Human Clan Defender

Guangyuan Prefecture.

Mountains stood tall. Among them, one peak rose like a Divine Blade thrust into the earth. Palace complexes were spread across it, and ethereal clouds and mist shrouded it, resembling the realm of immortals.

The peak had a name: Guiyuan!

The Sect residing on the mountain was naturally also called the Guiyuan Sword Sect.

The current Guiyuan Sword Sect displayed a thriving and vigorous vitality.

Inside the great hall.

A man in a white robe sat in the central position. His calm eyes seemed to conceal a profound sharpness, a gaze that made some feel a slight sting on their skin.

Master Guiyuan! The current Sect Leader of the Guiyuan Sword Sect.

After succeeding to the position, each generation's Sect Leader of the Guiyuan Sword Sect would abandon their original name. Upon inheriting the leadership, they also inherited the title of Master Guiyuan.

Below him sat many Elders of the Guiyuan Sword Sect.

"Yuanyang Auction House has sent word that ten days from now, in the Capital City's black market, they will auction three Grandmaster Level Martial Arts. One is an Outer Technique, one is Inner Strength, and one is a Martial Art that directs to the True Intent. What are your thoughts on this?"

As Master Guiyuan spoke, his calm gaze swept over the many Elders. That sword-like gaze made some feel a slight sting on their skin.

After a long pause, an Elder cupped his hands and said, "If this news is accurate, our Guiyuan Sword Sect could contend for one or two. Compared to the Saber Blade Sect and the Qiyao Sect, what we currently lack is a living Grandmaster."

"Those two forces have had Grandmasters since ancient times, and their Sects also possess Grandmaster Martial Arts. Our Guiyuan Sword Sect has shallow foundations. Although established for many years, it ultimately lacks top-tier Sect-Defining Martial Arts. If we could acquire one or two from the auction, given some time, we might be able to narrow the gap."

Once he finished, other Elders also nodded in agreement.

"Elder Liu is right. Our Guiyuan Sword Sect cannot afford to miss out on Grandmaster Martial Arts. However, such Martial Arts have not circulated in the Jianghu for a very long time. The authenticity of this news from Yuanyang Auction House is questionable."

Grandmaster Martial Arts were not comparable to other Martial Arts. They were the true pinnacle of Martial Arts in the Jianghu.

Even if Yuanyang Auction House had a considerable reputation, they could not inspire absolute confidence in this matter.

After all, an auction house, at its peak, is merely equivalent to a Sect. Even if slightly stronger, that was its limit.

Master Guiyuan's expression remained unchanged as he said faintly, "Yuanyang Auction House has conveyed that these three Grandmaster Martial Arts come from the hands of an Earth Rank Demon Hunter."

An Earth Rank Demon Hunter!

Upon hearing this, all the Elders were deeply shaken.

Grand Elder Cui Ping's expression also changed slightly. "Sect Leader, are you saying that all three Grandmaster Martial Arts come from someone in the Demon-Subduing Division?"

"Correct," Master Guiyuan nodded.

"Since Yuanyang Auction House dares to use the name of the Demon-Subduing Division, there should be no issues. The three Grandmaster Martial Arts cannot be fake."

Hearing this, a trace of worry appeared on Cui Ping's face.

"If it's someone from the Demon-Subduing Division, could they be privately selling the Demon-Subduing Division's Martial Arts? If so, even if we acquire the Martial Arts, we won't be able to keep them. If handled poorly, we could lose both the Martial Arts and our money."

There had been instances before where individuals sold the Demon-Subduing Division's Martial Arts, and the consequences were, naturally, not pleasant.

If lucky, the Silver Taels could be refunded. If unlucky, not a single penny could be recovered.

Moreover, those forces that lost their Silver Taels could only suffer the loss in silence, with no way to seek recourse from the Demon-Subduing Division.

Cui Ping's words reminded the other Elders of this issue, and concern also appeared on their faces.

"True. If that person is selling the Demon-Subduing Division's Martial Arts, we could be in big trouble."

"This matter requires careful consideration."

The sentiment in everyone's words was similar.

Only after they had spoken did Master Guiyuan say, "His name is Shen Changqing."

Shen Changqing!

At the mention of this name, many hearts trembled violently.

Cui Ping's pupils constricted slightly. "Shen Changqing... Is the Sect Leader referring to the Shen Changqing from Great Wilderness Prefecture who slew the Barbarian Clan General?"

"How many Shen Changqings could there be in the Demon-Subduing Division?" Master Guiyuan countered.

Cui Ping fell silent. After a long moment, he spoke again, "If it is Shen Changqing, then the Martial Arts he's selling are likely not from the Demon-Subduing Division. Over a year ago, he came to Lin'an City to slay Demon Evil, then temporarily served as the County Magistrate of Lin'an City."

"At that time, his strength was merely suspected to be at the Innate Realm. Yet, not long after, news spread of him slaying a Barbarian Clan General. Jianghu rumors suggest his strength has already reached the late Grandmaster Realm."

"Without a great fortuitous encounter, even with the highest talent, such rapid progress in a short time would be impossible. Therefore, this old man suspects he obtained a tremendous fortuitous encounter somewhere, and the Martial Arts he is now selling are likely part of that encounter."

"Grand Elder is correct," Master Guiyuan nodded.

What Cui Ping said was much as he had anticipated.

If it were someone else from the Demon-Subduing Division auctioning Martial Arts, the Guiyuan Sword Sect would have to seriously consider if the risk was worth taking. But Shen Changqing—

For him to advance from a newcomer in the Demon-Subduing Division to a late-stage Grandmaster Realm expert in such a short time... In the Jianghu, almost everyone understood that this Demon Hunter possessed a tremendous fortuitous encounter.

If this fortuitous encounter were in anyone else's hands, even a major Sect with a Grandmaster presiding would find itself coveted by a pack of wolves.

After all, a fortuitous encounter that could allow someone to reach the Grandmaster Realm in two or three years was enough to drive anyone to madness.

A major Sect, however strong, had not reached the point of suppressing the entire Jianghu. Therefore, if this fortuitous encounter fell into the hands of someone from the Jianghu, it would inevitably trigger a bloody storm that sweeps through the Jianghu.

However, this fortuitous encounter belonged to Shen Changqing, who also held another identity: a Demon Hunter from the Capital Demon Suppression Division.

The Demon-Subduing Division was an existence that completely surpassed the Jianghu Sects. Among the various Demon-Subduing Divisions, the Capital Demon Suppression Division was foremost.

Forget advancing to the Grandmaster Realm in two or three years; even if he possessed a fortuitous encounter that allowed one to become a Grandmaster on the spot, no one would dare to covet it.

It was simple: a Grandmaster is powerful, but that is only within the Jianghu. To the Demon-Subduing Division, a Grandmaster can be annihilated with a wave of the hand.

Over the years, not a few major Sects with Grandmasters presiding have been annihilated after offending the Demon-Subduing Division.

To put it plainly, the reputation of the Demon-Subduing Division was built entirely through slaughter. Even the most powerful major Sects in the Jianghu dared not utter half a word against the Demon-Subduing Division.

Cui Ping sighed with emotion. "Others who obtain such fortuitous encounters hide them away, daring not to reveal the slightest bit. Yet he openly auctions it off, completely undisguised. He is indeed worthy of someone from the Demon-Subduing Division."

"With the Demon-Subduing Division backing him, he naturally has such confidence. Not to mention that he himself is a powerful late-stage Grandmaster; even if he were a Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist, who would dare to do anything?" Master Guiyuan shook his head and chuckled.

Cui Ping said, "The prestige of the Demon-Subduing Division has grown stronger over the years. It is said that the Demon-Subduing Division is now in decline, but how much has it truly declined? Even a power as strong as the Myriad Buddhas Sect dared not utter half a word when the Demon-Subduing Division came to their door. Their Sect-Defining Martial Arts, the Great Sun Scripture and the Tathagata Golden Body, were also obediently handed over—"

He shook his head helplessly at this point.

The Myriad Buddhas Sect is very strong; it is truly a major Sect at the pinnacle of the Jianghu. Even ordinary major Sects with Grandmasters cannot compare with the Myriad Buddhas Sect at all. Yet, even so powerful, they dared not offer the slightest resistance before the Demon-Subduing Division.

Their Sect-Defining Martial Arts were copied by the Demon-Subduing Division as they pleased.

Master Guiyuan said, "The price of the three Grandmaster Martial Arts will definitely not be low. Based on previous auctions, even the cheapest Outer Techniques would cost three to four hundred thousand Silver Taels."

"Moreover, Grandmaster Martial Arts haven't appeared for many years, so the price will definitely be higher. How much ready cash can the Sect mobilize right now?"

Hearing this, a lean Elder cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, our Sect currently has only around three hundred thousand-odd Silver Taels in ready cash. If we want to guarantee securing them, I'm afraid it will be somewhat difficult."

Over three hundred thousand Silver Taels. For a Sect that only possessed Innate martial artists, this was already a considerable sum.

Master Guiyuan asked, "What if we sell some of our properties?"

"The total value of the Sect's various properties is around eight hundred thousand Silver Taels."

"Sell two-thirds of the properties. Combined with our existing ready cash, I want to raise eight hundred thousand Silver Taels. Then we will go to the Capital City's black market to participate in the auction. Among the three Grandmaster Martial Arts, we can give up on the Outer Techniques, but of the other two, we must obtain at least one," Master Guiyuan stated, his expression calm.

What the Guiyuan Sword Sect currently lacked was a Martial Art that could allow one to contend with a Grandmaster.

Once we obtain the Martial Arts, even if the Sect has to lie low for a few years, it will be completely worth it. With the Martial Arts, the Guiyuan Sword Sect will eventually have a day to rise again.

The lean Elder looked troubled. "If we are to sell assets, it will be troublesome to sell them off in a short time. Moreover, if all the silver is used for the auction, the subsequent support of the Sect will also become a problem. I hope the Sect Leader will reconsider."

"No need for further consideration. What we lack now is a Grandmaster Martial Art! If we can obtain one, our Guiyuan Sword Sect will sooner or later be promoted to a major Sect. At that time, all losses will be worthwhile."

"The last time the Demon's Essence Blood appeared in Lin'an City, our Guiyuan Sword Sect could not compete with them precisely because we lacked the foundation of a Grandmaster!" Master Guiyuan waved his hand decisively, making the decision.

The defeat from over a year ago was still fresh in his memory.

To be honest, if the Guiyuan Sword Sect had a Grandmaster's heritage, it would absolutely not be weaker than the Saber Blade Sect or the Qiyao Sect.

The Demon's Essence Blood ultimately fell into the hands of the Saber Blade Sect because the Guiyuan Sword Sect had no Grandmaster, and he, Master Guiyuan, was merely a Martial Artist at the Innate Limit.

If he could just break through that limit and advance to the Grandmaster Realm, that Grandmaster from the Saber Blade Sect would be no match for him.

The lean Elder opened his mouth, but in the end, could only nod. "Yes!"

"The auction is in ten days. Excluding travel time, I need to see eight hundred thousand Silver Taels within five days. Is there a problem?"

"No problem!"