Chapter 37: Yu Danzong Under Attack

Beneath the thick night, the lights of Shengjing stretched endlessly.

Above Ni Mountain at this moment, a colossal flying sword pierced through the layered clouds, roaring toward Wanzhuo Mountain.

The three Hall Masters used magic power to guide the sword, maintaining its high-speed flight.

Hearing the roaring wind rush against them, all disciples held their breath, filled with deep unease about what was coming.

“Who attacked Yu Danzong?”

“We only received a distress message—we still don’t know who it was.”

Ji You looked at Wang Xin’an and shook his head, frowning slightly as his hand brushed over the three long swords at his waist.

He now had seven swords, but still carried only three.

Because each additional sword increased the drain on his spiritual sense; some battles demanded speed, others endurance.

Ji You trained his spiritual sense daily, precisely to become both fierce and enduring.

After a long while, the surrounding night grew heavier, a chilling chill struck his face, mixed with an indescribable odor.

One disciple gazed from afar and realized they were now far from Shengjing; beneath them lay endless wilderness.

“Prepare to land—steady your stance!”

“Remember to use spiritual energy to hover three feet above the ground!”

As Qin Zhishi’s calm voice rang out, the spirit-energy-driven sword tilted sharply downward, plunging into a mist-shrouded, eerie forest.

The disciples immediately landed, while the sword slammed into the earth, carving a deep crater and sending dust flying.

But no one had time to look at the sword—before them, over a dozen carriages lay overturned, elixirs scattered everywhere, yet not a single Yu Danzong disciple in sight.

In the distance, mountain mist rolled in thickly, filled with countless shadowy figures moving densely.

“Remember, your mission is to rescue Yu Danzong disciples—do not linger in battle!”

“The enemy’s identity is unknown—do not be careless and lose your lives!”

The three Hall Masters of the Hall Affairs Office shouted in unison and soared into the air; their disciples followed instantly, charging into the battlefield through the wind.

Seeing this, Ji You waved his hand, summoning his three waist swords, and descended into the forest.

Strangely, though the eerie forest brimmed with killing intent, there was no sound of combat—only an oppressive silence that unnerved the heart.

At that moment, a figure staggered into view, causing everyone behind him to hold their breath.

It was a grotesque face shrouded in malevolent energy, withered like dead wood, devoid of eyes—only two hollow black pits.

As it appeared, more and more shadows surged forth in dense numbers.

Demonic seeds—demonic seeds everywhere.

The Hall Affairs Office disciples, far more experienced than those from the Outer Court, merely changed expression upon seeing this, yet drew their swords without hesitation.

But the demonic seeds’ bodies were extraordinarily tough, charging straight at them with ease, trying to knock them over by sheer impact.

At that moment, a clear, ringing sword cry echoed—the disciples already in battle saw someone drift in, followed by a wave of sword energy surging forward, instantly tearing open a long gap.

Spiritual energy is too blunt to carry the blade’s edge when striking; but if concentrated entirely into the hilt, the blade itself can cleave a path.

Of course, this requires high-quality swords—otherwise, iron weapons would shatter quickly under heavy impact.

Fortunately, none of the swords the girls gave him were inferior.

“Who?!”

“Ji You…”

The three hovering Hall Masters stared in astonishment.

Though they knew Ji You was a swordsman with an unusual sword philosophy, witnessing it firsthand still felt miraculous.

But this was no time for awe—Qin Zhishi waved his hand and immediately ordered the Hall Affairs Office disciples to charge through the gap.

Lu Qingqiu, Bai RuLong, Qian Yunxiao, and others had just arrived, and upon seeing this, made their decision instantly.

I must protect Ji You in front of me!

Others with the same intention also instinctively crowded closer.

Many Outer Court students had only heard rumors of Ji You’s three-sword style, yet could never imagine his swords could be so ferocious—giving the enemy not a single moment to breathe.

At that moment, a metallic clash rang out—Ji You’s sword wave finally met an opponent it could not cut through.

It was a demonic seed with crimson eyes, its body far tougher than the others.

The creature directly blocked Ji You’s advancing blade, its claws roaring with malevolent energy, instantly lashing toward his chest.

Then, the disciples witnessed Ji You’s legendary second sword.

That sword had been given by Lou Siyi, always hovering idle—now, it moved with his will, humming as it pierced straight through the enemy’s heart.

Ji You’s expression unchanged, he recalled the sword, panting as he glanced at the corpse on the ground—black as charred wood, face twisted in horror.

Too bad—it wasn’t the one that attacked them that night, because this one couldn’t dodge.

Though demonic seeds had tough bodies, they required no real caution from Immortal Sects—ultimately, they couldn’t think.

These creatures killed only by bloodlust; even when pierced, they never dodged, worse than the simple-minded barbarians beyond the Northern Plains.

Even the stronger ones were the same.

If this one had been like the one Ji You encountered on the street that night—able to dodge and strike with strategy—it would have truly given him trouble.

“Bai RuLong, watch your back!”

At that moment, Qian Yunxiao cried out in terror.

They had clustered around Ji You, clearing minor foes, but hadn’t noticed another wave surging from behind.

Ji You glanced sideways, flicked his sleeve, and his third sword shot out—cutting through wind and clouds, shearing off a pair of claws brimming with malevolence in the night.

The demonic seed, suddenly armless, lunged forward with its chest, crashing into Bai RuLong, wriggling grotesquely in an awkward embrace.

Wang Jiaoxi arrived and sliced off its head with one sword, roaring: “If you can’t kill it, retreat—never leave your back exposed!”

Bai RuLong’s face was pale: “I… I got it…”

Wang Jiaoxi took a deep breath, turned again, and saw Ji You already circling around, cutting deeper into the forest: “Ji You, don’t go too far—find the Yu Danzong disciples and return!”

“There are lanterns on the northern slope!”

“What?”

Wang Xin’an looked baffled—he thought no one would care about lanterns at a time like this.

Ji You thrust his sword forward, then instantly recalled his second and third swords, pressing ahead: “Where lanterns hang, there are a few farmhouses!”

Wang Jiaoxi paused: “Your mission is to find surviving Yu Danzong disciples!”

“With this many demonic seeds, they’re already dead—if you don’t send help, I’m dead too!”

“?”

Ji You roared, thrusting his sword through a demonic seed, then flicked his sleeve to summon spiritual energy—his second and third swords surged forward together, carving a bloody path.

Because it was New Year’s Day, a small village on the northern slope indeed had paper lanterns hanging—nearby, one house’s lantern hung crookedly, colorless and faded, yet oddly endearing.

With his near-Transcendent vision, he could see a child’s silhouette faintly cast on the window paper.

Life is hard—but some still struggle to live.

Ji You gritted his teeth and thrust his sword—shearing off half the creature’s skull—yet his heart trembled violently.

Though he knew they weren’t his kin, they were still human-shaped; piercing through the heart felt nothing, but seeing the body maimed still weighed on his soul.

In that moment of hesitation, his left shoulder was scratched—blood gushed instantly.

Because he needed to hold and guide his swords, all his spiritual energy was concentrated in the three hilts—none left for defense; being hit like this was inevitable.

Worse still, several households below the mountain clearly heard the commotion and opened their doors to watch.

Even a small child from one house squeezed out from between adult legs, gazing upward blankly.

“Close the door! Take the child inside!”

“?”

The farmer froze—he could only see people swinging swords uphill, with no idea what was happening.

Ji You took a deep breath and roared: “Murder!”—the farmer panicked, snatched the child into the house, and slammed the door shut.

As his movements intensified, blood continued to seep, staining his white robe into a patchwork.

Worse still, for some reason, more demonic seeds began gathering toward him.

Watching them multiply endlessly, Ji You’s scalp went numb.

Are all demonic seeds female?

Ji You gasped, flung his sword outward, carving a half-circle and diverting the demonic seeds toward Wang Jiaoxi.

Wang Jiaoxi was already charging over with other Hall Affairs Office disciples—he swung his sword in response.

Lu Qingqiu and the others arrived too, drawing their swords to shield Ji You, now protected by Wang Jiaoxi’s group.

“Where are the three Hall Masters of the Hall Affairs Office? Where are the Inner Court disciples? Use fire spells!”

“They’re searching the mountain for Yu Danzong disciples.”

“Found any?”

“No—not even bodies. They’ve been taken—but not by demonic seeds.”

Wang Jiaoxi slashed back a demonic seed: “This attack is being orchestrated—hey, why are you sitting down?”

Ji You leaned against a tree and squatted: “Hold the line—I need a rest…”

“?”

(End of Chapter)