Chapter 394: Chapter 294: The Magnificent World for Thousands of Qian Qiu Chapter 394: Chapter 294: The Magnificent World for Thousands of Qian Qiu Beihuang Dao, You Mountain.

Atop the mountain peak, there seems to be the potential for a heavy rainstorm, with thick ink-like clouds entwining the mountain, making one feel a chill approaching while amidst them.

Ever since the Demon Sect Main Hall had relocated here, the summit of You Mountain had begun to vigorously construct towers, halls, and residences, yet the building of these structures was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

At this moment, the usually bustling Heavenly Demon Hall was eerily silent, as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

The faces of all the experts in the Demon Sect were extremely unsightly, for their sky had collapsed.

Duanmu Xinghua and Ouyang Ping hung their heads low, appearing to have aged decades in an instant.

Who could have thought that the Ghost Swordsman, who had just caused a sensation by slaying the Great Grandmaster Zongzheng Huachun, would suddenly be stopped in his tracks by the Elder of the Ten Directions? This was like a bolt from the blue to everyone in the Demon Sect.

Yu Qiurong’s eyes were bloodshot as she raised her head to look at Li Fuzhou and asked, “Sect Master Li, is there any news of the Sect Hierarch?”

Everyone turned their attention to him. The only pillar of the Demon Sect currently was their Sect Hierarch, Zhao Qingmei, but after her disappearance following An Jing’s death, she vanished from all over the world, leaving the Demon Sect leaderless.

Li Fuzhou shook his head and replied, “No, not the slightest piece of news.”

The Human Sect was the eyes of the Demon Sect. If even Human Sect could not find out anything, it meant that the other four branches and two sects also had no trace of Zhao Qingmei.

You Gai heard this, took a long sigh, and said, “Alas, although that girl doesn’t talk much, she has always been earnest and sincere. If An Jing has indeed perished, knowing her nature…”

At these words, a sense of dread filled the hearts of everyone present.

They were all too familiar with Zhao Qingmei’s character: she was extremely calm and knew how to prioritize in the face of significant matters, but when it came to emotions, she was extremely obsessive, to an incomprehensible degree.

Especially Yu Qiurong, her face turned pale in an instant, void of any color.

Duanmu Xinghua glanced at everyone and slowly said, “At this time of great chaos in the world, we from Outer Heaven still need to consider the future of Outer Heaven and, most importantly, how to handle the relationship with the Great Yan Court.”

“The Great Yan Emperor has sent a secret decree, hoping that Outer Heaven can contribute some manpower to the Martial Arts Academy founded by Great Yan. What do you all think?”

The Demon Sect had attracted many experts and even completely absorbed the Five Gangs Alliance due to An Jing and Zhao Qingmei, making it the largest sect in Great Yan at present.

This behemoth naturally evoked some dread within the Court.

Those present all understood that if An Jing and Zhao Qingmei were still around, the balance could be maintained, but without them, the balance would be lost.

The founding of the Martial Arts Academy was a hook. The establishment aimed to recruit masters from sects all over the world to provide guidance. This included not just the Demon Sect, Zhenyi Sect, and Buddhist sects but even some third-rate sects.

Behind this, there was a deeper meaning: The Great Yan Court intended to absorb the power of the Jianghu, and ultimately these people would be assimilated by the Court, gradually becoming part of it.

What’s more important is that they were also required to submit some of their profound Martial Arts and mental methods.

Clearly, this was a veiled threat.

Looking at the bigger picture, the Martial Arts Academy would grow increasingly influential, while other sects would progressively fade away. Rejection could ultimately diminish the influence of their sects entirely.

After all, when choosing between the Court and a sect, most martial artists would opt for the former over the latter.

Duanmu Xinghua was the first to speak up: “I am not in favor. The Demon Sect has always been independent since ancient times, and our mental methods can only be cultivated by those who join our sect. To now hand these methods over to the Court is indeed against our ancestral teachings.”

Ouyang Ping nodded in agreement. In his eyes, if this continued, it was very likely that the Demon Sect would become a vassal of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The Demon Sect has a long and storied history, being one of the three oldest sects. Long before the founding of the Great Yan Dynasty, the Demon Sect was already one of the most illustrious sects in the world.

Ouyang Ping and Duanmu Xinghua, having spent their whole lives in the Demon Sect, saw it as their home. They took pride in it and naturally were not willing to let the Demon Sect become subordinate to the Great Yan Dynasty.

“This is a mistaken view.”

Yi Daoyun shook his head, “I have heard that the State Preceptor of Great Yan, Xiao Qianqiu, has already agreed to the Martial Arts Academy’s proposal. The status of the Zhenyi Sect in the Great Yan Martial World speaks for itself, which shows that the Martial Arts Academy is what the people want, where everyone converges. We should fight for more resources and obtain greater benefits for our sect within the academy.”

Following Yi Daoyun’s remarks, silence gradually returned to the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Yi Daoyun was not very old, in his forties or under fifty — a prime age in the Jianghu, where he should be at the zenith of his career. Reaching the Grandmaster Realm at that age, he was undoubtedly a pivotal figure for a leading power.

If Duanmu Xinghua belongs to the seasoned faction within the Demon Sect, then Yi Daoyun would be from the faction of young and vigorous members within the sect.

The contradictions between the two powers had been there for some time, with numerous debates and disagreements on how the Demon Sect should develop. However, these issues had been largely hidden under the immense pressure of Zhao Qingmei’s authority before.

But now, with Zhao Qingmei gone, these contradictions have fully ignited, and there’s even a risk that they could escalate.

Duanmu Xinghua turned to Li Fuzhou, “Sect Master Li, what do you think?”

Li Fuzhou, as the leader of the Human Sect, had a very significant influence.

Li Fuzhou spoke slowly, “I agree with what Chief Yi said, if the Sect Hierarch or the son-in-law were here, there would still be room to maneuver with the Court, but now the situation has changed drastically. Both are absent, and if our sect doesn’t cooperate with the Great Yan Dynasty, Zhenyi Sect, and many other Jianghu sects, we will not only become a thorn in the side for the Great Yan Court but also unacceptable to the martial world of Great Yan. I think mutual cooperation would be beneficial to both sides.”

Mutual cooperation would be beneficial to both sides….

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Xinghua’s eyebrows knit tightly; originally, she had wanted Li Fuzhou to take her side, but now it seemed that Li Fuzhou was more inclined to agree with Yi Daoyun.

You Gai sat with his eyes slightly closed, as if he had fallen into a slumber.

For him, the Demon Sect held no sense of belonging, and he was indifferent to power and influence; what he cared about most was into whose hands the Earth Vein Spirit would fall, and what kind of changes would occur in the world.

Lin Tianhai fell silent, beginning to weigh the pros and cons in his mind.

Ouyang Ping’s lips parted slightly, but in the end, he chose not to speak.

There will always be someone with talent to lead the charge in every era, dominating the scene for centuries.

He himself was an Elder of the Sealing Demon Platform and should not be meddling in the affairs of the Demon Sect. Moreover, the future of the Demon Sect was to be decided by the younger faction led by people like Yi Daoyun.

Lin Tianhai finally spoke, “I think what Chief Yi and Sect Master Li said is not unreasonable.”

Duanmu Xinghua asked, “What do you say, Chief Lin?”

Lin Tianhai replied somberly, “If the Zhenyi Sect and Buddhist sects have all agreed, it is too difficult for our Demon Sect to remain uninvolved. We would undoubtedly be ostracized by other forces. If the Sect Hierarch and An Tributor were here, this issue would be simple as both could suppress the disturbances. But now, with An Tributor unfortunately dead and the Sect Hierarch missing….”

Under such an overwhelming trend, even these grandmasters at the pinnacle of the Jianghu could only conform to the trend.

How many in this world could turn the tides within the grand scheme of things, making clouds with a flip of the hand and rain with the other?

“Alright, if that’s the case.”

Duanmu Xinghua pondered for a moment, sighed deeply within her heart, and said, “Then let’s proceed as Chief Yi suggested. Sect Master Li, would you see to this matter?”

“Then leave this matter to Li.”

Li Fuzhou stood up and clasped his fist in salute.

…….

On Jinghai Road, Blue Sky Island.

Golden red rays of dawn filtered through, casting brilliant beams of sunlight across the azure sea, as if the blue fabric had been adorned with golden edges, dazzling the eyes.

At this moment, an elder stood on the shore, clad in a white robe, with a stern treasure sword on his back. If there were connoisseurs around, they would recognize this sword as the Phoenix Sword, listed on the Famous Sword List.

The identity of this elder was self-evident; he was none other than the Sword God, Liu Moyuan.

Just then, a small boat slowly drifted over, caught in a tempest, causing the clothing to whip and snap in the wind.

On the boat stood an elderly man in black, the Sword Demon Hao Tian.

Seeing the Sword Demon appear, Liu Moyuan broke into a smile, “You’ve come as expected.”

The Sword Demon took out two jars of alcohol and threw one to Liu Moyuan, “Since you invited me, how could I not come?”

Liu Moyuan caught the jar, opened the seal immediately, and took a big gulp, then exclaimed, “Refreshing!”

The sea breeze howled, sending waves crashing, tossing his full head of white hair about.

“The Ghost Swordsman is dead, it’s truly unbelievable.”

“Who would have thought that the only Swordsman to ever break through the Seventh Realm would die just like that.”

“Such is the fate of a Swordsman.”

“Is death the fate of a Swordsman?”

“Who in this world does not die?”

“…..”

The Sword Demon Hao Tian grunted, then threw the wine jar into the water.

“Thump!”

The wine jar smashed into the sea, disappearing amid the white foam with the waves.

At the same time, Liu Moyuan put down the wine jar and looked towards the Sword Demon.

One was on the boat, the other on the shore.

The sea, once as tranquil as a lady, suddenly surged violently.

In the end, the waves touched the sky.

The pounding of the waves against the shore, raising a thousand layers of snow, was incessant, shaking both heart and spirit.

With such tumultuous waves, not to mention an ordinary boat, even a first-rate treasure ship would be easily capsized.

Numerous waves rose, as the small boat beneath the Sword Demon was lifted by a nearly twenty-zhang high towering wave. The wave surged high, never falling, thus pulling the small boat, which stayed suspended in mid-air, unmoved atop the crest, an act in the eyes of the common man no different from an Immortal’s creation.

Now, all sounds suddenly ceased.

Now, the Sword Demon faced the Sword God.

The Sword Demon’s pale, indifferent face had unknowingly become hot as fire, with a flame-like gleam flickering in his eyes. Gazing at the Sword God, he slowly said, “I have waited a very long time for this day.”

Decades ago in the Jianghu, when the Ghost Swordsman did not yet exist, it was the era of the Sword God and Sword Demon.

The Sword God did not respond; he did not wish to speak, nor had he anything to say, for at this moment, any words would be superfluous.

He simply raised his sword slowly and said,
“Please!”

The Sword Demon stood silently for a while longer, until the fire in his eyes gradually faded, then he too slowly raised his longsword and said,
“Please!”

The sunlight suddenly dimmed as if its brilliance, too, had been stolen by the two longswords.

The longswords, already beginning to move under the sunlight, also started to shift above the sea surface.

Warm hands grasped the cold sword; was it warmth or coldness that prevailed?

This question had once puzzled many Swordsmen.

It was a soul-shattering moment, as well as an earth-shattering one, just as a suddenly illuminated land shrouded in dark clouds.

Sword Light, moving like a Flood Dragon, with two intertwined black and white shadows leaping within it, it was impossible to distinguish who was black and who was white.

The swordsmanship of both had already reached the pinnacle.

Holy Dao Sword!

Heavenly Dao Sword!

The intertwined Sword Light shone between heaven and earth.

But after the sound of swords clashing like dragons, the flurry of Sword Light, all of a sudden, fell silent, leaving only two longswords held high with their tips facing each other.

And the masters of these swords stood on opposite sides of the sea, each seemingly in command of half the world, each dignified and imposing.

But they were no longer two people, but two blocks of cold ice! Two balls of intense fire!

Their eyes locked, fierce, brutal, harrowing, calm, gentle, as if most of the world’s expressions could be seen within those eyes.

The wind blew the waves, yet heaven and earth were quiet as death.

In the next moment, the two moved again, or perhaps it was the two swords that moved again.

Sword Light suddenly flared from Liu Moyuan and the Sword Demon, a stream of blood accompanying the skyward Sword Light, seemingly destined to pierce the clouds.

The scorching blood spilled onto the sea surface, so dense it barely dispersed.

The Sword Demon’s body swayed, then he suddenly laughed uproariously to the sky: “What a marvelous sword… truly unparalleled in the world.”

Liu Moyuan sighed deeply, “Our battle turned heaven and earth upside down, but it was all just for the sake of second place in the world.”

Their battle was not for the sake of being first, nor for victory or defeat, nor for life or death, but simply because they had to compete, their hearts longed for it, their swords thirsted for it.

That cold yet fiery sensation was irresistible.

The Sword Demon suddenly looked into the distance, “Perhaps, it’s time I left this place.”

Liu Moyuan asked, “Where do you want to go?”

The Sword Demon said distantly, “This vast world, I want to go to places I’ve never seen or heard of, I want to take a good look while I’m still alive.”

Liu Moyuan spoke indifferently, “After you leave, I will then become the world’s first Swordsman.”

The Sword Demon indifferently said, “This title of the world’s first is not worth possessing.”

Liu Moyuan said, “What others don’t want, I don’t want either.”

The Sword Demon raised an eyebrow, “So, what do you want?”

Liu Moyuan said, “After the matter of the Earth Vein Spirit is resolved, I will join Brother Hao and wander the vastness of this world, to live freely and unrestrained.”

Hearing this, the Sword Demon burst into laughter, “Good.”

The azure sky, crystal clear, with seagulls soaring in the distance.

…

In Zhao Country, atop the Purple Jade Tower in Wenyi Prefecture,
Because of Zhao Country’s control over the Black Ice Platform, the development of Zhao Country’s Jianghu was not as robust as that of Great Yan, hence, the turmoil caused by the Evil Spirits was significantly less.

Still, it caused great disturbances, and at this moment, the streets were sparsely populated, losing the hustle and bustle of the past.

Jin Deng stood on the rooftop, gazing down at the street below, with a hint of a sigh in his eyes, “Heaven does not assist me!”

Behind him, Su Lian and Su Yue exchanged glances, surprised that the death of the Ghost Swordsman had such a significant impact on Jin Deng.

Could it be that there were other connections and plans between the Ghost Swordsman and Tian Yin?

Jin Deng, seeing the confusion in their eyes, said, “The Ghost Swordsman was a man of great destiny, the only one who could change the world’s situation. If he were alive, the world would change because of him.”

“As long as this man lived, my Tian Yin could leverage his presence to manifest our will, not only acquiring the Earth Vein Spirit but also accomplishing the millennial grand design of Tian Yin.”

Su Yue couldn’t help but ask, “Jin, what is this millennial grand design?”

Not just Su Yue, Su Lian too looked curiously at Jin Deng.

Jin Deng glanced at them both, shook his head, and said, “This is Tian Yin’s greatest secret. When I’m dead, you’ll be told at that time.”

The greatest secret!?

With Jin Deng speaking in such a manner, it undoubtedly stoked even more confusion and curiosity.

“There’s no need to ask any further, you’ll know in time.”

Jin Deng waved his hand dismissively, then added, “This Earth Vein Spirit has been fully tainted by evil spirits, undergoing a complete mutation. I’m afraid Qian Qiu may also have to take action; at that time, these hidden great grandmasters will reveal themselves. To be honest, even I cannot fathom whether the Earth Vein Spirit can truly break through the constraints of a great grandmaster.”

The efficacy of the Earth Vein Spirit is now well-known far and wide, to the extent that even an ordinary person could speak authoritatively about it, evidence of how widespread its reputation has become.

Breaking through the shackles of a great grandmaster and reaching the Immortal Realm to attain eternal life–when all these are combined, how could anyone not be tempted?

Yet, the validity of these assertions remains unverified to this day.

Su Lian thought for a moment before asking, “Jin Lao, will the Undying Being of a Thousand Autumns obtain the Earth Vein Spirit?”

Jin Deng’s voiced deepened, “The great grandmaster of Gui Shuang possesses an exotic treasure, and even the strength of the Buddhist Buddha in the world is extraordinary. With Qian Qiu suffering severe injuries, if he cannot fully restore his cultivation, the fate of the Earth Vein Spirit remains in question.”

The Undying Being of a Thousand Autumns is riddled with injuries, so it would be extremely difficult for him to gain any advantage.

Su Lian asked, “And if the Undying Being of a Thousand Autumns were to recover his strength to its fullness?”

Jin Deng paused for a moment before replying, “If he were to return to his full strength, then his power would reach a very fearsome level. I think even if several great grandmasters were to join forces, they would not be his opponents, and the Earth Vein Spirit would definitely fall into his hands.”

“At that time, he would desperately seek out my Tian Yin.”

At the end, a chill flashed across Jin Deng’s eyes.

“Seek us out?”

Su Lian and Su Yue exchanged glances. Why would someone in possession of the Earth Vein Spirit need to find Tian Yin?

Jin Deng let out a long breath and said, “Let’s go. We will inevitably get involved in the excitement of Yujing City.”

Having said this, Jin Deng walked ahead.

Su Yue turned to Su Lian, “Did the Ghost Swordsman really die?”

“Why do you ask that?”

Su Lian’s brows slightly furrowed, “The corpse of the Black Flood Dragon has been found, with its internal organs having been shattered. It’s clear that it’s dead beyond doubt.”

Nibbling on her lip, Su Yue said, “I still find it somewhat unbelievable.”

Gently, Su Lian responded, “Actually, I find it hard to believe too. How exactly did he die?”

Yes, how indeed had he died?

Could that once incomparably elegant swordsman really be dead?

Both of them found it hard to believe that An Jing was dead, but the truth lay before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to accept it.

After a long while, two faint sighs were heard.

…

Yujing City, Dragon Spring Temple.

Compared with the chaos outside, Dragon Spring Temple remained extremely tranquil at this moment.

The serene Zen room resonated with the clear sound of a wooden fish.

The sunlight was clear and pure, slowly filtering through the window lattice and into the room.

An old monk sat cross-legged on a cushion, immobile as if he were one with the rock beneath him, seemingly merging as one with the ancient Zen room around him.

At this moment, Xi Hafu was without the extraordinary grandeur that usually surrounded him; there was no golden light to be seen. He looked like an itinerant monk that could be found anywhere, his face creased with wrinkles that spoke of the vicissitudes he had experienced.

“Creak–!”

Just then, the Zen door opened, and Fa Wu walked in slowly, bowing respectfully to the contemporary Buddha of the Buddhist Sect, “Ancestor Master!”

Xi Hafu said indifferently, “What is it?”

“Ancestor Master, more and more experts are gathering around us.”

Since the battle at Ba Mountain, the words of the Earth Vein Spirit had spread far and wide, embellished by people to sound almost miraculous. Not only Great Grandmasters and Grandmasters of the Upper Three Grades in the Martial World sought a share of it, but even ordinary people wished to head to Yujing City, hoping to be struck by fortune from heaven.

With the continuous outbreak of evil auras, chaos reigned over the land, filled with bloodshed and slaughter. This brought untold suffering upon the creatures of the world, and ordinary citizens were enduring unprecedented disasters across these lands.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.

No one could escape, nor could anyone evade it.

Now, heroes from all over had progressively converged on Yujing City, lurking around the Dragon Locking Well.

Xi Hafu nodded slightly and remained silent.

Fa Wu continued, “Many have gathered around the Dragon Locking Well, and some even attempted to forcefully enter. They were all stopped by Elder Tianyi, but the number of experts flocking here is increasing, and Elder Tianyi is becoming overwhelmed.”

“Hmm!?”

Upon hearing this, Xi Hafu frowned deeply, “I shall take a look.”

After speaking, he rose slowly and pushed open the Zen door.

Stepping out of the Zen Room, the noise around him grew chaotic, and fluctuations of Qi could be felt.

Xi Hafu ignored the intruding Qi Mechanism into Dragon Spring Temple, as if he hadn’t noticed it at all. He took measured steps forward, gradually ascending to the top of the pavilion.

The heroes concealed around watched the Dragon Locking Well with covetous eyes.

“Amitabha!”

Xi Hafu placed his palms together in front of his chest.

Boom!

The next moment, a golden radiance burst forth at dawn.

The earth trembled violently, making a thunderous rumble.

“What’s happening!?”

“Could it be that the Earth Vein Spirit is about to emerge!?”

……

Suddenly, the crowd hidden around the Dragon Locking Well stirred with excitement, their eyes gleaming like those of hungry wolves.

However, just then, a sweep of golden light overwhelmed them like the surging waves of a river, and a colossal Buddha figure, dozens of feet in height, appeared before the Dragon Locking Well. The towering golden Buddha, with its radiance far outshining the sun in the sky, nearly blinded everyone present.

The massive golden Buddha extended its left hand in a gesture of peace, while its right hand formed a Demon Suppressing Seal, its mighty presence rolling outward and sending many experts scattering in all directions.

“Get out of here!”

Someone upon witnessing this exclaimed, “This is the Great Divine Power of the Buddhist Sect!”

The realization dawned upon many experts; the Earth Vein Spirit had not yet broken through its restraints, and within Dragon Spring Temple dwelled a contemporary Buddha of the Buddhist Sect.

Some of the heroes around Dragon Spring Temple began to retreat, while only a few bold and incredulous ones lingered nearby, seemingly waiting for something.

“Since you all choose not to leave, then you will stay for good.”

Xi Hafu’s gaze was calm as the True Yuan within him converged, and then he brought his palms together.

The moment his hands clasped together, a myriad beams of golden light burst forth from the great Buddha, rushing in all directions.

“Pu!” “Pu!” “Pu!”

One could only see the golden Buddhist light piercing through all the experts in the vicinity like sharp arrows, instantly causing them to fall into pools of blood, breathless.

Upon closer inspection, there were more than thirty corpses.

Blood flowed along the ground, dyeing this holy Buddhist site red.

Fa Wu’s pupils contracted violently as he looked at the glaring blood on the ground, then quickly lowered his head and muttered, “Amitabha.”

To see this, the Five Elements group felt a chill in their hearts, their scalps tingling.

This living Buddha of the Buddhist faith, indeed, had an immense propensity for killing.

Gathering his courage, Fa Wu said, “Master, must it really be this way?”

Xi Hafu said indifferently, “The Earth Vein Spirit should only be obtained by our Buddhist disciples for the salvation of all beings. In the hands of others, it is a disaster.”

Fa Wu’s lips parted as he said, “I think the Master is wrong.”

Xi Hafu laughed, “Where am I wrong?”

Fa Wu replied, “Nowadays, all living beings are suffering immensely. I think the Earth Vein Spirit is the main culprit and should be eliminated as the root of all evil.”

To his surprise, upon hearing these words, Xi Hafu’s smile instantly vanished, “The Earth Vein Spirit is key to our Buddha’s universal salvation. No one but me can take it.”

After saying this, Xi Hafu turned and walked toward the Zen Room.

Fa Wu looked at Xi Hafu’s retreating figure and said, “Master, you are truly mistaken.”

……

Yujing City, Imperial Study Room.

Yong’an, the Emperor, sat atop the Dragon Throne, holding in her hands the secret letter describing An Jing’s mishap. The Heaven and Earth Net had confirmed this event; An Jing was indeed killed by the Elder of the Ten Directions, and thereafter, Zhao Qingmei with An Jing’s body had completely disappeared.

Her eyes slightly red, fists tightly clenched, her breathing becoming rapid, she usually prided herself on having excellent control over her emotions, yet upon hearing the news of An Jing’s death, she couldn’t help but feel a hollowness inside.

It was as if a complete heart had been gouged out with a knife.

Seeing this, Zhou Xianming sighed deeply and said seriously, “Your Majesty must take care of your dragon health. Now more than ever, Great Yan needs you, and the tens of millions of subjects need you.”

The Emperor Yong’an stood up, turned around, and said, “I still don’t believe it. Even Zongzheng Huachun could not kill him. How can he be dead now?”

Standing to the side, the Sky Canopy Patriarch could clearly hear a slight quiver in the Emperor’s voice; it was a scene he had never witnessed before.

Zhou Xianming said slowly, “That Elder of the Ten Directions is an undying being of a thousand autumns, with terrifying strength. Even the former Emperor was tragically killed by his hand. Once he goes all out, no one in the world can match him, not even a Great Grandmaster.”

“There’s no need to say more!”

Emperor Yong’an took a deep breath and turned around, “I have not forgotten my identity.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xianming immediately backed away two steps and fell silent.

Emperor Yong’an rubbed her temples and asked, “What’s the current situation?”

Zhou Xianming said with deep sorrow, “To report to Your Majesty, evil spirits have invaded all parts of the world, causing chaos. The county governments and military forces have also undergone mutations; some have even lost control.”

Martial artists who have absorbed the evil spirit have lost their minds and only know of slaughter. Not only have they stirred up a bloodbath in the Jianghu, but the true innocents are the people everywhere. At any moment on the streets or in the alleys, a mentally lost martial artist may brutally kill defenseless civilians. These civilians are no match for the affected martial artists; they are like sheep to the slaughter. In some towns and cities that have not been controlled, the ground is even littered with corpses and blood, turning the human world into a veritable hell.

And the chaos is continuing. Most areas have not yet been fully controlled. Even after the situation is contained, not to mention the inevitable death of many martial artists, at least several million civilians will perish.

Emperor Yong’an clenched her fists. Although she was well-aware that the pervasive evil spirits would bring great disorder, she had not anticipated such a massive disturbance. The Great Yan Dynasty was beginning to lose its grip, and this catastrophe was not limited to the Great Yan Dynasty but had also swept through Zhao Country, the Southern Barbarians, and everywhere else in the world.

Emperor Yong’an spoke solemnly, “We must try our best to control it, and have the Imperial Medicine Institute’s people fully devote themselves to developing an elixir to neutralize the evil spirit.”

Zhou Xianming replied, “Yes, I have already given the order.”

The Great Yan Emperor turned around and said slowly, “Now that masters from all over are flocking to Yujing City, crisis lurks at every corner, especially concerning the ownership of the Earth Vein Spirit, which makes us even more worried.”

“Therefore, I must obtain the Earth Vein Spirit at all costs, and absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of others.”

The Earth Vein Spirit is the root of major changes in the world. If anything happens to it or if it falls into the wrong hands, what unimaginable consequences might arise?

Zhou Xianming nodded his head and sighed deeply in his heart.

Upon reflection, if Doctor An had not died, he definitely would have been a capable assistant. Moreover, with his personality, even if he had obtained the Earth Vein Spirit, the world would at least have been stable.

Not only has An Jing died, but even the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect has vanished without a trace.

For the current situation, this is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue.

Although Zhou Xianming, the Great Yan Emperor, and the backing of Lv Guoyong all support reform and changing the world, the current situation still requires An Jing to suppress the heroes of the world.

The pressure faced by Great Yan is immense, not only due to the chaos brought about by evil spirits but also due to the concern over countless experts swarming to Yujing City. Moreover, there are Great Grandmasters lurking around the Dragon Locking Well, waiting for the liberation of the Earth Vein Spirit.

Once someone with malefic intent obtains the Earth Vein Spirit, the consequences might be even more terrifying than the current rampage of evil spirits.

At this moment, Zhuo Yuchang entered and said, “Your Majesty, the State Preceptor and the Sect Master of the Human Sect from the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou, have arrived.”

This handsome young eunuch had fully inherited the role of his adoptive grandfather and had become the person closest to the Great Yan Emperor.

The Great Yan Emperor took a deep breath and said, “Let the two of them come in.”

“Yes!”

Zhuo Yuchang nodded and then retreated slowly.

It was not long before Xiao Qianqiu and Li Fuzhou entered and bowed towards the Great Yan Emperor at the seat of honor.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

The Great Yan Emperor spoke indifferently, “You two need not be overly courteous. Regarding the matter of the Martial Arts Academy, I wonder what opinions you two may hold?”

Both of them had already expressed their thoughts before coming, so when the Great Yan Emperor asked again, it was merely to see the two men affirm their loyalty.

Xiao Qianqiu spoke solemnly, “My humble view is that the Martial Arts Academy should be established, and the Zhenyi Sect will fully support it.”

In his view, the establishment of Martial Arts Academies across the world meant that Jianghu would become taboo. While this could be a catastrophic disaster for other Sects, the Zhenyi Sect could spread Daoist teachings through the establishment of Daoist temples across the world.

This was not only not a bad thing but could indeed be a good thing.

Practicing cultivation and learning martial arts are both interconnected and unrelated matters.

The Great Yan Emperor nodded with satisfaction and then looked towards Li Fuzhou, “And what about Sect Master Li?”

Li Fuzhou clasped his hands together and concisely stated, “My Outer Heaven will also support Your Majesty.”

“Good, very good.”

The Great Yan Emperor nodded slightly and then said, “Although the establishment of the Martial Arts Academy is a crucial matter and was originally urgent, with the spread of Wutu’s words throughout the world, I think you two are already aware of the current situation in Yujing City.”

“With experts from all sides converging on Yujing City, the situation is turbulent and unstable, including Great Grandmasters lying in wait. For the stability of the Dynasty and the prosperity of the world, the Earth Vein Spirit absolutely must not be taken by outsiders. So at this time, I need the full support of the Zhenyi Sect and Outer Heaven.”

Xiao Qianqiu and Li Fuzhou bowed in unison and said, “The Zhenyi Sect (Outer Heaven) will definitely fully support His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, the Great Yan Emperor turned around and couldn’t help but gently close his eyes.

Even though Xiao Qianqiu and Li Fuzhou had agreed readily, Zhao Xuening still felt a touch of unease deep down, for it was those few Grandmasters she truly feared.

Each of these individuals possessed heaven-shaking, earth-shattering abilities, especially that immortal Qian Qiu, a peerless master with singular authority throughout history.

Thinking of this, a sigh emerged in her mind. How wonderful would it have been if that person were here?

……..