The Demon with Holy Radiance

"Yes, Pavilion Master!"

A vicious glint flashed in Elder Zhuan Yu’s eyes, but he quickly looked away from Yang An. Withdrawing his killing intent as easily as he had released it, he absorbed the sword back into his body.

It seemed the elder had merely sensed Yang An’s aura and made a special trip to check on him—and to teach him a little lesson.

Yang An had expected Thirty Flow to intervene. Of course, if Thirty Flow hadn’t planned on stopping the elder, Yang An wouldn’t have held back either.

He glanced at the Curse Seal in his hand, which marked his status as an External Affairs Elder. ’This thing is completely useless,’ he thought, ’and more trouble than it’s worth.’

"How goes the battle?"

Thirty Flow began to walk, taking the lead. Zhuan Yu followed close behind, and Yang An trailed a few paces after them.

Since Old Life Crane had ordered him to join the war, he figured he should at least wait for Thirty Flow to give him a proper post.

Zhuan Yu ignored Yang An and began to report on the current situation.

"The Great Virtue Temple is fighting with their backs against the wall, but it seems they have reinforcements. We haven’t been able to break their defenses."

"Do we have any intelligence on that? Which domain are the Great Virtue Temple’s reinforcements from?"

Thirty Flow’s tone grew grave. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for the Golden Thread Pavilion. The Great Virtue Temple had reinforcements, but the Pavilion did not. Sooner or later, they would be bled dry.

"They’re likely from Qiangui Mountain in the Northern Senluo Domain. The Eastern Celestial Dragon Domain couldn’t have arrived this quickly. As for the Golden Soul Sect in the Southern Fusheng Domain, there’s been no word from them yet."

Zhuan Yu reported dutifully.

The Senluo and Fusheng Domains both border the Treasure Temple Domain, making them the powers that could most quickly come to the Great Virtue Temple’s aid.

"Qiangui Mountain isn’t a major problem, but we must act quickly. Once the Dao of Celestial Being from the Celestial Dragon Domain gets involved, we will be at a complete disadvantage."

Before long, Yang An followed the two men into a great hall at the center of the compound.

Many of the Golden Thread Pavilion’s mid-to-high-ranking members were already gathered in the hall. Thirty Flow walked directly to the seat of honor at the head of the room. After everyone offered a simple salute, Thirty Flow began to introduce Yang An.

Even before the introduction, many eyes had already fallen on Yang An. Among them were those of Internal Affairs Elder Wen Zhao, who held a grudge against him.

When Yang An had "defected" from the Golden Thread Pavilion, Wen Zhao had tried to kill him as he was leaving. Zhuan Yu had stopped him, and Thirty Flow had subsequently announced Yang An’s desertion.

Wen Zhao had held a grudge about it ever since. After all, Yang An had killed his prized disciple—one he had gone to great lengths to recruit.

So when Yang An appeared here once again, Wen Zhao looked genuinely surprised.

When he learned that Yang An was now an External Affairs Elder of the Golden Thread Pavilion, his surprise was even more apparent. He shot a look at Zhuan Yu, who stood a short distance away.

"Zhuan Yu, this disciple of yours comes and goes as he pleases. Is this your doing?"

"He is no longer my disciple."

Zhuan Yu replied coldly and ignored him thereafter.

Hearing Zhuan Yu’s words, a sinister smile spread across Wen Zhao’s face. He instantly put the pieces together.

’Oh, this is good. This is very good!’

Yang An, of course, noticed Wen Zhao’s stare and simply returned it with a cold glare of his own.

’This guy is clearly going to be another problem,’ he thought. ’But Thirty Flow forbade any infighting. They probably won’t dare to cause trouble for me out in the open.’

The rest of the members filed in, but not everyone was present. Many were still fighting on the front lines, and the distant sounds of battle could still be heard.

Battles between Cultivators and mortals were worlds apart. It was common for Cultivators to fight continuously for long periods. As long as they weren’t dead, their Mana wasn’t completely depleted, and the backlash from their powers hadn’t spiraled to an unbearable level, they could keep on fighting.

This was why the war between the Golden Thread Pavilion and the Great Virtue Temple, despite having raged for months, was only now reaching its most intense phase.

As the others discussed their strategy, Yang An was merely a spectator. The status of an External Affairs Elder like him was insignificant here; he had no standing to speak.

The meeting ended quickly, and Yang An received his assignment. He was to head to a frontline on the southeastern front and take command of a squad whose Elder had just been killed in action.

Since they were operating within the Great Virtue Temple’s territory, the Golden Thread Pavilion’s method of attack was direct: a full-frontal assault. They had divided their forces into numerous front lines of varying sizes, with the chain of command determined by rank within the Sect.

Having received his orders, Yang An had no desire to linger. He set off to fulfill his duty at once, quickly leaving the Floating Island and heading into the fray.

In a dense jungle, a number of Cultivators in Golden Thread Pavilion Sect uniforms were sitting around a bonfire, resting.

The heavy stench of blood clung to these Cultivators. Their expressions were varied: some were pained, some numb, others furious.

Black smoke from the crimson bonfire gathered above the trees, forming a dark, cloud-like mass. Within it, the faintly visible figures of peerless beauties with enchanting bodies twisted and writhed. They tumbled within the smoke, occasionally leaning out to slither over the Cultivators and exhale a pink, fragrant mist.

Upon inhaling the fragrance, the Cultivators’ grim expressions softened, and their spirits lifted. It was as if breathing in that scent, held close in the beauties’ embrace, could make them forget all their suffering.

"This stuff is incredible. I heard the Pavilion Master begged the Supreme Elder for it. It lets us temporarily ignore the pain from the backlash. The higher-ups haven’t sent anyone down yet, so let’s get some more rest while we can."

The sitting Cultivators were in the middle of talking when, a moment later, a figure descended from the sky and landed not far away.

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