Demon Slayer Alliance

Demon Slayer Alliance

Qin Xiangtian, as the leader of the Soaring Heavens Alliance, had not lived peacefully these past two years.

Not only had the earlier battle with the Demon Slayer Alliance ended with both sides badly wounded, but just as he was preparing to launch another attack against the Demon Slayer Alliance, his two sons—one legitimate and one illegitimate—had died one after another in the Azure Spirit Mountain Range.

What infuriated him most was that the murderer of the two had yet to be caught.

The Soaring Heavens Alliance's military advisor was that scholarly man surnamed Li. The alliance's martial artists all called him Military Advisor Li, while Qin Xiangtian called him Scholar Li.

Scholar Li walked to Qin Xiangtian's side with a grave expression and said, "Alliance Leader, I have examined them all. The wounds on Young Alliance Leader Qin Xiang and the wounds on Hall Master Zhang are exactly alike. If I am not mistaken, they should have been inflicted by the same person!"

Upon hearing this, veins bulged on Qin Xiangtian's forehead, and his clenched fists crackled. "Good, very good! Where did this little thief come from, to have swallowed a bear's heart and leopard's gall? He killed my illegitimate son, and now he has killed my legitimate son as well. If I do not avenge this hatred, I, Qin Xiangtian, swear I am no man!"

"Scholar Li, I am giving you one month. You must dig this vile thief out for me!"

Scholar Li smiled. "As you command, Alliance Leader. In fact, I already have a lead."

Qin Xiangtian asked, "What lead? Let me hear it."

Scholar Li smiled confidently. "Besides the wounds on Young Alliance Leader Qin Xiang, I also found two types of wounds on the other Soaring Heavens Alliance martial artists. One was sword wounds, nearly identical to the Young Alliance Leader's. They died beneath the same sword technique."

Qin Xiangtian asked, "And the other kind of wound? It was not from a sword?"

Scholar Li said, "Indeed, it was not a sword wound, but a spear wound. Moreover, it was inflicted by a spear technique no lower than Yellow Rank Grade Nine. The spear's power was immense—it should have been the Heavenly Flame Blazing Spear!"

Rumble!

At the words "Heavenly Flame Blazing Spear," Qin Xiangtian's eyes widened. His aura surged out, snapping every tree within ten meters in half. "Heavenly Flame Blazing Spear! It's that savage woman from the Demon Slayer Alliance!"

"That is right. It should be Tie Haitang!" Scholar Li replied. "Then by that reasoning, the person who killed Young Alliance Leader Qin Xiang and Hall Master Zhang should be within the Demon Slayer Alliance!"

Qin Xiangtian roared, "Fine, Demon Slayer Alliance! I will not rest until one of us is dead!"

"Scholar Li, find this person for me!" Qin Xiangtian roared. "I will skin him alive and pull out his tendons!"

Scholar Li smiled. "I was just about to contact the person we planted within the Demon Slayer Alliance. He should have returned to the Demon Slayer Alliance today, so he will come in handy."

"Stop!"

A deep middle-aged man's voice rang out from the cave mansion.

The leader of the Demon Slayer Alliance, Tie Feng, and Tie Haitang emerged from the cave mansion together.

Lin Bai and Qi Sheng stared at each other with hostile expressions.

"What are you doing?!" Tie Feng roared.

Qi Sheng said, "Alliance Leader, this man is a spy sent by the Soaring Heavens Alliance. I was just about to rid the alliance of this scourge!"

"Absurd. You say I am a spy, and that makes me one? Do you have any proof?" Lin Bai coldly shot back.

Qi Sheng sneered. "I need no proof. One look at that treacherous face of yours makes it clear enough."

"Hahahaha, you're killing me! It would already be generous of me not to say you have the face of a traitor, yet you dare accuse me? Look at those upturned brows of yours—rebellion written into your very bones. Who exactly has the face of a traitor? I need not say more. Anyone with eyes can see it."

Lin Bai retorted sharply.

"Sharp-tongued brat! Let me knock every tooth out of that mouth of yours and see whether you still dare to shout so loudly!" With that, Qi Sheng was about to attack Lin Bai again.

"As if I fear you!" Lin Bai gave no ground either, his sword aura unfolding.

A bloody battle was on the verge of erupting!

"Qi Sheng, stop making trouble. He is my friend." Tie Haitang stepped between them and spoke seriously.

At the sight of Tie Haitang, a trace of tenderness and affection appeared in Qi Sheng's furious eyes. "Haitang, move aside. It would be bad if I hurt you when I make my move. Today, I must kill this man!"

"Miss Tie, step aside. I, Lin Bai, have been wandering the world for so long, yet I have never suffered such humiliation. If I do not cut this man down today, I will have betrayed the sword in my hand!" Lin Bai refused to yield as well.

Tie Feng roared in anger, "Both of you, stop! No more trouble!"

Rumble—

When Tie Feng spoke, his voice was full of vigor, carrying a vast heavenly might that instantly suppressed both Lin Bai and Qi Sheng's rage.

"True Martial Realm!"

When Tie Feng spoke this time, Lin Bai sensed the power emanating from him. He was unmistakably a True Martial Realm expert, beyond the Martial Dao Realm.

Qi Sheng was also startled and did not dare continue the fight.

Tie Feng said, "This young friend is Lin Bai. He has come to join our Demon Slayer Alliance. He is not a spy from the Soaring Heavens Alliance—I know that clearly. Qi Sheng, stop slandering him maliciously, or be careful that the alliance rules punish you severely!"

Under the pressure of Tie Feng's True Martial Realm power, Qi Sheng could only submit. "Yes, I understand."

Tie Feng said, "Young friend Lin Bai, I apologize to you on Qi Sheng's behalf. He acted rashly."

Lin Bai sheathed the Spirit Severing Sword. "Since the Alliance Leader has spoken, I, Lin Bai, am not someone who fails to appreciate kindness. Let this matter end here."

"Haha, truly the bearing of a great hero! It seems Haitang was right—you really are a promising talent." Tie Feng had originally thought Lin Bai would continue to press the matter, but Lin Bai had unexpectedly cast aside their previous grievances so directly.

Such breadth of mind, such spirit, such magnanimity—he far surpassed Qi Sheng in every way.

Tie Feng said, "I heard from Haitang that you wish to join the Demon Slayer Alliance. In that case, I will grant you the status of a core martial artist."

"Once you become a core martial artist, you may go to the Demon Slayer Alliance's Martial Skills Tower to choose one martial skill, and you may also borrow the Azure Spirit Map."

Lin Bai was not particularly concerned about martial skills, but a map of the Azure Spirit Mountain Range—that was his sole purpose in coming to the Demon Slayer Alliance.

As long as he saw the map, Lin Bai would learn the locations of every demon beast within the Azure Spirit Mountain Range. Then, he could select powerful demon beasts, kill them, and use the power of their blood and qi. Breaking through to the Martial Dao Ninth Level within a month would not be impossible.

Hearing Tie Feng say this, Lin Bai said with heartfelt delight, "Many thanks, Alliance Leader!"

"Hold on, I object!"

Just then, an angry voice came from nearby.

Everyone turned to look. Qi Sheng said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Alliance Leader, I have been in the Demon Slayer Alliance for three years, yet I am still not a core martial artist. Why should this newcomer, who has only just joined the Demon Slayer Alliance, become a core martial artist directly?"

"Moreover, this man's origins have yet to be investigated. Who is to say he is not a spy sent by the Soaring Heavens Alliance?"

Tie Feng said, "You need not worry about that. I naturally know that Lin Bai cannot be a spy from the Soaring Heavens Alliance."

Tie Haitang had already told Tie Feng everything that had happened in the forest. If Lin Bai truly were a spy sent by the Soaring Heavens Alliance, then sacrificing the life of one of their young alliance leaders just to win Tie Haitang's trust would have been far too great a price.

Therefore, Tie Feng was certain that Lin Bai could not be a martial artist from the Soaring Heavens Alliance.

Qi Sheng raged, "Fine, even if he is not from the Soaring Heavens Alliance, what right does he have to become a core martial artist?"

"In terms of strength, I am far above him. In terms of time spent in the Demon Slayer Alliance, I have been here for three years, while he is merely a newcomer. In terms of contributions to the Demon Slayer Alliance, I have slain over a hundred demon beasts at the Martial Dao Fifth Level. Three months ago, when the Demon Slayer Alliance fought the Soaring Heavens Alliance, I contributed no small amount as well!"

"By every measure, I should be a core martial artist. Why should a newly arrived martial artist walk ahead of me?"

"This is unfair!"

Qi Sheng declared.

"Hehe, I admit that I am a newcomer. But when you say that your strength surpasses mine, I'm afraid I cannot agree," Lin Bai said, shaking his head.

Qi Sheng flew into a rage. "You yellow-mouthed brat, spouting such wild nonsense! Since that is the case, do you dare fight me? If I lose, I will no longer interfere with your becoming a core martial artist. But if you lose, get the hell out of the Demon Slayer Alliance at once!"

"Fine." Lin Bai and Qi Sheng stood against each other like the point of a needle against a wheat awn.