Chapter 334: Master's Sword in the City of Ten Thousand Demons

Sī Mìng gazed at the figure from behind, seeing the white robe and dark hair seemingly embedded in the moon. The figure sat cross-legged, with moonlight gently spreading out from beneath the hem of the skirt, making it unclear whether it was reflecting the sky or water.

The figure seemed distant, yet also incredibly close.

Sī Mìng quietly watched this ethereal figure from behind.

"Is this a heart demon?" Sī Mìng murmured to herself.

She realized she was in a dream.

She hadn't had such a dream in a long time.

Because it was a dream, she could clearly see her current appearance.

Beside her hung the ancient, entirely black sword. She was now dressed in a divine robe that partially exposed her shoulder, patterned with golden constellations. Beneath the robe, delicate and intricate silver tattoos were visible on her skin. Their lines were perfectly drawn, blending seamlessly with the dark, flowing fabric—these were the unique, innate tattoos of a divine official.

Behind her, a delicate crescent moon, woven like silver threads, was outlined, enveloping her graceful, undulating figure.

Sī Mìng looked at herself like this, a nostalgic expression on her face.

This was how she looked when she was still a divine official.

She still couldn't let go of the past... Sī Mìng felt a faint weariness.

She looked at the white-robed figure in the moon, recalling the day the divine kingdom fell. Endless dark flames burned the sky, and crimson dust, like dragons or serpents, swept across the land in a gale. In the fractured earth, chains forged from dragon bones rose like rearing pythons, trapping the Divine Lord's figure in chaos. Then, a white light shone in the darkness.

The initial point of light expanded wildly, becoming an enormous wheel of light that filled her vision, almost sweeping away all the darkness and fire.

It resembled a blade, and also the moon.

Moonlight fell, and silver tides rolled across the ground. In the cracking earth, her divine throne, along with the sundial, disintegrated, plunging despairingly towards Fracture City.

In her final moments of sight, she saw a figure with dark hair and a white robe, whose face was blurry.

This was her heart demon, and also the reason she felt a killing intent when she first met Lù Jiàjià.

Sī Mìng looked at the ephemeral figure in her dream and chuckled self-deprecatingly. After meeting Níng Chángjiǔ in Fracture City, her disposition had subtly changed a great deal. The heart of the Saint Child, once lost with the collapse of the divine kingdom, seemed to be gradually reforming within her body.

Brushing away the fear in her heart, she walked barefoot with snow-white feet across the path paved by moonlight, her mind at peace as she slowly approached the figure.

Since it was a dream.

Since it was a heart demon.

Then tonight, she might as well slay this heart demon in her dream!

Sī Mìng maintained an astonishing clarity within the dream. She suddenly raised her sleeve, fingers splayed, and the black sword beside her danced around her sleeve before clanging into her palm. As Sī Mìng gripped the hilt, her observations and feelings from seven days in the mortal world resonated with the sword's essence, transforming into a true comprehension of heaven and earth.

Sī Mìng slightly bent her knees and arched her body. After tensing, she leaped fiercely with the sword. She felt no resistance; her figure soared effortlessly into the high sky, and the sword was faster than ever before. This speed was nearly that of her peak years, perhaps even surpassing it!

Was this really a dream? Why was it so real?

The thought flashed by. After reaching her peak height, her figure hovered in the air. Then, her black robe whirled wildly, and spiritual power surged out, as a semicircular arc of light, edged by moonlight, brilliantly bloomed in the sky.

The sword light descended from the sky, her figure falling like a meteor as she slashed towards the indistinct figure embedded in the moon!

Sī Mìng rarely felt such exhilaration anymore.

She returned to the past, with endless power surging within her. Stars rose and fell beside her divine throne, and the mortal world lived and died beneath her palm. This sword strike was unexpectedly fast, fast enough to cut through anything.

She and her sword together cut into the moon.

The sword struck the white-robed woman's right shoulder!

Sī Mìng was certain she had struck her! Yet, the other figure remained utterly still, and even her clothes showed no damage whatsoever.

While Sī Mìng was still perplexed, the woman, whose back was to her, suddenly lightly brushed her shoulder, as if flicking away a speck of dust.

In an instant, Sī Mìng was sent flying. Her toes grazed the water-like ground as she slid backward for a hundred zhang, planting her sword to barely steady herself.

Sī Mìng looked up in horror, gazing at the figure who had so effortlessly nullified her full-power sword strike, her eyes filled with shock.

"Is my heart demon... really this stubborn?" Sī Mìng murmured to herself.

However powerful a heart demon was, how could it be so difficult to slay even in a dream?

She cast aside distracting thoughts, raised her sword, and charged again. The hundred-zhang distance closed instantly. Holding the sword with both hands, she struck again mid-air, in a decapitating stance.

After a bell-like sound, Sī Mìng's figure was sent flying backward in the same manner.

"How is this possible?" Sī Mìng looked at her trembling divine robe, her silver tattoos flickering like a candle in the wind, about to extinguish. "Is this... is this really a dream? Why can't I overcome my heart demon even in my own dream?"

She felt no pain, only a deep sense of powerlessness welling up.

After a long silence, she opened her eyes again, staring at the figure from behind, and fighting spirit surged in her heart once more.

She gripped her sword tightly, igniting its flame, and lunged forward at a speed even greater than before.

The two collided. Sī Mìng was repelled again.

She fell to the ground, struggling to get up. Though dishevelled, she refused to concede defeat. With a clear Dao heart, she confronted her inner obstacle, lunging forward with her sword again and again, only to be repelled each time. The battle fire ignited in her heart was fiercely suppressed by an invisible hand, but this suppression only fostered a more tenacious and unyielding spirit within her.

She propped herself up with her sword and slowly rose. Bringing her hands behind her neck, she used spiritual power as threads to tie her abundant silver hair tightly. Then she gripped her sword again and continued to lunge at the figure.

It's just a heart demon... If I can't even slay you, how can I ever reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao and return to my divine throne in the future!

Sī Mìng's Dao heart firmed up again. She rose with her sword, her figure like a blade. Then she was repelled again and again, falling into the water-like moonlight.

The moonlight dampened her robe sleeves.

A long time passed, but Sī Mìng still couldn't harm the other figure in the slightest.

A sense of powerlessness desperately surged into her heart.

Can't I defeat it no matter what...? Sī Mìng gave a bitter smile. She struggled to get up, sat cross-legged, and placed the black sword across her lap.

The dark-haired, white-robed figure quietly waited for her.

Sī Mìng expended immense effort to suppress the thoughts in her mind.

She looked at the sky, forgetting the sky. She looked at the moon, forgetting the moon. She touched the sword, forgetting the sword.

Her icy eyes suddenly became vacant.

Immersed in the universe, she entered a state of serene self-forgetfulness.

So much so that she didn't even hear the figure let out a faint sigh.

The black sword flew up from her lap.

Sī Mìng pressed her finger to her brow. Behind her, the crescent moon transformed into a giant-winged sparrow. The moon-sparrow cried out loudly, attaching itself to the sword. From the sundial, the part associated with the moon detached and engraved itself onto the sword body like an inscription.

Sī Mìng's hand moved down from her brow.

She slowly opened her eyes.

With a sharp clang, the black sword and the moon-sparrow merged. It slashed towards the moon at an unprecedented speed. This sword strike was more powerful than all previous strikes combined; it caused the void to collapse, made the moon's shadow lose its brilliance, and seemed capable of splitting the entire moon in half with a single strike.

Amidst the loud noise, Sī Mìng softly exhaled, her spirit's connection to the dream world now as thin as a silk thread.

Surely it's slain this time... she thought, slowly raising her head. Then, she once again witnessed a scene that nearly shattered her Dao heart.

The sword hovered outside the moon. The moon was completely unharmed, while her moon-sparrow was forcibly extracted from the sword body, returning to the size of a common sparrow.

Yet, this moon-sparrow, which clearly belonged to her, showed no repulsion towards this mortal enemy. Instead, it hopped around on her shoulder, affectionately pecking her.

Despair and betrayal struck like thunder. Amidst cracking sounds, the spiritual threads entwining her long hair broke, and her silver hair fell loose again. Sī Mìng knelt numbly, her expression utterly dishevelled.

She felt a sense of utter loss.

"Níng Chángjiǔ!!!" she cried out instinctively, her voice tearing at her heart. She suddenly turned her head to look beside her, but saw nothing.

Right... this was just a dream.

Sī Mìng realized belatedly, feeling embarrassed by her own cry.

She knelt on the ground, supporting herself with her hands, breathing heavily.

Since it was a dream...

Sī Mìng gave a bitter smile, and once again pressed her brow.

"That's enough."

A voice suddenly rang out, clear and pure.

Sī Mìng's heart violently trembled. She looked up, only to see that the unmoving figure had stood up at some point. Time seemed to slow down as Sī Mìng watched her turn around. She still couldn't clearly see the other's face, but she could feel an infinite beauty radiating from her.

The woman slowly walked towards her, her steps gentle and steady. Her body's curves were exquisitely beautiful, yet devoid of any sensuality, emanating only purity and holiness.

Sī Mìng couldn't understand her current feelings.

She stared blankly as the other figure approached her.

The woman from the moon picked up the sword suspended in the air. She leaned down and tied it to Sī Mìng's waist. Sī Mìng was puzzled why she would do this, but she didn't resist. The woman's movements were gentle, without any hostility. She extended a slightly bent finger, and the moon-sparrow leaped onto its tip. With a flip of her palm, she tapped her own brow, and the moon-sparrow, like water, re-merged into her body.

Before she could understand, she saw the woman raise her hand.

"Is she going to kill me...?" Sī Mìng wondered, but then heard a sharp "pat" as her forehead was flicked.

Sī Mìng let out a soft groan and covered her forehead.

It hurt so much...

She woke up.

Sī Mìng slowly opened her eyes.

"What are you doing!" Sī Mìng suddenly fully woke up and struggled out of Níng Chángjiǔ's embrace. She felt her clothes and pulled up her sleeve to check her wrist for bruises or marks. Staring at Níng Chángjiǔ, she asked coldly, "Who told you to hug me?"

When she woke, her head was resting on Níng Chángjiǔ's chest, one hand clutched his clothes, the other wrapped around his back, and her body was pressed tightly against him.

Níng Chángjiǔ said innocently, "You were clearly shouting my name in your sleep and holding onto me tightly. I'm the one who lost my innocence!"

"What innocence do you have to lose!" Sī Mìng retorted. She sighed, rubbed her temples, and recalled her earlier dream.

She immediately touched her waist... where was the black sword?

It really was a dream...

Sī Mìng gently shook her head.

How could she have such a dream? Had her heart demon become so stubborn?

"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Níng Chángjiǔ asked with concern, moving his stiff body.

Sī Mìng coldly snorted, "I've cultivated to the Fifth Path; how could I still have nightmares? Besides, what in this world could make me afraid?"

Níng Chángjiǔ looked at her dubiously and asked, "Then what did you dream about? I couldn't wake you up just now, no matter how much I called."

"I don't remember," Sī Mìng said dismissively. "But since I called your name in my dream, it probably wasn't a good one. Fine, I'll forgive you this time. But if you dare to take advantage of me while I'm sleeping again, I'll cut off your hands!"

"..." *If I really wanted to take advantage of you, would I need to wait until you fell asleep?* Níng Chángjiǔ thought. He sighed and said, "Understood, Divine Official."

Sī Mìng was too lazy to pursue his evasiveness. Her mind was still immersed in the previous dream, recalling the last scene.

Dreams are manifestations of one's deep subconscious.

According to this... did her inability to defeat the other, and even getting flicked on the forehead at the end, all stem from her subconscious perceptions?

Sī Mìng bit her pink lips, involuntarily recalling Níng Chángjiǔ's earlier words to her—that she had masochistic tendencies in her subconscious.

Impossible!

Sī Mìng immediately rejected the thought. How could she be that kind of woman?

But... how then to explain the dream she just had?

Sī Mìng's feelings were highly conflicted.

Níng Chángjiǔ looked at her downcast profile, watching her shifting eyes, and felt a similar curiosity... what on earth did she dream about?

Níng Chángjiǔ couldn't help but recall her trembling eyelashes in her dream, her tightly closed lips, her slightly pained expression, and the hand wrapped around him... A flash of insight struck him, and Níng Chángjiǔ felt he understood.

A moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold, no wonder she didn't want to wake up!

He remembered how she had called his name in her dream earlier. The subject of the dream was self-evident! No wonder she had said such things when she woke up.

Níng Chángjiǔ couldn't help but laugh. He found it hard to imagine someone like Sī Mìng having such a dream. So, she felt that way about him too... Thinking this, Níng Chángjiǔ's gaze softened considerably as he looked at her.

Sī Mìng turned her head, vigilantly observing his gentle eyes... Something felt off... Hmm, he must be up to no good again!

They looked at each other for a moment, both convinced they had guessed the other's thoughts.

"It's getting late. Let's head to the City of Ten Thousand Demons as soon as possible," Sī Mìng said, being the first to look away. She stood ramrod straight and casually drew a phantom sword.

"Huh?" Sī Mìng felt a slight doubt.

"What's wrong?" Níng Chángjiǔ asked.

Sī Mìng realized that her swordsmanship cultivation seemed to have improved again, and this improvement... was significant!

Could practicing swordsmanship in a dream also have such a miraculous effect?

"Nothing," Sī Mìng said casually. She would absolutely not reveal the fact that she was beaten so badly in her dream. Anyway, the dream was hers alone; as long as no one saw, she remained the arrogant divine official!

Níng Chángjiǔ gently pressed down on her phantom sword and said, "The City of Ten Thousand Demons isn't far from here. Let me guide the sword."

Sī Mìng frowned, "What are you doing now?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said gently, "After such a dream, your state of mind is bound to be unstable. You should rest a bit more."

Sī Mìng bit her lip, her expression complex. *Right, he knows about my heart demon. Did he guess the content of my dream? This... this is truly embarrassing.*

"I didn't have any such dream!" Sī Mìng vehemently denied.

Níng Chángjiǔ looked at her expression, which only strengthened his conviction. He drew a phantom sword and gently patted Sī Mìng's shoulder, saying, "Come on."

"Don't touch me!" Sī Mìng slapped his hand away from her shoulder.

*Heh, still pretending with me?* Níng Chángjiǔ smiled at her, gently shook his head, and didn't bother to expose her.

Sī Mìng was indeed a bit flustered. She didn't refuse, however, and walked behind Níng Chángjiǔ with a grim face.

The City of Ten Thousand Demons was now in sight.

Inconceivable View.

Behind the curtains, the shadow of the Abbot, Yè Chángōng, swayed like water.

The eldest disciple sister walked into the temple.

"Master," she bowed.

Yè Chángōng gently raised her hand.

The curtains opened, and a scroll emerged from within.

The eldest disciple sister took the scroll. It wasn't thick, and the ink on it was still wet.

This was a sword manual.

The eldest disciple sister's expression subtly changed. From the subtle clues in the sword moves, she recognized the sword technique and asked, "Is this Xuě Cí's sword art?"

"Yes," Yè Chángōng replied. "Among my disciples, you are the most proficient in swordsmanship. Find all the flaws in this sword art and then help her complete it."

The eldest disciple sister thought of the proud woman, gently shook her head, and asked, "A divine official from a fallen kingdom, with nothing but a beautiful facade. It's one thing for Junior Brother to be smitten by her looks, but why should Master pay her such attention? Or is it..."

Yè Chángōng interrupted her, "Just do as I say."

The eldest disciple sister put away the scroll and collected her aura. *Xuě Cí is proud and arrogant, and Zhào Xiāng'ér is two-faced. After thinking it over, it's Lù Jiàjià who seems the most agreeable.*

"Your divine will is my command," the eldest disciple sister reluctantly agreed.

Yè Chángōng asked, "What's the situation with the Silver Snow Palace and the Sword Pavilion?"

The eldest disciple sister replied, "The Heavenly Monarch of the Silver Snow Palace appeared briefly in the human realm five days ago. At that time, Junior Brother and Xuě Cí were boating on a bamboo raft. The Heavenly Monarch observed from a distance for a while but didn't act. Three days ago, the eldest disciple sister of the Sword Pavilion completed the final stage of the Myriad Dao Transcendent Saint Art and emerged from seclusion. Her whereabouts are unknown, but according to Third Junior Brother's observations, she is undoubtedly heading to the City of Ten Thousand Demons."

The eldest disciple sister paused, then continued, "The Sword Pavilion's disciples from first to seventh are all prepared to receive Heaven's Mandate. If the Heavenly Dao awakens and imbues them with immense power, it could be very troublesome. The other disciples, however, are still lacking."

"The Heavenly Dao won't truly awaken for now," Yè Chángōng said.

The eldest disciple sister, trusting her Master's words, felt somewhat relieved. She continued, "The Sword Saint has made no moves, but he has now completely merged with the Heavenly Dao. When the human realm collapses in the future, he will surely draw his sword in the name of maintaining order. Second Junior Brother will do his best to block the Sword Saint's peak sword strike."

"As for Liǔ Jùnzhuó, she's on her way to the Ancient Spirit Sect. Junior Brother has already left, so she likely won't cause any trouble. She's actually the least of our worries."

"Oh, and there's one more crucial matter..." The eldest disciple sister's expression turned worried. "Bái Zàng has also projected herself into the human realm."

"Where did she project herself?" Yè Chángōng asked.

The eldest disciple sister replied, "Everywhere, from north to south, and even beyond the Three Thousand Worlds. But she did nothing, acting merely like a ruler inspecting her territory."

After saying all this, the eldest disciple sister earnestly stated, "Master, you only need to rest and recover. There's no need to distract yourself with these matters; leave them to us."

Yè Chángōng listened to all this as if she were an outsider, remaining perfectly calm and unfazed.

"Mm, rest assured," Yè Chángōng responded softly after listening.

The candlelight in the hall was quiet, and the floating celestial music rippled into stillness.

The eldest disciple sister looked at the shadow on the curtains.

Master always looked as beautiful as a dream, but she had never truly revealed her current weakness to anyone.

The eldest disciple sister gently shook her head.

Both the first and second Nation-Hunting Wars had ended in failure. She had little confidence, only intending to do her best.

After all, without the Abbot, they would have long been doomed gods.

"Oh, right, should I inform the Demon Kings in the City of Ten Thousand Demons? So they don't accidentally harm Junior Brother and... Junior Sister-in-law," the eldest disciple sister asked.

"No need. Let him fend for himself."

Yè Chángōng's celestial voice was unspeakably clear and ethereal as always. But the eldest disciple sister couldn't shake the feeling that there was some hidden meaning in her Master's words.

She held the brand-new sword manual and, having received her orders, withdrew.

Four hours later, with the sun high in the sky, a massive, black silhouette loomed into Níng Chángjiǔ's view.

The forest trees here were black, the barren hills and grasslands were black, and so was the black city...

Turning the sword tip downwards, Níng Chángjiǔ and Sī Mìng gently landed.

They both looked forward.

This was the northeastern corner of the Central Continent. The vast, majestic city cast a huge, expanding black shadow. Its towering walls, built from enormous stones, rose skyward to an unknown height. Torches burned atop the walls—these were demon fires, burning steadily in the strong wind, stretching into the distance. At every tower along the wall stood a stone statue of a great demon. These statues clung to the black, cliff-like ramparts, looking upwards, exuding immeasurable majesty and oppression.

Even though countless great demons died or were wounded five hundred years ago, and even now, many Five-Path demons are still trapped beneath imperial cities around the world, this majestic city still stood tall. It faced heaven and earth with an arrogant posture, showing no sign of weakness or impending demise.

On either side of the city gate were the famous inscriptions that spanned the levels: "Visitors are Welcome" and "Those Bearing Swords Shall Die." The characters were strong and vigorous, yet appeared to have been written in a single stroke with a sword.

"This is a giant beast in the twilight," Sī Mìng commented.

But wasn't she also standing in the twilight?

Sī Mìng chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Let's go. Find that so-called Ghost Emperor, retrieve the fragmented authority of the Underworld Lord, and then leave quickly. The Saint is dying, and I don't even want to wade into the murky waters of the City of Ten Thousand Demons."

Níng Chángjiǔ nodded gently, saying nothing.

He looked at the sky above the city gate.

The sky was as usual, just a bit darker than outside.

Other than that, there was nothing else.

Heaven-connecting object... If Kunlun were in the city, what would it be?

Níng Chángjiǔ didn't dwell on it for now. The most urgent matter was to rescue Junior Sister Xiǎo Líng first.

"Mm. Let's go," Níng Chángjiǔ said simply. Sī Mìng put on her demon fox mask, and together, they calmly walked into this ancient city, which was extraordinary in the eyes of the world.

The guards at the city gate were a pair of wild boar spirits.

The wild boar spirits, holding long spears, blocked their path.

Níng Chángjiǔ handed over the circulated documents and credentials from the Central Continent. The wild boar spirit flipped through the documents and asked, "Do you carry a sword?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "I understand the rules of the City of Ten Thousand Demons."

The wild boar spirit warned, "Everyone in the world knows the rules of the City of Ten Thousand Demons, but there are always those who want to break them. Many bodies are buried in the bone pit, so don't try your luck."

Níng Chángjiǔ smiled and said, "I won't."

The wild boar spirit checked their travel permit, offered no further difficulties, and let them in.

Walking through a long tunnel, the light at the end appeared exceptionally bright.

Beyond the tunnel was a horrifying deep pit. Piled high within it were countless bones, both human and demon, emitting a putrid, bloody stench.

"Guests," a dog demon with a paper talisman on its head wobbled over. Its eyes were blind, but it walked steadily. It said sincerely, "You're new faces, first-time visitors. Do you need a guide? The City of Ten Thousand Demons has complex terrain and many rules. Having a blind guide can save you a lot of trouble."

Sī Mìng said nothing. She didn't care, as it was Lù Jiàjià's money being spent anyway.

Níng Chángjiǔ looked at it, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Your eyes are blind; you can't see. How do I know if you're lying?"

The blind dog demon spoke confidently, "I'm a native dog here. My eyes may be blind, but my nose is sharp! I've guided at least a thousand, if not ten thousand, guests. Don't doubt me!"

Níng Chángjiǔ thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, I'll ask you a random question. If you can answer it, I'll hire you as our guide."

The dog demon confidently said, "Ask away."

Sī Mìng glanced at Níng Chángjiǔ, originally intending to ask about the Ghost Emperor, but Níng Chángjiǔ silently stopped her. Níng Chángjiǔ then asked the blind dog, "Do you know where the largest temple in the city is?"