"You useless trash! Every last one of you! That girl was only at the Innate Realm, yet you still let her escape!"
Yue Ji's heart was ablaze with fury. The joy she had felt at obtaining the Pine Crane Pill had vanished without a trace. She unleashed a furious torrent of abuse at the trembling Demonic Cult Disciples kneeling before her, her usual poise completely gone.
Black Robe's eyes were also filled with murderous intent. Events had taken an unexpected turn, and even he could no longer remain calm.
"Speak! What exactly happened? How could so many of you fail to capture a mere girl at the Innate Realm?"
"Reporting to the Black Robe Flag Bearers, Yao Qingyin was gravely wounded and had no strength left to resist. But someone came to her rescue. By the time we arrived, several of our brothers had already been sliced in half."
As if to convince the two Flag Bearers, the kneeling Demonic Cult Disciple waved a hand, and several others carried over the bodies of the slain.
Yue Ji glanced at the wounds, and her expression changed instantly. "Innate Sword Qi! Could an expert from the Sword Sect have intervened?"
"No, Yue Ji. Look. Though this Innate Sword Qi is condensed and hasn't dissipated, its power isn't great. At most, its owner is only at the Innate Realm."
"Still, this person's Innate Sword Qi is refined to such a degree that it seems almost tangible. I wonder when the Sword Sect produced such a prodigy."
Though the Sword Sect was not as powerful as the Demon Sect, it was still one of the foremost sects in Great Li. Its current sect master was a peerless figure who firmly held a place among Great Li's Top Ten.
Though Black Robe was a Demon Cult Flag Bearer, he had crossed paths with Sword Sect Elders several times and knew a fair bit about the sect.
Not every Sword Cultivator could condense Innate Sword Qi. Only members of the Sword Sect who cultivated the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation could do so.
And within the Sword Sect, only certain Elders and prodigious disciples were qualified to cultivate the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation.
The more tangible one's Innate Sword Qi became, the deeper one's understanding of the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation. Yet the only one said to have condensed it until it was like a real object was Founding Ancestor Zhu Yang, three hundred years ago.
Black Robe knew that several extraordinary prodigies had emerged in this generation of the Sword Sect, but even they could never refine their Innate Sword Qi to this degree.
That was why Black Robe was so astonished. The Sword Sect had been hiding such a terrifying prodigy.
"Black Robe, what should we do? If this girl falls into the Sword Sect's hands, how could Lord of Great Li possibly let us off?"
"Remember, one of the conditions Lord of Great Li set for allowing us into the Imperial Capital was that we hand over that Ancient Jade and the scroll."
This...
Black Robe was at a loss for words. For a moment, he had no idea what to do.
"Gentlemen, have you obtained what His Majesty wants? This servant must report back to him."
Just as the two Flag Bearers fell into thought, a soft, feminine voice sounded in Yue Ji and Black Robe's ears.
A figure slowly emerged from the void.
The moment they recognized the newcomer, every trace of demonic grandeur vanished from the two Demonic Cult Flag Bearers. Their eyes brimmed with fear.
"Eunuch Li, something unexpected has happened. Please grant our Demon Cult two more days. We will certainly deliver those two items."
When Li Lianying heard that something had gone wrong, the smile on his face disappeared. He glanced at Yue Ji and Black Robe, his eyes utterly cold.
"Who do a couple of mere Demon Cult Flag Bearers think they are, trying to bargain with this servant?"
"Since you can't obtain the items, then you can all stay here!"
A flash of murderous intent crossed Li Lianying's eyes. His sleeves billowed as his aura surged to its peak. His palm struck out with the might of heaven and earth, leaving Yue Ji and Black Robe utterly unable to muster even the slightest resistance.
"Hahahaha, Manager Li, there's no need to be so angry."
Another voice rang out from the void, dispelling Li Lianying's palm strike, which could have shaken heaven and earth.
A figure appeared in the air, wreathed in demonic energy so vast it seemed to blot out the sky. Behind him loomed the vision of a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses.
"Vice Cult Master!"
Having narrowly escaped death, Yue Ji and Black Robe saw the newcomer. Relief flashed through their eyes, and they couldn't help crying out.
Gu Yue shot a cold glance at Yue Ji and Black Robe. Their faces turned deathly pale in an instant, and their breathing grew faint.
"Useless trash. You couldn't even handle such a simple matter. What use are you? In consideration of your finding the Pine Crane Pill, I'll give you a small punishment for now."
"Once we return to the Demon Cult, go to the Punishment Hall and accept your sentence."
After reprimanding Yue Ji and Black Robe, Gu Yue turned to Li Lianying. "Manager Li, why take your anger out on two juniors?"
Li Lianying looked at Gu Yue, who had suddenly appeared, and smiled faintly. "Old Demon Gu, you're quite bold, appearing in the Imperial Capital all alone."
"His Majesty is magnanimous. Allowing your Demon Cult Flag Bearers into the Imperial Capital is already an immense favor. Do you truly think Great Li has no one who can deal with you?"
Standing in the air, Gu Yue threw back his head and laughed, his demonic energy surging. He looked utterly self-assured. "I, Gu Yue, have ranged across the Canglan Domain and never once been defeated."
"Great Li may have stood for a thousand years, but with its sleeping Ancestor still unawakened, the entire kingdom may not be able to deal with me."
"Is that so?"
Li Lianying gave a cold laugh and drove his aura to its utmost, seeming on the verge of breaking through the Heaven and Earth Shackles.
"Then you can stay here!"
Seeing Li Lianying summon his full power, Gu Yue likewise circulated his demonic arts to their utmost. The two exchanged palm strikes.
A flicker of terror crossed Gu Yue's eyes. A tremendous force surged from his palms, and he was sent flying, crashing heavily into the Dragon Pillar.
"Y-You... Have you really stepped into that... that realm?"
Gu Yue's aura had dwindled to its absolute limit. He struggled to his feet and stared at Li Lianying in utter disbelief.
Li Lianying smiled faintly and fiddled with the Dust Whisk in his hand, speaking nonchalantly. "I've had a few insights, but I'm still missing one final spark before I can truly step into that realm."
Gu Yue gave a bitter laugh, a trace of admiration appearing on his face. "I never thought that in this Age of Dharma's End, someone like you could still emerge."
"If you had been born in a Prosperous Era, you would surely have rivaled Emperor Li and the Devil Master."
"I have nothing to say about losing to you today."
Gu Yue closed his eyes. He couldn't summon even the slightest will to resist. To escape the grasp of someone like this, only the Grand Elder in seclusion could intervene—and even then, there would be little chance.
After a long while, Gu Yue still didn't sense Li Lianying making a move. He opened his eyes and asked in confusion, "A man of your stature wants to play cat and mouse?"
"I, Gu Yue, have ranged across the Canglan Domain and consider myself a man of some standing. Why toy with me like this?"
Li Lianying stepped down from the void and came to stand before Gu Yue. "Old Demon Gu, how about we make a deal?"
"What deal?"
Gu Yue asked in surprise.
"They say the master of your Demon Cult came from the Forbidden Zone of Chaos. Hand over your Demon Cult's supreme cultivation manual, the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture, and not only can you leave alive, you can also use the Pine Crane Pill to extend the Devil Master's life by five hundred years. What do you think?"
Li Lianying glanced at Gu Yue, smiling faintly.