Chapter 125: Descending from the Sky

How fast was the Mysterious Duke’s reaction? Yet, in that moment, he couldn’t keep up with Daoist Baishu’s speed.

As his heart filled with shock, the phantom image, identical to Daoist Baishu, swept past him, snatched the scroll from his hand, held it in one hand, and stopped in front of Zhao Zhi.

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Zhao Zhi was sitting cross-legged on the ground and hadn’t reacted either. His pupils instinctively widened as he saw the scroll in Daoist Baishu’s hand open. He instinctively tried to get up, but saw a sword shadow burst forth from the painting. This sword shadow forced the black Qi around him to quickly coalesce, and a ghost shadow appeared on his body to defend him against the sword shadow.

The Mysterious Duke turned his head and raised his hand to grab, but his palm passed straight through Daoist Baishu’s phantom image, grasping nothing.

He immediately turned and rushed toward Daoist Baishu, who was standing below the steps.

Daoist Baishu’s main body was still maintaining the posture of forming a spell sign, and he made no defensive moves against the attacking Mysterious Duke.

Bang!

The Mysterious Duke sent Daoist Baishu flying out of the main hall with a single palm strike. The old official nearby retreated quickly in fright.

The Mysterious Duke’s figure flashed, transforming into streaks of afterimages as he rushed out of the main hall, arrived on the long white stone steps, and snapped the neck of Daoist Baishu, who was lying on the ground.

Seeing that his life force was severed, the Mysterious Duke turned and returned to Ganwu Hall. He saw that Daoist Baishu’s phantom image had not yet dispersed; it was still holding the scroll in one hand, and the sword shadow emerging from the scroll had already pierced Zhao Zhi’s forehead. The ghost shadow on Zhao Zhi trembled, clearly unable to withstand the attack.

“Your Majesty!”

The Mysterious Duke cried out in alarm. Just as he was about to step forward, Daoist Baishu’s phantom image suddenly lunged forward, and the sword shadow from the scroll directly pierced Zhao Zhi’s skull, shattering the ghost shadow.

The old official was so frightened that he collapsed onto the ground, looking disbelievingly at Daoist Baishu’s phantom image, as if he had seen a living ghost.

The Mysterious Duke was also startled, unsure of what to do.

“Vile creature! You plague the mortal world and are unworthy of being a monarch. Your crimes deserve death! If Heaven won’t take you, Fengxia Mountain will!”

Daoist Baishu shouted sternly. The phantom image dispersed, transforming into streaks of silver-white flowing light that drilled into the scroll. Immediately afterward, a strong light burst forth from the front of the scroll, and the sword shadow began to contract, actually dragging another Zhao Zhi out of the Emperor’s body—this figure, like Daoist Baishu’s, looked illusory, not physical.

The Mysterious Duke appeared beside Zhao Zhi out of thin air, using his palm as a blade to strike the sword shadow.

This time, he successfully shattered the sword shadow. With a flash of bright light, the scroll fell to the ground.

Zhao Zhi leaned back suddenly, hitting the Dragon Throne, and his phantom image retracted back into his body.

Silence fell over the main hall, leaving only Zhao Zhi’s gasping sounds.

The Mysterious Duke recovered his wits, kicked the scroll on the ground away, and quickly knelt down to help Zhao Zhi up.

Zhao Zhi’s face turned pale, and he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked as if all the strength had been drained from his body, collapsing like mud.

“He… he…”

Zhao Zhi stammered, his expression overflowing with fear.

The Mysterious Duke quickly said, “I already snapped his neck, he is completely dead.”

He was also still shaken, having never expected Daoist Baishu to possess such a method.

Zhao Zhi looked at the old official, his expression panicked, and while spitting blood and gasping, he said, “Quick… quickly go invite the Heavenly Master…”

…Li Qingqiu, who was cultivating in the underground Spirit Lake, opened his eyes. He suddenly felt the strange aura in the distance disappear, which confused him.

Did something unexpected happen?

Xu Ning, sitting across the lake, also opened her eyes. She could also sense that strange aura, but her perception was not as clear as Li Qingqiu’s.

Xu Ning spoke, “Master, on the way back, we met a Daoist named Daoist Baishu. He is from Fengxia Mountain in Nanchu Province. This person’s martial arts are not low. He was heading alone toward Zhengyang Imperial City. Did he succeed?”

“Fengxia Mountain?”

Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and said, “It’s hard to say for now. We will only be able to confirm in a few days.”

As the Sect Leader, he naturally needed to understand the Martial Forest Schools of the world. Regarding Fengxia Mountain, he had seen related records: it was the Land of the Two Sages before the Great Li Dynasty was founded, possessing profound historical heritage. It is said that Fengxia Mountain not only has martial arts Legacy, but also unique techniques, and even understands the Dao of Alchemy. He had previously considered whether to send Disciples to visit Fengxia Mountain to establish relations and learn about their Dao of Alchemy.

Xu Ning nodded. She was also unsure if Daoist Baishu could succeed. In her opinion, Daoist Baishu’s strength was inferior to hers, and killing the Emperor would certainly not be easy.

Her confrontation with the Emperor made her urgently want to reach the Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer.

Since reaching the Nourishing Origin Realm Seventh Layer, she felt that no one besides her Master was her match. However, the Emperor’s strength shocked her, as did those demonic soldiers. For the first time, she felt powerless, believing it impossible to shatter the Emperor’s conspiracy.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Master, how many layers of the Hunyuan Scripture must one Cultivate to reverse the overall situation of the world by oneself?”

Li Qingqiu looked at her and said, “Perhaps reaching the Ninth Layer would be sufficient.”

“Perhaps…”

Xu Ning felt a little downcast.

Li Qingqiu did not comfort her. After all, she was grown up and could explore things on her own. Calamities and predicaments are sometimes a form of enlightenment for cultivators.

Of course, he was also pondering this question himself.

Did he have the strength to end the conspiracy between Zhao Zhi and the Mysterious Duke?

…Not long after Xu Ning and the others returned, news about the defeat of the Seven Provinces Allied Army spread rapidly across the land. The Aristocratic Families’ carrier pigeons flew everywhere, and the news also spread within the Qingxiao Sect.

The Emperor and the Demonic Soldiers became the topics of greatest concern among the Disciples. Many Disciples were eager to act, waiting for the Sect Leader to issue an order, just as he had previously led them down the mountain to save the world by rescuing the Prefectural City.

However, as more news reached the mountain, the Disciples’ fighting spirit was dampened. Xu Ning had actually fought the Emperor, and her leading the retreat suggested that the Emperor’s martial arts were superior to hers.

Li Sifeng was also a blabbermouth, recounting the power of those Demonic Soldiers to the Disciples.

Invulnerable to swords and spears, possessing boundless strength, swift as leopards, insensible to pain, and capable of devouring others’ internal Qi—how could such Demonic Soldiers be defeated?

The most terrifying thing was that the Emperor had tens of thousands of such Demonic Soldiers under his command!

A True Disciple at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer personally admitted that even one-on-one, it would take him time and require him to use his full strength to kill a single Demonic Soldier, but on the battlefield, he wouldn’t be given a one-on-one opportunity at all.

As this information spread, more and more Disciples realized how terrifying the Emperor and his Demonic Soldiers were, and simultaneously became filled with worry for the world.

Since ancient times, evil has never triumphed over righteousness, so why hasn’t the evil in today’s world been eradicated yet?

If this was the case even for the Qingxiao Sect, let alone the various provinces across the land, more and more common people, merchants, and Martial Forest Schools began fleeing their homes, moving away from Zhengyang Imperial City.

While Cultivating, Li Qingqiu discovered that the strange aura in the distance reappeared after being gone for several days, indicating that nothing had happened to the Emperor.

This day, noon.

On the mountainside, the Martial Arts Stage was surrounded by a sea of people. On the newly repaired Martial Arts Stage, Shen Yue stood with his hands behind his back, resting his spirit with closed eyes. He did not carry a sword.

This match had been decided long before Xu Ning and the others returned. After discussion among the higher-ups, it was decided not to cancel the match, precisely to use it to give the Disciples confidence: even if the Qingxiao Sect couldn’t save the world, self-preservation was more than sufficient.

Shen Yue greatly valued this battle, and he arrived early at the Martial Arts Stage to wait.

The Hall Masters of the Seven Halls, the Deputy Hall Masters, the Elders, and other high-ranking officials all arrived. There were even many high officials and nobles waiting in the crowd. However, besides discussing whether the Sword God or the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect was stronger, they also mentioned the Emperor.

With the defeat of the Seven Provinces Army, no one knew what direction the world would take, and likewise, no one knew who could kill the Emperor.

Although many Disciples did not say it explicitly, privately they all looked forward to the Sect Leader taking action, because in their hearts, the Sect Leader was the strongest in the world.

Bai Ninger, upon hearing of this battle, rushed back specifically from the Spirit Mine. She was standing with Jiang Zhaoxia’s apprentice, Han Lang, and the two were chatting excitedly.

Zhao Zhen, Li Yang, Yuan Li, and Zhao Linglong stood shoulder-to-shoulder, also discussing. Essentially, Zhao Zhen and Li Yang were talking while Yuan Li and the other person listened.

Ji Ya and Yang Lin, along with three others, stood on the other side, anticipating Li Qingqiu’s arrival.

Li Sifeng was with Pei Miao and Li Sijin. He glanced over and saw Cheng Xiu and Cheng San in the crowd. Cheng San even waved his arm at him, looking very excited.

Seeing this, Li Sifeng smiled and nodded toward Cheng San. His gaze met Cheng Xiu’s; Cheng Xiu smiled faintly, like a blooming flower in the crowd.

Li Sifeng felt a bit melancholic. He actually knew Cheng Xiu’s feelings for him, but he felt they were unsuitable. He couldn’t give Cheng Xiu a stable life; he wanted to live a grand, spectacular life, and romantic feelings absolutely could not tie him down.

Things were fine now. Cheng Xiu and the other person had already joined the Qingxiao Sect. He believed that even if he wasn’t around, the Great Senior Brother would take good care of them.

Li Sifeng withdrew his gaze and chatted cheerfully with the beautiful woman beside him.

Cheng Xiu also withdrew her gaze. She knew the fate between them was severed. Although she felt a slight loss, she was not sad. She had her own goals to achieve, and to her, those were the more meaningful things.

Zhang Yuchun walked over with a group of Aristocratic Family members, chatting and laughing. They were escorted by Spirit Control Hall Disciples. Many Disciples saw him and quickly made way.

Xu Ning walked below the stage. She looked at Shen Yue and said, “Senior Shen, why don’t I fight you first?”

Shen Yue did not open his eyes, and calmly said, “My opponent is your Master. We can spar later.”

Xu Ning pouted. She felt that Shen Yue was afraid to fight. After all, if he lost to her, he would lose the courage to challenge her Master. Conversely, if he lost to her Master, it would only be his second failure, which wouldn’t matter much.

As more and more people arrived, even the forests on both sides of the mountain path became noisy. Even though they could only see Shen Yue’s blurred figure from afar on the Martial Arts Stage, the Disciples were happy and excited. The Qingxiao Sect rarely saw such a lively event.

Many Geniuses looked at Shen Yue with respect, but also Battle Intent. Today’s grand occasion filled them with anticipation; someday, they too would challenge the Sword God here.

Zhang Ping stood in the sea of people, inconspicuous. No other Disciples were chatting with him. Ever since he learned that Chu Jing was a member of the Demonic School, he dared not easily form close friendships with fellow Disciples.

Screech—

A screeching sound resonated through the sky, startling everyone, who simultaneously looked up. They saw a massive dark shadow circling high above. Immediately afterward, they saw a sword descending from the sky, its light intersecting with the sunlight.

Clang!

The sword landed on the Martial Arts Stage, stirring up waves of air, and a figure followed, landing perfectly on the sword hilt.

It was Li Qingqiu!

Li Qingqiu’s entrance caused earth-shattering cheers to erupt around the Martial Arts Stage, startling many birds away from the distant mountains and forests.