264: Chapter 264 Soul Broken Before the River

The death of Ling Wushuang was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm lake.

Two Sword-Wielding Elders of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, one surnamed Zhou and the other Zheng, took Ling Wushuang's body back to the Beiyuan Kingdom.

They did not lash out on the spot, but they looked at Chu Sheng as if he were an enemy.

Elder Zhou said, "Elder Chu, you were nearby when Senior Sister Ling met with misfortune. Why didn't you intervene?"

Chu Sheng said, "I did intervene. I killed three Devil Kings. But the Demon Boy arrived too quickly; I was no match for him."

Elder Zheng sneered, "You could kill three Devil Kings, yet you couldn't block a single move from the Demon Boy?"

Chu Sheng said, "The power of Gluttony from the Demon Boy specifically counters Sword Intent. My sword techniques are no different from scrap metal in front of him. If Elder Zheng doesn't believe me, you can try it yourself."

Elder Zheng's face turned alternating shades of blue and white, and he said nothing.

Ye Gucheng spoke up, his voice not loud but very cold: "Enough. Ling Wushuang's death was the work of the Blood God Sect. If you want revenge, go find the Demon Boy. Infighting here will only make the Demon Race laugh at us."

Elder Zhou and Elder Zheng exchanged a glance and said no more.

They were unconvinced, but they dared not offend Ye Gucheng given his status in the Wendao Palace.

Chu Sheng stood to the side, expressionless, but in his heart, he thought: These two old things will be trouble sooner or later.

The Peak Master of the Tenth Peak found Chu Sheng in private.

The old man pulled him to a quiet spot and lowered his voice: "The Heavenly Sword Pavilion has already sent people to investigate the cause of Ling Wushuang's death. They aren't asking us; they are investigating it themselves. They are hostile toward you, so be careful."

Chu Sheng said, "I know."

The Peak Master of the Tenth Peak sighed: "Ling Wushuang was a Sword-Wielding Elder of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, and her status was not low. Now that she is dead, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion will not let this rest. They already hold a grudge against the Demon Boy. But you..."

He did not continue, but the meaning was clear: the Heavenly Sword Pavilion was also suspecting Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng said, "Rest assured, Senior, I have done nothing wrong, so I do not fear the ghost knocking at my door."

The Peak Master of the Tenth Peak looked at him, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and turned to leave.

Chu Sheng stood in place, watching the old man's back, and thought: Had he done nothing wrong?

He had.

But he would not admit it.

If the Heavenly Sword Pavilion couldn't find evidence, they could do nothing to him.

This was the rule of the cultivation world.

Madam Huayue's message arrived faster than expected.

Her voice carried a hint of excitement mixed with a trace of nervousness.

"Chu Sheng, the Demon Boy has refined the remains of Gluttony into his bone staff. That old thing's strength has surged, and he is planning a large-scale attack on the Beiyuan Kingdom. The Heavenly Sword Pavilion's stronghold in the Beiyuan Kingdom probably won't hold."

Chu Sheng frowned: "Where does he get the confidence? The Beiyuan Kingdom has the Dao-Suppressing Elder of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion stationed there, along with reinforcements from the Wanxiang Sect. Can he take on so many Dao Palaces by himself?"

Madam Huayue said, "He is not alone. The Blood God Sect has poured out in full force, and the Wanmo Hall has also sent reinforcements. It is said... that a big shot has given tacit approval."

Chu Sheng's brow furrowed even deeper.

Chu Sheng said, "I understand. Keep watching, and let me know if there is any situation."

Madam Huayue gave a hum of acknowledgment.

Chu Sheng put away the Jade Slip, leaned back in his chair, and stared blankly at the tent ceiling.

He thought to himself: The Demon Realm is in a state of panic, and the Central Realm is full of people with ulterior motives. This Righteous-Demonic War is increasingly looking like a giant vortex.

And he was at the center of that vortex.

Chu Sheng secretly contacted Yu Rumeng.

He did not use a Jade Slip; that thing was not safe.

He personally went to the banks of the Duanhun River and waited at the agreed-upon location for an hour.

Yu Rumeng arrived, wearing a black cloak with the brim pulled down low.

She was thinner than when they last met, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

"You have lost weight," Chu Sheng said.

Yu Rumeng shook her head: "Let's not talk about that. Why did you look for me?"

Chu Sheng recounted the matter of the Demon Boy.

After listening, Yu Rumeng was silent for a moment, then said:

"The interior of the Demon Realm is chaotic right now. Arrogance refuses to state his position, and no one can guess what he is thinking. The Hall Master of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons is eager to perform meritorious service, the Blood God Sect wants to use the power of Gluttony to expand, and the Nine Nether Palace is watching from the sidelines. We..."

She paused, "I am also watching from the sidelines."

Chu Sheng looked at her, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He wanted to ask her about Chu Li, wanted to ask if the child was doing well.

But he did not ask.

It wasn't that he didn't want to; it was that he couldn't.

This was a battlefield, not a place for romance.

"Be careful," Chu Sheng said.

Yu Rumeng nodded and turned to disappear into the night.

Chu Sheng stood by the river, watching her back, and remained silent for a long time.

The river breeze blew over, chilly and carrying the scent of blood.

He took a deep breath and turned back to the main camp.

At night, Chu Sheng sat alone by the Duanhun River.

He did not Cultivate, nor did he handle military affairs; he just sat there, watching the churning dark red waves on the river surface.

It had been ten years.

This war had been fought for ten years.

He had killed countless people and watched countless people die.

Jiang Yuenü had died, Ling Wushuang had died, three vanguard generals had died, and countless unnamed soldiers had died.

Many on the Demon Race side had died as well; the Nine Nether Palace had lost two Devil Kings, and the Wanmo Hall had lost three strongholds.

But he knew this was only the beginning.

The Demon Boy had obtained the remains of Gluttony, and Arrogance was watching everything from the shadows.

The Sword-Wielding Elders of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion were still investigating the cause of Ling Wushuang's death and would eventually trace it back to him.

He needed time and stronger strength.

His Divine Ability was still lacking a bit; he still couldn't touch that final threshold of Fuyao Ninety Thousand Miles.

He thought about it and decided that when he returned this time, he would continue to try.

Suddenly, he felt a trace of abnormality.

It wasn't Devilish Qi, and it wasn't spiritual power; it was a very subtle aura that made one's scalp tingle.

He suddenly looked up at the opposite bank of the Duanhun River.

The fog on the river was very thick, and nothing could be seen clearly.

But his Heavenly Demon Body was vibrating, as if reminding him—there was something there.

It wasn't the Demon Boy, it wasn't Yu Rumeng, and it wasn't any Devil King he had ever seen.

That aura was too ancient, so ancient it seemed to have come from the primeval era.

Chu Sheng's hand pressed onto the hilt of his sword.

The fog churned for a moment and then returned to calm.

That aura disappeared.

Chu Sheng sat there, silent for a long time.

He thought: Who was that? Arrogance? It didn't seem like it. Gluttony? Already dead. Greed? Long since dissipated.

Could it be... the Primeval Demon Race?

The Old Grandfather had mentioned them to him, the founders of the Demon Race before the Heavenly Demon Ancestor.

They had disappeared for tens of thousands of years; could they have appeared again?

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Chu Sheng's back.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his body, and turned to walk toward the main camp.

When he reached the tent entrance, he stopped and looked back in the direction of the Duanhun River.

The fog was still churning, but that aura had completely disappeared.

He took a deep breath and lifted the curtain to walk inside.

The tent was empty, with only a solitary lamp flickering on the table.

Chu Sheng sat down at the table, took a pot of wine from his Storage Pouch, poured a cup, and drank it in one gulp.

The wine was cold, but it felt warm in his stomach after drinking it.

He thought: Whoever it is, soldiers will be blocked by generals, and water will be covered by earth.

He put down the wine cup, sat cross-legged, and began to regulate his breathing.

In his Dantian, the four swords of zhuxian were floating quietly.

The Luck of the wendao bell was slowly circulating in his Dao Palace.

He closed his eyes.

The river breeze poured in from outside the tent, blowing the candle flame until it flickered as if about to go out.

Chu Sheng's breathing steadied, like a stone sinking to the bottom of the water.

But his Divine Sense remained awake, like a vigilant cat, monitoring everything around him.

He knew that tonight would not be calm.

Sure enough, just past the hour of the Rat, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the tent.

It was not a patrolling soldier; those footsteps were too light, as light as a cat stepping on cotton.

Chu Sheng opened his eyes, his hand pressing on the hilt of his sword.

The tent curtain was lifted, and a black shadow flashed inside.

Chu Sheng saw the face clearly, and his heart sank.

The person who came was none other than that Sword-Wielding Elder surnamed Zhou from the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

Her face was grim, and she held a long sword in her hand with the tip pointing downward; it was not pointed at Chu Sheng, but she had not sheathed it either.

"Elder Chu, forgive the late-night intrusion, but I have something to ask."

Chu Sheng looked at her and said coldly, "Ask."

Elder Zhou stared at him and said word by word, "Before Senior Sister Ling died, did she meet with you?"

Chu Sheng's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm.

He said, "She did. She was severely injured, and I helped her drive away the pursuers. But the Demon Boy came, and I was powerless to stop him."

Elder Zhou's mouth twitched: "You helped her drive away the pursuers? Then how did she get the injuries on her body?"

Chu Sheng said, "The Demon Boy inflicted them. If you don't believe me, you can go ask the Demon Boy."

Elder Zhou's face turned alternating shades of blue and white, and the knuckles of her hand gripping the sword hilt turned white.

She stared at Chu Sheng for a long while, then sheathed her sword and turned to leave.

When she reached the tent entrance, she stopped and said without looking back, "Elder Chu, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion will not forget this matter."

After saying this, her figure disappeared into the night.

Chu Sheng sat there, watching the tent curtain sway, and remained silent for a long time.

He picked up the wine cup, poured another, and drank it in one gulp.

"Heavenly Sword Pavilion..." he muttered to himself, shaking his head.