Inland, Central Plains.

"Roar!!!"

In the sea of clouds, golden light burst forth; it was a Golden Dragon as radiant as the sun, soaring through the clouds.

Atop the Golden Dragon, three people stood side by side, the fierce winds ruffling their clothes yet leaving them untangled, fully displaying the elegance of high cultivation.

"Sister Qiying is still in the West Sea eliminating demons, but the Sect Leader has already sent a message via flying sword, she should be on her way immediately upon receiving it."

"Junior Sister Yuxiu has gone ahead, she should have returned to the Taiyi Daoist Palace by now, it’s up to her to speak to the Cyan Nether Sword Master about the Five Elements Lock Demon matter, which will make things easier for us later on."

The three were none other than the Two Heroes and One Talent.

A hundred years had passed, but their appearances remained unchanged, with their charisma only growing greater.

Wen Renying wore a green robe, exuding the charm of a refined gentleman.

Yuu Lingying wore light pink attire, appearing like a celestial maiden among the clouds.

Gux Shenxiu in pristine white, his stern brows exuding an obvious intensity.

Yuu Lingying’s words pointed out the directions the other two were heading in, and Wen Renying nodded in agreement.

Only Gux Shenxiu, with hands behind his back, poured cold water on the situation: "I’m afraid it won’t be so easy!"

Both Heroes looked at him, then at each other, before Wen Renying spoke: "Junior Brother, don’t overthink it. The Cyan Nether Sword Master is a pillar of the Orthodox Dao, how could he ignore the bigger picture?"

The words carried both comfort and caution.

The Three Heroes and Two Talents had cultivated together for a century and knew this Fourth Junior Brother’s thoughts all too well.

Due to Xuanshao Sect’s past, he had an unexplainable resentment towards the Taiyi Daoist Palace and the Cyan Nether Sword Master.

Honestly, it was unwarranted; after all, it wasn’t the Taiyi Daoist Palace that destroyed the Xuanshao Sect; on the contrary, the Cyan Nether Sword Master once saved him at Hidden Sword Mountain. Even if the Cyan Nether Sword Master had replaced Xuanshao Sect as the ruler of the Central Plains and the largest sect inland, he shouldn’t harbor such grievances.

But the human heart doesn’t always follow reason.

This also strained "Two Talents" relationship somewhat.

The Three Heroes were helpless about it and could only try to mediate.

However, sometimes mediation inevitably leaned towards Zhong Yuxiu.

There was no avoiding it, after all, she had the ethical upper hand, and the Cyan Nether Sword Master held the big picture and the greater good, both emotionally and logically they had to side with her.

As for Gux Shenxiu, he was the last one remaining of the Xuanshao Sect, and even if he was in the right, for the sake of the greater picture, he should endure a bit.

Over time, even though Gux Shenxiu didn’t say anything on the surface, the resentment in his heart deepened, increasingly dissatisfied with the Cyan Nether Sword Master and the Taiyi Daoist Palace.

This further strained the relationship of the Two Talents.

Otherwise this time, they wouldn’t have let Zhong Yuxiu return first, leaving a gap to advise Gux Shenxiu.

Faced with Wen Renying’s words, Gux Shenxiu finally softened his expression but stubbornly insisted: "Senior Brother, you don’t need to say more, I know the priority. It’s just that person, though righteous in speech, in reality is someone who won’t act without self-interest. To ask for the Five Elements Lock Demon technique, we might have to be prepared to give a pound of flesh and blood."

"Oh, you..."

Seeing his attitude, Wen Renying felt helpless and could only shake his head: "In any case, prioritize the greater good and don’t act impulsively, alright?"

"I understand!"

Gux Shenxiu had to agree upon hearing this.

Among the Three Heroes and Two Talents, although Senior Sister Li Qiying led, in terms of wisdom and steadiness, it was always Third Senior Brother Wen Renying taking charge of matters; even he had to comply with him.

But having just agreed, he glanced over and spoke again: "Wait a moment!"

"What is it?"

The Golden Dragon paused, and Wen Renying along with Yuu Lingying turned to look at him.

"Xuanxiao Mountain!"

With furrowed brows, Gux Shenxiu’s gaze pierced through the air like a sword. Then he spoke to the Golden Dragon beneath: "Let’s go take a look."

"This..."

Wen Renying and Yuu Lingying exchanged a glance before nodding: "Then let’s go and see."

With that said, the Golden Dragon let out a long cry, heading straight for Xuanxiao.

Xuanxiao Mountain, Xuanxiao Mountain, Xuanxiao has no Xuanxiao Mountain anymore.

The three retracted the Golden Dragon and quietly descended, only to see a secluded valley, where spirit light flickered, revealing a marketplace.

But it wasn’t an ordinary marketplace; within, there were almost no shops visible, only numerous cultivators with sabers and swords on their backs coming and going.

"Three Calamities Demon Saber!"

Gux Shenxiu’s eyes sharpened, locking onto a Golden Core cultivator carrying a saber, with the Xuanxiao Sword nearly drawn.

"Do not act rashly!"

Wen Renying restrained him: "Have you forgotten the instructions of the Sect Master and several Sect Leader Masters?"

Gux Shenxiu’s expression was cold, but he held back the Xuanxiao Sword and spoke to Wen Renying: "The Taiyi Daoist Palace praises itself to the skies with its Five Elements Lock Demon, its demon-slaying and exorcism; yet now this Three Calamities Demon Cultivator roams freely. Is this their Lock Demon technique?"

"This..."

Wen Renying furrowed his brow, Yuu Lingying appeared surprised and dubious, finally opting for compromise: "Let’s first find out what’s going on."

With that, they removed their concealment technique, stopping someone to inquire: "Fellow Daoist, why is it that this Xuanxiao Mountain..."

"Xuanxiao Mountain?"

The person was startled, looked outside the valley, and then at the three, asking strangely: "Where’s the mountain?"

Wen Renying: "..."

Gux Shenxiu: "..."

"Just joking!"

Seeing their speechlessness, the person laughed: "You three must be from one of the Overseas Immortal Sects, right?"

"Oh?"

Wen Renying raised an eyebrow: "How do you know that?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"If you weren’t from overseas, how could you call Sword Valley Xuanxiao Mountain?"

The man chuckled softly and said, "Ever since the duel between saber and sword a hundred years ago, when the Demon Saber Dao Sword destroyed Wind Cloud Peak and the Xuanxiao Five Peaks, this Xuanxiao Mountain has not lived up to its name. Today, it is nothing more than Sword Valley, with no trace of Xuanxiao Mountain."

"Sword Valley!?"

Gux Shenxiu’s eyes narrowed, faintly revealing a killing intent.

Fortunately, Wen Renying quickly intervened to shield him, preventing any alarm to the passerby who was only at Foundation Establishment cultivation: "Then why is it called Sword Valley..."

Saying this, he gestured to the passersby carrying sabers and swords around them.

"You mean this!"

The passerby smiled, "This Sword Valley is a holy land for saber and sword cultivators of the Central Plains. Naturally, those coming and going are saber and sword cultivators."

"Sword and Saber Holy Land?"

Wen Renying frowned, "How so?"

"It all started a hundred years ago."

The passerby, being talkative, said, "A hundred years ago, at the Wind Cloud Peak of this Xuanxiao mountain, the Taidao Master and the Three Calamities Demon Monarch dueled with their saber and sword. After the great battle, the Xuanxiao Five Peaks were completely destroyed, and Wind Cloud Peak shattered as well.

However, Xuanxiao Mountain is still a Tier Five Spirit Mountain. The rocks of Wind Cloud Peak and the Xuanxiao Five Peaks were polished by the Gang Wind, nurtured by spiritual energy, and became extraordinary. They even preserved some of the saber and sword techniques, saber and sword intents of the Taidao Master and the Three Calamities Demon Monarch.

Later, some cultivators traveling here discovered fragments of these mountain rocks in the valley, comprehending the saber and sword techniques and intents contained within. Surprisingly, someone actually comprehended the Taidao Master’s Sacrificial Demon-slaying Sword Technique and the Three Calamities Demon Monarch’s Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber Technique from them.

As word spread, countless cultivators came upon hearing the news, excavating rock fragments to comprehend the techniques of saber and sword. Over time, the ruins of Xuanxiao Mountain turned into the holy land of Sword Valley."

The man spoke at length, explaining the cause and effect.

"Sacrificial Demon-Slaying Sword?"

"Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber?"

"Saber Techniques and Sword Techniques?"

"Saber and Sword Intents?"

The three exchanged glances, all knitted their brows, and then looked back at the man, "Then the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber is a demon cultivation method. Qingming Sword... and the Taidao Master just let it be?"

"Let it be?"

"Of course not!"

The passerby shook his head, "After the affairs of Sword Valley came to light, the Taiyi Daoist Palace promptly arrived, sealed off this area, and retrieved those mountain rocks. Even the Taidao Master personally came to this mountain and meditated for several years before leaving."

"Meditated for several years?"

The trio’s brows furrowed further, their eyes filled with disbelief: "And then?"

"Then Sword Valley was opened by the Taiyi Daoist Palace."

The passerby smiled lightly and said, "Moreover, within the valley, sixteen-sided sword and saber steles have been erected, chronicling the eight unique moves and their artistic conceptions of both the Sacrificial Demon-slaying Sword and the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber, made available for public exhibition and enlightenment."

"This..."

Wen Renying frowned, unsure what to say.

Gux Shenxiu’s eyes turned sharp, "Isn’t that the same thing, allowing the spread of demon skills, is this the good deed done by the Taiyi Daoist Palace?"

"How can you speak like this?"

The man furrowed his brow, immediately stepping back, creating a three-step distance.

"My little brother speaks too impulsively, if there’s any offense, please forgive him!"

Fortunately, Wen Renying stepped forward to calm things down, "But the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber is indeed a demon path technique, this kind of spread is somewhat inappropriate, isn’t it?"

"Is it impulsive, or does he speak without thinking?"

Though the man was somewhat on guard, the scholarly air of Wen Renying persuaded him.

"The Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber Technique within Sword Valley is indeed the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber Technique of the Three Calamities Demon Monarch, but after verification by the Taidao Master, this saber technique is now different from the original Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber. It no longer possesses that extreme annihilative demon intent, but instead focuses on the heart of slaying karma and judgment. Though it is a demon saber, it is a saber for slaying demons and can be used for orthodox purposes to protect the dao."

"Therefore, the Taiyi Daoist Palace did not destroy the Xuanxiao rock fragments that contained the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Saber Technique, but instead refined and forged them into these eight saber steles for people to comprehend. Even the Taidao Master occasionally comes in person to reflect and inspire, verifying the saber and sword together."

The man glanced at the cold-faced Gux Shenxiu behind him, then turned to the gentle and approachable Wen Renying, "Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear those words a moment ago, but I advise you three to watch your words. This is the Central Plains, not overseas, how can you speak without restraint, slandering people, even the Daoist Palace?"

"..."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yuu Lingying remained silent, Wen Renying did not speak, but only Gux Shenxiu’s brow twitched, anger surging with killing intent.

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you for the reminder, friend!"

Fortunately, Wen Renying restrained him, then spoke to the man, "The sixteen-sided sword and saber steles within Sword Valley, do they really record the techniques and essences of the Demon Saber Dao Sword?"

"How could it be false?"

The man solemnly replied, "Not to mention the Central Plains cultivators, even those overseas Immortal Sects, self-proclaimed orthodox beings, have many who come out of admiration.

Apart from that, there are also the remnants of the ancient Xuanxiao mountain rocks available for testing swords. Often, cultivators gain enlightenment from the steles and leave their own saber and sword techniques and essences in the valley. As a result, besides the sixteen-sided sword and saber steles, hundreds of saber and sword diagrams exist within the valley.

Observing these diagrams and steles for cultivation can greatly advance one’s sword and saber methods and even comprehend the principles of demon saber destruction and dao sword creation, making it a supreme Dharma Gate, a powerful weapon for slaying demons. In the last Demon-Locking Grand Competition, someone used these sword and saber techniques to capture first place on the Golden Core List, becoming the center of attention!"

"Thank you for the information, friend!"

With a middle-grade spirit stone, they bid farewell to the talkative passerby. Wen Renying turned back to look at Yuu Lingying and Gux Shenxiu, "Shall we take a look inside?"

"This..."

Gux Shenxiu frowned, somewhat hesitant.

"It wouldn’t hurt to take a look!"

Yuu Lingying was straightforward, her beautiful eyes shifting with expression, "The Sacrificial Demon-slaying Sword, is this the sword technique practiced by the Cyan Nether Sword Master?"

"Sacrificial Demon-slaying, unheard of!"

"But since it is called Taiyi, just like our Taihua being part of the Supreme Taiqing Technique Transmission, then there should be some display in the Sacrificial Demon-slaying Sword."

"It is a must-see!"

Their eyes shifted with thoughts swirling.

Gux Shenxiu also realized, gazing coldly into the depths of the valley, "Then let’s see what fame it holds!"

"Let’s go then."

Hearing this, Wen Renying said no more and stepped into the valley.