Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 680 - 680 679 First Meeting

680: Chapter 679: First Meeting 680: Chapter 679: First Meeting The crowd around the Silver Sword Trading Company slowly dispersed, with only a few smiling stewards like blooming flowers showing their faces, while Zong Qian, who had stolen the show, remained silent and reserved.

This was nothing unusual, as capable people often sport quirks—it is part and parcel of who they are.

True sword cultivators also tend to be aloof and unapproachable.

Once you interact with them enough you realize this is just the nature of sword cultivators, it’s their style.

After the congenial folks left, a group of sword cultivators gathered around, dispersing even quicker.

No one knew what they discussed, but it was evident that these sword cultivators held Zong Qian in high regard.

That’s the style of the Demon Sect—might is right, disregard the rest.

Hou Niao lingered behind some of the merchant stewards, slightly disdainful.

It wasn’t that he deliberately played these covert games—it was really to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to those he left behind in this place.

He was just passing through and would leave soon.

Stirring up trouble would only bring uncertainties to those he was friendly with, especially on the eve of a brewing storm—caution was key.

He had intended to go straight to Fairy Bai, but it turned out she was attending this grand event and couldn’t leave immediately, so he simply slipped in.

Being admitted wasn’t a problem; one needed an invite from the Jiedu Mansion at the Tongxuan Realm, but at the Natural Realm, one could enter freely, unabated.

He slightly changed his face, aiming to meet his junior fellow, Zong Qian, who had been enigmatic for decades, reportedly visiting a closed, unspoken-of place—an ideal cover since no one knew him.

The Face Changing Skill was a new trick this fellow had recently learnt.

By replicating his own facial features, he could achieve a perfect duplicate, at least outwardly, looking indistinguishable from the real thing, although the inner essence was another matter.

At that time, in jest, Zong Qian had even made a mold to demonstrate, hence his current effortless ability.

His reputation still mattered here, hmm, did it touch some peoples’ nerves?

The notorious name of the Cang Pirates still hung over his head, never fading away… instigator, founder, puppet master, the source of all evils.

Given this, it was best for him not to appear on this day of general celebration and dampen everyone’s spirits.

If it hadn’t been for Daoist Guan’s reckless actions pushing Bai into the spotlight again, Hou Niao would have been reluctant to engage in such a meaningless contest.

However, since Bai lacked the depth to lead as the top merchant, he had to intervene.

What was she thinking, bringing someone in just to show off?

So, let the Silver Sword Trading Company stand out; after all, it was one of Shan Country’s major businesses, one of their own.

As for maintaining this trade route afterward, that was no longer his concern; those wanting to earn Spirit Stones had to figure it out themselves.

Once everyone dispersed, things quieted down around him.

At that moment, three cultivators approached, coming from Yingtai Immortal Island.

It felt like Xiang Anshi became wary upon setting his eyes on him, just as Hou Niao sensed the same when seeing this person listed as the Heavenly Sea Star—a true master, no less daunting than the pressure Tang Yan had exerted on him in the past.

The two junior female disciples followed behind, well aware that in such a scenario it wasn’t appropriate for them to join in.

This was a time for the mighty; it was a conversation among the mighty, as when lions and tigers meet, lesser animals should not interfere.

Xiang Anshi walked with confident strides, his Divine Sense courteous yet brimming with vigor, “Yingtai Xiang Anshi, Daoist friend, you are the first true hero I have met since coming to the Continent, and I hope there’s an opportunity to grow closer.”

Hou Niao smiled, “Shan Sect’s Hou Niao, here under a false name, I ask you not to hold my affectation against me.”

Xiang Anshi minded not, “Heroes need not concern themselves with origins, nor even names.

Knowing it’s you is enough.

It seems Brother Hou still intends to continue under this alias?”

Hou Niao made no attempt to hide anything, “This place, I have a notorious reputation, they seem to not like me much, so, I’d rather not disturb anyone’s peace.”

Xiang Anshi guffawed, finding the swordsman’s straightforwardness refreshing.

What notorious reputation?

It was merely that he had killed too many people and some held grudges against him.

“I have long heard of the fame of Shan Sect’s Sirius Duan Wuqian.

Given Brother Hou’s strength, I presume you are very familiar with each other?”

“Not familiar!

Don’t know him!

Constellations aren’t permanent either, sooner or later there will be a day when the sun and moon will change their appearances.”

“Ah, Brother Hou, are you also a true disciple?”

“No, I’m just a fighter who roams around everywhere.

Forget about true inheritance; I don’t even have a master’s teaching.”

Xiang Anshi laughed heartily, his laughter startling everyone present, drawing all eyes to him.

He didn’t care, because he had met a very interesting person, someone similar to himself.

“Very well!

I’ll have you know, Brother Hou, that I’ve also fought my way out from the Heavenly Sea Star—killing across the continent and on Yingtai Island!

A man should be just like this, since we are cultivators, let’s not talk about false sentimentality.

Let the capable take the stage, and the weak should step aside; why bother with so many useless rules and regulations?

I look forward to the day when my dream comes true, and then you and I can raise our cups and revel in that moment.”

Forming deep bonds with shallow acquaintances, for people like them, it didn’t matter.

What is deep?

What is shallow?

Beneath power, all is illusion.

Although Hou Niao was using a pseudonym, in front of this man, he didn’t bother to disguise himself—even if he was exposed, he was merely unwilling to bother others, not because he was afraid of anyone.

What of it?

True spirits meet, and it doesn’t take many years to relate; sometimes it’s just a fleeting moment.

This is the intuition of a cultivator, they have a strong ability to recognize their own kind.

Not too many words were exchanged, after all, it was just their first meeting, and the setting was not right—it could easily lead to misunderstandings.

With just a few simple words and no set date of meeting again, Xiang Anshi turned and left.

The two junior sisters were completely baffled, the meeting had ended so quickly.

To hold such a gathering at a Daoist magic cultivation event would probably have a cold reception, yet it didn’t seem to fall through either.

Nie Yingnan could not contain her impatience, “Senior brother, what were you all talking about?

I saw you laughing heartily.”

Xiang Anshi chuckled, “A friend, an interesting swordsman, a fellow cultivator, so I was very happy.

What, can’t a senior brother laugh now?”

Chen Zhaodi tried to dig deeper, “Is this person famous?

I’m responsible for collecting information on the mainland side, but I’ve never heard of him.”

Xiang Anshi shook his head, “Junior sister, how far can your information collection reach?

The Cultivation World on the continent has over a hundred Daoist orders, full of remarkable and strange events.

Our information is too vague and too general, confined only to famous figures or those high above the level of Golden Core, and even then it’s blurry.

But real heroes might not be in lofty halls but among commoners, these are people you’ve never heard about, right?”

Chen Zhaodi’s eyes flickered, “Is this Zong Qian you mentioned one of these grass-root heroes?

Senior brother, are you planning to recruit him?

I wonder if I could be of any help?”

Xiang Anshi sighed, “Junior sister, you are still too young.

Men like him aren’t easily recruited by others.

He cannot be swayed by anyone, nor can I offer anything compelling enough, hmm, I just hope for a chance to test and see, whose flying sword is more extraordinary?

Or is my divine skill more formidable?”