Zhuge Xiang's Sword Dao (Part One)

"It's nothing, I just want a formal identity in Canghai Commandery so I can participate in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking competition," Zhuge Xiang said frankly, having nothing to hide from Liu Rufang's question.

"Where is Young Master Zhuge from?" Liu Rufang asked curiously, as a formal identity from Canghai Commandery was required to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.

Hua Lingsha, standing beside him, stared at Zhuge Xiang in even greater astonishment. Cultivator participating in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking were under thirty, yet Zhuge Xiang, with such strength, was still under thirty?

The Dragon Phoenix Ranking is a stage that is simply unattainable for the Small Sect like the Azure Sword Sect. Who wouldn't want to stand out and become famous Canghai Commandery? However, given the Azure Sword Sect's limited resources, none of these disciples are qualified to be listed on the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.

In response to Liu Rufang's question, Zhuge Xiang smiled without answering, then changed the subject, saying, "As a newly joined disciple of the Azure Sword Sect, aren't you going to take me back to the Sect for a visit?"

"That's right, the Sect Master is back. We should hurry back so that the disciples won't worry," Hua Lingsha nodded and said hastily.

Seeing that Zhuge Xiang was unwilling to talk about his problems, Liu Rufang did not press him further. She nodded and led Zhuge Xiang and the others towards the direction of the Azure Sword Sect. Liu Rufang of the Azure Sword Sect had a good cultivation level, reaching the Seventh Layer of Divine Ability Stage.

The Azure Sword Sect was a very small cultivation sect in Canghai Commandery. Including Liu Rufang, the entire sect only had two Deity Transformation stage Cultivator. The headquarters of the Azure Sword Sect was located on a large mountain on the coast of the East Sea, which looked down from a high place and had a certain imposing presence. It can be seen that the Azure Sword Sect must have had a glorious period in the past.

"How has the sect been while I was away?" Liu Rufang asked Su Huayu as she flew on her sword, exuding a cold aura.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, during your time at the Beast Taming Sect, the Great Elder has managed the sect very well, so please rest assured," Hua Lingsha 'Liu Rufang question.

"Then what's the matter with you coming to trespass on the Beast Taming Sect? Didn't the Great Elder stop you?" Liu Rufang frowned slightly, her face showing displeasure, and asked.

"Didn't I tell you then that you mustn't try to rescue me if I was captured? Why did you still go to the Beast Taming Sect like an egg trying to break a rock? If it weren't for Young Master Zhuge's intervention, my Azure Sword Sect's thousand-year foundation would have been destroyed in an instant."

"Sect Master, please don't be angry. The Great Elder is only doing this for your own good. As the Sect Master of our Azure Sword Sect, how can we sit idly by while our Beast Taming Sect has abducted us..." Hua Lingsha said, her face filled with determination.

"Alas, the Great Elder was shrewd all his life, but he made a foolish mistake, harming my Azure Sword Sect and ruining the lives of my Azure Sword Sect disciples..." With a deep sigh, Liu Rufang felt as if her heart was being torn apart when she thought of the Azure Sword Sect Beast Taming Sect being killed.

"It seems that when we return to the Azure Sword Sect, we'll inevitably have to fight back," Zhuge Xiang, sitting on the back of the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, suddenly interjected as he listened to Liu Rufang and Hua Lingsha's conversation.

"You mean? Something happened to the Azure Sword Sect?" Su Huayu, her Scarlet eyes fixed on Zhuge Xiang, asked in surprise.

"Could it be? Taking advantage of the Sect Master's absence, other sects are attacking us?" Hua Lingsha exclaimed in surprise, her pretty face also changing. Liu Rufang's face also flashed with a look of urgency.

"If I'm not mistaken, there's something wrong with your so-called Great Elder. You should be careful after you return to the Azure Sword Sect," Zhuge Xiang said, shaking his head.

"The Great Elder has a problem? That's impossible," Liu Rufang shook her head and was the first to speak, not believing Zhuge Xiang's words.

"The Great Elder is a senior of our Azure Sword Sect. After my Master passed the Sect Master Position to me, the Great Elder has worked diligently for our Azure Sword Sect these past few years. How could he possibly harbor any wolfish ambitions?"

Liu Rufang didn't believe him, Zhuge Xiang naturally wouldn't force her to believe him. He just secretly told Su Huayu to be careful. As for whether what he said was true, he believed that once they returned to the Azure Sword Sect, they would know.

"How did you know that something happened to the Azure Sword Sect?" Su Huayu still trusted Zhuge Xiang's wisdom, but Su Huayu was secretly curious about how Zhuge Xiang knew that something had happened to the Azure Sword Sect.

"Don't you know? I have a talent for Divination. I can calculate five hundred years ago and five hundred years later..." Zhuge Xiang replied with a smile, pretending to count on his fingers.

Su Huayu simply smiled at Zhuge Xiang's Zhuge Xiang and amusing demeanor without replying, but she kept his words in mind. She knew she had to be careful when she was at the Azure Sword Sect.

With the flying speed of several Deity Transformation Stage Cultivators, they naturally arrived at the Azure Sword Sect very quickly. After all, it was a cultivation sect, and a sect that cultivated the Sword Dao. Upon arriving at the Azure Sword Sect, Zhuge Xiang could feel waves of sharp Sword Qi, as if it permeated the air.

Thump...

However, just as Zhuge Xiang and the others were about to enter the mountain where the Azure Sword Sect was located, suddenly, an invisible Restriction Barrier appeared. Zhuge Xiang and the others crashed into the Restriction Barrier one by one, and were then bounced far away by a gentle force.

"This is... the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation?" After the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger stabilized its body, Zhuge Xiang frowned slightly as he looked at the enormous Restriction Barrier that enveloped the entire Azure Sword Sect.

Most cultivation sects have a Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation to defend against external enemies, but shouldn't it only be activated when an enemy appears?

"Could it be? Has the Sect really encountered an enemy?" Upon crashing into the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation, Liu Rufang's expression changed drastically. She then spoke, her cold yet pleasant voice carrying far and wide. "Who is the patrolling disciple? Quickly activate the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation!"

"No, the Great Elder has ordered that the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation cannot be activated casually during this critical period..." As Liu Rufang finished speaking, several disciples of the Azure Sword Sect Spirit Crane Mount answered firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"You scoundrel, didn't you see the Sect Master has returned? Why haven't you opened the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation yet?" The Sect Master had returned, but was blocked outside by the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation, which even refused to open. Hua Lingsha, standing beside him, had a fierce look on her face and scolded him in a sweet voice.

"No, the Great Elder has ordered that no one, no matter who, can open the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation." Although she knew Liu Rufang was the Sect Master, this disciple still insisted on not opening it, which infuriated Hua Lingsha to the point of near death. How could the Sect Master return only to be blocked at the gate and not allowed to enter?

"Alright, Ling Sha..." Seeing that Hua Lingsha was about to continue cursing, Liu Rufang spoke coldly, her long eyebrows furrowing slightly. Clearly, being blocked at the entrance of the Azure Sword Sect had made Liu Rufang realize that something was wrong.

"Go and summon Bai Buyi, the outer sect Deacon, and Ling Wufu, the Inner Sect Deacon," Liu Rufang said, her voice carrying an undeniable authority as the Sect Master of the Azure Sword Sect.

Upon hearing Liu Rufang's words, the disciple guarding the mountain looked troubled and replied, "Senior Brother Bai and Senior Brother Ling secretly plotted to betray the Azure Sword Sect. They have been captured by the Great Elder and imprisoned in the dungeon. Now, both the outer and Inner Sect Deacon Deacon been replaced."

"Nonsense! Senior Brother Bai and Senior Brother Ling are both True Disciple of the Sect Master, how could they betray my Azure Sword Sect!?" This answer made Hua Lingsha shout angrily.

"Tell me, what exactly happened to the Azure Sword Sect while I was away?!" Upon hearing that her two True Disciples had been arrested, Liu Rufang's heart sank, her face turned cold, and she rebuked them.

"I... I..." Seeing Liu Rufang's anger, the disciple guarding the mountain was terrified and couldn't utter a word.

"Alright, no need for so much talk. Just break through this Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation and rush in to find out what's going on," Zhuge Xiang said to Liu Rufang, since getting angry at a mountain-guarding disciple wouldn't do any good.

"Impossible. With our cultivation level, we simply cannot break this Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation. This Formation is strong enough to withstand attacks from Cultivator at the Spell Control Stage. Our cultivation level is only at the Divine Ability Stage after all," Liu Rufang said, shaking her head. As the Sect Master of the Azure Sword Sect, she was well aware of the strength of this Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation.

Although Zhuge Xiang defeated the Great Strength Tiger King in a palm strike, Liu Rufang knew very well that Zhuge Xiang was no match for the Great Strength Tiger King in terms of strength, and his victory was merely a matter of luck. "Can't break it? There's nothing in this world that can't be broken." Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang didn't believe he couldn't break through the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation's defenses. With the Bloodthirsty Technique enhanced, he should have a chance to break it by activating his Vast Sword Qi or Palm Thunder Skill. After all, the enhancement from all his Treasure Artifact was no joke.

"Splash... splash..."

However, just as Zhuge Xiang was about to test the strength of the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation, the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation's Restriction Barrier suddenly trembled and then slowly disappeared. An old man with white hair and beard, flying on a sword, with an air of otherworldly elegance, came to greet him.

"Great Elder, what do you mean by this? Why are you blocking me from entering?" Liu Rufang asked, her face grim, as she looked at the old man who had flown up.

"Great Elder of the Azure Sword Sect, Third Layer of Spell Control Stage," Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback when he saw the old man flying up. He hadn't expected that the Great Elder of the Azure Sword Sect was even more powerful than the Great Strength Tiger King of the Beast Taming Sect.

Without immediately answering Liu Rufang's question, the Great Elder scanned the room, his gaze settling on Zhuge Xiang and Su Huayu. Finally, he gave Phoenix Winged Black Tiger a deep look, his expression turning unfriendly, and said, "My actions are merely for the sake of my Azure Sword Sect's thousand-year-old foundation. Three days ago, I already announced the removal of you from your Sect Master Position."

"Great Elder, why is this? You can't do this..." The Great Elder's words were startling, causing Hua Lingsha's expression to change drastically as she cried out in alarm. (To be continued...)