Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 127 The Sentimental Swordsman and the Ruthless Sword

In front of the Yangxing Association's main gate, a person was walking back and forth under two lanterns.

The commotion inside the city was so great that anyone who wasn't deaf could hear it.

Ji Yinong's trusted steward was extremely anxious. After waiting for another half hour, he finally heard footsteps. A scout dressed in black ran over quickly to report the news from inside the city.

After hearing this, the steward turned and went back into the depths of the mansion.

He relayed Ji Yinong's account verbatim while he was in 'seclusion', and then waited for the leader to make a decision.

Everyone in the city was taking action, except for Yang Xinghui, who remained alone.

Nanyang County is now at the heart of the martial arts struggle, involving the three major traditions of Buddhism, Taoism, and Demonism, as well as the evil cult of the northern frontier.

In such a perilous situation, Yang Xing will be isolated.

Anyone with a modicum of mental arithmetic knows how terrible this is.

"I already knew. You may leave."

I received the same reply.

The butler stared at the oiled paper window and could vaguely see someone inside writing at a desk. Finally, he couldn't resist any longer.

"Master, the major sects in the county have already sided with the Daoist sect."

"Master Yi has become the sole decision-maker; as the saying goes, 'the arm can't twist the thigh,' so you..."

Ji Yinong interrupted him:
"I have my own plans. Just do as I instruct."

The butler sighed slightly.

"Yes"

Inside the room, Ji Yinong glanced outside, let out a long sigh, and the candlelight on the table was bent low.

In the past few days, he had heard that the Taoist sect was involved in the chaos in Nanyang.

Then, the Buddhist and Taoist sects joined forces to destroy the Great Ming Zun Sect within the city.

Yang Xinghui did not participate in the entire process, and Ji Yinong seemed to be an outsider.

He didn't sleep a wink last night.

Although the eight major forces in the city were openly and covertly fighting back then, compared with the current situation, it was just a minor skirmish.

In his confusion, he went through all the events that had happened in Nanyang over the past two years.

From the Yin Gui Sect, the resurrection of the Ren family patriarch, and the Black Stone Mortuary, to the later Champion Coffin Palace, Yang Zhen leaned towards the Wuzhuang Temple.
The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.

Ji Yinong put the pen down on the inkstone, scratched his head with both hands, and stared intently at what he had written.

The contents of the paper frightened him.

Quickly pick up this piece of paper and burn it over a candle.

Ji Yinong couldn't help but sneer when he thought of Elder Wen.

"Wrong, completely wrong."

"Not only are you completely wrong, but you're also fighting amongst yourselves. How could you possibly win?"

"Elder Yun, I'm sorry, but I don't want to die."

If he had any ulterior motives before, after seeing things clearly, he dared not think about them anymore.

What to do next?
Listen to the Holy Emperor, and do not disappoint him.
Having firmly established this belief, he felt that Yang Xing's isolation in the city would have no impact whatsoever.

Before long, another expert in light-footed martial arts left Yangxing Society with Ji Yinong's secret letter.

Logically, his letter should have been sent to Xinye.

After all, Xinye is closer.

But Ji Yinong's men, just like before, headed straight for Xiangyang.

Because the object of his loyalty was the Yin Gui faction, or more accurately, the Yin Empress.

Elder Yun mentioned the situation in Xinye.

Bi Shouxuan is the aunt of the Empress, and his strength and seniority are extremely high. He also has an outstanding disciple, Lin Shihong.

Not only has his martial arts surpassed his master's,

He was also a regional overlord, commanding an army of 30,000 and a large territory in Yuzhang County.

Although Yin Hou was the sect leader, the power of Bi Shouxuan's faction was in no way inferior.

Xu Liuzong, a master of the Extinction of Emotions Path, had a deeper friendship with Bi Shouxuan, while the people from the Heavenly Lotus Sect and Lao Jun Temple came for the secret method of the Coffin Palace.

Therefore, these people agreed to cooperate deeply with the Great Ming Zunjiao.

He had absolutely no interest in hunting down Shi Zhixuan.

Ji Yinong stood at the doorway and looked towards Xinye.

The more people from the two factions and six paths came, the more chaotic their voices became. Each of them had their own agenda, and it was difficult for them to accomplish anything together.

In Nanyang, however, there was only one voice.

The people Ji Yinong sent out were still far from Xiangyang, but news from Xiangyang had already arrived in Xinye along with many of the Hanshui faction's men.

The people of the Demonic Sect are not in the city; their headquarters are located on the banks of the Baishui River in the south of Xinye.

There is a village called Shayan here, built along the river, which has been occupied by them.

Qian Duguan was a powerful figure in Xiangyang who had connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds. Even bandits like the Plum Blossom Sect could make a living under his command.

Therefore, he could easily mobilize a gang of thieves.

Seizing villages was a piece of cake for them.

The county magistrate in Xinye City was also taken into custody, and the city wall guards were replaced by men from the Han River faction.

They can freely use the resources within the city.

At the same time, they arranged for people to keep watch at the front. If the Nanyang army moved out, they would take a boat to the Baishui River, go straight down the Han River, and arrive in Xiangyang in no time.

They can act when the opportunity arises, and retreat at any time.

It can be said to be foolproof.

As the moon approached its fullest, the moonlight was bright, though it was occasionally obscured by clouds.

A dozen or so people were guarding the northern entrance of Shayan Village, walking back and forth with torches, and there were also sentries outside, showing that they were very wary of any unusual activity in Nanyang County.

There are several houses connected together in the village, with the earthen wall in the middle being knocked down to form a large courtyard.

At that moment, a group of people were gathered together discussing something.

"Elder, more news has arrived."

A disciple of the Yin Gui Sect came to report that the handsome, middle-aged scholar in the courtyard, who was holding a bronze flute, beckoned to him.

He took the note and glanced at it; a look of hesitation appeared on his handsome face.

"What happened again?"

"With the Buddhist and Taoist forces joining forces, the Great Ming Zunjiao suffered heavy losses. The sect leader has ordered us to return to Xiangyang first to temporarily avoid their sharp edge."

After Bi Shouxuan finished speaking, he looked at a middle-aged man with a broad chin and a short beard standing next to him.

What do you think, Brother Xu?

Xu Liuzong revealed a hint of wariness: "I naturally have no objection, but the actions of the Daoist sect this time are somewhat unexpected."

Fu Gongshi, who came from the Jianghuai region, did not hesitate:
"It's already difficult to deal with just one Buddhist sect, and now the Taoist sect is getting involved as well. Zhu Zong's concerns are not unfounded."

Xinye is just a forward outpost for us; we can return it to them. We can take it anytime, it's nothing special."

Pi Shouxuan then looked at the three experts from Lao Jun Temple, all of whom were from Pi Chen's faction.

The leader, a tall, thin, pale-faced, beardless sorcerer named Fu Lin, answered:
"We should wait until the Buddhist and Taoist sects take action against the Evil Extreme Sect before we make our move."

The group came from the Eastern Capital with a clear purpose.

Operating in Nanyang was the business of the Yin Gui Sect; Xinye was dangerous, so they naturally didn't want to stay there for long.

The members of the Extinction Path, Laozi Temple, and Tianlian Sect were all unwilling to take the risk.

Bi Shou Xuan Bian Dao:
"Qian Duguan, go to Xinye City and prepare a backup plan. We are only temporarily retreating; we will use this place as a springboard to take Nanyang in the future."

"Yes!"

Qian Duguan chuckled and replied, "Those families are all under my control; no one dares to disobey."

"Very good, go ahead."

After Qian Duguan left, everyone started chatting again.

They were aware of the general situation in Nanyang City, and although they were urged by the Empress Dowager overnight, they didn't mind spending one more night.

After all, there are four major sects of the Demonic Cult in Shayan Village, with many experts.

There are also over a thousand men sent here from the Han River.

They were originally elite troops who were planning to take advantage of the chaos in Champion City. Their combined strength was far superior to that of the small group from the Great Ming Venerable Sect.

Furthermore, they operated in Xinye for a period of time.

Having already controlled all the key figures using traditional methods of the Demonic Sect, it's practically a pipe dream for Nanyang County to launch a silent attack.

That night, while many of the Demonic Sect disciples in Shayan Village were sleeping and dreaming, wooden boats bypassed Xinye and sailed downstream along the Chaoshui River.

The Chaoshui, Tuanshui, Yanshui, and Yushui rivers, which flow through Nanyang County, eventually converge into the Baihe River, which flows into the Han River.

Chaoshui is the river that flows to the west.

Go downstream, all the way to the southern part of Xinye.

It is less than ten miles from Xinye City.

The Demonic Sect also sent a few people to stay here, but after a small boat took advantage of the darkness to reach the shore first, ghostly white shadows began to appear at night.

Before long, the several sentries planted downstream all floated on the water and returned to their hometown of Xiangyang ahead of time.

It is close to the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).

Downstream from Xinye, a large group of people were moving towards Shayan Village.
Before the sentries at the village entrance could notice, Bi Shouxuan, a villager, was suddenly awakened from his sleep.

He leaped onto the thatched roof and listened intently.

Before they could hear anything, the sorcerers Fu Lin, Xu Liuzong, Fu Gongshi, and others from Lao Jun Temple were all awakened by him.

The group all did the same thing: stand on high ground to look around, and then listen carefully.

However, no unusual activity was detected.

"Master Pi, aren't you too nervous?"

Bi Shouxuan glanced at the group of people, and thinking of the news about the Empress Dowager, he felt increasingly uneasy.

For a master like him, such emotions should not be ignored:
"Turn on the lights first!"

Just as the sorcerer Fu Lin was about to reply, his expression suddenly tightened.

The group looked up at the horizon.

It seems like it's already light out without even needing to turn on the lights!

But that wasn't the light of dawn; it was the glow of a shooting star.

"Whoosh-!"

Fu Gongshi reached out and grabbed an arrow with a flaming tip, which he plucked from the air.

The crowd's expressions darkened, and the whooshing sound of arrows piercing the night grew increasingly dense.

The thatched hut was hit by a rocket and immediately started to smoke and catch fire.

Soon, Shayan Village caught fire, and the camp set up by the Hanshui faction also caught fire.

Some people shouted to put out the fire, while others screamed in agony after being hit by arrows. The once quiet village was transformed into a pot of boiling water in a short period of time.

Xu Liuzong and the others did not dwell on the reasons.

They suffered a loss and were furious, but each of them was more clear-headed than the last.

People from both Buddhism and Taoism have arrived!
"go!"

Xu Liuzong shouted, and more than a dozen experts from the Extinction of Emotions Sect responded. People from Lao Jun Temple, as well as Fu Gongshi, also followed suit.

As soon as Bi Shouxuan made his move, many of his Yin Gui Sect experts followed suit.

Everyone fled towards Xinye.

Only from there, no arrows were shot.

The experts present did not panic. They knew that as long as they took advantage of the darkness to escape north for a while and then dispersed, they would be safe.

however,
Upon exiting the village, one can see the corpses of more than ten lookouts.

The threat of arrows was gone, but what came first was a fierce palm strike imbued with the power of Zen!
Upon hearing the palm strike, Pi Shouxuan dodged instantly. He was extremely fast, but the expert from Lao Jun Temple behind him was a step slower. He crashed into a pine tree at the village entrance along with the scattered thatch on the ground.

With a "crack," the branch snapped.

He lacked the power of a benevolent mother and closed his eyes to the account.

"Heart Buddha Palm!"

Xu Liuzong shouted loudly, then turned to Bi Shouxuan and said, "Elder Bi, this is a holy monk of the Tiantai School."

Pi Shouxuan's eyelids twitched, and as soon as he steadied himself, he glared angrily at Xu Liuzong.

"Sin, sin, sin."

Master Zhihui apologized, his eyes widened, and he lunged at Bi Shouxuan.

Shouts of battle came from behind.

Upon hearing the commotion, Xu Liuzong's intention to attack the monk vanished in an instant.

If you don’t leave now, wait until later!
He was about to greet his fellow disciples when suddenly loud footsteps sounded all around, and one figure after another emerged from the night.

Upon seeing that group of Taoist and Buddhist masters, Xu Liuzong no longer cared about his own fellow disciples.

He shifted his position and used his light-footed skill to rush eastward.

The Extinction of Emotions lineage has the "Punishment Escape Technique" as its inheritance. Although only a fragment of the scroll remains, and two chapters of the escape technique have been lost, its lightness skill is still extremely remarkable, and ordinary people cannot catch up with it.

Although our side has many skilled fighters, the enemy not only has skilled fighters, but also a large number of people.

Once the people behind Shayan Village can't hold out, and are held back by experts, they'll be surrounded and killed.

Xu Liuzong, unwilling to take any risks, immediately set off at full speed.

but
As he gathered his inner energy and rushed forward, he heard a strong gust of wind behind him. Looking back, he saw a white figure getting closer and closer.

Xu Liuzong knew who it was.

This guy is even faster than him.

It wasn't out of fear, but simply because I didn't want to get entangled in a fight.

"Master, please wait."

After saying this, he was instantly pulled three zhang closer.

Ignoring the warning, Xu Liuzong felt a surge of malice. He curled his right hand into a delicate gesture and suddenly froze in mid-air.

As Zhou Yi took the next step, Xu Liuzong's right hand passed under his left armpit and shot out with a sharp whistling sound!

Ordinary people find it difficult to make movements in the air, and even experts would find it hard to dodge his sudden attack.

But then a white figure moved with incredible agility, dodging the flying needles with a side somersault, and then pressed down with a palm strike in mid-air.

Xu Liuzong pressed out with his left palm from a distance, and their palm forces collided.

A gust of energy stung his face, and he was astonished to find that his opponent's skill was even greater than his own.

At this point, the two were only three zhang apart. Without exchanging some tricks and fighting, it would be difficult for them to escape.

"Master, do you know who I am?"

"I don't know, but your movements are so fast, you must be a big fish."

Xu Liuzong said expressionlessly, "My Extinction of Emotions Path has no interest in your Nanyang County City matter, but if you keep pressing me, you will definitely not gain any advantage."

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that the person opposite him had drawn their sword.

"So you are Xu Liuzong?"

Xu Liuzong suddenly noticed that the other person's tone had turned cold.

"Indeed, it is I, Xu. You have heard of my name?"

Zhou Yi chuckled and said, "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Oh?"

Xu Liuzong secretly channeled his inner energy: "What's the plan?"

"I heard you're the one who wanted to kill me?"

Seeing his expression change slightly, Zhou Yi immediately thrust out his sword. This sword strike was not only difficult to catch, but also carried a sense of freedom and lightness.

A gentle breeze stirs the grass, free to roam the heavens and earth.

Before his carefree struggle against the wicked mother, Zhou Yi did not have this understanding.

Breaking free from fixed techniques, the swordplay flows smoothly and effortlessly.

When an expert makes a move, how could it escape Xu Liuzong's eyes?

Facing this master swordsman, Xu Liuzong dared not hold back. He put his left hand through his right sleeve and his right hand through his left sleeve, and with both hands, he pulled out seven more silver needles, three on the left and four on the right.

The needle tip, tied with thread, gleams with a dark light.

He couldn't possibly use a needle to deflect a sword, but instead used a ghostly movement technique, dodging and leaping while simultaneously throwing needles.

Xu Liuzong was a master of gambling and was a prominent figure in the casinos of Luoyang and Chang'an.

The technique is incredibly fast; the average person's eyes can't keep up with it.

He first avoided the sharp edge of Zhou Yi's long sword, then manipulated the thread with his ten fingers, pressing the thread frequently with a phantom-like technique.

Each time the thread is pulled apart, it is an extremely ingenious needlework technique.

Xu Liuzong's needles were fast, and Zhou Yi's sword was fast too. When his sword missed, he repeatedly parried the needles with his own. The force of the needles was clearly not as great as his swordsmanship, but each needle was aimed at a vital point and could not be ignored.

He circled the needle, intending to cut the thread.

But Xu Liuzong's skill in manipulating the needle was like his skill in rolling dice at a casino; he possessed a swirling, ingenious technique that always managed to evade the sword's edge.

And the first three stitches fall, followed by the next four, without any gaps.

With his left hand activating the Lesser Yin Meridian and his right hand activating the Lesser Yang Meridian, he applied all the techniques of the Extinction of Emotions to the needles.

It also subtly aligns with the "Seven Needles to Subdue the Spirit" technique in the art of escaping punishment
The sword flashed, stirring up a fierce and powerful wind.

Xu Liuzong, however, skillfully sewed and patched up his own flaws, making it difficult to determine who was better for a time.

The clanging and clattering sounds continued.

He used the needles more and more urgently, but the opponent's sword speed exceeded his expectations.

The needle gleamed continuously as it pierced downwards, like dense raindrops.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pierce through that sword.

Since I started my journey through the martial world, I have never seen anyone draw their sword so swiftly.

Moreover, his acupuncture technique can shatter true qi; it can break through any palm strike or fist strike with a single drill.

However, the opponent possessed a dense sword aura, which could not be broken even when all seven needles were fired simultaneously.

He is truly my greatest enemy!

Xu Liuzong was anxious, knowing that if the fight continued, he would become mentally exhausted and lose his finesse and agility.

If the needle and thread break then, I'll be finished.

This kid's lightness skill is extremely high; it would be difficult for him to escape. A slight sweat beaded on his forehead; he felt he had provoked a killer.

He moved a few steps, raised his true essence, and channeled the true energy of the Extinction of Emotions into the needle through the red thread. He changed the rhythm of his fingers, as if playing a pipa.

Zhou Yi stared at the needle, his hands and eyes working in tandem.

Under the pressure of the seven needles, he combined parrying and striking, and his swordsmanship became increasingly agile.

Suddenly, Xu Liuzong's rhythm changed.

The sword struck the needle tip, and the clanging sound remained the same, but the rhythm of the sound changed drastically, carrying a peculiar charm that affected the mind.

Like a courtesan, holding a pipa, humming a mournful tune:
"Green grass by the riverbank, endless thoughts of the distant road. The distant road cannot be thought of, but I dreamt of it last night."

In people's hearts, tender feelings of love and affection arise.

As Xu Liuzong plucked the strings, he kept an eye on Zhou Yi's movements. This was the essence of the Emotion-Suppressing Technique, which connected with the spirit and could arouse a person's desires. He was just waiting for Zhou Yi to fall for it.

Once the music evokes emotion, he kills to extinguish that emotion.

Despite repeatedly dialing the strings, Zhou Yi remained unmoved, so he quickly changed the tune.

The sorrowful love affair in the brothel was merely a plea for help from Xu Liuzong's men, yet it failed to stir Zhou Yi's heartstrings.

He's such a heartless person; the art of extinguishing emotions has failed!
The alluring, seductive music had no effect.

"Hey~~!"

The red rope snapped, the silver needle slipped from control, and flew far away.

The Seven Needles Divine Control Formation has been broken!

Xu Liuzong hurriedly tried to control the remaining six needles, but Zhou Yi broke through faster and faster. His sword remained at the same speed, but the six needles lost the efficiency of the seven needles.

They instantly went from a defensive posture to an offensive one!
"Whoosh whoosh-!"

In an instant, all the silver needles flew away, and Zhou Yi swung his sword, shredding all the remaining red threads.

Xu Liuzong's technique was broken, his aura was thrown into chaos, and he had no time to escape.

Just then, he saw the deadly longsword thrusting towards him.

He suddenly knelt down on the ground!
"I surrender, I surrender!"

"The Evil King is nearby; please, Abbot, grant us this favor!"

Blood dripped from between his eyebrows.

Xu Liuzong's breath hitched; he had made the right bet.

The cold tip of the sword was being removed from his forehead.

"Where is the Evil King?"

Xu Liuzong took a breath and said:
"The master's swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world, and he will surpass Master Yi Jian sooner or later. My Seven Needles Simultaneous Release is also one of the seven extraordinary techniques of our sect, and few can rival it."

Ordinary people would either be killed by my attack or flee for their lives. The Abbot, however, was able to break through it; he is truly formidable.

"Stop talking nonsense, where is Shi Zhixuan?"

Xu Liuzong took another breath: "The Evil King is about to head south from the Eastern Capital. I'm just going ahead."

"What is he doing here?"

"Naturally, it's for the Dao Heart Demon Planting Technique in the Coffin Palace."

Zhou Yi stared at him coldly: "Didn't you say the Evil King was nearby?"

Xu Liuzong, still shaken, said:

“If I hadn’t said that, I would have already died by the Abbot’s sword. To be honest, my identity is a top secret, and even the Yin Gui Sect knows nothing about it.”

"Although the Queen of Yin is powerful, she is no match for the Evil King."

“If you spare my life today, you will be on good terms with the Evil King. In return, the Evil King’s lineage will help you eliminate the Yin Gui Sect in Xiangyang.”

After speaking, he paid attention to Zhou Yi's reaction.

His heart sank suddenly; the Extinction of Emotions lineage possessed an extremely strong ability to sense emotions.

For example, in the Seven Great Extraordinary Arts, "Thousand-Mile Soul Chasing," how can one continuously pursue a prey that has been deliberately let go without subtle sensing?
The moment he sensed the sharp killing intent, he knew that the title of Evil King had failed him.

Xu Liuzong froze, and his outer garment suddenly burst apart!
As the dark clouds moved, Xu Liuzong's body, covered in red lines, was revealed in the moonlight. He spoke with full breath, clapping his hands forward.

In an instant, the red threads on his body flew up, and all 365 flying needles tied around him took flight, their whistling sounds intertwining and buzzing like wild bees dancing, all aimed at Zhou Yi!

One of the seven extraordinary techniques of the Extinction of Emotion Path, the Hundred Threads Exercise.

"Go to hell!"

Xu Liuzong roared, but Zhou Yi had been waiting for this moment. He met strength with strength, putting all his power into his hands and unleashing the Cloud-Dispelling Palm Force. The palm wind swept like a raging wave, causing the Hundred Needle Red Thread to scatter in all directions!
Xu Liuzong was scratched by the needle and thread, and then struck by the force of the palm, causing him to fall and vomit blood.

Zhou Yi received three needle pricks on his right arm and one needle prick on his left waist.

The needle was infused with a deadly poison that extinguished passion, and a burning, stinging sensation immediately followed.

He mobilized his inner energy to suppress the poison.

Xu Liuzong ignored the poison in his needles and seized the opportunity to flee for his life.

However, he only managed to escape five zhang (approximately 10 meters).

A dark figure suddenly appeared from the direction he was trying to escape, followed by a scorching sword aura.

Although Xu Liuzong was a master of the Demonic Sect, he could not avoid it at this moment.

He was covered in blood and was cut down by a single sword.

He screamed in agony, but before he could speak, the next sword struck. He rolled over and opened his mouth, the sword flashing past his throat, drawing a spray of blood.

Xu Liuzong leaned to the side, and only then, by the moonlight, could he see the scene behind him.

The man who killed him had already moved close to the man in white; they were very close, and there was a sense of intimacy between them.

Judging from her slender and graceful figure, she is clearly a woman.

"Green grass by the riverbank, endless thoughts of the distant road. The distant road cannot be thought of, but I dreamt of it last night."

The tender melody that had just been played seemed to start playing again.

So you're not a heartless person after all.

A passionate swordsman, a heartless swordsman.
Xu Liuzong breathed his last and closed his eyes to die.

"This needle is poisoned, are you alright?"

"It's alright, I can suppress it right away."

"Why didn't you kill him with one sword? You were too careless and let him sneak up on you. This is not like you at all."

"I'm quite concerned about what this guy said about the Evil King."

As Zhou Yi's Qi circulated for another cycle, the burning pain in the wound gradually subsided.

"I know he is one of the Evil King's men, so I want to ask where the Evil King is."

"I never imagined he was like a hedgehog, covered in thorns."

Aruina looked at Xu Liuzong's corpse: "Is the Evil King very powerful?"

"Yes, even the Great Venerable is not as good as him."

Zhou Yi then asked, "Aren't you afraid after you killed his men?"

She reached out her slender hand and wiped away a drop of blood from his right arm.

Then a cold voice rang out:
"He deserves to die a hundred times over."

Zhou Yi suppressed the poison, finished his practice, opened his eyes, and smiled at her.

The girl felt her hand being grabbed and couldn't help but look up at him. His deep blue eyes shimmered in the moonlight, and suddenly his sleeve was rolled down, revealing his fair wrist.

The hand brushed across her wrist, bringing a splash of wine-red color to her cold face, making her look quite beautiful.

"Cousin, what are you doing?"

"do not move."

At that moment, a red silk thread wrapped around her wrist and tied into a bow.

The girl looked at the bow and smiled at him.

Zhou Yi walked to Xu Liuzong's body and felt around for a while.

Nothing at all.

Unfortunately, this hedgehog's needlework skills are truly remarkable.

"Take this guy away and find a place to dispose of him. The big monk killed him, so let's not take the credit."

Aruina nodded and said, "Be careful."

She picked up the body and left without saying a word.

While thinking about the news that the Evil King was going to the Coffin Palace, Zhou Yi headed towards Shayan Village.

Along the way, he also took care of three more people.

Suddenly, a loud roar was heard from afar!

"Empress of the Underworld—!"

Zhou Yi's expression hardened, and he stopped chasing the stragglers, using his lightness skill to rush over.

From afar, one could see many people sleeping motionless at the entrance of Shayan Village.

As soon as he arrived, several pairs of eyes flew over to him.

Master Zhihui was unsteady on his feet, and the Vajras of Jingnian Temple protected him.

Across from me stood a captivating woman, her face half-veiled, exuding intoxicating charm.

Beside her was another person, her martial uncle, who practiced dual cultivation of love and sex.

The old demon's aura became even more erratic, his chest heaving, and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He was nearly beaten to death by the great monk.

"The holy monk is indeed powerful, but should we continue the fight?"

Bi Shouxuan said in a cold voice.

The wise master ignored him and put his hands together: "If the Empress Yin were to spies from the side and launch a sneak attack, wouldn't that be a low-level move?"

Empress Yin did not explain; she stepped forward three paces, leaving Kai Shouxuan behind.

The robes of the wise master, the two Vajras, Chen Changgong, Song Yinzi, and others all fluttered.

Centered on Yin Hou, the sense of spatial collapse in the Heavenly Demon Force Field grew stronger and stronger.

Faced with this woman, no one dared to make a move rashly.

"Master, there's no need to investigate who launched the sneak attack tonight. You're already injured, so go back and heal. Save your strength to deal with that demon-turned Buddha in the Coffin Palace."

The wise master's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at them.

The lower half of the Queen's face was covered by a veil, but anyone could tell that she was smiling.

When the auras of the two top masters clashed, Empress Yin was clearly superior.

Zhou Yi flew down and stood beside the Master of Wisdom, facing the Heavenly Demon Force Field together.

At this moment, the wise master was noticeably more composed.

The Empress's gaze fell on Zhou Yi.

She looked him over a few more times: "Master Yi?"

Zhou Yi calmly said, "I have long heard of the Empress Yin's great name, and it is only today that I have the opportunity to meet her."

Zhu Yuyan said, "I've heard that the Abbot's swordsmanship is extraordinary, and I would like to witness it myself."

Zhou Yi showed no fear: "Then please let Empress Yin draw her sword."

Zhou Yi slowly drew his sword, in that instant
Chen Changgong, Song Yinzi, Ji Xun, and others all drew their swords.

The wise master inspired the Dharma, and many eminent monks of the Tiantai school swung their Zen staffs.

If Master Zhihui hadn't been injured, the Taoist and Buddhist sects would have already taken action by now.

However, things are on the verge of erupting at any moment.

Zhou Yi stared at Yin Hou, but he could sense from the subtle details that the Master of Wisdom's aura was becoming increasingly unstable.

The Queen Mother will surely realize this.

He kept thinking about the current situation.

He didn't believe that the Empress would really fight to the death, after all, those who died here weren't on her side.

"Shuashua~!"

Two figures fell from the sky in succession.

The demoness came to the side of the Queen of Yin, while the saintess stood beside Zhou Yi.

Wanwan had just fought with Shi Feixuan again, and the outcome was difficult to determine.

But at this moment, she felt uneasy.

Shi Feixuan took half a step closer to Zhou Yi, raised her sword with him, and fought side by side.

The little demoness glanced at Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi ignored her, keeping his eyes fixed on the Empress Yin.

"Master."

Wanwan stood next to Zhu Yuyan, her voice gathering into a line.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuyan glanced at Bi Shouxuan.

Almost instantly, the group reached an agreement. Empress Yin unleashed the Heavenly Demon Technique to hold back the experts from both the Daoist and Buddhist sects, while the members of the Yin Gui Sect leaped into the air.

Zhou Yi naturally didn't pursue it.

The Queen of the Underworld's ability to fight in large-scale battles is far superior to that of the Good Mother.

If no one stops her, she'll die.

He turned to the senior monk and said:
"Master, heal your wounds quickly."

The wise master did not try to be strong; he immediately sat down cross-legged and began to meditate and circulate his energy.

The Heavenly Demon True Qi is extraordinary; no matter how powerful he is, he cannot ignore it.

"These people are all from Lao Jun Temple."

Chen Changgong looked at the corpse that Ji Xun had dragged over and said, "Their kung fu has some connection to ours."

Song Yinzi said, "The method of absorbing and replenishing the body in the true lineage is quite evil. Although these people are powerful, their qi and blood are weak and their practice is not up to par."

The group began to comment.

Just now, they chased and killed this group of people, and several experts from Lao Jun Temple all died at their hands.

Zhou Yi spent some time with the Master of Wisdom.

Shi Feixuan said that the Empress Yin used Bi Shouxuan as bait, and Master Zhihui was so eager to destroy the demon that he was ambushed.

The commotion in Shayan Village gradually subsided.

Yang Zhen and Shan Xiongxin first led their men to unleash a rain of arrows, then led their men to charge into the enemy lines, and the chaotic Hanshui faction was utterly defeated.

Fan Naitang led his men to cooperate with the Giant Kun Gang to wipe out the hidden members of the Demonic Cult in Xinye City.

Qian Duguan, the big boss of Xiangyang, thought himself clever, but he didn't understand whose territory Nanyang was.

When the people from the county town arrived, the local forces in Xinye joined forces.

Those who were not tracked down by the Giant Kun Gang were all executed, except for a few who managed to escape in the chaos.

Zhou Yi walked around the village, feeling a little worried.

He frowned and began searching through some of the corpses, his mood quite heavy.

As dawn broke, Shi Feixuan, who was standing nearby, glanced at him and saw him breathe a sigh of relief.

At this moment, a short, stout man carrying a rake strode forward.

He emerged from the banks of the Baihe River, soaking wet, dragging a man along with him.

When Zhou Yi came to greet him.

The wooden Taoist was squatting down and forcefully slapping the man's face.

He was stunned and said, "Dead? How could he be dead!"

Zhou Yi examined the man's chest: "He's definitely dead."

The wooden Taoist priest panicked and kept pulling him, saying, "Don't you know how to travel between the Yin and Yang realms? Quickly, quickly, bring him back from the underworld."

"They're all dead, how can we retrieve them?"

Zhou Yi was puzzled: "Also, who is this guy, and why are you taking him so seriously?"

The wooden Taoist repeatedly slapped his thigh, unwilling to speak.

Shi Feixuan glanced at the man's injuries, noticing a row of bloody eyes on his chest, and then looked at the rake.

"Master Mu, have you killed the wrong person?"

“I didn’t kill the wrong person. I know this Daoist Master. He’s the big boss of the bandit den in Xiangyang.”

"Qian Duguan?" Zhou Yi perked up.

"It's this kid. He's not bad at kung fu, but he's no match for Master Dao."

Mu Daoren said, "After I injured him and he jumped into the water, I caught up with him and beat him into submission. He said he wanted to use the gold and silver of the Hanshui Sect to buy his life. I was thinking that when you mentioned getting rich in Xinye, it was probably because of this person."

"As soon as I pulled him out of the water, he was already dead."

"Eh~"

Zhou Yi comforted him:
“It’s alright. Money is a small matter. This man has been committing evil deeds for a long time and is a great villain. Many people in Xinye Village have died because of him. You did the right thing by killing him.”

Mu Daoren sighed:
"Take his gold and silver first, then it's not too late to kill him."

Zhou Yi hummed in agreement:
“Then you carry his body to Xinye City, and I’ll try to bring him back to life.”

Shi Feixuan couldn't help but laugh when she heard them talking.

After a while, the wooden Taoist actually carried Qian Duguan on his back and took him all the way to Xinye City.

Soon, the notorious thief Qian Duguan was hung on the city wall, intimidating the bandits of Xiangyang.

The government posted another notice, offering to help the people of Shayan Village rebuild their homes.

The people of Xinye all cheered.

Before long, the news reached Xiangyang City.

Not only was the Hanshui faction thrown into chaos, but many other forces that were under its control also fell into disarray.

The Yin Gui faction, which was originally operating behind the scenes, is now being forced into the open.

The Qian family's residence, Cangqing Pavilion.

Seeing the gloomy expressions on everyone's faces, Elder Yun suggested:

"Sect Master, we should find someone to replace Qian Duguan."

Empress Yin also understood the importance of Xiangyang:
Who is capable of this task?

Elder Yun said:

"In terms of competence, there is one person who is better than Qian Duguan."

"He is Ji Yinong of the Yangxing Society."

……

(End of this chapter)