Chapter 347: Demon Sect Experts

Chapter 347: Demon Sect Experts

The Great Golden Roc King's gaze was profound, and no one could discern the thoughts in his heart. Anyone standing before him would feel an immense pressure, as if facing an insurmountable mountain. Only someone of his cultivation level could evoke such an unattainable aura.

"Wait. Now is not yet the most opportune moment." The Great Golden Roc King exuded authority without anger, with draconic currents swirling around him. His pupils seemed to contain oceans of stars—deep, unfathomable, and vast beyond measure.

After speaking, the Great Golden Roc King rose and left the Purple Bamboo Building.

Once he departed, a maidservant entered, holding a Mystic Wood Box in her hands. She knelt respectfully and said, "Your Highness, this is a gift of apology from the Minor Marquis."

"So, he actually knows how to send gifts now! Men are truly no good, always trying to win over girls."

Though Yu Qianqian spoke these words, her heart was secretly delighted. A faint smile curved her lips as she eagerly took the Mystic Wood Box. When she cracked it open slightly, a milky-white glow of medicinal light spilled out.

Jade Beauty Pill!

A legendary pill said to preserve a woman's beauty eternally.

......

Ning Xiaochuan had just stepped out of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor when he spotted Yu Qing and Shi Jindan waiting outside.

"Brother Ning, I’ve been waiting for you for ages! Come, come, let’s go for a drink—my treat." Yu Qing hurried forward, grabbing Ning Xiaochuan’s arm and pulling him toward the main street of the Imperial City with great enthusiasm.

Yu Qing dragged Ning Xiaochuan into an Elegant Pavilion under the Divine Dragon King's Residence, immediately summoning the most beautiful songstresses for entertainment. He then brought out a jar of Fine Wine brewed from Profound Medicine and personally poured Ning Xiaochuan a full cup.

"Brother Ning, don’t hold back. Today’s on me."

Yu Qing quickly ordered servants to carry in two large iron-clad chests. The contents were unknown, but they were so heavy that even four Profound Qi Realm servants were drenched in sweat from the effort.

"What’s inside these?" Ning Xiaochuan felt uneasy, sensing that Yu Qing’s enthusiasm was excessive—this wasn’t normal behavior.

Yu Qing commanded the chests to be opened, and instantly, a burst of green light erupted, glistening gold and dazzlingly bright, forcing everyone to squint.

Two chests of Green Gold!

Ordinary Martial Artists couldn’t even produce a single piece of Green Gold, yet Yu Qing had hauled in two massive chests, each filled with gold bars—at least 100,000 taels in total.

Truly, the rich revel in extravagance while the poor freeze to death by the roadside.

The Little Prince of the Divine Dragon King's Residence certainly knew how to make a grand gesture—something ordinary people could never match!

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "Little Prince, what is this?"

Yu Qing blinked repeatedly at Ning Xiaochuan. "Brother Ning, we’re brothers—no need to beat around the bush. Here’s 200,000 taels of Green Gold. How many ranks can you bump me up on the 'Weapon Ranking List'?"

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood and sighed, shaking his head. "The Divine Sword Palace compiled the 'Weapon Ranking List' with fairness and impartiality in mind. Since you’ve only just reached the Earthly Venerable Realm, this is the rank you deserve for now."

"Damn it! I’m the current Little Prince and your friend to boot. How come I’m ranked dead last on the list while Ye Nan Tian is over thirty spots ahead of me?" Yu Qing continued, "I can lose to anyone, but I absolutely can’t lose to Ye Nan Tian—that’d be so humiliating! Brother Ning, just take the 200,000 taels of Green Gold! I don’t need a high rank, just one spot above Ye Nan Tian. How about it?"

Ning Xiaochuan sighed. "This isn’t easy. I’m in a tough spot here."

"What’s so tough? The weapon listed for me on the 'Weapon Ranking List' is the 'Heavenly Stone Cloud Sky Sword,' which is only a Sixth-Grade Mystic Artifact, so my ranking is naturally lower. To improve my standing, I went out of my way to acquire a Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact from the Divine Dragon King's Residence’s Armory."

Yu Qing pulled out a new battle sword and slammed it onto the table with a thud. It was a six-foot-long green blade, as wide as a palm, its surface shimmering with an azure glow. Faintly visible were dozens of ancient seal characters floating along its length.

It was indeed a Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact. Even without channeling energy into it, one could feel the Freezing Energy emanating from the blade.

Ning Xiaochuan still shook his head. "I’m a man of principle. Unless you defeat Ye Nan Tian with your own hands, I absolutely won’t change the rankings on the 'Weapon Ranking List.'"

"So you’re saying that if I defeat someone ranked above me, I can take their spot?" Yu Qing’s eyes lit up.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Naturally. That’s the most convincing proof of strength. However, since the Divine Sword Palace ranked you below Ye Nan Tian, it means your strength truly falls short of his. Even if you challenge him, you won’t win."

"Damn it! I refuse to believe that. Just wait—I’ll head straight to the Yiyuan Sect and beat Ye Nan Tian into the dirt!" Yu Qing smacked the table and was about to storm out when he suddenly paused, his expression turning sly. "Wait a minute… I feel like you’re deliberately provoking me into killing Ye Nan Tian."

"I have no reason to do that," Ning Xiaochuan said with a laugh.

Yu Qing sat back down, grinning. "No reason? You’ve already slept with Ye Nan Tian’s fiancée! Tsk, tsk. A pure, jade-like fairy, reduced to a withered flower by your hands. Once Ye Nan Tian marries Nie Lanxin, he’ll find out she’s no longer untouched—forced to wear someone else’s cast-offs. Do you think he’ll swallow that insult? Sooner or later, the Martial Path elders of the Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect will come to the Imperial City to settle the score with you. Heh! Right now, your only option is to have me kill Ye Nan Tian. That’ll tie up all loose ends."

"Don’t tell me you don’t want him dead?" Ning Xiaochuan countered.

Yu Qing’s gaze turned icy, murderous intent rising. "Oh, it’s more than just wanting. Let me tell you a military secret—the imperial army has already begun mobilizing to suppress rebellions across the land with extreme force."

Ning Xiaochuan’s expression shifted. When the military spoke of "extreme force," it inevitably meant massacre.

Yu Qing lowered his voice. "Do you know who’s backing the rebel leaders? Almost all of them are tied to major sects—either disciples or deeply connected to them."

"The names of the 'Yiyuan Sect' and the 'Tianyin Sect' are both recorded in the Imperial Secret Reports. If the imperial court decides to take drastic measures, they will surely annihilate a major sect to intimidate the rebels."

"The Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect are the leading sects among the major factions. If the imperial court strikes, they will likely uproot these two sects entirely, turning all their disciples into wandering souls."

The power of sects is indeed formidable, but compared to the imperial court, they still fall far short. After all, the court controls the lifelines of the realm, commanding an army of hundreds of millions. If they truly resort to bloody policies, no sect can withstand them.

It seems the Jade Emperor has also recognized the current crisis facing the court. To demonstrate the iron will of the imperial authority to the world, only by making everyone realize the court's overwhelming power can they deter those who seek rebellion.

Rebellion is like "rumors"—once someone takes the lead, others will follow. Rebel forces have emerged in various prefectures of the Yulan Empire, hearts are lost, and warlords carve out their territories. By then, even if the imperial court's power remains immense, it may still crumble.

The Great Golden Roc King has precisely gauged the dire situation of the Yulan Empire. Even he dares not act recklessly now—one misstep, and not only will he fail to seize the throne, but the imperial surname itself may be replaced by another.

At present, the marquises of the court are all racking their brains on how to deal with the rising tide of rebels. Yet, the greatest threat to the Jian Pavilion Marquis House comes from the Demon Sect.

Just as Ning Xiaochuan, Yu Qing, and Shi Jindan were drinking, suddenly, a pitch-black Demonic Cloud drifted overhead, flying toward the Divine Sword Palace.

The streets, pavilions, and pedestrians below were shrouded in shadow, a chilling energy permeating the air.

From within the black Demonic Cloud, a massive handprint stretched out, enveloping the over-60-meter-long Weapon Ranking List and forcibly dragging it into the demonic grasp.

Standing atop the Demonic Cloud was a white-haired old man, mounted on the back of a Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast. Clutching the glistening gold Weapon Ranking List, he let out a booming, mocking laugh. "A Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact obtained just like that. Many thanks to the Divine Sword Palace for gifting such a treasure—this old man won’t stand on ceremony."

"Audacious! How dare you brazenly steal a Mystic Artifact from the Divine Sword Palace?"

From the Divine Sword Palace, three Fifth-rank mystic beasts charged toward the Demonic Cloud.

On the back of each beast stood a formidable martial artist.

They were elders dispatched by the Jian Pavilion Marquis to guard the Divine Sword Palace, all possessing Transcendent Realm cultivation. Each unleashed a Mystic Artifact, bombarding the old man standing within the Demonic Cloud.

The old man remained utterly composed, letting out a cold laugh before uttering a strange incantation.

The Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast beneath him opened its maw, spewing crimson flames that condensed into a fiery cloud, pressing down directly upon the three elders of the Divine Sword Palace.

The three elders had not anticipated such overwhelming strength—even the combat power of a mere mount could scorch the earth and refine the heavens. It was at least a seventh-grade mystic beast!

They tried to retreat, but it was too late. The fiery cloud engulfed them, their robes instantly igniting.

Three martial artists had become three blazing lanterns.

Standing on the back of the Black-Haired Ghost Bat Beast, the White-Haired Old Man burst into laughter and said, "The three elders of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House are nothing special. Trash of this level would only be considered third-rate in our Demon Sect."

Just as the White-Haired Old Man was laughing triumphantly, the sea of flames was absorbed into the body of a young man, leaving not even a single spark in the air.

The three elders had their skin charred, their bodies oozing blood, and were severely burned. Martial Artists from the Divine Sword Palace immediately retrieved them and placed them under strict protection.

The Demon Sect was growing increasingly arrogant, even daring to target the Divine Sword Palace.

The White-Haired Old Man’s laughter abruptly stopped as he stared at the young man hovering below, his brow furrowing. "The Northern Abyss Divine Art. So you’re Ning Xiaochuan of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House?"

...

!