Chapter 71

"Since you know the weakness of Black Mountain, why are you still coming to me?"

The girl was no naive child; she had cultivated here for over a hundred years and was a seasoned spirit. The tree spirit coming to seek her out certainly meant no good.

"I know Black Mountain's backup plan, but I have no confidence in killing the demon general he has stationed at Lano Temple. Moreover, Black Mountain's origin is very peculiar, being a transformation of a cassia tree that fell from the sky. I suspect it is a branch of the first cassia tree in the world, capable of regenerating from broken wood. If I cannot destroy him in one go and he escapes, it will not be good for me. Therefore, I need your help!"

The tree spirit looked at the girl and patiently explained.

It was clear that the tree spirit was not lying, though it was unknown what grudge the tree spirit had against Black Mountain.

"Do you need that divine weapon?" The girl's gaze sharpened as she looked at the tree spirit, her eyebrows furrowed. "Even I cannot wield it, let alone a spirit like you."

"As long as you lend me that sword, I will find a way to use it. Once Black Mountain is killed, I will return the sword to you immediately. I, the tree spirit, am not one to break my word. What do you say?"

The girl looked at the tree spirit, remained silent for a moment, then her gaze shifted, and she nodded. "If that's the case, follow me. If we can kill Black Mountain, giving you the sword is no problem."

"Little fox, don't worry, I won't covet your sword."

Seeing the girl relent, the tree spirit's face lit up. The two figures, their skirts fluttering, flew into the forest and disappeared.

After a long while, Ning Wuxie emerged, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked in the direction the two women had gone.

"Black Mountain actually captured Nie Xiaoxian? The Yin-Yang Body is an extremely yin constitution. Women with such a constitution usually don't live past twenty, as they are frozen to death by the extreme yin energy within them. However, the primordial yin of such women can channel the yin energy of the underworld into their bodies. If cultivated, it can help them reach new realms."

Ning Wuxie finally understood Black Mountain's plan. If he were to break through another realm, he might truly be able to refine his true form and become a transcendent being. Moreover, by openly building a path and secretly crossing the river, he could attract all the cultivators of the Nine Provinces, feign death, and then plot in secret once his cultivation recovered. It was indeed a well-thought-out plan.

This Black Mountain, to have dominated the Black Mountain for so long, must indeed have some abilities.

"Ning Cai Chen and Nie Xiaoxian both died? Truly unexpected."

Ning Wuxie still remembered the learned and eloquent Ning Cai Chen from that night, sighing lightly. In the past month, many things must have happened. Thinking about the attitude of the Xuanxin Dao disciples when he mentioned Yan Chixia, he wondered what stories had unfolded between Yan Chixia, Ning Cai Chen, and Nie Xiaoxian.

However, the deaths of Ning Cai Chen and Nie Xiaoxian were both unexpected and within reason. Black Mountain's power was formidable, and the saying that evil cannot overcome righteousness is just a saying. The perfect endings in stories do not always reflect reality.

"Lano Temple? If I hurry, I can still make it in time."

Ning Wuxie glanced at the distant Black Mountain. In this battle between good and evil, he was destined to be a mere observer. In fact, he had only come here to take a look, but he had fortuitously gained new insights. He could not participate in the battle at Black Mountain, but he could go to Lano Temple.

With a turn, Ning Wuxie flew swiftly toward Wuzhou City.

The 14th of July is the Ghost Festival, the day of the year when yin energy is most concentrated. On this day, the gates of the underworld open, and ghosts return to the mortal world to feast on the offerings of the living and enjoy the incense of thousands of households.

Each household also worships their ancestors, praying for their protection, gradually turning it into a custom.

In the eyes of cultivators, the 14th of July is a time when yin energy gathers and yang energy dissipates, a time when demons and spirits run rampant. Many demons and spirits cause havoc on this day, and throughout history, many strange events have occurred on the 14th of July.

As night fell, the last bit of yang energy in the world dissipated with the setting sun, and wisps of pale gray yin energy rose from the ground. Dark, heavy clouds pressed down from the sky, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

In the midst of the yin energy, the hundred-meter-tall Black Mountain was pitch black, its demonic light shimmering, and demonic energy rising to form a blood-red pillar that enveloped the entire mountain.

In a small village, the Xuanxin Dao, Qingcheng Sword Sect, Fangxian Dao, Yuhua Dao, Baima Temple, Jinshan Temple, and other righteous forces of the Nine Provinces gathered together. The righteous energy they emitted was particularly bright in the midst of the yin energy.

Nalan Hongye and Jinghui stood behind a middle-aged woman in white, her beauty still stunning at over thirty, her figure graceful. She was the female true immortal of the Yuxian Dao, Xuan Zhen, whose cultivation was not inferior to the sect leader, having transcended the mundane world and devoted herself to the Dao.

Behind the black-robed scholar Zhang Daoyuan stood the scholar Xiao Yixuan. The disciples of the various Dao sects held Zhang Daoyuan in high regard, not only because of his position as a high-ranking official but also because of his noble character and respected reputation.

A sword light pierced the dark sky, its intimidating sword qi causing the mountains to tremble. Even before the sword arrived, the swords in the hands of all the sword cultivators in the village trembled lightly.

"Master Brother, Master Brother is here!"

Ruo Liufeng's face lit up as he looked at the sword light. A figure in a green robe, hair flowing, stood on a green sword, the sword light emanating from it. The figure in the sky arrived at the edge of the village in the blink of an eye.

"His eyes are like stars, his brows like swords, a graceful young man from Qingcheng, his sword splits the sky, and he roams freely in the Nine Provinces."

A cultivator murmured as he looked at the figure.

In this generation of the Qingcheng Sword Sect, a remarkable figure had emerged, surpassing all his peers. His sword skills were unparalleled across the Nine Provinces, and even outstanding figures like Nalan Hongye, Xiao Yixuan, and Yan Chixia could not match him.

Perhaps only a few individuals like the royal family's Li Daoyuan, Baima Temple's Fayuan, and Xuanxin Dao's Yue Guocheng could withstand him for a few moves.

The Qingcheng Sword Immortal Ren Xiaoyao, his name alone was enough to make young cultivators of the Nine Provinces pale.

"Uncle Xuan Zhen, Uncle Yang Yuan, Uncle Danyuanzi, Master Zhenliao, Master Faming..."

The tall and robust Ren Xiaoyao bowed to each of the senior figures from the Dao and Buddhist sects, his sword-like brows and star-like eyes drawing the admiration of many female disciples, even Jinghui's gaze fell upon him. Nalan Hongye, however, remained cold and distant, as if someone owed her a fortune.

Approaching Zhang Daoyuan, Ren Xiaoyao respectfully performed the Confucian disciple's bow. "Master, it has been three years since we last met in the ancient capital. To see you again, I am delighted. If there is an opportunity, I would like to seek your guidance."

A rare smile appeared on Zhang Daoyuan's stern face as he helped Ren Xiaoyao up. "Guidance is too much to ask. I have only read a few more books than you. Our gathering in the past was also very beneficial to me. Once this matter is resolved, we can discuss it further."

Although Ren Xiaoyao was from the Qingcheng Sword Sect, he did not confine himself to the path of the sword. He had studied Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and various other schools, traveling the world and visiting many reclusive masters.

In Chang'an, he had visited Zhang Daoyuan, later referring to himself as a disciple. However, Zhang Daoyuan did not take him as a disciple, partly because Ren Xiaoyao was a hermit and Zhang Daoyuan held a high position in the court, making it inappropriate to form a deep connection, and partly because Ren Xiaoyao was a disciple of the Qingcheng Sword Sect, and taking him as a disciple would violate the rules.

Ren Xiaoyao's bow as a disciple was a sign of respect for Zhang Daoyuan's teachings, a demonstration of respect for teachers and the Dao, not a betrayal of the Qingcheng Sword Sect. This only increased the admiration of the crowd for Ren Xiaoyao.

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