Chapter 291: A Great Demon Descends from the Heavens
Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning received their orders and departed. Each of them selected ten disciples before quietly descending the mountain the next day.
Now, every peak within the Ancient Great Mountain Range housed disciples’ cave dwellings, and the patrol range of the patrolling disciples had already expanded to cover the entire Ancient Great Mountain Range. With the art of sword flight, this task was not difficult.
The disciples of the Clear Sky Sect were still unaware that the Clear Sky Sect was facing a threat.
The disciples’ lives were simple—contribute to the sect, cultivate diligently, and pursue higher cultivation realms and status. The troubles of secular life had long since drifted away from them.
To them, from the moment they became disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, life no longer held worldly worries. What they chased was longevity and immortality; their mindset had already transcended the secular world.
In a courtyard on Clear Sky Mountain piled high with withered yellow autumn leaves, Bai Yutian from Fengxia Mountain was holding a book in his hands, his expression serious.
At seventeen, he was handsome and carried a scholarly air. Relying on his Innate Spiritual Root, he had already reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, though he had yet to reveal his reputation as a genius.
He usually preferred cultivating alone and studying various spells.
A black hand with sparse red fur suddenly leapt onto the table. It resembled a large spider as it crawled back and forth across the tabletop.
“Stop messing around.”
Bai Yutian frowned and used his arm to block the black hand aside.
“I have a rather bad feeling,” the black hand suddenly said, its voice filled with vigilance.
Bai Yutian glanced at it and asked, “What bad feeling? Aren’t you afraid of neither heaven nor earth?”
“There is demonic energy approaching the Clear Sky Sect.”
“There are already quite a few demons inside the Clear Sky Sect.”
“It’s different. None of the demons within the Clear Sky Sect have demonic energy of this level. A true demon is coming.”
“What do you mean? A demon is preparing to force its way into the Clear Sky Sect?”
Bai Yutian set down the book in his hands and asked sternly.
If it were true, he would have to report it to the Clear Sky Sect.
The black hand saw through his thoughts and said, “I advise you not to act rashly. If I’m not mistaken, that group has arrived. If they dare to come directly to the Clear Sky Sect, they must be prepared. It’s even possible that demons have already infiltrated the sect.”
“Who are they?” Bai Yutian’s brows knitted even tighter.
The black hand did not answer. It continued pacing across the table, appearing restless and uneasy.
Just then—
A gust of strong wind swept into the courtyard, lifting the fallen leaves. Bai Yutian was startled to his feet and turned his head to look. Rolling dark clouds had appeared on the horizon, surging forward like an impending storm.
“It’s here! It’s really here!”
The black hand cried out involuntarily. It leapt up and suddenly burrowed straight into Bai Yutian’s chest, disappearing without a trace.
Its words threw Bai Yutian into panic. He stared at the rolling dark clouds sweeping in from the horizon, at a complete loss.
Elsewhere—
On the martial training ground of the Sword Sect Hall, over two hundred Sword Sect Hall disciples were practicing swordsmanship, forming a sword formation.
The one leading them was Yang Lin. She was no longer merely an ordinary disciple relying on Ji Ya. With cultivation at the Sixth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, she held a certain status within the Sword Sect Hall. She was usually responsible for training new disciples and carried considerable prestige.
Standing on the steps, she swung her sword while keeping a close eye on the disciples.
The disciples followed her movements in perfect unison, imposing and orderly.
Yang Lin’s gaze was unconsciously drawn toward the dark clouds gathering in the distance.
Is it going to rain? It looks like quite a storm.
She thought to herself and decided to dismiss the disciples after finishing this round.
She did not think much of it. Weather changes like this occurred several times each year.
As the dark clouds drew closer to Clear Sky Mountain, disciples in various courtyards began preparing to shelter from the rain, though many did not care and intended to cultivate through the storm.
After a while—
Yang Lin sheathed her sword and said, “That’s enough for today. After you return, remember to—”
Before she could finish, a piercing sound suddenly split the air. Almost simultaneously, a flash of light descended from the heavens.
Clang—
A violent crash erupted from the center of the martial training ground. The Sword Sect Hall disciples all turned in shock, their eyes widening.
A black iron staff had pierced through the ground and stood upright in the arena. Cracks spread outward like a spiderweb, and demonic energy coiled around the black iron staff—it clearly was no benevolent object.
The Sword Sect Hall disciples stared at it, all stunned.
Yang Lin reacted first and immediately shouted, “Fall back! Be careful of enemy attack!”
She had once experienced the attack of the Ancient God’s avatar on the Clear Sky Sect. In her subconscious, she knew the sect could be invaded.
Upon hearing her command, the Sword Sect Hall disciples retreated one after another, raising their Clear Sky Swords.
A rushing sound came from above. Yang Lin instinctively looked up.
A figure clad in black-scaled armor descended from the sky and landed atop the black iron staff. Yang Lin focused her gaze, and her pupils involuntarily dilated.
“A… monkey demon?”
A Sword Sect Hall disciple cried out trembling. Following his gaze, a monkey demon clad in black armor stood atop the black iron staff.
The monkey demon’s figure was humanlike, covered in brown fur. His face resembled a human’s, his eyes were blood-red, and two sharp fangs protruded from his mouth. A ferocious grin hung on his face. The fur atop his head was long, swaying like hair, adding to his oppressive presence.
“Heh heh, quite lively indeed!”
The black-armored monkey demon sneered. His gaze swept across the area, causing the Sword Sect Hall disciples to instinctively retreat and widen the distance.
His eyes ultimately settled on Yang Lin.
Yang Lin’s heart jolted violently. Her instincts told her this demon was extremely dangerous.
“I’ll start with you!”
The black-armored monkey demon sneered coldly. As his words fell, he leapt into the air, gripping the black iron staff with one hand and raising it high overhead, his aura terrifying.
He was simply too fast—so fast that Yang Lin had no time to react.
In a blur, a violent gust of wind had already struck her face. Her eyes widened, and within her pupils was reflected the dreadful figure of the black-armored monkey demon.
Time seemed to freeze.
The black-armored monkey demon’s expression was savage. With one hand, he swung the black iron staff, intending to smash her into pulp.
A streak of sword light suddenly illuminated Yang Lin’s face. Midair, the black-armored monkey demon glanced sideways, his pupils shrinking. He twisted his body and swung the iron staff to meet it.
Clang—
A Clear Sky Sword struck the black iron staff. The immense force pressed the black-armored monkey demon down toward one side. He was sent flying over a dozen zhang before twisting midair and landing.
With a powerful shake, he knocked the Clear Sky Sword away from the iron staff.
The Clear Sky Sword spun through the air, passing over Yang Lin’s head before being caught by a snow-white hand. Immediately afterward, a figure landed behind Yang Lin.
Yang Lin regained her senses, turned her head, and exclaimed in delight, “It’s you!”
The one who had arrived was Yun Cai.
Yun Cai did not respond. Sword in hand, she charged toward the black-armored monkey demon.
The black-armored monkey demon grinned at her. “Spirit Perception Realm! You came quite quickly!”
Though Yun Cai’s attack surprised him, he did not take her seriously.
The moment his words ended, he charged head-on toward her.
The Sword Sect Hall disciples all recognized Yun Cai and were overjoyed, but seeing her about to clash with the black-armored monkey demon, they dared not speak, afraid of missing anything.
The human and demon moved at astonishing speed, colliding in the blink of an eye.
The black-armored monkey demon swung his staff. Yun Cai’s pupils turned silver-blue. In that instant, her body twisted slightly, narrowly slipping beneath the black iron staff by the smallest margin while simultaneously slashing with her sword.
In the black-armored monkey demon’s eyes, her figure seemed to flicker. A profound sense of danger struck him, causing him to leap away immediately—but her sword still struck his chest armor.
Hah—
The black-armored monkey demon landed over ten zhang away. When he looked up at Yun Cai again, the smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a dark and wary expression.
His chest armor had not been split open, but his internal organs had been shaken violently. His blood essence churned, leaving him deeply uncomfortable.
Not only was her strength formidable, her Vital Energy was also fierce and domineering!
“State your name!” the black-armored monkey demon demanded in a deep voice as demonic energy surged around him, his aura rising sharply.
Yun Cai flicked her sword, her face cold, and said, “Clear Sky Sect, Yun Cai.”
“The first place of the Grand Dao Tournament. I didn’t expect you to be this formidable.”
There was surprise in the black-armored monkey demon’s tone, and his words caused Yun Cai’s eyes to narrow.
This demon knew so much about the Clear Sky Sect. He must have investigated beforehand—perhaps even had backing from some force.
Without another word, Yun Cai charged at him again.
The two fought fiercely. Yun Cai’s offensive was swift and relentless. In fewer than ten moves, the black-armored monkey demon—who had just gathered momentum—was suppressed.
They leapt from the martial training ground onto the rooftops. Their figures interwove, their movements so fast that afterimages appeared. Sword and staff clashed, sparks flying.
Rumble—
Thunder boomed from the dark clouds above, oppressive and suffocating, drowning out the sounds of their battle.
Yang Lin ordered several disciples to summon reinforcements while she gripped her Clear Sky Sword tightly, her gaze fixed on Yun Cai and the black-armored monkey demon.
She wanted to join the fight, but she realized her eyes could not even follow their speed.
“Insolence!”
The black-armored monkey demon roared. Demonic energy condensed into the face of a giant ape, unleashing a deafening roar toward Yun Cai. The soundwaves shook the air, visibly distorting space.
Yun Cai’s figure stalled for a brief moment, giving the black-armored monkey demon an opportunity.
He swung his staff violently. This time, the black iron staff erupted with rolling demonic energy, forming a ten-zhang-long staff shadow, terrifying in power.
The sweep stirred violent winds, sending many disciples below flying through the air.
Facing such a domineering strike, strange blue light flickered in Yun Cai’s eyes. Accompanied by a tiger’s roar, a massive silver tiger manifested out of thin air, leaping past her and striking the ten-zhang staff shadow with a swipe of its claws.
Mountain Lord Divine Incantation!
There was no preparatory motion to her Mountain Lord Divine Incantation, leaving many Sword Sect Hall disciples staring in stunned amazement.