My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Reunion at the Grand Event in Jianghu

The Sealing Demon Well is the most mysterious secret place of the Demon Sect. Only the most outstanding youths of the current generation of the Demon Sect could enter. After entering, their strength would advance by leaps and bounds, becoming the backbone of the Demon Sect.

This place is extremely mysterious, so much so that even the ancient records of the Demon Sect contain very little information, and even the Sect Hierarch knew very little about it.

Moreover, nobody had ever heard of any living person being beneath the Sealing Demon Well.

All around fell into silence, and then no other sound followed.

“Could it be my illusion?”

Zhao Qingmei did not sense any fluctuations in the surrounding aura and couldn’t help but frown and say, “It cannot be an illusion, there must be secrets in this Sealing Demon Well.”

Thinking of this, she clenched the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades and then slowly walked forward.

The path ahead was very dim, as if a chilly light was shining straight out.

At the same time, that immense pressure continued to attack her, this force carried a great deathly aura and demonic qi, crushing one’s psyche, and those of weaker wills would lose their minds in a short time.

Zhao Qingmei’s eyes were like torches, allowing the demonic qi and deathly aura to invade without changing her expression, calm and undisturbed.

This showed her inner toughness, already like cold ice.

The only thing that could make her moved, was him.

From another perspective, what Jiang Shang said was not wrong, Zhao Qingmei’s tough heart had a tiny flaw.

But put another way, in Zhao Qingmei’s dark and bottomless heart, there was a sole light.

After walking about tens of meters farther, the demonic qi and deathly aura suddenly disappeared as if they had vanished in an instant.

Looking ahead, it appeared to be a naturally formed stone cave.

On both sides of the cave were carvings of exotic beasts, and the cave was deep and serene, carrying a hint of eeriness, making it hard to see what was precisely inside.

“You are not young, but your mind is quite tough,”

that resonant voice sounded again.

But this time Zhao Qingmei recognized that the voice was coming from within the stone cave ahead.

“Who are you?”

Zhao Qingmei held the Mandarin Duck Twin Blades tightly and asked coldly.

As for the person appearing in the Sealing Demon Well, her heart was full of wariness.

“Who am I?”

The person’s voice suddenly became a bit hoarse, “You might want to come in and see.”

What was now guttural had seemed like their own voice before, but it was not possible to tell whether it was male or female, nor the age, and it carried a somewhat eerie tone.

Zhao Qingmei slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes, “Stop playing these little tricks.”

The person chuckled lightly, “If I remember correctly, it was over four hundred years ago, he too came here, you and that lad are quite similar…….”

Over four hundred years ago!?

Zhao Qingmei, looking at the cave, said coldly, “Stop trying to spook me, how can anyone live over five hundred years in this world?”

Even a Great Grandmaster can only extend their lifespan by three hundred years, and living up to four hundred years old is the limit, and the ancient records do not mention anyone living beyond five hundred years.

“You are indeed correct.”

The voice carried a hint of temptation, “I have survived till now, obviously for special reasons and methods, little child, don’t you want to know?”

The secret to extending one’s lifespan was too tempting for many to resist.

“I am not interested in what you are saying,”

Zhao Qingmei responded coldly with a sneer.

She also sensed something peculiar: this person had been trying to lure her into the cave, obviously harboring evil intentions.

It seemed as though this person could not come out.

The person confidently said, “Since you have entered the Sealing Demon Well, then I surely have something you would want to know.”

Zhao Qingmei pondered for a moment and then asked, “How do I leave the Sealing Demon Well?”

“Hahahaha!”

To Zhao Qingmei’s surprise, the person burst into laughter, “Of the many people who have entered the Sealing Demon Well throughout the ages, almost all seek great opportunities and creation, yet you have come to seek a way to leave.”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyebrows rose but she said nothing.

The top experts of the Demon Sect who re-entered the Sealing Demon Well probably knew their time was running out and wished to find an opportunity to break through their constraints here, it seems the last people who entered this place all failed.

Or perhaps, only the person in front of her succeeded, and this person might just be a predecessor of the Demon Sect.

It was just unclear why he could live for so long…

The person chuckled darkly, saying, “To tell you the truth, after entering the Sealing Demon Well again, it is impossible to leave.”

“Impossible to leave?”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyebrows raised, “I don’t believe it!”

She was determined to get out, even if it meant splitting the Sealing Demon Well into two halves.

The person said indifferently, “You don’t believe it? I have been trapped here for a thousand years; could that be false?”

“Who exactly are you?”

Zhao Qingmei asked coldly.

Trapped here for a thousand years, could he not be from the Demon Sect?

However, in the ancient records of the Demon Sect, there was no record of anyone being imprisoned in the Sealing Demon Well.

“I’ve said it, if you want to know who I am, just come in and see,”

said the person.

“A rat hiding its head and showing its tail.”

Zhao Qingmei turned her body and walked directly toward the distance.

“Little child, you will come back again,”

the person said lightly, hearing Zhao Qingmei’s footsteps fading away.

……

The sky turned the pale white of dawn; Five Poison Mountain was treacherous but contained secluded beauty and hidden wonders.

At this time, the energy of the morning sun slowly rose, as the heavy, humid air dispersed.

On the mountain paths of Five Poison Mountain, it was already bustling with people coming and going.

Today was the great day the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect was to choose a son-in-law. In order not to delay, many people had started moving towards the gates of Five Poison Mountain early in the morning.

Along the way, mostly elders accompanied by young talents, and among these youths, were not a few outstanding figures listed high on the martial world leaderboards.

Thus, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen did not look particularly conspicuous.

“Yan Sheng, ranked second on the martial world leaderboard, has come, and not a few others from the leaderboard are here as well,”

“Not just Yan Sheng, I heard that the son of Pingyang Marquis also came. It’s said he is a martial arts genius, with his cultivation having achieved the First Grade,”

“Qiu Lun? I also heard he came.”

……

The people on the road discussed animatedly, their expressions incredibly excited.

An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen were walking up the mountain at an unhurried pace.

“When you reveal your identity and speak with the Five Poison Young Master, be a bit cautious,”

Lou Xiangzhen advised, recalling something, “Don’t provoke him.”

“What kind of person is this Five Poison Young Master?” An Jing couldn’t help asking upon hearing Lou Xiangzhen’s words.

He had old scores to settle with the Five Poison Sect; what if this Five Poison Young Master was unwilling to resolve these grievances? Wouldn’t he be walking into a trap?

Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently, “This person is vengeful, narrow-minded, and unforgiving. Definitely not someone you’d want to provoke lightly. However, you and he are equally matched in strength, and if you wield the Evil Suppressing Sword, you might even surpass him.”

An Jing nodded slightly at this. After all, if the talks failed, the Five Poison Young Master would have no choice but to deal with him, and with Lou Xiangzhen there, he didn’t have much to fear from the Five Poison Sect.

“Don’t count on me this time,”

Lou Xiangzhen seemed to see what An Jing was thinking and said, “I had a past relationship with the elder of the Five Poison Sect, and I definitely will not act on your behalf.”

“Old Lou, are you playing me?”

An Jing’s eyebrows raised, “Why didn’t you say this yesterday? Now that we’re already on the mountain, you suddenly tell me you have ties with the Five Poison Sect elder?”

He had dared to meet with the Five Poison Young Master mainly because he had a swordsman grandmaster like Lou Xiangzhen by his side. Even if negotiations failed, the Five Poison Young Master would have had to think twice.

But now, at the crucial moment, Lou Xiangzhen was pulling out, undoubtedly hitting him with a bolt from the blue.

Lou Xiangzhen spoke irritably, “You never asked me; why must I tell you everything? Besides, you don’t want to be my grandchild.”

Old Lou was too sly, definitely saying this on purpose. Perhaps his relationship with the elder of the Five Poison Sect was also fabricated.

An Jing’s expression darkened, then he asked, “Does the Five Poison Sect have other experts then?”

If the Five Poison Sect possessed grandmaster-level experts, things could get difficult. If the Five Poison Young Master got stubborn and brought out a grandmaster to capture him, combined with many other experts from the Five Poison Sect, he might very well fall on Five Poison Mountain.

Lou Xiangzhen pondered for a moment and said, “That old fellow should still be alive, likely residing and cultivating near Thunder Pool.”

An Jing took in a slight breath upon hearing this.

“Let’s become family,”

Lou Xiangzhen patted An Jing’s shoulder, his face breaking into a smile as brilliant as a chrysanthemum.

“Impossible!”

An Jing, watching Lou Xiangzhen’s smug expression, spoke emphatically, word by word.

Lou Xiangzhen stood with his hands behind his back, no longer saying anything.

The two continued to walk up the mountain when suddenly two figures caught An Jing’s attention.

No, it was more accurate to say one figure.

The woman still had a charming air about her, with white teeth and dark eyes, but she no longer had a waistline; her entire figure resembled a large water jar.

She wore a green leather jacket, her hair up in a bun, her face heavily rouged.

By her side followed a burly man with a fierce look, a black iron chain hung around his waist, emitting a faint glow.

The people of Jianghu around them seemed to recognize the pair, their eyes filled with a hint of fear and trepidation, as many moved away to a distance.

“Elder Lou, do you know these two?” An Jing curiously asked.

He felt he had some impression of them but couldn’t recall ever meeting them, probably from stories he had heard from Zhou Xianming in the past.

“I don’t recognize them.”

Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, “Not every Tom, Dick, or Harry is worth my acquaintance.”

If such words were spoken by an ordinary person of Jianghu, it might seem boastful, but coming from Lou Xiangzhen, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

Not everyone was worthy of his recognition.

“Han Li!”

Just then, a loud shout erupted from a distance.

Suddenly, a swordsman like an agile swallow landed in front of the two.

“It’s Gu Baolin of the Fringed Blade!”

Someone recognized the imposing swordsman and couldn’t help but exclaim.

“He must be here for revenge this time.”

“Just last month, Han Li killed his younger brother.”

“His cultivation is also at the Second Grade, seemingly matched with Han Li.”

……

The surrounding people of Jianghu discussed fervently upon seeing this.

In Jianghu, a Second Grade cultivation was already quite high, qualifying one as a master.

However, the current gathering at the Five Poison Sect was neither a major nor minor event; several masters had arrived, including not just some First Grade, but even experts of the First Grade Earth Flower, older experts not there to participate in taking in a son-in-law but to bring the younger generation to experience the event.

Han Li, the man with the whip, had a very grave expression on his face.

Clearly, the Second Grade Gu Baolin was a formidable enemy for him.

Han Li lowered his voice, “Gu Baolin, let’s discuss past grievances another day, shall we?”

“Go to hell! When you killed my brother, did you talk about killing him another day? Today, it’s either you or me.”

With hatred in his eyes, Gu Baolin roared and drew his long sword.

“Whoosh!”

A cold light flashed, chilling the hearts of everyone present.

Seeing this, Han Li’s brows rose, his waist chain whipped out and clashed with Gu Baolin.

The fight between the Second Grade masters was extremely fierce, with Gu Baolin harboring resentment and striking viciously, every move deadly.

Clangs of metal rang out; the two had exchanged blows for dozens of rounds already.

With the duo blocking the mountain path, An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen could only stand by and watch the fight unfold.

“East Lin Road is a middling sect, not too big, not too small,”

Lou Xiangzhen slowly explained by the side.

An Jing nodded but said nothing.

Since he had started, he had mostly dealt with the top forces in Jianghu, whether it was from the five gangs or seven major sects, or even the Demon Sect and Buddhist fraternities, with these masters having at least Second Grade or First Grade cultivation.

In this vast world of Jianghu, there were no shortage of Third Grade and Fourth Grade fighters.

But they were no longer on the same level as him.

“Brother, let’s not waste time; we should focus on what’s important,”

the woman who looked like a large water jar suddenly called out crisply.

The sound was very melodious, much like a lark.

She clapped her hands, sending a forceful Qi bursting forth like a storm.

“Bang!”

“Step step step…”

The palm had landed solidly on Gu Baolin’s blade, sending a powerful force through the sword that made Gu Baolin stagger backward repeatedly.

“First Grade!?”

Gu Baolin looked at the stout woman in front of him in astonishment, a hint of shock flickering in his eyes.

It was not just Gu Baolin; other martial experts present were also somewhat surprised. Some marveled at the woman’s strength while others were amazed by her beautiful, captivating voice.

“How dare you! Who is brawling here? Don’t you want to live?”

Suddenly, a roaring voice echoed through the area.

“Clattering!” “Clattering!”

A large group of soldiers clad in black armor approached from not far away, led by a young man in armor, stout as a ball of flesh.

“Who are you two?”

The young man pointed at Gu Baolin and Han Li, yelling, “Don’t you know where this place is, what day it is, do you want to eat prison food?”

Pingyang Guard!

Seeing the soldiers surrounding the young man, Gu Baolin felt a chill in his heart, then forced a smile and said, “I am Gu Baolin, a tributor from the Sanhu Gang….”

The young man showed no regard for Gu Baolin’s dignity and coldly said, “I don’t care what Baolin or fish scales you are, just mind yourself. If you annoy me, I’ll have every one of you locked up in the Heavenly Prison to eat prison food.”

Gu Baolin chuckled dryly and said no more.

The Heavenly Prison was not a place just anyone could be sent to at a whim. Seeing the appearance of the young man, Gu Baolin immediately recognized his identity.

“Senior, do you recognize the man under whose command this armored person serves?”

An Jing found this odd. Knowing that people in the Jianghu are usually very proud, especially someone with a Second Grade Cultivation like Gu Baolin, why would he swallow his pride like this?

“This is the Pingyang Guard, the personal guard of the Pingyang Marquis of Great Yan.”

Lou Xiangzhen continued, “Among the three Great Yan marquises, Marquis Wang Shiyi is stationed at the Houjin border, Pingding Marquis confronts the Zhao Country, and only the Pingyang Marquis sits in the central lands, often accompanying the Xuanyi Guard to clear out sects in the Jianghu. He has quite a reputation in the Jianghu, having dealt with the rebel forces of the Demon Sect.”

So, this was the Pingyang Guard!

An Jing certainly had heard of the Pingyang Guard before; Great Yan had only three people who were ennobled for their military achievements, among whom was the Pingyang Marquis.

This man not only fought against the rebel armies of the Demon Sect but had also slain tens of thousands in the Yan-Zhao border area, a renowned figure in both countries and an exceptional general of Great Yan.

Upon hearing this, An Jing’s frown deepened, “Senior means to say, the Pingyang Marquis might actually be here on the Five Poison Mountain.”

Lou Xiangzhen pointed to the young man, who looked like a mountain of flesh, clad in armor, and slowly said, “That chubby one is Qiu Lun, the son of the Pingyang Marquis. When I first met him, he was only as tall as my lower leg.”

While saying this, Lou Xiangzhen gestured slightly with his hands.

An Jing’s heart sank. If the son of the Pingyang Marquis had come, then the Pingyang Marquis was most likely also on Five Poison Mountain.

Seeing that Gu Baolin had stopped speaking, Qiu Lun nodded in satisfaction. Then, his gaze fell on Han Li, but his eyes couldn’t help but brighten upon seeing the woman, shaped like a large barrel, causing his heart to flutter.

Beauty!

There was such an incredibly beautiful person in the world!

He had never seen such exquisite beauty in his life.

The next moment, Qiu Lun hurriedly stepped forward, eagerly saying, “May I know the lady’s name?”

The people around blinked in astonishment, watching Qiu Lun.

“I am Fang Jinxiu from the Iron Gate.”

The woman blushed slightly when she heard Qiu Lun’s words and bowed her hands in greeting.

No young man had ever taken the initiative to ask for her name.

“So, you are from Iron Gate.”

When Qiu Lun heard this, he smiled, “Five Poison Mountain is quite vast, and it is easy to get lost. How about I escort you up the mountain?”

Han Li looked at Qiu Lun as if he had seen a ghost.

Ordinarily, men would avoid his sister-disciple like the plague, not like this young marquis who seemed as if he had eaten ginseng fruit at the sight of her.

“Hehehehe.”

Fang Jinxiu burst into a sweet, charming laugh, “Then I’ll have to trouble the young marquis.”

The laugh was sweet and charming, but difficult to describe.

“Lady, please.”

Hearing this, Qiu Lun was overjoyed.

A mountain of flesh and a barrel of water—they did seem oddly well-matched.

Watching the group head up the mountain, An Jing turned his head to look at Lou Xiangzhen and shook his head helplessly.

Lou Xiangzhen sighed deeply, “Maybe it’s because I’m getting old.”

……

Five Poison Mountain, inside the grand hall.

At this moment, the hall was filled with a feast, and seats around square tables were occupied by guests.

Sitting at the head of the gathering was none other than the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu.

By his side was the breathtakingly beautiful, incomparably stunning Dai Ling.

To the left at the foot of the table sat the elders of the Five Poison Sect, and to the right were close friends of the Five Poison Young Master.

One of them, An Jing recognized.

It was indeed Ling Yuanjing, the Peak Master of Nanhua Peak from the Zhenyi Sect.

Dai Danshu raised his cup with a smile and said, “Peak Master Ling, you’ve traveled a long and dusty road to get here, which must have been exhausting.

The distance between the Five Poison Sect and Zhenyi Sect was neither near nor far, and Ling Yuanjing must have traveled day and night to arrive in such a short time, a truly rare feat for someone of his status and position.

“Ah, where are these words coming from?”

Ling Yuanjing waved his hand and replied with a smile, “How could I not personally attend such a significant event as Miss Dai Ling choosing a suitor?”

Since a battle many years ago, Ling Yuanjing and Dai Danshu had become close friends, forming a beautiful tale in Jianghu.

“Peak Master Ling.”

At this time, a middle-aged man in white robes chuckled, raised his cup, and asked, “I’ve heard some rumors that the Sect Leader of your sect plans to come down from the mountain, is there any truth to this?”

The man’s eyes sparkled bright, and he carried himself with an upright posture, his martial valor palpable even though he was clad in white robes.

This man was none other than the Pingyang Marquis Yan Sheng, one of the three Marquises of Great Yan.

At the mention of the Pingyang Marquis’s question, everyone in the room felt a chill and looked his way.

The movements of Xiao Qianqiu were a matter that weighed on many minds.

“Indeed.”

Ling Yuanjing smiled and said, “That Ghost Swordsman killed two true disciples of our Zhenyi Sect on Xuanqing Mountain, a fact you all must be aware of, right?”

Xiao Qianqiu’s descent from the mountain was no longer a secret. According to the schedule, he would set off the day after tomorrow, and Ling Yuanjing obviously had no intention of keeping it to himself.

Last time the Ghost Swordsman killed two true disciples of the Zhenyi Sect on Xuanqing Mountain, it greatly tarnished the sect’s reputation. Now was the time to seize the Ghost Swordsman and restore Zhenyi Sect’s honor.

Though many present had heard this news, getting confirmation directly from Ling Yuanjing still left them shocked.

Xiao Qianqiu was really leaving the mountain!

“This is indeed good news.”

Upon hearing this, Dai Danshu’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light, “Perhaps some people are not yet aware, but the head of our Five Poison Sect’s Heavenly Centipede lineage, Zhang Zhixing, was slain by this man. His arrogance is boundless, lawless, showing no regard for the laws of Great Yan.”

The members of the Five Poison Sect, upon hearing this, were filled with righteous indignation, their eyes carrying a hint of sorrow.

Dai Ling clenched her silver teeth tightly; every time she thought of Tian Cansou’s death, the flames of vengeance in her heart burned fiercer.

“This Ghost Swordsman is elusive and adept in disguise, making him extremely hard to track down.”

Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath and said, “It’s said that Lou Xiangzhen is with him, and Lou Xiangzhen, as a Second Qi Grandmaster, is one of the top Sword Dao masters in the world; killing him will undoubtedly be very difficult.”

Dai Danshu nodded. After Tian Cansou was killed, he had sent people to investigate the Ghost Swordsman’s whereabouts, but to no avail, as if the man had sprung out of thin air.

No one knew where he came from or where he was going.

As the ruckus around the Ghost Swordsman grew, more and more formidable warriors fell or were defeated by him, making even the Five Poison Young Master hesitant to act rashly and instead, decided to let it be.

Yan Sheng, however, remained composed, not particularly concerned about the grudges in Jianghu.

What really piqued his interest now was the relationship between Lou Xiangzhen and the Ghost Swordsman, such that Lou Xiangzhen would willingly follow him.

He knew a bit about the older generation of Jianghu masters like Lou Xiangzhen.

Such a man was prideful by nature, hardly anyone could catch his eye.

Dai Danshu inhaled deeply and said, “If Sect Leader Xiao takes action this time to eliminate this scourge from Jianghu, that would be for the best.”

“Rest assured, Brother Dai.”

Ling Yuanjing solemnly said, “Once my teacher brother makes his move, that man will have no choice but to surrender.”

The people of the Five Poison Sect all nodded slightly; with Xiao Qianqiu taking action, the Ghost Swordsman, no matter how capable, could not escape today.

Dai Ling exhaled, thinking to herself, “It’s a pity that the Ghost Swordsman will not die by my hand; he’s getting off too easy. I hope Sect Leader Xiao doesn’t let him die too comfortably.”

As time continued to dwindle, her hatred grew increasingly intense.

Qiu Heng smiled lightly, raised his glass, and said, “Eliminating an enemy, together with today’s events, must mean double happiness is at your door, Brother Dai.”

Dai Danshu glanced at Dai Ling and couldn’t help but smile, “Double happiness is perhaps a bit premature; after all, my approval doesn’t matter when choosing a suitor, it ultimately depends on my daughter’s decision.”

Qiu Heng looked at Dai Ling and couldn’t help but remark, “Ling’er is so beautifully delicate and also resolute and ambitious. Seeing so many young talents here today, I believe there are few who are truly worthy of her.”

He was highly interested in Dai Ling; if she could become his daughter-in-law, he would probably wake up laughing in his dreams.

That was also why he brought Qiu Lun to Five Poison Mountain today.

“Uncle Qiu is joking.”

Dai Ling behaved properly and with grace.

Just then, a figure rushed in hastily.

At that moment, a Deacon of the Five Poison Sect rushed in and said, “Sect Master, the auspicious time has arrived, and many people have already gathered at the mountain gate square.”

Dai Danshu nodded his head, then smiled towards Qiu Heng and Ling Yuanjing, saying, “Why don’t you two come with me to have a look?”

“Please.”

Ling Yuanjing stood up and gestured invitingly.

Qiu Heng also nodded his head.

…..

On the square of Five Poison Mountain.

Although Five Poison Mountain was not very high, there was a vast and broad platform constructed at the summit, spacious enough to accommodate thousands of people.

At that moment, many Jianghu masters donned in unusual apparel had already gathered at the square, waiting for the grand event of the Five Poison Sect.

“Sister Jinxiu, are you here to enjoy the festivities today as well?”

Qiu Lun asked warmly.

Throughout their journey, the two seemed to have grown quite close and appeared very familiar with each other.

Fang Jinxiu replied, “Yes, my senior brother came under our master’s orders, and I, having nothing else to do at the sect, came along with him.”

To be able to form a marriage alliance with the Five Poison Sect was the wish of countless sects.

“What a coincidence, I am actually here to join in on the fun as well,”

Qiu Lun rubbed his hands together. “My father and Dai Sect Leader are good friends, so I am here to help maintain some order.”

Qiu Lun looked at the stunningly beautiful Fang Jinxiu in front of him, his satisfaction growing the more he looked.

At that moment, Fang Jinxiu was also feeling somewhat fearful internally; since her youth, few men dared to approach her because of her beauty, unlike Qiu Lun who was showing such attentive care today, her heart fluttering like a little deer, opening up her emotional gates.

“Young Marquis, the Marquis sends for you,”

whispered a member of the Pingyang Guard who had approached silently at that moment.

“Tell the old man I’m busy,”

Qiu Lun said annoyed.

It was not easy to meet a woman he liked; this was surely a match made in heaven.

“But…”

The face of the Pingyang Guard immediately showed difficulty.

Fang Jinxiu quickly said, “Elder brother Qiu, you should go and see, perhaps the Marquis really has an urgent matter?”

Qiu Lun looked at Fang Jinxiu and could not help but express, “What a virtuous woman.”

“Alright, I’ll go and have a look now. Sister Jinxiu, please wait here for a moment,”

Qiu Lun said with a smile, then hurried off towards the distance.

The Pingyang Guard raised his head to look at the robust woman that seemed stout as a barrel, feeling as though countless needles were pricking his eyes, he forced a grin and quickly followed.

In a corner of the square’s viewing platform, Qiu Heng was anxiously waiting.

“Old man, what’s the matter?”

Qiu Lun came over, rather impatiently, and said, “I’m very busy right now.”

The sister from the Fang family is waiting for me.

Qiu Heng said irritably, “You’re over thirty and still not serious about anything? Were those skills given to you as a gift?”

Qiu Lun quickly retorted, “Serious business, I am doing just that right now.”

“You and your so-called ‘serious business,'”

Qiu Heng fiercely slapped the back of Qiu Lun’s head, “I have just the task for you now.”

Did others not understand Qiu Lun? How could he not?

“What is it?”

With a slap, Qiu Lun immediately wilted.

Qiu Heng took a deep breath, his tone solemn, “This time, in the Five Poison Sect’s groom recruitment, you must win Dai Ling.”

“What?!”

Qiu Lun thought he had heard wrong.

Qiu Heng grabbed Qiu Lun’s collar, fiercely saying, “You have to succeed in this recruitment. I want you to become Dai Danshu’s son-in-law, did you hear me?”

Qiu Lun, who weighed over three to four hundred jin, was lifted up, thanks largely to the exceptional quality of his armor.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Lun grimaced and said, “Dad… is Dai Ling perhaps a bit…”

A bit unsatisfactory…

When he saw Qiu Heng’s eyes, he swallowed the last four words back down.

Qiu Heng, looking at the son he had fathered, bellowed, “Are you blind? That niece from the Dai family is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, a beauty that captivates the heart, envied by many.”

Sometimes, Qiu Heng even doubted if Qiu Lun was truly his own.

Or had his eyes been enchanted!?

“I’ll try my best,” he said.

Qiu Lun sighed and said with resignation.

Resolutely, Qiu Heng said coldly, “It’s not about trying, if this doesn’t work out, I am going to chop off that thing of yours and feed it to the dogs when I get home tonight.”

Shocked by Qiu Heng’s stern words, Qiu Lun nodded reluctantly.

“I understand.”

……

At the plaza of the Five Poison Sect:

An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen stood in a corner, with a dense crowd of martial artists in front of them.

“Old Lou, do you think I’ll get caught if I sneak into the Thunder Pool now?” An Jing whispered as he looked out over the plaza.

This was also his first time attending this great martial gathering, and he felt a bit curious at the moment.

Lou Xiangzhen said slowly, “The entrance to the Thunder Pool is interwoven with Lei Qi, a blunt intrusion will cause a huge commotion, unless the people from the Five Poison Sect are deaf, you will definitely be discovered.”

“There are only two ways for you to enter the Thunder Pool: either break in forcefully or have someone from the Five Poison Sect let you in.”

After hearing this, An Jing pondered for a moment and asked, “What is the cultivation level of the ancestors of the Five Poison Sect?”

With a faint smile, Lou Xiangzhen said, “His surname is Feng. It was he who led the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect. Dame Duanmu Xinghua of the Demon Sect Heavenly Sect almost died by his hand, and it’s because of him that the Five Poison Sect has avoided retribution from the Demon Sect. What do you think his cultivation is like?”

Realization dawned on An Jing that it was this man who had led the Five Poison out of the Demon Sect.

The Five Poison was initially a branch of the Demon Sect, but due to a highly skilled individual emerging within, who was dissatisfied with the allocation of resources within the Demon Sect, he led the Five Poison to break away. This event was quite famous in the martial world at the time.

An Jing thought that after so many years, this person would have already died.

“So, if you want to try breaking in.”

Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, “Difficult, difficult, difficult!”

His repetition of the word ‘difficult’ indeed illustrated the immense difficulty of breaking in.

An Jing frowned; having come all the way to the Five Poison Mountain, he was somewhat reluctant to give up on entering the Thunder Pool.

Just then, a man with a face as fine as jade and a handsome appearance ascended to the high center of the stage, followed by an extremely beautiful woman.

An Jing looked over and thought to himself: She indeed looks very good.

This woman was Dai Ling.

Without saying, he knew that the man standing next to Dai Ling was none other than the renowned Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, of the Great Yan martial world.

“Senior Lou, do you think that’s Ling Yuanjing?”

Suddenly, An Jing noticed a familiar figure not far away and quickly transmitted his voice.

“It really is him,” Lou Xiangzhen acknowledged upon seeing Ling Yuanjing standing not far from the Five Poison Young Master, and couldn’t help but laugh.

He had a significant impression of Ling Yuanjing. This young man had encountered him upon entering the Jianghu, and at that time, Lou Xiangzhen had no good feelings about the Zhenyi Sect, hence Ling Yuanjing had a tough time under his hands.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please quiet down!”

The Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, raised his hand, and then a loud voice resonated in all directions, sprawling out.

The entire plaza quieted down a bit instantly, with everyone looking toward the stage.

How beautiful!

Many who saw Dai Ling for the first time felt a sense of astonishment.

Dai Ling had inherited all the merits of her father, Dai Danshu, and even outshined him.

Dai Danshu was a man known for rising to fame on the back of his good looks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor that you have come to Mount Five Poison today,” said Dai Danshu with a smile. “I think you have been waiting for a long time so I will cut to the chase. My daughter is seeking a suitor today, any young heroes below the age of thirty-five are welcome to try.”

“The examination will be held at the Thunder Cloud Platform, and the last young hero standing will qualify for the final round of assessment to become my son-in-law.”

“Of course, I won’t let you come here for nothing; the top three competitors who last the longest on the Thunder Cloud Platform will be allowed into the secret Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect for one day of cultivation.”

Boom!

As Dai Danshu’s voice fell, the entire square immediately burst into discussion.

“This Five Poison Young Master is really generous; to think he could enter the Thunder Pool to cultivate for a day.”

“The Thunder Pool is a sacred place for cultivation.”

“That place at the Thunder Cloud Platform also seems quite extraordinary, doesn’t it? It sounds like a trial site of the Five Poison Sect.”

“Being in the top three tests more than just one’s strength, right?”

“If one becomes the son-in-law of the Five Poison Young Master, would there be any worries in the future? Not only would you be embracing a beauty, but isn’t the Thunder Pool also something you can’t just enter whenever you like? And there’s the massive support of the Five Poison Sect.”

…….

The crowd was abuzz, each person’s eyes sparkling with excitement.

“What an opportunity!”

An Jing heard this and was greatly moved.

As long as he stayed in the top three, he would have the chance to enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation. With his strength, wasn’t securing a spot in the top three within easy reach?

“Indeed, it’s a good opportunity.”

Lou Xiangzhen commented playfully from the side, “But you’d better be careful to keep your identity hidden. If it gets exposed, Ling Yuanjing, the Five Poison Young Master, and the Pingyang Marquis won’t let you off easily….”

If his identity were exposed today, the situation would become several times more dangerous than it had been at Xuanqing Mountain.

An Jing confidently said, “Don’t worry, I just need to secure the third place and enter the Thunder Pool. They probably won’t focus their attention on me.”

When it came to acting, he was serious.

“Let’s hope nothing unexpected happens.”

Lou Xiangzhen nodded. If they truly drew out the old ancestors of the Five Poison Sect, things would become greatly troublesome.

Before long, the Five Poison Young Master shouted, “Alright, all participating young heroes step forward to test your bone age, and prepare to enter the Thunder Cloud Platform.”

The young heroes present all rubbed their hands and prepared themselves, some even starting to form alliances.

Elders nearby cautiously advised and warned them.

An Jing handed the Evil Suppressing Sword to Lou Xiangzhen, then found a human skin mask on his body, applied the Disguise Technique, changed his appearance again, and lastly dressed in a new set of clothes and a mask of a fierce green face.

After repeatedly making sure in his mind many times that his identity would not be exposed, An Jing finally approached Lou Xiangzhen.

“You sure are cautious, kid.”

Lou Xiangzhen looked at An Jing in front of him and said pensively, “This makes me feel quite insecure.”

“Old man Lou, why do you need to feel secure?”

An Jing said irritably, “Just wait till I come out of the Thunder Pool; then I’ll ride the Black Flood Dragon and take you flying.”

Saying this, An Jing followed the large troop ahead.

“But being cautious is also a good thing.”

Lou Xiangzhen watched An Jing’s figure, nodding his head.

Compared to others, he was more reassured about An Jing. Having been together for so long, he didn’t even know what the kid really looked like.

If it weren’t for finding out his bone age last time, he still wouldn’t know his actual age now.

Mixing in the martial world, being cautious is never a mistake.

An Jing, dressed in a white robe and wearing a mask of a fierce green face, looked entirely different from a Ghost Swordsman.

Apart from him, there were also some swordsmen wearing bamboo hats or black robes, looking secretive; thus, his dress did not seem too odd.

“Stretch out your hand,”

said a deacon of the Five Poison Sect indifferently.

An Jing did not hesitate and immediately stretched out his palm. Then he thought internally, “In the martial world, there are also martial arts methods to alter bone age. It would be good to learn one if I get the chance in the future.”

“Alright, go on in, the Thunder Cloud Platform is to the left,” the deacon of the Five Poison Sect touched An Jing’s wrist, confirmed the bone age was not over thirty-five, and said.

“Thank you,”

An Jing responded.

Just as he was headed toward the Thunder Cloud Platform, a familiar figure appeared in his sight.

This person, dressed in a black robe similar to his own but smaller in stature, was currently sitting in a corner, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a sugarcoated haw on the other, with several pieces of leather paper spread on the ground full of cakes.

At that moment, she was eating heartily as if nobody else was around.

This peculiar scene appeared somewhat out of place among the busy crowd around, but nobody noticed her.

……

PS: There will be another chapter tonight, though it might be very late. Please subscribe for the full series.