Originally, Xuanyue Fairy shouldn’t have known about matters related to Yushan Xing.

After all, she had begun seclusion after the Yin-Yang realm battle, rarely venturing elsewhere. She was indifferent even to her own Yin Sect’s affairs—how could she have time to concern herself with other sects’ disputes?

It wasn’t until a hundred years ago that she emerged from seclusion for Tang Buye.

But it was quite coincidental.

Six hundred eighty years ago, the first-generation Yushan Sect Master Yushan Xing chose a location for his sect on the border wasteland between the Central and Northern Domains, far from the Left Three Thousand but extremely close to the Yin-Yang Sects.

When she once took Tang Buye outside to test newly learned techniques, she discovered this sect.

At that time, Xuanyue Fairy saw not the current Yushan Xing VI, but Yushan Xing VI’s master, Yushan Xing V—the fifth-generation sect master of Yushan Sect.

Upon hearing the name “Yushan Xing,” how could she not understand?

She just hadn’t expected to see these robes, to see this sixth-generation Yushan Sect master, here in Mingri Xinghai on this day when most of Shijiu Zhou’s cultivators had arrived.

Qu Zhengfeng was not someone easy to deal with.

Specially sending a Yushan Xing who had deep connections with Yashan and Kunwu to receive them—what deeper meaning was hidden within?

Xuanyue Fairy’s mood was far from relaxed.

She turned her gaze back to look at Yushan Xing VI in the field, who still wore a confused expression, completely unable to understand what had happened.

For a moment, she felt somewhat helpless: “Sect Master Yu, can you lead us to our accommodations now?”

“Ah?”

Still not having recovered his senses, Yushan Xing was startled when suddenly called upon, then hurriedly responded.

“Oh, oh, yes, yes, I’ll take everyone there right away!”

The Kunwu cultivators nearby had long since helped up Wang Que, who had been pressed down by Fudao Shanren’s staff, but his complexion really didn’t look very good.

Obviously, forcibly enduring Fudao Shanren’s power while speaking had indeed injured him.

The spiritual energy in his meridians was disrupted, not to mention the faint stabbing pain between his brows, as if about to crack open.

Wu Duan’s expression was also very unpleasant.

He took a pill from his sleeve, thinking about today’s events, inevitably feeling aggrieved.

First, he felt that Junior Brother Wang Que was innocent, having suffered Fudao Shanren’s wrath for no reason; second, he felt that Qu Zhengfeng’s various behaviors after becoming demonic were truly arrogant and rude—where was even half a trace of his former elegance?

“Let’s go.”

Without arguing, and without expressing any further objection to Mingri Xinghai’s arrangements, Wu Duan was also a person with pride. He glanced at Yushan Xing and made his decision.

The several elders on Kunwu’s side nominally held higher status and seniority than Wu Duan, but all of Kunwu was genuinely led by Hengxu Master. Since Wu Duan was the head seat’s personal disciple and had managed Kunwu’s affairs for many years.

Speaking these words at this moment, his authority was naturally sufficient.

So they also said nothing, only departing together with Wu Duan.

On the plaza already full of broken debris, another group of nearly twenty disappeared.

Yushan Xing watched from afar, only muttering to himself: Renowned righteous sects are indeed different—being treated so differently by His Majesty the Sword Emperor, given no face at all, yet they didn’t even turn hostile. Quite cultivated indeed.

With such thoughts, his steps didn’t slow.

Star Sea had indeed arranged accommodations for all parties, and arranged them quite “well”—one location per sect, with sects that had grudges or deep hatreds conveniently made neighbors.

It could be said that when seeing their accommodations and learning who lived next door, most cultivators’ faces turned green!

Yet Yushan Xing was terribly oblivious, his mouth never stopping the entire way. After arranging their accommodations, he even asked with an expectant expression: “How is it? Are you all fairly satisfied?”

Satis… fied?

This damn situation would probably make sleeping difficult at night!

Even during cultivation and meditation, they’d have to spare part of their attention to watch whether neighbors might come for sneak attacks!

Deliberate.

Qu Zhengfeng was absolutely being deliberate!

When Fudao Shanren served as Left Three Thousand’s Law Enforcement Elder, he basically didn’t manage affairs—everything was handled by Zheng Yao and others on his behalf. As for matters requiring coordination with various parties, all were assigned to Qu Zhengfeng’s responsibility.

It could be said that Qu Zhengfeng, having extensively interacted with all sides of Shijiu Zhou, knew the relationships between sects and capable cultivators like the back of his hand!

Today, not only did he fail to help enemies avoid each other, but he actually arranged them together?

What were his intentions!

All the cultivators were already furious inside. Facing Yushan Xing’s simple question, they couldn’t say half a word, afraid that opening their mouths would result in cursing Qu Zhengfeng’s ancestors for eighteen generations!

The atmosphere on scene was extremely tense.

But…

Yushan Xing still didn’t notice!

Seeing so many people yet hearing no one answer his question, he was quite puzzled.

These accommodations looked pretty good to him—was giving an evaluation really that difficult?

“Why isn’t anyone speaking? Well, His Majesty the Sword Emperor specifically instructed me to ask about everyone’s feelings. I’m just running errands here, so everyone, please…”

Great!

Indeed it was deliberate!

This was going too far, truly too far! Not only had he deliberately arranged them as neighbors with their enemies, but he’d also sent someone to ask about their feelings!

If not for the great matter at hand and being on Star Sea’s territory, the furious crowd would have already swarmed toward Jiexing Mountain Manor to beat up Qu Zhengfeng!

At the front of the crowd, a male cultivator in dark blue robes sneered coldly, the silver mask covering half his face reflecting an inhuman icy light.

“Satisfied—how dare we not be satisfied with His Majesty the Sword Emperor’s arrangements!”

This was Shen Wenxing, Young Master of the Puppet Sect from the Three Demonic Paths.

Who didn’t know that the Three Demonic Paths had the fiercest internal conflicts? They fought and killed each other daily without end. The old and young demons of the three paths had long formed deep hatreds—not fighting upon meeting would be miraculous.

But now, Puppet Sect had Hero’s Tomb to the east, Shanyin Sect to the west, and Tongguanyi’s Grand Marshal Shen Yao across from them!

A complete killing field!

As Puppet Sect’s Young Master, Shen Wenxing had always had many conflicts with Hero’s Tomb and Shanyin Sect. Even Shen Yao, who seemingly controlled the entire southeastern wilderness, had once schemed against him when Silver Tower posted bounties.

None of them were good people.

Now living separated by just a wall? Ha.

Shen Wenxing was already extremely annoyed, not bothering to hide his sarcasm in the slightest.

Unfortunately, this had absolutely no effect on Yushan Xing!

Hearing the word “satisfied,” his eyes immediately brightened, clapping his hands in delight: “Oh my, satisfied? That’s wonderful—I hope all the seniors can live here happily. Since everyone’s satisfied, I’ll go back to report!”

After speaking, without even looking at everyone’s expressions, he directly bid farewell and left. His short figure looked very content, with a somewhat comical cheerfulness in his gait.

An unknown number of old monsters on the spot trembled with rage, nearly suffocating themselves!

How could Yushan Xing know how much inner drama they had?

Anyway, the task was complete, the matter was handled well, and even this group of big shots from all over Shijiu Zhou had expressed satisfaction.

Reporting back now, His Majesty the Sword Emperor would surely be very pleased too.

Thinking this, his steps became even more cheerful.

But after walking less than half a li, he suddenly slapped his forehead: “I’m really stupid! There’s still such a long way—how can I walk on foot? Mountain, come!”

Making a hand seal, a small mountain immediately emerged.

Yushan Xing contentedly stepped onto it, swaggering directly through Broken Immortal City’s streets.

Though many Star Sea cultivators had left, quite a few remained. Moreover, Broken Immortal City was quite a central city in Star Sea. Hearing rumors of major events happening here, not only hadn’t the population decreased, but it had actually increased.

Yet not a single person on the road dared obstruct Yushan Xing, despite his Golden Core cultivation being weak as an ant.

Who didn’t know he was handling affairs for the Sword Emperor?

Going up to provoke him—wasn’t that seeking death?

So despite feeling that his riding a small mountain through the streets carried a naturally arrogant air that deserved beating, numerous cultivators still endured it, just watching him pass.

Soon, Jiexing Mountain Manor was already before him.

The Drinking Snow Pavilion in the river’s heart showed no human figures, so Yushan Xing entered the manor and headed straight for Sword Lake. Sure enough, after descending a corridor and passing around some artificial hills made of lake stones, he saw Qu Zhengfeng’s figure.

He was still sharpening swords.

Probably having no outside guests to see today, he wasn’t wearing his usual dark black gold-threaded outer robe, only the simple black inner garments, with a shark-skin leather belt at his waist, immediately highlighting his tall, imposing figure.

Solid physique, broad shoulders, powerful back lines.

Even the arms moving as he sharpened swords had a sense of strength, as if hiding tremor-inducing power.

Sword Lake was already full of inserted swords.

Heavenly light shone down from above, the lake bottom a bright and cold flash of light. Even the lake’s ripples and wavering light couldn’t soften it.

A lake of swords, a lake of sword intent!

Every time coming here, Yushan Xing was always somewhat afraid.

This time was no exception.

He steadied himself, walked forward, and bowed: “The matter His Majesty the Sword Emperor instructed has been completed, and I’ve also asked those seniors. They have no objections and are quite satisfied.”

“Good that they’re satisfied.”

Qu Zhengfeng didn’t turn around, his deep gaze only focused on the tip of the last ordinary sword in his hand, carefully grinding it on the whetstone to improve its shape and sharpen its edge.

“I heard Yashan brought an ‘outside guest’?”

“Ah, yes.”

As if not expecting Qu Zhengfeng to take the initiative to ask, Yushan Xing was startled, then hurriedly began recalling what he’d seen at the plaza.

“There was indeed such a person, standing beside Miss Jian Chou. Never seen him before—looked quite young and handsome.”

“…”

The sword grinding in his hands didn’t stop, but his heart paused slightly. After a moment of silence, still not turning around, he said lightly:

“You may go.”

“…Yes.”

Though somewhat baffled, Yushan Xing still felt it better to leave early.

Today’s Sword Emperor felt much more terrifying than usual.

He was someone who cherished his life.

He didn’t know why the Yushan Sect’s founding ancestor had left instructions for later sect masters to follow Qu Zhengfeng after his betrayal of Yashan, nor did he know why Qu Zhengfeng would take him in.

Of course, he didn’t want to know either.

Sometimes knowing too much brought more troubles—what if it invited mortal danger?

So when Qu Zhengfeng spoke, he was happy to slip away.

Soon he had disappeared.

Only then did Qu Zhengfeng slowly stop, washing the finished ordinary sword clean with nearby lake water. The water-stained blade immediately burst with cold light, reflecting his bottomlessly dark eyes.

Red Butterfly slowly walked over from the other end, looking at the sharpened sword in his hand, and asked: “Since you’re curious, why not go see for yourself?”

“Curious, but no need to look.”

Qu Zhengfeng held the sword and stood up.

Without that outer robe, his aura of an overlord who controlled everything hadn’t diminished in the slightest, but gained an additional quality of solitary swordsman.

Red Butterfly watched him, somehow feeling slightly desolate in her heart. After a long while, she quietly asked: “Is it worth it?”

Worth it?

Qu Zhengfeng actually laughed, not even glancing back at Red Butterfly.

Sword in hand—clearly just an unremarkable ordinary sword—but when he raised his hand to thrust it one foot into empty space, the front foot of the blade including the tip actually vanished into thin air!

“In my heart, there’s never been worth or not worth, only want or don’t want.”

At this moment, he seemed to be gripping a broken sword. Speaking such words yet seeming not to care about their content, he followed this “broken sword” with his gaze toward thirty zhang ahead.

Red Butterfly, seeing his seemingly unremarkable sword strike, was already alarmed!

How could she remember what she’d just asked?

She only looked in the direction his sword pointed—

Thirty zhang away, above the lake surface!

A “broken sword” section with the tip actually appeared out of nowhere, remotely forming a line with the sword in his hand!

The sword wasn’t broken!

But “space” was broken! The space between the two “broken sword” sections seemed to have been forcibly cut away, or forcibly transcended by this sword!

So the hilt was here, the tip was there!

Qu Zhengfeng turned his wrist, the long sword moving with his will, retracting in a blink.

The sword was still the same ordinary sword.

Neither broken nor changed in the slightest, except for that sword light and the sword intent stained from Qu Zhengfeng’s sharpening, it had no special qualities whatsoever.

“How does this sword compare to Transcendent level?”

He gazed down at the sword for a moment, finally turning to glance at Red Butterfly with what seemed like a smile.

Red Butterfly had seen similar scenes beside Buyu Shangren in the past, but Qu Zhengfeng…

At this moment, he was at most barely mid-stage Void Refining!

How could this be?

Meeting Qu Zhengfeng’s gaze, her eyes already showed indescribable confusion and shock. Finally, she vaguely thought of the sword. Was it because of the sword that he could transcend his current realm to reach such superb heights?

Red Butterfly barely suppressed that amazement, but couldn’t hide her breathtaking awe: “This sword is not Transcendent level, yet surpasses Transcendent level…”

So Qu Zhengfeng turned away, casually throwing the sword toward the lake’s center. It immediately sank into the lake, joining the countless other ordinary swords he’d sharpened over eighty years, inserted in the lake bottom.

Ripples spread across the lake surface, instantly fragmenting all reflected scenery.

Wavering light swayed, and all myriad forms seemed to dissolve.

His pair of deep black eyes also seemed tinted by this undulating, distorted lake light, gradually revealing a strange yet heart-stopping gleam that slowly emerged, filling his pupils…

This moment was truly “entering demonhood”—

Body of Sword Emperor, heart of Sword Demon!