Legend of Swordsman

Yang Xiao wandered, stopping and going for two days, circling Mangshan County, yet he hadn’t seen a single person.

Following the trace of death energy, he eventually entered Mangshan County City.

It was dusk.

Outside Mangshan City, there was a bustling scene.

Many vendors and peddlers hurried into the city.

Numerous northern barbarians were also driving their beasts to carry goods into the city. Although there were frequent conflicts, trade continued uninterrupted. Sometimes, even when both sides fought fiercely, business went on as usual.

The Tang Dynasty sold military weapons, while the northern barbarians sold cattle, sheep, and iron ore.

Both sides had a tacit understanding not to attack the caravans.

Yang Xiao, as a Six-Coin Immortal Slayer Guard, found this unsurprising, especially since he had come for the demonic cult.

Publicly declared as the Sacred Fire Sect.

But everyone knew it was a completely demonic cult.

The headquarters of the Chiyang Sect was unknown, but several branches were set up in counties surrounding the Tang Dynasty.

That’s why Yang Xiao entered the city.

Initially, he planned to find some clues before entering the city, but he hadn’t seen a single person.

Those villages were desolate, as if uninhabited for a long time.

This was a county close to the capital, once home to millions, now nearly deserted.

Yang Xiao felt a sense of unease growing within him.

The closer he got to the city gates, the more intense the death energy became.

“Hurry up and get inside! The gates will close after an incense stick’s time, and you’ll have to wait outside until tomorrow!” The soldier guarding the gate kept urging.

Yet the caravans remained indifferent, and even the lone travelers were the same, walking with heads down, ignoring the warnings as if they hadn’t heard.

Yang Xiao, being alert, immediately sensed something was wrong.

Caravans feared bandits and demons outside at night, let alone the lone travelers.

Under normal circumstances, if a gatekeeper yelled like this, people would rush inside.

But here, they were indifferent.

Moreover, the yelling soldier seemed unaware that his words had no effect, standing aside with a silly grin.

Yang Xiao frowned deeply, stopping in his tracks. He muttered a spell and traced his fingers over his eyes, causing a golden light to flash.

“Heaven’s Eye!”

“Open!”

Buzz!

His eyes turned golden, scanning everything before him.

“What?”

Despite being well-informed, Yang Xiao couldn’t help but exclaim.

Outside the city gates, there were no living beings; everything he saw before was walking corpses. Each had a large hole in their chest, their faces already decayed, eyeballs hanging at the corners of their mouths, eyes dark and hollow. 𝖗аŊȯᛒĘ𝙨

The gatekeeping soldiers were skeletons, clad only in armor.

“Could it be that the entire Mangshan County is like this?” Yang Xiao felt a chill in his heart. If this were true, the entire Tang Dynasty might not fare any better.

This was the foremost county outside the capital!

While Yang Xiao was in shock, a row of people in black robes appeared on the city wall.

The leader wore a black robe with a hood, obscuring his features, but his chest bore the mark of fire.

There was no need to ask; it was someone from the Chiyang Sect.

“You still found out!” The man in the black robe sighed.

However, Yang Xiao remained unfazed, raising his head to look at the black-robed figure, sneering, “A simple illusion? Are you trying to fool a ghost?”

“Yes, I’m fooling you, this ghost!”

As the voice fell, nine black-robed figures on the city wall simultaneously made their move.

Each one was at the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Every one of them had strength comparable to Yang Xiao.

These were the nine strongest individuals in Mang Mountain County and the only late-stage Golden Core experts of the Chiyang Sect in the county.

The nine of them joined forces, intending to kill Yang Xiao.

But Yang Xiao was calm because he was fearless!

He feared no one of the same level.

Even against Master Fengjue of Baoguang Temple, he had the strength to fight, let alone these mere demonic cult members.

Though they were at the late stage of the Golden Core realm, they all practiced side-door demonic arts, which were cultivation techniques that merely elevated their realm without being suitable for combat.

Yang Xiao raised his long spear, drawing a full circle.

His terrifying combat power forced three black-robed figures to retreat in shock.

“This Yang Xiao is indeed formidable, truly comparable to the strong of Jinwu Guard!”

“Hmph, even so, he won’t leave Mang Mountain County alive today!”

“Kill!!!”

The nine closed in again, each using different techniques, trying to trap and kill Yang Xiao on the spot.

The battle outside the city startled the birds and beasts in the forest. A crow perched on a branch cawed a few times, its red eyes glinting as it watched the fight below, then flapped its wings and flew away.

In Tai’an City, within the Zhanxian Tower of the palace.

On the top floor, the Grand Commander remained a silhouette with his back turned.

The originally silent top floor was disturbed as a gentle breeze swirled, and a black mist condensed into a humanoid shape, its voice hoarse, “Master, Yang Xiao is fighting with the Chiyang Sect people. He might perish!”

“Mm!”

The Grand Commander standing by the window kept his hands within his cloak, merely giving a slight acknowledgment, as if he had anticipated this outcome.

“Should we save him?” The shadow in the black mist asked cautiously.

The Grand Commander slightly tilted his head and calmly said, “Our Majesty dislikes being at a disadvantage. If we want to eliminate his Chiyang Sect, we must sacrifice some manpower, so he feels balanced.”

“I understand!” The black mist slowly dissipated.

In the palace, outside the Yangxin Hall.

Lord Han was not inside today; instead, he stood guard outside.

Because tonight, a distinguished guest had come to the hall.

Even he had to stand humbly outside the door.

“Hmm?” Lord Han frowned, sensing someone approaching, and asked in a hoarse voice, “What brings you here personally?”

Whoosh!

An elderly man in a black robe suddenly appeared in front of the hall. His eyes were waxy white, his face ashen, expressionless, and his voice was like a puppet, “The matter in Mang Mountain County can’t be contained!”

“What?”

Lord Han, usually composed, widened his eyes, frowning, “Didn’t your Chiyang Sect arrange nine late-stage Golden Core cultivators? Can Yang Xiao escape? Besides, there’s still a…”

“Yang Xiao concealed his strength; his current power is no less than Fengjue’s!” The white-eyed old man finished, turning to look inside the hall, muttering, “Hurry and notify His Majesty; the Zhanxian Guard is not easy to fool!”

With that, the white-eyed old man turned and left.

Lord Han watched him leave, gritting his teeth, but could only turn back into the hall.

In the dimly lit hall, two figures sat opposite each other.

“I’m aware of the situation. You must visit the Zhanxian Tower personally. Ask that old guy what he wants. As long as I can shut his mouth, I’ll give it!”

Lord Han withdrew upon hearing this.

“Sigh!” The Tang Emperor, dressed in a Daoist robe, sighed, his face obscured in the shadows.

The person sitting opposite him had a faint smile, saying, “What’s wrong? Can’t you control your own subordinates? Should I help you get rid of him?”

“Hmph, do you think this is child’s play? Wanting someone dead and they’re dead?” The Tang Emperor’s face shifted, his voice deep, “That old guy was a close minister of the late emperor, with forces spread across the entire East Land. Even though I’ve clipped many of his wings over the years, I can’t take him down. Three years ago, I might have acted against him, but the lesson from three years ago, I won’t forget!”

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