Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 156: The Netherworld Appears, Various Sects Gather, A Storm is Brewing! [Two Chapters Combined]

This was the first time Jiang Xuan had ever seen a martial art like this one that used sonic attacks.

To be honest, it was quite surprising.

Using the sound of the zither to enhance one's true energy, transforming it into sonic martial arts to fight enemies, it can almost kill a low-level martial artist without them even realizing it.

In particular, Huang Xuemei, the "Six-Finger Qin Demon," combined with the Heavenly Demon Qin and the "Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds," possesses even greater power, enabling her to fight against four opponents simultaneously, including four grandmasters, and even kill two of them.

With such strength, he was almost on par with Yan Shisan, the top expert under his command at the moment.

At the grandmaster level, they are practically unrivaled.

Most importantly, Huang Xuemei is not even thirty years old and has a bright future ahead of her.

With his talent, he will surely be able to reach higher levels of martial arts in the future.

Such a person certainly deserves to be personally invited to make the trip.

"Who...who are you people?!"

Dongfang Bai spoke, staring intently at Jiang Xuan and the others, his unease growing stronger.

"Noisy!"

Jiang Xuan glanced at him sideways, then used his finger as a sword, raised his hand and pointed. Instantly, spiritual energy surged, transforming into a violent sword light that struck Dongfang Bai directly.

"Sword Intent?!"

Dongfang Bai's pupils shrank drastically as he instantly recognized the origin of this terrifying power. His expression changed drastically, and without thinking, he quickly circulated his true energy while waving his folding fan in an attempt to block the violent sword intent.

Bang!
The next second, sword energy erupted, and the folding fan in Dongfang Bai's hand, which he had forged into a weapon, clashed with the sword energy, instantly exploding and shattering into pieces.

It must be said that as a direct descendant of the Tianlong Sect, Dongfang Bai is indeed exceptionally strong, having reached the upper third rank of Grandmaster, or at least the eighth or ninth rank. He possesses abundant true qi and profound foundation.

If it were before, Jiang Xuan might not have been able to subdue him so easily, but now that he has entered the second step of the Intent Realm, the Overlord Intent Realm of the Heaven Realm, and is using sword energy, even Dongfang Bai, with his profound foundation, would find it difficult to resist.

With a single strike, Dongfang Bai's weapon was destroyed, and he was sent flying backward, coughing up blood. His once clean white clothes were instantly stained red with blood, and his chest was ravaged by the sword energy, leaving numerous wounds. He was no longer the elegant young gentleman he once was.

Not only that, but his internal energy was also disrupted and reversed, impacting his internal organs. Dongfang Bai felt a tightness in his chest, and as soon as he regained his balance, he couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of blood.

With a casual sword strike, he overwhelmed a third-rank grandmaster!

Everyone was somewhat shocked, not expecting Jiang Xuan's strength to have reached such a terrifying level.

Dongfang Bai's expression turned to terror, all hope gone. He instantly realized that the person before him was far beyond his ability to withstand. He immediately felt the urge to retreat, staring intently at Jiang Xuan as if to remember him, and gritted his teeth, saying, "I, Dongfang Bai, will remember this humiliation today, and I will avenge it one day!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he tapped the ground with his toes, turned around abruptly, and leaped into the air, soaring dozens of meters into the sky like a wild goose. He used the air above the forest to glide through the trees at an extremely fast speed, leaping dozens of meters in the blink of an eye. This shows that his lightness skill was superb.

Jiang Xuan, unhurried, took the Youlong Bow from Yang Huizhen beside him. He drew the bow to its full extent, and an invisible arrow formed from the power of intent condensed on the bowstring, piercing through the air and passing through Dongfang Bai's chest in the blink of an eye, leaving a few drops of blood in its wake.

call out!
Dongfang Bai's body trembled, and like a kite with a broken string, he fell straight down from mid-air to the ground. His eyes were filled with shock and fear, his face was covered with blood and mud, and he coughed up blood and spit out blood foam as he crawled forward with difficulty, looking extremely disheveled.

This arrow has completely severed his martial arts path.

"A handsome young man?"

Jiang Xuan chuckled, handed the Dragon Bow to Yang Huizhen, looked at Huang Xuemei, and said, "You do it yourself."

Huang Xuemei woke up with a start, took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in her heart, looked at Dongfang Bai crawling in front of her, gritted her teeth, and gently stroked the strings of the Heavenly Demon Qin with her jade hand.

Zheng~
An invisible sound wave swept through, and Dongfang Bai instantly exploded into pieces.

A legendary figure in the martial arts world has perished!

Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, his eyes filled with admiration. Clear distinction between gratitude and resentment, decisive in killing—this is what makes someone worthy of being a member of the Netherworld.

Having avenged her great grudge, Huang Xuemei suppressed the complex emotions in her heart, turned to look at Jiang Xuan, and finally witnessed Jiang Xuan's true strength. There was no longer any contempt in her heart, and her eyes were filled with awe and gratitude. She bowed and said, "Thank you for your help, Palace Master!"

Jiang Xuan nodded and said calmly, "From now on, you will be the King of Equality in the Ninth Hall of the Netherworld."

"Yes!" Huang Xuemei did not resist and nodded respectfully.

"Gudu~"

In the distance, the Fiery Ancestor and the Ghost Saint, who had been watching the show, came to their senses, looked at each other, and couldn't help but swallow hard, their faces filled with horror and fear...

Immediately, the two turned around quietly, preparing to slip away unnoticed.

But as soon as they turned around, their bodies stiffened.

Opposite them, two black-robed swordsmen with similarly masked faces stood silently, having been waiting for some time.

……

Suzhou City.

People from all the major factions are still waiting.

People don't understand why the 'Six-Fingered Demon of the Harp' would give the Heavenly Demon Harp to Han Xun, but based on the news that has come out during this period, the situation is most likely true.

If the Six-Fingered Demon of the Qin has truly reappeared, then the 'Heavenly Demon Qin' is very likely also real.

Many martial arts practitioners were even more excited, as they were about to witness this legendary martial arts treasure with their own eyes.

Many sects even sent people south to gather information, hoping to ambush the caravan en route, but no news came back.

Until recently, news came back that Lu Tengkong, the chief镖头 (chief镖师) of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, had used his son Lu Lin to transport the Heavenly Demon Harp, but Dongfang Bai, the Old Ancestor of Blazing Fire, and others attempted to intercept the shipment, only to be completely wiped out.

Instantly, the entire city of Suzhou was in an uproar.

The various sects, including Emei, Diancang, Jinqianbang, and Tianyingjiao, who had just arrived in Suzhou, were extremely shocked and realized that this matter was not simple.

"The scene was extremely tragic. All the disciples from the Blazing Fire Palace and the Ghost Palace who went to rob the caravan were killed. The Blazing Fire Ancestor and the Ghost Saint were also dead, killed by someone who pierced their throats with a sword!"

"'Seven Fiend Lord' Tan Sheng and 'Poisonous Hand Rakshasa' He Qinghua and her husband are also dead. They died under the Heavenly Demon Harp, their meridians were all severed, and their bodies were devoured by ferocious beasts!"

"I also saw a mutilated corpse, suspected to be 'Jade-Faced Gentleman' Dongfang Bai. It was blown into several pieces, with arrow wounds and other injuries on its body. It seems that a master who has cultivated 'Arrow Intent' was the one who attacked it. Its death was extremely gruesome!"

"It seems that the 'Six-Finger Qin Demon' has truly returned. But who was the swordsman who killed the Fiery Ancestor and the Ghost Saint? Could it be that the Six-Finger Qin Demon is also skilled in swordsmanship?"

"And that master who has mastered 'Arrow Intent,' I wonder what his background is?"

"Is it possible that the Six-Fingered Demon of the Qin is not a single person, but a force within the martial arts world?"

"It's not impossible..."

Various speculations abound, causing many to feel anxious and uneasy. Some even decisively left, unwilling to get involved in this mess.

"Sixteen years ago, the Tianlong Sect was destroyed, and the entire family of Huang Dong, the 'Six-Fingered Qin Demon,' was killed. This time, the 'Six-Fingered Qin Demon' has reappeared, and it is highly likely that he has come to seek revenge!"

"Dongfang Bai, the Old Ancestor of Blazing Fire, and others were among the main culprits who wiped out the Huang family back then. No wonder their deaths were so gruesome!"

"The 'Six-Finger Demon of the Zither' deliberately used the Heavenly Demon Zither to lure out Dongfang Bai and the others, so that they could be attacked one by one to avenge Huang Dong's family. Perhaps, the matter of the Heavenly Demon Zither was deliberately spread by him!"

"It's unlikely to be Huang Dong. All the major sects witnessed Huang Dong's death. It's possible that his successor has returned!"

"This zither isn't so easy to snatch; it might even cost us our lives. Besides, even the Money Gang and the Divine Sword Manor have people here. Even if the Six-Fingered Zither Demon dies, the Heavenly Demon Zither won't be ours. There will definitely be a battle between the various factions!"

"When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer; it's best to leave now!"

In just a few days, many martial arts practitioners who had come to join the fun left, not wanting to be affected by this sixteen-year-old feud in the martial arts world.

……

The Hua family, located east of Suzhou.

The Hua family is the most powerful family in Suzhou, with business influence throughout the city. Hua Manlou is the seventh son of the Hua family in Suzhou.

Therefore, upon learning that the source of the storm surrounding the 'Six-Fingered Qin Demon' was in Suzhou, and fearing for the safety of the Hua family, Hua Manlou and Lu Xiaofeng rushed back to Suzhou immediately.

"Brother Hua, now it seems that the Heavenly Demon Harp incident was a setup, a setup specifically targeting the six major sects. The Six-Fingered Harp Demon's resurrection is definitely to avenge Huang Dong's family!"

In the Hua family courtyard, Lu Xiaofeng, with a solemn expression, said to Hua Manlou, "Now, the Ghost Palace, the Blazing Fire Palace, as well as Dongfang Bai's New Heavenly Dragon Gate and He Qinghua and her husband's Flying Swallow Gate have all been destroyed. Only the Emei and Diancang sects remain."

"These two factions are still in Suzhou City. In addition, there are the three top factions that have recently arrived: the Money Gang, the Divine Sword Manor, and the Sky Eagle Sect. Once the Six-Fingered Qin Demon shows up, these factions will definitely make a move. The Hua family must not get involved in this matter!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Lu. I will persuade my father to try to gather more of the Hua family's manpower."

Hua Manlou nodded and agreed.

Although the Hua family also belongs to the Jianghu (martial arts world) forces, apart from their own foundation, their martial arts strength is at most first-class, and they cannot compete with these sects.

This kind of excitement is beyond the reach of the Hua family.

"I wonder who this Six-Fingered Demon of the Qin is, and who the experts behind him are..."

Hua Manlou frowned and muttered to himself.

He never imagined that one day, such a feud between江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) members would spread to his own doorstep...

Seeing Hua Manlou's somewhat worried expression, Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Brother Hua, don't worry. As long as the Hua family doesn't directly interfere in this matter, we can protect ourselves."

"Moreover, Ximen has recently emerged from seclusion. I invited him to visit the Hua family and join in the fun. With him here, even if Shangguan Jin Hong and Yin Tian Zheng come in person, the Hua family will be safe!"

Hua Manlou looked surprised: "You mean... Ximen Chuixue?"

Lu Xiaofeng smiled and nodded.

"If Ximen Chuixue also comes, then there's really nothing to worry about." Hua Manlou breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

at the same time.

Inside an inn in the city, members of the Emei Sect were also discussing matters.

The Emei Sect was led by its Elder, Dugu Yihe, and his seven direct disciples, the "Three Heroes and Four Beauties" of the Emei Sect, were all present. "Master," one of them said, "I personally went to the scene and saw that the sword technique used to kill the Fiery Ancestor and the Ghost Saint is extremely similar to the sword technique used to destroy the Green Robe Tower in Guanzhong and kill 'Huo Xiu.' I suspect it's the same person!"

Su Shaoying, one of the "Three Heroes," spoke to Dugu Yihe with a solemn expression.

Dugu Yihe was on good terms with Yan Tieshan. Several months ago, he went on a trip and stayed at Yan's mansion for a while. He happened to witness Yan Tieshan's steward, Huo Tianqing, assassinating the commander of the Imperial Guard. Then, the Qingyi Tower was destroyed by the Youming.

Out of curiosity, he went to the scene to see for himself and recognized that the sword technique that killed Huo Xiu was extremely similar to the sword technique that killed the Fiery Ancestor this time. Both were from a master who had comprehended the 'sword intent'.

He suspected it was the work of the same person.

"You mean, 'Netherworld' has made its move?"

Dugu Yihe, dressed in a blue robe and appearing to be in his sixties, frowned upon hearing this and said, "Could it be that the 'Six-Finger Qin Demon' is truly backed by people from the 'Netherworld'?"

"Very likely, this disciple would never be mistaken!"

Su Shaoying nodded, quite confidently.

But thinking of the horrific scene, a solemn look appeared in his eyes. He said, "However, almost all the disciples of the Blazing Fire Palace and the Ghost Palace were killed by the Heavenly Demon Harp. That 'Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon' is extremely strange. The dead either have all their meridians severed and exploded directly, or their internal organs are ruptured!"

"I wonder what the origins of this 'Six-Finger Qin Demon' are; his martial arts are truly unfathomable!"

The eldest disciple, Zhang Yingfeng, said in a deep voice, "Master, why don't I personally lead a group to investigate along the way and try to find out who this person is?"

"No need!"

Dugu Yihe shook his head: "Since he entrusted the shipment to the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and secretly followed him all the way, he will come to Suzhou City sooner or later!"

Sixteen years ago, he represented Emei and joined forces with five major sects, including Diancang and Guigong, to eliminate Tianlongmen. He originally wanted to seize the Tianmoqin, but Huang Dongning refused to comply even at the cost of his life. In the end, Huang Dongning's daughter jumped off a cliff with the Tianmoqin to escape, and her fate is unknown.

Now that the "Six-Finger Qin Demon" has reappeared, and it's clear he's targeting the six major sects, his identity is self-evident.

He still found it hard to believe that a little girl from back then had grown to such a level in just sixteen years, even killing Dongfang Bai, the Old Ancestor of Blazing Fire, and others under her Heavenly Demon Harp?!

But on second thought, it could also be due to the 'Heavenly Demon Harp' and the 'Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds'.

After all, back then, Huang Dong used the Heavenly Demon Harp to unleash the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, fighting against him and several other grandmasters, including Dongfang Bai. He had personally experienced that terrifying power.

If one possesses this supreme treasure, coupled with the 'Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds', even an ordinary person can unleash unimaginable power.

Thinking of this, a burning light appeared in Dugu Yihe's eyes.

"Come on, I'll be waiting for you in Suzhou. I hope you won't disappoint me..."

Dugu Yihe narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself.

……

The killing of Dongfang Bai and others has triggered different reactions from various forces in Suzhou City.

Some weaker sects left, and even the Divine Sword Manor withdrew in time, no longer participating in the competition for the Heavenly Demon Harp.

But some people remained unmoved.

Sects like Emei and Diancang clearly saw the Six-Fingered Qin Demon as their target, so they chose to confront him head-on rather than run away.

Moreover, as prominent figures in the martial arts world, they can no longer afford to run away.

Furthermore, the members of the Money Gang and the Sky Eagle Sect did not leave, clearly indicating that they still harbored designs on the Heavenly Demon Harp.

However, both factions reacted in the same way upon learning of the deaths of Dongfang Bai and others.

Shangguan Fei, the young master of the Money Gang, once again brought a group of experts, including "Iron Crutch" Zhuge Gang and "Meteor Shower" Xiang Song.

However, upon learning of this, Shangguan Fei worried that there weren't enough skilled men, so he sent a message back to the headquarters overnight, requesting that many more men be transferred to provide reinforcements.

It is said that even Jing Wuming, who is always inseparable from Shangguan Jin Hong, the leader of the Money Gang, has personally arrived in Suzhou.

On the Sky Eagle Sect's side, the one who came this time was also the sect's young master and the head of the Tianwei Hall, Yin Yewang.

Legend has it that the Eagle Sect has a connection with the Ming Cult, which once dominated the martial arts world.

Ten years ago, Yang Dingtian, the leader of the Ming Cult, disappeared, leaving the Ming Cult leaderless. Yang Xiao, the "Left Guardian of Light," the Five Wanderers, the Five Elements Flag, and other high-ranking members of the Ming Cult fought among themselves for control of the cult.

Unable to tolerate the chaotic situation and unwilling to get involved, the "White-browed Eagle King" Yin Tianzheng angrily left and established his own sect, the "Sky Eagle Sect," in Jiangnan, to rival the Ming Cult.

Later, the Eagle Cult became involved in the battle for the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Ultimately, Yin Tianzheng's daughter, Yin Susu, and Zhang Cuishan, one of the Seven Heroes of Wudang, along with Xie Xun, the "Golden-Haired Lion King" of the Ming Cult, disappeared with the Dragon-Slaying Saber at the ceremony to establish their authority.

The Eagle Cult was forced to fight against 21 sects and gangs, including Shaolin, Kunlun, Emei, Kongtong, Wudang, Shenquan, Wufengdao, Haisha, and Jujing, with the strength of the cult alone for ten years, yet it did not lose any ground.

After this incident, the Sky Eagle Sect has been relatively dormant in Jiangnan in recent years. Its power is not comparable to that of the Money Gang and the Divine Sword Manor, but its status is still unmatched.

No matter how much the Money Gang and Divine Sword Manor expanded their influence, they dared not touch the territory of the Sky Eagle Sect, which shows their power.

Yin Tianzheng's heroic spirit and lofty ambition are truly inspiring.

This battle for the Heavenly Demon Harp was the first large-scale mobilization by the Sky Eagle Sect in the past ten years, and it attracted a lot of attention.

However, Yin Yewang disregarded the opinions of others and, upon arriving in Suzhou, ostentatiously booked the largest inn in the south of the city. At the same time, he sent people south to inquire about the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, clearly determined to obtain the Heavenly Demon Harp.

However, after learning that Dongfang Bai and other martial arts masters had been killed, Yin Yewang did not let his guard down. He sent a message back to his sect and dispatched more than a hundred experts to the scene.

Even Yin Tianzheng's junior brother, Li Tianyuan, the head of the 'Tianshi Hall' of the three halls within the Tianying Sect, personally arrived to lend his support.

At this moment, inside the Sky Eagle Sect's headquarters.

"Uncle-Master, you must be tired from your journey!" Yin Yewang, dressed in pure white, appeared to be in his thirties and bowed to Li Tianyuan in greeting.

Li Tianyuan nodded slightly and asked, "Wild King, you said in your letter that the people of 'Netherworld' were also involved in this matter. Is that certain?"

Yin Yewang nodded: "When Wenjiabao was destroyed last year, I sent my disciples to investigate. The deaths of the five elders of the Wen family were very similar to the deaths of the Fiery Ancestor and others this time. It must have been an expert who had comprehended the essence of the art that made the move."

“There are very few people in the martial arts world who have comprehended the essence of the art, and most of them are under the control of our sect. The only one is the ‘Netherworld’ that has just emerged in the last two years. We have no information about them at all. We only know that there are definitely experts in ‘Netherworld’ who have comprehended the essence of the art. Therefore, I think that this Six-Fingered Qin Demon is very likely to be a member of the Netherworld.”

"Just in case, I deliberately asked my uncle to come and help."

Li Tianyuan narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and said, "If a master who has comprehended the essence of the art really makes a move, with the strength of my sect, it will probably not be easy to seize the Heavenly Demon Harp."

"However, with so many sects involved this time, if we plan carefully and then strike while they are in the chaos, we might have a chance to profit from the chaos. We can give it a try."

As he spoke, Li Tianyuan sighed and said, "It's a pity that Senior Brother is still in seclusion. Otherwise, if Senior Brother were to take action personally, it would be a piece of cake."

Yin Yewang said arrogantly, "Why should my father have to do such a small thing? Back then, if it weren't for that brat Su Su interfering, the Dragon Slaying Saber would not have fallen into Xie Xun's hands."

"This time, I will definitely seize the Heavenly Demon Harp with my own hands, avenge my previous humiliation, and make my father look at me with new respect!"

Li Tianyuan's eye twitched, and he hesitated, but in the end he just patted Yin Yewang on the shoulder and said, "Just do your best in everything."

……

As reinforcements from various factions arrived, the situation in Suzhou became increasingly tense.

North of the city, Han Xun's residence.

This is the branch of the Diancang Sect in Suzhou. Han Xun was the previous leader of the Diancang Sect. After stepping down, he retired to his hometown of Suzhou and took charge of the branch in Suzhou.

Upon learning of the Six-Fingered Qin Demon's return, Han Xun quickly realized that the Six-Fingered Qin Demon had come back for revenge. He then urgently sent a message back to Diancang, requesting that many more experts be sent to provide support.

Elder Wanli Feng, the "Chasing Wind Sword" of the Diancang Sect, led the Seven Swords of Diancang, outstanding disciples of the sect, down the mountain and have now arrived in Suzhou City.

At this time, the Han residence was heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was very serious.

Inside the lobby, Han Xun paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

After learning of the murder of Dongfang Bai and others, he sent his own son, Han Ping, to lead a team to investigate, but so far, no news has come back.

Wan Lifeng and the others sat to the side, watching him pace back and forth, their eyes dazzled. They couldn't help but say, "Senior Brother Han, don't worry. My nephew is clever and quick-witted; nothing will happen to him."

Han Xun stopped, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm not worried about Ping'er, but if something really happens to Dongfang Bai and the others, with our current manpower, I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand that demon."

Wanli Feng pondered for a moment and said, "Even if the Six-Fingered Qin Demon is really from the Netherworld, now that all the major sects in the city are gathered here, we can simply hand over the Heavenly Demon Qin and extricate ourselves from this vortex."

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy. This demon is clearly after me. Back when we besieged the Heavenly Dragon Gate, Diancang was the main force, and Huang Dong died at my hands. He will never let me go easily." Han Xun sighed helplessly, extremely anxious.

He knew his own limitations very well.

If even Dongfang Bai and the others are killed, the Han family's current manpower is absolutely no match for the Six-Fingered Qin Demon.

However, unlike other sects located in the Central Plains, the Diancang Sect is far away in the Cangshan Mountains of Dali. Even if more people are sent to reinforce them now, it will be too late.

He can only get through this ordeal on his own.

Wanli Feng sneered, "Once the Flying Tiger Escort Agency arrives, immediately summon all the major sects. I don't believe that the demon will dare to show himself in front of all the major sects!"

Han Xun sighed, "That's all we can do."

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, outside Suzhou city, a group of people covered in blood and looking exhausted slowly arrived at the city gate. However, they did not rush into the city, but instead looked around nervously, as if waiting for someone.

Not long after, a fast horse galloped in from another direction and joined the group.

This man was none other than Lü Lin.

Seeing this, the spies from each faction were overjoyed and immediately went back to report.

Soon, all factions were shocked.

Flying Tiger Escort Agency, we've finally arrived!
(End of this chapter)