Chapter 123 - 123 Demon Sect Hierarch Double-Crossing (10,000-word update, please subscribe)

Jishi Hall, the night was waning.

The chill had dissipated, and early spring was gradually arriving.

But the temperature was still somewhat icy, and the snow on the road had not completely melted away.

“Doctor….”

A woman in her thirties was sitting upright, her tone laced with a hint of nervousness.

“There’s no need to be so formal, night sweats and frequent dreams indicate deficiency of the spleen and stomach yin, leading to deficient qi.”

An Jing smiled and said, “Wait here, I’ll prescribe you a medicine. Boil it for an hour each day and take it for five days. After returning home for half a month of recuperation, there should be no problem.”

Hearing this, the woman let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you, Doctor An. I’m really sorry for disturbing you at such a late hour.”

“It’s alright, fortunately, you came early, otherwise, I might have been out making house calls by now.”

An Jing waved his hand and then walked to the counter to prepare the medicine, carefully wrapping it in cowhide paper.

The woman, full of gratitude, kept bowing and then slowly made her exit.

“It’s time to close up and make house calls.”

An Jing muttered to himself, then walked forward to prepare to close the door of the medical clinic.

“Brother An, hold on.”

Just then, an urgent voice called out.

Following the sound, it turned out to be Han Wenxin.

“Brother Han, why have you come today?”

An Jing couldn’t help asking.

At this time, Han Wenxin should not have been here.

“Let me have a drink of water first.”

Han Wenxin plunked down and took a big gulp before saying, “These past few days have really worn me out, but I’m here today because I have some great news to share with you.”

Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun also heard the commotion and came out from the backyard.

“I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be Officer Han.” Zhao Qingmei smiled, “It’s been a while since we last saw you.”

“Sister-in-law, my respects.”

Han Wenxin gave a bow and said with a pained expression, “It’s all because of that Bodhisattva of Fa Xi Temple starting to preach, inflaming the situation. Originally, after the Sect Leader of Yu Heng Sword Sect had that big fight with Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, the stir should’ve died down gradually, but then some fool of a swordsman appeared out of nowhere and defeated the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva. Good lord, these martial artists went crazy trying to find this swordsman’s whereabouts, causing unrest in Yu State City.”

Days had passed since An Jing’s battle with Universal Benefit Bodhisattva, but the turbulence hadn’t stopped, and the people of Jianghu were getting even more curious about the identity of this Ghost Swordsman. Many forces sent spies to gather information on this Ghost Swordsman.

Moreover, the news kept spreading throughout Great Yan, and if previously the Ghost Swordsman was only somewhat famous in Jiangnan Dao, now a wave of excitement had risen throughout the entire Great Yan.

Although later some suspected that Universal Benefit Bodhisattva had already been wounded by Lin Yiyang, it didn’t cover up the fact that Universal Benefit Bodhisattva had been defeated.

This still caused ongoing disturbances, both overt and covert, in Yu State City.

However, Tan Yun quietly said to the side, “With such incredible strength, how could this swordsman be a coward….”

An Jing raised an eyebrow and glanced at Han Wenxin, as if he could feel Han Wenxin shouting at him: Come hit me, come hit me…..

Han Wenxin rubbed his chin and mused, “You say a fair and square challenge isn’t good, you have to sneak around, and this person always hides his face when he shows up, clearly there’s something shady going on….to me it seems.”

Tan Yun asked, “Does Officer Han know his identity?”

Han Wenxin snorted coldly, “It’s highly likely that this person is the notorious flower thief, Zhuo Yuchang, who has a considerable reputation in Jianghu.”

“How is that possible!?”

An Jing said, annoyed at hearing this.

He certainly had heard of the Holy Hand Zhuo Yuchang, a notorious flower thief who roamed between Great Yan and Zhao Country. The man had a legendary reputation; unlike other thieves, he fancied women, married women, widows….It was said he was also extremely handsome, so after his thefts, those women wouldn’t just fail to report him, but they’d long for him day and night, unable to control themselves.

There were even lovesick victims who wished night after night for his return, so very few actually filed complaints against him.

Even so, Zhuo Yuchang was still a flower thief that everyone in Jianghu wanted to eliminate.

But the sword techniques he used had no similarity whatsoever to Zhuo Yuchang’s martial skills, and he really had no idea how Han Wenxin had come up with such an association.

“I think there’s a very strong possibility,” Han Wenxin became more convinced the more he thought about it.

However, he was oblivious to Tan Yun at his side, who was glaring at him with teeth clenched.

“Brother Han, don’t think too much, even if it was Zhuo Yuchang, it’s none of your business.” An Jing patted Han Wenxin’s shoulder.

“Right, I almost forgot, today I mainly came to give you both a piece of great news.”

Han Wenxin brushed off An Jing’s hand, straightened his clothing, and excitedly said, “I received inspiration yesterday, my Qi surged, my energy erupted, my meridians became thoroughly unblocked, and I finally stepped into the Sixth Grade.”

In truth, Han Wenxin’s rapid rise to the Sixth Grade owed much to those past thrashings, but of course, he couldn’t say that.

He believed his reaching the Sixth Grade was all thanks to his diligent training in the brothel every day.

“Congratulations! Congratulations!”

“The Sixth Grade, that’s part of the Middle Third Grades already.”

“Han arrest officer is truly formidable.”

The three looked at the stern-faced Han Wenxin and promptly congratulated him.

An Jing had a smile on his face, but he sneered inwardly, thinking he himself had become a Grandmaster.

Tan Yun also had a smile plastered on his face, “Sixth Grade, tonight I’ll show you the strength of a Second Grade.”

Han Wenxin’s face was full of excitement, his emotions spilling over in his words, obviously unaware of the other two’s thoughts.

Zhao Qingmei then teased from the side, “I remember the arrest officer once said he wanted to search for the Demon Sect evildoers, have you uncovered anything recent…”

“Shh… Junior sister, you mustn’t speak of such things.”

Han Wenxin jumped, quickly stopping Zhao Qingmei’s words, then cautiously glanced outside the hall with a worried look, “This Demon Sect has a vast influence. It is said that there are spies everywhere, we must be careful when discussing such matters.”

Ever since Zhou Xianming talked to Han Wenxin about it, though he seemed indifferent on the surface, he had taken it seriously to heart.

Han Wenxin knew he had a loose tongue, a bad habit he couldn’t change, but he knew he had to be more restrained. If he really got caught out like Zhou Xianming predicted, it would be an undeserved disaster.

In summation, he was scared.

Tan Yun raised his eyebrows and chuckled, “Oh, arrest officer Han, are you….”

An Jing watched Han Wenxin looking around, his shifty appearance, and found it even more amusing.

“The Demon Sect is cruel and ruthless… let’s not talk about them, let’s not.”

Han Wenxin laughed awkwardly twice, then turned to An Jing and said, “Brother An, Fa Xi Temple has opened its doors wide, recruiting martial monks. I’ve seen many people heading there to apprentice and learn martial arts recently, and my father also said I should go to Fa Xi Temple to learn some martial arts and cultivate my character… ”

Since Universal Benefit Bodhisattva began preaching, the ancient Buddhist monasteries everywhere have opened widely, recruiting lay disciples and martial monks.

Buddhism is one of the most ancient sects today, not only with many experts within its ranks, but also its martial arts scriptures in the Pure Land are rare and mysteriously profound, with few equals.

After all, the Mystical Sect, which once competed with it, has now disintegrated. There has been no Daoist Master for a thousand years, and the highest martial arts scripture, “Jade Emperor Scripture,” has been lost.

In the past, it was prohibited in the martial world for Buddhist teachings to be transmitted, and it was taboo for martial artists to acquire Buddhist martial arts, which were secretly practiced. To learn advanced Buddhist martial arts, one had to travel to the Western Pure Land.

Now, this restriction has been completely lifted, and even the court has started to promote Buddhism. How could people of the martial world not be tempted? They rushed to it like sharks smelling blood.

Just Fa Xi Temple alone, in the past few days, has had hundreds of people from the martial world enter its gates to apprentice and learn, including some young heroes with excellent natural talent who came specifically.

Other ancient monasteries in various places also had an endless stream of visitors.

And there was an uncountable number of pilgrims going up the mountain to worship.

For a time, the vigorous rise of Buddhism was becoming apparent, although it would still require a long time to stabilize.

An Jing, puzzled, asked, “Have you agreed?”

“I’m still contemplating,” Han Wenxin replied with a long sigh.

An Jing knew what Han Wenxin was worried about and said nothing.

“By the way, what time is it now?” Han Wenxin suddenly asked.

“It’s almost the time of Hai.”

Zhao Qingmei responded.

“Let’s not talk about this anymore, I have urgent matters to attend to, I must be going.”

Upon hearing this, Han Wenxin got ready to get up and take his leave.

An Jing, on the other hand, grabbed the small medicine chest beside him and said, “Madam, I’m off to make house calls. I might return later tonight.”

He had planned to investigate the purple opportunity at the Li Family Villa that evening.

“Remember to come back early,” Zhao Qingmei reminded.

“I know.”

With that, An Jing promptly followed Han Wenxin out.

“Brother An, have you been in a bad mood lately?”

Han Wenxin, with a teasing twinkle in his eye, said, “I tell you, the Red House’s pleasure boat is closed, but there’s a new Oiran on the river. She’s extremely beautiful. So far, only Young Master Ming has been honored as her guest…”

Li Yue had only been gone for a few days, but it seemed as though people had already forgotten her.

Time flows like a stream, and the spring departs with its flowers. In this human world, the old cannot compare to the new.

“Not at all,” An Jing replied, looking at Han Wenxin’s mischievous grin, “I’m really just going to make house calls.”

“Really?” Han Wenxin asked skeptically.

He had thought, when he saw An Jing leaving with him, that An Jing couldn’t stand the loneliness and wanted to join him for some fun.

“What would I lie to you for.”

“`

An Jing said irritably, “I’m going to the south of the city, we’ll part ways in a bit.”

“Then that’s really a pity, Brother An, do you want to go to a Buddhist monastery to learn some martial arts?”

Han Wenxin sighed and said, “Ever since the day I witnessed that fight, I’ve felt that my cultivation is far from sufficient, I must improve my strength…”

An Jing shook his head and said, “But if you go to Fa Xi Temple to practice, you can’t visit the Oiran to listen to music anymore.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

Han Wenxin looked lost and mournfully said, “If only I could find that Holy Hand.”

“What do you want with that flower-picking thief?”

“I don’t know how skillful his ‘Holy Hand’ is and if it’s really like the rumors. If I could learn it, I could save a fortune on visiting the Oiran.”

…..

Jishi Hall.

After watching An Jing leave, Zhao Qingmei said, “Tan Yun, I need to go out tonight, you stay at home.”

“Miss, if the young master suddenly returns, what should I say?”

Tan Yun whispered on the side.

The Sect Hierarch was going out again, last time it was to kill Xi Jikui, but what about this time?

Although her heart was filled with curiosity, she dared not ask more.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” said Zhao Qingmei indifferently.

“I understand,” Tan Yun obediently nodded.

With a light breath, Zhao Qingmei slowly walked out of the medical hall.

Watching An Jing and Zhao Qingmei both leave, Tan Yun suddenly felt a bit bored.

“It’s just me watching the house again, might as well find a book to read.”

With that thought, Tan Yun walked to the medicine shop’s counter, remembering that An Jing often lay on the Taishi Chair reading books and habitually stashed them under the table.

“Learning more medical knowledge is useful anyway, plus I can review my characters.”

After searching for a while, Tan Yun finally found the book, chuckling, “Once I’ve learned it, I can help the young master too.”

Saying this, she laid down on the Taishi Chair, adopting An Jing’s posture, and then gently opened the book.

What caught her eye were two brightly colored little figures.

Whoosh!

Tan Yun’s eyes widened, then her face turned as red as if blood were about to drip from it.

“Whoosh!”

Tan Yun hurriedly closed the book, her heart pounding wildly like a frightened deer.

“Woof! Woof!”

Just then, Xiao Hei approached with a tilted head, looking curiously at its owner.

“….The young master lied to me about reading medical techniques…..what a liar…”

Tan Yun’s eyes misted over, her cheeks so red she couldn’t bear to speak, and she bit her lip hard.

Because of Li Fuzhou, she had only heard about such things and had never seen them, today was the first time she laid eyes on them.

So the picture book turned out to be two little people wrestling naked on a bed.

“It’s time to close up the shop.”

Tan Yun took a deep breath to calm down and then hurriedly put the erotic book back, quickly walking to the shop’s entrance.

“Calm down, what’s there to see in this, I don’t want to look at it…..”

Tan Yun mumbled to herself while closing the wooden boards.

She thought she’d feel much calmer, but the more Tan Yun tried to settle her mind, the faster her heartbeat raced and her eyes kept straying towards that picture book.

As if it held some kind of magic.

“Maybe… maybe just one peek? There’s no one around now anyway,” said Tan Yun.

Tan Yun closed all the doors, bit her lip, walked over like a thief, picked up the book, and after making sure no one was around, she slowly flipped it open again.

It was like opening Pandora’s box.

Dimly lit, a beauty sat under the lamp, her face blushing shyly.

Like looking at flowers through the fog, gazing at the moon reflected in the water.

……..

Willow Wood Villa, the night waning.

A quiet bedroom.

“`

At this moment, Qi Yun was seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his attention not directed towards the heavens. A wisp of white vapor floated from the top of his head, giving him an ethereal and transcendent aura.

As the disciple of the number one figure in the Great Yan martial world, Qi Yun naturally had good aptitude. Coupled with the vast resources provided by the Zhenyi Sect for cultivation, his cultivation had reached the First Grade realm, which was even three parts higher than that of Dai Ling from the Five Poison Sect.

Standing beside him were four beautiful women with the appearance of Daoist nuns, all of whom had been meticulously selected by the Temple Master of the White Cloud Temple in Lijiang City. They were all incredibly comely and graceful.

After about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, Qi Yun slowly gathered his qi.

“Young Master, please use this.”

Seeing this, the woman to his left hastily took out a white towel and handed it over.

Qi Yun nodded slightly, took the towel, and asked, “Has Daoist Master Yu Huai not returned yet?”

“No,” the nun replied softly. “However, he has been out for three hours already, so he should be returning soon.”

Qi Yun nodded. “The impact on White Cloud Temple from this incident must not be minor, right?”

With the spread of Buddhism to the east, if we talk solely about the Great Yan martial world, the one most affected is undoubtedly the Zhenyi Sect.

The Zhenyi Sect had its teachings spread throughout the entirety of Great Yan, flourishing far and wide. As Buddhism established more temples and opened ancient monastery gates, the impact on the Zhenyi Sect was naturally the greatest.

After pondering for a moment, the nun said, “The number of people coming to the temple to offer incense and seek divinations has indeed decreased slightly, but the business of selling elixirs is still thriving.”

Besides its widespread adherents, the core of the Zhenyi Sect is the production of elixirs that martial artists use for cultivation, a business so profitable it even surpasses that of the Cao Gang’s five major trading companies.

It is rumored that the True Martial Hall of the Zhenyi Sect has floors paved with white jade and columns cast in gold, with the sculpture of Emperor True Martial splendidly adorned with colored glazes, unapproachably majestic.

Although Xiao Qianqiu has not descended from the mountain for a long time, there are still many unfounded rumors in the martial world.

It is said that Great Yan has two rulers: one resides in Yujing City, sitting on the lofty Dragon Throne, and the other is entrenched in the True Martial Hall, seeking enlightenment and cultivation.

Although these are just rumors from the streets, they reveal a trace of truth.

“That’s good.”

Qi Yun took a deep breath and said, “It seems the injury of the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva must be true, otherwise, he would have left Jiangnan Dao by now.”

The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva came to Jiangnan Dao, largely because of Fa Zhi. Now that the open Dharma assembly is over, aside from teaching Dharma, there are many other matters to attend to.

A contention between the Zhenyi Sect and Buddhism seems inevitable. For the moment, the situation looks calm, with both sides seemingly observing and waiting for developments.

The main reason for that is the current uncertainty of the situation.

“Is the Ghost Swordsman truly that formidable?” the nun couldn’t help murmuring.

The Universal Benefit Bodhisattva is a master of the Grandmaster realm, who even defeated the Sect Leader of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, and yet the Ghost Swordsman, who is not very well known, has managed to best him. This makes the whole matter seem somewhat surreal to many.

“His strength must be very high, and his movements are mysterious and elusive, making him difficult to find,” Qi Yun said, expelling a breath of stale air, but inwardly he felt it was a great pity. “What a pity, my plot this time has fallen short just before success.”

The eastward spread of Buddhism is clearly a move by the Human Emperor to counter the Zhenyi Sect, which indicates that the previously inseparable and mutually supportive relationship between the Human Emperor and the Zhenyi Sect has begun to crack.

Rumors swirl that the Human Emperor failed to break through his limitations and has not recovered from serious injuries. Meanwhile, the struggle for the imperial throne is emerging within the court. Whoever succeeds to the throne would have difficulty suppressing the Zhenyi Sect, so it’s not unreasonable for the Human Emperor to set up contingency plans against the Zhenyi Sect.

Moreover, with the Demon Sect potentially causing disturbances and the grudges and entanglements of numerous other forces, the Zhenyi Sect might face several joint onslaughts. If his master, Xiao Qianqiu, were to obtain the “Jade Emperor Scripture,” his cultivation would surely make great strides, possibly reaching the Great Grandmaster realm before others.

If that happened, the Zhenyi Sect could rest easy in the Great Yan martial world, securely passing down its teachings for centuries.

The nun pursed her lips, perhaps emboldened by their intimate encounters beneath the covers, and said, “Young Master, why are you searching for the whereabouts of the Ghost Swordsman?”

The Ghost Swordsman’s victory over the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva was clearly a good thing for the Zhenyi Sect.

Qi Yun waved his hand dismissively. “This matter is better left unknown to you.”

“Yes.”

The nun quickly lowered her head.

A silhouette flickered on top of Willow Mountain Villa; it was An Jing who had arrived following the guidance of the Earth Book.

As he landed on the roof, the Earth Book’s light suddenly intensified.

“Could it be that man? He seems to be a disciple of the Zhenyi Sect, and his status appears to be extraordinary,” mused An Jing as he stood atop the eaves, frowning inwardly.

The purple opportunity seemed to be on that man.

The man was charming and handsome, his white Daoist robe lent him an air of otherworldliness. Accompanied by four beautiful women, it was evident that his status was extraordinary.

“Could it be that this man is Qi Yun?”

An Jing had heard that Xiao Qianqiu’s disciple, Qi Yun, had come to Yu State City. It was very likely that the man surrounded by women was Qi Yun himself.

After hearing about the Ghost Swordsman and a plot, An Jing could not help but frown deeply.

Jiang Sanjia once mentioned that the Daluo Heart Method he practiced was no secret, and it was possible that the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion had already investigated and found out about it. If the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion knew, they might have leaked the information to someone from the Zhenyi Sect. From the way Qi Yun spoke, it seemed he had already started looking for An Jing.

This was not a good sign.

“I’ll seize the purple opportunity first, and then discuss it,” An Jing took a deep breath and slapped his palm downward towards the area below.

“Not good!”

“Crash!”

Qi Yun was just about to continue speaking when he suddenly sensed a disturbance above, and saw a dark cyan figure rushing towards him amidst the shattered roof tiles.

“Protect the young master!”

The four Daoist nuns drew their longswords from their waists and formed a Four Directions Sword Formation, charging towards An Jing.

“Clang!” “Clang!”

Just as the four longswords thrust forward, they seemed to encounter great resistance and with a ‘crack’, they shattered.

“Boom!” “Boom!”

The four Daoist nuns immediately felt a tremendous force transmitted through their swords, pushing them back several steps.

“Who is it!?”

Qi Yun reacted extremely fast, channeling his Inner Strength to his arms in an instant, and struck a palm towards An Jing.

The palm wind howled, seemingly gentle and soft, but contained the weight of tens of thousands of pounds.

An Jing let out a cold laugh and extended his index finger.

A light shone like flame falling from the sky, smashing towards Qi Yun like a meteor.

Nine Yang Divine Finger! Pointing Qiankun!

Whistling sounds filled the air, and the temperature in the bedroom abruptly rose.

Bang!

The moment the finger light collided with the palm print, a muffled sound like thunder rolled away.

“Tap tap tap….”

Qi Yun’s face turned ashen, and he took several steps back.

So strong!

Just one finger had forced him back.

It must be known that he was the foremost among the young generation in the Great Yan Martial World, with a Cultivation that had already reached the First Grade. He stood out among his peers, but to think he couldn’t withstand a single move from the person before him.

Naturally, An Jing would not give Qi Yun a chance to catch his breath. He reached out with his palm and grabbed at Qi Yun.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh….”

His form seemed to whistle with the wind, moving too fast for the eye to follow.

Qi Yun moved nimbly, darting away like an ethereal crane.

Illusionary Crane Body Technique!?

An Jing’s eyebrows rose slightly. The Zhenyi Sect’s foundation in the Mystical Sect, coupled with its growth in recent years, had made its Martial Arts flourish, beyond what ordinary sects could match.

The movement technique Qi Yun used was the famed Illusionary Crane Body Technique from the Zhenyi Sect.

This technique was like a dance of innumerable ethereal cranes, elusive and unpredictable. It was rumored that when one attained Perfection with it, they could manifest a thousand ethereal cranes.

Clearly, Qi Yun was far from achieving Perfection, but he had reached a certain level of prowess.

“Think you can hide?”

An Jing’s eyes flashed sharply, and he leaped forward.

Nine Yang Divine Finger! Sky’s Unpredictability!

Several streaks of light shot from his fingertip, elusive and hard to grasp.

The moment the light passed by, several illusions in front of it were shattered, causing Qi Yun to feel great alarm and retreat subconsciously.

“Shoo!”

The remaining light still came hurtling forward, like a swift and venomous snake.

Qi Yun, unable to avoid it, hastily channeled the Beidou Seven Stars Technique, pouring Inner Strength into it wildly to form an energy shield.

Beidou Seven Stars Cover!

This Martial Arts skill was a top-notch defensive shield. Qi Yun had once used it, and a First Grade Human Flower expert could not break through it even for the duration of an incense stick burning.

“Boom!”

The seemingly slim streak of light actually contained a massive force, striking like a falling boulder.

“Crack! Crack!”

Visible cracks immediately formed on the energy shield, and then it could no longer withstand the immense pressure and exploded with a ‘boom’.

Qi Yun’s chest reverberated, fresh blood flowed from his mouth, and his eyes showed a trace of fear, “You… are you the Ghost Swordsman?”

“No comment.”

An Jing sneered, stepping in closer.

“Stop!”

Just then, a thunderous voice rang out.

“`

“Boom!”

A chilling gleam of cold light streaked toward An Jing’s throat with incredible speed.

An Jing stomped with his foot, retreating backward, avoiding the fierce sword light.

“Young master, are you alright?”

The person rushed to Qi Yun’s side and asked.

The newcomer was none other than the great Daoist Yu Huai.

“I… I’m fine…”

Qi Yun, still shaken, took a deep breath and said.

If it hadn’t been for the timely arrival of the great Daoist Yu Huai, the situation just now could have been very grim.

“This person is the Ghost Swordsman.”

Yu Huai took a deep breath, looked towards An Jing, and said, “Indeed, his cultivation is only at the Earth Flower Realm. It seems that Universal Benefit Bodhisattva must have been severely injured by Lin Yiyang, giving him the opportunity.”

Qi Yun felt a surge of joy and quickly said, “The Ghost Swordsman is at the Earth Flower Realm?”

“That’s right.”

Yu Huai nodded and said, “I just used my Spiritual Eye, and indeed, he has only condensed the Human Flower and Earth Flower.”

The Zhenyi Sect is known for its profound martial arts, one of which is the technique of the Spiritual Eye, capable of detecting the Qi mechanism. Since An Jing’s Qi mechanism had been revealed just now, Yu Huai was able to see it clearly.

There wasn’t a trace of expression on An Jing’s face, but his hand moved toward the longsword at his waist.

This time he hadn’t drawn the Evil Suppressing Sword, for facing an expert at the Heavenly Flower Realm required his full strength.

In the Zhenyi Sect, not just anyone could be called a great Daoist; only elders with a cultivation level at the Heavenly Flower Realm were afforded this title.

Within the Zhenyi Sect, there were seven great Daoists and four peak masters who formed the backbone of the sect. Each of the seven great Daoists was at the Heavenly Flower Realm, recognized and highly ranked on the Dragon List—and possibly given additional prominence by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to bolster the sect’s prestige.

But indeed, the great Daoists of the Zhenyi Sect were formidable, and each could dominate a corner of the martial world.

It should be noted that Liu Qingshan, the gang leader of the Cao Gang, was also only at the Heavenly Flower Realm in his cultivation.

“Wonderful! Great Daoist, quickly capture this man!”

Qi Yun urgently exclaimed.

“Today, he won’t escape!”

Yu Huai smiled faintly, “At first, I wasn’t sure if you were a descendant of the Daluo Sect, but now I am certain. There’s no need to hide anymore. After all, we could be considered fellow sect members.”

“Screech—!”

An Jing replied with a faint smile, drawing his longsword, “Fellow sect members? Other sects cherish their kind, but in the Zhenyi Sect, ‘fellow sect members’ are expected to fight tooth and nail.”

A gleam of cold light emerged, and the room suddenly grew even colder.

“Since that’s the case, I won’t hold back anymore.”

Yu Huai slightly narrowed his eyes and gripped his longsword tightly as well.

“Swoosh!”

Yu Huai was the first to strike with his sword, leaping forward, his sword tip radiating with countless glimmers of cold light.

Upon the first move, An Jing detected that Yu Huai’s swordsmanship was at the Fourth Realm.

An Jing didn’t move his feet but held his sword horizontally in front of his chest.

“Clang!”

At the moment the two swords met, a sound of clashing metal rang out.

“Hmm!?”

Yu Huai was taken aback. He had assumed his sword strike would force An Jing to retreat, but the reality was the exact opposite; he himself was pushed back repeatedly.

“What’s going on!?”

Before he could recover his wits, An Jing was already charging forward with great strides.

“Whir whir whir!”

An Jing’s sword was faster and even colder.

Yu Huai hurriedly raised his sword to block.

The two figures interweaved, like a swift wind sweeping across the land, with the women in crowns only hearing the sounds of swords clashing, while Qi Yun, having a somewhat better understanding, could also see the lingering images.

“Earth Flower Realm fighting Heavenly Flower Realm and not losing ground!?”

Seeing this, Qi Yun was astonished.

In Jianghu, it is not only geniuses who can fight across realms. With sufficient means, hidden cards, and many other factors, one is justified in challenging across realms.

The higher the realm, the more difficult it is to fight across levels.

“`

Especially above the First Grade, otherwise, Lin Yiyang’s battle against Universal Benefit Bodhisattva wouldn’t have caused such a huge sensation. And Lin Yiyang, a swordsman of such caliber wielding the Phoenix Sword, a renowned sword, was still defeated, which shows the difficulty of overcoming a realm to oppose an enemy.

The Ghost Swordsman before them was at the Earth Flower Realm, while Yu Huai, the Great True One, was at the Heavenly Flower Realm.

The gap between Earth Flower and Heavenly Flower was not small, either.

Yu Huai, the Great True One, furrowed his brows, engrossed in the duel that had already gone on for dozens of rounds, yet he started to feel immense pressure and could no longer hold back; his sword repeatedly thrust forward.

Shi Shi Shi Shi!

A series of sword lights emerged, seemingly chaotic but actually extremely systematic, like the stars strung across the night sky.

Seven Stars in a Row!

In an instant, those seven sword lights thrust forward, aiming at vital spots such as the throat, heart, waist, wrists, and between the eyebrows.

“Well done,”

An Jing murmured internally, his longsword vibrating as the sword light turned into a web.

Nine-character Sword Technique! Zhen Character Secret!

“Crack! Crack!”

At the moment of the interweaving sword lights, the Qi Force burst forth, surging outwards like a tidal wave.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The surrounding tables, chairs, paintings, vases, and decorative furniture were all pulverized by the impact.

An Jing stepped back three steps, while Yu Huai, the Great True One, took five steps back before stopping, surprise flickering in his eyes.

“The Fifth Realm!?”

This Ghost Swordsman was actually a high-level expert of the Fifth Realm!?

“What!?”

Hearing Yu Huai, the Great True One, Qi Yun’s eyebrows also knit slightly.

In the world today, swordsmen who had reached the Fifth Realm could be counted on one’s fingers. Each one of them was a prominent master of the sword.

The difficulty of reaching the Fifth Realm was no less than ascending from the Heavenly Flower Realm to the integration of the Three Flowers or the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm.

Qi Yun was greatly worried and could only advise from the side, “Yu Huai, the Great True One, it’s better to be cautious. This swordsman is not simple, having defeated Universal Benefit Bodhisattva.”

Yu Huai, the Great True One, focused his mind and heart, feeling extremely solemn.

Even with his profound cultivation and deep inner strength, he could still feel the oppressive force of that sword skill.

“Today I shall witness the strength of the Ghost Swordsman myself.”

Yu Huai, the Great True One, gripped his longsword even tighter. In the next moment, his gaze turned icy as his form trembled and he spontaneously vanished.

Bang!

But at the moment he disappeared, An Jing also didn’t hesitate to thrust out with his sword.

His longsword surged with sword light, roaring like a ferocious beast, its chilling brightness creating uncanny sounds in the air with its domineering and piercing force.

The two swords clashed hard once again.

Clang!

The sound of metal on metal echoed, piercing Qi Yun’s eardrums.

The blast of the clash sent out visible ripples spreading in waves.

An Jing stood unflinchingly as he calmly watched the ongoing fray, but Yu Huai, the Great True One, had disappeared as if into thin air.

“Yu Huai, the Great True One, use your real power,”

“As you wish!”

Yu Huai, the Great True One, swung his longsword towards the now exposed roof of the bedroom, lifting it off completely.

The night was waning, and the sky was filled with stars.

A pattern of stars appeared above them.

Yu Huai, the Great True One, looked on coldly as he slapped his longsword, and suddenly the starlight above sharply pierced through the air, raining down on An Jing in a vast onslaught like a barrage of arrows.

Circulation Stars Sword Technique!

An Jing’s eyes narrowed coldly, his longsword extending to meet the flood of stars coming his way.

Unity Sword Technique! Sword Drawing Skill!

The surging intent to kill and that supreme sharpness all burst forth at this moment.

The starlight clashed with the sword, entwining with each other.

Yu Huai, the Great True One’s eyes narrowed as a cold smirk appeared on his lips.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions sounded, and the starlight burst open suddenly. The violent Qi Mechanism enveloped An Jing completely.

The explosion ripped through the entire Liu Wood Villa, leaving it a scarred and chaotic mess.

As the rumblings of the explosion gradually subsided, Yu Huai, the great Daoist Master standing on the wooden post, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The jubilant expression on Qi Yun’s face also began to solidify.

With the smoke clearing, the scenery ahead became increasingly distinct, and a figure slowly emerged, untroubled and serene throughout the whole ordeal.

It was that Ghost Swordsman.

The fierce wind whipped at his garment, his body emitting a faint golden glow. A crater surrounded him, yet the ground under his feet remained unscathed, as if nothing had happened.

“How is this possible, how could he remain unharmed…” Qi Yun swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

Even a master of the Heavenly Flower Realm would struggle to withstand a full-power strike from Yu Huai, yet the Ghost Swordsman of the Earth Flower Realm seemed to do so with ease.

“Great Daoist Master, now it’s my turn…”

An Jing laughed heartily, his body leaping forward as the longsword in his hand swept toward the wind.

Nine-character Sword Technique! The Bing Character Secret!

Yu Huai’s pupils slightly contracted as he sensed a golden shadow rushing toward him, accompanied by a sharp, biting chill that made him shiver.

The sword skill of the Fifth Realm was being displayed to its utmost limit.

He held no sword in his hand, yet the sword existed in his heart.

The flying object was, in effect, a sword of the heart.

At the same time, an immense pressure bore down upon him, the oppressive force of a Grandmaster.

How could this be?

Yu Huai dared not hesitate. Clutching his longsword, he summoned the starlight from the night sky to be drawn through it, as though imbuing the blade itself.

Circulation Stars Sword Technique! Infinite!

The star-lit longsword descended heavily, a surge of Qi Force roaring forward, unstoppable.

It seemed poised to cleave everything in its path in twain.

In this strike, he exerted his full strength, holding nothing back.

The two beams of sword light met, and the world seemed to shudder. The turbulent Qi Force rolled out, engulfing the entire Liu Wood Villa.

“Quick! Get out of the way!”

Qi Yun sprang into action, hurrying away to a distant spot.

The frail Daoist nuns, however, couldn’t match Qi Yun’s speed. Two of them were caught in the blast, struck hard as though by a heavy hammer, a jet of blood spraying from their mouths as they staggered, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

It took dozens of breaths before the Qi Force finally died down.

“Cough cough cough…”

Yu Huai’s sleeves were tattered, his right hand holding his sword, his left clutching his chest, with a look of astonishment and disbelief in his eyes.

“Clang—!”

In the next instant, Yu Huai’s sword snapped in two, with half of its blade falling heavily to the ground.

He was defeated!

He, a master of the Heavenly Flower Realm, had been defeated by a swordsman of the Earth Flower Realm!

Qi Yun too, sported an incredulous expression. He had assumed Yu Huai would easily handle a swordsman of the Earth Flower Realm, but what unfolded before him snapped him back to reality.

“This is bad!”

Chills ran down Qi Yun’s spine as he hurriedly fled.

“You think you can escape!?”

An Jing’s eyes flickered, and he lunged forward in pursuit.

His purple opportunity was still on Qi Yun.

“Buzz! Buzz!”

Suddenly, a tyrannical and powerful presence descended, making An Jing’s spirit tremble. He looked up and paused his chase.

In mid-air, black lotuses appeared, glistening under the moonlight, and a figure set foot on one of the flowers, descending and grasping Qi Yun by the throat.

“You…”

Qi Yun’s face was filled with terror, as if he had seen a ghost, his body frozen, unable to muster any strength.

The figure was enveloped in black Qi, his shape and face unclear, mysterious and eerie. Just one glance sent a chill from An Jing’s feet to the crown of his head.

In the next moment, the mysterious expert vanished into the distance, carrying Qi Yun with him.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“A double-cross!?”

Witnessing this, An Jing’s heart filled with both shock and rage.