Chapter 74 One Sword Slays the Demon

Seeing the ghostly figure approaching him, the man in the bamboo hat was startled and hurriedly mobilized his inner Qi, roaring loudly as he forcefully twisted his body to dodge. However, his right shoulder was still sliced open by the sword in front of him, and blood splattered.

The ghostly figure rushed over, grasped its sword, and swiftly slashed at him.

The man in the bamboo hat flipped backward to evade, the sword blade passing just above the tip of his nose, severing his bamboo hat.

Just as he prepared to counterattack, the blade suddenly erupted with lightning, instantly covering his body. The indescribable agony made him scream instinctively, and he subsequently fell to the ground, rolling several times before finally stopping.

Xu Ning stopped her steps, flicked the blade downward, shaking off the lightning Origin Qi from the sword.

The Devil Sect Martial Artists were all terrified upon seeing a young woman gravely injure the man in the bamboo hat. They neither fled nor attacked, but instead waited for the man in the bamboo hat to stand up.

Xu Ning walked over and cleanly severed the man in the bamboo hat’s head with a single strike. She then raised her sword and looked toward the Devil Sect Martial Artists. At this, the Devil Sect Martial Artists panicked completely, finding themselves in an impossible situation.

Jiang Kuotian and the group of Martial Forest experts who had lost their martial arts also recognized Xu Ning. At the Grand Banquet of the White Emperor Manor months ago, Xu Ning had truly shone, her prominence unmatched.

“Xu Ning of the Qingxiao Sect is here too! These two people have incredibly high martial arts; we have hope!”

“What fast sword skills! My eyes can’t even keep up…”

“Why does it feel like her sword is even faster than before…”

“Look quickly, there are more people!”

Someone exclaimed, seeing figures appear on the city wall. They were the Thirteen Sword厉 under Jiang Zhaoxia. They stood on both sides of Jiang Zhaoxia, their Sect robes billowing, all radiating a chilling aura of slaughter.

Jiang Zhaoxia looked down upon the Devil Sect Martial Artists below. Just as he was about to give an order, he saw Xu Ning raise her sword and charge forward.

Although the Devil Sect Martial Artists were frightened by Xu Ning, they did not flee; instead, they chose to meet her and fight.

Jiang Zhaoxia leaped down from the city wall and landed on the ground, the Thirteen Sword厉 following closely behind him. They had only taken seven steps when Xu Ning finished the fight, leaving nine Devil Sect Martial Artists lying in pools of blood.

Watching Xu Ning sheath her sword, the prisoners were overjoyed and rushed toward her.

Xu Ning also walked toward them, but when the two sides met, Xu Ning simply leaped past them and continued killing deeper into the city.

“She truly is an exceptional woman.”

An old man sighed emotionally. He had roamed the Jianghu for decades and had never seen such a formidable young woman; not only were her martial arts profound, but her actions were also ruthless.

Jiang Kuotian advanced while watching Jiang Zhaoxia and the others walk toward him, his expression distant.

He recalled that the first time he saw Jiang Zhaoxia, Jiang Zhaoxia was still very young. Now he had grown into an adult. The two had never gotten along, so seeing Jiang Zhaoxia again made Jiang Kuotian feel awkward.

As the two brushed past each other, Jiang Zhaoxia’s voice came from behind:

“Senior Brother was worried about you, which is why he had us rush here ahead of time.”

Hearing these words, Jiang Kuotian’s eyes reddened. He said nothing, simply forging ahead with his head bowed.

Monk finally regained his vision. Looking at the corpses ahead, he breathed a sigh of relief, though his emotions were complicated.

He remembered Xu Ning. That day at the White Emperor Manor, Xu Ning killed two School Masters; her martial skill was astonishing. He had previously planned that whenever he ventured out into the Jianghu for experience, he definitely had to go to the Qingxiao Sect to spar with Xu Ning.

Now it seemed the gap between him and Xu Ning was not small at all.

A sound of footsteps came from the city gate passage beside him. Immediately after, he heard a male voice:

“Advance according to the established formation! True Disciples must not act alone! Logistics Disciples must not fall behind! Prioritize killing the enemy, then saving people!”

Before Monk could turn his head, he felt a needle pierce his neck. He turned around and saw a woman standing not far away, maintaining the posture of having just thrown a needle.

It was Li Dongyue.

Li Dongyue looked at him and said, “Your injuries are severe. Don’t pull out the needle. Leave the city.”

After speaking, Li Dongyue walked forward, followed closely by Liu Yan and the Disciples who cultivated the Rejuvenating Ghost Immortal Needle.

Zhang Yuchun, Li Sifeng, Wu Maner, and Li Sijin also led their respective teams into the city. Their formation was orderly and not scattered, and every Qingxiao Sect Disciple wore a solemn expression.

The sights and sounds along the way had already stirred them. They knew a fierce battle awaited them once they entered the city, and no one retreated.

If they did not destroy the Devil Sect, their family, clan members, and friends down the mountain would all be threatened. They would not allow such a thing to happen.

Su Xiling, Li Yang, and Zhao Linglong were also in the team. They had voluntarily requested to come and help.

“Don’t be like before, refusing to kill. Every person in the Devil Sect is deranged and deserves to die; don’t give them a chance.”

Zhao Linglong instructed Li Yang, her expression serious.

Li Yang did not speak, but the fury in his eyes could no longer be contained.

Since childhood, he had practiced martial arts with the goal of serving the nation. After becoming the top scholar in martial arts, he took the lives of the common people upon his own shoulders. Even when facing enemies in the Martial Forest, he had never delivered a killing blow.

But this time, his heart was filled with rage, and his intent to kill could no longer be suppressed.

The countless corpses outside the city were vivid in his mind, making him yearn to slaughter indiscriminately.

All two hundred ninety-three members of the Qingxiao Sect entered the city together. No one looked back as they walked toward this Prefectural City, which resembled a living hell.

Jiang Kuotian, who had reached the city gate passage, couldn’t help but turn his head. Looking at the backs of the Qingxiao Sect Disciples, he thought of Lin Xunfeng once again.

He remembered Lin Xunfeng once saying that he had originally intended to vigorously develop the Qingxiao Sect, cultivate many Disciples like himself, and benefit the world, but he had to search for his wife and child, forcing him to abandon his aspirations.

“Brother Lin, your apprentices have fulfilled your wish. Why aren’t you here to see it…”

Jiang Kuotian took a deep breath, turned his head, and left the city.

If he stayed now, he would only drag others down. He could not fail the Qingxiao Sect’s kindness… On a wide street, bodies of Devil Sect Martial Artists lay scattered, and at the end of the line of corpses was the retreating figure of Xu Ning.

Xu Ning advanced with her sword raised. Since entering the city, she had not once looked back.

“Slow down! Don’t rush into danger alone!”

A helpless voice came from the side. The king of thieves, Cheng Canghai, was walking along the rooftops. He was secretly astonished by Xu Ning’s bloodlust.

This girl was usually just cold-tempered; he never expected her intent to kill to be so overwhelming. It was terrifying.

Luckily, he and Xu Ning were not enemies.

Xu Ning did not answer him, but her pace slowed. It wasn’t that she feared the Devil Sect, but she didn’t want to cause trouble for the School or make her Masters worry.

“The area ahead is the battlefield between the Sect and the Devil Sect. More Devil Sect experts are hidden there. Be careful of ambushes nearby.”

Cheng Canghai reminded her, looking into the distance, his expression growing solemn.

Xu Ning tilted her head and looked at him, asking, “You seem very familiar with this place. Following the directions you pointed out, I definitely encountered more Devil Sect members.”

Cheng Canghai smiled proudly, saying, “More than half a month ago, I snuck in under the cover of night to scout the situation. I know where the common people are being held, and I understand the distribution of the Devil Sect’s forces.”

“Did Master send you?”

“Naturally. Your Master only trusts my movement technique.”

Cheng Canghai rarely got to show off in front of Xu Ning, so he was extremely pleased.

Xu Ning was indeed impressed by him. Sneaking into this highly dangerous Prefectural City alone—even she didn’t have absolute confidence in escaping unscathed. The title of king of thieves was truly well-deserved.

Since Li Qingqiu passed the Hunyuan Scripture and the Gale Technique to Cheng Canghai, Cheng Canghai’s movement technique had greatly improved. Coupled with his cultivation at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, his movement technique could truly be called unmatched in the Jianghu.

At this moment, Xu Ning stopped, and Cheng Canghai stopped as well. The two looked ahead. At the end of the straight street, a Devil Sect expert walked toward them, carrying a horizontal saber. His clothing was extremely similar to that of the previous man in the bamboo hat.

As this person approached, other Devil Sect experts continuously emerged from the alley behind him, growing in number. All of them wore black clothes and identical ghoul masks, and all carried horizontal sabers. Even in broad daylight, they made people feel sinister and terrifying.

Xu Ning stared at the person leading the group, sensing a hint of danger from him.

“Let me handle this. You rest for a bit.”

A voice came from behind. Xu Ning glanced back and saw Jiang Zhaoxia approaching with the Thirteen Sword厉.

He had once saved her life, and it was Jiang Zhaoxia and Zhang Yuchun who brought her to the Qingxiao Sect. However, as her talent became apparent, she and Jiang Zhaoxia stopped speaking to each other. The two competed openly and secretly; though they never said it aloud, they both knew it in their hearts.

If it were anyone else, Xu Ning would not have yielded. She wasn’t tired at all. But since Jiang Zhaoxia had spoken, she gave way, knowing that there would only be more battles to come.

Jiang Zhaoxia walked past Xu Ning, followed by the Thirteen Sword厉, who all drew their swords simultaneously.

Xue Jin already possessed the cultivation of the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, and the other Sword Li, having practiced martial arts for so long, were also not weak. Following behind their Master, Jiang Zhaoxia, they were fearless, filled only with excitement.

Suddenly, the Devil Sect experts ahead began charging toward them.

The speed of the Devil Sect expert leading the charge was so fast that when he rushed forward, he resembled a long spear, stirring up visible internal energy that was unstoppable.

Jiang Zhaoxia snorted coldly, suddenly drew his sword, and threw it out. The long sword flew horizontally above the street, Sword Qi overflowing.

His sword was even faster than Xu Ning’s, forcing the Devil Sect expert to raise his saber to block. This scene was exactly the same as Xu Ning’s move when she entered the city.

The difference was that the Devil Sect expert did not manage to block this sword strike.

The sword blade directly shattered the horizontal saber, then severed the Devil Sect expert’s head. The long sword’s speed did not decrease, and with lightning speed, it passed through all the Devil Sect experts.

Finally, the long sword hovered in the air thirty zhang away. Behind it, Devil Sect experts were spurting blood and falling backward, like a wave crashing down.

A single sword strike killed forty-three Devil Sect experts!

This sight made the Thirteen Sword厉 breathe rapidly, their eyes filled with fanaticism.

Cheng Canghai stood on the rooftop, his eyelids twitching. Truthfully, this was the first time he had ever seen Jiang Zhaoxia make a move.

What terrifying sword technique!

Xu Ning’s gaze swept toward the courtyard wall on the side of the street, where she saw numerous cracks left by the Sword Qi.

Jiang Zhaoxia continued forward, and the others followed closely. Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and the others brought their Disciples up behind, the two groups not far apart.

Wu Maner and Li Sifeng followed at the rear of all the Disciples, guarding against sneak attacks.

When Jiang Zhaoxia arrived before his sword, he raised his hand and grasped the sword suspended in the air. He did not sheath it, but stopped his steps.

“The Qingxiao Sect truly lives up to its reputation. No wonder my three Protectors and Seven Fiends perished at the Qingxiao Sect.”

A hoarse voice rang out, revealing the Devil Emperor.

As soon as the voice faded, figures leaped out from courtyards in every direction, their numbers rapidly increasing, causing Cheng Canghai’s expression to change drastically as he quickly became vigilant.