Chapter 289

Chapter 289: Eerie and Terrifying Mountain Stronghold

In the Qingyun Mountain, within the Back Mountain Secret Realm.

Xiao Yang clashed with Chen Taixu using his powerful martial body.

Chen Taixu had already reached the peak of the Divine Martial Realm.

Surprisingly, his Yuan Spirit strength was still inferior to Xiao Yang’s, and even though he had cultivated a Martial Path Yuan Spirit, his swordsmanship remained stuck at the “Using Intent to Control the Sword” level.

Xiao Yang, having lived one life already, naturally understood why.

The technique of “Using the Spirit to Control the Sword” had actually been lost in the Northern Region.

While major sword sects still possessed that method of training, they were all incomplete.

Thus, very few people in the Northern Region could truly cultivate to the “Using the Spirit to Control the Sword” realm.

The Futian Sword Technique that Xiao Yang obtained contained a complete method for swordsmanship.

That’s why he could transform thoughts into spirit and control the sword with his spirit.

The Qingyang Sword Classic from the Qingyang Sword Sect also had the method of “Using the Spirit to Control the Sword,” but it was not a complete technique.

Even Sect Leader Jiang Qitian had his swordsmanship trapped at the “Using Intent to Control the Sword” level.

After the battle, the two sat beneath a large tree in the Secret Realm, next to a stone table.

“That was refreshing!”

Xiao Yang’s fight with Chen Taixu was thoroughly exhilarating; the power of his Chaotic Futian Sword Body far exceeded his expectations.

He could match Chen Taixu without tapping into his vitality.

In truth, he was still holding back.

This wasn’t even his true strength.

The power of the Chaotic Futian Body was beyond that.

“Truly, heroes arise from the youth!” Chen Taixu exclaimed in awe.

Xiao Yang’s strength left him dumbfounded.

Could this be the legendary method of achieving sanctity through the physical body?

At that moment, Ling Xian’er brought over a jar of fine wine preserved in the Qingyun Secret Realm.

Having been sealed for hundreds of years, the wine here was not only fragrant but also rich in spiritual energy.

Xiao Yang popped the seal off the wine jar.

A not overly strong aroma of wine instantly wafted through the air.

“I’ve long heard that Qingyun Sect’s wine is unbeatable in the Northern Region, and now it seems the rumors hold true!”

Chen Taixu eyed the wine jar in Xiao Yang’s hand, unable to resist swallowing.

In his life, his only two pleasures were swords and fine wine.

When he started his journey, the Qingyun Sect hadn’t yet suffered the Demon Sect’s schemes and was still one of the top ten sects in the Northern Region.

When he heard that the Qingyun Sect had almost been wiped out by the Demon Sect, he rushed over immediately.

Chen Taixu was a witness to the Qingyun Sect tragedy.

He still vividly remembered arriving at the Qingyun Sect and seeing the scene of corpses everywhere, filled with shock and fury.

He never imagined he’d witness the Qingyun Sect being revived hundreds of years later.

Unfortunately, the sect’s recruitment plan had been disrupted.

And it was, again, the handiwork of the Demon Sect.

At this moment, Xiao Yang poured a bowl of wine for Chen Taixu, then poured himself a bowl as well.

Ling Xian’er also wanted a bowl.

This spiritual brew had great benefits for cultivators.

“Too bad, there’s wine but no food!” Chen Taixu sighed.

“Haha, old man, who said there’s no food?” Ling Xian’er clapped her hands, and immediately someone brought out a perfectly roasted whole lamb.

“Master Ancestor, why not stay here? How about becoming an elder in my Qingyun Sect?” Xiao Yang said to Chen Taixu.

“I think I’ll pass,” Chen Taixu shook his head. “I just regained my freedom, and I don’t want to be distracted by other matters.”

“Master Ancestor, it’s just a guest elder position, no need to manage sect affairs, and there are plenty of benefits!” Xiao Yang chuckled.

“Hmm? Now that sounds appealing!” Chen Taixu immediately agreed upon hearing this.

With Chen Taixu joining, the Qingyun Sect’s strength increased significantly.

Moreover, Chen Taixu brought along dozens of disciples from the Chen family and had them join the Qingyun Sect, becoming Liu Qingyun’s direct disciples.

While Xiao Yang and Chen Taixu enjoyed wine and meat in the Qingyun Secret Realm, the Qingyang Sword Sect was also making a big show of opening its doors and beginning recruitment.

Jiang Qitian’s deceitful actions came to an end with Qin Fei being punished and sent to the Back Mountain Reflection Cave for reflection.

However, after Xiao Yang’s ruckus during the Qingyang Sword Sect’s Holy Son inauguration ceremony, Jiang Qitian’s reputation was tarnished, and Qin Fei became the first Holy Son in the sect’s history to be punished to face the wall right after being appointed.

Everyone realized Jiang Qitian wasn’t a person of great ethics deserving of respect but rather a shameless hypocrite.

Jiang Qitian’s deceptive acts were brushed off lightly.

He was still the Sect Leader of Qingyang Sword Sect.

And Qin Fei remained the Holy Son of the sect.

As the Qingyang Sword Sect officially recruited disciples, countless people flocked to join.

Now, the Qingyang Sword Sect was the number one sect in the Northern Region.

The Qingyang Sword Sect also entered the Yuanwu Immortal Domain.

Joining the Qingyang Sword Sect meant a boundless future.

So, on the day the Qingyang Sword Sect opened its doors for recruitment, countless people swarmed in, nearly bursting the sect’s gates.

Of course, it wasn’t easy to join the Qingyang Sword Sect.

The first test filtering out applicants based on their physique would eliminate a large number of participants.

While Qingyang Sword Sect was busy recruiting new disciples, the atmosphere around Qingyun Mountain turned a bit strange.

For several consecutive days, shadowy figures were spotted near Qingyun Mountain.

Several nearby villages endured catastrophic fates.

In a single night, the occupants of those villages were wiped out, leaving not a trace behind.

Panic spread throughout Qingyun City.

Zhao Fan had no choice but to send someone to Qingyun Mountain to report.

Xiao Yang couldn’t contain his rage upon hearing this.

Qin Fei had gone too far.

He guessed correctly.

These were, again, Qin Fei’s doing.

Ever since Qin Fei discovered that Xiao Yang learned of his secret, his desire to kill Xiao Yang had reached unprecedented levels.

He couldn’t fathom how he had slipped up.

How did Xiao Yang find out about his secret?

How many people knew his secret?

He would use any means necessary to get rid of Xiao Yang.

Qin Fei intended to take advantage of everyone’s attention drawn to the Qingyang Sword Sect’s momentous recruitment event to eliminate Xiao Yang.

The Demon Sect’s members began causing chaos near Qingyun Mountain.

Their aim was simple: to lure Xiao Yang down the mountain and eliminate him.

How could Xiao Yang not see through their cunning plot?

Since they wanted to draw him down, then down he would go.

“Are you an idiot?” Ling Xian’er exclaimed, frustrated.

They’d already dug a pit for him at the foot of the mountain, and he was planning to jump right in. What was that if not stupidity?

“You all stay up here; I’ll be back soon.” Xiao Yang brushed it off and directly headed down the mountain.

“…”

Ling Xian’er was truly left speechless.

The whole Qingyun Mountain was shrouded in formations laid out by Xiao Yang, even if the Demon Sect’s leader showed up, they wouldn’t easily breach the defenses on Qingyun Mountain.

And beneath Qingyun Mountain, there was a Cold Ice Profound Flood Dragon keeping watch.

As long as one stayed within Qingyun Mountain, no one could harm those within.

Xiao Yang felt quite at ease.

…

By evening, Xiao Yang arrived at a mountain stronghold near Qingyun City.

The firelight had drawn him in.

Standing at the stronghold’s gate, he frowned upon seeing the corpses on the ground.

He walked towards the stronghold.

The gate had been smashed open, with corpses lying inside.

A stench of blood filled the air.

As he stepped inside, a horrific sight awaited him—bodies littered everywhere.

A faint trace of demonic aura still lingered in the air.

No need to ask; this was the grisly handiwork of those from the Demon Sect.

It’s simply outrageous.

Hundreds of years’ worth of lives snuffed out, not sparing the elderly, women, or children.

Silence engulfed the stronghold.

“How outrageous…”

Xiao Yang stood in the center of the stronghold square, clenching his fists at the sight.

As long as the Demon Sect existed, justice could not be served!

Xiao Yang’s eyes turned red with fury.

At that moment, a corpse in the square suddenly started to move.

“Uh?”

Xiao Yang turned to look at the moving corpse.

It was a middle-aged man in animal skins.

The corpse moved its limbs strangely and stood up, its back to Xiao Yang.

Seeing this, Xiao Yang’s expression turned sharp.

The corpse slowly turned around, revealing two blood holes where its eyes should be.

Then, the corpse inexplicably smiled at Xiao Yang.

This scene was bizarre, an aura of terror permeating the air.

At this point, night had fallen.

In this stronghold where bodies were scattered everywhere, it felt eerily ghostly.

“A bunch of rats, don’t you want to kill me? If you dare, come at me!” Xiao Yang said coldly.

No one responded.

The eerie corpse staggered toward Xiao Yang, step by step.

“Cut!”

Xiao Yang picked up a long spear from the ground and hurled it directly at the corpse.

“Thud!”

The spear pierced through the corpse. The tremendous force sent the body flying back, pinning it to the ground.

Though it was pinned down, the corpse continued to move.

At that moment, wisps of mist began to fill the area.

The entire village became even more terrifying.

Xiao Yang stood in the center of the square, intent on seeing just what those lurking in the shadows were up to.

“Hehehe…”

A spine-chilling chilling laughter echoed suddenly.

The ghastly laughter grew nearer and receded, fluctuating all around.

“Playing tricks…” Xiao Yang scoffed.

At that moment, the scattered corpses on the ground began to move as well.

One after another, they rose inexplicably.

If this were anyone else, they would likely have peed themselves with fear.

But Xiao Yang, having lived a second life, had seen things far scarier.

Such tactics were merely meant to frighten fledgling newcomers.

“From dust to dust, they are all dead, yet you won’t let them rest. This is utterly despicable!” Xiao Yang exclaimed.

Still, no one answered him.

Soon enough, he found himself surrounded by rising corpses.

The scene was bizarre beyond comprehension.

The terrifying atmosphere in the stronghold reached its peak.

Even the most seasoned warriors would likely tremble at such eerie occurrences.

But Xiao Yang merely smirked faintly.