"You all just know how to speak sweetly!" Zhang Sanfeng gently shook his head, saying no more. He approached the square, his gaze resting on the statue of the God of Hongmeng.

Seeing Zhang Sanfeng inspecting the statue, Song Yuanqiao and the other Seven Heroes of Wudang followed suit. Yu Daiyan, puzzled, said, "This statue is indeed lifelike and imposing, but why is the face blurred? Is it to add a sense of mystery?"

"It shouldn't be. I think the God of Hongmeng might be a fabrication of the Ming Sect; since they hadn't come up with a look, they made it this way!" Yin Liting remarked.

"The people of the Ming Sect are here!" Yu Lianzhou alerted them.

Everyone looked over and saw Yang Xiao leading the White Brow Eagle King, the Golden Hair Lion King, the Green Winged Bat King, the Five Scattered People, and other powerful figures of the Ming Sect.

"Greetings to the Sect Hierarch!" The followers of the Ming Sect bowed in unison.

"My brothers, no need for such formalities. Please rise!" Yang Xiao gestured with an open hand, then, under everyone's gaze, walked to the front of the Six Major Sects and numerous martial artists.

"Yang Xiao!" Sect Master Mie Jue tightly gripped the Heaven-Reliant Sword, her fierce eyes looking as if they wanted to devour him. She yelled sternly, "Yang Xiao, what have you done with Xiaofu? Hand her over to me now!"

"What? Xiaofu was captured by Yang Xiao?" Hearing this, Yin Liting's face changed drastically. He immediately became anxious, rushed forward, and drew his sword at Yang Xiao, demanding, "Yang Xiao, release Sister Xiaofu now!"

"So, it's Yin Liuxia of Wudang. My apologies, but Miss Ji has already agreed to be a sacrifice to our god. There's no need for Yin Liuxia to worry!" Yang Xiao said indifferently.

"What? You demon! To actually use a living person for sacrifice! I will kill you!" Yin Liting's eyes instantly reddened, and he charged at Yang Xiao, his great Precious Sword in hand.

"Liting, no!" Zhang Sanfeng quickly shouted.

However, Yin Liting's mind was consumed with the beautiful image of Ji Xiaofu, and he couldn't hear anything else.

"How dare you!" The Golden Hair Lion King Xie Xun roared in anger, terrifying sound waves sweeping out like tidal waves and seismic tremors.

Yin Liting felt an overwhelming force hit him head-on. Struck hard, he was sent flying, spewing a mist of blood in midair.

"Liting!" Zhang Sanfeng tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, moving swiftly like the wind to support Yin Liting's back. An overwhelming force assaulted him, filling his eyes with shock.

"Grandmaster!" He had thought only Yang Xiao was a Grandmaster; he hadn't expected that the Golden Hair Lion King Xie Xun had also broken through to that level!

HISS! The He Taichong couple from the Kunlun Sect, the Kongtong Five Elders, Xian Yutong of the Huashan Sect, Sect Master Mie Jue, and others were secretly alarmed.

Yin Liting was not weak, yet he had been seriously injured by a single Lion Roar. This Xie Xun is too terrifying! However, the thought of the Dragon-Slaying Saber made them suppress their worries.

"Fellow martial artists," Xian Yutong began, "I know everyone here has grudges with the Demon Sect, whether many or few. However, let's set those aside for now. Everyone must be curious about the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber!"

"Indeed! Today we all want to know the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Let Yang Xiao disclose it, and then we can settle our grudges!"

"Yang Xiao, where is the Dragon-Slaying Saber? Why don't you bring it out?"

"Hurry up and show us the Dragon-Slaying Saber!"

Following Xian Yutong's words, the crowd grew agitated, and countless martial artists shouted out.

Even Sect Master Mie Jue didn't continue to speak about Ji Xiaofu. After all, revenge and rescuing Ji Xiaofu could wait. First, they wanted to see the Dragon-Slaying Saber; it was of utmost importance.

"Bring the saber!" At Yang Xiao's gesture, a Ming Sect disciple immediately came forward, bearing the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

All eyes converged on it, like a pack of hungry wolves eyeing a succulent piece of fresh meat.

WHOOSH. Yang Xiao reached for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, swung it casually, and said, "This Dragon-Slaying Saber is indeed a rare and extraordinary weapon, but do you really think a single weapon can command the world?"

"The Dragon-Slaying Saber alone might not, but the secret it conceals certainly could!" someone shouted loudly.

"So what kind of secret do you think could command the world?" Yang Xiao asked.

"Money makes the mare go! Perhaps the Dragon-Slaying Saber conceals a treasure vast enough to rival the wealth of nations!"

"Money without martial arts means nothing but an easy death by someone else's blade! There must be an unmatched martial arts technique hidden within the Dragon-Slaying Saber!"

"Maybe it hides a massive army, and the Dragon-Slaying Saber is the token of command!"

One by one, the martial artists voiced their speculations. Their imaginations ran wild, and indeed, some were quite close to the truth: an unparalleled martial arts technique was hidden within the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Sect Master Mie Jue stared intently at Yang Xiao. She didn't believe Yang Xiao knew the real secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

At that moment, Yang Xiao's gaze suddenly turned to her. Mie Jue's heart skipped a beat; she had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, Yang Xiao began to speak. He pointed at Sect Master Mie Jue and said, "Actually, the Emei Sect knows the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber best!"

"What?" Mie Jue was greatly startled. Could Yang Xiao truly know the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber?

"Sect Master Mie Jue knows the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber?"

"The Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword are treasures of the martial arts world, and the Heaven-Reliant Sword has always been in Emei's hands. Sect Master Mie Jue may indeed know the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber!" At this, countless gazes fell upon Sect Master Mie Jue.

Mie Jue was inwardly anxious but maintained her composure. She took the initiative, interrogating, "Yang Xiao, don't try to change the subject! If you don't know the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, just say so! What is your intention in deceiving the various sects of the martial arts world into coming to Peak Light?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately started to clamor.

"Yang Xiao, do you know the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber or not? If not, hand it over so we can all study it!"

"Exactly! Hand over the Dragon-Slaying Saber!"

The crowd shouted, pressing Yang Xiao to relinquish the precious saber.

"Sect Master, you're in such a hurry to shift the topic. Are you afraid? The secrets of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword are actually nothing!" Yang Xiao smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the fervent eyes of the crowd as he continued, "Do you know how the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword came into being?"

"How did they come about?" The crowd grew curious. They had only heard rumors about the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword; no one actually knew how these divine weapons had appeared.

Mie Jue's bad premonition grew stronger, but she couldn't stop him. She felt Yang Xiao might truly know the secrets of the saber and sword.

"Back when the Mongolian Army advanced southward, the city of Xiangyang was about to be breached. Great Hero Guo Jing, defending Xiangyang, decided to defend it to the death, giving his life for his country!" Yang Xiao's voice resounded, and Mie Jue's heart turned to ash.

Hearing this, she was certain: Yang Xiao truly knew the secrets of the saber and sword.

Everyone pricked up their ears, their curiosity stoked. A deathly hush fell; even Zhang Sanfeng, who was treating Yin Liting's injuries, listened intently.

Yang Xiao didn't keep them in suspense, continuing, "Great Hero Guo Jing was determined to defend Xiangyang to the death but couldn't bear to let his extraordinary skills perish with him!"

"Hence, his wife, Heroine Huang Rong, engaged skilled craftsmen. They melted down a Heavy Black Iron Sword, which the Divine Sculptured Hero Yang Guo had gifted to their daughter, Grandmaster Guo Xiang. Adding Western fine gold, they forged it into the Dragon-Slaying Saber!"

"Then, taking the two sharpest swords of that era—the Gentleman Sword of Great Hero Yang Guo and the Lady Sword of his wife, Little Dragon Girl—they fused them to forge the Heaven-Reliant Sword."

"So, the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword were forged by Great Hero Guo Jing and his wife! No wonder the Heaven-Reliant Sword has always been with Emei!"

"Does this mean the secret within the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword is the legacy of Great Hero Guo Jing's martial arts?"

All eyes suddenly lit up.

They had all heard of Great Hero Guo Jing's great name. The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were world-renowned for their power, and the Nine Yin Scripture was the divine martial arts manual once contested by the Five Greats.

"Hidden within the Dragon-Slaying Saber are General Yue Fei's invincible military treatise, the 'Wumu Legacy,' and the 'Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.' Inside the Heaven-Reliant Sword is the supreme martial arts manual, the 'Nine Yin Scripture'!"

"The name 'Dragon-Slaying' signifies the hope of Guo Jing and Huang Rong that whoever obtained the saber would overthrow the Mongolian regime, slay the Mongolian Emperor, and restore the lands of the Han people."

Yang Xiao's words confirmed their speculations. Although some were disappointed by the actual secrets of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, the legacy of Guo Jing was still highly coveted.

"Yang Xiao, since you know the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword were forged by Great Hero Guo Jing and Heroine Huang Rong, you should also know these weapons belong to our Emei Sect!" Sect Master Mie Jue stepped forward, declaring righteously, "Our sect's founder, Grandmaster Guo Xiang, is the daughter of Great Hero Guo Jing and his wife. The Heaven-Reliant Sword has always been with Emei; only the Dragon-Slaying Saber was lost. Now that it can be returned to its rightful owner, that isn't too much to ask, is it?"

"With the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, our Emei Sect shall uphold our founder's will, leading the people to expel the Yuan soldiers and restore the lands of the Han people!" Mie Jue's gaze swept across the experts from the major sects and the other martial artists.

Under her gaze, they fell silent. No one objected, but no one voiced support either.

Deep down, they all coveted the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword. However, since the weapons were forged by Guo Jing and his wife, Emei's claim had some merit. None wished to be the first to object and risk being reviled by all.

"Sect Master Mie Jue, there's no issue with the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword belonging to Emei. Back then, Great Hero Guo Jing and his wife created them merely to leave behind a legacy. They hoped the destined one who obtained them could expel the Yuan soldiers and restore the lands of the Han people!" Yang Xiao looked at the assembled heroes, his gaze finally resting on Mie Jue as he continued,

"But even if Emei possesses the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, can you truly expel the Yuan soldiers and overthrow the Mongolian Yuan regime?"

"Great Hero Guo Jing and his wife themselves were powerless to turn the tide back then. How could their legacy alone allow you to expel the Yuan soldiers and restore the Han lands?"

Sect Master Mie Jue's eyes turned cold. She retorted angrily, "Back then, the imperial court was corrupt! Even with their immense abilities, Great Hero Guo Jing and his wife couldn't fully utilize them!"

"Times have changed! Besides, if Emei can't expel the Yuan soldiers with the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, do you think your Demon Sect could, just by possessing them, restore the Han lands?" Mie Jue demanded.

"My Ming Sect, even with the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, cannot expel the Yuan soldiers."

"Hmph, at least you have some self-awareness!" Mie Jue scoffed coldly.

"But..." Yang Xiao's tone abruptly shifted, his gaze sweeping across the experts of the Six Major Sects. His voice suddenly boomed, making everyone's eardrums ache with its fervor, "The Heaven-Reliant Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber cannot help us expel the Yuan soldiers! But the God of Hongmeng can!"

His voice was deafening, leaving everyone wide-eyed, doubting if they had misheard.

"The Heaven-Reliant Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber are useless for that?"

"But the God of Hongmeng can do it?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.