Chapter 1345: The Mad Fox Invades the Screen Realm, The Old Sword Leans on Willow and Reveals a New Blade

Starlight swayed and fell, the curtain of heavenly mechanisms descended.

Before the crowd of the Dao Department, a graceful figure appeared.

Under everyone's gaze, she seemed a bit uneasy, her veiled face slightly turned, her long eyelashes trembling lightly, evoking a sense of pity.

"Cough!"

On the jade stone steps, someone cleared their throat unobtrusively, without drawing much attention.

Yu Zhiwen sensed it, lifting her eyes to meet the encouraging and kindly gaze of Yu Grandpa, which steadied her heart like a foundation laid, dispelling a great weight.

In the past, she would never have appeared in such a setting—a gathering of so many people.

Even if the Dao Hall had asked her to become the head of the Dao Department, she would have refused, or if unavoidable, asked her master to handle it.

But now, things were different.

The bright moon hung in the sky, accompanied by a multitude of stars.

He, and their light, were far too dazzling.

If she didn't strive, compete, or advance, it would no longer be possible to stay in place—she would only be left further and further behind.

Especially after the legend of Yun Lun's saint-slaying became reality, no longer just a rumor.

This had been a tremendous shock to Yu Zhiwen.

Among her peers, she had unknowingly fallen so far behind, unable to even glimpse their backs.

"I myself have thought it through..."

"How can I retreat this time?"

Yu Zhiwen's shoulders, which had long been slightly hunched, relaxed, her chin lifted, her chest subtly outthrust, her curvaceous figure under the long skirt displayed in full elegance.

In the midst of all eyes upon her, she no longer felt timid. Her pupils brightened with a profound wonder, as if the vast starry sky was embedded within, captivating everyone so they couldn't look away.

On Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, this bud waiting to bloom finally unfurled, its splendor momentarily overshadowing the mountain's full array of fragrances.

"Yu Zhiwen, you are appointed."

As this crisp and resolute voice rang out, on the jade stone steps, Yu Grandpa was already tearful with emotion.

His little Yu, raised for so many years, had finally cultivated that spirit, ready to contend with dragons and phoenixes, transforming into a Kunpeng.

Murmurs of discussion arose in the gathering:

"Yu Zhiwen..."

"Heavens, she's grown so much?"

"Ranked seventh on the Absolute Beauty List, a maiden coming into her own—'flowers bloom and the wind knows'—I finally understand that evaluation."

"Second on the Dao Department's heavenly rankings? She has potential for the future, but as head, she's still a bit inexperienced! With only Zongshi cultivation, how can she keep the others in check?"

"Shut your mouth! How dare you speak ill of our Dao Department's holy maiden? Is the Dao Department about cultivation alone? If so, why am I at the Dao-Slaying realm and still can't make the top ten of the heavenly rankings?"

"Ignorant fool! The Dao Department nurtures the next generation of hall masters and successors—we need vision for the big picture. Do you think everyone is like you, a brute charging into battle without a brain?"

"I was just saying..."

"Then shut up! Our Zhiwen holy maiden isn't for you to comment on casually!"

The discussion was quickly stifled before it could escalate.

Yu Zhiwen had a vast number of admirers on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, and they wouldn't tolerate anyone defiling their ideal of the mountain's foremost goddess.

Moreover, today the goddess seemed different from before—far from her usual excessive restraint.

She was radiating light!

This hard-won step she had taken, standing before everyone, was the fulfillment of so many people's hopes.

Only those in the Dao Department truly understood what it meant to be second on the heavenly rankings without striving or competing.

And now, this jewel meant to shine brilliantly—how could anyone casually criticize it and make it dim again?

"She's truly beautiful..."

Nian murmured aloud, her eyes filled with envy.

She turned her head, fixated on those dazzling, pearl-like starry pupils, her gaze sliding from the veiled nose tip down to the exquisitely shaped figure.

From top to bottom, inside and out, even she found it flawless.

Yu Zhiwen—a woman who could make another woman’s heart race.

What a pity, such a radiant pearl from Gui Zhe might end up in the hands of some unworthy saint's son.

Nian toyed with the dagger at her waist, scanning around—seeing the dazed Ao Sheng, the somewhat self-conscious Xi who seemed afraid to look, and the various saint's sons.

After one glance, she felt no one was worthy of this new Dao Department head.

"She seems to know Xu Xiaoshou well..."

With a smile, Nian dismissed the impractical thoughts in her mind. She nodded slightly in greeting to the woman with the starry pupils who seemed to sense her gaze, then looked away.

Jiu Ji Shen Shi's eyes, full of doting affection, withdrew from the little fish and turned to Yu Grandpa, who was wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, offering a look of concern. Then, she returned to the main topic:

"The new heads of the six departments, along with Wang Da Chui, are now assigned to the heavenly team. They will mobilize members from their respective departments and remain on standby at all times."

"During heavenly team operations, no orders will be accepted except from the team leader, Dao Qiong Cang."

"The Dao Hall master's orders must be carried out without delay, without question, and without resistance."

"Does everyone understand?"

After the crowd responded in unison, Jiu Ji's face showed a faint smile:

"Finally, on behalf of the palace, I will announce the new members of the ten-person council."

All attention instantly converged, eyes burning with intensity.

The six departments were just minor affairs, after all—young people were young, and without achievements, even strength couldn't earn much recognition.

The ages of these new heads combined might not even match that of one old veteran present.

But a seat on the ten-person council was different.

In the current delicate situation, could Tai Xu still hold a spot? Probably not!

So, new saints must be emerging?

And to secure such a position, one's abilities had to be exceptional among the exceptional.

Among the teams in red and white robes, anticipation ran high, but so did worry.

They were the front-line combat units!

The strength and wisdom of their direct superiors directly affected the lives of their subordinates—how could they not be concerned?

Jiu Ji Shen Shi paused briefly, raising her hand to signal:

"The new red robe executor and master, Yue Gong Li."

The moment the words were spoken, the crowd below was slightly stunned.

This name—they hadn't even heard of it before, let alone guessed it!

The red robe unit's expressions darkened in unison.

Another outsider appointment?

No track record, no sense of character.

The red robe combat team had spent decades adapting to an outsider like Rao Yao Yao, who at least had the reputation of the Seven Sword Immortals.

Now, they'd have to risk their lives again to break in another big shot?

A faint hum resonated.

At that moment, a swirl of qi stirred on the sacred mountain, and the sand and stones trembled.

The sky seemed to darken slightly, faintly revealing a hidden moon hanging in the nine heavens.

A chill wind swept through, drawing everyone's attention to the man descending from the sky, step by step.

He was strikingly beautiful!

This man, with features as enchanting as a fox spirit, had a head of sky-blue long hair cascading wildly, exuding a wild and unrestrained air.

His stature was impressively tall yet perfectly proportioned. A gray marten was draped over one shoulder with a single hand, his azure robe open at the chest, secured by a blue jade belt, revealing his robust chest and upper abdominal muscles in a streamlined, elegant display.

He walked through the air, smiling as if stepping on the moon, his fox-like eyes narrowed into slits. Every gesture radiated immense confidence and an unmatched charisma, easing the anxiety of the red robe members.

"Greetings, everyone. I'm Yue Gong Li, a Yin system Ban Sheng with intellect that surpasses most—just slightly behind Dao Qiong Cang."

"I love the color blue, my favorite pastime is making beautiful women cry, my lucky number is four, and I adore sweets..."

"Of course, duty comes first—hunting ghost beasts is something I'll handle without hesitation!"

Under the crowd's wide-eyed stares, this social force of nature, whose personality was the polar opposite of Yu Zhiwen's, continued his lengthy self-introduction while striding toward the jade stone steps.

As he passed Dao Qiong Cang, Yue Gong Li spun gracefully, flinging the marten over his shoulder with a flourish. A spectacular entry effect burst into spiritual light with a snap of his fingers.

Along the way, he even smoothed his flowing blue hair, about to drape the marten properly—completing an entrance pose he'd planned for a full three hours.

Smack.

Dao Qiong Cang swiftly dodged, and the marten landed squarely on Yu Grandpa's head.

The old man had been deeply moved, wiping his tears while staring at his transformed little fish, paying no mind to the newcomer—until his vision went dark.

The sacred mountain fell silent.

Clang.

Someone's sword accidentally dropped to the ground, and they scrambled to pick it up with lightning speed.

Yu Zhiwen froze, as did the six department heads.

Yue Gong Li froze, and so did the crowd below.

Even Dao Qiong Cang froze for a moment, his brows furrowing as he sensitively stepped back, just as he had avoided the marten.

"Yue family boy!!!"

After three breaths, Yu Grandpa roared in fury.

He kicked off his slippers, snatched up his exaggerated fishing rod over ten zhang long from the floor, and swung it fiercely.

"Wa! Yu Grandpa's killing! Help!"

The handsome man, like a fox spirit, grabbed the flying marten and flung it back onto Yu Grandpa's head.

Blinded again, he bolted, his shiny black boots pounding the floor as he fled.

"I didn't mean it!"

"Spare me, Yu Grandpa! I was aiming for Dao Qiong Cang—I've had it with that showy guy for ages!"

"Wa, don't chase me! This is my big moment, my entrance time... Wa wa wa!"

Everyone gasped, glancing at Dao Qiong Cang, who had retreated and was pretending not to notice, then back at Yu Grandpa chasing Yue Gong Li with the long fishing rod. It felt like something in their minds had shattered.

"This old man will let you run seventeen zhang first! Then we'll see if your reactions are faster or if my eighteen-zhang rod is slower!"

Whack.

Yue Gong Li clutched his backside and yelped, "Don't hit the butt—I'm a Ban Sheng, saints can't be humiliated!"

"I'll humiliate you!"

Another whack, and Yue Gong Li flailed his arms, his black boots clacking as he dashed from the scene.

Yet, everyone's spiritual sense followed him, revealing that he was heading east.

East...

That was one of the forbidden areas, Ping Feng Zhu Di!

"No way." Someone in the red robes exclaimed in alarm—after all, he was their superior, and seemed different; how could he get himself killed on his first appearance?

But before the protest could fully form, Yue Gong Li, in his frenzy, had one foot already inside Ping Feng Zhu Di.

Whoosh!

The sacred mountain's swords stirred.

Xi suddenly widened his eyes and turned his head.

A black sword qi flew out from Ping Feng Zhu Di, barely missing Yue Gong Li as he stumbled and twisted his ankle.

Hiss!

The crowd outside inhaled sharply.

That sword qi—it hadn't been seen in decades...

He made a move?

Could he even make a move?

This aura of sainthood—Sword Saint?!

"What the heck..."

Yue Gong Li seemed to realize it then, stopping in his tracks, but his other foot boldly stepped further in.

Yu Grandpa halted outside with his fishing rod, his expression shifting slightly, not pursuing.

Boom!

A massive explosion shook with saintly power.

The array covering Ping Feng Zhu Di shattered in an instant, torn by a chilling force, revealing the dim interior.

Along with it came a startled cry:

"Wa! Hua Chang Deng! You sneaky boy, not pretending to sleep while peeping at the ceremony?"

"Come out and join the fun—it's lively outside, and you're just the one we're missing."

"Oh, and Yu Grandpa's right here to demonstrate some fishing—who knows what he'll hook..."

"Hey hey."

The crowd outside was collectively dumbfounded.

This guy not only shredded the seal of Ping Feng Zhu Di but also dared to taunt Hua Chang Deng?

Yu Grandpa stood outside, fuming and stroking his beard.

Fishing? This fox spirit was cunning, dragging others into it—this couldn't be a prearranged act!

He quickly retreated.

With the seal gone, everyone's curiosity couldn't be contained, and they peered inside.

Under the dim light, a withered willow stood, an old table sat, and a dim lamp burned.

The swordsman, leaning against the legendary Jiu Da Zu Shu Shen Bai Liu, his face obscured, held an uneven long sword upside down, his eyes lowered, his voice hoarse:

"Get out!"

That single word spread a murderous aura across the field.

Everyone felt a chill, realizing this wasn't a joke—Hua Chang Deng truly intended to kill.

Yue Gong Li scratched his head, looking puzzled:

"Get out?"

"How? Where to? Do you want to get out with me?"

"Oh, ancient sword cultivators are so annoying... Always acting tough! Would it kill you to say more? If I don't get out, are you going to kill me... Yah yah yah, how exciting!"

This fox-like man chattered nonstop, his eyes narrowing into slits again as he rubbed his hands, even wiggling his hips:

"Come on, come on, kill me, little lamp lamp."

"Damn..." A low exclamation rose from the crowd, summing up everyone's feelings, though no one knew who said it.

Hua Chang Deng said no more, his eyelids lifting as a predatory gleam lit up the dim Ping Feng Zhu Di.

Black sword qi twisted like snakes, spreading from within in tangible patterns.

The sacred mountain was suddenly enveloped in black mist, with wails of vengeful spirits echoing deep in everyone's souls.

The grating sound, like nails on a wooden board, instantly covered everyone in goosebumps.

"Damn, you're serious?" Yue Gong Li's face stiffened, and he turned to run. "Yu Grandpa, help!"

"Enough..." Dao Qiong Cang sighed deeply, pinching his brow, momentarily unsure if this appointment was right or wrong.

He activated the Tian Ji Si Nan in his hand, resealing the torn barrier.

Boom!

But in the next second, the seal exploded again.

A black flash streaked through the air—the sword qi, now over a hundred times faster than before.

Hiss!

Yue Gong Li sucked in a breath, realizing this was no pushover, and blocked with a backhand.

"Yin Xi Men."

A vague, dim gate shadow appeared before him, like a portal to the underworld, ominously cold.

As soon as it manifested, the temperature on the sacred mountain plummeted, and ice crystals formed on the ground.

But at the same moment...

Tap.

The sharp-eyed crowd saw the seal break once more in Ping Feng Zhu Di, where the aged, decrepit figure had already sheathed his sword.

"Ah ah ah—"

Yue Gong Li let out cries of pain, his body splitting in two amid wails, dissolving into spiritual light.

"It hurts!"

"So much!"

"I'm dying from the pain!"

Everyone was startled.

Yue Gong Li was dead? This schadenfreude-laced mockery—where was it coming from? And why did it sound like it was from behind...

The crowd turned as one.

There, walking from the horizon while talking and clapping, stepping on the moon, was another fox-like figure with narrowed eyes and a smile.

Once he had everyone's attention, he corrected himself:

"Good sword, good sword!"

"But little lamp lamp, have you gone blind from lying around too long? How could you not recognize my little clone?"

"I'm too strong? Oh, no—it’s you who's wasted."

The figure in Ping Feng Zhu Di trembled slightly, tightening his grip on the sword.

"You two, enough!"

Dao Qiong Cang couldn't take it anymore—this was a public spectacle!

With an angry shout, he casually reinforced the seal on Ping Feng Zhu Di.

"Da Qin Na Shu!"

He reached out and grabbed the fox-eyed man draped in the marten, who had no resistance.

Dao Qiong Cang was angry?

The crowd below trembled.

The captured Yue Gong Li went limp, his hands dangling, but his mouth remained defiant:

"Oh, I've been caught."

Dao Qiong Cang's eyelid twitched wildly as he hurled the man behind him.

"From now on, either shut your mouth or go back to your Han Gong Secret Realm!"

Yue Gong Li closed his mouth but jumped twice on Dao Qiong Cang, waving at the red robe troops below.

The red robes were on edge—this was more thrilling than fighting ghost beasts.

Yue Gong Li couldn't sit still and, when Dao Qiong Cang wasn't looking, made a heart shape with his arms above the latter's head, whispering to everyone:

"Yue Dao Fusion, unbeatable in the world."

"Shut up!!!"

"Oh."

Jiu Ji Shen Shi, feeling a headache, averted her gaze—though she hadn't done anything, she was exhausted.

In a somewhat listless tone, she announced:

"Next is the white robe executor and master..."

She had no interest in building suspense anymore:

"Bei Bei."

A woman in white descended from the sky, young like the six department heads, carrying an oversized sword case taller than herself, like a coffin.

Her large, curious eyes scanned Yue Gong Li, and seeing his enthusiastic wave, she waved back.

"Love you." Yue Gong Li responded, his eyes narrowing. "What a cute little girl—punch her once, and she'd cry for ages?"

"..." Bei Bei froze, quickly shrinking back, completely unequipped for a middle-aged man's quirky humor.

"You, shut your mouth." Dao Qiong Cang snapped, turning his head.

"As if—I dare you to bite me." Yue Gong Li muttered back, then turned to the little beauty Yu Zhiwen, about to cup her face, but met Yu Grandpa's murderous glare and promptly pouted, looking away.

Jiu Ji Shen Shi caught this from the corner of her eye and sighed before continuing:

"And..."

"The new one of the three emperors, Dao Xuanji."

At the name, Yue Gong Li's jade-like handsome face darkened, losing its luster, his fox eyes turning as inky as ink. He patted Dao Qiong Cang's shoulder and turned to leave:

"I'm heading out first. You all chat."