My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 256 -

Chapter 256: Chapter 256

An Jing furrowed his brows and looked towards the source of the sound.

Any who could tread silently upon Blue Sky Island were certainly the world’s top martial artists, and he had already vaguely guessed who was coming.

Not far away, a group approached.

At the forefront was an extraordinary-looking elderly man with a ruddy complexion and radiant aura, his presence surpassing all but Jiang Shang from his generation. Beside him was a silver-haired woman, appearing to be in her fifties, though An Jing’s instincts told him she was older than she looked.

Additionally, there was a swordsman holding a blue long saber, wearing a hat that obscured his features, but one could sense that his strength was no simple matter.

Behind the three, several dozen men in black stood, each with a cold, detached expression, no less skilled than the Jianghu masters who had just died at An Jing’s hand – in fact, they were even stronger by a margin.

...

Black Ice Platform!

An Jing glanced over and roughly surmised who these sudden arrivals were.

“Ye Ding, we meet again.”

Qu Renlin looked at Ye Ding, who was sitting on the ground, and shook his head with a smile, “I didn’t expect that after that battle back then, not only did you not die, but now, as the sun sets in the west, you’ve been defeated by a young man.”

Years ago, when Ye Ding fought with Qi Xuan Dao, Qi Xuan Dao’s Palm of Heavenly Cycle slammed onto Ye Ding’s left shoulder, and the Black Ice True Qi firmly surged into his body. Black Ice True Qi is one of the rarest and coldest Yin energies, even colder and more bone-chilling than normal Yin or malevolent energies.

Especially since Qi Xuan Dao had already mastered “Black Ice Technique” to the Ninth Layer, even with Ye Ding’s cultivation and strength, if he hadn’t died, he would have been gravely wounded. The fact that he had held on for so many years was definitely not only due to Ye Ding’s strength but also because the Zhenyi Sect had used many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to sustain the life force within his body.

“Qi Xuan Dao is indeed formidable; although that palm did not take my life, it prevented my cultivation from progressing an inch for decades.”

Ye Ding smiled wryly, “But you, Qu Renlin, only lasted a few hundred moves under my hands back then.”

An Jing’s brow tightened, astonished that the rumors of the past duel between Ye Ding and Qi Xuan Dao were true, and that Ye Ding had suffered such severe injuries.

Whether these two top experts had fought was only known through sketchy rumors in the martial world at the time; some said Ye Ding had been defeated by Qi Xuan Dao, others claimed the two had never actually fought. However, many in Great Yan Martial World were skeptical because Ye Ding was considered one of the zenith martial artists at the time, fully capable of representing the pinnacle of Yan Country’s martial prowess.

And Qi Xuan Dao, as the leader of the Black Ice Platform, naturally represented Zhao Country.

The blood feud between Yan and Zhao Countries was deeply entrenched, hence people from Yan Country naturally did not want to believe that Ye Ding had lost.

As for rumors, An Jing was never one to believe in them, but hearing this conversation, he was now convinced that a true battle had taken place back then, resulting in Ye Ding’s defeat and severe injury at the hands of Qi Xuan Dao.

Yu Ying’s face bore no expression, yet his eyes staring at the Black Ice Platform experts under Qu Renlin began to glimmer with a cold light.

If not for Ye Ding’s injury, why would he have chosen to seclude himself in Hidden Mountain, and why would he posture for Xiao Qianqiu?

All these triggering points stemmed from that planned ‘private contest’ back then.

Rather than feeling angered by Ye Ding’s words, Qu Renlin appeared quite agreeable, “Indeed, I was defeated by you, that is the truth. But you too were a famous top expert for a long time, shouldn’t you also mention the great past episodes?”

Yu Ying said with a cold laugh, “My senior’s cultivation hasn’t progressed for decades, and now he has fought a major battle. You choose this time to come out and instruct the world, making grandiose statements?”

Qu Renlin replied indifferently, “The truths of this world, the conspiracies and schemes, the differentiation of right and evil, none of them matter. Only the words of those who survive to the end hold any truth.”

“Well said.”

Ye Ding slowly stood up.

Yu Ying’s pupils contracted sharply, whispering softly, “Senior…..”

Qu Renlin, Lv Qiujian, and Chu Yun all frowned.

From the moment Ye Ding stood up, his aura not only didn’t decline but continued to climb.

Chu Yun thought of something, twisting her brows, “He consumed a pill just now, could it not be a healing pill?”

“A pill?”

Qu Renlin suddenly realized something, shocked, “Could it be the Shattering Origin Pill!?”

As aficionados of elixirs, the Black Ice Platform naturally knew the effects of the Shattering Origin Pill.

And An Jing, being a doctor, had also heard of what a Shattering Origin Pill was.

Elixirs like Origin Opening Pill and Spiritual Origin Pill were producible in large quantities, varying only in the herbs used and success rates. Shattering Origin Pill and Golden Pill, however, belonged to a category that was extremely difficult to refine.

Such pills required not only masterful pill-making skills, precise recipes, but also incredibly rare herbs and even the use of centuries-old Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

The Shattering Origin Pill was different from the Golden Pill; only one Shattering Origin Pill could be produced per furnace, and its effects were also vastly different.

Golden Pill enhances cultivation, whereas Shattering Origin Pill breaks it. After consuming a Shattering Origin Pill, the Dantian inside the body shatters, briefly transforming into a vast amount of Qi Mechanism.

This was a precious pill, used in desperate life-and-death situations to fight desperately, turn defeat into victory, and find a path to survival.

After all, he was about to lose his life, so what use was a Dantian that absorbed True Qi and Inner Strength anymore?

However, while ordinary people could live without their Dantian, merely losing their cultivation, Ye Ding’s body suppressed the overwhelming Black Ice True Qi. Once the effect of the Shattering Origin Pill wore off, he would immediately be smashed by the Black Ice True Qi.

Ye Ding gave a faint smile and said, “I know you don’t make a move without seeing the rabbit, so before I came down the mountain, I specifically prepared a Shattering Origin Pill.”

Ye Ding had this pill but had not used it; could it be that he…

An Jing recalled what Jun Qinglin had said—the post was not meant for An Jing but for him, Jun Qinglin.

And the sudden cessation of combat meant that today’s duel, Ye Ding’s real target, might not be An Jing but the Black Ice Platform!?

An Jing took a deep breath, quietly watching the situation unfold before him.

It seemed this old Daoist had deceived not only himself but most of the world.

Qu Renlin also came to his senses, looking coldly at Ye Ding and said, “From the beginning, your goal was neither the Demon Sect nor the Ghost Swordsman, but my Black Ice Platform?”

At that moment, he guessed what Ye Ding was thinking.

“That’s right.”

Ye Ding calmly said, “Personally, he is a disciple of Yan Shaoshan, who died at the hands of my Zhenyi Sect. My Zhenyi Sect too had losses at his hands; the grudges are unclear and indistinguishable, but no matter how you put it, it originated from the Mystical Sect.”

“In terms of Outer Heaven, if I killed him, the Sect Leader of Outer Heaven would not let it go easily. I don’t know what that leader would do, but I know it would definitely stir up a bloodstorm in Yan Country. It would have been no issue twenty years ago, but now, with Yan Country surrounded by enemies and turmoil arising in the martial world, it would surely affect Yan Country. The Zhenyi Sect, being the national religion, is long tied to the fate of Yan Country.”

Continuing Ye Ding’s words, Qu Renlin further said, “And in this martial world, grudges must be settled, providing an explanation to the disciples of Zhenyi Sect and the martial experts of the world.”

“So you choose to die for the cause, drawing out the experts of the Black Ice Platform. Not only can you eliminate the troubles of the Black Ice Platform’s experts, but you can also keep Yan Country’s martial world temporarily stable. The Human Emperor of Taiping would also have to appreciate this kindness, the experts of Black Ice Platform and Zhenyi Sect’s Sect Leader Ye Ding perish together, but the Zhenyi Sect gains immense fame.”

Ye Ding said no more; his own words and those of Qu Renlin covered most of it, but there were still one or two points not discussed.

With Ye Ding and Yu Ying gone, Xiao Qianqiu would also lose his restraints, allowing him to radically change the Zhenyi Sect and draw out the two masters standing at the summit of the world today…

However, there was no need to discuss these with Qu Renlin.

All in all, for the Zhenyi Sect, it was hugely beneficial, and the drawback was merely the death of two old Daoists nearing their end and ‘hindering’ others.

He said these words only for An Jing to hear.

“I don’t know how you could have predicted that the Ghost Swordsman would keep the appointment, and my Black Ice Platform would come as well.”

Qu Renlin looked at Ye Ding with mixed feelings and said, “But Ye Ding, I never expected you to lay out this plan at the cost of your own life.”

As Qi Xuan Dao’s junior brother, Qu Renlin, undoubtedly talented, had a certain arrogance, admiring very few people.

The Ye Ding before him certainly counted as one.

Qu Renlin also understood why he had lost to Ye Ding in the past; whether in the past or present, he was never Ye Ding’s match.

He lacked Ye Ding’s strategic mind, his magnanimity in facing death, and his decisive resolution to sever all ties.

Ye Ding’s aura was growing stronger than before, even An Jing’s forehead showed a trace of solemnity.

If Ye Ding had taken the Shattering Origin Pill earlier, An Jing would have no choice but to use the Mo Family’s secret technique, Ghost Transformation, for a fight.

Ye Ding glanced at the three of them and said, “The three of you are no match for me, so confident as if he has already arrived, let him come out then.”

An Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, his heart throbbing.

This ‘he’, could it be Qi Xuan Dao?

“Ye Ding, you truly are cunning.”

A voice of lamentation came from afar, and a rolling, oceanic Qi energy swept over from a distance, the overwhelming pressure crashing like a tsunami, making one feel suffocated.

An Jing immediately felt his heart pounding as if it was jumping out of his mouth.

Five Qi Grandmaster!

Only those closest to Demi Immortal, a Five Qi Grandmaster just one step away from Demi Immortal, have such prowess. That one step away could extend life by three hundred years, blocking countless masters in the world.

A black-clad old man walked from afar on the sea surface as if on flat ground, clearly still a hundred yards away, but in the blink of an eye, he stepped onto Blue Sky Island.

That elderly man’s eyes were profound, his black clothing as if forged in iron, unaffected by the sea breeze, firmly in place, his Qi energy rolling like waves behind him, unfathomable.

Even without speaking, he exuded the pressure of a mountain looming over him.

Especially his eyes, when they fell on An Jing, made one’s hair stand on end, sending chills down the spine.

There was no need to say it—An Jing already knew who the person in front of him was, the number one expert of Zhao Country, and indeed, one of the true pinnacle masters of the world.

“He is Qi Xuan Dao,”

Ye Ding pointed at Qi Xuan Dao and said to An Jing, “If he does not die today, you must remember his face.”

An Jing was somewhat puzzled and did not understand why Ye Ding would say this to him.

Qi Xuan Dao looked at his old opponent and said, “You’ve put in so much effort; you should have expected that I would come.”

Ye Ding said, “As expected.”

Qi Xuan Dao looked at Ye Ding and asked, “Did you also expect to die by my hand, even going so far as to bring the Ghost Swordsman to die for you?”

Ye Ding did not respond to Qi Xuan Dao, but slowly said:

“A thousand years ago, a great calamity befell the Mystical Sect. At that time, the Daoist Master of Mystical Sect died mysteriously, leaving the sect without a leader, which forced them to elect a new Daoist Master. During this period, a severe schism emerged within the sect, with no one willing to back down. Under the instigation of some with ulterior motives, it even led to armed conflict, ultimately causing the complete split of the Mystical Sect’s three great masters into what are today the Zhenyi Sect, Daluo Sect, and Ghost Valley Sect.”

“And the person with ulterior motives was none other than the founder of the Black Ice Platform.”

Boom!

Ye Ding’s words undeniably stirred up a thousand waves!

So it was the Black Ice Platform behind it all!

Hearing Ye Ding’s words, An Jing and Qu Renlin, among others, all showed a look of surprise.

Initially, the split of Mystical Sect had already felt somewhat strange, definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface. Some guessed it was the Human Emperor of the Great Zhou at the time, while others thought it might have been the masters of the Demon Sect or even the Buddhist. But no one had expected it to be someone from the Black Ice Platform.

They were the culprits behind the split of Mystical Sect.

If this matter were to be leaked, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar throughout the world.

Mystical Sect was the oldest sect, and at the time, it was the premier sect in the world, with even the overbearing Demon Sect needing to steer clear of them.

If not for the mysterious death of the Mystical Sect’s Daoist Master and the split of the three great masters, Mystical Sect’s influence might have continued for another hundred years, and the world’s structure could have even undergone a major change.

Qi Xuan Dao’s eyes dimmed, and he indifferently said, “This is just your one-sided statement.”

“Whether it is a one-sided statement, will be known sooner or later.”

Ye Ding shook his head and continued, “The person who assisted the Great Zhou Dynasty in refining the Golden Pill, if I am not mistaken, is the founder of the Black Ice Platform.”

Hearing this, Qi Xuan Dao’s eyes immediately narrowed into slits.

An Jing was also greatly shocked, “The remarkable figure from the Great Zhou was actually a master of the Black Ice Platform?”

Others do not know the effects of the Golden Pill, but he understood them very clearly; even a significantly diminished Golden Pill could elevate him from the Earth Flower Realm to the Heavenly Flower.

And a complete Golden Pill could supposedly elevate an ordinary person directly to First Grade, or a Half-step Master directly to Grandmaster.

How miraculous was such an elixir?

To say it allowed one to ascend to heaven in a single step was not an overstatement.

Ye Ding looked towards Qi Xuan Dao, “The ‘Pill Seal’ of my Mystical Sect should have been stolen by that person, causing the highest pill refining techniques of Mystical Sect to be lost, while the Black Ice Platform rose rapidly relying on the ‘Pill Seal’.”

“Qi Xuan Dao, everything I’ve said is correct, isn’t it?”

Suddenly, An Jing’s gaze also turned towards Qi Xuan Dao, his heart profoundly shaken.

Judging from Qi Xuan Dao’s expression, it likely wasn’t fabricated.

Apart from Ye Ding, Yu Ying, and Qi Xuan Dao, hardly anyone would have imagined the vast conspiracy behind the Black Ice Platform, which was also related to the ephemeral remarkable figure from the Great Zhou.

This Black Ice Platform was far more mysterious and terrifying than imagined, having orchestrated the past split of Mystical Sect; what other conspiracies might they still harbor?

Qi Xuan Dao’s gaze showed no change, revealing neither fluctuations nor any trace of joy or sorrow, “What use is right or wrong?”

Ye Ding nodded, “Right or wrong is useless, who can walk out of this Blue Sky Island today is what matters.”

Qi Xuan Dao glanced around at the surroundings and said, “Such a fine scenery, it is indeed a good place for a grave.”

Ye Ding looked at Qi Xuan Dao and said, “This is the place chosen for me, as well as for you.”

“Hahaha.”

Qi Xuan Dao laughed, “Ye Ding, do you really think that by consuming the Shattering Origin Pill you could be my match?”

Decades ago, there was already a gap in their cultivation, and Yanding, who had stagnated for decades, now foolishly thought to defeat him with the Shattering Origin Pill—it was nothing but a fool’s dream.

“Someone will come to behead you.”

Yanding shook his head—the Dantian had unknowingly shattered, yet his aura continued to climb.

“Whoo….”

A violent wind surged, and the blood-stained petals left on the island danced chaotically.

Seeing this, Qi Xuan Dao’s smile slightly faded, his gaze turning toward the figure of an old man standing above Blue Sky Island.

Compared to Qi Xuan Dao’s sharp and spirited eyes, the old man looked calm and unrippled, appearing like a mere ordinary elder on the street.

“It’s Jun Qinglin!”

Qu Renlin looked up and saw the person, then cried out in shock.

“It’s him!?”

Chu Yun felt as if struck hard, disbelief filling her eyes, “Such a master is still not dead?”

Who was Jun Qinglin? Fifty years ago, he had already made a name for himself worldwide, his Inquiry of Heaven unmatched, and at that time, there were only two or three people in Great Yan Martial World who could compete with him, but none dared claim they could defeat him.

Back then, the Demon Sect was supported solely by his prestige, still one of the most powerful sects in Great Yan Martial World.

Jun Qinglin had twice ventured into Houjin Royal Court and once into Zhao Country, always leaving at ease. How many masters in the world dared do such things?

Before he vanished from the public eye, it was even rumored that he defeated the Holy Master of Great Snow Mountain, which the Holy Master of Great Snow Mountain neither clarified nor responded to.

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Many people believed this to be true.

Today, those masters who were once his equals had mostly turned to dust, and yet the oldest among them, he was not dead?

To roam Jianghu for a hundred years without dying, how terrifying was that?

Qi Xuan Dao looked at the man, muttering under his breath, “Jun Qinglin….”

There were few in the world who could pressure him, and Jun Qinglin was definitely one of them.

When Yanding saw Jun Qinglin appear, his expression did not show any surprise, as if he had foreseen this.

Jun Qinglin stood on sprouting branches, hands behind his back, watching the Sky Blue Petals fluttering all over the island.

A hundred years ago, this had been a deserted island, and everything began with the young girl who planted the first sapling of the Sky Blue Tree here.

Jun Qinglin looked toward Yanding and calmly said, “You truly are scheming, even including this old man in your calculations.”

“I’ve brought a great gift for your sect.”

Yanding looked at Qi Xuan Dao and his group and said, “Those who die under the Ghost Swordsman’s blade are the first gift, and those masters from the Black Ice Platform before us are the second gift.”

With blood feud settled by those affiliated with the Demon Sect, and now these masters of the Black Ice Platform being strands of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, not to mention aiding Jun Qinglin in breaking through his limits, it would definitely boost the cultivation of the Ghost Swordsman and the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.

As for why resolve the grudge with the Demon Sect on Blue Sky Island, Yanding knew that Jun Qinglin was bound to return—even if he ignored the matters of the Demon Sect because this place meant a lot to him.

And the eleventh day of the seventh month was not to stop the Demon Sect masters from rushing here, but to prevent Houjin and Great Snow Mountain from getting involved.

As for Qi Xuan Dao of Black Ice Platform, Yanding believed he would definitely come.

Because of the Ghost Swordsman who killed Qi Shu, he was bound to return.

The true identity of Qi Shu was not merely that of his adopted son.

In Cloud Tower, the only one who dared to break the rules was Qi Shu, and even his junior brother Qu Renlin had to obediently follow the strict laws of the Black Ice Platform.

Among the many forces in the world, Black Ice Platform had the strictest rules and the least personal feelings, yet from this strictest platform came Qi Shu who disliked following rules the most.

The secrets behind this were not for outsiders to know….

Even if Qi Xuan Dao would not personally rush here, the Black Ice Platform would send several masters here, and their deaths at the hands of Jun Qinglin would undoubtedly create enmity between the Demon Sect and Black Ice Platform.

The Demon Sect, whether fighting against Houjin or resisting Zhao Country, had to exert every effort.

So, since the time he had not descended the mountain, Yanding had already begun to lay out his plan.

…….

PS: Please suggest names.