Gathering at the Mountain Gate

The silence of the Azure Kite Pavilion was shattered by shouts and the clamor of battle.

Flames shot into the sky!

A group of martial artists hurled gunpowder charges loaded with shrapnel into the night air.

The charges exploded and scattered, igniting towering infernos upon landing in the dense forest.

"Heh heh, no need for blades! Tie them up! It'd be a shame to mar these fair-skinned maidens with swords," said a martial artist clad in black, looking at the dozens of Azure Kite Pavilion women with a leering grin.

The world of immortal sects still clung to the tradition of male superiority.

In their eyes, women were merely spoils of war.

"Hahaha, these girls are fantastic, they look so... juicy!"

"That plump little lass, I want her! No one else touches her!"

The members of the Eagle Claw Sect were already eyeing the captives with lustful expressions.

"Sisters, don't be afraid!"

Wang Yue, gripping her longsword, tried to comfort the captured women of the Azure Kite Pavilion.

She was covered in wounds, her once alluring pink dress now stained with blood, indistinguishable whether it was from enemies or her own.

Behind her, Protector Yang, Wu Susu, Liu Yue'e, and the other women also wore looks of exhaustion, clearly having fought for a long time.

Most of the captives were weaker martial artists.

"Be careful, brothers. That woman is at the late-stage Xujing realm. The two offerings from the Heavenly Demon Sect died by her hand," said a man with hawk-like eyes as he walked over slowly.

The many black-clad men immediately showed delighted expressions: "We pay our respects to the Sect Master!"

The hawk-eyed man was none other than the Eagle Claw Sect Master, Ying Tan!

A flicker of despair appeared in Wang Yue's eyes.

Ying Tan was a peak Xujing realm martial artist; she was powerless to stop him.

"The... the Blazing Sword Manor!"

Then, Wang Yue's eyes grew even dimmer as she saw another group of people approaching the mountain gate.

A gaunt middle-aged man led a group of red-robed figures, gathering before the gate.

Ying Tan looked at the newcomers with a smile and said leisurely, "I never thought the Blazing Sword Manor, famed for its righteous path, would also get involved."

Fen Qingyun snorted coldly, remaining silent.

Always priding himself on being orthodox, he still held great disdain for these demonic cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Eagle Claw Sect.

"Tsk tsk, so fragile. Was it really necessary to gather so many people for a sect like the Azure Kite Pavilion?" a disheveled, hunchbacked old man cackled with a terrifying, creaking voice.

Behind him stood a group of bare-chested, muscular men, each with a fierce and menacing appearance.

"Fire Old Demon!"

Ying Tan narrowed his eyes and instinctively took two steps back.

Fire Old Demon was the former sect master of the Fire Ghost Sect, now retired. No one expected him to take action personally.

"How interesting. It seems I, Ning, have arrived late."

A man dressed in luxurious mink robes led a group of gray-clad martial artists forward slowly, cupping his hands in greeting. "This junior, Ning Haotian, pays his respects to all esteemed seniors."

“Oh, the new sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect. An honor, an honor,” Fire Old Demon revealed his broken teeth with a cackle. “I heard Ning Zhongyuan died on a woman’s belly. Hahaha, retribution, retribution!”

Ning Haotian's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched, revealing a hint of killing intent.

Although the Fire Ghost Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect were both notorious demonic sects, there was no shortage of enmity between them.

Ying Tan stepped in to smooth things over: "And the Jade Mountain Sect Master, Yu Sheng? Why isn't he here?"

"He's already dead."

An incongruous, lazy voice rang out.

Everyone was shocked, their gazes turning towards the source.

From the darkness of the forest, a figure shouldering a long spear, wreathed in lightning and covered in blood, slowly emerged.

The newcomer curled his lips into a smile and said, "I killed him!"

"Arrogant!"

Ying Tan's eyes turned sharp.

Even Ning Haotian's expression became serious.

They both sensed a terrifying aura emanating from this young man before them.

Fire Old Demon sniffed lightly, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he laughed, "The brat isn't lying. I can smell it—that's Yu Sheng's blood on him! Hahaha!"

Fen Qingyun of the Blazing Sword Manor looked at the lightning wreathing the newcomer's body and the strange double-bladed spear, thoughtfully saying, "So it's someone from the Bai family."

"The Bai family?"

Hearing this, even Bai Xiu himself was stunned.

He hadn't revealed his name, had he?

The women of the Azure Kite Pavilion looked at Bai Xiu, their expressions first joyful, then quickly dimming again.

Just one person... the current situation was no longer something a single individual could sway!

Four major sects, with numerous Xujing realm martial artists gathered.

Their combined force could wipe out four or five Azure Kite Pavilions.

"Ning Haotian! I'll fuck your mother!"

Ning Er appeared from nowhere, leaping into the air, brandishing a broadsword as he chopped towards Ning Haotian.

Clang!

Ning Haotian hastily drew his curved blade, steadily blocking Ning Er's attack, and said with a smirk, "Watch your tongue. My mother is also your stepmother."

"Did you kill Father?!"

Enraged, Ning Er relied on brute force, swinging his broadsword in a horizontal slash.

Ning Haotian retreated two steps. Although he also possessed mid-stage Xujing strength, it was far less solid than Ning Er's.

Ning Haotian said coldly, "The whole world knows you seduced that witch Zhang Rou'er. Don't try to deny it!"

"You beast worse than pigs or dogs! How could you do it?!"

Ning Er's eyes turned bloodshot. With a roar, he brought his blade down again.

At that moment, Elder Xu, standing behind Ning Haotian, swung his folding fan.

As a peak Xujing realm martial artist, dealing with Ning Er alone was child's play for him.

Clang!

The fan had just been launched when it was pierced through by a long spear.

Ning Er exclaimed with joy, "Big Brother!"

Bai Xiu retracted his spear, looking at Elder Xu and saying calmly, "I'll be your opponent."

"You insolent brat!"

Elder Xu looked at the blood on Bai Xiu's body, vaguely sensing something, and took two steps back.

He was backing down!

The Jade Mountain Sect didn't just have Sect Master Yu Sheng. So why was this young man the only one to walk out of that mountain path in the end?

The more one thought about it, the more terrifying it became!

"Attack!"

Fen Qingyun drew the crimson greatsword from his back and shouted decisively.

In an instant, the flash of blades and shadows filled the air again, enveloped by killing intent.

The martial artists of the Blazing Sword Manor charged forward.

"What should we do with these captives?!"

The Eagle Claw Sect members looked at Ying Tan.

Ying Tan silently swept his gaze over them. "What use are they? Kill them all."

"What a waste!"

The Eagle Claw Sect martial artists felt their hearts bleed hearing this.

These were fair-skinned maidens!

"I'll kill you!"

Just then, a girl of about fourteen or fifteen suddenly appeared behind Ying Tan, slashing a dagger towards the back of his neck.

Ying Tan revealed a strange smile.

A mere Anjin stage little girl, trying to hurt him?

"Guoguo!"

Wu Susu and the other women cried out in alarm upon seeing this.

But by then, Guoguo had already been sent flying by the energy radiating from Ying Tan's longsword.

Clang!

A longsword blocked Ying Tan's follow-up attack.

"Gu Changfeng!"

Ying Tan looked at the newcomer, narrowing his eyes.

He seemed not to have expected someone from the Heavenly Profound Sect to lend assistance.

Guoguo's body was sent flying, only to be caught by a young man in white robes.

Feeling the cushion of being caught, Guoguo opened her eyes, and her face instantly flushed bright red.

So handsome!

White hair, a handsome profile, and... two little horns on his forehead?

"Are you alright?" Tu Langlang asked with a light laugh, showing his little canine teeth.

Guoguo quickly shook her head. "N-no, I'm fine."

Gu Changfeng parried Ying Tan's attack and looked back to see Guoguo held in the arms of a white-haired youth. His eyes nearly burst from their sockets, his heart shattered with rage!

His young maiden in the bloom of her youth!!!

She'd been snatched away!