Wandering Swordsman |

This time, Shen Mo didn't launch an attack directly. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to regulate his internal energy. After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, a golden light flashing in them. Immediately afterward, a shield as thin as a cicada's wing appeared around his body. This shield could not only resist external attacks but also had the ability to counterattack.

To further demonstrate his strength, Shen Mo invited several of his stronger disciples to join him in the attack. "Come on, attack me," he said calmly.

The disciples hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to cooperate with Shen Mo in the test. They each unleashed their strongest moves, and in an instant, the entire hall was ablaze with flames and frost, with various elemental energies intertwining to create a magnificent yet dangerous scene.

However, no matter how fierce the attacks were, the shield surrounding Shen Mo remained unbreakable, even reflecting some of the energy back, forcing the attacking disciples to hastily dodge. When everything calmed down, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

"This...how is this possible?" the older disciple muttered to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Such defensive power is simply unheard of."

At this moment, no one dared to question Shen Mo's strength anymore; only admiration and trust remained in everyone's hearts. Seeing this, Moon Demon Lord nodded in satisfaction: "Now? He'll be the captain. Does anyone have any objections?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, clearly indicating that no one questioned Shen Mo's ability to serve as captain.

Seeing that his strength had been recognized by everyone, Shen Mo's heart stirred; he knew this was a good opportunity to unite the people. He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience with piercing intensity, his voice filled with passion and determination: "Fellow disciples, thank you for your recognition. Once the Demon Refining Mountain opens, I will lead you all to avenge Yue Linglong!"

His voice echoed throughout the hall, each word striking like a hammer blow to everyone's heart. The crowd's eyes sharpened instantly, the suppressed anger and resentment stemming from Yue Linglong's injury igniting completely. The surrounding air seemed to heat up with this intense emotion, even the lanterns hanging in the hall swaying slightly, as if responding to this call.

"We cannot let Yue Linglong suffer in vain!" Shen Mo continued, his voice exceptionally clear and powerful in the silent hall. "Once the Demon Refining Mountain opens, we will seek justice from the Blood Demon Pavilion!"

The words had barely left his lips when a burst of furious shouts erupted from the crowd. "Yes! We must avenge Yue Linglong!" "Follow Captain Shen and seek justice for Yue Linglong!" The disciples clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with the fire of revenge. Their breathing quickened, and they leaned forward, as if ready to charge at the enemy at any moment.

At this moment, Shen Mo successfully united everyone's hearts, forming an unstoppable force. Their eyes no longer held doubt or hesitation, only unwavering determination and boundless fighting spirit, as if they were ready to face any challenges to come.

Seeing that Shen Mo actually possessed such talent, the Moon Demon Lord smiled slightly. She felt that her decision was correct; having Shen Mo replace the injured Yue Linglong as captain was a wise move. The powerful aura emanating from Shen Mo, and the leadership he displayed in front of everyone, all proved this.

......

That night, moonlight bathed the courtyard of the Moon Demon Pavilion like water, and all was quiet except for the occasional chirping of insects. The Moon Demon Lord moved gracefully to Yue Linglong's door. She knocked softly, then pushed the door open and entered. The room was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance. Yue Linglong was leaning against the bed, her face pale but her eyes still resolute.

"Grandma, it's so late, is there anything I can help you with?" Yue Linglong's voice was weak, but full of concern.

The Moon Demon Lord slowly walked to the bedside and sat down, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and worry. "Linglong, I've come to tell you something." Her voice was low and gentle. "Linglong, you are seriously injured this time and are not suitable to participate in the upcoming Demon Refining Mountain expedition. Therefore, I have decided that Shen Mo will take over as the captain of this expedition in your place."

Upon hearing this, Yue Linglong frowned slightly. Although she understood that her grandmother's decision was for her own good, she had her own convictions. "Grandma, although I am injured, I don't want to miss the opportunity to open the Demon Refining Mountain. I also want to go to the Demon Refining Mountain and do my part." Her voice was full of determination, and her eyes looked firmly at Yue Mojun.

The Moon Demon Lord was slightly taken aback, and a worried look appeared on her face. "Linglong, your injuries have not healed. Going to the Demon Refining Mountain will only make things more dangerous." Her tone was firm and unquestionable, clearly indicating that she did not want her granddaughter to take any risks.

However, Yue Linglong did not back down. Her eyes became even more determined. "Grandma, the Demon Refining Mountain is also a rare opportunity to improve my strength. I don't want to miss this opportunity. Moreover," she paused, then continued, "if I stop because of temporary difficulties, my martial arts will never reach its true peak."

Faced with her granddaughter's insistence, the Moon Demon Lord felt a mix of emotions. She knew Yue Linglong's determination and longing, and finally nodded helplessly, "Alright, since you insist so much, then you can go. However," she emphasized, "if you're going to Demon Refining Mountain, you must disguise yourself and not let anyone recognize you. Otherwise, in your current state, you'll only be in greater danger there."

When Yue Linglong heard that her grandmother had agreed to her request, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes. "Thank you, Grandma. I will be careful." Her words were full of gratitude.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew in through the window, bringing a few fallen leaves that danced and twirled in the moonlight, seemingly cheering on Yue Linglong. The Moon Demon Lord stood up, straightened his clothes, and said to Yue Linglong, "Rest well. Starting tomorrow, I will prepare some special herbs for you to help you recover faster."

......

Soon after, the day when the Demon Refining Mountain would open finally arrived.

Refining Demon Mountain, this magical area located in Heavenly Sword Ridge, is surrounded by high walls and man-made rivers, and is a forbidden area designated by the Heavenly Demon God Sect. Legend has it that the first Heavenly Demon God was an abandoned orphan on this land. Because he was absorbed by the Heavenly Demon Qi, he broke through the limits of humanity, became the first Heavenly Demon God, and founded the Heavenly Demon God Sect.

From then on, when the lifespan of each generation of Heavenly Demon God was about to end, the Demon Refining Mountain would be restarted to select the next Heavenly Demon God who could be accepted by the Heavenly Demon Qi, in order to ensure the inheritance and power of the sect.