Chapter One Hundred: The Demonic Sect Appears in the Mortal World

Facing Dragoncloud’s respectful bow, the Grey Wolf King slipped aside in a flash and dodged it; he did not accept.

To have someone bearing the Seven-Coloured Merit Circle bow before him — it was absurd. Proud as the Grey Wolf King was, he did not have the nerve for such a thing. Dragoncloud had already gained Heaven’s recognition. If he accepted this bow, it would amount to accepting a blessing from Heaven itself, something the Grey Wolf King could not endure.

“Forget the formalities,” the Grey Wolf King said. “Dragoncloud, the aura of your technique is too fierce. In daily life, restrain it more. Do not let your qi flare out so easily, or you’ll invite needless trouble.”

Dragoncloud nodded. What the king said was true. This set of arts he practiced contained three peerless methods, and with the power to seize Heaven added to it, it carried a fundamental oppressive force over ordinary inner qi.

There is a saying: a harmless man may be innocent, but treasure invites blame. Before one becomes a true peerless master, he should not display the full pressure of his qi so openly.

“Enough, my words are likely superfluous. With your intelligence, you will know how to act from now on. Leave. Outside is where your world lies. If you meet trouble you cannot solve there, come here and find me. I will help with all my strength.”

Dragoncloud felt a sudden jolt. This was their first meeting, and from the beginning the Grey Wolf King had treated him with unusual warmth. It startled and puzzled him in equal measure.

The Grey Wolf King must have some tie with him; otherwise he would never have trusted him so easily. Yet since the king had not explained it, Dragoncloud could not ask.

“Thank you, Elder Grey Wolf King,” he said at once. “As your junior, I will not disappoint you.”

“Very well, then go. Do not forget to take Qingqing with you. She is inexperienced in dealing with people. You should teach her and above all protect her.” An expression of fondness crossed the old king’s face.

Dragoncloud nodded. “Don’t worry, Elder. Since Qingqing already calls me brother, I will keep her safe in every way and not let her be harmed by even the smallest harm.”

Even as he said it, he felt a stir of unease in his heart. Though his technique had the strength to challenge higher realms, Qingqing herself had already reached the Merged-Qi level. Added to that, she could wield the Nine-Turn Celestial Fire. In sheer strength alone, he could not match her now. It was not that he was to protect her; rather, she was the one who protected him.

The Grey Wolf King did not see it that way. Hearing Dragoncloud, a look of satisfaction lit his features at last, his smile breaking open. “Go then,” he said. “If you have time, return and visit this old king.”

When he saw Qingqing again, she bounded up like a spirit, showering Dragoncloud with coquettish gestures. Only then did Dragoncloud realize his retreat had already lasted more than three months.

The more he thought of the fate of the Jade Sword Sect, the more urgent his worry became. With that thought fixed in him, he took his leave from the Grey Wolf King and left the Cang Wolf Ravine with Qingqing.

Once outside, he scanned with divine sense. No disciples of the Qing Sect were lurking in ambush, and he finally breathed easier. At once he understood: it was not that the Qing Sect had shown mercy. Their fearsome reputation was such that they could not believe anyone could enter Cang Wolf Ravine and leave alive.

In this, Dragoncloud was even grateful, for it had allowed him to avoid the Qing Sect’s route and head straight for the Jade Sword Sect.

Now both of them could ride the wind at will, so they flew with astonishing speed. In less than a day they reached the territory of the Jade Sword Sect.

“Brother, this is your sect? It’s so grand!” Qingqing marveled at the freshly restored mountain gate of the Jade Sword Sect.

Dragoncloud gave a faint, bitter smile. Perhaps only a girl like Qingqing, who had only just touched the world, would call this place grand. Next to the prominent Qing Sect, the Jade Sword Sect was, in comparison, insignificant.

“This is where I was reborn; this is my home. Qingqing, everyone inside the Jade Sword Sect are brothers and sisters in life and death. Don’t trick them around,” Dragoncloud said with a smile.

He knew her temperament well: simple at heart, and a little playful. The disciples of Jade Sword were naturally kind, and from courtesy alone they would never deliberately trouble Qingqing. Yet they could still be drawn into her games, so he had warned her.

Qingqing puffed out her sweet little tongue and pouted. “Brother, you’re impossible—you only ever point out people’s flaws!”

“Enough, enough,” Dragoncloud said with a soft laugh. “Come with me inside. I don’t know whether my enmity has spread to them.”

Even as he spoke, a chill brushed through him. If the Qing Sect had truly done anything truly outrageous, he would not let them go easily.

The two figures slipped silently into the Jade Sword Sect. Dragoncloud did not enter in a bold, public manner. Since the last time he had come to search for a replacement spirit-bone, he had sensed there might be a mole in the Heart-Sword lineage. He had resisted believing it. If that were true, then after the Great Elder faction had shattered, that traitor would surely defect to another power and carry a grudge to the bone against them. Entering the Jade Sword Sect ostentatiously would only wake the whole nest of snakes.

Since he had stepped into the Pre-Heaven realm, his control over his qi was precise to a fault. Qingqing’s cultivation stood above his anyway. With her aura fully subdued, there was not even a trace to detect. Thus they entered the Jade Sword Sect without difficulty.

“Hm? Why are there so few people?” Dragoncloud frowned. Though the sect had been decimated by that catastrophe by nearly two-thirds, it had never seemed this empty.

A sharper worry rose: could the Qing Sect have come in after all?

After a few rapid descents and ascents, they reached the council hall where Master Shangguan Yu was supposed to be. Yet to Dragoncloud’s disbelief the hall was completely empty, without a single person.

“Bad,” he muttered, colors draining from his face. Could the Qing Sect truly have dared to strike the Jade Sword Sect openly?

Just then a voice sounded outside. Dragoncloud gave Qingqing a quick glance and both slipped behind a screen, drawing in their qi.

“Have none of the leaders sent word yet?” Li Huafei called out, which steadied Dragoncloud a little.

“No. I heard the battle at Yan Sect is terribly fierce, and disciples of the orthodox path have taken heavy losses. The sect master and theirs were the first aid unit. No one knows how many from our Jade Sword Sect will return this time,” said an elder from the Earth-Sword lineage.

That shook Dragoncloud slightly. The situation was not exactly as he had imagined. It seemed the trouble was at Yan Sect, a smaller school not far away, and was not because of the Qing Sect at all.

Even after hearing that, he did not fully settle. By Li Huafei’s tone, this matter at Yan Sect was anything but simple.

“The Blood-Origin Sect came out as if their whole hive had broken open,” Li Huafei sighed. “There are countless experts. That anyone can still hold out now is a miracle. I still wonder what Yan Sect did to invite such a catastrophe from them.”

Dragoncloud frowned. The Blood-Origin Sect was an evil-path school of the Qingshan line, usually hidden from sight in the ordinary world. It was said to be immensely powerful, a peerless sect comparable to the Qing Sect. Three thousand years ago, during the Great Trial of the Righteous Path, the evil-path schools were defeated by the unified righteous forces and have since kept to the shadows. It is rare for such open villainy to assault the righteous so directly.

No one knew what Yan Sect had done to provoke the Blood-Origin Sect this time.

His thoughts grew increasingly uncertain. After a few more words with Li Huafei and the elder, they left the hall, and Dragoncloud finally stepped out with Qingqing.

“Brother, why didn’t you meet them just now?” Qingqing asked with wide, blinking eyes.

“Now is not the time to reveal myself,” Dragoncloud replied with a smile. “Qingqing, stay here. I must go to Yan Sect. All the Jade Sword disciples have gone to reinforce them. This time they will likely suffer severe depletion of qi and spirit. Though I have left the Jade Sword Sect, it gave me a new life; I owe it this.”

“Brother, are you going to leave me behind?” Qingqing pouted, her eyes slightly reddened, tears forming.

A wry laugh rose in Dragoncloud. “Foolish girl. How could your brother ever leave you? Yan Sect is under siege by an evil faction, danger everywhere. How could he let you risk your life?”

Qingqing’s tears broke into a laugh at once. She caught Dragoncloud’s arm and said, “I knew you’re the best brother. Don’t forget—I’m at the Fifth Pre-Heaven realm. Uncle Grey Wolf said that even Seventh-Sects and Sixth-Sect adepts may not be my match. Let me go with you; then I can keep an eye on things too.”