113: Chapter 113 The Imperial Advisor Borrows a Sword to Slay Zhenbei, The Arrogant Dragon Delivers a Slaughtering Blade

"Cowherd Boy, Right Protector, Saintess, grab your gear, follow big brother and head to the Southwest first! I'll go ahead and sweep the yard first, loosen up the bones for that uncle and nephew duo!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xiu waved his large sleeve, preparing to condense Pure Yang True Qi and ride a Flying Sword to break through the air.

Just at this moment.

"Guest Elder Ye, hold on."

A clear, gentle, and low shout, filled with righteous Qi, suddenly pierced through the black miasma that hung over the Sacred Demon Abyss all year round, spreading unimpeded throughout the entire Heavenly Demon Sect main hall.

This voice was calm and composed, yet carried a strange power that settled people's hearts, forcefully suppressing the boiling Devilish Qi within the hall.

Hearing this voice, all the high-ranking members of the Demonic Path in the hall instantly braced themselves as if facing a great enemy.

Three hundred and sixty Hall Masters drew their weapons in unison, and Grand Elder Yin Jiuyou's expression changed drastically.

His Divine Bridge Realm True Qi surged wildly, his eyes locked onto the massive open bronze doors of the hall.

"How bold! What sacred entity dares to trespass into the Holy Land of our Heavenly Demon Sect?!" Yin Jiuyou shouted sternly.

"Grand Elder, put away your anger. The one coming is just a pedantic scholar, not someone here to smash the place."

Ye Xiu didn't even raise an eyelid; he sat back down on the bone throne and took a slow sip from his wine gourd.

Following Ye Xiu's words, the Void Realm outside the hall doors rippled like water.

A middle-aged man in a green robe, holding a scroll of ancient books, stepped over the high threshold of the Heavenly Demon Sect hall with calm, unhurried strides across the red carpet.

His features were refined and scholarly, his temperament detached from the mundane, like an immortal who had stepped out of a painting.

Facing the fierce Demonic Path titans in the hall who wished to tear him limb from limb, he acted as if he saw nothing, simply walking step by step to the center of the hall, slightly tilting his head to look at Ye Xiu on the throne.

The anchor of Yankang Kingdom, leader of the reformist faction, the current Imperial Preceptor—Jiang Baigui!

"Imperial Preceptor?!"

Xue Biane and Si Yunxiang exchanged a look, both seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.

Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui was the Heavenly Demon Sect's number one mortal enemy.

For so many years, the imperial court's reformist faction and the Demonic Path of the Jianghu had clashed countless times.

Who could have imagined that this smartest man in the world would today come alone, without even a single guard, barging into the very headquarters of the Demonic Path!

"Jiang has come uninvited, I hope Cult Leader Ye will be magnanimous."

Jiang Baigui closed the book in his hand and slightly cupped his hands toward Ye Xiu on the throne, performing a greeting between equals.

He deliberately changed the form of address, using "Cult Leader Ye" to replace "Guest Elder Ye," clearly acknowledging Ye Xiu's absolute rule over the Heavenly Demon Sect.

"Imperial Preceptor, your nose is sharper than a dog's."

Ye Xiu sneered, leaning forward slightly, his golden and silver heterochromatic eyes filled with amusement:

"What, finished cleaning up the mess in the capital? You, a scholar full of ink, not busy drafting decrees beside the old Emperor? Running all the way to the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains to smell miasma—surely you didn't come just to ask me for a drink, did you?"

Jiang Baigui gave a helpless, bitter smile and reached out to brush the dust off the hem of his green robe.

"I won't be drinking. Jiang has traveled day and night to get here, all because I feared Cult Leader Ye's temper was too impatient and you would finish all the work in the Southwest alone."

Jiang Baigui's expression gradually became solemn and grave, staring straight into Ye Xiu's eyes:

"Scouts have reported that after Prince Zhenbei was defeated, he fled overnight to the Southwest. These two have colluded, relying on their military strength, and have become the greatest tumor of Yankang Kingdom."

"Jiang knows that Cult Leader Ye's martial prowess is peerless in the world, and taking those two heads would be as easy as reaching into a bag. But I come today to shamelessly ask for a collaboration with Cult Leader Ye."

"Collaboration?" Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow, wearing a look that was half-smile.

"Exactly."

Jiang Baigui stood with his hands behind his back, his voice resonant: "Prince Zhenbei is suspected of treason, inciting rebellion, and disrupting the imperial order. This is a traitor to the country! If he dies by Cult Leader Ye's Jianghu methods, the people of the world will only say the Demonic Path is powerful and murderous. Those remnants might even use this as an excuse to continue their chaos under the banner of 'Clearing the Emperor's Side, Executing the Devil Head'."

"But the reform of Yankang Kingdom needs rules, it needs legal order."

A sharpness flashed in the Imperial Preceptor's eyes, a steely determination unique to a scholar:

"Therefore, the life of this traitor must be taken by the laws of Yankang. I represent the imperial court and request to travel with Cult Leader Ye. You may deal with the rebel army as you please, but the head of Prince Zhenbei must be cut off by my own hand and brought back to the capital to uphold national law!"

The speech was neither servile nor overbearing, righteous and awe-inspiring.

The surrounding Demonic Path Elders frowned upon hearing this; this scholar was truly audacious. Coming to the Demonic Path headquarters to snatch a head, while talking about imperial laws—did they really think these Demonic cultivators were soft?

Yin Jiuyou was just about to speak to drive him away when he saw Ye Xiu on the throne burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

Ye Xiu's laughter echoed in the hall, filled with wild, unrestrained meaning.

"Old Jiang, oh Old Jiang, you scholars are truly obsessed with Face, suffering for it. You're clearly just afraid I'll hack Prince Zhenbei into a pulp, leaving your court unable to take him back to establish authority, so you had to take such a long detour."

Ye Xiu stood up slowly and waved his large sleeve.

"However, this Sect Leader is in a good mood today, so I'll take this deal."

He walked down step by step from the high bone throne, arriving before Jiang Baigui, looking down at this world-renowned Imperial Preceptor.

"You want to personally behead Prince Zhenbei, fine. But I'll say this first: my sword is too fast. If you run too slowly and can't keep up, when we arrive in the Southwest, you'll only be able to chant the Rebirth Mantra over a pile of minced meat."

Hearing this, a look of relief finally appeared on Jiang Baigui's usually calm Face.

He tucked the ancient book into his sleeve, and his Aura changed instantly at that moment.

He transformed into a peerless Confucian weapon about to be unsheathed.

"Cult Leader Ye, rest assured. Although Jiang is a scholar, my footwork is barely enough to keep up with the Sword Immortal's escape light."

"Then stop talking nonsense!"

Ye Xiu shouted sternly.

"Clang—!"

Pure Yang True Qi surged instantly, and a massive transparent Qi sword hovered outside the hall doors.

Ye Xiu stepped onto the sword tip first, the wild wind blowing his black hair into a frenzy.

Jiang Baigui followed closely behind, his green robe fluttering, landing steadily beside Ye Xiu.

Qin Mu, Si Yunxiang, and Xue Biane also immediately jumped onto the end of the Flying Sword.

"Yin Jiuyou, watch the headquarters well. Wait for this Sect Leader's good news!"

Accompanied by Ye Xiu's long whistle, the massive Pure Yang Qi sword transformed into a dazzling aurora.

It tore through the oppressive Void Realm of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, carrying unparalleled Killing Intent, pointing straight to the Southwest border!

...

Meanwhile, in the three Northwest provinces, at the Prince of Zhenbeis Manor.

Unlike the undercurrents in the capital, this Northwest land, far from the Emperor, had long been an independent kingdom where one man ruled supreme.

At this moment, in the main hall of the manor, the sound of strings and bamboo pipes was incessant as a grand oath-swearing banquet was being held.

In the center of the hall, dozens of exotic dancers in thin gauze were twisting their waists.

Long tables made of golden nanmu wood were arranged on both sides, seated with various fierce generals, heads of noble clans, and over a dozen masters of heterodox sects invited out of the mountains with heavy gold.

Prince Zhenbei sat upright in the main seat.

He wore a purple-gold python robe, his Face rugged and majestic, his brows revealing the Aura of an overlord who had long held a high position.

"This King's three Northwest provinces have three hundred thousand armored troops! Under my command are clouds of fierce generals, and even more Grandmasters sitting in watch. If that Ye Xiu had spent his life hiding in the capital eating a woman's soft rice, that would be one thing, but if he dares to step half a step into my territory, this King will surely make him die without a burial place!"