Chapter 44: A Formidable Rival

Canggu City was situated at the confluence of the Northern and Southern Domains, separated by a vast territory inhabited by demonic clans.

These clans were numerous, each ruled by a Demon King, and some of these kings had even formed powerful alliances.

While some Demon Kings maintained a fragile peace with human cultivators—a few even entangled in the affairs of certain dynasties and clans, occasionally helping humans fight other demons—these were but minor, insignificant skirmishes.

However, the demonic alliance nestled between the Northern and Southern Domains regarded human cultivators as their mortal enemies, frequently launching raids of pillage and slaughter along the borders of both territories.

The Yuqian Sect and the Yan Dao Sect had launched numerous joint campaigns to annihilate them, yet the demons always managed to elude destruction.

It was only after Mu Xianxian and Fu Haiqing, the master of the Yan Dao Sect, personally intervened—slaying three Demon Kings of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm—that a period of calm was established.

But now, merely a few decades later, new Demon Kings had apparently risen in their ranks.

Emboldened, they were beginning to stir once more.

None of this, however, was of much concern to Qin Yangjun; his sole focus was on joining the expedition to Canggu City.

“I’m not tired, Sister. It is the solemn duty of us cultivators to slay demons and defend the Dao. Besides, I don’t believe I’ve ever been to Canggu City. This would be a perfect opportunity to observe the situation at the border.”

‘Slay demons and defend the Dao—an undeniable duty.’

Even as he spoke the words, Qin Yangjun felt a pang of guilt, but an excuse had to be grand and righteous to be convincing.

Evidently, his reasoning had successfully persuaded Mu Xianxian.

After a brief, thoughtful silence, a faint smile graced her lips.

“Very well. Since you are so determined to go, I will not stand in your way. However, as you will be there, you can do something for me.”

“Anything, Sister.”

“The City Lord of Canggu, Zhuang Hancheng, has been getting rather restless lately. I need you to go and… remind him of his place.”

In the future, her little brother would have to handle such matters anyway, so this was a fine opportunity for him to gain some experience.

“Of course, no problem.”

He recalled a similar plotline from the novel, though it wasn’t he who had been sent, but one of his sister’s subordinates.

The issue was that Zhuang Hancheng, the City Lord of Canggu, had grown arrogant in recent years.

Emboldened by the Yuqian Sect’s patronage, he had colluded with nearby clans, seemingly with aspirations of becoming a local tyrant.

He thought his ambitions were well-concealed, but he failed to realize that Mu Xianxian saw everything.

Yet, due to Canggu City’s unique geographical position and the complex web of interests surrounding it, removing him and installing a replacement would be a troublesome affair.

A warning, therefore, was all Mu Xianxian intended.

‘Come to think of it, Zhuang Hancheng also caused quite a bit of trouble for Yu Lingyue in the story.’

But then, those who offended a protagonist rarely met a pleasant end.

His objective achieved, Qin Yangjun turned and departed. Not long after he was gone, Mu Xianxian rose.

Her form dissolved, reappearing a second later within a grand hall.

Four figures sat at the cardinal points of the hall, each deep in meditation. Before them rested a disc-shaped artifact, into which the four continuously poured their spiritual energy.

Floating above the artifact was the soul of the Blood Elder.

The Grand Elder, his expression grave as he stared at the soul, immediately rose and bowed upon Mu Xianxian’s arrival.

“Sect Master.”

“What have you found?”

The Grand Elder let out a long breath.

“The news is not good. It seems the intelligence we received was largely true. A new Demon Lord has indeed risen in the Myriad Demon Grotto, and he has already united many demonic sects, amassing a formidable force. According to this one’s memories, they are planning a major move very soon.”

Mu Xianxian’s brow furrowed slightly.

“To think it would happen at a time like this. What is the situation at the Ancient Beast Battlefield?”

“Just as predicted. The seal is weakening.”

Mu Xianxian’s expression shifted through several emotions before she spoke softly.

“Send out three invitations for me. It is time I had a gathering with those three.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

“Hey, Lingyue, have you heard? Just a little while ago, our Great Senior Brother found remnants of the Myriad Dharma Heavenly Sect in Luohe Town! They were actually using ordinary people to refine human pills! Luckily, Senior Brother was clever enough to use a Beast King to hold off the Blood Elder, and all those people were saved.”

Aboard the immortal vessel, Qian Xiaoyu excitedly relayed the firsthand news she had just heard to Yu Lingyue.

However, Yu Lingyue simply offered a faint smile.

“I know. That immortal vessel above us when we were gathering in the square… that was Senior Brother and his party.”

“How did you know?!”

Qian Xiaoyu stared at her in astonishment.

“I just do.”

Yu Lingyue had not told anyone about her cultivation technique, not even her best friend; after all, it was an immortal art.

Countless cultivators yearned for an immortal art, and even someone like Mu Xianxian would likely be moved by it.

She had to be careful.

Keeping it from Qian Xiaoyu was also for her own good.

“Ah, whatever. You’re always so mysterious,” Qian Xiaoyu sighed, propping her chin on her hands as she leaned against the vessel’s railing. “But still, for Senior Brother to feed his Heavenly Sovereign Dragon Spirit Pill to a Beast King… I’ve heard of that pill, you know. It’s incredibly rare! I doubt even the entire Yuqian Sect could produce a second one. Senior Brother is so generous.”

“As cultivators, we should all take it as our duty to protect the common people. It’s not strange at all that Senior Brother would make such a choice.”

A clear voice suddenly cut into their conversation.

Qian Xiaoyu turned and, upon seeing the newcomer, quickly bowed.

“Senior Sister Hua.”

Hua Yaoyao’s sudden appearance was no surprise to Yu Lingyue; whenever their senior brother was mentioned, she had a habit of materializing as if from thin air.

‘A formidable rival.’

Yet, Yu Lingyue did not dislike Hua Yaoyao. Having spent so much time together, she knew Hua Yaoyao was simply a forthright person.

“Senior Sister.”

Hua Yaoyao gave Yu Lingyue a slight nod in return.

She didn’t dislike this junior sister, either.

She had come to terms with it recently; matters of the heart were not first-come, first-served. Fair competition was perfectly normal.

“It’s a shame, though. Senior Brother just returned, so of course he couldn’t be part of this mission. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be certain people leading the team…”

Their gazes shifted subtly toward Jiang Yanfeng, who stood at the vessel’s prow.

He was currently holding court, boasting of his past exploits to a crowd of fawning junior sisters and admirers.

As the third-ranked disciple on the Heavenly Ranking, Jiang Yanfeng certainly had skill, but his greatest flaw was his obsession with reputation.

Hua Yaoyao disliked him, partly because he was always at odds with her Great Senior Brother.

Another reason was that his boasting was so loud she couldn’t help but overhear, and she knew exactly what he was truly worth.

Some of his claims were true, but tales of wrestling Berserk Apes and capturing Flood Dragons from the sea were pure fabrication.

Among the younger generation of the Yuqian Sect, only two had ever slain an ancient bloodline beast.

One was her Great Senior Brother; the other was Senior Sister Yue.

And Jiang Yanfeng claimed to have fought two at once?

It was doubtful he had ever even seen such creatures. To boast so extravagantly, he clearly had no fear of his tongue getting carried away by the wind.

In Hua Yaoyao’s eyes, a hypocrite like him was worlds apart from her senior brother.

He would never surpass him in this lifetime.

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