The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Tao Hongjing gently comforted her, and Pei Guoguo sobbed that she would be obedient in the future and would not make her master angry again.

Tao Hongjing looked up, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Even in spring, Zuowang Peak remains cold.

Lin Xiao walked alone on the mountain path, looking dejected.

Dong Xiaowan stepped forward and said, "Lin Xiao, you've finally come out. I've been waiting for you."

Lin Xiao glanced up, then lowered his head and remained silent.

Dong Xiaowan continued, "After you went into seclusion, I noticed you seemed preoccupied. What's wrong?"

Lin Xiao said, "You don't understand my affairs."

Dong Xiaowan's eyes were filled with tears: "I know I was wrong before, I feel guilty and worried about you."

Lin Xiao said painfully, "I don't hate you, I hate myself. The pain that Lao Wu shouldn't have had to endure fell on him, while I..."

After saying that, Lin Xiao turned and left.

With the year-end over, the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect operation begins.

The details of the Demon Sect's mountain gates in the eighteen counties of the Western Border of the Great Zhou have been revealed, and the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has joined forces with the three major sects in the Northern Border.

The Azure Sword Sect, Fire God Mountain, and Hanging Temple issue a righteous order to exorcise demons.

The northern border is shaken, and all sides respond; a great battle between good and evil is about to begin.

Inside the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, Sect Leader Chunyangzi discussed matters with the leaders of the three major sects.

Chunyangzi said, "The evil deeds of the Demonic Sect are well-known and have harmed the common people. We, the righteous ones, should eliminate the demons and restore peace to the world."

The leader of the Azure Sword Sect agreed, and the leaders of the Fire God Mountain and the Hanging Temple also expressed their support, and the four parties quickly reached a consensus.

Three days later, the four forces converged in Cangzhou County in the western border and headed straight for the Demon Sect's mountain gate.

Xue Xing, the head of the Sword-wielding Hall of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, led five hundred disciples on an expedition.

At the departure ceremony, Chunyangzi presented Xue Xing with a sword, instructing him to lead his disciples to bravely fight the enemy and bring glory to the family.

Xue Xing knelt down to receive the sword, promising not to fail in his mission.

Jiang Chuan was on Zuowang Peak when he saw five hundred precious swords neatly arranged, and his disciples rode away on their swords.

He felt a growing desire to join the war.

The war broke out, and the four righteous sects joined forces, conquering five demonic sects in eighteen counties of the western border within a month.

When the news reached back, Chunyangzi ordered Xue Xing to prepare for the end, planning to have the new generation of disciples participate in the follow-up operations to hone their combat skills.

Jiang Chuan was inherently warlike, and hunting magical beasts could not satisfy his fighting spirit.

This is a rare opportunity to face a real opponent.

The news spread throughout Zuowang Peak, and many people came to see him off.

Pei Guoguo held Jiang Chuan's hand and said worriedly, "Jiang Chuan, be careful on this trip. The people of the Demonic Sect are ruthless."

Jiang Chuan comforted him, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."

Chen Ping stepped forward and handed over a homemade disposable flying sword: "Jiang Chuan, this sword will be useful in a critical moment, keep it safe."

Jiang Chuan accepted the gift and expressed his gratitude.

Lin Xiao instructed, "Junior Brother, this expedition is fraught with danger. Be careful in everything you do and plan carefully before you act."

Jiang Chuan nodded solemnly: "Second Senior Brother, rest assured, I will act with caution."

The rhubarb made a low whimpering sound.

Jiang Chuan squatted down and patted Da Huang's head: "Fifth Senior Brother, this journey is arduous, so I can't take you with me. You stay here obediently."

Big Yellow wagged its tail obediently.

A day later, a bright light shone on Tianzhu Peak, and the Heavenly Sword Token gleamed with dazzling light, signaling the summons of disciples throughout the entire immortal sect.

The disciples took to their swords and flew towards the Xuanwu Dojo.

Before setting off, Jiang Chuan went to Tao Hongjing's residence and respectfully bid farewell to the old man.

Tao Hongjing's gaze was gentle as he instructed, "Child, be careful in everything you do. We are waiting for your safe return at the Immortal Sect."

Jiang Chuan bowed deeply, turned around, and mounted his sword, speeding towards Tianzhu Mountain.

When Jiang Chuan arrived at the Xuanwu Dojo, many disciples had already gathered there.

Fang Sheng had sharp eyes and spotted Jiang Chuan immediately. When he realized that Jiang Chuan's cultivation had already reached the third level of the Purple Mansion Realm, he was surprised.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Jiang Chuan, your cultivation has improved too fast! You've already reached the third level of the Purple Mansion Realm!"

Jiang Chuan smiled modestly and said, "It was just a coincidence, a stroke of luck."

Jiang Wei also gave a thumbs up: "Jiang Chuan, with your cultivation speed and your talent in swordsmanship, you will definitely shine in the immortal sect in the future."

Zhang Baoyi and Tang Zhizhi, standing not far away, were also filled with amazement. Tang Zhizhi exclaimed:
"In such a short time, Jiang Chuan has become one of the best among our peers, which is truly admirable."

Just as everyone was talking, Chunyangzi, the leader of the Yunhai Immortal Sect, appeared at the dojo.

His gaze was stern: "Disciples, our Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has joined forces with the other three major sects."

The initial victory has been achieved in the encirclement and suppression of the demonic sects in the eighteen prefectures of the western border of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, the disciples below the stage immediately began to whisper among themselves.

Chunyangzi continued, “As cultivators, it is our responsibility to enter the world to subdue demons and uphold justice.”

This is also a great opportunity for you all to gain experience, and I hope you will all contribute your strength to the righteous path of the North.

After saying that, he looked at Gao Lin and Wang He and ordered, "Gao Lin and Wang He, you two will lead the new talents of the Immortal Sect."

Head to Cangzhou County to join forces with Xue Xing, the leader of the Sword-Wielding Hall, and wipe out the remnants of the Demonic Sect.

Gao Lin and Wang He responded in unison, "We will obey the leader's order!"

Gao Lin and Wang He led their disciples aboard the enormous Fangtian Painting Boat and headed towards Cangzhou County.

Three days later, the group arrived at Cang'er Town in Cangzhou County.

At this time, Cang'er Town was bustling with activity, as rising stars from all directions poured in.

Xue Xing, the head of the Sword-Holding Hall of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, was discussing the encirclement and suppression with Xiao Ning, the son of the head of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, Xu Peng, the Little Fire God of Fire God Mountain, and Kong Chan, the eldest disciple of the Hanging Temple, in the town.

As soon as Jiang Chuan and his group arrived, disciples of the Sword-Holding Hall came forward to greet them.

Jiang Chuan looked around and his gaze fell on the disciples of the Hanging Temple, especially Kong Chan, who left a deep impression on him.

As the prized disciple of Master Yuantong, the abbot of the Hanging Temple, Kongchan possessed an extraordinary temperament and exuded an approachable aura.

Jiang Chuan and Kong Chan exchanged glances and nodded to each other, as if old acquaintances were reuniting.

Master Kongchan of the Hanging Temple is highly respected by the local residents.

Master Kongchan, with his compassionate heart, did a great deed.

Wang Po's husband in the town has been paralyzed for many years, and despite seeking medical treatment from various sources, his condition has not improved.

Master Kongchan intervened and, with the help of Buddhist teachings, actually cured Wang Po's husband's illness.

When word of this spread, the residents were deeply grateful to Master Kongchan and their respect for him grew even stronger.

Disciples from the Azure Sword Sect and the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect arrived one after another, all to launch a siege against the remnants of the demonic sect in the Qilian Mountains.

Led by Gao Lin and Wang He, the disciples of Yunhai Immortal Sect arrived in Cang'er Town in a grand procession.

Xue Xing, the leader of the Sword-wielding Hall, had been waiting for a long time and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"Senior Brother Gao, Senior Brother Wang, you must be tired from your journey!" Xue Xing said with a smile.

Gao Lin waved his hand: "Hall Master Xue, you're too kind. It's nothing to work hard to wipe out the remnants of the Demonic Sect." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xue Xing began to explain the arrangements for this operation to his disciples.

"Listen up, fellow disciples. In this encirclement and suppression operation, disciples from the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, the Azure Nether Sword Sect, and the Hanging Temple will form four-person teams to enter the Qilian Mountains to search for traces of the remnants of the Demonic Sect."

Xue Xing glanced at the disciples and said seriously, "The Qilian Mountains are fraught with danger."

Everyone must not let their guard down; we might encounter demonic cultivators at the Supreme Realm or higher.

"But don't panic, everyone. To ensure safety, each group will be equipped with a jade pendant."

"Once any remnants of the Demonic Sect are discovered, crush the jade token, and our Supreme Realm cultivators will immediately arrive to provide support," Xue Xing continued.

"Master Xue, what about the disciples from Huoshenshan?" a disciple asked.

"The disciples from Huoshenshan Hospital have already entered the Qilian Mountains ahead of schedule. You might run into them during the search."

Xue Xing explained, "Also, the Qilian Mountains are shrouded in miasma all year round, which is dangerous for everyone with their current cultivation levels."

That's not enough to venture deep into the mountains. Our mission is limited to the outer edges of the Qilian Mountains.

"Everyone, please rest at the inn for the night. I will make arrangements for the group members tonight."

"We'll enter the Qilian Mountains early tomorrow morning. Did everyone understand?" Xue Xing asked, raising his voice.

"Understood!" the disciples responded in unison.

Jiang Chuan, Tang Zhizhi, the little monk Kongkong, and Cao Jiang of the Qingming Sword Sect were assigned to a four-person team and were about to set off into the Qilian Mountains to search for the remnants of the Demonic Sect.

Tang Zhizhi comes from Mengdie Peak. He is handsome and exudes an extraordinary aura.

The young monk Kongkong is a disciple of the Hanging Temple. Despite his young age, he has a profound understanding of Buddhism.

As a disciple of the Azure Sword Sect, Cao Jiang's cultivation level was slightly higher than Jiang Chuan's and Tang Zhizhi's.

When Cao Jiang learned that he was going to team up with Jiang Chuan, Tang Zhizhi, and Kong Kong, he exclaimed:

"My cultivation level is the highest, so it's only natural that I should take on the position of captain."

He tilted his head back, his nostrils almost pointing to the sky, and spoke with certainty, as if the captain's position was destined for him.

Jiang Chuan showed no sign of anything amiss and nodded, saying, "Alright, Brother Cao's cultivation is high, he's perfect for the role of captain."

The second-generation disciples of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect shook their heads inwardly upon seeing this scene.

Jiang Chuan's strength is far more than what it appears to be, yet he agreed so easily, which is truly disappointing.

Jiang Chuan seemed completely unconcerned; he was preoccupied with the upcoming training and didn't care about the captain's position.

Seeing Jiang Chuan's obedience, Cao Jiang immediately showed off in front of Tang Zhizhi, outlining the action plan for the next day:
"Once we enter the mountains tomorrow, Junior Sister Tang, you stay by my side and I'll protect you. Jiang Chuan, you and that little monk go ahead to scout the way."

He deliberately puffed out his chest, trying to show off his power in front of Tang Zhizhi.

Tang Zhizhi wasn't interested in his behavior and simply responded with a curt "Mm".

As soon as Cao Jiang left, the little monk Kongkong approached Jiang Chuan and asked with a curious look:
"Benefactor Bai, are you perhaps planning to harm Benefactor Cao in the Qilian Mountains?"

Jiang Chuan laughed and said, "Little monk, what's going on in your head? I don't have such thoughts."

Kongkong said seriously, "Benefactor Bai, I see that you have a strong murderous aura. This is not good."

Why not convert to Buddhism and let go of your attachments?

Jiang Chuan teased, "Little monk, although your Buddhist path is good, I still want to wander more in this mortal world. I have no plans to become a monk for the time being."

Kongkong was unwilling to give up and continued to persuade him: "Benefactor Bai, the sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but there is always a shore to turn back to. Only by entering the Buddhist gate can you cleanse your sins."

Jiang Chuan, still with that same grinning expression, replied, "Little monk, if my sins could be cleansed by Buddhism, I would have gone long ago."

But I feel quite content with my current life and don't want to become a monk so soon.

Tang Zhizhi found the little monk Kongkong's persistence quite interesting.

Jiang Chuan's humorous and witty response made her look at him in a new light.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Cang'er Town was bustling with activity.

Cultivators from all directions are ready and set off for the Qilian Mountains.

"Disciples, this journey to the Qilian Mountains is fraught with peril."

The mountains are not only inhabited by remnants of the demonic sect, but also by rampant miasma and powerful magical beasts.

Everyone must be careful and cautious, and must not let their guard down. Xue Xing's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire venue.

Jiang Chuan and Tang Zhizhi soon met up and walked towards the group together.

Cao Jiang and Kong Kong were already waiting there.

Cao Jiang looked at Jiang Chuan with disdain, but when he looked at Tang Zhi, his expression softened considerably, and he even greeted him politely.

"Junior Sister Tang, stay close to me as we head into the mountains today, lest you get separated," Cao Jiang said with a smile.

"set off!"

At Xue Xing's command, everyone mounted their magical artifacts and flew towards the Qilian Mountains.

During their flight, Jiang Chuan and the others felt gusts of strong wind.

The Qilian Mountains are now close at hand. Looking into the distance, the mountains are high and steep, their majestic presence stretching across the sky and earth, inspiring awe.

Compared to the Tianzhu Mountains of Yunhai Immortal Gate, this place presents a completely different scene.

The Tianzhu Mountains are rich in spiritual energy and peaceful, while the Qilian Mountains are filled with chaotic miasma.

Upon entering the mountains, a pungent odor assaulted their senses, and Jiang Chuan circulated his spiritual energy to resist it.

The young monk clasped his hands together in prayer, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.

Tang Zhizhi gripped the magical artifact in his hand tightly, cautiously observing the surrounding movements.

"Everyone be careful, there are many dangers in these mountains, and things could change at any time," Jiang Chuan whispered a reminder.

They hadn't gone far when a roar of a monster came from the surrounding trees, making them tremble.

Kongkong was so frightened that his face turned pale and his body trembled. "Amitabha, the monsters in these mountains are so ferocious."

Cao Jiang forced himself to remain calm, "What are you afraid of? There are so many of us, are we afraid of a few magical beasts?"

Even so, he unconsciously tightened his grip on the sword.

Three days passed in a flash, and Jiang Chuan, Cao Jiang, Tang Zhizhi, and the little monk Kongkong were the four of them.

At first, they were able to meet other expedition teams and exchange their experiences in the mountains.

But the further you go in, the fewer times you run into each other.

At first, they only encountered first- or second-tier magical beasts, and occasionally they could find the corpses of a few demonic cultivators.

But as they ventured deeper, they encountered third-tier magical beasts. Even more alarming, they discovered the corpses of disciples from the four righteous sects, badly mangled, with the fatal wounds clearly inflicted by humans.

Cao Jiang bent down to examine the corpse: "Judging from the attire, he should be a disciple of Huoshenshan."

These injuries must have been inflicted by remnants of the Demonic Sect.

It seems the remnants of the Demonic Sect are nearby.

"Then what should we do?"

Tang Zhizhi asked.

Cao Jiang said, "The remnants of the Demonic Sect dare not fly on swords, so they can only travel through the mountains and forests, which will surely leave traces."

"If we follow the trail, we'll definitely find them."

Jiang Chuan, however, questioned, "Brother Cao, the remnants of the Demonic Sect are always cunning. How could they leave such obvious traces? I think this is very likely a trap." (End of Chapter)