Chapter 264: Shadow of the Demon Sect

The Demon Sect.

As one of the eight great sects of the martial arts world, in the past, whenever the two words "Demon Sect" were mentioned, they could make people turn pale with fright and tremble with fear.

It is just a pity that after the battle at Taihu, it was no longer a force to be reckoned with, and it was on the verge of splitting apart at any moment; for a long time, there had been no news of Demon Sect experts in the martial arts world.

But just in this period of time today, the Demon Sect has unexpectedly re-emerged in the martial arts world, stirring up a new round of strife.

Nowadays, the Demon Sect has taken on a new look, and even its name has been changed—Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Heaven Beyond Heaven is divided into five layers, controlled by five "Heavens."

"Fifth Heaven Sun" Ba Dao, this peerless bladesman whose reputation in the martial arts world was second only to the Invincible Playful Child in the past, has emerged once again, and his blade is absolutely not as weak and powerless as ordinary people imagine, but is a true Hegemonic Blade.

With one slash, it dominates the world.

The "Startling Panic Blade," who was riding high in the martial arts world, crossed blades with Ba Dao; with just a single slash, he was split down the middle by Ba Dao, turning into two bloody corpses.

His blade technique is even more brilliant than before he retired, as unfathomable as the sky.

Therefore, some even call him the "Fifth Heavenly Blade."

His martial arts are by no means inferior to the other four "Heavens," but for some reason, he is only ranked fifth.

"Fourth Heaven Lady" Liusheng Piaoxu, it is said that she is a Dongying woman of exquisite beauty, possessing the grace of a heavenly maiden, a beauty that could topple cities and states, cold and arrogant. Although she is young, her blade technique is equally extremely brilliant, and many renowned experts in the martial arts world have already been defeated at her hands.

And because the predecessor of Heaven Beyond Heaven was the Demon Sect, some also call her the "Third Demoness."

"Third Heaven Sect" Yagyu Tajima no Kami, this person is the father of the "Fourth Heaven Lady" and is also the sect leader of the Dongying Xinyin Sect; he stands like a deep pool and a towering mountain, his blade technique is measured and balanced, possessing the demeanor of a grandmaster, hence he has such a title.

And while his blade technique might not be better than the "Fifth Heaven Sun," when it comes to the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World, there are not many people who can defeat him.

"Second Heaven King," this person's identity is unknown, his martial arts are unknown, his appearance is unknown... Some say he is Wuchen Gongzi, and others say he is Gu Santong, the "Invincible Playful Child" suppressed on the ninth level of Tianlao.

"First Heavenly Venerable" Yu Liancheng, it is precisely this person who renamed the Demon Sect "Heaven Beyond Heaven."

It is rumored that Yu Liancheng's appearance is peerlessly handsome and magnificent, like a Heavenly Human descended to the world. His martial arts have reached the realm of the extraordinary and holy; it is he who subdued the other four "Heavens," ambitious and with the momentum to sweep through the martial arts world.

This force called "Heaven Beyond Heaven" has already integrated the divided Demon Sect.

Originally, after the Demon Sect declined, it only held onto one corner, but now it has the momentum to sweep toward the Central Plains.

"First Heavenly Venerable? Yu Liancheng, he was actually able to invite Ba Dao out of the mountains, and there is also Yagyu Tajima no Kami, this should have been a blade I hid in the shadows, yet now it has defected to someone else..."

In the Dragon-Protecting Villa, Zhu Wushi sat high above, his gaze flickering. In his hand, he held a slip of paper, which contained information regarding Yu Liancheng's recent movements.

"Hmph." Zhu Wushi gave a cold snort, and the slip of paper in his palm turned into powder and drifted away.

"The Three Great Secret Agents joined forces for this operation, yet returned empty-handed; it truly disappoints me. This is also not unexpected; the three of them are first-class in character, martial arts, and wisdom, but they are too upright. Moreover, if I were to contend for that position in the future, it is hard to say whether they would stand on my side..."

The issue of the Three Great Secret Agents' stance has always given Zhu Wushi a headache.

Zhu Wushi's acting was too good; almost everyone regarded him as the loyal and righteous Divine Marquis of Iron Gall. Moreover, he himself possessed great personal charm, and the Three Great Secret Agents were all deeply influenced by him, remaining loyal to the Emperor.

If he chose to rebel, I fear that these three sharpest blades in his hands would not only refuse to follow his commands but would also attempt to kill him.

Fortunately, he had also secretly made backup plans.

The experts under his command were by no means just the Three Great Secret Agents.

Imperial Palace.

An old eunuch with a full head of silver hair like snow, yet with a rosy complexion on his face, was sitting on an ebony stool, eyes closed, listening to his subordinates report the news they had just obtained.

After a long while, the old man opened his eyes; those aged eyes held depth and ruthlessness, and it was precisely the leader in charge of the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun.

Because his family was poor since childhood, Cao Zhengchun was sent into the palace by his parents to become a eunuch. After entering the palace, because he was extremely good at observing expressions and very good at pleasing his masters, he was adopted as a foster son by the great eunuch Cao Aman, and gradually became a favorite in front of the Emperor.

Nowadays, Cao Zhengchun is in charge of the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guards, secret service agencies that make the civil and military officials of the imperial court tremble with fear, wielding power over the court and the public for a time, with a prominent reputation.

And he himself has practiced the Tiangang Childish Skill for nearly fifty years; apart from the Divine Marquis of Iron Gall Zhu Wushi, he is confident that he has the certainty to defeat any expert in the world.

"Daring to touch my people, no matter what Heaven Beyond Heaven, First Heavenly Venerable, or Fifth Heaven Sun you are, I will crush you all like bedbugs..." A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Cao Zhengchun's eyes.

Being able to rise to his current position from the status of a small eunuch, he is by no means a soft-hearted person.

Half a month ago, Cao Zhengchun received a piece of news: a thousand-household officer he thought highly of and a group of Brocade Guards were killed, and the scene was a mess. Besides the thousand-household officer being sliced into a thousand pieces, the rest of the Brocade Guards were all split down the middle by a blade, and combined with some scattered clues, it could be confirmed that it was the work of "Fifth Heaven Sun" Ba Dao.

Daring to take action against his, Cao Zhengchun's, people, then they must inevitably face a storm-like attack.

Shaolin.

It has always been revered as the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the martial arts world.

Even after experiencing the battle at Taihu twenty years ago, its prestige remains undiminished. Over these twenty years, experts have emerged in succession. Especially with the appearance of the three masters Liaofan, Liaokong, and Liaojie, no one has been able to shake its status as the hegemon in the martial arts world.

And the Shaolin Temple naturally received news about "Heaven Beyond Heaven."

The one who received the news was Liaofan.

Although Liaofan is one of the Shaolin Three Liaos, he is the least famous among them.

Liaokong is the abbot of Shaolin, and his martial arts and reputation go without saying. And Liaojie is a world-renowned Zen Divine Monk; not only is his Buddhism profound, but his martial arts have also reached the pinnacle.

"Amitabha, the Demon Sect evildoers intend to make a comeback; the Shaolin Temple naturally cannot stand idly by."

Liaofan raised his eyebrows and pondered: "If it is only the Shaolin Sect, we cannot stop the Demon Sect's eastward invasion; we need to invite Yeyu Shitai of the Emei Sect and Daoist Yuzhen of Wudang to discuss the matter together."

Two riders rode side by side on the mountain road.

The young girl with exquisite features and sparkling beautiful eyes looked at the handsome youth on the other horse and said crisply: "Yu Liancheng, are those 'Dominating the World' and 'Abi Three Blade Strikes' truly so brilliant? Ever since you obtained these two blade techniques, you have been looking at them, and it has already been a day."

Yu Liancheng laughed and said: "It is only because these two blade techniques are indeed extremely brilliant. Although I do not specialize in blade techniques, I can extract the most brilliant and profound parts from them, make them my own, and melt them into my own martial arts."

Liusheng Piaoxu pouted and said again: "Oh, I really can't practice this blade technique?"

"No, at least not now." Yu Liancheng's expression was slightly solemn as he said: "You have seen Ba Dao's blade technique; his move harmonizes yin and yang, and its power is immense. But once the blade is slashed out, it cannot be controlled. These two blade techniques are even worse; they are extremely demonic. If practiced to a very deep realm, the person will be controlled by the blade, becoming an Asura evil ghost that only knows how to kill."

Liusheng Piaoxu said: "Since it is so dangerous, then why do you still look at it?"

Yu Liancheng laughed and said: "Because I can clear my mind at any time, brushing away the so-called demonic thoughts and killing intent like dust."

Guihai Yidao's father, Guihai Bailian, once practiced 'Dominating the World,' and because of this, he entered the demonic path, full of killing intent, to the point that he even wanted to slash his sworn brother under his blade.

After Guihai Yidao practiced it, he also became cruel and bloodthirsty, stirring up a storm of blood in the martial arts world. It was only after he severed his own right hand used for the saber and endured all kinds of torture that he was able to suppress this demonic nature.

Yu Liancheng greatly admired these two sets of saber techniques, but he did not intend to practice them, merely absorbing their essence and mysteries. Furthermore, he was well-versed in Buddhist teachings, so he had no need to worry about the danger of falling into demonic obsession.

In reality, the Three Sabers of the Avici Path are the final three moves of Dominating the World, but the killing intent, baleful aura, and power of the Three Sabers of the Avici Path are incomparable to the preceding saber techniques; it is not unreasonable to regard it as a separate saber technique.

However, if one truly wishes to practice the "Three Sabers of the Avici Path," one must also be proficient in Dominating the World; otherwise, it is undoubtedly a castle in the air.

Suddenly, Yu Liancheng tucked the silk scroll back into his bosom.

Liusheng Piaoxu said crossly, "What, are you not reading it anymore?"

"I think I am a fool," said Yu Liancheng.

"A fool?" Liusheng Piaoxu blinked, her long, thick eyelashes resembling two round fans.

"Indeed. This martial art can be read at any time, and with my ability to never forget what I see, reading it once should have been enough. To think I read it so many times; if that doesn't make me a fool, what does?"

Yu Liancheng sighed, then suddenly turned his head to look at Liusheng Piaoxu, smiling, "On the contrary, the beauty beside me is truly a feast for the eyes, one I could never tire of looking at."

Two imperceptible blushes drifted across Liusheng Piaoxu's jade-like cheeks, and she spat, "All you do is spout flowery words all day. I don't know how someone like you managed to cultivate such high-level martial arts."

Yu Liancheng laughed heartily, his figure suddenly like a white cloud drifting upward, and in the blink of an eye, he had swept onto the other horse. Embracing Liusheng Piaoxu's slender, firm waist, he lightly bit her translucent earlobe: "The two of us riding one horse lets the other horse rest; only in this way can we avoid tiring the horses out and reach the Capital faster. Don't you think this method is good?"

Liusheng Piaoxu only felt a surge of heat coming from beside her ear, and her pretty face burned even hotter. Gritting her teeth, she struck backward with her elbow and snapped, "You rogue."

"Heh, you missed." Yu Liancheng grabbed her fair hand, but Liusheng Piaoxu spun her figure and slapped out with another palm.

Just as the two were bickering, Yu Liancheng frowned, suddenly reaching out to pull Liusheng Piaoxu into his arms, and said in a loud, clear voice, "You are all experts renowned in the martial arts world. Since you have come, why not come out and show yourselves?"

"Amitabha!"

A clear, resonant Buddhist chant rang out, and a monk, a Daoist, and a nun walked out from the woods.

The leading monk had white eyebrows and a white beard, yet his gaze was piercingly bright; as he looked around, he carried a sense of fierce majesty.

The Daoist had a full head of white hair, held a horsetail whisk, and wore a sword at his waist, possessing quite a bit of the air of an immortal, as if he were a god among men.

Although the nun was younger than the other monk and Daoist, she was still nearing middle age; judging by her features, she must have been a beauty in her youth. However, she kept a straight face, her expression gloomy.

Yu Liancheng raised an eyebrow: "So it is the monk Liaokong from Shaolin, the old Daoist Yuzhen from Wudang, and the nun Yeyu from Emei. Why aren't you off burning incense to Buddha or paying respects to the Three Pure Ones, instead of watching our young couple show affection here? If you truly envy us so much, just return to secular life; no one will stop you."

Although Yu Liancheng teased this monk, Daoist, and nun without restraint, Liusheng Piaoxu in his arms could not help but tighten her jade face, for these three were respectively a guardian Elder of Shaolin Temple and the sect leaders of the Wudang and Emei sects.

These three not only possessed profound martial arts themselves but also represented the three most top-tier forces in the Central Plains Martial Arts World.

Hearing Yu Liancheng's words, Yeyu Shitai frowned, her hand already pressed against her sword hilt, her killing intent chilling.

Daoist Yuzhen continued to stroke his beard and smile, maintaining the aura of an enlightened expert.

Liaokong stepped forward, pressed his palms together, and said, "Benefactor, as the Demon Sect Leader, you have intruded into the Central Plains Martial Arts World; naturally, this old monk and the others cannot stand idly by."

"First of all, there is no longer a Demon Sect in this world, only 'Heaven Beyond Heaven'; you must remember that clearly, great monk," Yu Liancheng said indifferently. "Secondly, the world is vast; wherever I, this lord, wish to go, I go. Since when did I need your permission?"

Yeyu Shitai's face darkened, and she coldly snorted, "Why waste words with him? This person is the Demon Sect Leader who has harmed many. Now he even intends to invade the Central Plains and stir up a storm of blood. If we do not eliminate him early, I fear there will be endless trouble once he gains momentum."

The old Daoist Yuzhen performed a Daoist salute and smiled, "Sect Leader Yu, after the battle on the shores of Taihu, the martial arts world has finally recovered its vitality. Why stir up slaughter and strife? It would be better to withdraw, better to withdraw."

Yu Liancheng shook his head: "The three of you don't even know the purpose of my trip, yet you conclude that I have come to stir up a storm of blood; that is going a bit too far. Furthermore, even if I were to stir up strife, what could you do about it?"

The old Daoist Yuzhen said, "Oh? I wonder what the purpose of Sect Leader Yu's trip is?"

"I won't tell you."

"..."

"Martial arts disputes have never been things that can be explained in a few words. I am too lazy to explain; we can only see the truth through our hands."

Yu Liancheng shifted his gaze to a certain spot in the woods: "But before that, Jian Jingfeng, you can come out too. As the World's Number One Swordsman, you really shouldn't be hiding and skulking about."