This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

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In the depths of the Hidden Reef Domain, within the deep cavern of the Dragon Pool.

A Jiao Beast, over sixty zhang in length with a body cast from molten iron, coiled there.

The beast’s body was pitch-black, its surface covered with a layer of dark, lustrous Dragon Scales, the edges of the scales sharp as blades, sending chills down one’s spine.

Beyond that, the beast possessed four massive claws beneath its belly, akin to Divine Weapons, exuding a penetrating chill, while atop its head, a pair of Jiao horns were crystal clear. Its large eyes were slightly closed as if it were resting, but even without anger, an oppressive and terrifying might exuded, leaving one gasping for breath.

At that moment, the enormous eyes of the Jiao Beast suddenly snapped open.

Malice and icy coldness lurked within those eyes.

This was the king of the Jiao Clan, on the verge of breaking into the Fifth Grade, about to Transform into a Dragon, an existence of terror.

The eyes of the Jiao Dragon Demon King stared intently at the entrance of the cave.

An old man with a face full of white beard stood there with respect.

"Jiao Lao, what brings you here?" the Jiao Dragon Demon King asked, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice cold as ice.

Jiao Lao respectfully bowed his head, his hands lofting an object high, "My Lord, a Human Cultivator has brought this... this."

In Jiao Lao’s hands was a dark black sinew, overflowing with Spiritual Light, obviously no ordinary thing.

Boom!

The moment he saw the sinew, the Jiao Dragon Demon King’s claws crushed a piece of rock on the cave wall into powder with rage, "This is Yan’er’s Dragon Sinew. What has happened to him?"

Not daring to conceal anything, Jiao Lao informed the Jiao Dragon Demon King of the entire situation, "Yesterday, the corpse of Hanyuan from the Sea God Sect appeared mysteriously within our domain, and the last batch of Spirit Materials for the Dragon Transformation Pool sent by the Sea God Sect was also stolen.

To retrieve these materials for your Majesty, the Lord went alone to Jiaolong Island, then this situation occurred."

"Furthermore, the one who brought the Lord’s Dragon Sinew also had a message for your Majesty..." Jiao Lao looked hesitant.

"What message?" The Jiao Dragon Demon King gradually calmed down from his rage.

"He said that if the King wishes to save the Lord’s life, then he should go for a meeting on Jiaolong Island," Jiao Lao spoke with some reluctance, "My King, this is clearly a scheme by the Human Cultivators..."

"So you think I should just ignore Yan’er?" The Jiao Dragon Demon King’s icy eyes slanted toward Jiao Lao.

Jiao Lao quickly bowed his head, "I wouldn’t dare!"

"And the Human Cultivator who brought Yan’er’s Dragon Sinew? You didn’t let him go, did you?"

"Of course not," Jiao Lao quickly answered, "It’s just that..."

"It’s just what?"

"The one who brought the Lord’s Dragon Sinew was but a puppet fashioned by a Human Artifact Refiner. Although we managed to capture it, we couldn’t get any information out of it," Jiao Lao explained.

"Good, good, worthy indeed of someone who’d dare harm Yan’er. How thorough they are," the Jiao Dragon Demon King said with a laugh that contained no anger, "Since they wish to lure me to the island, I shall comply with their wishes. I’d like to see just how big the appetite of these Human underlings is, and how they plan to swallow me!"

"Jiao Lao!" The Jiao Dragon Demon King roared.

"I am here."

"Assemble the clan’s warriors—we’re heading to Jiaolong Island together!"

"As you command," Jiao Lao acknowledged.

Although the Jiao Dragon Demon King prided himself on his unparalleled strength, he was inherently cautious and cunning. Unlike Jiao Yan, he did not choose to go to Jiaolong Island alone.

After all, how many of those who could rise to be Great Demon Kings were fools?

...

Shortly after.

At the bottom of the sea, outside the cave, massive waves of light parted the waters.

The mighty Jiao Clan assembled, and leading the massive army of Jiao beasts was the towering, immense figure of the Jiao Dragon Demon King.

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Jiao Lao stepped out of the cave and approached the Jiaolong Demon King, reporting, "Demon King, most of our clan’s strongest warriors are here, totaling five hundred battle generals."

These five hundred Jiao beasts represented the strongest combat power that the Jiao Clan could muster.

With a booming voice, the Jiaolong Demon King declared, "More than two hundred years have passed since I last visited Jiaolong Island, and it seems the Human Race has forgotten the might of our clan. It looks like I was too merciful back then. This time, I shall lead you to flatten Jiaolong Island and give the Human Race a bloody lesson."

Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo!

The Jiao beasts were brimming with fighting spirit, all of them roaring in response. Their voices melded into one, shaking the waters outside the light waves into rising billows.

"Follow me, we will retrieve my son and flatten the Human Race!"

The Jiaolong Demon King let out a fierce shout.

Afterward, the Jiaolong Demon King burst forth through the sea, countless droplets showering down from his powerful and awe-inspiringly beautiful Jiao body.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Following behind the Jiaolong Demon King was Jiao Lao. Then came more than twenty Third Grade Jiao beasts, and lastly, hundreds of Second Grade Jiao beasts. The calm of the sea domain was instantly shattered by the grand commotion of the Jiao Clan, with waves rising and a mist filling the air, where a faint rainbow light could be seen.

The scene and the momentum were truly magnificent.

...

"Sword Master, no more than half an hour after we delivered Jiao Yan’s dragon sinews, the Jiaolong Demon King has already set out, accompanied by five hundred Jiao beasts with a mighty approach!"

Inside the grand hall of the Sea God Sect, all the high-ranking cultivators of the Dragon Slaying Saber were present, the atmosphere extremely tense. The cultivator Tong Zheng stepped forward to report the latest intelligence to the Sword Master.

"Notify Mo Yan to start taking action on his side," the Sword Master said with a grave expression. "As for us here, we’ve prepared everything we can. Whether we succeed or fail, it all depends on Heaven’s Mandate now."

"What of failure? I consider it a great honor to join this endeavor with all of you, and to meet death together in the end!" Seeing the heavy and even somewhat pessimistic mood of the crowd, the eldest of the Lian Yun trio from Lian State was the first to stand, his face full of determination, "A life cowering in servitude to the Jiao Clan as their dogs is no different from death itself!"

"Big brother is right," Lian Cheng and Lian Jun immediately chimed in, "We wish to join this endeavor with everyone!"

"Well said, it’s just a life to lose! The Jiao Clan destroyed our sect, killed our kin, and tormented our Human Race. If we don’t avenge this grievance, we will never be able to move past this grudge in our lives, let alone talk about cultivation!"

"Yes, it’s just a measly life. In a hundred and eighty years, we will be vigorous men again!"

"..."

The Dragon Slaying Saber cultivators, who had initially harbored panic and concern, were instantly roused by the Lian Yun trio’s provocation. Their gloom was swept away as they all roared in agreement.

Seeing everyone’s fighting spirit soar, the Sword Master felt a surge of boldness swell in his chest, "Good, then let’s take Jiao Yan with us and set off immediately!"

...

Wood Carving Shop.

Lu Qingshan returned here once again after a day’s absence.

However, seeing the situation in the wood carving shop, Lu Qingshan couldn’t help but chuckle.

A girl who appeared quirky and spirited was holding a wood carving in the shop, looking utterly fascinated by it, as if lost in her own world, deep in thought.

"What are you doing?"

Zang Xiaojian, engrossed in the wood carving, hadn’t initially noticed Lu Qingshan’s arrival. Upon hearing the familiar voice, she swiftly turned her head to see Lu Qingshan standing at the doorway, smiling and watching her obliquely. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The girl’s face immediately lit up with joy. She put down the wood carving and was about to speak, but suddenly remembering something, her nose twitched slightly, and she straightened her face, saying, "It’s a secret, I can’t tell you!"

Priorities being priorities, Zang Xiaojian understood that Lu Qingshan’s decision to part ways with her the day before was reasonable, but that didn’t prevent the slight indignation in her heart.

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Lu Qingshan just shrugged his shoulders and leisurely stepped into the wood carving shop.

His gaze swept around the shop and he noticed Xue Zhuyong lying on a rattan chair, reeking of alcohol. His hands hung loosely, the right hand still clutching a wine jug, his eyes half-closed, muttering deliriously as if he hadn’t yet woken up. He was either unaware of Lu Qingshan’s arrival or too lazy to care.

The Three-feet Edge hung on the wall as regally as the day before.

Though Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian had initially come for the Three-feet Edge, they were now, with exceptional tacit understanding, ignoring it completely, their attention instead focused on the wood carvings displayed around the shop.

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