Xuanjian: Jade True Sword Immortal, my Dao Wisdom keeps increasing.

Fifty-three years have passed since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Five years have passed since the Li family killed the demon and received their ordination.

In the five years that followed, several major events occurred in the Li family. First, Li Yuanjiao married Xiao Guiluan, and then Li Xuanfeng was summoned by the Qingchi Sect to Yishan City in the southern border region.

The demonic cultivator Jiang Yan unleashed a demonic calamity in Linhai County, which escalated rapidly, causing widespread panic among cultivators throughout Jiangnan. The prices of various talismans and magical artifacts soared.

For the past five years, Jiang Heqian has been holed up in a temporary cave on the east bank of Wangyue Lake, focusing on cultivating his swordsmanship.

Despite the annotations on the Daoist Stele, Jiang Heqian was still stuck at the final juncture of mastering the sword intent of "Qingyin Shuoyue Hanyu Xianzhen," unable to grasp its essence.

Over the past five years, Jiang Heqian has used the Daoyan Stele to enhance his Dao wisdom twice, drawing upon the moonlight he has absorbed.

He figured that cultivating basic-level techniques and spells would no longer be difficult.

Sword intent cultivation is different from magic and supernatural powers. After five years of day and night practice of the [Qingyin Shuoyue Hanyu Xianzhen] sword technique, I am still missing the last step.

Having failed to forcefully cultivate his sword intent, Jiang Heqian came out of seclusion this time precisely to relax and forget the troubles of sword cultivation.

Jiang Heqian had no relatives or friends and was at a loss for where to go. After thinking for a while, he decided to go to his friend Fei Wangbai.

After tidying up, he leaped into the air and sped towards the Fei family's residence on the north bank of Wangyue Lake.

About an hour later, Jiang Heqian arrived above Hanyun Peak, which was under the jurisdiction of the Fei family.

A sweep of divine sense revealed that the town of Hanyun below was in complete disarray, with severed limbs and blood scattered everywhere along the streets, as if the incident had just occurred.

Jiang Heqian's face was gloomy. He gripped the hilt of his sword and, with a few flashes, landed in Hanyun Town.

The once bustling streets now resemble a battlefield.

Is this retaliation from the Yu family, or a robbery by demonic cultivators?

It's really strange that not a single member of the Fei family has been seen.

Despite his discomfort, Jiang Heqian walked toward the center of the street, full of questions. Under his divine sense, he saw a person devouring and chewing a living person.

As Jiang Heqian approached, the old man squatting on the ground, gnawing on the living, made a swallowing sound:

"Fellow Daoist, it's best not to meddle in other people's business. I'm here to save these two-legged sheep. It's their good fortune to be saved by my compassion."

Compassion? Is this the Murong Xia who went south to eat people?

I went out to relax and clear my head, how did I run into this jinx? Was this a test arranged by someone?

Jiang Heqian's heart pounded, but he pretended to be unaware and continued forward, not wanting to reveal that he knew Murong Xia. He said in an icy tone:

"You demon, you've devoured countless people, yet you dare to speak of mercy. Today you've fallen into my hands, and I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."

He drew his spirit sword, Mingyu, with a backhand motion, and a milky white jade-like sword aura burst forth, slashing swiftly towards the old man in the center of the street.

The old man rolled away, transforming into a cloud of black mist to dodge the oncoming sword energy, and exclaimed in great surprise:

"Fellow Daoist, we have no grudge against each other. Is it really worth making such a fuss over a few two-legged sheep that I'm eating?"

Jiang Heqian scoffed and said:

"You cannibalism, yet you still try to justify yourself. This is truly the behavior of a demon."

This mocking remark displeased the old man, who shouted and cursed:

"Bullshit! I cultivate the righteous and compassionate demonic path, which is far more righteous than your Purple Mansion Golden Core path."

"Fellow Daoist, you live in Jiangnan and are unaware of my family's lineage. You mistakenly believe that I am compassionate and enjoy cannibalism, which is a grave error."

Seeing that Jiang Heqian remained silent, the old man that Murong Xia had transformed into landed again and sat in the middle of the street to explain:

"My Murong family is a legitimate member of the demonic path. We have a malevolent spirit in our womb to aid our cultivation. This has been the way since ancient times. No one can criticize my Murong family."

"Fellow Daoist, do you know that the Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Dao nurtures mortals and harvests their blood and energy? Mortals suffer endlessly in this world, their lives worse than death. Why not enter the Buddha-land within my compassionate belly and enjoy ultimate bliss? Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Jiang Heqian was furious. He couldn't, and wouldn't, kill him. He had to patiently listen to his nonsense. When he couldn't bear it any longer, he finally interrupted:

"It is precisely because you demons do not treat mortals as human beings that the common people in the mortal world live a life worse than death. Do not reverse cause and effect."

Murong Xia paused, her expression strange, and retorted:

"How can mortals be compared with us cultivators? Mortals are born to help us cultivate, to enter the Buddha-land within our compassionate hearts, and that is the greatest good."

"Moreover, within my human head, there is fine wine, delicacies, fine clothes, and sumptuous food, everything imaginable. Mortals who enter my compassionate human head will enjoy endless glory, wealth, and boundless blessings. As long as I, Murong Xia, exist, they can enjoy endless pleasure. My cultivation of the compassionate human head is an act to save all living beings in the world."

Murong Xia became more and more excited as she spoke of that set of twisted, compassionate theories, making Jiang Heqian's veins bulge on his forehead, and his grip on the sword hilt tighten and loosen repeatedly.

Unable to listen to Murong Xia's nonsense any longer, he spoke in a hoarse voice to shoo her away:

"I have no interest in listening to your nonsense, you fiend. You've eaten up hundreds of people in Hanyun Town. Get out of here now."

Seeing Jiang Heqian's extreme disgust, Murong Xia wisely shut his mouth, stood up from the ground, patted his round belly, and transformed into a cloud of blood mist, soaring into the air and flying south.

Upon exiting the pass, Jiang Heqian encountered Murong Xia, and he had nowhere to vent his anger.

At this moment, the Purple Mansion Maha in the Great Void was definitely observing, which made Jiang Heqian even more annoyed.

Just as he was about to ride the wind back, Fei Wangbai came speeding from Hanyun Peak.

"Brother Heqian, why didn't you give me a heads-up before coming to my Fei family? We could have discussed this in detail at Hanyun Peak," Fei Wangbai said with a look of surprise.

Jiang Heqian clasped his hands and said:

"He Qian came here to chat with Brother Fei and relieve the frustration of cultivating the sword. He had no important business, so he did not give prior notice."

Upon hearing this, Fei Wangbai smiled and said:

"My Fei family welcomes Brother Heqian anytime. Come, come, let's go back to Hanyun Peak and have a drink."

The two rode the wind, and in a few flashes, they landed in the main hall of Hanyun Peak.

The host and guests took their seats separately.

Fei Wangbai took out a Qi Refining level spirit wine from his storage bag, poured a full cup himself, and handed it to Jiang Heqian.

Jiang Heqian reached out and took it, then asked:

"That demon is eating people in Hanyun Town at the foot of the mountain. Brother Fei, are you aware of that?"

Fei Wangbai, who was drinking the spirit wine, replied nonchalantly:

"In recent years, the Jiangnan region has been plagued by demonic disasters, and there have been frequent cases of demonic cultivators eating people. I, Fei, have long been accustomed to it. Eating a few mortals is nothing to me."

Jiang Heqian paused, his hand holding the wine glass still, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart.

Yes, the Xuanjian world has long since collapsed. Cultivators treat mortals as resources, not as human beings at all.

This made Jiang Heqian, whose soul came from Earth, feel somewhat physically uncomfortable.

Having experienced civilization, suddenly entering this hellish, barbaric world is truly unpleasant.

Knowing his own strength was too weak to even protect himself, he wondered why he should think so much. He cleared his mind of distractions and picked up the spirit wine to savor it.

Seeing Jiang Heqian remain silent, Fei Wangbai, sitting in the main seat, opportunely tried to win him over:

"Brother Heqian, why don't you become a guest retainer in my household? I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the treatment."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Heqian refused without hesitation:

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Fei, but I'm used to being carefree and just want to enjoy my own company."

Fei Wangbai was not upset. He simply said it was a pity and then did not mention the matter again.

Jiang Heqian looked at Fei Wangbai in the main seat, hesitated, and finally sighed softly.