Chapter 842: The Third Young Master's Sword, The End

After a respectful toast, Yu Liancheng's thoughts shifted: "The Fifteenth Change and Jian Twenty-Three both possess the power to freeze everything and stagnate time. But for a master of my level, they appear somewhat redundant. This time, by using a divine sense to shatter the void and trace back time, I have gained a deeper insight into time. Perhaps I can combine these two sword techniques with my current insights to create a new sword art. The Sword of Retrospection: a traveler through the heavens and earth, a passerby through the ages of time."

"Furthermore, the world where Yan Shisan was reincarnated after shattering the void seems quite interesting: Body Tempering, Qi Refining, Innate, Divine Intent, Creation, Heavenly Human... Hmm, the martial arts realms are divided so clearly and distinctly; it can be considered a great world of martial arts, but why have I never heard of it..."

"Forget it, I had better study my Sword of Retrospection. Who knows, I might even be able to witness the duel between Xie Xiaofeng and Bai Xiaolou. However, I need a place to stay for now, so I shall go and see the Heavenly Venerable."

Swish! Yu Liancheng's figure vanished.

One month later, the Demon Sect marched east.

Having lain dormant for decades, the Demon Sect emerged, sweeping through the entire martial arts world like a storm clearing away clouds. The Demon Sect was filled with experts; since the start of the eastern campaign, they had been unstoppable, winning every battle. One sect and faction after another was either destroyed or surrendered.

As the Demon Sect's influence expanded, the entire martial arts world was in an uproar. The seven major sects, led by Shaolin and Wudang, huddled together for warmth and formed an alliance, finally managing to curb the Demon Sect's expansion. Even so, the Demon Sect continued to expand at an incredibly exaggerated speed.

Logically speaking, no matter how terrifying the Demon Sect was, it should never have been able to contend against the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World with the strength of a single sect.

The reasons were none other than three: First, after decades of recuperation, the Demon Sect was indeed filled with experts. The Four Protectors, the Four Princesses, the Four Heavenly Kings... almost every one of them was a first-class or even top-tier expert.

Second, the Central Plains Martial Arts World, while appearing united, was only slightly better than a pile of loose sand. Each sect had its own hidden agenda and could not achieve true mutual support. Of course, the Demon Sect also had its own internal factions, but with the Sect Leader Bai Xiaolou suppressing them, they could not stir up much trouble.

The third was the Demon Sect Leader Bai Xiaolou; this Sect Leader Bai's saber technique was so high that it was hard to find its equal in the world. Even the leaders of the Shaolin and Wudang sects could not withstand thirty moves. Using the slogan "There is no need to speak of martial ethics when dealing with the Demon Sect," the two leaders united thirty-two experts from their sects to ambush the Demon Sect Leader.

Yet, unexpectedly, not only was Bai Xiaolou's saber technique peerless, but he also possessed a Demon Saber technique that sent the two leaders and their thirty-two experts reeling in defeat.

In the end, only the Shaolin leader escaped, heavily wounded, and he fainted after leaving behind the words, "Quick, go and invite the Third Young Master..."

From this point on, the Demon Sect stood above all martial arts sects, causing unease in everyone.

However, many could see that the Demon Sect's influence was expanding too quickly, making too many enemies, with an unstable foundation and internal factions. Once the very top tier of their people ran into trouble, it would crumble in an instant.

It was also at this time that the five sect leaders gathered at Shenjian Shanzhuang, and amidst their desperate pleas, the Third Young Master Xie Xiaofeng finally agreed to join the ranks of those suppressing the demons. Everyone understood one thing: only the Third Young Master's Divine Sword could withstand the Demon Sect Leader's Demon Saber.

In the following half-month, the Central Plains Martial Arts World and the Demon Sect fought over thirty battles, with victories and losses on both sides and numerous casualties.

After some discussion, to avoid innocent casualties, both sides agreed to a battle at the summit of Qilian Shan.

On the day of the duel, the seven major sects and the Demon Sect gathered at the summit of Qilian Shan.

One could see banners fluttering, dust rising, and the sounds of men shouting and horses neighing. Looking out, it was a dense, dark mass of people, heads bobbing. Clearly, for today's battle, both sides had gathered all their experts.

"Kill!" "Die, you Demon Sect brats!" "Bullshit righteous experts, only good for sneak attacks." Experts from both sides fought in pairs; sword light and saber Qi crisscrossed, and from time to time, corpses lay on the ground. Of course, everyone knew that while the leaders and protectors fighting on the scene were lively, the true outcome for the future of the Central Plains and the Demon Sect rested on the battle between Xie Xiaofeng and Bai Xiaolou.

Half an hour later, Xie Xiaofeng held the Xie Family Divine Sword and stepped out. Bai Xiaolou also walked out from the crowd, his gaze fixed on Xie Xiaofeng. The two locked eyes; although they had not yet clashed, it already created a suffocating tension. The original clamor of voices and the sound of clashing blades gradually fell silent.

Everyone turned their eyes toward the two, their palms sweating. They could feel the murderous and sharp aura lingering between the two.

Whether the Demon Sect would completely take over the Central Plains or the Central Plains would successfully resist the Demon Sect would likely be decided in this coming battle.

Clang! Clang! The Xie Family Divine Sword and the Round Moon Scimitar were drawn simultaneously. The sword light, like a long rainbow, met the saber light, which resembled a full moon.

Besides the Demon Sect and the seven major sects, two others were currently watching this decisive battle, which was enough to influence the landscape of the martial arts world, with leisure.

"Qiudi, who do you think has the superior martial arts, Xie Xiaofeng or Bai Xiaolou?" On a nearby hill, a verdant carpet was spread out, and on a long table on the carpet sat an incense burner, a pot of wine, and two jade cups.

Yu Liancheng sat on the carpet, his jet-black hair flowing like ink clouds, giving him an uninhibited air. Murong Qiudi was kneeling beside him, her expression serene and dignified, her eyes lowered. This woman, the most legendary and mysterious in the martial arts world, was pouring wine.

"Xie Xiaofeng will most likely lose." Murong Qiudi raised her sleeve, first handing the wine cup to Yu Liancheng, then taking a sip herself. Her red lips became moistened, looking even more alluring.

Yu Liancheng held the wine cup: "Why do you say that?"

Murong Qiudi parted her red lips, her eyes as bright as stars and the moon: "Xie Xiaofeng and Bai Xiaolou's martial arts are comparable, but unfortunately, Bai Xiaolou has a Demon Saber technique."

When she spoke of that Demon Saber technique, a trace of terror actually appeared in her eyes. One must know that she was not only the Hall Master of the Seven Stars Hall but also the leader of the Heavenly Venerable organization, a behemoth second only to the Demon Sect.

"Although I have never truly seen that Demon Saber technique, I have seen the corpses that died under it. Even seeing the wounds on the corpses gave me a heart-stopping feeling. I can guarantee that even Xie Xiaofeng could never withstand that Demon Saber technique."

Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Then just wait and see today."

Murong Qiudi's gaze shifted: "Does that mean Xie Xiaofeng's sword technique must have improved again?"

Yu Liancheng said: "But no matter what, the final winner of this battle will be you."

Murong Qiudi's smile became even more charming as she softly said eight words: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

Just as Yu Liancheng was about to say something more, he suddenly felt a palpitation in his heart.

"I have something to attend to and must leave. Please, make yourself at home." He stood up, took a step, and his figure vanished as if he had never appeared, leaving behind a bewildered Murong Qiudi.

The battle at Qilian Shan soon came to an end.

However, when the news reached the martial arts world, it became a matter of conflicting accounts. The disciples of every sect described their own leaders as incredibly heroic in that battle. Fortunately, they all added that the Demon Sect Leader's Demon Saber was truly formidable, and if it hadn't been for Xie Xiaofeng's sword blocking that saber, they would surely have died.

Behind this story, it is not hard to imagine that what decided the outcome of this battle was not the heroism of any sect leader, but Xie Xiaofeng's Divine Sword. However, the result everyone spoke of was the same: the Demon Sect Leader was finally forced off the thousand-foot peak of Qilian Shan in that battle.

Only, few people knew that the reason the Demon Sect completely collapsed and withdrew from the Central Plains was not only because Bai Xiaolou was heavily wounded, but also because traitors within the Demon Sect took advantage of this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity to launch a rebellion, seize power, and hunt down Bai Xiaolou and his wife.

And while the Demon Sect was embroiled in fierce internal fighting, the secretive Heavenly Venerable organization took action to usurp the Demon Sect's divine arts and occupy their territories outside the pass. The various sects of the Central Plains, having suffered mutual destruction with the Demon Sect, were also taken advantage of by the Heavenly Venerable organization.

In the end, the Heavenly Venerable organization became the biggest winner.

PS: The next three side-stories are all related to the Stone Gate.