CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 368: THE TRUTH

But why would the Li Mountain Sword Cultivators come to Qinghe County?

It’s clear that they are targeting Prince Manor of Qinghe County. Could it be that Prince Manor has truly colluded with demons?

At this moment, even the people of Qinghe County have such thoughts, after all, the fame of Li Mountain Sword Cultivators is too widespread. Their demon-slaying and demon-exterminating deeds have deeply impressed many. The appearance of Li Mountain cultivators indicates the emergence of demons in Qinghe County?

So, has the Cui Family Ancestor and the Xie Family Ancestor learned something? Is that why they are risking everything to oppose Prince Qinghe Wang Anlu?

The Sword of Slaughter remains, sword aura howling angrily, with a swoosh of blood, a head flies towards the sky. Wen Ruyu’s sword beheads the gray-clothed old man. He stands on a high platform, his white clothes stained with blood, with Li Fan standing behind him, two exceptional figures standing together, seeming to sketch out a picture—exactly the tableau envisaged by people about Li Mountain Sword Cultivators, a bloodstained long sword and unparalleled swordsmanship.

Wen Ruyu and Li Fan seem to fulfill everything people imagined about Li Mountain Sword Cultivators.

"Li Mountain has openly rebelled," An Lu muttered, his eyes fixed on Wen Ruyu below, wild aura on his body, yet he dare not act rashly.

Since Wen Ruyu is there, there must be Seventh Realm Cultivators from Li Mountain present as well.

As for Li Fan, An Lu could faintly guess his identity.

Few knew what happened on Li Mountain years ago, but being Prince of Qinghe County, and having investigated movements from the court side, he knew a few things.

It’s that young sword cultivator from Li Mountain, now grown.

Rumor had it, that young sword cultivator had defeated Jiang Taie.

Now, Jiang Taie from Lingxiao Pavilion has already become famous in the Imperial City, his sword dao advancing by leaps and bounds—an admired sword dao genius.

The capital city, with its abundance of famous figures and geniuses everywhere, yet Jiang Taie’s reputation still overshadowed many; one of the few brightest stars among Da Li’s younger generation, basking in glory.

In contrast, that young sword cultivator from Li Mountain seemed unknown to the wider public.

But now, he had stepped into the world, appeared in Qinghe County, and killed his son An Shicheng along with the Cold Crow Taoist’s disciple.

The grudges of the previous generation unresolved, and now the storm of the next generation begins anew.

"Boom..." A muffled sound resounded across heaven and earth, everyone felt their minds tighten, the suffocating oppressive aura still lingered, the crowd subconsciously opened up a path.

There, a figure appeared—this person donned a coarse coat, emanating a wild aura, seemingly from the wilderness, yet the momentum on his body made people’s hearts pound, oppressively making no one dare to move.

Has the Great Cultivator from Li Mountain arrived?

The wild figure was Xing Feng, as he walked forward step by step, carrying a massive head with a large hand, a Great Demon’s head, seemingly already rotted, turned skeletal.

"Hou Demon?"

The crowd looked at the skeletal outline with some doubt, resembling a Hou Demon’s head.

Xing Feng proceeded step by step, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the wild figure ascending onto the high platform, he raised the head with his right hand to the crowd, saying: "This is the Hou Demon from the wilderness, long dead, body missing, presumably taken away. So, how did this Old Hound Demon attack Qinghe County and injure Mr. Xie from the Xie Family?"

Xing Feng’s voice was cold, carrying a persuasive magic, a buzz rising from the crowd.

Old Hound Demon already dead?

Then, what was the demon that attacked Qinghe County?

Could it be, as Xie Family Ancestor said, the Cold Crow Taoist?

"For a Great Cultivator of Li Mountain to slay a Hou Demon from somewhere is not unusual." The Cold Crow Taoist, eyes lowered, gazed down at Xing Feng below, calculating Xing Feng’s combat prowess while his Divine Sense probed to check if any other Li Mountain cultivators were present.

If it’s only Xing Feng alone, can he be subdued and left here?

Li Mountain is now a target for court destruction, yet still dares to jump out. If he kills a person from Li Mountain and leaves, what can be done?

The sky is high and birds fly freely, if Great Cultivators from Li Mountain want to go out of the mountain to seek revenge on him, they must consider whether they would fall into the court’s hands.

Besides, that young sword cultivator from Li Mountain also killed his disciple.

"Cao Mengchuan, gifted with Daoist skills since childhood, entered Taiping Temple to cultivate. Your talent in martial arts is equally exceptional; however, your violent nature leads you to kill easily. Years ago, over a trivial matter, you annihilated a noble family, prompting the court’s investigation, but the incident was quelled. Later, you were expelled from Taiping Temple and forbidden to use your real name, thus you roam the world under the name Cold Crow Taoist." Xing Feng raised his gaze to the Taoist, "Your Daoist skills are exquisite, adept at various transformations, and your Martial Spirit is the Hou. Am I correct?"

Cold Crow Taoist fixed his eyes on Xing Feng, realizing that Li Mountain’s preparations were indeed thorough, knowing even his past. Regret lingered from his impulsive action years ago, as he wasn’t allowed to walk the world under Taiping Dao’s name.

However, he would never permit anyone to slander Taiping Temple.

His brow and eyes filled with Evil Qi. Cold Crow Taoist yelled angrily, "Utter nonsense! I’ve heard Li Mountain colluded with demons, besieged by the court, yet now unrepentant, still daring to stir the winds outside. Today, I’ll see what these cultivators from Li Mountain can do!"

With a thought, the sky was instantly filled with descending runes, transforming into spectacular golden rune swords. Cold Crow Taoist coldly shouted, "Since you’re not sword cultivators, let me see how Li Mountain cultivators face an attack by swords?"

Xing Feng glanced up at the sky, took a step forward, and entered the high sky, deliberately placing himself within the surrounding rune lights.

A muffled sound echoed, and overwhelming Martial Intent swept the sky as a simian roar resonated, making the people below shudder, their heads throbbing and hearts pounding uncontrollably.

Above the sky, a towering Demon Ape appeared, akin to a colossal mountain, standing tall between heaven and earth.

"Fatian Xiangdi."

The crowd’s heartbeat quickened, watching the Demon Ape, seemingly a real Great Demon, its fierce eyes exuding a bloodthirsty aura.

Cold Crow Taoist felt the aura’s intensity and his expression turned solemn, but he had no way out now, his murderous intent exposed.

"This sword suppresses demons, kill."

With a loud shout, the sword formed from countless golden rune lights charged towards the Demon Ape.

The Demon Ape raised its hand, its enormous palm resembling a mountain, striking at the Demon Suppression Sword, shattering it forcibly into scattered rune lights.

"Such terrifying power," thought Xie Family Ancestor silently, knowing he must exert all his strength against Cold Crow Taoist’s attack, while the Demon Ape effortlessly shattered the Demon Suppression Sword with a mere raise of its hand.

Xing Feng stood before the colossal Demon Ape, clad in coarse cloth, yet appeared exceptionally imposing, like a War God. As the Demon Ape’s giant hands rhythmically struck, the charging Demon Suppression Sword shattered without ever nearing.

His body surged with boundless vital blood rushing to the sky, Martial Intent illuminating mountains and rivers, causing the sky above to change unpredictably, vast and boundless, the heavenly universe seemingly oppressed by the Martial Intent.

Cold Crow Taoist stood, feeling as though a mountain was pressing upon him. With a thought, dragons and tigers appeared above the sky, spiraling around.

"Kill." Cold Crow Taoist raised his hand forward, only to hear Xing Feng coldly hum, reaching out and grabbing through the void, clamping the bodies of dragons and tigers tightly, with a bang, crushing them forcefully.

Xing Feng strode forward, with each step, Martial Intent seemed to grow stronger, making it difficult for Cold Crow Taoist to breathe. The oppression from top-tier martial cultivators was unparalleled, a fact Cold Crow Taoist naturally understood.

As the land trembled, Cold Crow Taoist erupted with a volatile aura, resisting the oppressive sensation.

"Where is your Martial Spirit?" Xing Feng spoke loudly, his voice shaking the sky, continuing forward. In one step, he seemed to approach the opponent, raising his arm and swinging towards them. The Demon Ape roared, its boundless giant hand descending, its demonic palm suppressing mountains.

Cold Crow Taoist waved talisman papers, countless rune lights flew out, transforming into stone steles smashing towards the hand of the Demon Ape, but were crushed entirely, unable to resist.

Seeing the giant palm descend, Cold Crow Taoist’s complexion turned ashen, unexpecting Xing Feng’s strength, realizing he was still insufficiently informed about Li Mountain.

A volatile aura erupted from him, as Xie Family Ancestor watched him intently.

At this moment, golden Buddhist light erupted, and a massive Big Hand Seal from the Buddhist Sect covered the sky, as it was Wang Anlu who intervened, he was naturally aware of the truth and couldn’t allow Xing Feng to press Cold Crow Taoist’s Martial Spirit out.

If so, he feared he too would face ruin, even the court couldn’t protect him.

Xing Feng took another step forward, his left hand turned into a fist, smashing out like a roaring great ape, shattering the Big Hand Seal from the Buddhist Sect.

Xing Feng stood between Wang Anlu and Cold Crow Taoist, his gaze scanning them, "Wang Anlu, it’s time you gave an account of some matters."

Wang Anlu’s heart jittered, indeed coming for matters of the past.

However, this matter was too intricate, he couldn’t explain.

The only plan now was to first gauge how strong Xing Feng truly was, and if impossible, he’d have to abandon it.

His eyes narrowed as if calculating again, but at this time, Cui Family Ancestor and Xie Family Ancestor’s bodies moved, standing at different positions, forming an intersecting stance, subtly sealing off Wang Anlu’s escape route, ensuring Wang Anlu wouldn’t flee.