161: An unprecedented offensive!

Zheng Prefecture, Xuantian Sword Sect.

A middle-aged man in a Daoist robe sat opposite an unkempt old Daoist smoking a pipe.

The middle-aged man was none other than Yue Bufan, the Sect Master of Xuantian Sword Sect!

Looking at the slovenly old man, anyone who didn't know him would never have guessed that he was the only Second Grade powerhouse of Xuantian Sword Sect!

The image appearing before them was precisely the battle between Li Shengyuan and the Second Grade Demon Lord.

Sect Master Yue Bufan sighed, "This Li Shengyuan is truly a remarkable individual!"

"To be able to severely wound a Second Grade with a Third Grade cultivation, no one in this era can compare."

The old man took a deep puff of his pipe, exhaled a stream of smoke, and then narrowed his eyes, saying with an expression of enjoyment:

"The world is vast, and talented individuals emerge in droves. One cannot speak in absolutes, after all, if it weren't for this great battle, no one would know Li Shengyuan's true strength."

"Just like the current Empress, no one knows her true strength, but she certainly won't be inferior to her junior brother..."

Yue Bufan's expression became serious upon hearing this, and he nodded in agreement.

Then he looked at the old man with a puzzled expression and asked, "Martial Uncle, do you know who their master is? To be able to teach two such powerful disciples!"

The old man puffed on his pipe, his gaze profound, and slowly said,

"I've never even met her, so how could I know...?"

"However, I've heard that their master is an immortal from the heavens. The number of people in this world who have seen her doesn't exceed two hands. Even Chancellor, that old man, speaks of this person with great circumspection. Remember, do not discuss her lightly behind her back!"

"Yes, Martial Uncle!" Sect Master Yue Bufan felt a chill in his heart and nodded respectfully.

After exhaling a long, satisfying puff of smoke, the old man calmly said,

"That boy Chong'er ran off to Shanhai Pass, didn't he?"

"Yes, Martial Uncle..." Yue Bufan nodded, "You were in secluded cultivation before. Junior Brother Linghu sent word back that he broke through to Fourth Grade a year ago, and he broke through by comprehending the celestial phenomena caused when Li Shengyuan broke through to Third Grade."

"Hmm..."

The old man nodded, his eyes deep as he said,

"Let him stay in Shanhai Pass. Contact with Li Shengyuan is a double-edged sword, with gains and losses. Remember, Chong'er must maintain a certain distance from him..."

"Understood, I'll send him a message right away!"

Yue Bufan nodded respectfully.

The old man continued, "My Sword Sect borders the northern region. Now that the world is in chaos, Sword Sect disciples can go to Shanhai Pass for experience, and at the same time, help guard the frontier!"

"Yes, Martial Uncle, many disciples and elders have already voluntarily gone to Shanhai Pass!" Yue Bufan said.

"Some time ago, I sensed a heavenly tribulation fluctuation in the northern region. Did someone break through to Second Grade?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of envy appeared in Yue Bufan's eyes, and he replied,

"It was Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, the Sect Master of Qingyang Sect. Not long ago, he successfully passed the sixth heavenly tribulation and broke through to Second Grade. Then he even had a great battle with a Second Grade Demon Lord from the Demonic Cult at Shanhai Pass, becoming famous throughout the land!"

"It's that boy..." The old man nodded, a smile appearing on his aged face.

"For hundreds of years, no one in the northern region has successfully broken through to Second Grade. He has indeed broken the shackles and provided a role model for the northern region."

Then the old man put away his pipe, hunched his back, and walked out, "Bufan, this old man needs to go to the capital to see Chancellor. The sect is in your hands."

"Yes, Martial Uncle!"

After the old man left, Yue Bufan issued the discussed orders to the sect.

Exterminating demons and defending the Dao, Sword Sect disciples were duty-bound!

All Sword Sect disciples were to go out and kill enemies!

Normally, the various major sects generally did not interact with the imperial court, and the imperial court would not interfere with them.

But now, with rebellions breaking out across the Great Qian and the Demonic Cult launching a large-scale invasion, it was time for them to choose sides!

If they didn't show some support, then quelling external threats would have to wait until internal stability was achieved...

Not only Xuantian Sword Sect, but all sects of Third Grade and above wisely issued statements, joining the ranks of those suppressing the Demonic Cult and foreign races.

At the same time, Shanhai Pass also began to face an unprecedented siege!

Innumerable Demon-Barbarian Allied Army continuously converged on Shanhai Pass; the combat forces alone numbered five hundred thousand!

Even with the support of various major sects and the convergence of defensive armies from various regions at Shanhai Pass, they were still less than half the enemy's strength, and could only defend by relying on the dangerous terrain.

The kings of the Demon and Barbarian races, plus the powerhouses of the Demonic Cult, a total of eighteen Third Grade experts gathered outside Shanhai Pass!

The leader was precisely the Second Grade Demon Lord who had been severely wounded by Li Shengyuan!

Another powerhouse, shrouded in black mist, stood beside him. The mere aura he exuded was enough to make even a Third Grade feel immense pressure!

Evidently, it was another Second Grade Demon Lord...

Looking at the Demonic Cult allied army at the city gates, the faces of everyone on Shanhai Pass were extremely grim.

Strategist Fan You said in a deep voice to Li Mu, "Old Li, the Demonic Cult is coming fiercely. Five hundred thousand combat troops, the Demon and Barbarian tribes have probably mobilized their entire forces!"

"They want to take Shanhai Pass in one fell swoop!"

The Far North has a harsh environment and is sparsely populated. To be able to gather five hundred thousand heavily armed combat troops was already incredibly impressive.

Li Mu's face was extremely solemn as he said, "Five hundred thousand allied troops are manageable; defending the city against a two-to-one ratio is still fine..."

Looking at the figure completely hidden within a black robe beside the Second Grade Demon Lord, Li Mu said in a deep voice,

"The main problem is that the Demonic Cult has actually brought another Second Grade beast. This is the real trouble..."

The Third Grade powerhouses on Shanhai Pass's side were comparable in number to the Demonic Cult allied army, but there was only one Second Grade, Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, and he had just broken through, so dealing with one was already very difficult.

If the other one were to free up his hands, the great defensive array of Shanhai Pass and the towering city walls would be destroyed in no time, making it impossible to defend...

A Second Grade powerhouse was no longer a match for ten thousand; instead, a single move could withstand ten thousand soldiers!

Li Mu couldn't help but curse under his breath, "According to the Demonic Cult's records, there are only a few Second Grades, and they're clearly tied up elsewhere. When did such a dog-like thing pop up?"

"It's likely they used some kind of special, harmful method to create him." Fan You shook his head.

At this moment, Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, with his hands behind his back and his face having returned to his youthful appearance, calmly said,

"Leave these two Second Grades of the Demonic Cult to me, General Li. You all just need to block the others. I will absolutely not let these two step half a pace into Shanhai Pass!"

Everyone looked at him with moved expressions upon hearing this.

"Sect Master Fang..." Li Mu opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

In the end, he could only cup his fists with a solemn expression and say, "Please take care of yourself. If you encounter danger, just leave. Even if Shanhai Pass falls today, the imperial army will be able to retake it in the future!"

"Hahaha..."

Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin laughed heartily, "This old man is not someone who fears death. If those Demonic Cult beasts want to enter the northern region, they'll have to step over my corpse first!"

Even for two Second Grades, killing another of the same rank is extremely difficult and cannot be done in a short amount of time.

However, recovering from severe injuries is also very difficult.

The Second Grade Demon Lord, crippled by Li Shengyuan, was only able to recover so quickly due to the Demonic Cult's concentrated resources!

Everyone looked at Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin's retreating figure with moved expressions.

Li Mu gritted his teeth and shouted sharply,

"Sect Master Fang is right! If those Demonic Cult beasts want to enter the northern region, they'll have to step over our corpses!"

"Fight!"