Chapter 781 The Human Clan on the Wane
It was because the Alliance Conference of the two Clans was about to be held here in the Northern Region.
This conference, which would determine the situation of the two clans in the Northern Region, had attracted the attention of every living creature.
In the past three months, countless experts, sects, and forces had traveled thousands of miles to the Northern Region. Neither the Demon Clan nor the Human Clan would want to miss this very important meeting. Even those without the Demon G.o.d Palace’s invitation letters had come to check out the conference.
It was natural for living creatures to want to join in the fun.
Moreover, their interests would all be at stake in this conference.
The desolate and cold Snow Province suddenly became unprecedentedly lively.
Snow Province’s Mirror Lake.
This was where the Inspector of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost was stationed. It was also the compet.i.tion site for the nine sects of Snow Province. For thousands of years, regardless of how the sects in Snow Province rose or declined, it had always been the martial arts sacred ground of the Human Clan in Snow Province.
The Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect, the Heavenly Sound Valley, the Zero Thought Sect, the Chopping Sun City…
Numerous famous sects in Snow Province had set up important divisions here.
It was a lively place in Snow Province even not in the compet.i.tion days of the sects. But in the past three months, Mirror Lake could no longer be described as just lively, but crowded.
Yes, it was crowded.
Within hundreds of miles of Mirror Lake, countless creatures of the two Clans had gathered. The buildings here were occupied by powerful foreign forces. Because of the residential problems and tensions between the two clans, there were many conflicts. The powerful occupied the best spots and houses by Mirror Lake. The local sects and forces could only swallow their pride and reluctantly give up their properties, setting up camps in the more desolate places!
They were a motley crowd, with dark undercurrents surging.
The Demon Clan had the upper hand and was arrogant and domineering.
There were still five days before the start of the Conference.
Almost all the major forces of the two clans of the Northern Region had arrived. The place was surging with powerful Qi and Demon Aura. There were packed spectators everywhere, standing high in the sky and peering down.
“D*mn it, these Demons are too arrogant. Not only did they occupy the encampments of the major Human Clan sects, but they’re also bullying us everywhere. If we take an extra glance at them, they will dash up and challenge us!”
“Shh, keep your voice down. Don’t let the Demon Clan hear you.”
“That’s right. Do you know that yesterday, the genius disciple of the Dependent Arising Clan, the Heart-cleansing Sword, had his leg broken after glaring at a Demon youth? He was maimed and almost lost all his martial arts!”
“Heart-cleansing Sword? He’s one of the few young masters of our Snow Province. So even he can’t save himself?”
“Alas, our Snow Province experts are nothing. Those outsiders are extremely powerful. They’re all at the Emperor Realm. Even our top masters are far inferior to them!”
“I heard that the camps of our nine major sects, like the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect, the Bright Mind Sect, the Chopping Sun City, and the Heavenly Sound Valley, have all been occupied by the Demon Clan!”
“Well, at first, a few from the nine sects resisted, but the Leader of the Bright Mind Sect was killed by a Demon Clan master on the spot. The Chopping Sun City and the Dependent Arising Clan also suffered heavy casualties… If it weren’t for the Mysterious Frost Holy Guards, these sects would have been wiped out in Snow Province!”
“Alas, you’re right. The Human Clan is so weak now. if it weren’t for the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost, the Human Clan would have no place to stand within the hundred miles around Mirror Lake!”
Standing on the mountain range and looking out at Mirror Lake dozens of miles away, some local Human warriors in Snow Province sighed.
They had suffered too much in the past few days.
Compared with those high-ranking outsiders, the local warriors of Snow Province were weak and vulnerable. Many local warriors who used to be considered masters were like puny ants before divine dragons.
Living with their tails between their legs, many Human warriors felt desperate.
These martial artists looked disconsolate.
Suddenly, a young man said angrily, “There are absolute masters from the Human Clan super sects of the Northern Region, such as the Blue Cloud Sect and the Extermination Swordsmans.h.i.+p Sect. Can’t they restrain the Demon Clan?”
The other man sighed. “Young brother, you don’t seem to know much. Something big has happened on the Divine Central Continent, something that put our Clan in an extremely vulnerable position. The Divine Central Continent is in a mess. Although the Northern Region is relatively peaceful now, the Human Clan is still at a disadvantage. The major super sects of the Human Clan in the Northern Region have restrained themselves, so as not to negatively impact the Conference.”
The young man’s face darkened. He gnashed his teeth and said, “Can’t anyone change this d*mn situation? I remember there was once a peerless genius from our Snow Province. But I don’t know where he has disappeared to in the past two years. If only he were here!”
“You mean the one from the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect?”
“That’s right. Ding Hao, the Saber and Sword Addict, used to be so amazing. First, he taught his followers the ‘Seven Black Cut,’ now known as the foremost mid-tier combat skill of Snow Province. Then, he defeated several super sects all on his own. He turned the tide and saved the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect. He managed to exterminate a sect like the Heaven-splitting Swordsmans.h.i.+p Sect alone with his sword… The words ‘Saber and Sword Addict’ used to strike such fear in everyone’s heart!” The young man seemed roused into high spirits as if he had witnessed hope.
The others also nodded.
“Ding Hao, the Saber and Sword Addict, was indeed a brilliant prodigy. He was indeed the most dazzling genius of our Snow Province in the last few millenniums, a paragon to our countless martial artists, a miracle of Snow Province!”
“Indeed, if it weren’t for him, the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect wouldn’t have become the top sect of Snow Province. Even if the other eight sects joined forces, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be a match for the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect under the leaders.h.i.+p of Li Lan, the Asura Beauty!”
“That was two years ago. There are many different speculations about where the Saber and Sword Addict is now. No one can say for sure. Some said that he was in seclusion in the back mountain of the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect, comprehending some peerless martial arts. Others said that he left the Northern Region and roamed the world. Still, others said that he went berserk during cultivation and died long ago…”
“Impossible. How could a peerless genius like him die?” The young man refuted excitedly. Obviously, he was Ding Hao’s fervent fan.
Someone said, “By the way, although the Saber and Sword Addict is amazing, he’s still too young. Even if he showed up now, it would be difficult for him to turn the tide. Look at the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect now, even they don’t dare to confront the foreign forces. Even the newly rebuilt Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Villa has been occupied by the Great Demons of the Demon G.o.d Palace!”
“Yes, the world is vast, there are countless masters, and the Demon Clan is powerful. Even masters at the Sage Realm can’t reverse the strength of the two Clans today. Even if the Saber and Sword Addict shows up, I don’t believe he can change anything…” Someone sighed.
The young man’s face flushed and he said nothing.
Although he greatly admired Ding Hao, he knew that this man was telling the truth. The strength of one man was too weak. Ding Hao was after all still young, and his powers had not fully matured.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion from afar.
Someone looked back and discovered something, saying in surprise, “Eh? It’s the disciples of the Chopping Sun City. Did you see that blue-robed swordsman, that young man with a scar on his face? It’s the Eldest Senior Disciple of the Chopping Sun City, Dao Qingcheng. They seemed to be heading for the center of Mirror Lake.”
“Dao Qingcheng is now one of the few young masters of Snow Province, the leader-to-be of Chopping Sun City. Why is he walking to the center of Mirror Lake?”
“I heard that Demon experts injured a few disciples of Chopping Sun City yesterday.”
“No way. Is he going to take revenge?”
“We will get to see a good show!”
“Isn’t he looking for death? Those arrogant Demons don’t care if he’s the young master of Chopping Sun City…”
Everyone was surprised.
The young man suddenly stood up and said, “Let’s go and have a look.”
“You want to die? We will get implicated and suffer once they fight.” Someone dissuaded him.
“What are you afraid of? Mirror Lake is after all our own territory. The Demon Clan would restrain themselves there. Besides, there are masters from the Mysterious Frost Palace by the lake. Let’s go together. Even if we can’t help them, we can at least help cheer Dao Qingcheng and his men on,” the young man said resolutely.
The others hesitated for a moment before following him.
The center of Mirror Lake was right in front of them. Many could not be more familiar with its scenery and buildings. But at this moment, they still found the place a little strange. There were too many Demons in various forms here, strutting around boldly. Many shops and restaurants were also occupied by Demons.
With more than a dozen disciples of Chopping Sun City behind him, Dao Qingcheng walked with measured steps to a restaurant.
Sheathed on his back was a long blue saber, its handle wrapped in a red scarf, fluttering in the wind. He walked steadily with an erect gait.
There were many masters of the Demon Clan on both sides of the street, staring at Dao Qingcheng and his men with provocative eyes.
Dao Qingcheng kept his eyes steadily in front as if he did not see them.
He did not stop until he reached the “House of Wine”.
The House of Wine was one of the more famous restaurants on the Mirror Lake bank. It had been the property of Chopping Sun City for centuries. It used to entertain traders and martial artists and was quite famous in this place.
But now, it was occupied by the Blood-Sampling Peak, a Demon Clan faction.
Boom!
Dao Qingcheng pulled out the huge saber on his back and stabbed it into the blue stone floor in front. The half-a-yard-long blade sunk into the ground, and strong aura fluctuations emanated in all directions. The loud noise attracted everyone’s attention.
“Who are you? How dare you make trouble outside the camp of the Blood-Sampling Peak!”
Several ferocious masters of the Demon Clan walked out, roaring.
“Who killed the disciples of my Chopping Sun City yesterday? Show yourselves!” Dao Qingcheng’s voice boomed like thunder, reverberating long and far.
All of a sudden, everyone started to gather around the House of Wine, even those who had not noticed anything unusual here just now