Chapter 632: Demon Slaying Operation

The top floor of the Sword Pavilion.

Besides various sword arts, divine abilities, and cultivation methods, there was one most important thing here: the key to the Heavenly Sword Grounds.

Before departing for the Grand Competition, it was taken along by that Void Refining elder; after the Grand Competition ended.

If the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate did not rank in the top three, it would be handed over to another sect.

With the Seven Sect Grand Competition interrupted this time, the key to the Heavenly Sword Grounds naturally had to be placed back into the Sword Pavilion.

Although he was merely a tool acting Sect Master, what Tang Luo did for the Seven Sect Grand Competition was enough to grant him one entry into the Heavenly Sword Grounds.

The few "sect pillars" responsible for assisting Tang Luo did not refuse his request to enter the Heavenly Sword Grounds.

However, when Tang Luo arrived at the top floor of the Sword Pavilion, he did not see the legendary key.

"What's going on? Where's the key?" Tang Luo looked at the "Sect Master's assistants" following behind him.

The assistants all looked at each other in dismay.

"Perhaps there were too many matters after returning, and the Supreme Elder hasn't returned it yet," someone said.

Yue Wushuang was heavily injured, affairs were tangled and myriad; for the Supreme Elder who had already entered the Heavenly Sword Grounds.

Returning the key early or late wasn't really a matter.

In comparison, the heavily injured Yue Wushuang was the top priority.

"Tsk, looks like we'll have to wait a while longer," Tang Luo said.

Fortunately there was no sense of an imminent mission deadline, so Tang Luo and the others could continue waiting.

For the next half month or so, no major events occurred.

Tang Luo sat very steadily as this acting Sect Master; at first everyone visited Tang Luo, offered congratulations where due, then went off to do their own proper business.

Aside from a very few extremely ambitious sword cultivators, the rest had no intention of openly or secretly following Tang Luo's lead.

Nor was there anyone inciting Tang Luo to stir up trouble.

Everyone understood: once Yue Wushuang's condition improved and Lei Zhengyang emerged from seclusion, the Sect Master position would still be his.

A tool was just a tool.

Moreover, this tool's strength was too great, surpassing the Sword Maniac; he was destined to be a Supreme Elder in the future, with absolutely no need to covet the Sect Master position.

Tang Luo did hold a list of the Exterminate Sword Alliance members in hand, and when idle he observed the undercover agents who happened to be in the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate.

He couldn't detect any flaws.

The highest cultivation among the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate's undercover agents was merely Nascent Soul.

No undercover agents at Spirit Severing — though it was possible a Spirit Severing undercover agent was one of the Four Great Protectors alongside Tang Luo, so Tang Luo wouldn't know his identity either.

In any case, no one secretly contacted Tang Luo to instigate trouble.

Non-sword cultivator resistance across various regions never ceased, rising and falling in succession.

A discerning person could see that compared to the two major incidents at the start, the strength the non-sword cultivators displayed now was, well, how to put it, rather ordinary.

They indeed caused the sword cultivators no small trouble.

But to say they could truly overthrow sword cultivator rule, or win status equal to sword cultivators, was still far too early.

That most limelight-stealing Blood Demon True Lord was also wounded by a Void Refining sword cultivator of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect; although he escaped in the end, with those injuries he would be unable to stir up any waves for at least a hundred years.

The sword cultivators' true heart-and-belly affliction right now was the Void Refining cultivator and the Demon King who wounded Yue Wushuang and killed Feng Xian.

Pity those two, unlike the Blood Demon True Lord, did not "show their faces."

The cultivation world has always had legends of them, yet only their legends.

Some low-level Exterminate Sword Alliance disciples were discovered and interrogated, but no information about higher-level members could be obtained from these small fry.

And the high-level members of non-sword cultivator organizations like the Exterminate Sword Alliance are not so easily caught.

Able to successfully disguise themselves and stir trouble right under the noses of Void Refining sword cultivators.

It can be said that at the current stage there is actually no effective way to distinguish sword cultivators from non-sword cultivators.

The non-sword cultivators' disguise methods are almost perfect.

Only their sword essence is slightly impure, but sword cultivators with impure sword essence are a dime a dozen.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators spotting a Foundation Establishment disguise already counts as that Nascent Soul sword cultivator being extremely sharp.

Interestingly, some sword cultivators simply used "non-sword cultivator" as a pretext to eliminate dissidents.

All kinds of messy rumors flew wildly; for a time non-sword cultivators seemed to be everywhere.

This is also a key reason why the thunder is loud but the raindrops are small right now.

Even the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate could not escape convention; there was an incident that blew up, right to Tang Luo's door.

As an Exterminate Sword Alliance undercover agent, Tang Luo very straightforwardly declared that the two true sword cultivators accusing each other were both non-sword cultivators, had them beaten, and threw them into the sect's great prison.

Awaiting the former Sect Master's emergence from seclusion for a final judgment.

Once this matter came out, everyone knew: acting Sect Master Tang Xuanzang was truly a very steady tool.

His principle of action: whoever stirs trouble, I stir trouble for them.

Lei Zhengyang's side had not emerged from seclusion, nor had any news arrived.

The Ten Thousand Swords Valley side, however, secretly sent a piece of news.

Tang Luo looked at the message from Ten Thousand Swords Valley and asked, "Is the matter true?"

The few Sect Master assistants glanced at each other and all shook their heads.

Whether it was true or not, they truly didn't know.

The news from Ten Thousand Swords Valley was that they had discovered the Demon King's tracks and secretly invited powerhouses from the other six major sects to go together and slay the demon!

The message hoped the Soaring Heaven Sword Gate could send two Void Refining cultivators and five Spirit Severing sword cultivators.

To form a "Demon Slaying Squad" together with the other sects.

"What do you think? Should we go?"

"Let's first report to the sect master... report to the Grand Elders." Someone said.

"Alright, go report." Tang Luo nodded.

As the acting sect master, he is one of the few in the sect with the authority to disturb Lei Zhengyang and the others, but he is too lazy to make the trip himself.

After receiving the news, a Void Refining elder emerged from seclusion—namely, the Grand Elder from that day's Seven Sects Grand Competition, known as "Venerable Blazing Yang."

Compared to the time of the Seven Sects Grand Competition.

Venerable Blazing Yang looks aged by more than ten years; evidently, treating Yue Wushuang's injuries has taken a heavy toll on him.

Upon seeing Tang Luo, Venerable Blazing Yang said: "Xuanzang, summon the Void Refining elders, select four of us, we will act in secret, make no noise, and depart shortly."

"Alright." Tang Luo nodded, postponing the matter of the Heavenly Sword Ground for now.

We'll inquire again after the operation is complete.

It is evident that this Venerable Blazing Yang is quite anxious; it seems Yue Wushuang's condition is not optimistic.

Dispatching two Void Refining cultivators is impossible; sending just one Void Refining cultivator to check the situation will suffice—moreover, Tang Luo can also serve as a Void Refining sword cultivator.

If the other six sects can dispatch sword cultivators of comparable strength, such a team would be sufficient to slay the demon king.

At night, Venerable Blazing Yang, Sect Master Tang, Elder Mo, Elder Hun, and two other Void Refining sword cultivators formed a small team and secretly departed from Qing Tian Sword Sect.

Zhu Bajie, Ao Yu Lie, and Xiao Tian Quan, among others, followed covertly.

Arrangements have already been made; as long as the sect encounters no major incident, Tang Luo and the others' departure can remain concealed for about half a month.

After all, cultivators often go months without appearing, retreating into seclusion to cultivate—this is normal.

Wan Jian Valley takes its name from "valley," naturally differing from a sect; their mountain gate is established within a mountain valley.

Even before approaching, one can sense a metallic aura of gold and iron.

Wan Jian Valley has considerable expertise in sword forging; the Divine Eagle Sword seen that day is one of their greatest achievements.

I do not know whether Qing Tian Sword Sect was the first, second, or however many to receive the news, but Tang Luo and the others were among the first to arrive.

The master of Wan Jian Valley, a Void Refining sword cultivator, personally greeted Tang Luo and his companions, arranged their accommodations, and ensured no information leaked.

To avoid detection by non-sword cultivators regarding this operation.

But whether it can be completely concealed remains unknown to anyone.

After all, Ting Yu Sword Pavilion once harbored a non-sword cultivator spy; no one dares guarantee that everyone present can be trusted.

The operation could be said to have not yet begun, yet already shrouded in shadow.

Over the next two days, several other sects arrived in succession.

Ting Yu Sword Pavilion sent a Void Refining sword cultivator and three Void Refining sword cultivators, all familiar faces from the Grand Competition.

Xing Jian Pai, Kun Lun Sword Pool, and Cang Jian Mountain Villa are the same in number.

Shu Mountain sword cultivators arrived last, and only two came, but both are at the Void Refining stage.

Precisely those two Void Refining elders who have been slaying enemies abroad.

Wan Jian Valley, as stated, intends to dispatch two Void Refining elders and five Void Refining sword cultivators.

Thus, the demon-slaying team totals nine Void Refining cultivators—one each from Cang Jian, Kun Lun, Xing Jian, Qing Tian Sword Sect, and Ting Yu Sword Pavilion.

Shu Mountain contributes two, Wan Jian Valley contributes two.

There are twenty-two Void Refining sword cultivators in total; among them, Li Yangzi and Tang Xuanzang, wielding the Divine Eagle Sword, can to some extent be used as Void Refining sword cultivators for a period of time.

It can be said to be an exceptionally luxurious lineup; even if the demon king possesses strength comparable to Yue Wushuang's, escape would be difficult.

"Everyone has arrived; when do we depart?" The two Void Refining sword cultivators of Shu Mountain Sword Sect impatiently urged.

"Do you two not need to rest awhile?" Said the master of Wan Jian Valley, as host and initiator of the operation.

"No need." The two Shu Mountain sword cultivators refused in unison.

These two individuals differ in appearance, height, and build.

Yet at this moment, they are like two swords drawn from their scabbards—absolute refusal to sheath until stained with the enemy's blood.

"Then let us depart; if there are any questions, we can discuss them en route." Said the Void Refining sword cultivator of Wan Jian Valley.

Before the arrival of Shu Mountain Sword Sect's Heaven-Reversing Venerable and Spirit-Might Venerable.

The two Void Refining sword cultivators of Wan Jian Valley, Jin and Feng, had already answered everyone's questions.

For example, how they discovered the demon king—there is no problem—at least it sounds unproblematic.

The two Void Refining sword cultivators could not possibly be scheming against anyone here.

What actually needs guarding against are the Void Refining sword cultivators from the various sects.

Therefore, in this operation, the Void Refining sword cultivators will primarily provide support from the flanks.

The demon king's location—rather than taking a roundabout route, moving through areas where sword cultivators gather, walking in darkness beneath lights, the most dangerous place is actually the path to the safest location.

Its location is precisely the "Myriad Demon Realm," where demon beasts swarm in such numbers that even Nascent Soul sword cultivators would find it extremely perilous to enter.

This place is also a gathering ground for various demon beasts and a portion of the demon race.

After Yue Wushuang mentioned the demon king, many sects began paying attention to the Myriad Demon Realm.

Wan Jian Valley was the first to achieve results.

After entering the Myriad Demon Realm, the group ceased flying and instead landed, with each Void Refining sword cultivator leading their team, advancing while maintaining several hundred meters of distance.

To remain as inconspicuous as possible.

Only upon reaching the possible area of the demon king's presence did they regroup.

"Be careful not to tear my heavenly robe; once the heavenly robe is torn, it is time to act. If we fail to find the demon king, no one can bear this responsibility."

The Void Refining sword cultivator of Ting Yu Sword Pavilion, Venerable Heavenly Robe, said this while extending a finger.

A black thread spread out, winding toward the crowd.