Wandering Swordsman |

In July, although the sun is blazing, the snow on the main peak of Changbai Mountain remains unmelted all year round, still a vast expanse of white.

The distant mountain ranges stretch endlessly, their lush green forests contrasting beautifully with the white snow, creating a magnificent panorama. Under the blue sky and white clouds, several eagles circle in the air, their clear cries seemingly telling the story of these snow-capped mountains.

Inside the Jingtian Pavilion atop the mountain, Situ Meng arrived at her father Situ Dengfeng's study.

She gently pushed open the study door and saw her father sitting at his desk, flipping through documents.

"Father," Situ Meng called softly, "I want to discuss something with you."

Situ Dengfeng looked up and saw a hint of expectation and determination on his daughter's face. "Meng'er, is something the matter?"

Situ Meng took a deep breath and mustered her courage to say, "Father, when you go to Nanjing after the Martial Alliance is rebuilt, please take me with you."

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng was somewhat taken aback by what Situ Meng said, and paused for a moment.

Speaking of the Martial Alliance, we must mention that two months ago, Situ Dengfeng organized a meeting of nine sects, one gang, and eight great families at Jingtian Pavilion. In order to deal with the matter of demonic energy, they decided to rebuild the Martial Alliance, which had long been disbanded.

The purpose of this alliance meeting is to elect a new leader of the martial arts world and to form a new alliance system to jointly combat the threat of the emergence of demonic energy.

After the establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance, before a new leader is elected, the position of leader will be temporarily held by Situ Dengfeng, the former leader.

After a moment, Situ Dengfeng frowned slightly. "Meng'er, for our trip to Nanjing, I took Changkong and some other elite disciples with me, while you stayed in Jingtian Pavilion. This was for your safety."

Situ Meng knew her father's worries, but she still insisted, "Father, I understand your concerns, but my experience with the Black Wind Gang has helped me grow a lot. I no longer want to be the one who needs to be protected. I also want to contribute to the reconstruction of the Martial Alliance as a member of the Jingtian Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's eyes flashed with hesitation. He knew his daughter had matured considerably after the Black Wind Gang incident, but as a father, he couldn't shake his worries. "Meng'er, the path of the martial world is fraught with danger. Are you truly ready to embark on this journey?"

Situ Meng didn't speak, but nodded firmly.

Looking into his daughter's resolute eyes, Situ Dengfeng felt a surge of emotion. He knew that his daughter had grown up and he could no longer protect her as he had before. "Alright, Meng'er, since you've made up your mind, I'll take you with me."

After Situ Meng left the study, Situ Dengfeng slowly turned around, his gaze passing through the carved window to the tranquil courtyard outside. Sunlight streamed onto the plum tree in the courtyard, dappling the light and shadow with a poignant and serene beauty. He sighed softly, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up within him.

"Madam, our daughter has grown up." Situ Dengfeng murmured to himself, as if speaking to his deceased wife.

His eyes held a deep longing and a hint of barely perceptible sorrow. Every gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the plum tree seemed to stir up memories of bygone days. In those years, he and his wife had weathered storms together. However, fate cruelly took her away from him, leaving only endless longing and a small figure—Situ Meng.

"Meng'er is becoming more and more like you..." Situ Dengfeng said softly, tears welling in his eyes. Situ Meng had not only inherited her mother's beauty, but her personality was also becoming increasingly similar. Her gentleness, kindness, and love for life filled Situ Dengfeng with both joy and heartache. He was joyful that his daughter was growing up healthy and happy; he was heartbroken that Situ Meng had no memory of her mother.

......

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Deep within the Heavenly Sword Ridge, in the Demon Refining Mountain, the environment remains fraught with danger, but compared to six months ago, there is now a greater sense of order and unity.

Seventy-nine totems have been discovered, but less than half of the terrain of the Demon Refining Mountain has been explored.

Despite this, no one has perished during the exploration of Demon Refining Mountain in the past six months. A major reason for this is that, in addition to the cooperation of the three major Demon Pavilions, everyone from the other branches of the Heavenly Demon God Sect has temporarily joined the alliance. Because of this, everyone on Demon Refining Mountain has begun to help each other, and as the exploration deepens and the map becomes more detailed, the survival rate has greatly increased.

In the early morning, sunlight filters through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The air in the valley is fresh and moist, with a light mist hanging in the air, creating a sense of mystery and tranquility.

Shen Mo stood at the entrance of a valley, his heart filled with emotion. His strength had improved considerably in the past six months, and he felt that he could now hold his own against Juechenzi.

"Captain, are we really going to explore this valley?" Xie Xin stepped forward and asked softly. Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a hint of anticipation.

Shen Mo nodded. "That's right. There are two demon-refining beasts guarding that area in the valley. We haven't been able to explore it yet. This time, we've made ample preparations, and we're determined to go in and take a look no matter what." His gaze was firm, as if he was ready to face any challenge.

At that moment, a soft footstep sound came from afar, and Lü Yan and Tu Yuliang slowly approached with their respective teams. Although they still harbored suspicions towards each other, cooperation was especially important as they were about to face a common enemy.

"Brother Shen, why didn't Yue Linglong come today?" Lu Yan said with a smile, but a hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes.

Tu Yuliang nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. If we add Yue Linglong to the mix, we'll definitely be able to get past those two demon-refining beasts guarding us."

Shen Mo smiled slightly and replied calmly, "Yue Linglong's injuries have not yet healed, and this is a crucial moment for her recovery. With our current combat strength, it's not a big problem without her." After Shen Mo finished speaking, he looked at Tu Yuliang with a meaningful gaze, as if reminding Tu Yuliang not to forget that Yue Linglong's injuries were caused by his sneak attack.

Lu Yan seemed to sense the subtle tension between the two, and coughed lightly, attempting to change the subject. "In that case, let's proceed according to the original plan."

Shen Mo nodded, turned to face the crowd, and said, "Today's mission is of utmost importance. But everyone must remember that safety comes first. If you encounter danger during the battle with the Demon-Refining Beast, retreat immediately."

After hearing this, the group, led by Shen Mo, Lü Yan, and Tu Yuliang, stepped into the mysterious valley.

As the group ventured deeper, the surrounding scenery gradually changed. Occasionally, they encountered strange plants along the way, emitting a faint glow and seemingly possessing some kind of mysterious power. The group carefully avoided these plants to prevent triggering any unnecessary danger.