Chapter 156: 156 Am I the Demonic Cult, or Is She the Demonic Cult

"Kill!"

"Avenge the Sixth Stronghold Master!"

"..."

Countless torches were raised outside the stronghold at the same time, and then hundreds, if not thousands, of people were seen charging toward the main gate of Ningyang Stronghold.

The shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The birds and beasts in the forest were all startled and scattered.

"It's Yunxiao Stronghold!"

"Yunxiao Stronghold has broken in!"

On the east side of the drill ground, at the intersection leading to the back mountain, there was a small courtyard now serving as the settlement for the Gu Family, and a blacksmith shop had also been newly built there.

Gu Qizhang, who was busy working through the night, hoping to finish building the blacksmith shop early, was the first to react.

"Father, protect Grandfather, I'm going to take a look!"

As he spoke, Gu Qizhang grabbed an unsharpened iron sword and charged toward the main gate.

It was already late at night, and in the entire Mountain Stronghold, everyone except the Gu Family and those in the main hall had long since fallen asleep.

The Gu Family had just arrived on the mountain and wanted to establish their livelihood early, so they had not yet rested.

Gu Qizhang's father, uncles, and brothers were all focused and alert.

Having witnessed the death of Wu Laoliu with their own eyes and being the source of this incident, the members of the Gu Family were all filled with anxiety.

"Sigh! In the end, we still brought disaster upon Ningyang Stronghold!"

"Father, things have come to this, what is the use of saying such things? If you want to blame someone, blame Yunxiao Stronghold for being overly tyrannical!"

"..."

Gu Laozhang leaned on his cane, standing with his sons in front of the courtyard gate, gazing at the situation at the stronghold gate.

"That may be so, but this disaster shouldn't have implicated the Tong girl and the Great Stronghold Master Ning..."

Gu Laozhang shook his head and sighed.

And just at this moment.

A graceful, slender figure was seen arriving from the night sky.

"What are you saying, Grandfather Gu? My brother and I have been troubling you since we were young, and you and my uncles have treated my brother and me as your own. If I were to shrink back from even this small bit of trouble, would I, Yue'er, still be human?"

Tong Yuyue flew through the air and landed in front of the courtyard.

She first spoke to Gu Laozhang, then swept her gaze across the area, her brows knitting slightly as she asked, "Where is Qizhang?"

She had come to protect the Gu Family.

As for the enemies at the main gate, Liu Qingmei was there.

"Girl, Qizhang went to the stronghold gate to help."

Tong Yuyue frowned, then nodded immediately. She looked at Gu Laozhang and the others, comforting them, "Grandfather Gu, uncles, everyone rest assured. The matter here is nothing to worry about. My husband asked me to tell everyone to set their hearts at ease; it will be resolved!"

Naturally, it wasn't Ning Mu who said it.

When she arrived, her husband and the nun hadn't even left their room yet.

These words were relayed by her sister, Liu Qingmei.

She was even wondering if her husband was still lingering inside the nun even now?

The Buddha often says that emptiness is form, and form is emptiness.

But her own husband... is lustful whenever there is an opening.

And almost the moment Tong Yuyue's voice fell.

*Whoosh. *

A slender figure was seen flying through the air, speeding toward the stronghold gate.

Everyone looked up instinctively.

"It's her?"

Tong Yuyue was stunned.

That Libationer of Jixia Academy, Wei Youqing, had actually charged over as well. Was she going to stand on the same side as Ningyang Stronghold?...

The drill ground.

The Martial Hall's Stronghold Guard Team, led by Huang Yutang, An Xiaoxi, and others, was already retreating steadily, having had their main gate broken and being pushed to the middle of the drill ground.

"Xiao Xi!"

Huang Yutang shouted to alert An Xiaoxi, while simultaneously throwing his sword through the air.

The sword *whooshed* and pierced the back of a bandit holding a blade behind An Xiaoxi, running him through.

An Xiaoxi reacted in time; after dealing with the enemy in front of her, she turned and kicked the bandit away. Then, she pushed off with her toes, reaching the bandit before he hit the ground to pull out Huang Yutang's sword.

Then she raised her hand and tossed it.

"Senior Brother, catch the sword!"

Huang Yutang punched the enemy in front of him, leaving him dazed and confused, then raised his hand to grip the hilt and slashed sideways.

A line of blood immediately appeared on the enemy's neck, and blood spurted out.

The opposing side was already numerous and powerful, while the night-duty personnel of the Stronghold Guard Team and the Patrol Team only totaled a dozen or so people, most of whom were ordinary farmers, with only one or two having entered the Opening Aperture Realm.

With such a disparity in strength, they could only rely on the bitter struggle of Huang Yutang and the other former Cangjian Villa Disciples while waiting for reinforcements.

"Kill!"

"Avenge the Sixth Stronghold Master!"

"Kill these sons of bitches!"

"..."

The sounds of shouting and killing shook the heavens.

Huang Yutang and An Xiaoxi, with a mere handful of people, were already on the verge of retreating to the platform beneath the main hall.

"Split into two teams and head over there!"

At this moment.

Behind the crowd of invaders, one could see a mature woman of indeterminate age, with skin like congealed fat, a voluptuous and graceful figure, and a face like a honey peach; she wore a tight-fitting outfit and stood high atop the stronghold gate, her expression revealing coldness and murderous intent, her sleeves and ribbons snapping in the biting mountain wind, while a leather whip in her hand lashed out from time to time, seemingly shattering the air and emitting bursts of sonic booms.

Watching the slaughter on the drill ground below, Zhu Yaluan stood with one hand behind her back, and under the reflection of a crescent moon, she looked like a mature and beautiful fairy who had stepped out of the moonlight.

She had sent a challenge to Ningyang Stronghold the day before yesterday.

That she launched such a sneak attack today was a strategy she had employed, with the goal of catching Ningyang Stronghold off guard, as it was, after all, a stronghold that possessed a Grandmaster martial artist.

Wu Laoliu's vengeance must be avenged!

Otherwise, she would be failing her late husband.

Ningyang Stronghold must be destroyed; one does not allow others to snore beside one's own bed.

Xima Mountain could only have one Grandmaster! And that was her, Zhu Yaluan.

Only by maintaining her authority could her subsequent plans succeed! Otherwise, how would the Chu Kingdom Zhenwu Army look favorably upon her, a mere leader of mountain bandits?

Following her command.

In an instant.

From the disciplined ranks, two teams of men and horses split off and attacked toward the direction of the back mountain.

"Follow me!"

Wu Yuxiao gave a ferocious laugh, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, roared, and raising the blade in his hand, led his men running toward the back mountain.

And at this time.

Tong Yuyue had already woken up all the sleeping villagers of the stronghold.

It was not that she expected them to join the battle.

But rather to let them protect themselves.

However.

Just as Wu Yuxiao was charging past from the drill ground with over a hundred men.

Suddenly.

Their footsteps abruptly slowed down.

"Those who cross this line, die!"

The voice was cold and clear, permeated with a touch of scholarly elegance.

Even though the sounds of shouting and killing on the drill ground were deafening, this cold and clear voice still drowned out the other sounds, entering everyone's ears with crisp clarity.

Wu Yuxiao was startled, stopping his footsteps abruptly, and glared ahead with eyes full of vigilance.

Only to see, under the dense night, a woman wearing a long dress and draped in a moon-white robe walking out from the night with a calm expression, as if she were a fairy from a painting.

The woman was elegant and noble, like a lady of high status.

In those eyes, black as ink, though she feigned majesty, there seemed to be a hint of confusion and bewilderment.

Wu Yuxiao looked down.

Sure enough.

Not far in front of him, there was a white line! Looking at the woman opposite, a ferocious grin could not help but spread across the corners of Wu Yuxiao's mouth, and his eyes flickered with desire.

This woman, she's got spirit!

As a man, one must naturally subdue such a rebellious woman to display one's masculine charm!

"Tsk, Young Lady, are you a person of this Ningyang Stronghold?"

Wu Yuxiao clicked his tongue, his gaze scanning Wei Youqing up and down, his eyes filled with intense covetousness.

And before she could speak, he patted his chest and said righteously: "Ningyang Stronghold is full of evil, having killed my Sixth Uncle; this Young Master has come here for revenge, so I advise you, Young Lady, to stay out of this, which would save us from having to destroy a flower, hahaha..."

"After this is over, I, Wu, will certainly apologize in person, and at that time, I hope you, Young Lady, will let me taste your fragrance; if you favor me, why not become the future wife of the Yunxiao Stronghold Young Stronghold Master? How about it? Hahaha..."

Wu Yuxiao laughed heartily.

The other party was just one woman, while he had over a hundred men here, with his mother and various uncles sitting in the rear; what did he have to fear?

Wei Youqing's brows furrowed tightly.

As a student of the Academy and a Disciple of the Master, she had been immersed in a sea of books since childhood and had always been well-read, courteous, and gentle.

Suddenly hearing such vulgar and insolent words made her feel quite displeased! "Presumptuous!"

"You are frivolous and base; one look and it is clear you are no good person!"

"Get back! I don't care about other places, but behind this Libationer are hundreds of refugees; if you insist on forcing your way through, then do not blame this Libationer for being merciless!"

Wei Youqing knitted her brows and scolded him sharply.

At the same time, she secretly put forward her status as an Imperial Academy Libationer.

She had always resided within the Academy, and the fellow disciples around her were all renowned figures of Qi, placing great importance on etiquette and bound by the rules of propriety, so she had never had such an experience.

Therefore, although she was angry inside, the words she spoke, while seemingly fierce, sounded somewhat lacking in conviction to others.

Seemingly fierce, yet she could not escape her gentle and scholarly temperament.

It gave people a sense of contrasting beauty.

As her voice fell, Wei Youqing flicked her sleeves, and a faint, intangible force spread outward.

With her cultivation at the peak of the Inner Profound Realm, forcibly driving all her cultivation power could indeed serve as a certain deterrent.

But in the end, no matter how powerful the Inner Profound Realm was, it could not be a match for over a hundred martial artists.

Although she was able to cause a delay for Wu Yuxiao and the others for a moment.

It was only for an instant before Wu Yuxiao gave a ferocious grin and shouted: "Attack! This Young Master wants her alive!"

The implication being, after exhausting her Cultivation Points, she would be bound.

As for the plans thereafter, there was no need to state them explicitly; those subordinates all knew.

Wei Youqing had intentionally referred to herself by the title of Libationer, hoping to make Wu Yuxiao fear the background of the Jixia Academy and stop right there.

Yet she never imagined that although this Wu Yuxiao was a Young Stronghold Master, because he was located in a remote area and rarely came into contact with people from the Imperial Capital Linzi, he naturally did not know that "Libationer" was a unique title within the Jixia Academy, and thus he paid it no mind at all! If he had known that the person he was provoking was from the Jixia Academy, the Sacred Land of Martial Arts in Qi, he would likely have been scared out of his wits!

Offending the Imperial Court, one could still turn to banditry.

As long as one did not rebel, the Imperial Court would also turn a blind eye.

But offending this protective Jixia Academy meant being hunted across the nine heavens and ten earths, never to rest until death!

Immediately.

A group of mountain bandits raised their blades and swarmed forward with loud shouts.

Wei Youqing's expression changed abruptly.

Clearly, she had not expected that the bandits in this border region would be so bold as to have no fear even of the Academy!

Instantly, she drew the soft sword at her waist to face the many enemies alone.

Fortunately, because of Wu Yuxiao's order to take her alive, his subordinates dared not strike to kill, allowing her to hold her own for a time.

But in the end, two fists could not fight four hands; as time passed, she gradually fell into a disadvantage.

And just at this moment.

Suddenly.

A giant roar rang out under the night sky, startling everyone so that their expressions shifted slightly!

"Roar~"

Whoosh! This roar shook the heavens, and those with slightly weaker Cultivation Points felt their eardrums burst, blood flowing out, with a buzzing sound ringing incessantly in their ears.

And before the crowd could react.

The next moment.

Everyone was stunned.

They saw a beast with a massive body, covered in bone spurs and shaped like a giant lion, soar into the air from the backyard of the great hall and swoop down toward the drill ground.

Almost in a single encounter.

Over a dozen bandits lost their lives under the sweep of the beast's iron-armor-like bone tail.

Furthermore, as it swooped down, it bit one person to death and trampled two others to death with its front hooves.

That was not all.

On the back of that beast was a handsome youth, holding a fiery red long spear, his Spear Like a Dragon.

Every strike was powerful and heavy.

The spear technique looked simple, yet every move could take a life!

"Great Stronghold Master!"

"Young Master!"

"Brother Ning!"

In this instant, Huang Yutang, An Xiaoxi, Gu Qizhang, and even Liu Xiaoya, who had come as reinforcements, all felt their spirits shaken, and infinite hope surged in their eyes!

Many among them had also sustained some injuries.

The Young Master had arrived.

The Madam would naturally come as well.

And as Ning Mu rode the beast to alleviate the pressure on Huang Yutang and the others.

"Where did these petty night thieves come from, daring to attack my Mountain Stronghold!"

The next moment.

Three white silhouettes were seen flying out from the backyard.

Even under the night sky.

The awe-inspiring dignity of those silhouettes was still so shocking that one could not open their eyes to look directly at them.

As Liu Qingmei's voice fell.

Immediately following, she flicked her sleeve in a fit of rage, and this strike, containing the full force of her Cultivation Points, instantly condensed in the air into a tangible ribbon of light, attacking the hundreds of Yunxiao Stronghold thieves on the drill ground.

At the same time.

Beside her, Liuli also furrowed her brows slightly, waving her Whisk repeatedly toward the thieves on the drill ground.

Rays of Buddha light emerged.

In an instant, one could hear the continuous sound of people falling to the ground on the drill ground, along with endless wails and cries.

In the air.

Liu Qingmei and Liuli stood in mid-air, the two of them exchanging a glance.

Liu Qingmei had already drawn the precious sword from her hand and gave it a flick, the scabbard flying out and embedding itself into the stone steps of the high platform, after which she gripped the Purple Cloud Heart Locking Sword and turned to look at Liuli.

Liuli's expression rippled slightly, her gaze flickering as she said, "You go; my clothes are too revealing, it is easy to be exposed if I get too close."

She lowered her voice, transmitting it through secret telepathy.

In the air, there was no need to worry about being seen, as the night was deep.

But if it were close-quarters combat, it would clearly be easy to have a wardrobe malfunction.

Liu Qingmei raised an eyebrow, a touch of joy appearing on her face.

This nun finally referred to herself as 'concubine' instead of 'this poor nun'.

It seems the husband's campaign tonight was quite extensive! Even someone as noble as the Divine Nun is willing to fall into the mortal world.

This was clearly not the time to dwell on such things.

With a slight nod, Liu Qingmei gripped her precious sword and descended from the sky, then, with the Purple Cloud Heart Locking Sword in hand, she unleashed the immensely powerful Su Maiden Sword Technique.

And as she arrived in person, Yang Yanqiu, on the other side, also gripped a precious sword and landed at the same time.

For a moment, the sounds of slaughter shook the heavens once again.

Only this time.

They were clearly all cries for help.

Standing in the air, Liuli surveyed the entire scene, and seeing that Ningyang Stronghold had already stabilized its advantage, her heart eased.

But the next moment.

Her brows could not help but furrow slightly; she suddenly turned her head to look toward the back mountain, a hint of coldness hidden within her deep gaze!...

Following Liu Qingmei's entry into the fray with sword in hand.

Almost in an instant.

She carved out a path of blood.

From the high platform toward the stronghold gate, a straight line was suddenly cleaved open.

One could see her moving like a phantom; as she unleashed her footwork to the extreme, the sword light left behind bursts of exploding blood-colored flowers in the air.

Along that straight line, dozens of Yunxiao Stronghold bandits did not even have the chance to react; all were either dismembered, had their throats slit, were decapitated, or were pierced through the heart by a single sword strike.

This straight line was dyed by blood almost in an instant.

Even in the dead of night, it remained clearly visible.

In the air, a foul, bloody stench immediately permeated.

"Hah, am I the Demon Sect, or is she the Demon Sect?"

After wounding the person in front of him, Yang Yanqiu subconsciously turned his head to look, and upon seeing this miserable scene, he was instantly stunned, shocked by her prowess! Everywhere were severed limbs and broken arms, with corpses carpeting this straight line.

Occasionally, a few wails could be heard, but they were weak and listless, as if the breath of life could be cut off at any moment.

Those Yunxiao Stronghold bandits not in this straight line, seeing this, all felt a sense of relief in their hearts, and then scattered and retreated in terror, their eyes filled with fear and dread; though they held their Wuji, they dared not make the slightest move.

Some of the cowardly ones had even thrown away their Wuji and were lying on the ground vomiting.

Behind Yang Yanqiu.

Liu Xiaoya and An Xiaoxi were deathly pale.

Liu Xiaoya, unable to suppress the churning in her heart, leaned against the wall and could not help but retch.

When did the Young Lady become so cold and ruthless!

Along this path of slaughter, there were at least sixty or seventy people, almost none of whom survived; she had shown no mercy, and they all died under the Young Lady's sword.

And on the other side.

After resolving the enemies in front of the main hall's high platform, Ning Mu rode Lao Siji directly, and with a few leaps, arrived at the east side where Wei Youqing was located.

Following Lao Siji's roar, life after life was lost beneath his feet.

The Ten Thousand Might Flame Dragon Spear in Ning Mu's hand displayed a great advantage; riding on the back of the exotic beast, he could be said to be charging and crashing through everything.

Before long, he broke through the circle of Wu Yuxiao's men and arrived in the middle.

He stood with his spear held horizontally.

Ning Mu turned his head, looked at Wei Youqing, who was already drenched in sweat and exhausted, and raised an eyebrow: "Libationer, get on the horse!"

As the words fell, he extended the shaft of the spear.

Wei Youqing hesitated for a moment.

She took a deep look at Ning Mu, then looked at the surrounding bandits who were eyeing them covetously but were fearful and dared not approach, then she lightly tapped her toes, leaped up, jumped directly onto Lao Siji's back, and held Ning Mu with one hand.

"This matter has nothing to do with the Libationer; that the Libationer could step in to help, Ning Mu is grateful!"

Ning Mu watched the surrounding bandits while speaking to Wei Youqing, who was panting behind him.

Wei Youqing knitted her brows: "Young Master need not mind; Wei merely did not wish to see the disaster victims slaughtered."

"Who are you?"

At this moment, Wu Yuxiao, who was being protected in the middle by the bandits, had a gloomy expression and glared at Ning Mu.

"You attack my Mountain Stronghold, yet you ask who I am?"

Ning Mu raised an eyebrow, a trace of anger rising on his face.

Just a moment ago, he had noticed that several of Huang Yutang's men had already died tragically at the hands of the other party.

If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't slept tonight, but was instead flirting with the nun.

Liu Qingmei, Tong Yuyue, and the others were all watching from the outside.

I fear even more people would have died.

Even the disaster victims in the back mountain would have, as Wei Youqing said, died under the blades of this group of bandits who suddenly rushed in! At this moment, Ning Mu was truly angry!

Recalling a movie line from his past life, he swung the long spear in his hand, pointed the tip directly at Wu Yuxiao, and said coldly: "Under my spear, I do not kill the nameless; who are you?"

Wu Yuxiao's expression changed slightly.

So this person was the Stronghold Master of this small Ningyang Stronghold, that fellow named Ning Mu!

But as the Young Stronghold Master of Yunxiao Stronghold, having roamed the Xima Mountain area without ever suffering a defeat, how could he admit defeat like this? He immediately snorted coldly: "Listen well, I am the Young Stronghold Master of Yunxiao Stronghold, known in the pugilistic world as the Jade-Faced Little White Dragon, Wu Yuxiao. If you are sensible, dismount and surrender immediately, otherwise I will surely slaughter your pathetic stronghold to the last!"

"I know what you are relying on; isn't it just that slut from Cangjian Villa!"

"A mere Grandmaster, I could bury you all just by throwing bodies at you!"

Wu Yuxiao did not know at this moment that on the drill ground far behind him, Liu Qingmei had already slaughtered everyone, and his Yunxiao Stronghold subordinates had been completely terrified out of their wits; instead, he continued to sneer and make threats!

(End of this chapter)