Between Qingxiao Mountain and Ziyang Peak, many disciples had gathered on the flat ground. More disciples were still arriving from both mountains.
Ji Ya arrived with 5 Sword Sect disciples. These 5 Sword Sect disciples were the same children who had once been imprisoned with him in the prefectural underground palace. Now, they had all grown up.
Yang Lin stared at the broken log ahead, which looked like a small hill. Her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "This is way too big."
That section of broken wood stood on the grass. It was 5 zhang wide and 2 zhang tall. The grain on the wood was extremely clear, and one could vaguely see half the outline of an eye occupying the surface of the wood.
It was not just her. The other disciples watching nearby were also discussing it.
"I heard this is a remaining limb of the Qi clan's demon?"
"It's only been 3 days, and the demon raised by the Qi clan is already dead?"
"Do you even need to ask? The Sect Master must have ridden his divine eagle to the northern border."
"Yeah, we haven't seen the Sect Master these past few days. The Sect Master is really amazing, always solving the sect's major threats alone."
"The Qi clan was truly stupid. They insisted on sending a demon to harm us. That was courting death. Once they angered the Sect Master, there was absolutely no good ending."
Listening to the disciples, Yang Lin turned her head to look at Ji Ya and asked, "Did the Sect Master really go to the northern border?"
Ji Ya shook his head and said, "I don't know either, but it's true that we haven't seen him these past few days."
Hearing this, Yang Lin felt a little worried.
Another companion laughed and said, "What are you thinking about? Is there anyone in this world the Sect Master can't deal with? And the appearance of this broken log proves the Sect Master has already finished the fight. It just takes time to return."
Yang Lin thought it made sense. A smile appeared on her face again.
Not far away, Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, and the 3 brothers of the Xiao family also rushed over to join the excitement. The appearance of these 5 people made the surrounding disciples move aside one after another.
Everyone knew these 5 were disciples the Sect Master focused on nurturing. Their future achievements would likely not be inferior to Jiang Zhaoxia or Xu Ning.
Yang Lin watched them chatting and laughing. She could not help but tilt her head toward Ji Ya and ask, "Ji Ya, why don't you usually hang out with them?"
Ji Ya smiled and said, "Where would I find that much time? Just accompanying you all already takes enough."
Yang Lin frowned and said, "Actually, you don't need to come find us every time you're free. Interacting more with them will help you in the future."
Both the Seven Halls and the Sword Sect had open and hidden struggles. As a disciple of the Sect Master, Ji Ya would also be drawn into power struggles in the future. They were still young now, so such competition was not obvious, but it would be later. Yang Lin was worried that Ji Ya, being outside the core inner circle, would be targeted then.
"It's fine. We're all senior and junior brothers. Our feelings won't change. Besides, my temperament is more quiet. I can't really keep up with them," Ji Ya said with an indifferent smile.
He knew the personalities of Zhao Zhen and the others. He felt quite comfortable with their current way of getting along.
Yang Lin shook her head. But when she thought of the Sect Master, she felt relieved. With the Sect Master around, even if Ji Ya did not socialize much, nothing would happen.
In the days that followed, Xiao Ba brought back one section of demon wood every day. As the demon wood piled up, the disciples finally realized they had far underestimated just how massive this demon was.
At the same time, they also grew curious. How exactly did the Sect Master kill such a demon?
Many disciples had touched the demon wood. It was extremely hard. The sect's upper echelons even allowed them to cast techniques on a section of demon wood. No matter how they attacked, they could not damage it at all. This gave the disciples a deeper understanding of how terrifying the demon truly was.
…
Amid snow-covered mountains, Li Qingqiu, Shen Yue, and Mo Jiuhong walked forward at a relaxed pace.
Mo Jiuhong carried several large bundles on his back. He did not feel tired at all, and a smile remained on his face the entire time.
Shen Yue walked in front, one hand gesturing in the air as he studied something. He had found a sword technique manual at the Qi clan and was researching it.
Li Qingqiu held a book in his hands, reading as he walked. The book recorded ancient strange tales, which fascinated him greatly.
It was said that long ago, there were no humans on the land. Only ferocious beasts, auspicious creatures, and demon beasts roamed freely. Later, immortals descended, slaughtered the ferocious beasts and demon beasts, and captured the auspicious creatures. Only then did the land gradually become peaceful, and the human race began to migrate in.
Li Qingqiu had always been very interested in the cultivation inheritance of the Nine Provinces. Why did the cultivators of the past leave? What were they avoiding? These questions would have to be uncovered sooner or later.
In the legends of the Ji clan, a heavenly calamity had once appeared on this land. Many signs indicated that some kind of great tribulation truly existed.
Li Qingqiu felt it was necessary to prepare in advance to face such a calamity. After returning, he planned to focus heavily on formations and magical artifacts.
He had already cut the corpse of the ancient god into many pieces and assigned Xiao Ba to transport them. Such hard wood was definitely suitable for refining into artifacts.
While Li Qingqiu was thinking about the sect's future development, 2 figures ran toward them on the mountain path ahead, one man and one woman. The woman wore a soldier's armor and held a young boy in her arms. The man was a monk holding a wooden staff.
Li Qingqiu only glanced at them once before withdrawing his gaze.
Shen Yue was walking in front, fully focused on practicing his sword, and did not look up. Mo Jiuhong, however, looked ahead with curiosity.
The monk and the armored woman ran all the way over. When they approached Shen Yue, the monk spoke urgently, "Hurry and hide. The Huangquan Army is coming!"
As soon as the words fell, the ground began to tremble, and the sound of horse hooves followed.
The monk gritted his teeth and prepared to lead the armored woman into the nearby forest. Suddenly, when his gaze swept over Li Qingqiu and Mo Jiuhong, he froze and stopped in his tracks.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing him stop, the armored woman asked in surprise. Her face was tense as she spoke, and she also glanced backward, afraid that the Huangquan Army would catch up.
The monk stepped forward, bowed to Li Qingqiu, and said, "Chanding Temple's Xuhong greets Sect Master Li."
Li Qingqiu remembered him. Back when he went to Guzhou Prefecture to fight the Demonic Sect, he had seen Xuhong fight alone against many enemies and suffer severe injuries. That had been the first battle when Qingxiao Sect entered the city.
"Do you need something?" Li Qingqiu asked.
Xuhong was no longer as young as before. His face looked a bit weathered. He clenched his teeth and said, "Please, Sect Master Li, save us."
The sound of horse hooves drew closer. A group of mounted soldiers appeared at the end of the mountain path. They wore armor, had yellow scarves wrapped around their necks, and each held a long weapon. Killing intent surged from them.
Xuhong glanced at them, then turned back to Li Qingqiu and spoke quickly. "Sect Master Li, the woman beside me is Madam Xu, the wife of General Li Yuzhong of the Li clan of Linchuan. The child in her arms is General Li Yuzhong's biological son. The Li clan once resisted the Demon Emperor Zhao Zhi and is one of the rare righteous noble families in the world. The Huangquan Army listened to demon warlocks, bewitched refugees, attacked Yuling City, and abducted Madam Xu and her child…"
Before he could finish speaking, the Huangquan Army surrounded them.
Madam Xu tightly hugged the child in her arms and looked around in fear.
Xuhong gripped the wooden staff in his hand and faced the Huangquan Army with vigilance.
The leading general wore exquisite, gleaming silver armor. He smiled as he looked at Xuhong and said, "Monk, where do you think you're running now? I'll give you one more chance. Serve the Huangquan Army. Otherwise, I won't let you escape again."
Xuhong glared at him and said angrily, "The Huangquan Army attacks cities and seizes land yet does nothing good. You only indulge in pleasure, rape, plunder, and commit every evil imaginable. This monk will never serve you!"
The general leaned forward and laughed mockingly. "There are so many warlords in this world. If the Huangquan Army takes a city and proclaims itself king, it will become a target. Let the other lords fight first. We'll accumulate strength. One day, this world will belong to the Huangquan Army. When that time comes, who would dare question what we did? Monk, you probably haven't broken your vows yet, right? If you bow your head, Li Yuzhong's wife can let you enjoy yourself once. This chance won't come again."
Hearing this, Xuhong flew into a rage and was about to charge forward, but Li Qingqiu raised a hand and stopped him.
Suddenly, a figure flashed past Xuhong. In an instant, the general was dragged off his horse and slammed onto the ground. The other soldiers were shocked and raised their weapons.
The one who made the move was Mo Jiuhong.
With several large bundles still on his back, Mo Jiuhong looked down at the general on the ground and said coldly, "In front of our Sect Master, who allowed you to look down on others like this?"
So fast.
Xuhong was secretly shocked. After roaming the martial world for so many years, he had never seen Mo Jiuhong before.
As expected of Qingxiao Sect. Truly filled with experts.
Just from the movement technique Mo Jiuhong displayed, no one in Chanding Temple could compare.
"You…"
The general lying on the ground was furious and shocked. He tried to get up, but Mo Jiuhong stepped on his chest, pinning him so he could not move.
Li Qingqiu said impatiently, "Enough talk. Kill them all."
Hearing this, Mo Jiuhong immediately grinned. He bent down, raised his hand, and used his palm like a blade, directly chopping off the general's head. Fresh blood sprayed everywhere.
The cavalry's expressions changed drastically. Those nearby rushed to attack.
For a moment, horses charged, snow mist flew, and the scene turned chaotic. Xuhong protected Madam Xu and her child. He was also frightened inside. He had not expected Li Qingqiu and Mo Jiuhong to be so ruthless, killing without hesitation.
It seemed the rumors were true. Any martial sect that offended Qingxiao Sect would be completely wiped out.
Very quickly, most of the cavalry began to flee. Mo Jiuhong did not let them go and chased after them.
The mountain path soon grew quiet again. Xuhong hurriedly bowed to Li Qingqiu and thanked him for saving them.
Li Qingqiu's expression was calm as he said casually, "I did it for Li Yang's sake."
Madam Xu was surprised and asked, "Sect Master Li, did Li Yang really acknowledge you as his master?"
For some reason, she felt Li Qingqiu looked somewhat similar to her husband.
"It doesn't count as formally taking a master, but he has already joined Qingxiao Sect," Li Qingqiu replied casually.
He stepped forward and continued walking. Shen Yue followed behind him.
After hesitating for a moment, Xuhong let Madam Xu follow as well.
Along the way, corpses littered the ground.
After killing the last enemy, Mo Jiuhong stood in place and waited. When Li Qingqiu and the others approached, he squatted down and used the accumulated snow to wipe the blood from his hands.
"Shen Yue will carry your bundles," Li Qingqiu suddenly ordered.
Shen Yue, who had been practicing sword techniques, looked at him in surprise. Mo Jiuhong chuckled and directly tossed the bundles onto Shen Yue.
Shen Yue?
The Sword Saint?
Xuhong looked at Shen Yue with excitement. He also held deep respect for the legendary Sword Saint. He had not expected to meet him here.
Li Qingqiu did not refuse to let Xuhong and Madam Xu follow. From Cangzhou all the way here, they had already saved many people. Adding these 3 more did not matter.
Mo Jiuhong stretched his body and felt completely refreshed. He moved closer to Xuhong and started chatting with him, asking about what they had experienced earlier.