Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 54 Yan Hong's Identity

Amidst the sharp teeth and low hissing of countless vampire bats, Zhang Xiaofan and his companions passed through the area guarded by the vampire bats without incident.

After landing on the ground, Lu Xueqi visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was flying through the air, the thick layer of filth under her feet, coupled with the strange smell, was truly disgusting.

"There are many strange things here, so please be careful."

Fa Xiang looked up at the red line above his head and the vampire bats huddled together at the other end of the line, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

"Maintain formation, don't panic, beware of sneak attacks from the demonic cult!"

Zhang Xiaofan also spoke in a deep voice. At the same time, he mobilized his internal magic power to activate the Six Harmonies Mirror, making its light even brighter, allowing everyone to see the grotesque rocks on both sides of the mountain wall.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi gripped the Tianya Sword tightly and silently led the way, while Qi Hao, holding the Hanbing Sword, brought up the rear.

Compared to those at the front, those at the back are actually in the most danger. Those at the front have people behind them to help and support them, but those at the rear are different. They have to be constantly vigilant against attacks from behind and sides. Therefore, Qi Hao was also very focused.

The entire Wanfu Ancient Cave is like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, as if it would devour any life that enters it at any moment.

In the darkness, the light of the Six Harmonies Mirror slowly moved forward within the winding cave. The labyrinthine cave had caused everyone to lose their sense of direction, and they could only feel that they were heading deeper into the mountainside.

Suddenly, Lu Xueqi, who was walking at the front, stopped. Faxiang, Li Xun, and the others almost instinctively became on guard, each watching their surroundings warily.

At this moment, the Tianya Sword shone brightly, illuminating the scene before them completely.

Before Lu Xueqi, the deep cave had split into two paths, both pitch black, their destinations unknown.

Between the two forks in the road stood a massive stone tablet, three or four zhang tall, with four large, blood-red characters carved on it:
"The Way of Heaven rests with me!"

Li Xun looked at the four large characters that exuded arrogance, snorted, and said angrily.

"A mere demonic sorcerer dares to claim to be the Heavenly Way? He's like a frog in a well looking at the moon, utterly ignorant of his own limitations!"

As he spoke, Li Xun couldn't help but glance at Zhang Xiaofan, perhaps secretly cursing someone.

Zhang Xiaofan ignored him, staring intently at the massive stone tablet in front of him, and softly explained.

"I have seen relevant records in the sect's archives. Eight hundred years ago, during the great war between the righteous and the demonic, our righteous cultivators chased into this Ten Thousand Bats Cave and encountered a stone tablet, which was cleaved in two by a powerful sword of one of our Qingyun Sect's founders."

Upon hearing this, Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu straightened their backs and glanced at Li Xun of Fenxiang Valley, their arrogance undisguised.

Lu Xueqi lightly weighed the Tianya Sword in her hand, seemingly pondering whether she could cleave the stone tablet in two with a single strike.

How could Li Xun tolerate this? He immediately retorted in a cold voice.

"Then why is this stone tablet in front of us completely intact?"

"Look, isn't there a break at the bottom quarter of that stone tablet?"

Yan Hong, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke, her voice soft and alluring, causing a slight flutter in one's heart. A glint flashed in Zhang Xiaofan's eyes, but his face remained expressionless. However, in his heart, Zhang Xiaofan already had some guesses about Yan Hong's true identity.

Zhang Xiaofan already knew about the broken mark, so when he saw the stone tablet, he immediately searched it and barely managed to find an extremely faint sword mark.

This was because Zhang Xiaofan was a descendant of the Sword Immortal, possessing a keen sense of swords and sword marks, as well as foresight, which enabled him to find them.

As for ordinary people, if it weren't for the sword mark, they wouldn't be able to find it at all. Even if they got close, they wouldn't know the location of the sword mark and would find it extremely difficult to see it.

But Yan Hong was able to know, either because she was incredibly meticulous and had a keener eye than he, a cultivator at the peak of the Jade Purity Realm who practiced both Buddhism and Taoism and possessed an immortal soul.

Alternatively, this Yan Hong could be a pawn planted by the Demonic Sect in the Incense Valley, and most likely a successor of the Joyful Union Sect. It's just unknown how much control the Demonic Sect has over this pawn.

"Senior Sister Yan is indeed meticulous. That's right, this sword mark is indeed left by my Azure Cloud Sword Technique."

Zhang Xiaofan turned to look at Yan Hong and chuckled softly. Yan Hong smiled slightly upon hearing this, but did not speak. She simply lowered her head slightly.

"Since this stone tablet has been repaired, it's clear that these demonic cult members have been gathering here for a long time, doing all sorts of shady things. When we get back, we must report this to the sect leader and have these remnants of the demonic cult wiped out in one fell swoop!"

Qi Hao shouted sharply, the light on his Frost Sword shimmering slightly. Fa Xiang nodded slightly upon hearing this, then looked at Zhang Xiaofan and said.

"Senior Brother Zhang, there are two paths branching out in this cave. What should we do?"

"According to the records, the two forks in the road seem different, but they eventually converge. Their purpose is nothing more than to make us, the righteous path, divide our forces. If that's the case, then we will do as they wish."

Zhang Xiaofan said in a deep voice, but hesitated about how to divide the troops. There were eight people in total, and their Qingyun Sect had four, which would be enough to form a team. However, Zhang Xiaofan wanted to find out the secrets behind Yan Hong.

After all, the Incense Valley behind Yan Hong is no simple opponent. They are an adversary we will have to face sooner or later, so we must prepare early, or at least minimize the deaths of innocent civilians.

“Brother Faxiang, the fellow Daoists of Qingyun are all highly skilled in magic. They should be able to handle the demonic cultists with ease. In that case, why don’t we form a team of four?”

Li Xun, who had just been outmaneuvered by his junior sister, suddenly spoke up at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Fa Xiang subconsciously looked up at Zhang Xiaofan. In truth, he was more inclined to travel with Zhang Xiaofan, not because of the latter's profound cultivation, but simply because he thought that if they encountered any demonic cult members, he could provide protection.

Alternatively, if possible, we could try to probe a bit.

For some reason, Faxiang always felt that he saw the shadow of his Uncle Puzhi in Zhang Xiaofan's eyes. He even suspected that Zhang Xiaofan might already know something.

But in the end, Faxiang nodded slightly in response.

“In that case, this humble monk will travel with the two fellow Daoists from Burning Incense Valley. This left fork in the road will be left to Senior Brother Zhang. If we encounter any demonic cult members, fellow Daoists from Qingyun Sect can raise a warning with a long cry, what do you say?”

"Just as Brother Faxiang said."

Zhang Xiaofan chuckled and glanced at Yan Hong almost imperceptibly before heading towards the left fork in the road with Lu Xueqi and the others.

(End of this chapter)