31: One finger pointed to the peaceful and prosperous era of Yunzhou.

The first ray of morning sunlight fell.

Yunzhou City was bustling with people and activity.

"Clad in spotless white like warm jade, a thousand years of demon calamity pacified by one man!"

"Clap!"

On the main street of Yunzhou City, a burst of applause erupted inside a tea house.

"Good, good, good!!"

The storytelling Elder smiled and swept his gaze around. Only when the tea house fell silent did he slowly open his mouth.

"Everyone, regarding yesterday's events—this old man was lucky enough to witness them, so I will brazenly recount the tale of that spotless White-Robed Sword Immortal~"

A spectator in the seats immediately frowned and asked, "Old Sir, that's not right. How come I heard that the White-Robed Lord didn't use a sword, but relied on his fists to exterminate the demons?"

"Yeah, I heard that too..."

"Exactly, exactly! You're not just making things up, are you?"

The storytelling Elder merely chuckled softly, stroked his beard, and said, "This is just this old man's guess. It's mainly because Lord Shen's demeanor perfectly matches the image of a Sword Immortal in my heart. Besides, who says a Sword Immortal must use a sword?"

As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned.

It seemed to make some sense.

But if a Sword Immortal doesn't use a sword, can they still be called a Sword Immortal?

The storytelling Elder did not dwell on the question and spoke again.

"Everyone in Yunzhou knows that the Huang Family was tyrannical and arrogant, constantly oppressing the common people. Furthermore, they colluded with the Yao Race to commit heinous acts, even kidnapping young girls from Yunzhou to offer to the Yao Race—it was truly infuriating to both men and gods!"

"Fortunately, Xiao Qinger, the Heaven's Proud Daughter of our Yunzhou Xiao Family, went through countless hardships to join an Immortal Sect and found an invincible Senior Brother to enter the world..."

"He first slew the demon bird, then destroyed the Huang Family. And last night, he alone annihilated the Yao Race, slaying the Great Demon until it fled in terror."

"A single finger pointed towards the flourishing peace of Yunzhou..."

"This old man will begin by speaking of the slaying of the demon bird..."

Inside the tea house, the people of Yunzhou held their breath, listening intently as the storytelling Elder spoke eloquently and endlessly, as if they were present at the scene... Meanwhile, outside the tea house, a cold-looking middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious brocade robes and wearing an exquisite jade pendant at his waist, walked with his hands behind his back, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

In just a few steps, he arrived in front of the Huang Manor, gazing silently at the figures of the Demon Suppressing Army coming and going as they sealed off the assets.

After a long moment.

His figure appeared in a courtyard deep within the Huang Family compound as if entering an uninhabited place. Looking at the familiar surroundings, a trace of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.

Only upon realizing someone had appeared behind him did he reveal a slight smile.

"When I was young, I loved chess and was famous throughout Yunzhou; people called me a prodigy. When I was a little older, I met an old Daoist from the mountains. After three days of playing chess, I finally won a game. The old Daoist, honoring the wager, performed a Spell that allowed him to traverse the heavens and burrow through the earth. I was immediately filled with longing, so I abandoned chess to cultivate the Dao. To find a method for me to enter Qi Condensation, my father didn't hesitate to sell off our ancestral property, and the Huang Family almost declined because of me. In truth, my talent was ordinary. After entering Qi Condensation, I only sought to be diligent, painstakingly studying the methods of cultivation. I didn't hesitate to distance myself from relatives, abandon lovers, and forsake friends. I wandered the four seas, unattached, venturing alone into the Yao Race territory. After several near-death experiences, I finally built my Foundation and joined the Xuan Guang Cave, where I saw the old Daoist again..."

"Only that day did I realize that old Daoist was actually one of the Thirteen Cave Revered Masters of Xuan Guang Cave..."

"After becoming a Disciple under Revered Master, I witnessed much more and felt even more keenly how insignificant I was. I knew the Nascent Soul Realm would be the end for me in this life. To have a place to settle in my old age, and to fulfill my father's dying wish, I helped the Huang Family a lot over the years. Alas, in the end, I still couldn't protect them..."

The figure of this cold-looking man appeared somewhat desolate at this moment, like an old man who couldn't find his way home.

Behind him, a woman dressed in golden profound robes, with a pattern of a great sun carved on her back, immediately comforted him: "Senior Brother Huang, you don't need to be too sad. Sometimes, everything is fate. The destruction of the Huang Family is not your fault..."

"It's different," Huang Rulin merely shook his head, then showed a hint of self-mockery.

"I know colluding with the Yao Race is a capital offense, but I have killed countless demons over the years—can't that commute the punishment for my Huang Family?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Rulin answered his own question: "If it can't, then so be it. But it's not for others to judge my Huang Family!"

"No matter who he is, which sect he comes from, or how great his talent is, I, Huang Rulin, will certainly kill him!"

A pang of heartache rose in the woman's heart. She reached out and held Huang Rulin's large hand, smiling with narrowed eyes: "That goes without saying. He even killed an Outer Elder of our Xuan Guang Cave. How can we let him escape? Even Father will support you."

The 'Father' she spoke of was one of the Thirteen Cave Revered Masters of Xuan Guang Cave, Huang Rulin's Revered Master, Cave Revered Master Li!

Huang Rulin took the opportunity to embrace her, his eyes full of affection as he said, "Jing'er, thank you..."

Li Jing's delicate body trembled, a blush rising on her cheeks as she shyly lowered her head.

Seeing this, a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of Huang Rulin's mouth.

However, right at this moment, a frivolous laugh rang out.

"Oh ho."

"Did you eat celery to have such a loud breath?"

"A Disciple of my Heavenly Sword Sect? You think you can kill him just because you say so? Do you think you've reached Dao Integration?"

"Come, come. The person is right here in Yunzhou. Try killing him for me."

Huang Rulin's pupils suddenly contracted. He looked up at the suddenly appearing Elder with a solemn expression and tentatively asked, "Senior, are you from the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

Li Jing, who was in his arms, also saw the old man and immediately recognized his identity, looking utterly shocked.

"The Mountain Revered Master of Heavenly Sword Sect's Second Mountain, Soul Transformation Late Stage Guo Wude!"

At the same time.

The Xiao Family compound.

[Fate: Final Radiance]

[Major Life Event: After experiencing the Demon Calamity in Yunzhou, you instantly killed three Great Demons who were Half-step Nascent Soul. However, you offended the Younger Sister of Old Ancestor Cang Lang, especially since you personally killed her son, the Cloud Sparrow Demon. Half a month later, when the Ancient Moon Grotto-Heaven opens, you plan to enter and search for the Spirit Method of Ascending Pills. Unfortunately, you encounter the Cloud Sparrow Demon's father, the Heaven's Proud Son of the Hell Three-Headed Bird Clan from the Heavenly Demon Cave, the Soul Transformation Early Stage Black Feather Demon King. Although his Realm is suppressed by the Grotto-Heaven Rules, allowing him to only exert the power of Nascent Soul Great Perfection, your Physical Body strength is completely inferior to his. Even using all your techniques proves futile. Although you manage to injure him with the Great Sun Undying Demon Slaying Sword Art, you still cannot escape the fate of death...]

[Remaining preaching value: 50 points]

Shen Nian sat upright in the Xiao Family side courtyard, letting out a helpless sigh.

He knew this fate wouldn't be simple. Kill the young ones, and the old ones appear. They must insist on wiping them out, huh?

At the same time, Shen Nian changed his previous plan. He decided to give the Dragon Transformation Pool quota and the Gray Wolf Demon Nascent Soul to Xiao Qinger. After all, his own improvement using these items was too slow, and preaching value was the main focus.

Therefore, Xiao Qinger's improvement was paramount!

Half a month... that wasn't very generous. He had to speed things up... After settling on the plan, Shen Nian frowned and finally couldn't help but say, "Are you sick?"

Sitting opposite him was Lin Qingyue, whose face was completely serious. He had been staring at Shen Nian for a full half-hour.

"I'm not sick, I just find it hard to believe."

"Junior Brother Shen, did you fall off a cliff, or perhaps save a little fox?"

"And then you obtained a Great Power's Legacy on the cliff, and the little fox sacrificed itself to enhance your Physical Body..."

The corner of Shen Nian's mouth twitched slightly.

"No?" Lin Qingyue looked thoughtful, a sharp light flashing in his eyes as he said, "You aren't Shen Nian?"