Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 182 On Poyang Lake, Old Scenery
Chu Tianshu found the Three-Seven Divine Sword, grasped the hilt, and controlled the blood flowing from his hand again.

The sword was slightly tilted, and blood trickled down its blade.

The continuous, rune-like patterns gradually covered the sword's surface, then quickly faded away.

When the demonic blade's intent invaded, it was like a steel blade cutting through water, separating the mental energy within the sword and leaving a significant wound on the sword spirit.

Ultimately, the Three-Seven Divine Sword is a magical artifact.

Similar to the wooden sword that Taoist priests wield when setting up an altar and performing rituals.

Even the psychic energy residing within the sword is biased towards medicinal use, facilitating the casting of spells and the exorcism of diseases and evil spirits.

The opponents I encountered in the past were either not good at dealing with the elusive power of telekinesis, or they were overwhelmed by the quality of the telekinesis.

This time, encountering the unique cultivation path of "refining spirit into qi" and refining divine will in this world, I have finally met my nemesis.

Fortunately, the Three-Seven Sword Soul was cultivated using the "Lesser Yang Blood River Chariot," making it skilled in battle and strong, and not so easily killed off.

"Done?"

When Lu Shuangyan arrived at the scene, she was delighted to see that the Demonic Sect Leader had survived despite his defeat.

"His swordsmanship is excellent. It would have been a pity not to ask him more questions. It's fortunate that you didn't kill him."

The leader of the cult glanced at him sideways and closed his eyelids.

Chu Tianshu sheathed the divine sword at his waist, picked up the demonic blade, and said, "Let's go check on Xiahou's side."

Lu Shuangyan grabbed Qiu Jiaozhu's belt and followed him.

The cavalry had been scattered.

Only a few dozen corpses remained on that battlefield.

It's unknown how many more have sunk into the icy river.

The Silver Zombie Guardian leaned against a broken tree, his eyes blazing with fury, already dead.

He had few wounds, but his body was emaciated, as if the essence within him had been decayed by the sword intent at the moment of death.

Xiahou Feishan returned, panting heavily, dragging Jin Hufa along like a dead dog.

Chu Tianshu could hear Protector Jin's heavy breathing and said, "You also captured someone alive?"

Chu Tianshu had planned to spare the leader of the Demonic Cult as much as possible.

That sneak attack was also to give Chu Tianshu some leeway to hold back later.

But these guardians, killing them is no big deal.

Protector Jin barely managed to turn his head and saw the appearance of the Demonic Sect Leader, his face turning even paler.

When he discovered that the cult leader had chosen to flee, he knew the situation was probably not good.

It was because he was distracted at that moment that Xiahou severed the meridians in his left arm, putting him at a disadvantage from then on.

So hateful.

This kid is clearly an assassin, yet he wasn't distracted at all by his biggest target's escape; he just kept attacking Protector Jin relentlessly.

When Jin Shi was furious and even wanted to remind the other party to chase after the sect leader, his left leg tendon was severed by the Red Maple Sword Qi.

Only then did he realize that although he had cultivated his divine will over the years in this land of white mountains and black waters, it was all showy but not practical.

Not everyone will be like the Imperial Guard, prejudiced against him, or subject to his authority and reprimands.

Not all divine will is suitable for dealing with external enemies.

"Originally, I was going to stab him to death with one sword, but the old guy said he could reveal the locations of several secret treasure troves of the Demonic Sect."

Xiahou Feishan grinned, "Even if we can't move them, we can send an elite team to transport them in batches later."

"At that time, it will be much easier for us to raise and train troops, and reduce taxes on agriculture and sericulture."

Chu Tianshu praised, "Young Master Xiahou, you've finally realized how expensive firewood and rice are."

"Humph."

Xiahou Feishan said, "Don't forget, my sword was honed in the marketplace. People who live their lives will be more ambitious in the future, and I will be more comfortable when I travel the world."

His mindset has been improving recently.

They no longer look heartbroken, cold-blooded, or expressionless all the time.

When you have a good mindset, the joy you can experience in other things also returns.

However, he still had no intention of returning to Xiahou Manor.

"The news of the Poyang Lake rendezvous should have already spread throughout the martial arts world by now."

Xiahou Feishan thought to himself, "When we go to Poyang Lake, the old man will probably already be there, waiting to join in the fun."

Just as Xiahou Feishan had thought.

News of the Poyang Lake rendezvous has already spread like wildfire.

The Tianjushi, whose influence has spread to several coastal provinces, and the Liuyun Prefecture, which controls more than three provinces and is deeply entrenched.

These two prominent figures are both top-tier experts. It would be hard to believe that they met without any friction.

The location of Poyang Lake alone is quite intriguing.

It was in this very place that Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Chen Youliang's army, resulting in Chen Youliang's own death from an arrow wound.

It can be said that during Zhu Yuanzhang's process of unifying the country...

The Battle of Poyang Lake was a major turning point that cannot be ignored.

When the messenger from Liuyun Prefecture went to the Southern Shaolin Temple to see someone off, he issued an invitation.

But as soon as the news spread, everyone heard it as a challenge.

Therefore, the area around Poyang Lake has become more and more lively over the past two weeks.

There were several times more people carrying swords and knives at the market than in previous years.

In various inns, one could often see weary martial arts heroes leading their disciples to check in.

Some of these upscale restaurants, complete with buildings and courtyards, featuring artificial hills, streams, gardens, and pavilions, are often frequented by multiple groups of people from the martial arts world who stay together.

Inevitably, some people harbor old grudges, but when they meet, they all keep quiet and are unwilling to be the first to speak out in this chaotic situation.

During the day and night, people arrived on the island by boat one after another, first going to Kangshan for a visit.

Kangshan Island was originally named "Kanglang Mountain". It is said that in ancient times, the people near Poyang Lake would look out over the lake and see that this mountain was the most resistant to wind and waves, standing tall and unyielding, hence the name.

Also during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Zhu Yuanzhang surveyed the terrain here and found the mountains lush with trees and the land in front of the mountains open.

It is convenient for concealing troops, and can also be used to launch a quick attack when needed.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very fond of it, but when he sent someone to inquire about the place name, there was a slight error, and it was later mistakenly reported as Kanglang Mountain.

A few years later, it was simply called Kangshan.

The island has a large number of palaces and temples, which were built by order of Zhu Yuanzhang to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Battle of Poyang Lake.

In recent years, local officials have sent people to renovate and expand the building, and erected steles one after another, making it appear increasingly grand.

Miaogao and Miaoji walked along the mountain paths between these palaces, looking around.

Both of them were of high seniority and served as martial monks, possessing an exceptional understanding of the ways of the martial world.

With such simple attire of a bamboo hat and monk's robe, without much disguise, they were able to spot many of the most famous figures in the martial arts world just by walking around.

Many of them are suspected to be masters who disappeared in previous years.

Xiahou Yi, the old steward of Xiahou Manor, stood beside them with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He was very knowledgeable about the figures in the martial arts world and the stories of the martial arts community.

Several individuals whose identities were discerned by the senior monk but could not be confirmed were all identified by the old steward.

"Is he truly the last remaining Supreme Elder of the Hainan Sword Sect?"

Miao Gao looked slightly worried. "We were ordered to sweep up the coastal gangs, which already made us many enemies. Tian Jushi has also used his methods to confiscate the property and prosecute many officials in these provinces."

"The more powerful and influential a person is in officialdom, the more distant relatives and associates they have, and they are not necessarily all in the same place."

"These people have gathered here under the pretext of this challenge, clearly looking for an opportunity to harm Tian Jushi."

Miao Ji flicked his index finger, producing a muffled thud in the air, his tone firm.

"We have dispatched many experts this time, including not only those from our own temple but also many close allies. How can we allow these petty villains to disturb the peace of Layman Tian?!"

Throughout history, a duel between the top martial arts masters has always caused a great stir.

If the date and location are set in advance.

Those who wanted to watch would inevitably crowd together in a continuous stream.

In reality, in this vast world, with its long mountains and wide rivers, there aren't that many idle people in the martial arts world who would travel such a long distance just to watch a fight.

Those who are just busybodies among the onlookers are usually only a minority.

Most others rushed to the scene for their own benefit.

Some of them wanted to get firsthand information so they could better assess the situation later.

There are also people who have grudges against the challengers and hope that both sides will suffer serious injuries.

Only afterward could they gather their followers and carry out an ambush and killing.

Ideally, one should die and the other should be seriously injured.

So, the one who was seriously injured can basically forget about returning to his lair alive.

There's no way around it; the influence of top masters is undeniable. Even if they don't establish their own sects or factions, as long as they have a stance or friends and family, they're bound to attract hatred.

"The outcome of this battle will ultimately depend on the strength of Tian Jushi and Liuyun Mansion Master themselves. These opportunists are not worth worrying about too much."

Xiahou Yi smiled and said, "Besides, if we're talking about enemies, Lord Liuyun has more than ten times as many enemies as Tian Jushi."

The people in Liuyun Mansion are already considered ruthless and cunning, capable of eliminating any threat.

However, in this world where you can find a master anywhere and learn a few martial arts skills, an individual's survival skills are by no means ordinary.

Whether you go to the city or the mountains, where can't you escape to?
However, many of these fugitives give up on revenge, and the rest are either willing or unable to do so.

As long as Liuyun Mansion remains at its peak, they will not be able to cause any trouble.

This incident, however, has shown many people an opportunity.

"That person is just like the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the Luoyang镖局 (escort agency) fifteen years ago. Back then, he was known as 'the one who can kill even in the most desperate situations,' repeatedly escaping death and carving out a way out of dire circumstances, leading the Luoyang镖局 to great fame and prestige."

"Unfortunately, I later heard that he was defeated by the inexperienced Ye Zongsheng."

Xiahou Yi chuckled softly, “Ye Zongsheng blocked the canyon with falling rocks and surrounded the caravan with three hundred men armed with bows and crossbows, claiming it was a fair duel.”

"In that kind of situation, even if it's truly a one-on-one fight, can it really be considered fair?"

The two senior monks looked in the direction he indicated.

There was an old man rowing alone across the lake. He was lame in his left leg and his shoulder was slumped slightly.

But when this man wielded the oar with one hand, one could vaguely discern some traces of the style of the Great Guan Dao (a type of halberd).

As soon as he stepped ashore, others seemed to notice his extraordinary nature, and they approached him to greet him.

"Wearing hempen clothes and straw sandals, and with hair ties that resemble ice silkworm silk... Hmm, could he be a swordsman from the Five Colors Hall of Shanhaiguan?"

Xiahou Yi's expression softened slightly, showing more respect.

"This lineage was wiped out seven years ago, and then the scimitar business outside the pass went straight in without any obstacles when crossing the pass. It's a pity that there were still hidden talents in the wild."

The three were chatting and observing when they suddenly heard a commotion coming from one side of the island.

After the three of them hurriedly crossed the hilltop plaza, they reached the other side and leaned on the railing to look out.

In the distance, a large ship is cutting through the waves and sailing into Poyang Lake.

The shadow of the large ship covered the lake surface, which was several dozen feet wide, making the surrounding small boats seem like tiny fallen leaves in comparison.

Dozens, even hundreds, of flags fluttered in the wind atop the large ship, marking the presence of Liuyun Prefecture.

The commotion on the island gradually subsided, becoming even quieter than before the group arrived.

It wasn't the size of the ship that intimidated me, but rather the people it represented that made me feel oppressed.

Xiahou Yi's expression was solemn, as if he felt a gust of wind pressing down on him.

Miao Ji suddenly slapped the railing and laughed, "I think they're doomed."

Xiahou Yi was taken aback: "Master, what makes you say that?"

"Have you not heard of which side once owned a chain of large ships on Poyang Lake?"

Miao Ji said decisively, "That's Chen Youliang."

(End of this chapter)