Chapter 630

Wind Xian died, leaving only his sword!

Yue Wushuang was severely wounded!

"What happened?" asked a Void Refinement cultivator who had rushed over from the Qing Tian Sword Gate.

Actually, it's not that complicated. After the grand competition began, Divine Lord Yue Wushuang had an insight and came to Mount Shu Sword Sect to discuss swordsmanship with Wind Xian Zhenren.

Normal sword discussion is just exchanging insights between each other, at most a light sparring, very common.

As for why he sought Wind Xian Zhenren, the reason is very simple.

Because the suitable opponent is truly only Wind Xian Zhenren.

If one is a sword fanatic, if Yue Wushuang's topic fails to interest him, the sword fanatic saying even a couple of sentences to Yue Wushuang is already giving Yue Wushuang face.

If the sword fanatic is interested, it's even worse—let alone three days and three nights, he might not be able to disengage even after three years.

Although Wind Xian Zhenren is cold, he is at least still a normal sword cultivator.

Unexpectedly, a major incident occurred.

"Who did it?" someone asked, "That group of non-sword cultivators?"

Non-sword cultivators actually managed to kill Wind Xian and severely wound Yue Wushuang?

Combined with the events of the Seven Sects Grand Competition, what were originally just rats and bedbugs in the gutter have suddenly turned into man-eating beasts.

A shadow fell over the hearts of the sword cultivators present.

Even more unsettling is that no one knows how many of the cultivators present are non-sword cultivators.

The fact that non-sword cultivators dare to provoke proves their strength is sufficient to threaten the sword cultivators' ruling position.

Perhaps the friend, disciple, or even master standing beside you might be a non-sword cultivator.

This situation of "everyone is an enemy," everyone in danger, unable to trust each other, brings an impact that may even surpass Wind Xian being killed and Yue Wushuang severely wounded.

No one spoke.

Including those few Void Refinement big shots, all were silent.

The injured disciples retreated to the side, seizing the time to heal their wounds.

This cultivation world's development is somewhat deformed; the quantity of medicinal pills specially used for healing wounds is small, and their quality is not high. Sword cultivators have strong combat power, but after being injured, recovery is also slow.

"Mmm..."

At this moment, the severely wounded and unconscious Yue Wushuang suddenly made a slight movement, his eyes opening.

"Divine Lord!"

"Divine Lord!"

A group of people exclaimed in unison, unable to hold back as they stepped forward.

The two Void Refinement sword cultivators of the Qing Tian Sword Gate guarded beside him, preventing any mishap.

"Help me up." Yue Wushuang's voice carried inevitable weakness, along with anger.

Lei Zhengyang hurriedly helped Yue Wushuang up.

The surrounding Qing Tian Sword Gate sword cultivators retreated a little, clearing some space.

"Divine Lord, what exactly happened?" asked a Void Refinement cultivator from the Tingyu Sword Pavilion.

"Demons!"

Yue Wushuang said, "It was the demon race who launched a sneak attack on us."

"What!"

This news, in terms of explosive impact, is no less than the appearance of non-sword cultivators causing trouble.

After all, the rulers of this heaven and earth are us human cultivators, sword cultivators.

The demon race is not strong at all, fundamentally incapable of threatening the human race's ruling position.

But now, the demon race has suddenly jumped out.

"There is a demon king and non-sword cultivators joining forces..." Yue Wushuang said halfway, then waved his hand, unable to continue, clearly severely wounded.

Demon king is the term sword cultivators use for powerful demons among the demon race; those bearing the title of demon king can basically match Void Refinement cultivators.

But how many years has it been since the demon race last produced a demon king?

Let alone a demon king, even great demons capable of matching Nascent Soul sword cultivators have not appeared for many years—except for the divine eagle of Wan Jian Valley, which doesn't count.

That eagle is actually not a sentient being; the demon race refers specifically to those monsters that have gained spiritual intelligence.

The demons themselves do not regard unintelligent wild beasts or demon beasts as "demon race."

As known by the sword cultivators, the strongest demons have strength no more than equivalent to Nascent Soul cultivators.

The demon race is not as "weak in momentum" as non-sword cultivators, but it also fundamentally cannot be considered a threat.

Even to a certain extent, sword cultivators are allowing various demon beasts and demons to grow, using them to temper new sword cultivators—for example, Mount Shu Sword Sect does just that.

Moreover, demon beasts themselves are resources; the divine eagle sword of Wan Jian Valley is obtained this way—making full use of things.

No one expected that the demon race and non-sword cultivators would secretly grow continuously, and when they act, it's a thunderbolt strike.

"Return to the sect." Several Void Refinement elders from various sects spoke up, leading their disciples, rushing back to their sects at full speed.

Perhaps their sects have also suffered disaster.

The Qing Tian Sword Gate also bade farewell to Mount Shu Sword Sect, taking the severely wounded Yue Wushuang and leaving.

The two Void Refinement sword cultivators of Mount Shu Sword Sect gazed at Wind Xian's sword, lying on the ground covered in cracks, their eyes flashing with chilling sword intent.

Returning to the Qing Tian Sword Gate, rushing forward at full speed, faster than before.

In the sect, nothing happened; they were still unaware of the major incident, a scene of peaceful tranquility.

Many disciples still hoped that in this grand competition, Tang Elder would secure a first place for the sect; with Tang Elder's strength, it would certainly not be a problem.

Unexpectedly, when the flying shuttle returned, what came back were several pieces of extremely bad news.

Non-sword cultivators and the demon race causing trouble, the seven major sects suffered heavy losses.

The worst off was the Shu Mountain Sword Sect — its disciples suffered heavy casualties, and to top it off, even one of its Three Strongest Swords, True Man Feng Xian, perished.

Upon returning to the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate with the heavily injured Yue Wushuang, even the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate's two Void Refining elders — who had little time left, one foot already in the coffin, and were known to only a handful of people — showed their faces.

Four Void Refiners and Yue Wushuang all entered seclusion together to treat his injuries.

Sect Master Lei Zhengyang and a group of Spirit Transformation elders, with a strong-handed attitude, temporarily stabilized the sect's situation.

Half a month passed.

As the news spread, not just the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, but the entire cultivation world was in a state of panic, a perfect picture of an impending storm.

Before long, non-sword cultivators began attacking some sword cultivator sects.

Moles taking action and causing heavy losses also occurred from time to time.

Press down the gourd and the ladle floats up — various matters rose and fell one after another.

Most significant of all was the appearance of a Spirit Transformation cultivator known as the "Blood Demon True Lord," who exterminated six sects in a row and fled for his life under pursuit by the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.

Some minor sects began migrating toward the Seven Great Sects' territories, seeking shelter.

Whatever the case, within the Seven Great Sects' domains, at least such dangerous Spirit Transformation cultivators would not be rampantly slaughtering — except for the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.

Because the entire Shu Mountain Sword Sect directly sealed its gates.

The sword cultivators still guarding the mountain gate numbered less than two-tenths of the original.

The remaining sword cultivators, including two Void Refining sword cultivators, had already left the mountain gate, madly hunting down the demon race and non-sword cultivators.

Using actions to tell everyone: a blood debt can only be repaid with blood.

The names of non-sword cultivator organizations like the Exterminate Sword Alliance and the Shatter Sword Alliance also gradually became known.

For instance, that Blood Demon True Lord was an important member of the Shatter Sword Alliance.

Sword cultivators had immersed themselves in past glory for too long; non-sword cultivators had hidden too deeply.

To this day, sword cultivators still have not launched any truly effective action against non-sword cultivators, merely engaging in passive "defense and counterattack."

Various internal mole-hunting efforts also proceeded with extreme difficulty.

Non-sword cultivators managed to hide for so long — how could they be so easily caught?

It was mostly demon beasts that suffered, after all the demon race had also allied with non-sword cultivators.

But wanting to obtain any useful information from the demon race was also an impossible task.

The demon race is a collective term — all sorts of messy creatures; those that have opened their spiritual intelligence are called the demon race.

Scattered across the land, heaven knows which demons among the demon race are cooperating with non-sword cultivators.

Sword cultivators don't even know what kind of demon that Demon King actually is.

According to rumors from the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, even Yue Wushuang didn't figure it out before suffering severe injury.

However, the Divine Lord immediately counterattacked, likewise heavily wounding that demon; for the time being there's no need to worry about that Demon King coming out to stir up trouble.

If not for Yue Wushuang's immediate counterattack, his injuries would not have been this severe.

The cultivation world could be described as rocking in wind and rain.

Under such circumstances, Tang Luo and Qi Jinghuan met again — openly and aboveboard.

Qi Jinghuan was Tang Luo's recommender; now Tang Luo has risen meteorically, becoming a Spirit Transformation elder of the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate, a true pillar of strength.

Out of old sentiment, letting Qi Jinghuan hug a thigh — perfectly normal.

"Congratulations, Protector, on achieving Spirit Transformation True Lord!" In the tavern, Qi Jinghuan cast a spell to isolate the outside world and congratulated Tang Luo.

True Lord is the honorific for Spirit Transformation stage; above that, Void Refining is "Venerable."

Yue Wushuang and the others have unique titles.

"Protector?"

"Yes." Qi Jinghuan took out a token; on it was the pattern he had once shown Tang Luo, though with some alterations. "Protector Tang has rendered meritorious service to our Alliance; the Alliance Master bestows upon you the position of Protector."

As a double agent.

Tang Luo climbed to the position of Spirit Transformation elder in the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate.

And then suddenly became a Protector in the Exterminate Sword Alliance — naturally he had achievements.

"Speaking of which, I don't really understand the Exterminate Sword Alliance, and also, is this Protector position impressive?" Tang Luo asked.

Qi Jinghuan revealed a brilliant smile; Tang Xuan Zang asking this proves it's a done deal!

You must know, strictly speaking, the Tang Xuan Zang before him doesn't even count as a member of the Exterminate Sword Alliance; his connections to the Exterminate Sword Alliance number only two.

One is the spell to disguise as a sword cultivator; the other is this Qi Jinghuan.

If not for his non-sword cultivator identity, someone else who went undercover all the way to Spirit Transformation elder would have turned around and killed you, Qi Jinghuan.

From then on, openly and aboveboard be a good sword cultivator.

Before there was no choice; now there is a choice.

To retain such talent, the Exterminate Sword Alliance would naturally spare no expense.

Qi Jinghuan, originally at most a mid-level member, rapidly rose to become an important member of the Exterminate Sword Alliance.

He also met the Exterminate Sword Venerable face to face.

Then came the move to have Qi Jinghuan win over Tang Xuan Zang and his two disciples.

The Exterminate Sword Alliance's composition is not complicated.

The Alliance Master, the Exterminate Sword Venerable, is also the founder of the Exterminate Sword Alliance, a Void Refining cultivator; Qi Jinghuan stated that the one who joined forces with the Demon King that day to kill Feng Xian and heavily wound Yue Wushuang at the Shu Mountain Sword Sect was the Alliance Master.

The number one among non-sword cultivators.

Below the Alliance Master are the Left and Right Envoys, identities mysterious.

Below the Two Envoys are the Four Great Protectors; Tang Xuan Zang is one of them, all Spirit Transformation cultivation.

Further down are the Sixteen Scattered Ones, Nascent Soul cultivation; Qi Jinghuan is the only Golden Core cultivator exceptionally promoted, dedicated to serving Tang Luo.

And members scattered everywhere, all told numbering in the tens of thousands.

As a Dharma Protector, Tang Luo, aside from peers, the two envoys, and the alliance leader, is qualified to know the information of any other member.

Qi Jinghuan has already brought the jade slip and handed it to Tang Luo.

There are also various levels and personal exclusive signals used by the Extinction Sword Alliance for communication.

After taking over these, Tang Luo became a legitimate Dharma Protector of the Extinction Sword Alliance, truly bound to it.

"Doesn't the alliance leader want to meet me?" Tang Luo waved his hand, taking all the information materials and the miscellaneous good things Qi Jinghuan brought.

"Protector Tang, your status is extremely high, of utmost importance; unless absolutely necessary, you must absolutely not be exposed." Qi Jinghuan said, "Now is not the time to meet the alliance leader."