasures. Such tasks couldn’t be left to three experts at or above the Sword Sect level, could they?

Yu Tian closed his eyes and sensed for a moment longer, then shook his head. "It seems that girl has fled far away and didn’t come to deliver a message to the boy! Tonight will be easier than expected. For some reason, I can’t sense the Sword Emperor’s aura either. He must not be in the mansion!"

"Haha, that’s great!" Elder Peng said happily. "I know where Ling Xiao’s inner residence is. Let’s head over now!"

"Wait!"

Yu Tian held out a hand to stop Elder Peng, who was about to fly over. "Let them attack first," he said faintly.

Yu Tian’s caution made even Yu Guang a little dissatisfied. "Master, what kind of tricks could they possibly have? He’s just a little brat..."

"That ’little brat’s’ people killed three of our Demon Swordsmen and thoroughly humiliated you, a Peak Sword Sect! Hmph, ignorant!" Yu Tian rebuked his disciple, then said, "No matter what you do, it’s always best to be cautious!"

Although Yu Guang was unconvinced, he didn’t dare talk back to his master. He thought, ’If you hadn’t constantly been ’replenishing’ with Virgin Primordial Yin all these years, would your strength have progressed so quickly? When I learn this method, sooner or later, I’ll be stronger than you! Let’s see how you’ll lecture me then!’

After a moment’s wait, the Demon Sword Masters and Demon Swordsmen arrived. When a flash of lightning revealed the three figures hovering in the air, they immediately gathered below them.

Yu Guang waved his hand and ordered, "Attack! Kill the men, leave the women! Don’t leave a single servant alive!"

...

Ling Xiao stood at the window, gazing at the sky in the instant it was lit by lightning. "They’re here," he said softly.

"Ah!"

Both Feng Ling and Ye Zi cried out in alarm. They had insisted on staying to watch the show, but hearing that two Sword Sects and a Sword Emperor had arrived still made their hearts leap into their throats.

Feng Ling’s face immediately filled with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, "Ling Xiao, kill them! Don’t leave a single one alive!"

The moment the Demon Sword Masters and Demon Swordsmen charged into the courtyard, they heard the piercing whistle of arrows tearing through the air.

"SWISH... SWISH SWISH SWISH!"

As one of the crossbow bolts—as thick as a child’s arm and over two meters long—pierced through the chest of a Demon Swordsman, someone finally cried out in alarm, "Ah, dammit! It’s heavy crossbows! Be careful!"

That’s right. These heavy crossbows were specifically prepared to deal with High-Tier Magical Beasts and heavily-armored masters like Demon Swordsmen on the battlefield!

Even if the targets were Demon Swordsmen, as long as they were within range of a dense volley, they could still be shot to death! What’s more, this Demon Swordsman had never imagined that heavy crossbows would be waiting for them in this godforsaken, rainy weather!

"Dammit, they were prepared after all!"

Yu Guang cursed under his breath.

"No, this wasn’t prepared for us!" Elder Peng said, squinting at the mansion, which was gradually stirring to life. "If they were defending against us, there’s no reason for the Sword Emperor not to appear!"

Master Yu Tian snorted lightly. "It seems quite a few people are after this kid. Good thing we came early! Let’s go... let’s go in!"

By now, screams had begun to ring out. The three of them didn’t even need to look. Aside from that one unlucky Demon Swordsman, the rest were all experts. According to their intelligence, besides the Sword Emperor, the most powerful of Ling Xiao’s subordinates was his steward, who was merely a Low-level Demon Sword Master—nothing to be afraid of!

The three of them moved like lightning. Just as they appeared above Lingxiao Mansion and their bodies landed on the rain-slicked flagstones, they suddenly heard a world-shaking roar from behind them, mixed with the panicked shouts of many people.

Yu Tian’s expression changed abruptly. He turned his head and said, "The Sword Emperor is here. I’ll leave this to you. I’m going to fight him!"

Just then, a disdainful sneer came from one of the rooms. "You? You can just stay right here! As for a Sword Emperor, I’ve been waiting for you to come and get me!"

Yu Tian spun around, and with a wave of his hand, he unhesitatingly unleashed a huge surge of power!

"You’re courting death!"