Swordholder

Helpless, Chen Yuan also jumped off his horse.

He glanced at Lu Chengfeng, who was slowly following behind him, and said in a deep voice, "Let's go into the cave first."

Li Wei immediately stopped joking and nodded emphatically.

He had returned to find Lu Chengfeng with trepidation, but thankfully he finally found him.

He had originally wanted to go along, but Lu Chengfeng was too fast, and he couldn't keep up at all. He could only wait anxiously at the entrance of the cave.

Seeing Chen Yuan and the others return safely, my heart finally settled down.

"Waaah... Nuomi made a mistake, she lost the money and didn't get to buy any clothes..."

Nuomi nestled in Li Wei's arms, head down, sobbing softly, her little shoulders trembling, looking exceptionally pitiful.

"Hehe, Nuomi, be good, don't cry."

Li Wei quickly softened his tone, smiled mysteriously, and carried Nuomi into the cave.

"Come into the cave, Brother Li Wei will perform a magic trick for you, I guarantee it will make you happy."

Chen Yuan and Chen Zhaoning exchanged a glance and followed him into the cave.

Before long, the sound of Nuomi's cheerful laughter echoed from inside the cave, dispelling the bloodshed and oppression that followed the battle.

Outside the cave, Lu Chengfeng still stood motionless like a statue. Hearing his daughter's laughter from inside the cave, the corners of his tightly clenched lips curled up slightly in a very faint arc, so quickly it was almost an illusion.

------

Wuqiao Town, Heishan.

On this day, in her underground cave, Grandma Black Mountain received a distinguished guest who had come from afar.

It was a man dressed in black, with a burly build, a square face, and a pair of curved bull horns on his head. He exuded a calm yet chilling aura.

Grandma Black Mountain sat upright in the shadows deep within the cave, wearing a long dress embroidered with dark patterns of black clouds, her hair standing straight up in a strange, umbrella-shaped bun.

Her face was covered with eerie and terrifying red markings, and her neck, which was fifty or sixty centimeters long, was covered with layers of gray-black bark, resembling an old, gnarled wooden dragon.

Her brow bones were raised high, her face was as pale as paper, and her eye sockets were sunken, revealing two dark golden pupils that gleamed with a sinister light.

"Director Xu, that's the situation."

Grandma Black Mountain's voice was sinister, and as she spoke, she revealed a set of sharp fangs.

"The guy who stormed my mountain that day, flattened my temple, and severely injured me did indeed exude a chilling aura."

He was not a pure human, but a monster possessed by evil spirits...

I even believe he is a zombie, not the remnant of the Swordholder you are looking for.

The thought that two human Daoists at the Great Yellow Court Realm had come to provoke her in one day filled Granny Black Mountain with rage.

She especially hated Chen Guodao of the Chen family!

If Chen Guodao hadn't self-destructed his Yellow Court and severely injured her, she wouldn't have been unable to defeat that strange human zombie.

"Hehe, whether they are remnants of the Sword-wielding clique, I will make my own judgment."

The middle-aged man, referred to as Director Xu, spoke in a deep, resonant voice, carrying an undeniable authority.

He was a member of the Wuxiang Sect, named Xu Zhihua, from the Wuxiang Division of Tianshan County, where he held the position of Grand Director.

In the Great Xiang Empire, in cities at the prefecture level, the Wuxiang Sect would station a Wuxiang Office, with official ranks ranging from lowest to highest:

Wuxiangshi, Wuxiangzuzhang, Wuxiangdui, Wuxiangsizhang, Wuxiangdasizhang.

Previously, the Wuxiang Sect's encampment in Shangang Town was just a small Wuxiang squad, and Mo Hong was just a squad leader.

Although Mo Hong's position as squad leader was equivalent in rank to that of Wang Feng, the director of the law enforcement department of Huaishan County,

However, Xu Zhihua, the Grand Director from the county town, held a rank far higher than Mo Hong's.

His trip to Black Mountain was solely to seek out an old friend—a swordsman.

As the core organization resisting the Great Xiang Empire, the Sword-wielding Society has always been the target of the Wuxiang Sect's relentless pursuit.

The cultivators of the Wuxiang Sect were all doing their utmost to capture members of the Sword-Holding Society.

"Heh, so you came all this way to see me, perhaps just for amusement?"

Grandma Black Mountain gave a cold laugh, her tone full of displeasure.

Even though the other party was the Grand Master of the Wuxiang Sect, she showed no respect whatsoever—after all, she was also a demon cultivator in the Yellow Court Realm, and had her own confidence.

"It's just to verify some things."

Xu Zhihua spoke calmly, his gaze suddenly turning icy.

"Now that Grandma has confirmed it, everything is finally settled. Lu Chengfeng, I've finally found you!"

"Tsk tsk, I never imagined you'd be hiding in such a remote and desolate place, barely clinging to life."

Grandma Black Mountain narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone tinged with doubt: "Lu Chengfeng?"

"It's him!" Xu Zhihua nodded, his tone grim. "He's the human swordsman who cultivated the Heavenly Light Spiritual Power. Quite a few of his Wuxiang Sect colleagues died at his hands."

Hmph, what a pity that even such a gifted human hero cannot resist the charms of a beautiful woman!

He was bewitched by a female colleague from our Wuxiang Sect and engaged in dual cultivation with her, which led to the growth of evil energy within his body.

At this point, Xu Zhihua couldn't help but burst into laughter, his tone full of mockery and delight:

"Hehe, this is truly gratifying! A dignified Sword Master, a person who cultivates the renowned Heavenly Light Demon-Slaying Technique, has actually been reduced to a zombie!"

The conflict between the celestial spiritual power and the evil spiritual power within him caused him to lose his mind and become insane!

Hahahaha, that's great, fucking great!

"I want to see how he can still wield a sword for the human race in his current state."

How can they still claim to be the Swordholder and attempt to rebel against the Great Xiang Empire?!

Xu Zhihua's wild laughter sparked a keen interest in Grandma Heishan's eyes.

She leaned forward slightly, her tone filled with surprise and apprehension: "Oh? The Sword Master of the Human Race?"

He even cultivated Heavenly Light Spiritual Power and mastered the legendary Heavenly Light Demon-Slaying Technique?

"Director Xu, your Wuxiang Division is indeed incredibly powerful."

Grandma Black Mountain smiled sinisterly, her tone full of flattery, "Such a brilliant and talented person was actually suppressed by you, and ultimately met such an untimely end."

Tsk tsk, if this person is allowed to grow, he will probably become a master swordsman sooner or later, or even a grandmaster swordsman!

By then, the damage to the Great Xiang Empire will far exceed just a single prefecture. I admire you, truly admire you!

She paused, then added, "Congratulations, Director Xu, this is a great achievement."

Xu Zhihua's face showed an arrogant expression. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed respectfully in the direction of Xiangjing.

"Serving the stability of the Great Xiang Empire is our duty, and we should devote ourselves to it to the utmost, even unto death."

We should always be as cautious as if walking on thin ice, and dare not be the slightest bit arrogant.

Grandma Black Mountain sneered inwardly: Still not proud?

The smug look on your face doesn't show any sign of being "walking on thin ice".

Despite her inner grumbling, she still wore a flattering smile: "Director Xu is too modest. I admire him greatly."

Just then, a servant's voice came from outside the cave, respectful yet urgent: "Grandma, Liu Qingda, the Director of the Wuxiang Division of Huaishan County, requests an audience."

"Oh? Liu Qingda?"

Xu Zhihua's smugness grew even stronger. Upon hearing this, he narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Granny Black Mountain, saying, "It seems that I need to retreat for the time being."

"Director Xu, you're too kind."

Grandma Heishan smiled and waved her hand, her tone carrying a profound meaning, "Huaishan County is under your jurisdiction, and Liu Qingda is your direct subordinate, so why are you retreating?"

Why not stay and give your subordinate a chance to witness Director Xu's charisma and receive your instructions?

Xu Zhihua was just being polite...

He was a high-ranking official from the prefectural city, while the Wuxiang Division of Huaishan County was just a minor official, and Liu Qingda was his direct subordinate. Why should he back down?

That would actually damage his status.

He coughed lightly, straightened his back, and turned his gaze toward the cave entrance, his expression becoming increasingly arrogant.

A moment later, an old man strode in; it was Liu Qingda.

He looked hurried, his brows furrowed with urgency, clearly having something important to report.

However, even when facing Granny Black Mountain, a demon cultivator at the Yellow Court Realm, he maintained the proper respect and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"Hmm? And who is this?"

As soon as Liu Qingda entered the room, he noticed Xu Zhihua, who was sitting upright with an extraordinary demeanor, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face.

One of the twelve auspicious beasts—the Heavenly Beetle!

This is a Middle Three Phase, belonging to the Earth Phase, a creature of noble status.

Liu Qingda was secretly surprised and was at a loss for what to do.

"Director Liu, this is Director Xu from Tianshan County, and he is your superior."

Grandma Black Mountain spoke at the opportune moment, her eyes flashing with a smile that held a hint of something unreadable.

Liu Qingda's expression changed drastically. He quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with utmost respect:

"So it's Lord Xu! Your subordinate, Liu Qingda, greets Lord Xu!"

"Um."

Xu Zhihua slowly raised his head, let out a soft "hmm" through his nostrils, and squinted at Liu Qingda, his expression clearly showing disdain.

In the eyes of these beastmen, humans were inherently inferior, let alone someone like Liu Qingda who had sided with the beastmen and worked for them...

In Xu Zhihua's view, these were spineless cowards, not even as good as those sword-wielders who opposed the Great Xiang Empire.

At least those sword-wielders dared to stand against the entire Great Xiang Empire for the sake of the revival of humanity.

Liu Qingda was already used to the disdainful looks from the beastmen. He took a deep breath, suppressed the bitterness in his heart, and said excitedly to Xu Zhihua:

"It's wonderful to have Lord Xu here!"

"I have some good news here. I was planning to report it to the Wuxiang Division of Tianshan County, but it seems it was truly the will of Heaven!"

Xu Zhihua raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat perfunctory: "Oh? What good news?"

What important matter could possibly be worth reporting in this remote place?

Liu Qingda quickly stepped forward and said in a very fast voice, "Does Lord Xu know that there is an abandoned research subject in the Divine Blood Pavilion of Tianshan County?"

Especially that research subject, nurtured using top-grade materials and divine blood, actually came back to life!

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhihua's previously lazy expression vanished instantly!

His gaze suddenly became intense, and his breathing became more rapid.

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