Chapter 82: The Unexpected Change
Langya Secret Realm
On a vast plain, a cold, impassive man slowly sheathed his sword. Before him, a vengeful Fox Demon vanished into thin air.
“Demon Race…” the man murmured, his brows drawing together like storm clouds over a distant mountain.
A trembling disciple from the Primordial Blue Sect bowed low. “Yan Senior Brother, thanks to you this time! If not, I would have been forced to retreat.”
Yan Fan nodded solemnly. “Be on guard. I suspect a Demon Race warrior has slipped into the Langya Secret Realm. When you meet any disciples from the Six Sects, warn those whose skills are lacking: stay in the Outer Region.
In the Outer Region, even if faced with a Demon Race, one can still escape by teleporting. But once you step into deeper lands, being hunted by these fiends can mean death!”
“Demon Race infiltrated?! I understand! I will inform the others at once,” the disciple replied hastily.
With a cold gleam in his eyes, Yan Fan departed without another word.
Demon Race… This time, the losses among the Six Sects might exceed all expectations. Their foes sent by the Demon Race were no weaklings. They had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage and carried a bloodline boon. Human cultivators, at this stage, held little advantage. Most disciples could not match these fierce warriors.
Yet, Yan Fan’s eyes narrowed.
[If it were Li Shuang, she might still prevail.]
His gaze hardened with the first stirrings of battle spirit.
Ten years ago, he had believed himself the sole genius. But even the esteemed Sword Sect had another star—Li Shuang! Her mastery of the Supreme Ice Spiritual Root and rapid grasp of the Sword Dao had set tongues wagging. Many outside whispered over cups of tea: Who was the greatest young genius, Yan Fan or Li Shuang? Yet no one truly knew.
They had once clashed in a hidden realm. And that day… Li Shuang had emerged victorious. Yan Fan had been filled with bitter regret, sure that news of his defeat would spread through the Six Sects, sealing her fate as the top genius. But to his surprise, not a single soul mentioned it. Li Shuang had kept her secret.
He recalled the cool, indifferent look in her eyes that day and felt a mix of admiration and regret. Perhaps, for her, besting him was nothing to boast about. For ten long years, she had remained silent, while Yan Fan soared ahead. He had entered the Divine Spirit Transformation Stage and even forged his own Sword Domain. Rumors said Li Shuang had barely moved from her old level.
Now, everyone celebrated Yan Fan as the supreme genius. Yet deep inside, he could not shake his doubts about that formidable woman. How could such a sharp and lethal sword suddenly lie dormant for ten years?
Recently, word had reached him that Li Shuang had dispersed her inner power to retrain. In a short time, she leaped to the peak of Qi Refinement, even using it in place of Foundation Establishment to earn a chance into the secret realm. Although her current cultivation was but at the Qi stage, Yan Fan felt a deep intuition.
[She will remain my strongest rival.]
Li Shuang! He vowed silently to wait until she reached the Divine Spirit Transformation Stage. Then, he would challenge her once more in a duel of destiny.
In a mountain forest not far off, Jiang Yun Ge wiped the blood from her face, her expression grim. The Demon Race warrior she had battled was indeed a fearsome fiend. Both she and her enemy lay injured and weakened.
Even she was barely holding on. If any other disciple fought alone, their fate would be sealed. She knew she must quickly send word of the Demon Race’s breach into the Langya Secret Realm. After a brief moment to steady her breath, Jiang Yun Ge set off to find disciples from the other sects.
From the Unity Sect to the Thousand Stratagems Sect, from the Radiant Light Sect to the Absolute Will Sect, word spread swiftly. One after another, disciples of the Six Sects encountered the Demon Race. Some were forced to retreat; some fought back with desperate vengeance. What was once a peaceful Outer Region had become a fierce battlefield on the very first day the secret realm opened.
Outside the secret realm, the leaders of the Six Sects fell silent. Just days ago, it was almost unheard of for a disciple to be forced out. But now, with the realm newly opened, one after another, these bright young warriors were being driven away. They carried with them dire news of the Demon Race’s infiltration.
High elders frowned at the reports. Inside the realm, only the finest young geniuses of the Six Sects dwelt. If they had stayed in the Outer Region, a mere Command Token could have brought them home safely. Yet that choice meant sacrificing the chance for greater destiny.
Within each sect, the truly gifted were proud. Even when they learned of the Demon Race’s presence, many pressed forward into the dangerous Inner and Core Regions. There, the risk was not only injury—it was death. But with the secret realm closed to outsiders for three long months, all they could do was wait, hearts pounding, from the perimeter.
Lin Qing Ling’s worry was written plainly on her face. With two disciples inside, she knew well that Li Shuang and Liu Jun Cheng were likely to venture into the Inner Region. This crisis was too complex; she could not bear the thought of a tragedy befalling them.
“Sect Master, are you not troubled?” Lin Qing Ling asked softly, watching Meng Yi Fei’s calm demeanor.
“A true warrior fears no trial,” Meng Yi Fei replied evenly.
Lin Qing Ling abruptly rose, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “So these disciples mean nothing to you? If forging mighty warriors is all that matters, then a few sacrifices are acceptable?”
Meng Yi Fei’s eyes remained silent, and Lin Qing Ling stormed away in anger.
True Immortal Ling Xu murmured, “Sect Master, Peak Master Lin has always been like this. Do not take her words to heart.”
Meng Yi Fei said nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes, releasing the tight fist hidden in his sleeve.
Demon Race, Fiend Race, Human Race… In this world, chaos had reigned for a thousand years. In an era filled with peril, only such turbulent times could forge warriors of unmatched might.
The future of the Sword Sect—and indeed the fate of all the young disciples—depended on how far they could walk the martial path. The entire world now worried for these rising geniuses.
Within the Langya Secret Realm, Yan Xiao approached Li Shuang with a furrowed brow. “Senior Sister Li, who knows how many Demon Race warriors have entered this time. Other disciples may suffer great losses.”
Li Shuang nodded slowly. “Come, let us hurry and warn the others. Those with lower cultivation must stick together. The disciples of the Six Sects should set aside old grudges. No matter their sect, they must unite to defend the strength of the Human Race.”
Yan Xiao agreed and followed closely, his eyes bright with a mix of hope and youthful excitement.
Li Shuang glanced back at him with a teasing smile. “I thought the warriors inside Spirit Void Peak saw me as a fierce tiger among wolves. Yet here you are, unafraid by my side.”
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