Chapter 127: Facing the Great Army Head-On

Seeing that Ye Sansi was extremely anxious, Liu Mu smiled and said, "Sansi, there is no need to panic. The news of your departure to the Fangcun Immortal Island on a mission was personally spoken by the Lord of the Sword God Sect. Only the five of us brothers know of it. This matter is strictly confidential and kept under wraps, so you may rest easy, Sansi."

"Since Second Grandfather puts it this way, Sansi's heart is at ease..."

Liu Mu gently patted Ye Sansi's back, nodded and smiled, "Sansi, you are truly in the limelight now, actually working for the Sword God Sect. The Sect Master once personally visited the Liu Family Fortress and praised your great talent. It was only us fools who doubted you."

Ye Sansi was puzzled, frowned and asked, "Doubted?"

"Sansi, let me tell you how it all happened. Eldest Brother sensed a strong demonic aura emanating from you and suspected you might be a spy or a demon. Therefore, he opposed your marriage to Lingsong and asked you both to cultivate on the Fangcun Immortal Island, setting up a probing talisman talisman to verify your true identity..."

"Sect Master Huang? Did he have something to do with this?"

Liu Mu recalled, "Sect Master Huang and Elder Long came to our Liu Family Fortress a month ago with displeased expressions. When we paid our respects, the Sect Master merely took two sips of tea before rebuking us for scheming to probe a young junior. He also mentioned that you had known them for a long time and were definitely not an enemy. With the Sword God Sect speaking on your behalf, Eldest Brother finally believed it and agreed to your marriage with Shuang'er."

Ye Sansi narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Then did those grandfathers of mine discover anything?"

"Of course! We witnessed your bravery, your fearlessness, and your chivalrous spirit. Everything we have seen and heard these past days, and all your secrets, the five of us will keep strictly to ourselves and never speak of to a sixth person. That is also the Sect Master's wish."

Hearing Liu Mu's words, Ye Sansi was overjoyed and smiled foolishly. Liu Mu continued, "Important matters come first, so you must focus entirely on your task. Just say the word if you need the Liu Family Fortress, and we will assist you. Once the matter is settled, take some time to bring Shuang'er back to the Liu Family Fortress to hold the wedding ceremony, enter the bridal chamber, and let us old men hold a great-grandson sooner, hahaha."

Ye Sansi was not very clear about worldly wedding rituals, but knowing it was a joyous occasion, he nodded repeatedly in agreement and smiled, "I will follow everything Second Grandfather says. The hour is getting late, and since I have important business to attend to, I will take my leave first."

Ye Sansi smiled foolishly, extremely happy, and said, "Really? That's wonderful! Once I finish my important task and return to Fangcun, I will tell Lingsong this news. I wonder if she will be happy."

"Sansi, rest assured. We see Shuang'er's feelings for you; she will certainly be happy. Besides, matters of marriage are traditionally decided by the parents' command, and since we elders have already spoken, she has no choice but to marry you. I have already accepted you as my grandson-in-law."

Exhausted, Ye Sansi simply ate some dry rations and lay down on the bed, calculating the enemy army's march. Since there was no resistance, their progress should be smooth, and they would arrive within a few hours. Although a formidable enemy was approaching, Ye Sansi closed his eyes to rest and await them with ease.

As the sun rose and daylight settled for an hour, Ye Sansi woke with a start, faintly hearing the roars of ferocious beasts. It seemed the floating island was drawing near.

Liu Mu nodded and said, "Your business is urgent, and I must also return to tell Eldest Brother that I met you, so he can properly advise the others not to strike rashly. We cannot let a moment of hot-headedness ruin the grand plan."

"I have no grand plan; I simply cannot bear to see good people die unjustly, and such a meaningless sacrifice is the most pitiful. Second Grandfather must advise them well, and Sansi will take his leave." With that, Tiannu flew forth, and Ye Sansi mounted his sword in mid-air, speeding past the demon army to arrive at the village ahead of time.

Thousands of demons hovered outside the island, and countless great demons swarmed upon it—truly a formidable enemy. Yet Ye Sansi felt no fear; he had a backup plan. If he fell into a disadvantageous position, he would simply escape. After all, the defensive lines of the Strange Demon Realm were layered one after another, and he believed they could hold. This battle was fought merely to slay a hundred demons and sap the arrogance of their army...

Ye Sansi froze. When he saw that the island was still several thousand paces away from the village, millions of sharp blades slowly extended from beneath the island's body. Uncomprehending, Ye Sansi had no choice but to retreat, hiding among the clouds to bide his time and act as circumstances dictated.

Ye Sansi stepped out of the house, summoned Canghua, rose a thousand zhang into the air, executed the Eight Treasures Art, grasped Tiannu, and regulated his breath, waiting to do battle with the demon army.

Amidst the clouds, Ye Sansi watched the island as it came aggressively with an unstoppable momentum.

***

When the dust settled, the ground beneath had been reduced to a flat plain. The village houses, flowers, trees, and grass had all vanished. What was once a vibrant and lush landscape now resembled a desolate and bleak wasteland.

Witnessing this scene, Ye Sansi let out a long breath of relief, thanking his fortune for having taken to the air and left the village early; otherwise, he would have already become a wandering ghost.

The floating island traveled above the village and slowly came to a halt, hovering in place. Suddenly, the weapons beneath the island fell like a torrential rain, fierce and swift, grazing through the air and producing the roars of dragons.

In an instant, the blade-rain struck the village, causing the earth itself to tremble. With a deafening crash, the spots touched by the blades kicked up towering waves of impact, sending smoke and dust billowing everywhere...

Ye Sansi thought to himself: *Not good. This demon army came fully prepared and acted with measured precision. At first glance, it is clear they possess a remarkably clever strategy, managing to raze this village to the ground in a single stroke. They cannot be underestimated...*

Following that, another ten demon soldiers took to the air above, appearing to search for the location of the spirit stone.

This radius of ten ri was now flattened ground. Fortunately, Ye Sansi had sent people to investigate early on, and no mortals wandered nearby. This strike had merely destroyed the village houses and several ri of vegetation without harming the innocent, which set Ye Sansi's mind somewhat at ease. It was just a pity that the hidden traps he had laid out went to waste in vain.

After a moment, the floating island slowly descended, landing steadily on the ground. In the blink of an eye, ten demon beasts charged out, searching for any surviving life.

"The time has come!" Ye Sansi gripped Tiannu tightly, his gaze locked onto the island. At this moment, the beasts on the island were at their most lax. Launching a sneak attack while they lowered their guard would surely yield results.

The body of the Tiannu sword radiated a biting chill, no longer able to restrain its killing intent. Ye Sansi smiled coldly, hurled Tiannu forth, commanded it to fly and spin, and cast the Sword Rain technique, multiplying one into thirty-six.

Just as Ye Sansi had surmised, the arrival of this demon army was no sudden whim, but the result of thorough preparation. Otherwise, how could they have known the situation in the Strange Demon Realm in such detail, even inquiring about the matter of the spirit stone?

Judging by this appearance, it did not seem that a traitor had emerged. After the demons had searched for half an incense stick of time, they still failed to find the location of the spirit stone...

Before the demons could react, the cold dragon came within a hundred paces, instantly plunging into the midst of the demon horde. With a deafening roar, a radius of ten zhang along with the surrounding demons was instantly frozen solid.

Ye Sansi smiled coldly and said, "You used a rain of blades to destroy the vegetation of my village, and I used the cold dragon to wipe out a few of your lives. We are even, neither losing nor gaining. But when I do business, taking losses won't do; if I make a profit, I must make a massive one!"

The thirty-six Tiannu swords revolved around Ye Sansi in unison, resembling a chilling dragon—imposing in momentum and exceptionally swift.

Ye Sansi swung his hand heavily, and the cold dragon charged straight toward the enemy camp.

With another wave of his hand, Ye Sansi scattered the Tiannu swords to fight independently, while he himself descended on a flying sword, landing squarely on the island with the Canghua sword in hand.

These demons were all powerful beasts—elite troops and formidable generals. Ye Sansi sought out the isolated ones to eliminate them amidst the chaos.

With that, Ye Sansi twisted his wrist. Tiannu hovered aloft, spinning rapidly. Several demons attempted to seize Tiannu, but upon leaping and touching it, they suffered grazes. The freezing poison invaded their meridians, turning them into ice sculptures that fell and shattered into pieces.

With Tiannu maintaining this defensive posture, the demons were left helpless, filled with panic as they watched their comrades perish.

Seeing the Demon King, Ye Sansi knew the disparity in their strength was vast; if he were discovered, a battle would be unavoidable, and defeat was certain. Yet, having slain only a few dozen great demons, Ye Sansi felt it wasn't enough and wished to "profit" a little more, so he resorted to his old tricks.

***

Ye Sansi recalled Tiannu, merging them into one, tucked Canghua behind his back, leaped into the air, landed upon the body of the Tiannu sword, and without defense, sped directly toward the Demon King.

Moving through the demon horde, Ye Sansi's smaller stature allowed him to weave freely. Astoundingly, no demon noticed him, leaving them at his mercy.

Yet this chaos lasted only for the space of half an incense stick before the Demon King emerged, levitating into the air, roaring loudly, and spotting Tiannu. With a flick of his sleeve, dozens of blades flew out from it toward him, extraordinarily fierce.

"Indeed! The former king was ambushed by a villain and perished in the Demon Realm. Though he is no longer with us, it was his lifelong wish to eradicate outsiders. Though he is gone, I shall fulfill this wish in his stead. You are the first outsider I shall slay to demonstrate my loyalty—prepare to die!"

The Demon King sought to annihilate Ye Sansi to prove his unswerving loyalty to the former king.

As the blades surged forward, Ye Sansi did not dodge. Unaware of the situation, the Demon King hurriedly cast a spell to redirect the blades, making them bypass Ye Sansi.

Ye Sansi halted, suspended in mid-air, frowned and asked, "Are you the Demon King?"

"Well, well, well. You utter the title 'this king' with such fluency; it seems you thoroughly enjoy this sort of status."

The Demon King raged, "You outsider speak utter nonsense! My loyalty to the Great King is as clear as the sun and moon, and my ascension to this throne was chosen by the demon horde and permitted by the elders in accordance with ritual and law. What do you mean by speaking thus?"

Capitalizing precisely on this utterance, Ye Sansi immediately discerned the new Demon King's apprehensions. He smiled disdainfully and said, "You, oh you! While the other demons might not know how the previous Demon King died, surely you cannot be unaware?"

Perplexed by Ye Sansi's insinuation, the Demon King pointed a furious finger and demanded, "You outsider, what mad words are you spouting? This king does not understand."

With that, the Demon King charged forward. Seeing the aggressive onslaught, Ye Sansi hastily turned his sword body to escape.

The Demon King pursued relentlessly without slowing his pace, though he remained slightly slower than Sansi. Realizing he could not catch him, the Demon King launched an attack, hurling his blades.

"I've always wondered how a dignified Demon King could be assassinated within his own territory and yet fail to track down the culprit. If not for an insider, how could it possibly... Hahaha, I won't say more, I won't say more. Those who understand, understand. Those who understand, understand!"

"You!" The Demon King grew frantic. Since he hadn't killed the former king himself, Ye Sansi's words caused even him to harbor doubts. Choking on his rage, he stammered, "You outsider, spouting absolute nonsense to disrupt the morale of the army and the minds of the people—you truly deserve to die..."

Using the Eight Treasures Art to sense their movements, Ye Sansi nimbly dodged, only to find that the blades altered their trajectory to seal off his path of evasion.

An ominous premonition instantly struck Ye Sansi. Sure enough, the blades converged upon him simultaneously, exceptionally fierce with their edges glinting silver, pressing straight toward his vital points.

Drawing his sword was now too late, and dodging offered no escape; he had no choice but to gamble.

Ye Sansi sprang forward, detaching himself from the body of the Tiannu sword and plummeting straight down. The blades followed closely behind—given the disparity in strength, a moment of carelessness would cost him his life...