Secrets of the Immortal-Demon War

Ji Zheng's expression turned grave. "Something's happened."

From the raised platform, the Sect Master's voice reached every ear.

"An exceptionally powerful swordsman has appeared. We've just received a distress signal from Flame Hall. He's cutting his way through it. All disciples, heed my command! Come with me to Flame Hall's aid!"

As his words fell, the Sect Master swept out a hand, and a giant sword rose slowly into the air.

The green sword could carry every disciple and elder present. It was the best means of transport they had.

Afraid Li Zi would ask the System and distract the other disciples, Fu Chaoqing lowered his voice to explain.

"The Cultivation World has only one enemy: the Demon Realm. Whatever grudges the great sects hold against one another mean nothing in the struggle against it. A sect's destruction is a grave matter, so even though we have our differences with Flame Hall, we'll rush to its aid."

Li Zi gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the bigger picture."

[System, speaking of which, is there any gossip about the Demon Realm?]

Her unspoken question landed clearly in the ears of every elder and disciple.

In an instant, everyone turned toward her in unison.

Their gazes were sharp, their interest laid bare.

Li Zi's expression stiffened. Her raised thumb hung awkwardly in midair.

"Uh... did I say something wrong?"

The Sect Master cleared his throat. "It's nothing. Prepare to depart. Settle your breathing so you'll be at your best when we reach Flame Hall."

Gossip about the Demon Realm?

If they could hear some, so much the better!

The Demon Realm and the Cultivation World had stood against each other for hundreds of thousands of years.

Whenever the Demon King descended, chaos swept the land and living beings suffered.

The Cultivation World's strongest had paid far too high a price to keep this corner of the world at peace.

If they could hear gossip about the Demon Realm, wouldn't they understand Demonic Cultivators a little better?

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you could fight a hundred battles without defeat!

If they truly came to understand Demonic Cultivators, they would face the next battle with greater confidence!

Li Zi, Li Zi, how many more surprises could you bring?

He gave Li Zi another look before turning away.

[There is! Quite a lot, actually. Want to hear it, Host? Gossip from the Demon Realm is a bit hard to stomach.]

Li Zi scratched her cheek. [I've never even seen a Demonic Cultivator. I can't picture any of it, so the gossip won't have any flavor. Let's save it for next time.]

The assembled experts shook their heads with rueful smiles.

She really was a child.

She had no idea how important gossip about the Demon Realm was to them.

The System said, [All right, then I'll tell you about this Sword Cultivator. That's what I was about to tell you anyway. We're almost there, so the timing's perfect for learning what happened.]

At that, the experts perked up.

They might not get gossip about the Demon Realm, but at least they could find out what was going on with this powerful Sword Cultivator.

The System said, [You actually know who he is. We mentioned him last time when we were discussing Flame Hall's Sect Master. He's Huo Fei's beloved, Gong Lin.]

The experts all sucked in a cold breath.

They hadn't heard that earlier gossip, but they knew about Huo Fei's love life!

The love story of Huo Fei and Wen Yun had spread far and wide throughout the Cultivation World.

Wen Yun loved Huo Fei to the marrow of his bones, with a devotion too deep to last, but Huo Fei was a restless sort. She often turned their household into a scene of flying chickens and leaping dogs.

Wait!

Huo Fei's beloved was named Gong Lin?

Then what was Wen Yun?

The two had separated later, but... Wen Yun had been taken for a fool.

Li Zi grew excited. [So that man loved Senior Huo Fei too? They were both in love with each other?]

Secrets of the Immortal-Demon War

[Yes. He loved Huo Fei too. They just never confessed their feelings to each other. I couldn't find much about him before, probably because there was nothing to tell. But I have information now.]

Li Zi bristled on Huo Fei's behalf. [Where was he all that time? Where was he when Senior Huo Fei was being tormented and plotted against by Wen Yun's harem? Now he finally shows up? Too late!]

That was an overwhelming amount to take in!

Wen Yun had an excellent reputation in the Cultivation World.

He had a harem?

Why did it sound as if Huo Fei was the victim?

The System said, [Wen Yun captured Gong Lin and tortured him for more than three months. He destroyed Gong Lin's Cultivation. After Gong Lin escaped, he fell on hard times. Then he heard that Wen Yun and Huo Fei had a loving marriage, and he spent a long while in despair. Later, he wandered among mortals and gained insight into the Vast Ethereal Sword Intent. He only rose to prominence recently. He probably went to Flame Hall this time to see Huo Fei.]

[The records still aren't complete. This man was so dull that the Gossip System didn't even have an entry on him. Only after he recently began challenging sects across the Cultivation World did his story get added.]

The Sect Master's brows drew together.

They still didn't have the whole story.

But at least they knew the Sword Cultivator's name and why he had entered Flame Hall.

By the time they arrived,

experts from the great sects had already gathered there.

Every sect stood ready for battle.

Those from the Spirit Beast Sect rode all manner of powerful, ferocious Spirit Beasts, cutting imposing figures.

Each expert from the Medicine King Sect had a precious gourd strapped at the waist, a protective artifact of their sect.

Disciples of the Five Elements Sect were wreathed in spiritual energy of different attributes, ready to attack at any moment.

Li Zi rose onto her toes to look toward the Five Elements Sect. When she failed to spot Meng Ning, disappointment tugged at her.

All the faces here were unfamiliar.

Surrounded by the great sects, a man in ragged clothes stood straight-backed in the square atop Flame Hall's Main Peak.

A pitch-black sword was planted before him, both his hands resting on it. Numerous Flame Hall Disciples already lay wounded around him.