This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

The Sea God Sect’s grand hall, signifying the pinnacle of its power, now displayed a scene quite unlike its usual sight.

Ten Golden Core Cultivators of the Dragon Slaying Saber had gathered within the hall, and before them lay a cultivator firmly bound and immobilized.

Upon closer inspection, one would abruptly realize that the person in question was none other than Han Qiu, the Sect Master of the Sea God Sect.

"Sword Master, the other four Golden Core Cultivators have all been executed by us," Tong Zheng Daoist reported as he stepped forth.

The Sword Master nodded, "Well done!"

The Sea God Upper Sect, which had dominated Jiaolong Island for more than two hundred years, was now in an instant overtaken.

"What Sea God Upper Sect? They are nothing but a few small snakes," said the Sword Master, his gaze falling disdainfully upon the captured Han Qiu: "The foundation of a sect is always its own strength. Your Spirit Snake Sect has dominated Jiaolong Island for more than two hundred years with the support of the Jiao Clan. And yet, how is it that I can obliterate you in just the blink of an eye?"

As he lay on the ground, Han Qiu faced the Sword Master’s scorn with a venomous glare and a sinister smile: "We of the Sea God Sect may not be a match for you, but what of it?

Can you contend with the Jiaolong Demon King? The moment the Jiao Clan discovers the Sea God Sect has been toppled, with a thousand Jiaos descending upon the island, what can you do then?

For your momentary satisfaction, when the Jiaolong Demon King erupts in fury, you will have dragged the entire Human Race of Jiaolong Island into your graves!"

The Sword Master’s eyebrows twitched as he responded coldly, "Jiaolong Demon King? Not even Fifth Grade, and he dares to call himself a dragon? Moreover, the Dragon Slaying Saber is precisely here to cut down this vile Jiao!"

"With just you? The Jiaolong Demon King’s cultivation has reached the peak of Fourth Grade. Given the might of the Jiao Clan’s bloodline, even an Upper Cultivator at Nascent Soul Perfection would not dare claim they could slay the Jiaolong Demon King.

You’re merely at Nascent Soul Early Stage, what makes you think you have the capital to speak such words?" Knowing his situation was dire and without any reservations, Han Qiu retorted mockingly, "Do you really think you can disrupt the Jiaolong Demon King’s plans for Transforming into a Dragon?"

The Sword Master swept an indifferent gaze at Han Qiu and did not reply again.

Silence suddenly fell within the grand hall, and everyone remained quiet, as if waiting for something.

Moments later, the doors of the great hall slowly opened, and a cultivator walked in.

Han Qiu, who had once given up struggling and lay motionless on the ground, upon seeing the newcomer’s face, suddenly began to twist his body.

"Han Jiu, it’s you! No wonder the Dragon Slaying Saber Cultivators could enter the sect without our sect’s grand formation stirring. Why, why did you betray the sect, after all it has done for you?" Han Qiu’s voice was as bitter as that of a malevolent spirit.

Han Jiu, kneeling in front of him, wore an enigmatic smile. Looking into Han Qiu’s hate-filled eyes, he asked, "Sect Master, do you still remember the Dikun Sect?"

Han Qiu was taken aback, then as if realizing something, "You… are from the Dikun Sect?"

Han Jiu let out a bitter laugh, "The Dikun Sect’s second elder, Dikun, was my father. As a mere child, I was lucky to survive under my father’s arrangements.

The Jiao Clan destroyed our sect, killed my father, and yet the Sea God Sect willingly became the running dogs of the Jiao Clan. I joined the Sea God Sect precisely for this day!

Why would I betray the Sea God Sect? Answer me!"

"A good bird chooses a tree to nest in," Han Qiu was silent for a long while before squeezing out these words with difficulty.

Having vented the frustration in his heart, Han Jiu paid no further heed to Han Qiu. He stood up and said to the Sword Master, "I have met the Sword Master."

The Sword Master nodded, his left arm lifting, and tossed out dozens of Array Plates and hundreds of Array Flags toward Han Jiu.

"These are Binding Spirit Formation Flags. Arrange them as soon as possible. When the time comes, in conjunction with the Sea God Sect’s grand formation, we must capture Jiao Yan alive!" the Sword Master instructed.

"I will start arranging now," Han Jiu accepted the flags and responded respectfully before quickly turning around to leave the grand hall.

Time was of the essence!

Looking at the grand hall doors that had closed again, the Sword Master’s gaze was deep as he muttered, "The inescapable net is ready, all that’s left is for Jiao Yan to fall into it."

Jiao Yan, as the direct descendant of the Jiaolong Demon King, was already a Fourth Grade Demon Beast himself.

Although he had just entered the Fourth Grade and was not as strong as the Jiaolong Demon King at the peak of the Fourth Grade’s power, Jiao Yan was indeed capable of sweeping through the cultivators of the Human Race on Jiaolong Island with such battle strength, which formed the foundation of his arrogance and fearlessness.

With the cultivation of a Nascent Soul in the early stage, Sword Master had no confidence in capturing Jiao Yan alive.

In a standoff of equal strength, if one side was set on escaping, it was typically difficult for the other to have any countermeasures, a characteristic of cultivator battles.

Under such circumstances, if one wished to capture Jiao Yan, outside forces would be required, such as an overwhelmingly powerful Formation.

The problem was, Formations were difficult to deploy in the midst of battle; they required time to set up beforehand, and once established, could not be moved, which was a significant limitation.

Although Jiao Yan was conceited, he was not a fool. To entice him into a Formation that had been arranged without raising his suspicions was exceedingly difficult.

This method being impractical, they racked their brains and came up with another plan.

Luring Jiao Yan into the Formation was problematic, so why not let Jiao Yan walk into the trap himself?

Above the entire Jiaolong Island, the Sea God Sect was precisely the place where Jiao Yan would let down his guard and enter, right?

With this thought in mind, the Sea God Sect became a slaughterhouse in the eyes of the owners of the Dragon Slaying Saber, who resentfully schemed, provoking Jiao Yan, luring him to leave the sea, and then quietly usurping his position, all to create the situation that now unfolded. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

They used a Sea God Sect that seemed to have no issues and operated normally to deceive Jiao Yan into the pot.

...

Moo!

Lu Qingshan, who had come out of the hall with Madam Mo, suddenly heard a loud noise like the bellowing of a cow.

He hurriedly looked up and saw a huge Black Jiao flying low in the sky with reckless abandon, its body enveloped in black demon qi that hissed continuously, the formidable and terrifying aura chilling to the bone.

The Black Jiao flying low in the sky, its massive eyes suddenly flashing with blood-red light as if it had spotted something intriguing, abruptly halted mid-flight, then diving swiftly downwards.

By the time the Black Jiao reemerged in the low sky, it was seen clutching two children in its ghastly jaws, its sharp teeth slowly tearing and chewing their bodies as the vile Jiao saliva mixed with chunks of flesh and blood dripped down.

This scene made Lu Qingshan’s face stiffen instantly, as he involuntarily clenched his hands into fists, anger surging in his heart.

"Since the cultivators on the island were defeated by the Jiaolong Demon King two hundred years ago, the Jiao Clan has always been this arrogant, coming to the island from time to time to hunt humans.

In the absence of any cultivator daring to oppose the Jiao Clan and stand up for the humans, the only thing the common folk can do is silently endure the torment inflicted by the Jiao Clan," explained Mo Yan, who had appeared beside Lu Qingshan at some point, in a soft voice.

"Apart from the Jiaolong Demon King, how many Fourth Grade Jiao Beasts are there within the Jiao Clan?" Lu Qingshan asked.

"There’s no need to overthink it. Although the Jiao Clan has an extraordinary bloodline, reaching the Fourth Grade is not that easy.

This Black Jiao is the direct descendant of the Jiaolong Demon King and is the only other Fourth Grade Jiao Beast in the Jiao Clan besides the Demon King himself."

Lu Qingshan nodded slightly and retorted, "Master Mo, however, seems quite calm about the Black Jiao’s violent acts."

"After seeing it so many times, it becomes normal. Besides," confronting Lu Qingshan’s probing, Mo Yan waved his hand and a glint flashed in his eyes, "this Black Jiao won’t be able to be arrogant for much longer."