Legend of Swordsman

Late at night.

A light rain covered the entire Tai’an City. Due to the curfew, the only sound on the streets was the raindrops hitting the eaves, with no other noise.

The Zhanxian Guards patrolling Tai’an City moved like ghosts, concealed in the darkness without revealing a trace of themselves.

At this moment, a few figures in black faintly appeared on the otherwise empty street.

Through the raindrops, these figures disappeared from the street in the blink of an eye.

Their presence lasted less than a breath before it immediately attracted the attention of the Zhanxian Guards.

This district belonged to the outer city, but a squad of Zhanxian Guards was also responsible for this area.

As the force responsible for the safety of the entire Tai’an City and being directly under the command of His Majesty Emperor Tang, the Zhanxian Guards had extremely exaggerated authority.

At night, they could be considered the rulers of Tai’an City.

If they discovered suspicious individuals, they had the privilege of acting before reporting, and even if a prince was killed, they would not be held accountable.

In the past, Tai’an City was not this strict, but since the intrusion of the Alien King three years ago, the entire city had been on high alert.

Even though Emperor Tang had once again ascended to the throne, the curfew had become increasingly strict.

”Tsk tsk, to act so blatantly at night, are they seeking death?”

On the eaves, a middle-aged man wearing a Flying Snow Robe with a wine jug at his waist exuded a murderous aura.

Behind him, two young men in similar attire quickly appeared, but they only had a single copper coin at their collars.

The middle-aged man with the wine jug at his waist, however, had as many as six copper coins.

These copper coins were not ordinary; they bore an aura from ancient times.

They were also the symbol of the Zhanxian Guards.

”Lord Yang, why are you in the Tong’an District?”

The two Zhanxian Guards respectfully clasped their fists, feeling deeply surprised.

In the Zhanxian Guards, the number of copper coins on the chest represented power and status.

A Zhanxian Guard with six copper coins was at least at the command level.

Their strength could easily sweep through ordinary Zhanxian Guards.

Such a powerful figure would usually only appear in the imperial city.

In the entire outer city, only a few Zhanxian Guards with four copper coins were responsible for its security.

”Hmph!”

The middle-aged man casually touched the six copper coins on his chest, removed the wine jug from his waist, and with a flick of his finger, a wisp of clear air flew out.

”If I were not here, would those people have been able to roam Tai’an City so recklessly?” Two ordinary Zhanxian Guards shuddered in fear. One of them quickly bowed and said, ”Lord Yang, those people just now were from the Holy Sect. The Southern Protector has ordered that they be allowed to move around the outer city!”

”The Southern Protector?” Yang Xiao lowered his eyebrows and sneered.

He was a Zhanxian Guard expert with strength comparable to Yang Xiao.

However, among the Zhanxian Guards, there were two types.

One type was like Yang Xiao, who was powerful and possessed six copper coins but was not part of the Zhanxian Guard’s upper echelon.

The other type was those who were powerful and held high positions within the Zhanxian Guards.

The Southern Protector was a high-ranking member of the Zhanxian Guards.

Although both had the strength of six copper coins, Yang Xiao could do nothing against him.

”Go back and tell Nanshan that imperial authority is not meant for him to misuse, and as for that damn Holy Sect, a mere martial arts sect forcing the imperial authority to bow down is an insult to the prestige of the Zhanxian Guards!”

After speaking, Yang Xiao’s figure flickered and disappeared above the eaves.

The Zhanxian Guard who had spoken earlier immediately breathed a sigh of relief!

They could not withstand the pressure of such a powerful person.

A Zhanxian Guard with one copper coin was an innate expert.

With two copper coins, they were late-stage innate experts.

Three copper coins represented innate perfection.

Every three copper coins marked a threshold.

Six copper coins signified the ultimate in immortality, the pinnacle of the Golden Core.

Comparable to Master Fengjue of Baoguang Temple, such formidable figures naturally made them tremble.

”Luckily, this Yang Xiao doesn’t have much power. Otherwise, just for ignoring the Holy Sect’s experts earlier, he could have beheaded us both!”

”Sigh, we’re just unlucky. Yang Xiao usually patrols the imperial city. Why did he appear in the outer city today?”

”Don’t think about it. It’s not something us Copper Guards can speculate on. Let’s go, report to the Southern Protector on the city wall, and then we can head to the brothel for some

drinks!”

”Haha, let’s go...”

The two of them maneuvered swiftly over the eaves and quickly reached the city wall, as they were in the outer city.

Inside a high building on the city wall, flames lit up the sky, making the top floor as bright as

day.

In the center was a chessboard, but only one person sat by the board, playing chess alone. ”Report, Protector. Yang Xiao appeared in the Copper Mountain District and discovered traces of the Holy Sect!”

Click!

A chess piece was placed, and the Southern Protector of Nanshan did not lift his head. He merely acknowledged with a calm hum and dismissed the two Copper Guards, continuing his

game.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he took a deep breath, glanced at the chessboard, and slowly stood up.

He turned to look at Tai’an City behind him. The middle-aged man in black regular attire had eyes like torches, as if he could see through the entire Tai’an City at a glance.

”Yang Xiao, even you have noticed something?”

His voice was low, carrying an inexplicable sorrow.

But it quickly vanished.

In the deep night, Tai’an City was like a wild beast, devouring all darkness.

Yet in this darkness, a cold light flashed.

Behind the cold light lurked a terrifying force.

It was precisely the group from the Holy Sect that had been moving around the outer city

earlier.

A group of nine, each a Golden Core stage immortal. At this moment, they were concealed at a

crossroads.

”Elder, the two who went to Baoguang Temple during the day can be confirmed to be staying

in the inn and have not left!”

”Good, keep watching, and wait for my order before taking action!” The leading elder of the

Holy Sect waved his hand.

The figure in the black robe then re-entered the inn.

But just as he entered the inn, a man and a woman blocked his way.

Swish!

The figure in the black robe showed no surprise, casually pulling off the robe and saying calmly, ”Nine Golden Core stage immortals, with one even being a late-stage Golden Core expert. It seems a battle is inevitable tonight!”

”Fortunately, Wushuang had prepared in advance. Otherwise, tonight would have been troublesome!” Xiang Yang looked at Jian Wushuang, who had shed the black robe, with a smile.

Jian Wushuang’s expression remained stern. After returning from Baoguang Temple, he felt increasingly uneasy, understanding Master Fengjue’s warning, realizing that this matter was targeting Jiang Shang. He had made preparations early, observing the area around the inn and

even catching a spy.

The one keeping watch was a Golden Core stage immortal. In the evening, he had acted directly to kill the spy. Using his spiritual power, he altered his aura and disguised himself as a

member of the Holy Sect.

This led to the scene just now. Fortunately, his spiritual power was strong; otherwise, tonight would have been fraught with danger. At least now, he was in the dark, and the opponent was in the open, giving him room to breathe.