Chapter 1860: Saving People

"Where is Ba Zun'an?"

The Daluo Jiutian Shengxuan Sword, which had not yet fallen into his hand, suddenly flew up into the sky.

The Azure Scale Spine in his hand trembled and also broke free from his grasp, bowing remotely in the air.

A sack was lifted, clattering loudly.

Xiao Kongdong's pupils constricted, and he forcibly pulled it back. Dao patterns lit up on the sack, and the contents within seemed to lose their vitality, returning to silence.

He looked north in disbelief.

Clang—

Just as he was distracted, the Kongdong Wuxiang Sword, which had been nurtured within him for a long time, unexpectedly moved on its own without command, breaking out of his body.

"Come back!"

Xiao Kongdong reached out and with great effort managed to recall his treasured sword. He was shocked.

"I am a Sword Immortal…"

Although he had never actively spoken these words.

Xiao Kongdong knew his current level of ancient swordsmanship and where he stood in the Five Domains.

He wasn't in the first tier; that belonged to Xu Xiaoshou and the older generation.

But if he claimed the second, others could only obediently line up in the third, and then contend for various other rankings.

"Even I almost couldn't hold onto my sword…"

In this state of distraction, from the corner of his eye, he saw dozens of swords already aloft in the sky over Fusang.

All of them were top-grade, and among them were famous swords.

Yue Lian, Jue Se Yao Ji, Wan Bing Mo Zu, Nu Lan Zhi Sheng, Ting Chen…

"Even Senior Wu Yue can't control his swords anymore?"

While Xiao Kongdong felt some comfort, he couldn't help but be shocked. Who could achieve such a feat?

Far to the north, the wailing of Yin ghosts suddenly caused another anomaly.

The inky blackness, flowing like a tide, was pulled by an invisible hand like a curtain. The sky instantly darkened, rapidly plunging into night.

"Thump thump!"

The dull thumping of heartbeats, in the dead silence where a pin drop could be heard, exploded in the ears of everyone in Fusang.

In a trance, the boundary between Yin and Yang seemed to have been breached.

On the horizon where the night sky met the mountains, a faint blue glow lit up, and then grotesque spirits leaped out, lunging with bared fangs and claws.

Although they were far away, everyone who looked up could see those spirits with their green faces and tusks, or stained with foul blood, utterly vicious and emanating a chilling aura.

"Hundred Ghosts Night Parade?"

No, this was not a Hundred Ghosts Night Parade; this was ten thousand ghosts passing through!

No, even the word "ten thousand" was insufficient to describe it. The dark boundary between Yin and Yang stretched from west to east, spanning countless thousands of li.

What was this?

The Gate of Hell?

But how could the Gate of Hell be so vast, covering such an extensive area?

The overwhelming number of spirits, like exploded spider eggs, poured out from that hellish boundary, scattering in all directions, aimlessly rushing everywhere. This was clearly a beast tide… no, a ghost tide attacking a city…

…attacking a domain!

The Ghost Buddha Realm had lost its Buddha, leaving only ghosts!

"Wooo—"

When the howling of malevolent spirits from all directions resonated, tearing at the heart.

Not only the people in Fusang City, but even the Spirit Refiners scattered throughout the Ghost Buddha Realm were all flustered.

"What in the world is this thing?!"

It was terrifying.

Some regretted coming to the Ghost Buddha Realm.

But regret was useless. At this moment, even if they turned around and fled, they probably couldn't outrun the coverage of this "Ghost Realm" like the underworld.

"Buzz!"

The Yin-Yang barrier shattered, and ten thousand ghosts descended.

Suddenly, from the boundary between light and darkness, a sword hummed, and a white-robed figure soared out.

Across several realms, dozens of realms away, when people of this era looked, they were unexpectedly able to clearly discern that figure.

It was a middle-aged man, appearing to be around thirty or forty years old, with a resolute face that wasn't particularly ethereal. His eyes, flickering with a faint glow, were filled with the vicissitudes of life.

His left hand held a bronze lamp, its candle flame flickering as if it could be extinguished by the wind at any moment.

A broken sword was attached to his waist, its blade pitted and notched to the point where it no longer held any sharpness, seeming as if it would break at a touch.

"This is…"

Countless people recognized this sword.

Ranked eighth among the twenty-one famous swords, the Ghost Sword, Shoug Gui!

Among the great extraordinary famous swords in the world, Shoug Gui was one of the few that was not naturally formed by heaven and earth, but rather grew from an ordinary soul artifact, step by step nourished by its fame, to its current state.

This sword could be said to be Qing Ju's Dao, and also Shou Ye's high hopes for Zang Ku.

And the current wielder of Shoug Gui…

"Saint Emperor, Hua Changdeng!"

Even though many people had roughly guessed something, when this name was uttered by those around them, prefixed with "Saint Emperor," a shiver still ran down their spines.

"Saint Emperor!"

"Hiss, this oppressive force… compared to the Saint Emperor of Han Palace that time, he must be here in his true body, right?"

"Then is this 'Ghost Realm' the legendary 'Fengdu'? It is rumored that the Ghost Sword Immortal is the only true 'Lord of Fengdu' in the world!"

"But aren't even Semi-Saints unable to look directly at him? Why do I seem to see the true face of the Ghost Sword Immortal… the Sword Emperor?"

The Sword Emperor not only revealed his true face.

In just a blink of an eye, Hua Changdeng, who had passed through the Ghost Buddha Realm and stepped forth from the Gate of Fengdu, had already left the old site of Gui Zhe.

"He's coming over!"

With one step, the people of Fusang saw that Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng was clearly moving in their direction.

That immense pressure suddenly descended from afar to their vicinity, as if it had already arrived directly overhead.

But when they looked up, the sky above was empty.

"An illusion?"

Wooo—

It was not an illusion at all!

Behind Hua Changdeng, countless spirits howling out from the Gate of Fengdu seemed to have found their anchor, following him towards Fusang City.

"I know!"

Someone shouted, "It's Lingyu Mountain! He definitely went towards Lingyu Mountain!"

A word awakened those lost in dreams.

Fusang City was not the focus at all.

Hua Changdeng came seeking the Eighth Sword Immortal, and according to the information previously revealed by Hong Niang in the vision… Ba Zun'an was on Lingyu Mountain!

"Quick!"

"Hurry to Lingyu Mountain!"

"The battle of Sword Immortals… no, the battle of Sword Emperors, is about to erupt!"

Lingyu Mountain.

The Ghost Buddha Realm was pitch black, already plunged into night.

Only Lingyu Mountain, the place where Ba Zun'an's sword intent had previously emanated, still held a hint of orange twilight, as if protecting the vitality of dawn.

But when the twilight fell upon the Fusang wood and Lingyu wood of this mountain, it brought no warmth, only the chill of winter.

Who says the setting sun is not late, covering the sky with twilight?

Clearly, sorrow arises from within, and the eyes behold a devastated world!

Li Fugui stared blankly at the sudden white-robed swordsman before him, his head buzzing, and he probably guessed his identity.

"Where is Ba Zun'an?"

Hua Changdeng held the lamp and grasped the sword, his voice like a cold wind, devoid of emotion, making one's hands and feet turn cold.

Li Fugui's knees were already trembling. His ability to refrain from prostrating was not due to his rigid bones, but entirely because the person opposite him was merciful, leaving him some breathing room.

"He…"

"The Eighth… Sword Immortal…"

Li Fugui's throat and lips were dry, and his teeth chattered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.

Hua Changdeng did not look at him, but surveyed Lingyu Mountain, speaking slowly:

"This mountain is the origin of sword intent. Ba Zun'an has been here, and his aura remains, having left not long ago… Where did he go?"

Li Fugui wanted to conceal it, but then felt there was no need to conceal it.

This was a battle between immortals. He had no need to get involved. Even if he wanted to mediate, he had to consider the situation. Even Shou Ye wouldn't let Li Fugui step forward at this moment.

But when Li Fugui truly tried to recall, he couldn't remember where the Eighth Sword Immortal and Shou Ye had actually gone.

"That's right, where did Lord Ba Zun'an go? It seems he was just with me a while ago…"

As this perplexed murmur escaped him, he saw the white-robed swordsman opposite him cast his gaze over. Li Fugui shivered violently, realizing that his words sounded too much like he was stalling, and immediately said:

"No! Sword Immortal Hua… uh, Sword Emperor, I'm not hiding anything, I mean, even I can't remember…"

Hua Changdeng interrupted: "Where is Ba Zun'an?"

Was this even a question?

Li Fugui was so intelligent, how could he not hear that the underlying meaning was, "You have one last chance."

He felt a death wish in his heart, knowing that ignorance was a sin, and he absolutely could not commit such a suicidal act. He immediately turned and pointed south, giving an exceptionally clear answer:

"Southern Domain, Xuanyue Gray Palace, Deer Pattern Forbidden Zone."

"Sword Immortal Hua, that's all this humble one knows. The Eighth Sword Immortal left half a day ago; I know nothing of his subsequent actions."

Hua Changdeng nodded.

Hua Changdeng disappeared.

"Phew…"

Li Fugui held his breath for three counts, then let out a long sigh.

He collapsed to the ground, realizing his back was drenched in cold sweat, and even his underarm clothing and socks had turned icy cold.

"This place is not safe to stay in."

He pulled out an Apricot Realm Jade Talisman, intending to flee this troublesome place.

Suddenly, at the same moment, his vision blurred, and that white-robed figure seemed to have returned.

No…

It wasn't "seemed"…

Li Fugui's eyes were vacant, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything, and he snapped the Apricot Realm Jade Talisman in his hand, continuing to do his own thing.

"Rustle, rustle."

A cold wind blew from afar, and snowflakes landed on the tip of his nose.

The familiar Crystal Palace did not appear. What Li Fugui saw was still the scene of Lingyu Mountain before him.

He then blinked abruptly, his eyes focused, fixing on Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng's face, and he said with a hint of surprise:

"Lord Sword Emperor, you're back?"

He then turned his gaze south, speaking with hesitation: "But, have you found the Eighth Sword Immortal?"

He knew that Hua Changdeng and Ba Zun'an were not mortal enemies; perhaps they were worthy opponents who admired each other.

In front of him, one must be respectful to Ba Zun'an, and it was not inappropriate to use respectful terms like "Eighth Sword Immortal."

Small characters have their own thoughts.

But truly great figures clearly don't care about the names or thoughts of small characters.

Hua Changdeng calmly looked at the person before him. After a long time, he smiled silently.

He shook the bronze lamp in his hand, and the candle flame flickered with a crackling sound, dancing several times.

"Boom!"

The treasured pearl at Li Fugui's waist exploded, and he himself fell backward.

"Boom boom boom!"

His seven orifices burst open, splattering blood flowers. Great tripods, precious furnaces, black bells, and other soul artifacts flew out from his head, all without exception, utterly destroyed.

"Boom boom boom boom boom…"

Dao pattern dragon horns shattered, protective heart dragon scales cracked and broke.

Dragon Apricot branches, Di Ying branches, Nine Sacrifices Gui branches, and Divine Worship Willow branches simultaneously appeared, and the phantom images of the four great ancestral trees lit up at the same time.

But at the same time, they all violently shattered, unable to utter even half a sentence.

"Eh?"

Hua Changdeng showed a look of surprise.

This person is a bit too valuable…

Li Fugui, however, with his full three hundred sixty-two soul artifacts, and the protective dragon horns, dragon scales, and ancestral tree trump cards given by Shou Ye, managed to win a moment of respite, a chance to leave his last words.

He wailed mournfully: "Ghost Sword Immortal, spare my life! Eighth Sword Immortal, I truly forgot where he went, I wasn't toying with you just now, I want to live!!!"

The last bit of twilight on Lingyu Mountain was finally swallowed by the pervasive darkness.

Hua Changdeng's gaze was indifferent, and he gently shook the bronze lamp in his hand for the second time.

"It doesn't matter if you don't remember, your soul will tell me."

This time, Li Fugui had no power to resist. His body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.

His soul was directly pulled into the air, turning into a wisp of blue smoke, flowing towards the candle flame in the bronze lamp, unable to even let out half a wail.

"Stop!"

From a distance, a loud shout came.

The person had not arrived, but the voice came first, and the Dao technique was even half a step ahead, clearly trying to snatch the person from ghosts and gods:

"Steal from Heaven and Replace the Sun!"

Clang—

The blue smoke disappeared, and a lingering sound echoed through Lingyu Mountain.

Hitting the lamp post of the bronze lamp was a black copper coin.

All soul artifacts in the world could be recognized. Hua Changdeng recognized it at a glance as a third-grade soul artifact, the Black Fiend Coin.

"Interesting…"

He chuckled. What interested him was naturally not the Black Fiend Coin, but the obscure branch of the Suiyin evil arts, the Jinmen Stealing Art's "Steal from Heaven and Replace the Sun."

He turned to look at the source of the sound, where there was no longer any figure.

He was a smart person, choosing not to shatter the jade talisman leading to another realm, but to use Blood Escape.

However…

With the Five Domains all within my sight, how can you transcend?

Above the Sinful Land of the Southern Domain, Feng Family City, Sword Pavilion, in an instant, the aura of the person who had just spoken appeared.

"Who?"

Two old men stood in front of the Sword Pavilion.

Under the vast ocean of swords filling the sky, these were the few powerful individuals who could remain standing without prostrating.

When they opened their drowsy eyes, they saw that the newcomer was slovenly, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, clearly not a descendant of the Feng family. They were about to make a move.

"Flower Transference and Wood Grafting!"

Zhu Yike grasped Li Fugui's remnant soul with one hand and pressed the other hand onto the right arm of the approaching old man.

Starlight flickered slightly.

Before the old man could even draw the long sword from his waist, his right arm, following Zhu Yike's palm, was grafted onto his left elbow.

No blood splattered.

No bizarre occurrences.

Everything was so natural, as if he was born looking like this—a severed right arm, and two left arms.

"What?!"

The old man guarding the pavilion on the left side saw this, his pupils widened, and he was about to shout.

"Connect again!"

Zhu Yike moved one hand from the right old man's right hand to his left hand, and then from his left hand to the left old man's mouth.

Starlight flickered slightly.

The left old man's tongue also grew onto the right old man's fingernail.

He was about to draw his sword.

"Keep connecting!"

Zhu Yike reached for the sword hilt, and the sword also grew onto the right old man's knee.

What in the world is this!

The two old men guarding the Sword Pavilion were going crazy.

The Sinful Land of the Southern Domain was strange, but it wasn't THIS strange, was it?

What Dao did this person cultivate, what method did he use, what art did he employ, to be so terrifying that the two pavilion guardians, who were comparable to Semi-Saints, were controlled without even drawing a single sword!

"Excuse me."

Zhu Yike performed another "Steal the Beams and Replace the Pillars," moving the left door of the Sword Pavilion and grafting it onto the right old man's right shoulder, then grafting the two old men onto the right door.

He then pulled Li Fugui and rushed into the now unsealed Sword Pavilion.

"Don't be afraid, the Sword Pavilion is a vital place of the Feng family. Other places might not protect us, but this place definitely can!"

Zhu Yike's face was pale and bloodless, and large beads of sweat rolled down his temples. He was clearly scared to death, yet he never once considered abandoning Li Fugui's soul.

Upon reaching the Sword Pavilion, he finally dared to take out his Apricot Realm Jade Talisman and crushed it fiercely.

The Sword Pavilion was pitch black and silent all around.

Nothing happened.

Zhu Yike looked at the darkness before him, his heart sinking to the bottom, and he heard Li Fugui's sigh:

"Old Zhu, I owe you, I'll repay it in the next life."

Swish, swish, swish!

The scene before his eyes changed.

Everything returned to its original state.

From the Sword Pavilion, to outside the Sword Pavilion door, to the misplaced pavilion guarding old men, to the two old men with normal limbs, to high in the sky above the Feng family, to the appearance of Blood Escape, to fragmented time, to Lingyu Mountain…

Time, reversed?

Zhu Yike's Black Fiend Coin had just been thrown, and he hadn't yet shouted "Steal from Heaven and Replace the Sun," but he saw Hua Changdeng, who had been facing away from him, turn around, a look of approval on his face, and he said softly:

"You are very good. Report your name."