Zhaoshan, a fine rain fell in the early morning.
Old Sect Master Huang put on a straw cape, muttering words like "The Son of Heaven guards the gates of the nation," and sat alone in the pavilion before the mountain gate, drinking. A bonfire was lit beside him, roasting a pheasant, and there were also some roasted peanuts nearby, which were already a bit scorched. He picked up a handful with his fingers, and they became snacks with his wine.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Old Sect Master Huang narrowed his eyes and looked down the mountain. He saw a figure approaching slowly in the drizzling rain. It was an old man in a blue long gown, wearing a straw cape and a bamboo hat over it. He leaned on a staff and walked up the mountain, one step shallow and one step deep.
Zhaoshan was deep and uninhabited. Only after Old Sect Master Huang and the others arrived did they establish a mountain gate. However, none of them were skilled craftsmen, so the mountain path and stone steps were repaired very crudely, not even properly repaired. Old Sect Master Huang had merely chopped them out with sword energy, with varying depths and extremely rough workmanship.
Even the pavilion for shelter from the wind and rain was very rudimentary. The basic structure was built with wood, and the top was covered with wild grass. If the wind was a bit strong, grass would fall down. If the rain was heavy, it would rain heavily outside the pavilion and lightly inside. As for the main buildings on the mountain, most of them were plundered from other sects. An entire residence was moved from elsewhere and placed on the flat ground cleared by sword energy. As a result, the buildings on Zhaoshan had various architectural styles. Fortunately, none of them minded, as long as they had a place to shelter from the wind and rain.
"Fellow Daoist?"
Old Sect Master Huang narrowed his eyes, looking at the old man ascending the mountain. The old man's aura was weak, at most at the third realm. However, he had the courage to come up the mountain, so he must have suppressed his realm. From the beginning, Old Sect Master Huang had also suppressed his own aura to the tenth realm, and simultaneously transmitted a message to the few youngsters on the mountain, telling them not to reveal their true abilities and to suppress their auras as much as possible.
"No dare, no dare!"
The old man narrowed his eyes and smiled in fear and trepidation, "I heard that a group of old immortals have come to Zhaoshan. Alas... this old man has no other hobbies. He only likes to visit mountains and seek immortals in his life. If the immortals can talk to me a few words, drink a cup of wine, or play a game of chess, then my wish will be fulfilled."
Old Sect Master Huang laughed heartily, "I am not some immortal on the mountain, just a demon cultivator on Zhaoshan. If fellow Daoist is looking for an immortal, there is certainly none here."
"Is that so?"
The old man smiled slightly, a hint of killing intent hidden in his eyes. In fact, this old man was a twelfth-realm cypress spirit. He had resided in the Sea of Forests in the eastern part of the Neon Clothes World for many years. Recently, he heard that several high-realm demons and humans had appeared on Zhaoshan and were causing trouble everywhere, so he wanted to come and investigate. This led to his current suppression of his realm, disguise, and visit.
The cypress spirit looked at Old Sect Master Huang and felt that this person was likely the strongest in aura on Zhaoshan. He must be that Huang Dali. However, his realm did not match the legends. He was not a thirteenth-realm cultivator, but merely a sword cultivator of the tenth realm with slightly stronger cultivation. It was likely that the legends of the thirteenth realm were all boasts. There were too many people seeking fame and reputation in the martial world nowadays.
He probed again, saying, "How long has the old immortal been here on Zhaoshan? This old man has lived too long, and his memory is not very good, but I still remember that this Zhaoshan seemed to be uninhabited before. The mountain cliffs were steep, unable to retain beasts or stop birds, and even hunters were unwilling to come to such a place."
"Oh~~~"
Old Sect Master Huang said with a smile, "It's been about ten years since we arrived. We opened up the mountain and built the roads here, which is why Zhaoshan has the current atmosphere. Fellow Daoist, there is a spiritual stream on Zhaoshan with extremely abundant spiritual energy, which is most suitable for the growth of plant spirits. How about... you join Zhaoshan and become the Hall Master of our Zhaoshan's Plant Hall?"
"No dare, no dare..."
The cypress spirit showed some timidity, saying, "So Sect Master has already seen my true form... I am just a small spirit in the mountains, only seeking a mouthful of moonlight dew and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. I hope fellow Daoist will not kill me."
"What if I insist on killing you?" Old Sect Master Huang had already reached out to touch his sword hilt.
"Then..."
The cypress spirit's expression suddenly turned fierce. At some point, a vine rose up and entangled Old Sect Master Huang's hand that was gripping the sword, preventing him from drawing it. In an instant, the cypress spirit leaped into the air, his expression incredibly ferocious, and laughed heartily, "A mere tenth-realm trash dares to establish a sect on Zhaoshan. Do you really think we have no one in the Neon Clothes World?"
Old Sect Master Huang's eyes were cold, and a smile curved at the corner of his mouth, "Oh, so you're a twelfth-realm cypress spirit. Impressive, impressive. No wonder you have such a big mouth, tsk tsk!"
"Ignorant fool!"
The cypress spirit suddenly raised his palm, and a palm strike filled with the spiritual energy of plants shot directly towards Old Sect Master Huang's head.
"Zhuang girl!"
Old Sect Master Huang suddenly leaned his body back, and immediately a blazing fist intent broke through the wind and arrived. With a "bang," it collided with the cypress spirit's palm strike. It was the young female warrior in the green dress. Although her realm was inferior to the cypress spirit, under this punch, her body only swayed in the wind, but it forced the cypress spirit to retreat several steps.
"Tianyuan warrior?"
The cypress spirit's eyes turned cold, "Are you the legendary Zhuang Qingyi?!"
"Precisely."
Zhuang Yirong's lips curved slightly, "An elder of the Neon Clothes World, why do you insist on coming to Zhaoshan to court death? We didn't know you originally."
"Enough nonsense."
Old Sect Master Huang squinted at the storage bag at the cypress spirit's waist and said, "The items in this fellow's storage bag are worth at least three thousand golden carp coins. Don't let him get away. Where are Zhaoshan's Left and Right Protectors?!"
A young figure descended from the sky and fiercely slashed his sword towards the cypress spirit's head.
"You bastard!"
The cypress spirit spun rapidly, stirring up layers of spiraling falling leaves. He fiercely struck out with his palm, scattering the young man's sword energy. He felt a sharp pain and numbness in his tiger's mouth, and his heart filled with coldness. What kind of monsters were the cultivators on Zhaoshan? This eleventh-realm young man's sword foundation was so profound, he could actually contend with this twelfth-realm spirit!
"Eat my sword—Naughty Dog Steals Shit!"
The young man descended from the sky, using a sword technique he created himself. The sword energy at the tip of the sword was extremely low and dense, like the head of an old dog, while the subsequent sword energy was dense and numerous, like a waterfall rain.
"Little brat..."
Old Sect Master Huang picked his nose and muttered to himself. Ever since Lin Zhao was suppressed under Mount Wuwang, this little brat Zhang Luobai had been practicing sword with Old Huang and Tong Yu. His sword techniques were mixed and profound, with some of the style of Thirty-six Vertical and Horizontal, some of Huang Tingyu's sword techniques, and some of Lin Wanhua's refined sword techniques. Fortunately, this kid was intelligent and had developed his own school of swordplay, integrating the sword techniques of several families. He had even created some ridiculous sword techniques, and the names of these moves were extremely targeted, showing great disrespect to the esteemed Sect Master!
The cypress spirit hurriedly met the sword with both palms. After hastily blocking the young man's sword strike, he soared away, saying, "You have too many people today. Shall we fight another day?"
"Senior, what other day? Whatever grudge there is, settle it today."
In the wind, a peerlessly beautiful young girl appeared. Wearing a long dress, her long sword broke through the air and descended.
"Bang!"
The moment the sword energy fell, the cypress spirit's wood-and-plant artistic conception was instantly shattered. This sword strike truly made him feel chilled. If the strength of Zhang A'bai and Zhuang Yirong was considered relatively strong, he could still escape from their swords and fists. However, the sword strike of this little beauty named Lu Zhaohua before him was unstoppable.
In an instant, a sword mark was carved on the cypress spirit's chest. The dignified twelfth-realm spirit, encountering an opponent of the same twelfth realm, a sword cultivator, could not even block a single move. Things on the mountain are sometimes like this; the combat power of the same realm can be vastly different.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Old Sect Master Huang picked his nose, "Tong Yu, don't be too heavy-handed. It would be such a waste to damage this twelfth-realm cypress wood. If it's preserved intact, perhaps your brother Lin Zhao can craft a huanghuali desk for you later."
"Go to hell..."
The cypress spirit was greatly alarmed, "I am a cypress tree, how can I be crafted into huanghuali wood?"
"Bah!"
Old Sect Master Huang slowly stood up, and his demonic energy erupted behind him. A demonic form of a celestial dog thousands of feet high rapidly rose. As he drew his immortal sword Amber, his eyes were filled with blazing light, "Fellow Daoist, I am at least a thirteenth-realm cultivator. Have you not heard a saying circulating in the martial world?"
"What saying?" The cypress spirit looked desperate.
The old sect master said word by word, "The thirteenth realm is sagehood. Since ancient times, sages cannot be insulted!"
Saying that, he unleashed a sword strike that severed the air.
The cypress spirit's head instantly flew off, and his body flew straight out, transforming into a cypress tree with abundant spiritual energy. His magical artifacts and storage bag also fell out, becoming treasures in Zhaoshan's treasury.
...
Fusu Great Wall.
After the Sword Saint Ding Muchen took away the Fusu Sword, this Fusu Great Wall lost a lot of its sword dao luck and martial luck. However, the outline of the entire city still remained, standing in the wilderness. Regardless, it was still a formidable city, so the demon race dispatched a considerable number of troops to guard it.
Below the city, the banners of the Neon Clothes World fluttered, with over 3000 demon cavalry stationed there. In the dead of night, the neighing of warhorses and the laughter of demons drinking and eating meat merged into one.
On the city wall sat a middle-aged demon general, with a handsome appearance, wearing armor, and holding a wine pot. He was a Sea-Crossing Realm warrior, with the title of Myriad Commander. He served under the Divine Cavalry Commandant Yu Feng. Now, he had received orders to lead 5,000 cavalry to guard the Fusu Great Wall, doing his best to keep this city in the hands of the demon and monster races.
He looked north with a hint of sadness. It was just after the New Year. If it weren't for this protracted war, he should have been in a tavern in the Divine Capital, drinking wine and enjoying the company of singing girls. He frowned, thinking that if he could return this time, regardless of victory or defeat, he would spend all his years of military pay and loot. Life should be enjoyed to the fullest. How could he not sleep with a thousand or eight hundred beautiful women in the Divine Capital?
He narrowed his eyes, already yearning for those beautiful women.
Just then, a sudden, invisible sword light flashed across the city wall.
"Clack!"
Before this Myriad Commander of the Sea-Crossing Realm could even utter a sound, his head slowly slid from his neck. His body collapsed to the ground, blood spraying out.
In the wind, a man in a blue long gown slowly descended, holding a long sword. It was Chi Zhongyu, whom he had not seen in ten years. He had returned to the Fusu Great Wall and had also stepped into the twelfth realm, becoming a peak twelfth-realm sword cultivator. Chi Zhongyu's handsome eyes looked into the city, and he smiled faintly. With a gentle wave of his hand, figures after figures soared away on their swords, heading straight for the over 3000 demon guards within the Fusu Great Wall.