Chapter 98: Journey to the Jianwu Dynasty

The two of them savored the remaining bear demon meat, clearly still craving more.

“Xiaoyao, do you think if we keep eating this bear demon meat, we’ll keep breaking through?” Xie Jinxuan leaned against Gu Xiaoyao, clutching the meat in his hand.

Gu Xiaoyao chuckled. “Jinxuan, I doubt something this good will keep giving us breakthroughs. Otherwise it’d just be too heaven-defying—ha!”

Xie Jinxuan wolfed down a few more bites, then let out a helpless sigh. “You called it, Xiaoyao. I don’t feel any hint of a breakthrough anymore. Looks like we only get one shot each. Better stash the rest of this meat—no point wasting it.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Jinxuan. Let’s pack it up quick. We should get moving,” Gu Xiaoyao glanced outside, “The snow’s letting up, but who knows whether those damn bird demons have left. Still, the two of us aren’t afraid of them anymore!”

Gu Xiaoyao suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing cold as he fixed his gaze on the mouth of the cave.

“Relax, Xiaoyao. Even if those cursed beasts are still out there, the two of us are more than enough to wipe them out. Everything’s packed—let’s get going.” Xie Jinxuan finished organizing, stood up, and gave Gu Xiaoyao a firm pat on the shoulder.

The two of them stared out at the wide sky beyond the cave.

Outside, snowflakes whirled through the air, blanketing the world in shimmering white.

Snow drifted down like goose feathers, light and soft as willow down.

Far-off mountains were cloaked in snow, draped like thick, silvery carpets.

Nearby trees bent low under the weight, branches drooping as clumps of snow slid off with quiet rustles.

Gradually, the snowfall eased up.

Gu Xiaoyao glanced back at Xie Jinxuan and smiled. “Jinxuan, it’s about time. Let’s set out.”

“Let’s get moving then.” Xie Jinxuan gave Gu Xiaoyao a playful slap on the back, and the two set off together out of the cave.

Stepping outside and gazing at the empty sky, they both let out long sighs of relief. Seemed those bird demons had finally given up and retreated. But they had barely gone half a mile before Gu Xiaoyao suddenly realized the snowy grass ahead teemed with clusters of bird demons.

“Damn it, those beasts were lying in wait after all!” Gu Xiaoyao stopped in his tracks, quickly throwing out an arm to block Xie Jinxuan.

“Heh heh heh… So you two humans finally decided to show yourselves. Our patient waiting paid off.” A harsh voice cracked out of thin air, and dozens of monstrous shapes erupted into view.

Several crimson-feathered bird demon kings spat fire as they wheeled overhead, their screeches deafening the air.

The lesser bird demons swarmed down with them, circling and swooping like predators toying with their prey, sometimes darting fast, sometimes slow, knocking snow loose from the branches above.

Gu Xiaoyao gave a cold laugh. “You lot are pretty eager today. Looks like it’s time to send you all packing!”

“Couldn’t agree more, Xiaoyao. These beasts are asking for it. Do they really think we’re easy prey?” Xie Jinxuan stepped forward, his stare locked on the flock overhead.

“Ridiculous. So you little humans somehow got bolder in just half a day? Where do you get the guts to defy us?” The bird demon king roared. “Take them!”

“You two insects, obey our king and surrender now!” On the order, the bird demons unleashed torrents of fire and dove at them from the sky.

“You wicked beasts, don’t get cocky. Today, I’ll smack you so hard you’ll run home crying to your mothers!” Xie Jinxuan stepped up and drew his magic weapon, ready to attack.

Seeing this, Gu Xiaoyao just smiled. “You beasts showed up at just the right time. Time to die. Skydome Sword—come forth!”

The pressure of the Sword Emperor Realm seventh layer burst forth, and a golden longsword shimmering with boundless might appeared behind Gu Xiaoyao.

Tens of thousands of flying swords shot out from all directions, filling the skies over Demon’s Road.

Gu Xiaoyao stepped into the air, Skydome Sword in hand, power building within him until suddenly—he broke straight through to Sword Saint Realm, first layer.

Before the bird demons could even react, their charging forms halted in midair, frozen in terror just half a step away from the two. It was as if some invisible force pinned them in place.

With every step Gu Xiaoyao took, the air around him seemed to tear apart under a mysterious, overwhelming force.

“Divine Edict—Break and Destroy.” The words boomed out like thunder, shaking heaven and earth.

This was an innate move of the Skydome Sword. A simple strike, yet powerful enough to shatter land and river—unlocked at Sword Saint Realm.

Gu Xiaoyao struck, sword flashing with the brilliance of a miracle.

A beam of golden light split past, carving a bottomless fissure along Demon’s Road that billowed with smoke.

The circling bird demons didn’t even have time to feel regret. In an instant, they were scattered to ash, vanishing without a trace.

Gu Xiaoyao sheathed the Skydome Sword, flashed a small smile, and walked over to Xie Jinxuan.

“Wait, this can’t be real. Did you just wipe out so many late-stage fifth-rank monsters in a heartbeat?” Xie Jinxuan stared in disbelief at the endless rift carved into the earth.

“Snap out of it, Jinxuan. It’s time for us to move on.” Gu Xiaoyao clapped Xie Jinxuan’s shoulder.

Shaking himself out of his daze, Xie Jinxuan followed as they pressed forward. With unstoppable momentum, they crossed the most dangerous path in all of Sword Qi Continent—Demon’s Road.

Half a month later, a banner emblazoned with the marks of the Jianwu Dynasty came into view, announcing they had finally reached the dynasty’s border.