Taixu Secret Realm.
Wang Baole and Nangong Yu had gathered together with several fellow disciples in the True Fate Realm.
As everyone spent more time inside the Taixu Secret Realm, they all started banding together for safety.
On this particular day, the group saw many cultivators flying toward a certain location. Without thinking much of it, they followed behind those cultivators.
After flying for a while, they saw, several li away, a massive vortex of spiritual energy swirling above a valley. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth was continuously gathering toward that valley.
Nangong Yu set her gaze on a nearby cultivator who hesitated at the edge.
"Fellow Daoist, may I ask, what is this valley ahead? Why haven't I seen such a spiritual land on the Taixu Secret Realm map?"
The disciple turned around disdainfully when he heard this. But when he recognized Nangong Yu's Wendao Academy robes, his attitude instantly changed, and he respectfully replied:
"Fairy, that valley ahead is called the Taiyin Valley. It originally only had Taiyin Stones, but a female cultivator known as the White-Clad Zither Demon used some unknown technique to draw in all the spiritual energy from dozens of li around for her cultivation. That's how it became like this."
"White-Clad Zither Demon?"
Wang Baole's expression shifted slightly at this name, and the image of his Third Senior Sister immediately appeared in his mind.
This really did seem like something his Third Senior Sister would do.
Nangong Yu continued asking, "Drawing so much attention—won't she just be disturbed by others? Wouldn't that disrupt her cultivation?"
The cultivator replied, "What you say is true, Fairy, but these days, most people don't dare to disturb the White-Clad Zither Demon. Several unfortunates from Dayan Holy Land tried, and their entire force was wiped out—over thirty cultivators fell, including some from the Heaven Origin Realm.
Aside from Dayan Holy Land, other forces have also had people suppressed by the White-Clad Zither Demon.
Now, the prodigies of Dayan Holy Land are rallying their disciples and calling on cultivators from other factions to join them in defeating the demon."
"Which prodigies have gone over?" Wang Baole asked, his tone a bit excited.
The cultivator replied, "There's the Sky Sword Du Guming from Dayan Holy Land, Black Tiger Lord Wang Lie, and Pagoda-Bearing Warrior Chao Xiu. Apart from Saint Son candidate Lei Aojie, who hasn't shown up, the rest are all here. It's going to be quite the show."
Upon hearing this, Wang Baole said to the group, "Let's go, quickly, to Taiyin Valley."
It was Nangong Yu's first time seeing Wang Baole so flustered, but she didn't ask much and simply followed.
The other Wendao Academy disciples also hurried to catch up.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived outside Taiyin Valley. Disciples from many forces were already gathered above the valley.
In the valley, besides the so-called White-Clad Zither Demon, there were more than a dozen Wendao Academy disciples.
Seeing this, Nangong Yu subconsciously murmured, "Didn't they say the White-Clad Zither Demon killed many disciples from major factions? Why are my Wendao Academy fellows still unharmed?"
A bystander next to her replied, "Strangely enough, the White-Clad Zither Demon doesn't kill Wendao Academy disciples. Even if she makes a move, she just knocks them into the lake. Once the fight is over, she has them help bury the dead."
"Could the White-Clad Zither Demon be from Wendao Academy?" Nangong Yu muttered to herself.
Wang Baole, beside her, said calmly, "If my guess is correct, it should be my Third Senior Sister. No one but her holds such hatred toward Dayan Holy Land."
As soon as he said this, everyone around them was stunned. The people from other factions instinctively distanced themselves.
Nangong Yu asked, "Should we help Senior Sister Qin?"
Wang Baole replied, "Of course. But I won't force any of you to join in. Since Third Senior Sister has stirred up such a scene, Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother are probably already on their way."
Several inner sect disciples who were hesitating about whether to leave suddenly brightened.
Right, how could they forget about Senior Brother Xiao? With Senior Brother Xiao around, Dayan Holy Land is nothing to worry about.
Everyone chimed in at once, "We're willing to help Senior Sister Qin."
"Good!"
After Wang Baole agreed, he led the group into the valley.
As soon as they landed, the Wendao Academy disciples greeted them.
"Nangong Junior Sister, what brings you here?" a core disciple asked, a little awkwardly, as he approached.
Although he already knew that the person in the lakeside pavilion was Senior Sister Qin, losing to someone in the True Fate Realm as a Heaven Origin cultivator was still a blow to his pride.
Nangong Yu smiled and said, "Of course we've come to help Senior Sister Qin, so the world will know that our Wendao Academy is not to be taken lightly!"
Before she even finished speaking, a cheer rose from the horizon: "Senior Brother Dugu is here!"
Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky, where they saw a graceful, elegant sword cultivator flying in on his sword.
Before he even landed, a powerful pressure surged toward the lakeside pavilion.
Qin Qin acted as if she hadn't noticed at all, continuing to play her zither.
Dong—
A single note sounded, and the pressure instantly dissolved.
"Hmph!"
Dugu Ming gave a cold snort. "You do have some skill. No wonder you dared to slaughter so many of my Dayan Holy Land's disciples. Today, I, Dugu Ming, will show you what my Dayan Holy Land is capable of!"
With that, he took a step forward, and the pressure around him grew even stronger.
Roar!!!
A tiger's roar suddenly echoed across the sky, interrupting Dugu Ming's movement. He shot a displeased look in the direction of the roar and said coolly, "Wang Lie, what do you mean by this? I was here first!"
"Don't get me wrong, Senior Brother Dugu. I'm just adding another layer of insurance for you. After all, this woman is skilled at killing with music, and your straightforward sword style might not get you the upper hand."
As the voice sounded, a majestic black tiger rode the wind in from the horizon, a carefree young man perched on its back.
He held a folding fan, his face full of mischief, showing no regard for either Dugu Ming or Qin Qin.
"You—"
Dugu Ming hadn't expected this guy to insult him in front of so many people, and he was instantly furious.
"There's no need to fight among ourselves when we have a common enemy."
A rough voice suddenly rang out, dispelling most of Dugu Ming's anger.
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a tall, rugged man with a resolute face, sitting cross-legged atop a mountain.
He seemed to have merged completely with the mountain; if he hadn't spoken, no one would have even noticed he was there.
Dugu Ming asked, "Chao Xiu, are you getting involved too?"
"No, no, don't misunderstand. I just don't want outsiders to laugh at us. If you two can't settle it, I have a good idea—let's go by the tournament rankings. Whoever ranked lowest goes first."
Chao Xiu spoke with a faint smile. It was hard to imagine a body cultivator could be so sly.
Dugu Ming's face immediately darkened. In the last tournament, he had lost to both of them in succession. He was convinced by his defeat to Chao Xiu, but Wang Lie had only beaten him because he'd still been recovering from serious injuries, and he was utterly unconvinced.
Wang Lie clapped and said, "Great idea! That's an excellent idea. Dugu Ming, you're the weakest—so you go first!"
Dugu Ming's expression turned iron dark. Now, the only way to redeem himself was to cut down the White-Clad Zither Demon.
"Fine, don't get too smug. I'll take her down right now!"
With that, he suddenly drew his sword, a dazzling sword light flashing as everyone's attention locked on him.
At that moment, a scornful voice rang out, completely out of place:
"Dayan Holy Land has no shame! Three grown men taking on a single woman, and you're still squabbling over it—what a joke!"
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