Blackwood Cliff

As the sun rises in the east, rays of golden light shine from the east, illuminating the road covered with grass and trees in a golden hue.

A man, a horse, and a sword emerged from the verdant Mount Hua.

Heading eastward towards the rising sun, my shadow stretched long and long along the official road.

Ji Boying has always been a cautious person.

That's his personality; he strives for perfection in everything he does, which often leaves him feeling exhausted, but it's his nature and can't be changed.

This personality trait also influenced his choice of training methods.

He bid farewell to Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, and all his fellow disciples.

He almost had a fight with Yue Buqun before finally deciding to go through with it, amidst Yue Buqun's resentment and repeated lamentations.

And he firmly refused to let Yue Buqun and his group follow him.

Ji Boying rode his horse all the way to a place more than forty miles northwest of Pingding Prefecture.

He sat atop a fine horse.

Looking up, I admired the blood-red rocks before me; the scenery was quite rugged and magnificent.

Riding a fine horse across the Xingxing Shoal, the horse's hooves splashed up waves on the rushing water.

"Whoa~"

Ji Boying gently pulled on the reins and dismounted.

He casually removed the saddle and threw it into the shallow water.

He patted the horse's neck to comfort it, then raised his right hand high and slapped the horse's rump hard, spurring it away to run along the puddle, its four wet hooves splashing everywhere.

He then turned around and looked at the stone path, which was less than five feet wide.

They took a step forward and continued towards Blackwood Cliff.

The stone path is flanked by steep cliffs.

Ji Boying did not walk on the stone path. With a light leap, he quickly darted up two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) into the cliff face.

He then proceeded along the cliffs on both sides of the stone path.

The steep cliffs seemed to tread on flat ground beneath his feet.

Any slightly rough part of the stone wall became like a paved stone step under Ji Boying's feet.

Even if there were truly such a smooth, mirror-like spot, Ji Boying could quickly leap over it with two quick steps in the air and find a foothold again on the cliff.

When the steep cliffs posed no obstacle to Ji Boying, the view from above became even more captivating.

Like a bluebird soaring among the cliffs, it fully enjoys the loneliness of being at such a high place.

Ji Boying then concealed himself on the cliff, discerning the path ahead, and groped his way towards the headquarters of the Sun Moon Demonic Sect.

After traveling an unknown distance along the mountain road, they passed three guarded checkpoints.

Although there was an iron gate blocking the way, Ji Boying did not sneak past the gate, but instead flew directly onto the stone wall and swept over the checkpoint.

The heavily guarded headquarters of the Demonic Cult was now laid bare before Ji Boying's eyes.

After passing through three iron gates, we finally arrived at a large stone gate inscribed with the words "civilized and martial virtues, benevolence, righteousness, and wisdom."

Behind the Great Stone Gate lies the towering Blackwood Cliff.

There are more than a thousand members of the Demonic Cult guarding the area below this cliff.

It truly embodies the grandeur of the world's number one sect.

Ji Boying moved stealthily beneath the cliff where thousands of people were stationed, without causing the slightest disturbance.

The Blackwood Cliff soars into the clouds, its walls steep. Ordinary disciples of the Demonic Cult must first report to their superiors before they can ascend the cliff.

After receiving permission, a silver bell will ring in mid-air, and a large wicker basket will be lowered from a winch.

Then the disciples on the cliff would use a winch to hoist the vine basket up.

Because the cliff was so high, it was necessary to take four separate trips to get people to the top.

Looking at the steep cliff, Ji Boying was filled with awe.

"It is said that there is only one path to Mount Hua since ancient times, but there is no path at Blackwood Cliff. It is a good place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. However, only the Demonic Cult can settle here."

The cliff is too high and too steep. If one wants to establish a sect on this cliff, it would take an unknown amount of manpower and resources to transport supplies.

Only the Sun Moon Demonic Sect, with its tens of thousands of followers, possesses such power.

Ji Boying naturally wouldn't go up from that winch.

Facing an almost vertical cliff face.

With a light leap, he jumped straight up to a height of two or three zhang (approximately 6-9 meters).

Or, by lightly touching the cliff face with their toes, they leap upwards with a sudden burst of energy.

Every now and then, he would reach out his left hand and gently touch the rocks on the cliff face, and he could leap several meters forward again.

It really felt like I was flying.

It's much faster than the winch.

Before long, they had already climbed straight up for dozens of feet.

A thin layer of blue clouds was already swirling around Ji Boying.

Looking to the side, one can see a huge winch on the mountainside, guarded by members of the Demonic Cult.

We've already climbed a quarter of Blackwood Cliff.

Ji Boying continued to leap upwards.

They flew to the top of Blackwood Cliff without much effort.

At the top of Blackwood Cliff stands a huge white marble archway, inscribed with the four characters "Benefiting all living beings".

A wide stone-paved road leads directly to the gate behind the archway.

Upon arriving here, Ji Boying no longer let his guard down.

He used all his lightness Lightness Skill to the fullest, leaving only a faint, fleeting shadow in the daylight.

Anyone who saw it would think they were seeing things.

It is because although there are many buildings on the top of this cliff, it is bare and there are no rocks or trees to cover one's body.

Ji Boying stealthily leaped across the rooftops of the buildings.

Just look at this Demonic Cult; every gate, every path, every avenue is guarded.

Several of the men in purple looked tense, and there was a hint of tension in their expressions.

"It seems that the Demonic Cult is not peaceful either. Yang Lianting wants to use someone else to do his dirty work, but he will always have to pay a price."

Ji Boying observed the situation of the Demonic Cult.

They quickly found the place where the man in purple was going in and out.

Hidden quietly on the roof ridge, I looked towards the Chengde Hall.

A very imposing man with a full beard frowned, looking quite angry.

You can hear him cursing and giving orders to his subordinates.

This indeed confirmed Ji Boying's guess.

Yang Lianting's desire to eliminate these respected elders of the Demonic Cult naturally met with opposition from many.

While the objective was achieved, the losses Hengshan City were too great, but his own forces were also significantly weakened.

This caused some turmoil on Blackwood Cliff, with the two factions verbally attacking each other. Although they did not fight, the tension was palpable.

Having found this place, Ji Boying no longer hid. He leaped down from the roof ridge and rushed into the hall.

With a swift movement, he placed Three-Foot Green Edge against the neck of Yang Lianting, the Grand Steward of the Demonic Cult Sect, in front of hundreds of guards wielding halberds and knives and dozens of men in purple robes.

"Ah! You... who are you?!"

Yang Lianting exclaimed in surprise.

"How dare you!"

"Release the Grand Steward!"

The Demonic Cult disciples shouted from below, but none of them dared to approach.

Hundreds of halberd-wielding guards could only stand below the steps, while eight spear-wielding warriors could only stare helplessly from below.

The Demonic Cult has its rules.

Bringing weapons into the palace is a capital offense.