Raise a sword!

If we were to name the most mysterious force in the Southern Mountain Domain, it would probably be the renowned Dragon and Snake Temple.

Jiang Peng's knowledge of the Dragon and Snake Temple was limited to the fact that it was located deep within the Earth Howling Mountains, neighboring a fourth-tier demon king within the mountains.

As for the rest, Jiang Peng had also inquired about it with Wei Zhilan out of curiosity.

Although Wei Zhilan usually seemed carefree, she became serious when it came to matters concerning the Dragon and Snake Temple, refusing to reveal anything.

He only said that Jiang Peng would naturally come into contact with him in the future.

Jiang Peng herself did not expect the future to come so quickly.

After two days of venturing deep into the mountains, at dawn on the third day, a basin suddenly appeared amidst the endless undulating mountains ahead.

Standing atop a high mountain and gazing into the distance, one sees the basin shrouded in mist.

Just as the sun was rising.

Jiang Peng saw the purple aura coming from the east, swirling in the clouds and mist, and vaguely reflected the green bricks and red tiles beneath the clouds and mist.

This ordinary mountain scene appears extraordinary precisely because it is located in this basin.

"To blend in with the world," Jiang Peng murmured.

Huang Cheng, who was standing next to him, was clearly not a first-timer; he sent out a communication talisman.

A moment later, a seven or eight-year-old Taoist boy appeared from the basin, riding a second-tier demon tiger. He galloped through the forest and arrived in front of Jiang Peng and the other person in an instant.

"It's Senior Huang from the Nanming Sect!" The young Taoist priest, with a somewhat innocent and carefree smile on his face, flipped off the demon tiger and bowed to Huang Cheng.

Jiang Peng had initially thought this young Taoist was someone like Ni Chang, but upon closer inspection, she realized that he was actually just a child, and it seemed that he hadn't even begun to cultivate Qi yet; he was merely a mortal.

Deep within the Earthly Roaring Mountains, where even Foundation Establishment cultivators tread carefully, a mere mortal child can ride a second-tier demon tiger with impunity.

This stark contrast allowed Jiang Peng to truly witness the extraordinary nature of the Dragon and Snake Temple for the first time.

The young Taoist's gaze quickly fell on Jiang Peng.

"Junior Liyue, who is this senior?"

"Jiang Peng of the Cangshan Sect, I apologize for the intrusion." Jiang Peng bowed slightly.

Upon hearing Jiang Peng introduce himself, Li Yue bit her finger and pondered for a moment before her eyes lit up.

"I remember now, the Cangshan Sect on the northern slope! Master Zhang mentioned you, saying that you were incredibly audacious, even daring to plot against a True Lord, so he punished you by forbidding you from leaving the house for ten years."

"Ten years have passed? I'm only seven years old, and I've been in the temple since I can remember."

Jiang Peng nodded gently.

"It's all in the past."

Having not encountered outsiders for a long time, the Daoist boy Li Yue seemed very interested and even wanted to pull Jiang Peng and Huang Cheng aside to ask them about things outside the world.

On the contrary, the demonic tiger she rode there couldn't stand it.

"Liyue, you should invite the two of them to the temple, instead of stopping them here."

Li Yue slapped her forehead.

"I almost forgot."

Then, she gave a proper bow and invited Jiang Peng and the other person to the temple.

Jiang Peng continued her journey at a leisurely pace. After passing through a dark mountain forest, an unremarkable-looking Taoist temple came into view.

What Jiang Peng saw was a three-courtyard complex situated in a basin.

The blue bricks and red tiles were something I had seen long ago.

But when Jiang Peng got closer, he found that the Taoist temple in front of him was quite dilapidated. A section of the courtyard wall not far away had collapsed, and judging from the moss-covered traces, it seemed that no one had repaired it for a long time.

Li Yue noticed Jiang Peng's gaze, her face slightly flushed, and said, "That's where I crashed into the tiger last year. Master Zhang said I'll repair it myself when I grow up."

As they were talking, a figure walked out of the temple.

It was the same Taoist priest Zhang whom Jiang Peng had met twice before.

It was only after relaying a message for Zhang Daoshi ten years ago that Jiang Peng learned that this person had actually become a Golden Core True Person, rather than the Foundation Establishment cultivator he had shown at the birthday banquet years ago.

"Master Zhang, we've brought our guest," Li Yue said first.

Zhang the Taoist patted Li Yue's head, and a piece of candy appeared in his sleeve and hand.

"You've worked hard, go have some fun."

Watching Li Yue leave with the tiger, Zhang Daoshi finally turned his gaze to Jiang Peng and the other person.

Jiang Peng and the other person bowed and addressed each other as "seniors".

After bowing in return, Zhang the Taoist priest smiled at Jiang Peng and said, "This should be the third time I have met Fellow Taoist Jiang. Your cultivation has improved again. Congratulations!"

"This junior's cultivation is clumsy and unworthy of the senior's praise."

"Don't address me as 'senior'," Zhang Daoshi waved his hand and said. "If you're not familiar with me, call me 'fellow Daoist,' and if you're familiar with me, call me 'Master Daoist.' I've met Fellow Daoist Jiang three times, so we can be considered acquaintances."

"If you feel uncomfortable calling me Daoist Master, you can just call me Old Zhang."

Jiang Peng hesitated for a moment, then bowed again.

"Master Zhang."

"Haha, that works too!" Zhang Daoshi laughed loudly before finally looking at Huang Cheng beside him.

Huang Cheng also bowed again.

"Master Zhang."

The Taoist priest nodded slightly in agreement and said, "The True Lord already knows your purpose. The True Lord had long anticipated the demonic calamity, but it came a few years earlier than expected."

Huang Cheng's expression froze.

Although Zhang the Taoist priest spoke calmly, his tone contained a hint of questioning.

"The True Lord is confused."

"This junior dares to enlighten you, True Lord." Huang Cheng bowed deeply, large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead and onto the ground.

Jiang Peng, standing to the side, was also affected by this invisible tension, and her heart tightened.

"Why did the demonic calamity arrive ahead of schedule?" Zhang the Taoist asked.

Huang Cheng dared not conceal anything.

"My sect's True Man Huanglong failed to transcend the Nascent Soul Tribulation and mistakenly entered the demonic path in his pursuit of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Upon hearing this, Zhang the Taoist showed no surprise whatsoever.

"When?"

"Thirty years ago!"

"Thirty years ago, True Man Huanglong was already at the ninth level of the Golden Core stage. How could such a person have fallen into demonic possession and gone undetected for thirty years?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Cheng immediately knelt down on the ground.

"Someone is covering it up."

"Who is covering for us?"

Huang Cheng, however, continued kowtowing to himself and offered no further response.

Taoist Zhang remained calm.

"Huanglong Zhenren fell into demonic possession, and your sect's True Lord covered for him. What does this have to do with you, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"I am from the Southern Ming Sect, and this matter ultimately belongs to our sect..."

"You're only at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment? Is the Southern Bright Sect lacking in talent?"

Huang Cheng remained silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Master Huanglong is my ancestor. I am the only direct descendant of the Huang family."

Zhang the Taoist priest had a deep gaze.

"This matter cannot be resolved by a mere junior of the Huang family like you. The True Lord knows your purpose... By using your life as a guide and your bloodline as a connection, we can find the True Man Huanglong, who has already reached the half-Nascent Soul stage after falling into demonic possession."

"Using this as a starting point is indeed a good way to nip the demonic path in the bud."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Daoshi stepped to Huang Cheng's side and raised his hand to strike.

Jiang Peng's pupils contracted.

Huang Cheng also closed his eyes tightly, pretending that he was already dead.

In the end, however, Zhang Daoshi only patted Huang Cheng's shoulder lightly.

"Commendable courage."

A slight smile finally appeared on Zhang the Taoist's face.

"They say that when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. But the sky is about to fall, and the Dragon and Snake Temple hasn't even held it up yet. How can it be your turn to stand out as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Read "Raising a Sword!" and enjoy your reading time.