CHAPTER 76.1: MOON MAIDEN HOLDS THE SWORD, KILLING THOUSANDS IN THE SNOW

Killed in seconds! Yes, they were killed in seconds!

When it came to King realm cultivators, Qi Yuan only needed a few seconds to kill them. The same went with Emperor realm cultivators.

As a side note, he was still sitting. All he did was wave his hands, and the seven Emperor realm cultivators were no more.

At the pavilion, Cold Moon looked shocked. The black-veiled woman next to her was equally stunned. What realm is he in? Is he really a Peak Emperor realm cultivator?

Qi Yuan turned to his fish soup. "Better drink it quickly. If the smell of blood drifts over here, it won't be good."

He slowly savored the fish soup, tasting it carefully.

"Not bad... almost as good as my junior sister's spirit fish soup," he praised.

That praise seemed to land well. The Moon Maiden's face bloomed with a sweet smile, the waning crescent moon in her eyes shifting into a full one. Then, the little girl seemed to recall something. Suddenly, she darted off toward the seven corpses, trying to retrieve Qi Yuan's sword.

Qi Yuan chuckled at the sight. "No need to pick it up. Leave the sword there. Whoever dares cross that sword shall die!"

Then, he burst into laughter. In reality, he had always been meek and timid. Just facing the Black Mountain Sect had left him so terrified he couldn't sleep at night. Still, of course he had to let loose in-game, striking with heavy fists. If he played the coward for too long, he'd really end up as some old turtle hiding in its shell. What a joke that'd be.

On the pavilion, Cold Moon watched this scene with eyes full of admiration and longing. "This... this is the Sword God!"

The black-veiled woman was equally stirred, her voice trembling with excitement, "The Faceless Sword God... he must've walked out from the forbidden zone."

***

At the Hundred-Cities Alliance...

On the high seat, a plump man was all-smile. "What do you all think of the Seventh Moon Branch of the Moonlight Clan?"

More than twenty Peak Emperors were seated in the great hall.

One Peak Emperor declared, his voice booming like a great bell, "What else is there to think? With a flick of the finger, they can be wiped out!"

A female Peak Emperor said in an airy and ethereal voice, "Those barbarians are the only ones left resisting in the southern region. Once they're crushed, the entire South will belong to us."

Just then, a wiry old man said, "I heard that a Peak Emperor has appeared by the Seventh Moon Lake. He is very strong. With one sword strike, he killed seven of our Alliance's emperors. This can't be ignored. Should we report this to—"

Before he could finish, another cut him off. "No matter how strong that Faceless Sword God is, can he defeat all twenty-five of us? Does he even stand a chance against our three thousand Iron Cavalry?"

"Exactly. There's no need to trouble that one over this matter. With three thousand Iron Cavalry, all martial warriors, and with us present, how could we fail to kill a mere Faceless Sword God?"

The hall erupted into voices of agreement. They were all sly old foxes. They knew the Faceless Sword God was powerful, but they feared the Black Army even more.

Whenever the Black Army appeared, it wasn't just their enemy who risked dying, but themselves as well. To the Black Army, all beings were the same.

Even Peak Emperors like them would be devoured, their flesh stripped away, leaving nothing but an empty skin. Unless absolutely desperate, they would never dare to call upon the Black Army.

"In that case, it's settled," the plump man with the Buddha-like smile declared. "Ten days from now, we will strike. With three thousand Iron Cavalry, we shall trample the Moonlight Clan! Their two Saintesses must both be taken alive, to be sacrificed to the Heavens!"

He laughed, setting the course of events.

***

After Qi Yuan killed those seven reckless Emperor realm experts, the Hundred-Cities Alliance made no further moves. He still sat every day upon the blue stone by Seventh Moon Lake.

Moon Maiden sat silently at his side, watching the snowy lake together. They almost seemed like snowmen. This time, Qi Yuan's blazing warmth shielded her from the cold.

During that time, Cold Moon came to see Qi Yuan. She brought news that the Hundred-Cities Alliance was preparing a large-scale assault. She urged Qi Yuan to take the Saintess and flee.

Qi Yuan only stared. "We're watching the snow together."

Cold Moon said nothing more. She only lowered her gaze and murmured sadly, "Senior, if you cannot withstand them, you may abandon us and leave."

Qi Yuan nodded. "Don't worry. If the fight's too tough, I'll just play dead."

After Cold Moon departed, the black-veiled woman arrived not long after. She knelt before Qi Yuan and paid her respects.

Qi Yuan thought of his old acquaintances from the Five Elements Forbidden Zone and said, "Three hundred years from now, the Demon-Slaying Assembly begins. If all goes as planned, we shall rid the realm of the alien demons."

The black-veiled woman left with tears streaming down her face. The lakeside returned to silence. Snow continued to fall for days on end, piling higher and higher.

At dusk, the Moon Maiden emerged once more, a white shawl draped over her shoulders. She cradled a steaming bowl in her hands. Her face flushed red, and each breath formed a puff of white mist.

Qi Yuan sniffed the air. "It's not fish soup this time. Is it something different?"

The Moon Maiden lifted the lid, releasing a wave of sweet fragrance.

Qi Yuan blinked, then laughed. "Crispy sweet duck. I finally got to taste it."

If he recalled correctly, he'd made a passing comment about it. Yet, Moon Maiden had remembered.

Qi Yuan took a bite, savoring it slowly. "You little thing, your cooking skills are remarkable. Shame you're just an NPC. Otherwise, I'd drag you back to the Seven-Colored Peak as my little chef."

The Moon Maiden only tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

Suddenly, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes and said, "You keep making me meals... trying to grind favorability points on me like I'm an NPC, huh? Come on, out with it. No such thing as kindness without a reason. What's your real motive?"

A trace of panic flickered across Moon Maiden's face before she quickly smoothed it away. Her small hands clutched tightly at his sleeve. "I... I don't want to die!"

Qi Yuan looked at her and thought of Seventh Moon. Recently, he had learned the Moonlight Clan had two Saintesses. One had left with the priestess, destination unknown.

The other, Moon Maiden, was left here by his side. Had she been abandoned?

Qi Yuan said, "I can only protect you for a month."

Maybe even less than that. He'd be gone to face the alien demons.

The Moon Maiden's eyes grew stubborn.

Qi Yuan said, "If you don't want to die, you'll have to grow strong yourself. Protect yourself. During the time that I am here, I'll give you pointers now and then. How much you grasp depends on your own fortune."

The girl's small face lit up with excitement. She nodded hard, looking overjoyed.

Qi Yuan smiled at the sight. "To honor only the old while neglecting the young, that cannot be right. Alien demons, you guys are wrong."