Late at night, at the Guiyuan Sword Sect.
The Guiyuan Sword Sect was situated on the border between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm. Its sect leader, Qing Nan, was a Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm, which gave the Guiyuan Sword Sect considerable prestige on both sides. Within its ranks were disciples not only of spirits and specters but also of both demon and human races. In essence, the Guiyuan Sword Sect was a martial world unto itself.
On a small hill within Guiyuan Mountain.
Two elder deacons were engaged in conversation. Both were of the eleventh realm: one was an eleventh-realm cypress tree spirit, and the other an eleventh-realm fox demon. Qing Nan had paid a considerable price to recruit them as deacons for the Guiyuan Sword Sect. At this moment, they were looking in the direction of the Winter Spring Sword Sect to the south, their faces etched with smiles.
The cypress tree spirit chuckled, "The Sect Leader should have succeeded by now. A mere eleventh-realm Lu Guiyi wouldn't last twenty rounds under the Sect Leader's sword."
"Hmph."
The fox demon leisurely took a swig from a flask of wine and remarked, "The Sect Leader is too arrogant, going to the Winter Spring Sword Sect alone. If anything were to happen, wouldn't the position of Guiyuan Sword Sect Leader change hands?"
The cypress tree spirit roared with laughter, "Brilliant!"
Just then, a beam of sword light suddenly shot up into the sky. Immediately after, the Guiyuan Sword Sect's protective formation was cleaved in two by a sweeping sword strike from a woman!
"Who goes there?!"
The cypress tree spirit leaped up, shouting, "Someone has breached the mountain gate!"
In the sky, as Lin Wanhua split the protective formation with her sword, the figures of Huang Tingyu, Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, Yu Wanling, Lu Guiyi, and others surged into the Guiyuan Sword Sect. The next instant, streaks of sword energy enveloped the entire Guiyuan Mountain. Disciples of the Guiyuan Sword Sect who had just emerged from their dwellings were instantly shredded into bloody masses.
Lin Zhao stood in the wind, looking at the two eleventh-realm deacons on the mountaintop. He commanded, "Yu Wanling, engage the cypress tree spirit. Chen Ben, dispatch that eleventh-realm fox demon as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, Mountain Lord!"
Yu Wanling, her body radiating a potent fist intent, descended gracefully from the wind. She thrust out a punch, and it seemed as though the entire mountaintop was sealed by her intent. The cypress tree spirit found himself unable to move and could only resort to his innate abilities to defend against Yu Wanling's assault. Leaves, sharp as knives, rained down towards the exquisite female martial artist.
Yu Wanling paid it no mind. She continued her punch without hesitation, inflicting several gashes on her arm. With that single blow, the cypress tree spirit was sent flying back, spitting blood. An eleventh-realm against an eleventh-realm, Yu Wanling had gained the upper hand in a single move.
On the other side, Chen Ben's figure streaked past, his entire being suffused with dense fist intent. Behind him materialized the Azure Waves fist intent Dharma image of the eighth stance, 'Overturning the Sea,' from the Nine Fist of the Farmer. He brought his fist down from the air, shattering the fox demon's innate defenses. Then, he darted forward, a charging punch landing on the fox demon's abdomen. As the fox demon was sent flying, Chen Ben moved even faster, becoming a blur in the wind, and intercepted the fox demon's trajectory. Another punch shattered the fox demon's cheekbone.
At this moment, the eleventh-realm Chen Ben was exhibiting an overwhelming advantage against the eleventh-realm great demon.
In the wind, the flying sword Hongye shimmered. Lin Zhao sat atop the flying sword, overseeing the entire operation. He said with a smile, "Old Huang, go and secure the Guiyuan Sword Sect's treasury. Don't let them divide the treasures beforehand."
"Understood!"
Huang Tingyu's figure shot away.
Wu Zhi, Tang Guangjun, Chu Yu, Lu Guiyi, and others moved through Guiyuan Mountain, systematically eradicating the Guiyuan Sword Sect to leave no future trouble.
Not long after, Lin Zhao, accompanied by Leng Yan, arrived at the Guiyuan Sword Sect's treasury. He was immediately overwhelmed by the sight. Leng Yan's lips parted in astonishment; there were too many treasures, and she didn't know which to take first.
"Pack them up!"
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "The Mountain Peak Villa and the Winter Spring Sword Sect get half each. Pack everything up quickly; we can't linger here."
"Okay!"
Lu Guiyi arrived in a flash. The lingering influence of a rogue cultivator, he opened a storage bag and began frantically stuffing treasures into it. Leng Yan also helped, while Lin Zhao's group, including Huang Tingyu and Wu Zhi, were also adept at acquiring treasures. It was only out of consideration for the Winter Spring Sword Sect that they hadn't already taken all of the Guiyuan Sword Sect's assets.
They worked until the latter half of the night, returning laden with spoils.
The news of the Guiyuan Sword Sect's annihilation and the near-emptying of Guiyuan Mountain overnight spread like wildfire, shocking not only the martial world of the demon race but also that of the human race. No one had expected the Mountain Peak Villa to be so ruthless and decisive.
...
The next day.
Lin Zhao slept until noon before waking up. After having a meal with everyone, he had to log back in to strategize for the larger picture.
Now, the Mountain Peak Villa was wealthy. The Guiyuan Sword Sect's treasury had provided the Mountain Peak Villa with over 8,000 Jin Zizhi coins. This money would be saved and used judiciously.
As night fell, Lin Zhao did not go down the mountain to hunt monsters. Instead, he practiced his martial arts in front of the Natural Dwelling, nurturing his pure true qi. At this time, Zhang Luobai, Zhuang Yirong, Tong Yu, and others were already asleep, and the entire Mountain Peak Villa was quiet. As Lin Zhao practiced, he glanced sideways and, using the technique of Water Moon Observing Heaven, easily spotted a figure clad in armor walking towards the small town. It was Huang Tingyu.
In the tavern, there were already few patrons. When Huang Tingyu arrived, the proprietress frowned and said, "Old Deputy Commander Huang, it's so late. We're closing up. Come again tomorrow."
"I'm not drinking without paying."
Huang Tingyu directly took out a small gold ingot and placed it on the table. The eyes of the proprietor and proprietress lit up. Huang Tingyu frowned and said, "Bring me a table of good wine and food."
"Right away!"
The couple accepted the gold ingot and happily began cooking and warming wine. After all, a single gold ingot was enough to cover half a year's income for the tavern. Who would have thought that the stingy Huang Tingyu, who usually came for drinks, would be so generous today?
Not long after, several small dishes were served, and Huang Tingyu drank bowl after bowl.
He was drinking in silence, his heart churning with a great many thoughts.
Even Lin Zhao, far away at the Mountain Peak Villa, sensed Huang Tingyu's fluctuating qi. He immediately stopped his punches, summoned his flying sword Hongye, and descended the mountain to have a drink with Old Huang, and to see what flaws had appeared in Old Huang's state of mind.
When Lin Zhao arrived at the tavern, the disheveled man Tang Guangjun was also standing outside, his sleeves pulled in, and said obsequiously, "Mountain Lord is here too? What a coincidence today..."
Inside the tavern, Huang Tingyu waved his hand, "Proprietor, bring two more pairs of chopsticks and two wine bowls."
Lin Zhao and Tang Guangjun took their seats. There was nothing much to say. Two large bowls of strong spirits first. The small town was still cold, and nothing was more warming than a drink.
After several bowls of wine, Lin Zhao frowned and asked, "Old Huang, what is it?"
"I don't know if it's a good or bad thing."
Huang Tingyu frowned and said, "Lin Zhao, my twelfth-realm bottleneck... it seems to have loosened."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao exclaimed with joy, "That's a good thing! If you can break through, our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool will have a thirteenth-realm Great Sword Immortal to guard it."
"It's not that easy."
Huang Tingyu downed another bowl of wine, wiping the corner of his mouth. "The demon race is different from the human race. It's not just about reaching a certain state of mind to break through. On the contrary, some demons need slaughter and tempering, while others need to consume flesh and blood to glimpse the Primordial Path. And my true form is a large yellow dog..."
"Brother Huang."
Tang Guangjun's expression grew solemn. "Your true form is a large yellow dog. Does that mean you have to eat feces to break through?"
He slammed the table and continued, "Are there any requirements for the quality of the feces? Is it the feces of mortals or immortal fairies, the feces of commoners or royalty? Honestly, I might be able to get the feces of the immortal fairies on the mountain if I shamelessly ask. But the feces of royalty... I don't know many noble people. This might require the Mountain Lord's help. Mountain Lord is quite familiar with Princess Zhao Shutong, so perhaps she can assist with this matter."
"Get lost!"
Lin Zhao and Huang Tingyu shouted in unison.
Tang Guangjun chuckled sheepishly and continued to pick at his food and drink, enjoying this rare opportunity to eat and drink at Huang Tingyu's expense.
"You are the Mountain Lord now."
Huang Tingyu looked at Lin Zhao and said, "I should inform you of everything in advance. Lin Zhao, I might have to leave the Mountain Peak Villa for a while. I intend to visit the ancestral land of the demon race. The ancestral land is the true wilderness of the demon world, and it is also where I was born. Perhaps tempering myself in the ancestral land will help me trace my origins and find the key to my breakthrough."
Lin Zhao frowned, "Isn't this decision too hasty? After all, you, Huang Tingyu, are one of us at the Mountain Peak Villa, and a recognized traitor by the demon race. What if something happens to you in the ancestral land? I can agree to you leaving the Mountain Peak Villa for a period, but can you guarantee that you will return alive?"
"I cannot."
Huang Tingyu sighed, "The ancestral land is perilous, filled with heavenly secrets and tribulations. I can only guarantee that I will do my best to protect myself, but I cannot guarantee my return. However, no matter what, I must make this trip to the ancestral land. To question the wilderness and find the roots of Huang Tingyu is a necessary undertaking. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to reach the thirteenth realm in this lifetime."
Lin Zhao's brow was deeply furrowed. This was a matter where one might not return.
Just then, someone pushed open the door of the tavern. It was a young sword cultivator dressed in a pale green robe, appearing very refined. He smiled, "If Old Sword Immortal Huang truly wishes to go to the ancestral land, I, Lin Zhujie, can accompany you. Moreover, with Lin Zhujie present, Old Sword Immortal Huang will likely not die."
Tang Guangjun slammed the table, his sword intent erupting. This Lin Zhujie was formidable indeed, having infiltrated the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool so silently that not a trace of demonic energy had leaked out.
"Alright, alright."
Lin Zhujie said helplessly, "Sword Immortal Tang, I don't have time to spar with you; it's pointless. I just happened to be passing by and overheard Old Sword Immortal Huang speaking."