My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 272 - Jiang Shang Recounts Secrets of the Past

Chapter 272: Chapter 272 Jiang Shang Recounts Secrets of the Past

Who is Jiang Shang?

People outside the Demon Sect say he’s cruel, cold-hearted, and tyrannical, quick to fight and kill at the slightest disagreement, with countless masters having died by his hand.

Those within the Demon Sect, however, see him as capricious, ungrateful but exceedingly calm in the face of major issues, often making the correct decisions.

When the Demon Sect attacked Zhao Country, facing the formidable and terrifying Black Ice Platform, they suffered a setback with significant losses. Jiang Shang did not stubbornly engage in a futile struggle with the Black Ice Platform but rather directly ordered the Demon Sect masters to withdraw from Zhao Country.

His decision was proven correct, as the Black Ice Platform was not a mere local snake in Zhao Country, and the Demon Sect was no match for them across the river; how could they possibly fight against the Black Ice Platform?

Later, when the Demon Sect lost its influence in Yan Country, he quickly led the sect out of Yan Country. Although it was a damaging blow, it did not severely weaken the Demon Sect’s vitality.

Thus, Jiang Shang is not someone without brains; on the contrary, his ability to become the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect and his many years of influential presence in Jianghu must mean he’s shrewd and strategic.

With Jiang Shang’s current cultivation and strength, he could go anywhere in the vast world, as long as he is not trapped by hundreds of thousands of troops. So why would he want to help Houjin?

Keep in mind that twenty years ago, the Demon Sect was still in Yan Country, and ninety-nine percent of the masters there were Yan’s own people. So deep down, the Demon Sect still feels a sense of belonging to Yan Country.

The people of Yan Country loathe the barbarians of the grasslands and Zhao Country, with distinct hatreds for each.

Their enmity with Zhao Country is a long-standing battle of kinship, filled with grievances.

While the disdain for the grassland barbarians is intrinsic, an anger etched into their blood and bones.

Both the Great Qin Dynasty and the Great Zhou Dynasty were deeply harmed by the grassland barbarians and had their encounters with them, but they failed to completely eradicate the barbarians due to geographical reasons and other factors.

The barbarians of the grasslands, too, are full of ambition, yearning to move south whenever they’re fed and watered. They see the people of the ancestral lands to the south as no different from the livestock they breed, believing that moving south is akin to slaughtering tamed lambs—a mindset engraved in their blood and bones.

However, since the establishment of Yan Country, they’ve purged the grasslands several times, achieving impressive results that filled the Yan people with pride and disdain for the grasslands. But due to Zhao Country’s containment, many had overlooked the rise of Houjin in recent years.

Nevertheless, many insightful people later recognized the threat posed by Houjin from the north and started taking it seriously.

Now a battle between Yan Country and Houjin is inevitable. As the foreign barbarians invade the borders, Jiang Shang chooses to collude with the barbarians, standing on their side. Why?

Does he consider the country, kinship, friendship, the Demon Sect for which he’s spilled so much essence blood, or everything else, as unimportant in his heart?

What’s the point of such a person living?

An Jing couldn’t fathom what lay behind those profound eyes, just as he couldn’t see into the Seventh Realm of Sword Dao.

Both had words they wanted to say, but neither spoke.

Because they each sought dominance, and only one who had the stronger hand could truly take the initiative.

Boom!

A deep rumbling echoed around Dongluo Pass, seemingly darkening the originally blue sky.

An Jing stood below Dongluo Pass, with True Qi flashing wildly on the surface of his body, sending out ripples in waves, stirring up a tempest.

An Jing faintly knew that besides Qi Xuan Dao, this was one of the strongest two masters he’d encountered.

The last to press him this hard had been the Sword Demon.

Jiang Shang’s eyes didn’t look sinister; they were bright and lively, that amiable demeanor hardly suggesting that he was the dreaded demon once feared by countless masters in the world.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King said indifferently, “Chief Wu, we two shall hold the fort for Sect Hierarch Jiang first.”

Chief Wu?

An Jing’s eyebrows raised slightly as he looked toward the Houjin camp.

At that moment, an elderly man with white hair leapt out, his body seemingly wrapped in bits of white frost, and then landed next to Mu Yuan Great Dharma King.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from his body, giving off the sensation of an icy chill down to the bone.

Four Qi!

The ‘Chief Wu’ in front of An Jing was also at the Four Qi level, emitting fluctuations of energy similar to Ye Ding of Blue Sky Island but weaker than Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and Jiang Shang.

But a Four Qi Grandmaster is still a Four Qi Grandmaster; if one has comprehended Heavenly Human Communication, Separating Heaven and Earth, or other methods, their strength might be even greater.

Faced with the pressing force of three Four Qi Grandmasters, An Jing’s brow furrowed slightly.

If it weren’t for Li Fuzhou, Lin Tianhai, and others still retreating, he wouldn’t be engaging the three in front of him, but at this moment, he could only try his best to delay them.

Snowy white True Qi continuously radiated from Jiang Shang’s body.

When high-level practitioners enter a showdown, sometimes it starts with a gaze.

The moment their eyes met.

Jiang Shang’s foot stomped powerfully, and ripples spread through the air beneath him. His figure instantly disappeared.

Such incredible speed!

Even the chieftain of the Snow Mountain tribe slightly changed his expression at the sight, for that speed was beyond what the naked eye of an ordinary person could perceive, faintly sensing just a glimmer of True Qi fluctuation.

Even though they also possessed Four Qi Cultivation, the chieftain of the Snow Mountain tribe had to admit that Jiang Shang’s strength was above theirs.

Whoosh!

Just as his eyes had locked onto An Jing, he saw the air ripple behind An Jing, and a white silhouette flashed into existence, that palm print covered in bone-chilling ice exuding a terrifying power, mercilessly striking towards An Jing’s back.

That speed was like thunderbolts.

Boom!

The terrifying palm print pierced directly through An Jing’s body, but not a drop of blood was spilled.

Quick!

Jiang Shang’s speed was fast, but An Jing’s speed was also extremely fast.

Jiang Shang’s expression changed slightly, and then his right leg suddenly lashed out behind him with tremendous force, his True Qi swirling, creating a massive whirlwind.

Thump!

A red glow radiating off his fingertips also heavily struck from behind, colliding fiercely with the terrifying leg wind.

Thud!

A deep sound resonated as ripples of visible True Qi spread out, and the surrounding air, unable to withstand the shock, exploded with a bang, waves of energy rolling out.

Both individuals’ bodies trembled slightly, but in the next instant, they clashed again.

Different glows erupted on both sides, which was difficult for anyone below the Grandmaster level to see, only seeing two spheres of light colliding again and again, every collision sending out vast waves of True Qi, forming tide after tide that spread outwards.

“Retreat thirty feet!”

Jin Lv shouted urgently.

“Whish! Whish!”

The army of Houjin hastily retreated, fearful of being caught in the aftermath of the Grandmasters’ Force Qi, and incurring unnecessary casualties.

Boom!

Another thunderous noise rang out, and the terrifying surge of True Qi wave blasted apart, the two figures separating from each other.

An Jing held the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, it emanated an eerily red glow, as if streams of fresh blood were flowing from the hilt to the tip of the blade, aiming straight at Jiang Shang’s throat.

The sharp Sword Qi cut through the air, the sound yet to arrive, but the sword reached first.

Jiang Shang’s body tilted to the side, flicking his fingers.

“Ting!”

What seemed like a gentle flick was actually filled with an overwhelming and tyrannical force, traveling along the Evil Suppressing Sword, causing An Jing to wince from the pain in his tiger’s mouth.

“Swish, swish!”

At the next moment, Jiang Shang’s left hand transformed into a white bone, his two fingers directly jabbing at An Jing’s eyes.

An Jing clenched tightly, the Evil Suppressing Sword whirling around into a sword flower, its cold edge alarming, chilling to the core.

Jiang Shang had no choice but to withdraw his fingers, not daring to directly confront such chilling sharpness with his strength.

Both men retreated backward, their minds as calm as still water.

While the spectating Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and the chieftain of the Snow Mountain tribe were on edge, both fighters’ moves were not only exquisite but also incredibly ruthless, each seemingly determined to place the other in mortal peril. The slightest misstep could lead to their demise.

Jiang Shang eyed An Jing in front of him, his body stirred and the entire world around him seemed to tremble, the mountains and rivers violently shaking. Then with a movement of his arm, he struck out again with a palm.

Roar! Roar!

As the palm moved, the heavens and the earth shook violently.

Though the world remained the same, the soldiers outside Dongluo Pass seemed to be unable to stand steady, their footsteps unnaturally retreating backward, their eyes revealing a look of horror.

An Jing, facing the incoming palm, swept the Evil Suppressing Sword across.

Hiss!

The Sword Radiance was dark with a hint of purple.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The exploding True Qi cleared a path, creating tumultuous waves that surged all around.

An Jing and Jiang Shang both retreated three steps backward.

“Hmm!?”

Jiang Shang suddenly felt his heart skipping wildly, as if it was about to leap out of his mouth.

With his composure as stable as solid ice, it had been many years since he’d experienced such fluctuations.

At this moment, his True Qi began to circulate, directly suppressing the strange palpitations.

An Jing saw that his Sword Skill had not taken effect, and couldn’t help but feel a shock in his heart; even when facing a Second Qi Grandmaster before, this move had been unbeatable, but now, facing Jiang Shang, it had been easily neutralized.

This alone revealed how terrifying Jiang Shang was.

Lou Xiangzhen, Luo Chongyang, Xiao Qianqiu, Jiang Shang, Ye Ding, Jun Qinglin, Qi Xuan Dao—many great experts all had their own life trajectories, and so whether it was in cultivation or life experiences, they had their unique interpretations of Martial Arts and even the Dao.

Only masters who had reached such a realm were truly great experts in Jianghu.

A great expert was not only someone with profound strength.

More importantly, they had the heart of a great expert.

Jiang Shang’s eyes were indifferent, and his palm suddenly produced streams of red swirls, as if they were going to absorb all the True Qi in the world.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, a wild wind arose. An Jing felt his body waver, and his footing became unstable, as if he could be swept away by the wind at any moment.

Heavenly Demon Technique! Heavenly Demon Star Splitting Palm!

Boom!

This palm strike had the force of a small mountain falling, yet this formidable force was concentrated into an area the size of a palm.

An Jing gently caressed the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword with his hand, suppressing the Qi Force coming with the wind.

Hiss! Hiss!

Pale golden Sword Qi burst forth from An Jing’s palm and surged towards the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword. In an instant, the Evil Suppressing Sword was enveloped in a faint golden light.

A golden longsword appeared before everyone’s eyes, shining with a captivating brilliance as if it were the most beautiful firework in the world.

The sound of a sword’s hum emerged from the blade of the Evil Suppressing Sword, causing everyone’s hearts to tremble as if they were about to leap out.

An Jing gripped the hilt and looked up at the palm print in the sky with its devastating power. With a flick of the Evil Suppressing Sword in hand, he charged forward.

An Jing met the fierce wind head-on, his robe fluttering with its force.

Finally, the tip of the sword and the palm print collided fiercely.

Clang!

Suddenly, a True Qi Storm spread out from the center, causing the heavens and the earth to tremble madly.

But neither the palm print nor the sword tip moved back even half an inch.

The next moment!

The pale golden Evil Suppressing Sword suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The palm print in front showed hairline fractures like a spiderweb, and then with a bang, shattered into pieces.

Jiang Shang took several steps backward.

Having gained the upper hand with his move, An Jing seized the moment and swiftly attacked Jiang Shang.

How terrifying would it be for a Sixth Realm Swordsman possessing the third-ranked sword on the Famous Sword List?!

At this moment, everyone became aware of it, feeling as if its chilling edge could level a high mountain.

This was the terrifying combination of an exceptional swordsman and an exceptional sword!

Jiang Shang remained extraordinarily calm. The Heavenly Demon Technique operated, and his True Qi erupted like lava that had not been released for many years.

He channeled all his True Qi into his arm and jabbed into the void before him.

The sky suddenly seemed to darken, and an oppressively oppressive atmosphere enveloped above. The black long spear, carrying a torrent of True Qi, charged toward An Jing.

An Jing gripped his longsword and swept it forward.

Invisible Sword!

At that moment, it was as if heaven and earth shook, followed by countless piercing cold currents surging in the environment.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

An Jing’s footsteps slowly stepped forward, and countless cold auras also started revolving with him, and then he slashed with his sword toward the black tide ahead.

The sword radiance seemed to fall from an insurmountable gap, pressing down heavily toward the black wave in front.

The sword radiance and the black tide collided violently, the dazzling gold and black light reflecting off each other to the extreme.

Boom!

A piercing roar rose up, as if turning into tangible waves, spreading outward in circles, causing some of the soldiers in the front to start bleeding from their ears, their bodies retreating backward continuously.

Thirty zhang of distance still seemed not enough!

An Jing’s arm shook, feeling a powerful force emanating from in front, and despite having practiced body refining martial arts like Brahma Heart Sees Me, his body still floated upwards, scraping out a long wave in the ground.

Jiang Shang’s originally ruddy face also turned pale.

Jiang Shang, too, had practiced Heavenly Martial level body refining martial arts; otherwise, how could he have withstood a strike from Xiao Qianqiu in Zhenyi Mountain and lived to tell the tale?

But facing the piercing cold True Qi, he felt an icy chill in his heart and immediately said without any hesitation, “Great Dharma King, Chief Wu, let’s act together.”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and the chief of the Snow Mountain tribe exchanged glances, their hearts trembling, and then they nodded in acknowledgment.

Both of them flanked An Jing from the left and the right.

For a moment, a tremendous pressure assailed An Jing, the oppressive feeling silent and breathless like a mountain descending upon him.

In this day and age, how many experts were there who could force three Four Qi Grandmasters to join hands?

Only Five Qi Grandmasters would have this kind of scene and attention.

An Jing glanced at the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand and then looked at the three people in front of him, his heart heavy.

Jin Lv stood afar, his heart also churning, and then he motioned with his hand, “Bring the war drums.”

Following his order, the Houjin soldiers brought over the war drums.

Jin Lv dismounted from his horse, picked up the war drum, and began to beat it.

“Dong!”

The explosive sound reverberated through heaven and earth.

“Kill!”

The Houjin soldiers also shouted with arms raised.

“Dong! Dong!”

“Kill! Kill!”

The drumbeats accompanied by the killing shouts echoed across Dongluo Pass, shaking the heavens.

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

Jin Lv’s drumming grew more urgent, and the combat noises of the Houjin soldiers grew louder.

The tens of thousands of Houjin soldiers, seeing the Ghost Swordsman before them wielding a sword single-handedly, felt their hearts pounding wildly.

One man defending an entire city.

Facing three Four Qi Grandmasters and tens of thousands of troops with composure, what kind of valor was this?

…..

Northern Wilderness, Heavenly Water City.

Heavenly Water City was an extremely important strategic location.

Gazing out at the vast land, one couldn’t help but feel their blood boiling and a poignant sense of heroism, pondering countless thoughts that inevitably stirred deep emotions.

The vast desert, the boundless Snow Mountain, the brave and bold men…

One could almost see the countless defenders of the homeland, facing death without fear, singing and drinking heartily in the endless moonlight and boundless battlefield, their spirits high and free, generous and unrestrained.

Throughout thousands of years of history, this place had changed hands several times, giving rise to countless figures, heroic warriors on the battlefield, chivalrous men who sang in the face of sorrow, poets of stunning talent, and far-sighted merchants…

However, now, there was more a sense of heaviness.

Hundreds of years ago, a famous general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Wen Xi, had killed hundreds of thousands of barbarians from the grasslands here, even beheading the so-called mightiest Khan of the grasslands, Hei Yu Khan, creating a mountain of skulls and rivers of blood.

Therefore, it was known as the collar of the ancient wilderness, whoever controls the Northern Wilderness controls the ancestral lands.

After the Great Zhou Dynasty disintegrated, the Northern Field fell into the hands of the steppe tribes. At the time, the steppe tribes raided southwards, kidnapping many women and looting wealth, and they began to vigorously develop Heavenly Water City and construct Beiping Pass.

Over time, the Northern Field inadvertently became the territory of the steppe.

Great Yan’s hundreds of thousands of troops departed from the Northern Wilderness Dao, marching mightily towards the Northern Field. With the help of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, Beiping Pass only withstood the onslaught for half a day before it was breached.

Following that, three hundred thousand troops split into three divisions, launching an attack on Heavenly Water City. Along the way, they were unstoppable, encountering no effective resistance from the Houjin, and soon arrived at Heavenly Water City.

The three hundred thousand troops eventually regrouped at Heavenly Water City, and after resting for half a day, they directly commenced their offensive.

Water Cloud Banner’s leader had long known that Wang Shiyi would come, but he still underestimated Wang Shiyi’s determination, sending three hundred thousand troops on a campaign that clearly aimed to swallow the entire Northern Field whole.

His temperament was steady and seasoned, and he managed to avoid the many traps and plots laid by the experts of the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall and Li Qirong, despite their encirclement.

Wang Shiyi had no choice but to launch the most primitive siege tactics, leading three hundred thousand troops to attack Heavenly Water City from dawn to dusk.

The battle roared like thunder and was enormously brutal.

The ground was strewn with corpses and soaked with blood, layer upon layer, while the soldiers’ armor was drenched with a mixture of blood and sweat.

Dark clouds thundered in the sky, slashing lightning across the heavens, and the blood-red scent of carnage spread across the momentarily silent, then raucous battlefield.

The piled up remains were grotesque and terrifying, and the heavy atmosphere was nearly suffocating.

At this moment, both sides had paid a heavy price; it was a dire calamity with rivers of blood.

Great Yan’s soldiers ceaselessly launched wave after wave of attacks, with blood and corpses everywhere under the city walls.

Blood mist whirled in the air, and lamentations flowed across the land, creating a human ruin, fragmented like broken eaves and shattered walls.

The fallen soldiers still had a glimmer of longing in their eyes, but it quickly turned to ashes of despair—each soldier represented the cornerstone of a family.

And the fall of each soldier signified the collapse of a family.

In the face of war, life is the cheapest commodity.

Soldiers wildly swung their weapons to hack and slash, their cries of despair and the drumming thundering like roaring thunder.

Wang Shiyi, under the protection of the experts from the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, even took part in the battle himself, as several experts from Soul Seeker Mansion continuously launched assaults, all of whom were eventually slain by Wang Ningshui.

This greatly boosted the morale of the Great Yan soldiers.

All three gates of Heavenly Water City, except for the North Gate, were subjected to ferocious attacks by the Great Yan army—the attack near the North Gate was thunderous, but with few raindrops.

However, the Houjin general in charge of defending the North Gate did not dare to reinforce the other three gates rashly; if this were a ruse by Great Yan and the North Gate fell, he would not have enough heads to roll.

Even though he knew it was an open scheme, he could only swallow it.

Inside the commander’s tent, Li Qirong was looking at the sand table in front of him and couldn’t shake the feeling that something odd was happening, an uncomfortable premonition.

Wang Chong, the son of Wang Shiyi, laughed, “General Li, we should be able to recover the Northern Field soon, right?”

Being the son of Wang Shiyi, Wang Chong was reckless and lacked steadiness and calmness. Yet, he possessed considerable strength, which is why Wang Shiyi dispatched him to ensure the safety of Li Qirong.

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“To recover…”

Li Qirong muttered to himself in a low voice and did not answer Wang Chong.

Recovery of the Northern Field—if truly successful—would surely be recorded in the annals of history.

However, Li Qirong’s heart was filled with escalating trepidations.

……

Meanwhile, within Heavenly Water City, the face of the Water Cloud Banner’s leader was furrowed with tight brows, he stared fixedly at the map in front him. “Send an urgent report to General Jin, and also send an urgent report to the Royal Court, requesting reinforcements at the fastest speed.”

He had originally thought that it wouldn’t be difficult for Water Cloud Banner’s hundred thousand troops to defend Heavenly Water City for ten days, but he never expected that Wang Shiyi would not even consider reinforcing the Demon Sect. Instead, he had sent all the Great Yan troops northward to invade Heavenly Water City.

This was just too ruthless!

Whether for the Demon Sect or for Houjin, this was an unanticipated move.

Especially since the army formation was interspersed with many Jianghu experts, making the original plan to steadfastly defend the city much more complicated.

After all, even for a Second Grade expert like the leader of the Water Cloud Banner, if confronted by top Jianghu martial artists, it was possible to be instantly killed.

Should the Water Cloud Banner’s leader perish, the battle situation could undergo a drastic change.

Therefore, he must ensure his own safety.

“Report! General Chama has died in battle! The West Gate is requesting reinforcements!”

Just then, a Houjin soldier hurriedly ran in.

The flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner clenched his jaw and thought to himself, “All of the City Lord Mansion’s guards have been dispatched to the South Gate, where could there possibly be soldiers to send as reinforcements?”

Another soldier came running in, “Report! The East Gate is under fierce attack by experts from the Five Lakes and Four Seas Hall, requesting reinforcements.”

The rage of the Shuiyun Banner flag-bearer was uncontainable, “Tell them reinforcements will arrive tonight, everyone must hold their ground, I’ll chop off the head of anyone who dares retreat!”

Hearing this, two soldiers turned and left quickly.

The deputy general beside him, hearing this, whispered, “Flag-bearer, the frontline situation is critical, and reinforcements from the rear need two days to arrive, where will the reinforcements come from tonight?”

The flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner’s eyes flashed with a hint of blood as he said coldly, “There are no reinforcements, but they must hold their position. If Wang Shiyi breaches the gates, they will die, you will die, and I will too.”

The deputy general couldn’t help swallowing hard, feeling a chill overflow in his heart.

Once Heavenly Water City falls, North Field will lay open like flat land, exposed to the onslaught of the Great Yan army, allowing Yan Country to strike deep into the hinterlands of Houjin.

The flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner asked, “At which gate is Wang Shiyi?”

The deputy general replied, “The South Gate.”

The flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner adjusted his armor and said, “Follow me to the South Gate.”

The deputy general was momentarily stunned, but quickly responded, “Flag-bearer, the South Gate is extremely dangerous right now. Wang Shiyi has many experts with him, if you’re not careful…”

The flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner gave the deputy general a look and said coldly, “You can stay at the City Lord Mansion.”

With that, the flag-bearer of the Shuiyun Banner marched towards the city walls.

……

At the base of Dongluo Pass.

The sound of war drums thundered, followed by even more deafening fighting.

Moving south was something etched in their blood and bones.

No one could stop them.

The voices of the Houjin soldiers were fierce, excited, and cruel. Once they overran Dongluo Pass, they could head south without restraint.

Three Four Qi Grandmasters launched attacks against An Jing at the base of Dongluo Pass, each one of them among the top in the present age, sparing no effort with every strike, exerting their full power.

Jiang Shang stepped forward, and his back surged with True Qi.

Nine Tower Exquisite Body Refining Technique!

The Nine Tower Exquisite Body Refining Technique was a Heavenly Martial level Body Refining Martial Art. Once perfected, the practitioner’s body became incredibly sturdy and powerful, surrounded by a pagoda which made it nearly impossible for True Qi of the same realm to break through.

Jiang Shang had spent years to successfully cultivate the Nine Tower Exquisite Body Refining Technique.

Before Jiang Shang could act, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s body shook, his True Qi pressure spreading towards the front.

Faced with the wild and domineering attitude of the two, An Jing paid them no attention. He slightly clenched his five fingers, grasping the Evil Suppressing Sword tightly in his palm, readying his mind.

Both Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and Jiang Shang were stronger than the chief of the Snow Mountain clan. Now, with the three joining forces, even An Jing had to be cautious.

Whoosh, whoosh!

A towering wave slowly swept up from behind An Jing, growing rapidly with the wind. In moments, it reached tens of meters high, obscuring the whole world with its True Qi surge.

Standing in the midst of the giant wave, An Jing faced the wind, looking coldly at the three opponents before him.

When Mu Yuan Great Dharma King saw the towering wave rise from the ground, his heart jolted, and the chief of the Snow Mountain clan, realizing An Jing’s prowess, tensed up and quickly moved to Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s side.

Sensing the earth-shattering momentum ahead, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King dared not take it lightly and nodded immediately.

The two simultaneously drew True Qi from their dantians and started to perform their signature martial arts.

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s arm trembled like a writhing dragon, veins bulging as his True Qi began to twist wildly. He slashed with the giant blade in his hand, unleashing a ferocious dragon-like Sword Light that charged at An Jing.

Seeing Mu Yuan Great Dharma King take action, the chief of the Snow Mountain clan did not hold back his signature skill any longer.

Snow Mountain Immortal Finger! Snow Cavalry in the Sky!

Nine figures appeared in the sky, each seeming as real as the chief of the Snow Mountain clan himself. Then, all nine shadows extended their fingers, striking at An Jing from all directions.

With two Four Qi Grandmasters working together, the terrifying assault was enough to take anyone’s breath away.

An Jing’s foot stamped forward fiercely, and the air around him seemed to explode with his momentum, scattering in all directions.

Nine-character Sword Technique! Lin Character Secret!

The tens-of-meters-high wave crashed down with An Jing’s sword strike, overwhelming the entire sky.

The True Qi wave rolled out like an ocean, directly confronting the nine figures in the sky and the ferocious dragon.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

When the True Qi collided, it was like a volcanic eruption, countless dots of True Qi exploded into sparks, scattering across the sky.

The sea-like True Qi dispersed instantly, and so did the nine Snow Mountain tribe chieftains. The violent tide of True Qi surged away, and the dragon figure was also blasted apart.

An Jing’s face suddenly turned pale, and he continuously retreated backward.

Just at that moment, Jiang Shang charged over swiftly, his offensive surge like a high tide, striking towards An Jing’s chest. But facing the combined effort of two Four Qi Grandmasters, he had already used all his strength, it was already too late for him to dodge.

“Thud!”

This palm struck heavily on An Jing’s Protective True Qi, but the next scene was somewhat unexpected to Jiang Shang.

Eighty percent of the palm’s force seemed to have passed through his body, striking the city wall of Dongluo Pass behind him.

“Boom!”

The already damaged city wall could no longer bear the load and collapsed with a thunderous crash, raising a cloud of dust into the air.

After retreating several steps backward, An Jing finally steadied himself. Clearly, ‘taking’ Jiang Shang’s palm had not resulted in any severe injuries.

“What a powerful Heart Method Secret Technique, it actually shifted my force Qi away,” said Jiang Shang, his mind quickly piercing through the mystery.

The next moment, the Snow Mountain tribe chieftains charged again, with one finger’s light wavering between heaven and earth, turning the surrounding temperature bitterly cold, with even crystal-clear snow flakes falling.

Snow Mountain Immortal Finger! Snow Kill Three Thousand!

This move was the strongest assassination move within the Snow Mountain Immortal Finger, a technique seldom used by the tribe’s chieftain.

Just as An Jing had stabilized himself, his Evil Suppressing Sword pointed straight out.

The sword tip and the finger light touched, the sharp Sword Qi and the cold True Qi intermingled, and instantly, force Qi crazily overflowed from the center of the collision.

The complexion of the Snow Mountain tribe chieftain changed drastically, and his feet floated above the ground as he rapidly retreated backward, leaving a long trace.

Seeing this, Mu Yuan Great Dharma King gripped his massive blade and ferociously cleaved forward.

“Thump!”

A tremendous blade descended from the sky, bringing with it an extremely fierce might.

This blade interrupted An Jing’s offensive against the Snow Mountain tribe chieftain, and with a slap of the Evil Suppressing Sword, An Jing turned it into six Sword Lights that shot forward.

As the six Sword Lights grew larger, they then transformed into six giant Flying Swords crossing through the air.

In a fleeting moment, An Jing seemed to see something unusual in the trajectory of the six giant swords, where there seemed to be profoundly deep mysteries of Sword Dao hidden within.

Sword Array!?

But at this critical moment, he had no time to ponder.

The six giant swords, carrying a mighty torrent of sharp cold air, rushed forward.

The three opponents quickly used their Divine Skills in response, with the Snow Mountain tribe chieftain contributing the most effort, followed by Mu Yuan Great Dharma King. Jiang Shang, who had earlier attempted a deadly strike, was now exerting the least effort.

Handprints, Blade Light, and Finger Light formed a tri-colored stream, clashing with the six giant swords ahead.

“Thud!”

Instantly, a standoff formed, with the six giant swords visibly retreating at a speed visible to the naked eye, and shocking ripples manifested around them.

With three Four Qi Grandmasters working together, only a Five Qi Grandmaster could withstand them in all the world.

An Jing furrowed his brows as the “Nameless Heart Scripture” began to circulate, the force being diverted and absorbed, instantly relieving the pressure. The six giant swords also stabilized the situation.

The scene suddenly became deadlocked, with half of the sky occupied by the six giant swords and the other half by the True Qi of the three opponents.

Glittering True Qi flowed, emitting a surreal and dazzling array of lights.

A showdown between four of the world’s top martial artists, such a spectacular scene is something seldom any Jianghu people could witness, otherwise, learning one or two moves from it would be incredibly beneficial.

“Thump! Thump! Thump!”

Under the stalemate, the vast True Qi still spread outwards, causing continuous rumbling noises within several hundred yards, turning trees, city walls, and rocks into dust.

“What’s going on here?”

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King and the Snow Mountain tribe chieftain looked at each other. Just now, the two of them had joined forces to drive the Ghost Swordsman into a continuous retreat, but now the three of them were evenly matched?

“Roar!”

Just when both of them were filled with confusion and disbelief, a low roar came from afar.

Before they could regain their senses, a black and gold light suddenly appeared in front of them, and a sharp and unmatched blade light came from the distant sky.

This black and gold blade light heavily struck upon the trio’s True Qi, completely altering the situation. The Snow Mountain clan chief was subjected to an overwhelming assault, immediately spewing out a jet of blood before stumbling backwards repeatedly.

Even Mu Yuan Great Dharma King’s complexion changed slightly, while only Jiang Shang waved his sleeve to block the oncoming True Qi storm, his expression remaining calm and unchanged.

Who is it!?

All the people between heaven and earth followed the blade light to see where it came from.

They saw a huge black flood dragon appear on top of the city wall, a fierce and terrifying exotic beast that greatly astonished the soldiers of Houjin.

This was a vicious exotic beast that could only be found in the accounts of books, yet now it was alive and before their very eyes.

And on the back of the flood dragon stood a woman. She was wearing a black long robe, her stunning visage carrying a hint of chill, and in her hands were two blades, one long and the other short, shimmering with a heart-throbbing glow.

The person was none other than Zhao Qingmei, and what she held in her hands were the renowned Mandarin Duck Blades.

She landed lightly beside An Jing, and after exchanging a glance, they didn’t say much more, having already understood each other.

An Jing chuckled softly, gripping the Evil Suppressing Sword even tighter.

Zhao Qingmei’s eyes, however, were looking toward Jiang Shang in the distance.

She couldn’t comprehend how Jiang Shang could help Houjin slaughter the people of Dongluo Pass, knowing that Jiang Shang was not only a person from Yan Country but also the former Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.

Could it be merely because Jiang Renyi disappeared?

Was Jiang Shang seeking revenge!?

Jiang Shang saw Zhao Qingmei’s cultivation and couldn’t help but laugh, “Little Qingmei, you have never disappointed me.”

That blade strike earlier had completely exposed Zhao Qingmei’s cultivation.

Three Qi Grandmaster!

How many people in the world could reach the Three Qi Grandmaster before the age of thirty?

Mu Yuan Great Dharma King was extremely shocked inside; the Ghost Swordsman had reached the Three Qi, and this Demon Sect Sect Hierarch had also reached the Three Qi Realm.

“What a fearsome couple.”

The Snow Mountain clan chief also felt a bit astonished, and then his expression turned solemn.

Zhao Qingmei spoke calmly, “But you keep disappointing me.”

“Disappointed?”

Jiang Shang shook his head and said, “Back then in Yu State City, when I wanted to kill this Doctor, it was because I didn’t know his cultivation level. Now that his strength is so profound, naturally, I will not hinder you.”

Zhao Qingmei let out a cold laugh and said, “And now? Leading Houjin to attack Dongluo Pass?”

“It seems…”

Jiang Shang looked at Zhao Qingmei and said, “You seem to have forgotten what happened all those years ago.”

Zhao Qingmei’s brow raised slightly.

“With Houjin heading southward, the empire of the Human Emperor of Taiping is about to falter; everyone in this world could defend his empire, except you, because…”

Looking directly at Zhao Qingmei, Jiang Shang transmitted his words carefully, “Your parents died by his hand.”

What!?

Zhao Qingmei’s pupils constricted sharply, and her hand gripping the blades trembled faintly.

Her parents had died at the hands of the Human Emperor of Taiping?

An Jing glanced at Zhao Qingmei, his eyebrows immediately furrowing.

Since Jiang Shang’s words were transmitted directly into her ears, none of those present knew what had happened.

Jiang Shang continued to question in quick succession, “Why was my sect driven out of Yan Country all those years ago, and why did my sect organize a rebellion, choosing to act despite knowing it was impossible? Do you know why all this happened?”

Zhao Qingmei asked subconsciously, “Why?”

Jiang Shang slowly said, “Because of your father, his surname was Zhao.”

…….

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