Chapter 79: Sword Demon

Long moments passed before people finally recovered from their shock.

“Who is this ‘Dream-Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding? Why did Hei Jin bring so many to hunt him down—could there be a deep grudge between them?”

This was the first reaction of many.

“Hahaha, good riddance! My family’s vengeance is finally settled.”

“From what I see, this is a demonic sect infighting—they kill each other even more brutally than they kill the orthodox.”

Suddenly, someone screamed.

“Look! It’s not an elder!”

“Below! The very bottom piece!”

Yuejing gathers the entire essence of Yue State; its mountains are lined with sect gates, its stronghands numerous, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators roam its streets—its danger far exceeds other regions.

This % novel {first; release, > Please ! go : to : read!

Gong Caiyu held her breath, eyes wide as she stared at the short sword—this was the object countless generations of sect masters since the founder of Qi Xuan Sect had tirelessly sought for a thousand years.

He planned to secluded himself in Chizhou City for a while, consume and digest the remaining Ginseng Essence Qi-Elixir, and strive to complete the refinement of the twelve primary meridians of the Great Circulation.

“No.”

In comparison, the faint hostility of another man—strikingly handsome, even more beautiful than Qinghe Princess—was negligible.

Many sighed; no one doubted the accuracy of the title “Sword Demon” anymore.

After a long while, she reluctantly returned the short sword; the instant her fingers touched Jiang Ding’s palm, it vanished.

“Hold it for me.”

It is said his cultivation method requires consuming vast quantities of ten-thousand-butterfly spirits, then using them to devour human souls.

In the outer zone, two hooded figures slipped away silently, drawing no attention.

He is a dangerous figure capable of threatening Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators in close combat.

With a waft of fragrant wind, a purple shadow flashed—before them appeared a beautiful woman clad in a purple palace gown, adorned with a phoenix hairpin, her bearing elegant and noble.

“Stop!”

The handsome man’s face flushed slightly; he thrust his sword forward with equal speed, and between blade and step, illusory petals of various colors shimmered into view, breathtakingly beautiful.

Everyone followed his instruction and shifted their gaze, immediately shocked.

She glanced at the imperial gate’s opulence, drew a deep breath, wiped her tears, and handed the gatekeeper a joint-prepared invitation bearing the name “Feixue Immortaless,” ranked ninety-eighth on the Dragon Phoenix List.

“Young Master, could you…”

But she knew she had to go—her mother was waiting.

“Good, good!”

Before her stood a vermilion-painted gate, its nine horizontal and nine vertical copper nails interlaced, engraved with dragon patterns, guarded by dozens of golden-armored guards—royal wealth and power pressed down so heavily one dared not even raise their eyes.

Alone, he cultivated in silence; whether goodwill or malice, none could touch him.

“Qinghe Immortaless” Chen Xi—the Emperor’s eldest princess, granted fiefdom in Qinghe Prefecture, titled Qinghe Princess.

The woman spoke softly: “Young Master Jiang, since you’ve passed by my imperial pavilion, why not come in for a chat? I’m quite curious about the customs of Dongling.”

A soft hum—the sound of a sword—appeared suddenly in Gong Caiyu’s small hand: a crimson talisman sword, its touch warm and smooth as jade.

“Sharp perception.”

“This is the Hundred-Step Flying Sword!”

He had his own views on concealment and safety.

Gong Caiyu came to her senses, a deep sense of reluctance rising in her heart.

Jiang Ding pointed a finger.

Foundation Establishment! Definitely the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—though concealed, he could sense it.

The old woman was surprised but said nothing, merely standing behind Qinghe Princess.

“Recorded achievements: Destroyed Tiger Mountain Banditry, slain ‘Flying Tiger of Dongshan’ Lu Jingtian and his six lieutenants, killed hundreds of Tiger Mountain bandits; in the Battle of Dongling Mountain, slain ‘Black Flame Knife’ Hei Jin, ranked twelfth on the Dragon Phoenix List, and ‘Mixed Gold Knife’ Zheng Ye, along with Chen Chen of Zhendong Guard and dozens of inner qi cultivators and over a hundred fully trained soldiers.”

Simultaneously, news of a new name entering the Dragon Phoenix List’s top ten spread rapidly across the land, landing on the desks of many powerful figures.

No wonder Ou Dao’s pursuers from Dongling Prefecture scattered the moment they heard he appeared—even the Marquis House’s enormous bounty failed to move them.

“Young Master Jiang, this is Lady Liu, one of the Eight Great Heroes, known as the ‘Heavenly Poison Physician.’” Qinghe Princess Chen Xi, utterly unoffended by being ignored, explained gently: “If Young Master Jiang would often visit Qinghe Pavilion and let the sisters become better acquainted, perhaps Lady Liu might offer a few words of martial guidance.”

As a legend of the martial world, the Hundred-Step Flying Sword was burdened with too many myths, steeped in legend, and regarded by many warriors as one of the highest attainable realms.

Jiang Ding finally turned his gaze upon her, eyebrow lifting: “Isn’t Qinghe Pavilion only for women?”

“I have urgent matters—I must decline Your Highness’s kind invitation.”

Legend says Wan You’s mother, Wan Qianyu, the Gatekeeper of Ziwei Sword Sect and ‘Ten Flower Sword Immortal,’ was fiercely protective; when Wan You, ranked seventh on the Dragon Phoenix List and known as ‘Splitting Sea Knife,’ once defeated and humiliated her son, she stormed his door—so the story goes, even the Foundation Establishment elder of the Golden Knife Sect was injured.

Jiang Ding shook his head and turned to leave.

Jiang Ding suddenly spoke, startling Gong Caiyu, still dazed. “Young Master Jiang, please wait a moment!”

Jiang Ding pretended not to hear, quickening his pace.

Jiang Ding glanced at her.

In the distance, a soft, alluring female voice called out.

“Young Master, have you truly received the legacy of Qi Xuan the Elder?”

Though ranked only nineteenth on the Dragon Phoenix List, her noble status rivaled few women in the realm—her humility and courtesy alone could move even the most hardened prodigies.

Jiang Ding walked slowly along the streets of Chizhou City, fully activating his Minor Concealment Technique; passersby unconsciously overlooked his presence.

Many martial artists trembled upon seeing those few characters.

His words received no reply; the figure flickered away, moving even faster.

Gong Caiyu’s mind buzzed, overwhelmed by the recent revelations, her thoughts completely blocked.

Gong Caiyu fidgeted, her words trailing off unfinished.

As for Taiqing Divine Iron,

Not long after,

“Fourth: ‘Dream-Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding, Inner Qi perfected, lineage unknown, origin unknown, suspected to have received the legacy of Qi Xuan the Elder, founder of Qi Xuan Sect a millennium ago, and forged a Hundred-Step Flying Sword.”

“Yes.”

!.

Walking one behind the other along the street.

Her figure was graceful, her eyes glimmering with subtle implication, inviting certain thoughts.

“Another demon has emerged—the orthodox grow weaker still!”

Gong Caiyu couldn’t help asking.

“Young Master Jiang!”

“We’re here.”

“Huh?”

For any faction lacking a Foundation Establishment cultivator, such a figure must be taken seriously—carelessness invites disaster; even sects with Foundation Establishment elders cannot ignore them—all top ten Dragon Phoenix List members are potential Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Young Master, that’s not what I meant—please don’t be angry…”

Jiang Ding felt nothing, merely glanced at her, then fixed his gaze on the wrinkled old woman behind her, his expression grave, instinctively gripping his sword scabbard.

Freed from the cloak’s restraint, his vision widened considerably.

That meant never being seen!

Jiang Ding replied; his hood spun off and landed in Gong Caiyu’s hands as he turned and walked away.

“Naturally.”

“The Hundred-Step Flying Sword has appeared!”

Gong Caiyu panicked, frantically trying to explain—but the figure had already melted into the crowd, vanished completely; her eyes reddened, tears welling and falling.

Dragon Phoenix List eleventh: ‘Hundred Flowers Prince’ Wan You! His mother is Wan Qianyu, Gatekeeper of Ziwei Sword Sect, one of the Six Great Sects, known as the ‘Ten Flower Sword Immortal.’

At this moment, the handsome young man, enraged that his beloved had been insulted, could no longer hold back—he coldly shouted: “‘Dream-Eating Sword Demon’ Jiang Ding, you’re too arrogant! Dongling is a backwater—Hei Jin was merely a bully who preys on the weak. Do you truly believe yourself invincible?”

One of her embroidered slippers had fallen off during her sprint, revealing a delicate, graceful foot; she panted heavily, cheeks flushed, as if expending all her inner qi to chase him.

A soft voice reached her ears; Gong Caiyu’s tears turned to a smile.

Except when her parents were alive, this was the first time in three days she’d felt such safety—as if nothing could harm her, even heaven collapsing would be blocked by someone else, leaving her free to train joyfully.

She was not slighted; after only a brief wait, she was warmly escorted into the imperial pavilion by Qinghe Princess’s personal maid. …

After practical testing, this item was useless—purely decorative; transformation still required specialized tools and martial techniques.

If it truly was, this was no object any Nascent Soul cultivator below could handle—not even capable of destruction, let alone a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Isn’t that deliberately stirring up family disputes among the sisters?”

Zi Teng hadn’t given her this feeling; the burden of reviving Qi Xuan Sect weighed on him—every time she saw him, he looked exhausted and anxious, ultimately meeting the worst possible end.

Chen Xi laughed softly, covering her mouth: “But we sisters don’t live in a nunnery—if one of us finds a man of matching virtue, character, and family standing, surely we wouldn’t drive him away?”

Thus, ‘Hundred Flowers Prince’ Wan You was feared even more than many among the Dragon Phoenix List’s top ten.

Shh! The sword tip, wreathed in floral illusions, pierced empty air—Jiang Ding’s speed surged again, his figure vanishing into the crowd, soon gone without a trace.

“Young Master Wan, how could you strike at a guest of Qinghe? Others will think Qinghe…”

Chen Xi’s indignant voice arrived belatedly.

(End of Chapter)