Last night.
The sword Wang Quan Yan had unleashed on Grand Bamboo Peak.
Had not only shaken the entire Qingyun Sect, but even the cultivation world beyond Qingyun.
After all...
That sword scar, stretching for miles, hung above the Qingyun Sect, its brilliant golden sword intent nearly illuminating the entire night sky.
It was impossible to ignore.
It was precisely because of this.
That in less than half a day.
The news had spread through more than half the cultivation world.
Many wandering cultivators making a living near the Qingyun Mountain range were discussing that sword from last night. Some believed True Person Dao Xuan, the Qingyun Sect's leader, had cultivated some secret art; others believed it had been one of the other Peak Masters—
In any case.
No matter how they guessed, they would never have imagined it.
The one who had unleashed that sword was a Grand Bamboo Peak disciple.
A disciple who had only entered the sect five years ago!
The news quickly reached the ears of the Demon Sect.
North of Qingyun, in northern Shenzhou.
Huqi Mountain.
This had originally been the territory of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan. Later, with the decline of the fox clan, it was occupied by the Ghost King Sect, one of the Four Major Demonic Sects, and became the Ghost King Sect's headquarters—
"Splash!"
Beside a pool of blood.
A refined middle-aged man silently studied the intelligence report in his hand. His expression shifted repeatedly, as though he had seen something extraordinary.
"Sect Master?"
Qinglong called out from beside him.
At that.
Wan Renwang silently handed him the report and said, "Brother Qinglong, take a look."
Qinglong accepted the report.
It recorded what had happened in the Qingyun Sect the previous night and included a painting. The image was simple: an ordinary night sky split down the middle by a single sword—
"One Sword Splits the Heavens?!"
"This..."
Qinglong's expression changed slightly.
Wan Renwang asked in a low voice, "Brother Qinglong, who do you think it could be?"
At that.
Qinglong fell silent for a moment before saying, "The only master swordsman in the Qingyun Sect seems to be that person."
"You mean..."
"Wan Jianyi?!"
Wan Renwang's gaze flickered.
"Other than him."
"I cannot think of anyone else."
Qinglong spoke slowly.
"It is said—"
"Wan Jianyi is already dead."
Wan Renwang said thoughtfully.
"Hah!"
Qinglong sneered. "Who would believe that?"
"True."
Wan Renwang nodded. "After all, no one saw it with their own eyes. It is merely the one-sided account of those Righteous Path people."
With that.
Wan Renwang casually took back the report from Qinglong. He glanced at the image of One Sword Splits the Heavens and said calmly:
"Our top priority—"
"Is to proceed with our great plan as soon as possible!"
"What did Mr. Ghost say?"
Qinglong replied, "Mr. Ghost has been investigating Liubo Mountain for several months. He estimates that in a few more months, Kui Niu, one of the Four Sacred Beasts, will awaken!"
"Good!"
Wan Renwang slowly turned around.
Facing the blood pool before him, he let the heavy stench of blood wash over him. His eyes remained fixed on the strange dark-cyan cauldron at the center of the pool.
"I have already waited a hundred years."
"I do not mind waiting a few more months."
This tyrant of the Demonic Path slowly raised his head. He gently lifted one hand and clenched it, as though he had grasped the entire world...
Southwest Shenzhou, Viper Valley.
This place lay close to the Southern Border. Poisonous miasma filled the surrounding land, making it a natural poison zone. Countless venomous creatures lurked within, making it the most suitable place for poison cultivators to reside...
The Myriad Poisons Gate, one of the Four Major Demonic Sects.
Was stationed here.
"Master, news has come from the Qingyun Sect."
A delicate-featured youth gently pushed open the door. Inside, an elderly man was resting. His face was covered in wrinkles, and his aura seemed weak, as though death was close at hand...
"Whoosh!"
Poison God abruptly opened his eyes.
A soul-stirring gleam flashed through his eyes. He did not look like a man on the verge of death at all.
"Bring it here."
Poison God spoke slowly.
"Yes, Master."
Qin Wuyan respectfully handed over the still-sealed intelligence report.
Poison God accepted it and opened it.
As he read the report, a sharp light flickered in his eyes. He muttered softly:
"Wan Jianyi? Was it you..."
The moment he finished speaking.
Poison God casually tossed the report to Qin Wuyan and instructed, "Send someone to tell Cangsong. Have him investigate the origins of this matter."
"Yes, Master."
Qin Wuyan nodded respectfully.
He took the opportunity to lower his gaze and peek at the report in his hand.
Yet in the end, he saw only a strange painting. It depicted a brilliant night sky divided down the middle by a mysterious sword scar, as though...
Someone had split the entire sky open with one sword?!
At the sight.
Qin Wuyan's heart filled with shock.
This...
Was this truly something a person could do?
One Sword Splits the Heavens!
Perhaps only the ultimate Sword Cultivator could accomplish such a feat!
But.
There were barely a few such ultimate Sword Cultivators in the entire world!
Qin Wuyan suppressed the thoughts in his heart. Holding the report respectfully, he slowly turned and departed...
East Sea.
Liubo Mountain.
Xiaoyao Stream, Joyful Union Sect.
A winding, secluded path.
At first it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass. After walking several dozen steps, the view suddenly opened up.
A hidden valley emerged before them. Joyful Union flowers bloomed everywhere, and at its center stood a massive Joyful Union tree, said to have been personally planted by Madam Jin Ling eight hundred years ago—
Eight hundred years ago.
The Joyful Union Sect had not actually belonged to the Demon Sect.
Madam Jin Ling had initially been only a wandering cultivator. That changed when she encountered Black Heart Elder, the great figure of the Demonic Path who had founded the Blood Refining Hall.
After meeting Black Heart Elder.
Madam Jin Ling fell deeply in love with him, and the two swiftly fell into romance. The Joyful Union Sect's reputation was also utterly ruined because of this.
Later.
The Joyful Union Sect gradually merged into the Demon Sect and became one of the Four Major Demonic Sects.
At this moment, inside the Joyful Union Cave.
A soft and beautiful female cultivator held an intelligence report in her hand.
She wore a form-fitting white gown that perfectly displayed her curvaceous figure. Her skin was so fair it seemed as though water could be squeezed from it, and every movement she made radiated boundless charm.
This woman was none other than the Joyful Union Sect's leader.
Three Wonders Fairy.
"Good disciple."
"Do you think there is such a Sword Cultivator in this world?"
Three Wonders Fairy tossed the report in her hand to a young girl beside her.
This girl appeared quite young.
She was probably only sixteen or seventeen.
Her figure was tall and slender.
Though she still looked somewhat immature.
She was already rather well-developed. Although she could not compare to Three Wonders Fairy, she possessed a certain unique charm.
Perhaps it was innocence?
The girl blinked softly.
She wore an elegant white dress, its hem falling past her calves and embroidered with faint golden patterns. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders, while her exquisite, flawless face showed not the slightest imperfection.
Jin Ping'er accepted the report Three Wonders Fairy handed her and lowered her eyes to look—
The first thing she saw was a painting.
The scene in the painting was rather shocking. A golden sword scar stretched across the brilliant night sky, nearly covering the entire image and splitting the sky into two halves.
As though.
Someone had split open the heavens with one sword!
"Ah?!"
Jin Ping'er was greatly startled.
One Sword Splits the Heavens?
Could a Sword Cultivator really accomplish something like this?!
"Tsk."
Three Wonders Fairy curled her lips.
She reached out and poked her dazed little disciple. "My dear disciple, Sword Cultivators are all dull blocks of wood who do not understand romance."
"When you find a man in the future, do not ever choose a Sword Cultivator."
"Understand?"
"Master~"
Jin Ping'er covered her head.
She looked at Three Wonders Fairy pitifully, but her heart remained fixed on that painting.
One Sword Splits the Heavens!
Could a Sword Cultivator truly accomplish something like that?
A trace of longing rose in the girl's heart.
Before entering the Joyful Union Sect, she had merely been an ordinary young lady from a respectable family. Her greatest pleasure each day had been reading poetry and listening to stories of the martial world.
It was precisely because of this.
That she had always held a great fondness for so-called heroes and swordsmen. After all, young maidens dreamed of love too...
At this moment.
Upon seeing the scene of One Sword Splits the Heavens.
Jin Ping'er's interest was immediately stirred.
Did such a Sword Cultivator truly exist in this world? What did he look like...?
Before you continue