The Devil Master Bows His Head

The Brawny Man stared fixedly at the Taihang Sword. The other black-clothed men did the same, as if facing a great enemy. They looked toward Dragon Arising Mountain, yet could not see the master of the Taihang Sword at all.

The Black-Clothed Man pinned to the ground by the Taihang Sword painfully turned his head and trembled. "Save me..."

Just as the Brawny Man was about to step forward, the Taihang Sword suddenly pulled itself free and flew high into the air before plunging down again. This time, it aimed directly at the Black-Clothed Man's nape. The sight made everyone's eyes widen, as though they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

The Brawny Man was about to swing his saber and intercept it, but the Taihang Sword was simply too fast.

Pfft!

The Black-Clothed Man's neck was pierced through. His body twitched once before going completely limp. Blood gushed along the blade like a spring, and he died with his eyes wide open, terror filling them.

"Gh... ghost..."

One Black-Clothed Man stared at the Taihang Sword, trembling all over. The others were frightened as well.

How terrifying was a sword that could kill on its own in the dead of night?

They were all experts who had roamed the martial world, traveling north and south for years. When had they ever seen such a sinister sword?

The Brawny Man forced himself to remain calm and shouted, "Which esteemed expert is this? Why not show yourself? Why put on this act of ghosts and gods?"

The Taihang Sword flew into the air, its tip pointed straight at the Brawny Man. Moonlight reflected off the blade, sending a chill through his entire body. He felt a fear unlike any he had ever known.

Up on the mountain, Jiang Changsheng stood atop the gate of Dragon Arising Temple. White Dragon coiled around his shoulder as the night wind stirred his black hair. He looked down at the foot of the mountain. Even the vast fog could not obstruct his gaze, and his eyes were utterly indifferent.

As his cultivation grew higher and higher, his senses naturally became stronger. He could now perceive the entirety of Dragon Arising Mountain. When he sensed a group of True Qi fluctuations approaching the foot of the mountain, he came here. He had witnessed the battle below and heard their conversation.

The True Qi of those black-clothed men closely resembled Ghost Eye Evil King's. Judging by their attire, they were clearly from the Devil Sect that had recently been wreaking havoc in the capital!

They had actually dared to cause trouble at Dragon Arising Mountain. This was definitely no coincidence!

Jiang Changsheng snorted coldly and used the Sword Control Art. The sword moved with his will.

The Taihang Sword hanging in midair immediately shot forth. The Brawny Man leapt away in fright, but the subordinate behind him had his throat slit by the Taihang Sword, his blood splashing across Long Street.

The Taihang Sword spun rapidly, slaughtering one Black-Clothed Man after another. Its target was not merely the Brawny Man. The Brawny Man swung his saber at it, but the moment its blade struck the Taihang Sword, it was knocked away by an immense force.

The Brawny Man staggered back ten steps, his eyes bulging with utter disbelief.

"What powerful inner strength... How is this possible..."

The Brawny Man was truly panicking. He was a Peerless Expert, yet when he sensed the True Qi on the Taihang Sword, his heart was filled with frustration.

The difference was as vast as heaven and earth!

In less than three breaths, half the black-clothed men had died miserably, collapsing upon Long Street at the foot of the mountain. The White-Clothed Guard stood in the distance, silently watching the battle. An opera mask concealed her face, but her trembling body revealed how unsettled she was.

The Brawny Man gritted his teeth and raised his saber to attack again. The Taihang Sword suddenly accelerated, piercing through a Black-Clothed Man's chest before soaring upward. It traced a perfect arc through the night sky and struck toward the Brawny Man.

The Brawny Man was alarmed and swung his saber rapidly. True Qi spread from its blade and formed a visible protective barrier of energy, but the Taihang Sword directly shattered the barrier and pierced through his chest.

"Damn it..."

The Brawny Man staggered back, planting his broadsword into the ground to support himself.

Pfft!

The Taihang Sword came from behind and pierced through his throat.

Thud!

The Brawny Man fell to one knee. Like the others, he died with his eyes wide open, but he did not collapse. Supported by his broadsword, his head hung low as blood flowed down like a small stream.

Seeing him die, the remaining black-clothed men were so terrified that their hearts and gallbladders nearly burst. They scattered in flight, but Jiang Changsheng had no intention of sparing them. The Taihang Sword continued its slaughter.

Under the night sky, a streak of cold light crisscrossed Long Street and sped over the rooftops, killing black-clothed men one after another.

In the distance, a flock of black crows was approaching, growing faster and faster.

Jiang Changsheng raised an eyebrow and muttered, "What powerful True Qi."

He controlled the Taihang Sword and called it back.

The farther the Taihang Sword was from him, the weaker his control became. At a closer distance, its killing power was stronger.

The Taihang Sword stopped before the White-Clothed Guard. Looking at the sword, she became extremely nervous.

She could not understand this sword. Had it gained sentience, or did it have a master?

She recalled the legends of Changsheng Taoist Priest within Dragon Arising Temple. It was said that Changsheng Taoist Priest of Dragon Arising Temple was an immortal deity descended into the mortal world, capable of killing Peerless Experts at fourteen.

At that moment, she saw a flock of black crows flying over. They were dense and numerous, their momentum immense, like a swarm of locusts sweeping through.

The White-Clothed Guard immediately said, "Senior, the enemy is the Devil Master of the Devil Sect. He entered the Peerless Expert realm thirty years ago, and his martial arts may have risen to an even higher level. He must not be underestimated."

No matter what, she could only rely on the sword before her now.

The flock of black crows flew above the White-Clothed Guard's head and began circling. A booming voice rang out. "I never expected Dragon Arising Temple to have a Tongtian as well."

On the mountaintop, inside a courtyard.

Taoist Priest Qingxu opened his eyes and swiftly set out.

Within the imperial palace, a pair of eyes opened in a darkened hall. Their pupils were actually green. Not long afterward, they closed again.

Another Tongtian? Could this person also be a Tongtian realm expert?

Jiang Changsheng silently thought.

Forget it.

He could not be bothered to ask. He would just kill him.

Jiang Changsheng no longer wanted to learn who was orchestrating all this behind the scenes. Whoever came, he would kill. It was perfect for overcoming tribulations and obtaining survival rewards.

To kill this man, the Sword Control Art alone would not be enough, since the distance was a little too great.

Jiang Changsheng leapt up and vanished into the thick fog.

The black crows circled, confronting the Taihang Sword. Beneath the night sky, only the cawing of the crows remained.

"Why will you not show yourself, Your Excellency? You slaughtered my disciples. Surely you must give an explanation!"

That mysterious booming voice rang out again.

The White-Clothed Guard suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She instinctively turned around and saw a figure brush past her. Through the only exposed openings in her mask, her eyes caught sight of an exceptionally young and handsome face.

Jiang Changsheng!

Jiang Changsheng wore a blue-green Daoist robe, with a sword sheath at his waist and a whisk in his hand. A white snake was coiled around his shoulder. Such an appearance left the White-Clothed Guard momentarily dazed. Her body stiffened, and she did not dare move.

Jiang Changsheng looked at the black crows filling the sky and said, "What explanation do you want?"

A trick of the eye!

He had already seen the figure hidden among the crows. It was a middle-aged man in a black robe, his hair disheveled as he hovered in the night sky. Like an evil demon suspended in the air, he was deeply unsettling.

The Black Robed Man examined Jiang Changsheng and said coldly, "You are not Qingxu. Could you be the Changsheng Taoist Priest whose fame has risen in recent years?"

Jiang Changsheng shook his head. "So much nonsense. Forget it!"

He suddenly leapt into the air and kicked at the flock of circling crows. The kick carried the force of ten thousand jun, and a fierce wind bore down, gradually dispersing the flock like an illusion fading away. The Black Robed Man's true body was exposed. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately struck out with his palm.

Countless leg shadows swept toward him with the force of mountains collapsing and seas overturning. Before the Black Robed Man could mobilize his True Qi, he was kicked.

"Puh—"

The Black Robed Man spat blood as he flew backward. He was sent more than ten zhang away and crashed into the city wall, caving in a section of it as shattered stones flew everywhere.

He fell to the ground in a miserable state, feeling as though every bone in his body had shattered. His hands trembled as he supported himself on the ground, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

He instinctively looked up toward where Jiang Changsheng stood, his eyes widening. Reflected in his pupils was a sword rushing toward him, growing larger and larger.

"Wait! I have something to say!"

The Black Robed Man urgently shouted. The Taihang Sword stopped, its tip only five centimeters from his eyes. Cold sweat covered his forehead.

Jiang Changsheng appeared behind the Taihang Sword like a ghost. He raised a hand and gripped the hilt, looking down at him expressionlessly. "I hope it is not nonsense. Otherwise, you will die a very painful death."

The Black Robed Man took a deep breath. He could feel the killing intent. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I... want to live!"

He had intended to threaten the other party, but the other party had acted with such ruthless ferocity that he clearly had no regard for the powerful figures behind him.

Jiang Changsheng held the Taihang Sword as its tip crept closer and closer to the Black Robed Man.

The Black Robed Man shut his eyes in terror and trembled. "I am willing to acknowledge you as my master and serve as your slave. Please spare my life!"

Jiang Changsheng raised his left hand and swung the whisk, casting a Life and Death Seal onto the Black Robed Man. The Black Robed Man shuddered all over. Though he felt no pain, he understood that the other party had used some method on him and did not dare resist.

Jiang Changsheng sheathed his sword, sliding the Taihang Sword into its scabbard. He turned around and left behind one sentence. "Follow me up the mountain."

The Black Robed Man opened his eyes, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He let out a long breath, then shakily rose to his feet and staggered forward.

As Jiang Changsheng passed the White-Clothed Guard, he suddenly stopped and asked, "What did you see tonight?"

The White-Clothed Guard gritted her teeth. "I only saw a mysterious expert slaughter Demon Disciples and drive away the Devil Master."

Jiang Changsheng smiled and walked toward the steps leading to the mountaintop.

This battle greatly bolstered his confidence. Tongtian realm experts were not as terrifying as he had imagined!

The Black Robed Man, who was the Devil Master, passed the White-Clothed Guard in humiliation. Without a word, he followed Jiang Changsheng.

The two went up the mountain and disappeared into the night.

The White-Clothed Guard followed suit and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. This night would remain unforgettable for the rest of her life.

"Is he really human..."

The White-Clothed Guard muttered to herself. She had never seen anyone with martial arts so powerful.

That was the Devil Master, yet before him, he had been utterly incapable of fighting back!

After a while.

Chen Li arrived with four constables. Looking at the corpses scattered across the ground, his face filled with alarm. When he saw the White-Clothed Guard, he immediately ran over and crouched before her.

"Who killed them?"

Chen Li asked. Seeing that the White-Clothed Guard was still alive, his expression eased slightly.

The White-Clothed Guard replied, "I do not know him either. He was dressed like an old beggar. After killing these people and repelling the Devil Master, he left without a trace."

Chen Li fell silent for a moment. "You may not be able to return to the White-Clothed Guard."

The White-Clothed Guard said nothing.

Before the mountain gate, Taoist Priest Qingxu looked down at Jiang Changsheng walking up the mountain path, as well as the Devil Master behind him, who looked like an evil ghost.

Taoist Priest Qingxu's gaze flickered as he asked, "Changsheng, do you know the Devil Master?"

Jiang Changsheng smiled. "He is the Devil Master? I do not know him. He wanted to force his way up the mountain, so I subdued him. Master, it seems there truly are many people who want to deal with Dragon Arising Temple. Leave this fellow to me. Perhaps I can question him and find out why."

Taoist Priest Qingxu's pupils dilated. One master and one disciple, one above and one below, stared at each other in speechless silence.

The night wind blew freely, the bright moon hung high, and the flowers, grass, and trees on both sides of the mountain path swayed gently.

I was fixing my computer drivers earlier, so the update was a little late. Sorry.