The Sword Awakens the Five Elements Chapter 112: When the Dust Settles

Page 1/3

Zhu Zan’s family hung the mourning banners.
Students from the private academy came voluntarily to pay their respects.
A man dressed in a red and black long robe with a hood arrived at Zhu Zan’s home.
Curious neighbors clearly saw the mysterious man hand several silver notes, each bearing the seal of the Supreme Tianxia Bank, to the widow.
Who was this visitor?
The kind and gentle Confucian scholar, who had fallen victim to whom?
Only when the demon hunter clad in black with golden beast embroidery arrived was the mystery unveiled.
Driven by the soul’s breath, the scholar Zhu Zan served as the earthly vessel of the Sword Demon, carrying its malevolent will.
Today, having been exploited to the last ounce of value, he was sent to the underworld.
Those who heard this sighed with sorrow, yet also harbored fear.
They dreaded that Zhu Zan’s “offspring” might also harbor the demon’s soul breath within.
The next day, Zhu Zan’s family left Youruo City entirely.
Who took them away and where they moved to—no one knew the truth.
This event became the subject of countless conversations after meals and at tea.
Rumors spread swiftly.
Some said they were harmed by the demonic cult; others claimed the family, carrying the silver notes given by the hooded man, went to a distant town unknown to them to start anew.
Regardless of the truth, one thing was certain: they would never again be connected to Youruo City.
In a tavern’s private room, three sat facing each other at a long table.
A veiled woman sat alone on the north side.
The demon hunter Huang Bao and Su Ye sat side by side.
The woman lifted a jade gourd and passed it to Su Ye.
With a gentle smile and soft voice, she said,
“Fellow Daoist Su, inside is what you need.”
Su Ye lightly touched the jade gourd; his sword energy transformed into spirit and probed inside.
Boundless Buddhist power, profound as the sea.
All kinds of sacred Buddhist treasures were enclosed, as if an entire temple had been emptied and stored within this spiritual treasure.
“Are these the items you’ve accumulated over the years?” Huang Bao was present, so Su Ye was discreet.
“If Fellow Daoist Su had not offered such an exorbitant price, I wouldn’t have parted with these precious materials,” Nan Lian replied softly. “Since you helped improve the elixir formula and greatly assisted me, I set aside my selfish desires to prioritize your success.”
Su Ye placed the jade gourd containing the Buddhist treasures into the jade gourd at his waist.
He cupped his fists and smiled broadly,
“With these herbs, I will be able to refine life-saving elixirs... I shall take my leave now and express my gratitude on behalf of those who benefit.”
“Fellow Daoist Su, there’s no need for formalities,” Nan Lian replied with a warmth like flowing water. “Until you have the ability to refine immortal-grade elixirs, I will carefully guard that elixir furnace for you. When the time is right, you may come retrieve that treasure.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Lady Immortal.”
“I have pressing matters to attend to; I shall take my leave.”

Page 2/3

“Farewell.”
Nan Lian rose gracefully and departed from the private room.
Only after she disappeared did Huang Bao speak,
“She seems to have a bit of interest in you.”
“You’re overthinking,” Su Ye smiled. “She knows my true identity.”
“Seems your alchemy skills have once again earned you great acclaim within the demonic cult.” Huang Bao had seen Su Ye impress cult members with his extraordinary alchemy in the underground black market.
He assumed it was the same this time.
“No wonder, Lord Huang, you guessed it right.”
“Where will they strike next?”
“The cult will no longer take action against the Demon Hunting Bureau.”
“Are you sure?” Huang Bao had served as a demon hunter for over a century and had clashed countless times with cult members.
They were like cockroaches that couldn’t be killed.
Eliminate one wave, and another would arise.
They still lurked underground, a persistent threat to the Demon Hunting Bureau.
During Su Ye’s stay in Youruo City, the number of demon attack reports steadily increased.
The signs of a massive demon uprising strained his nerves.
Currently, the Demon Hunting Bureau could still handle the attacks.
But as time passed and evil permeated the world, demons would be everywhere.
That would pose the greatest challenge to the Bureau.
If the cult amassed power and conspired secretly with demons then, the Great Qian Dynasty would face its greatest crisis since its founding.
This was a grave matter; Huang Bao dared not fully trust the intelligence Su Ye provided.
“Lord Huang, your authority has been exceeded by this visit to Youruo City,” Su Ye said. “Our business here is done. You may report my deeds as your own and claim the credit. At the very least, you might earn a rank in the Eagle Guard.”
Huang Bao looked at Su Ye, whose calm demeanor and piercing gaze made him believe the cult’s plot had quietly been foiled.
How had he managed it?
It remained a mystery.
“Perhaps... this is why the world regards him as a savior...”
The whisper in Huang Bao’s heart gradually turned into a reason to convince himself.

—
The Treasure Pavilion in Ten-Mile Spring Breeze Town remained prosperous.
The defensive formations arranged during the Southern Emperor’s tour did not guard against minor demons but were designed to suppress powerful local monsters.
Though the demonic aura was thick, it had little effect on the town populated by cultivators.
Even ordinary households embedded with the Universe Mirrors and carrying Buddhist talismans could repel weaker demons.
Sales of such magical items naturally surged.
The shop assistant, Xiao Liuzi, retained his usual energetic personality.
“Ding-ling-ling...”
Hearing the welcome bell, he tiptoed over the crowd toward the entrance.
Seeing who had entered, Xiao Liuzi’s smile transformed from a fake grin to a genuine, radiant one as he greeted,
“What wind blew such a busy man here?”
Su Ye slowly squeezed into the shop and asked,
“Why are there so many customers today?”
Xiao Liuzi extended his sturdy right hand, pointing to a wooden sign on the wall:
“Protective Spiritual Treasures, clearance sale.
Buy one, get three free. No deception of young or old.”
Su Ye couldn’t help but laugh,
“Never thought Shopkeeper Hu, such a miser, would part with some of his feathers.”
“You still underestimate the shopkeeper’s patriotism.
Only with a stable Great Qian can this business flourish.
He knows the stakes better than anyone.”
“Your words, Brother Xiao Liu, have enlightened me greatly.”
“The shopkeeper’s in the backyard; you can find him yourself.”
Just then, more customers eager to buy spiritual treasures pushed in.
Xiao Liuzi hurried off to serve them.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Ye was effortlessly led into the backyard.
Shopkeeper Hu was trimming branches on a spiritual fruit tree. Seeing Su Ye, he smiled,
“You’ve been gone only a few days, yet your status has changed greatly.
Now I must respectfully address you as Leader of the Sect.”
Su Ye smiled,
“You truly can’t be fooled.”
“Some people’s half-step to the Proud Cloud Realm is only at that level,” Shopkeeper Hu said knowingly, “while others simply don’t want to face the tribulation lightning and thus suppress their cultivation at this stage.”
Su Ye immediately grasped Hu’s implication.
“So only those in the upper three realms can glimpse heavenly secrets.”
“Exactly,” Shopkeeper Hu put down his shears and smiled. “Has this changed your view of Ouyang Yu?”
“Why does she have upper three realm strength?”
“Ouyang Zhi passed his cultivation onto her,” Shopkeeper Hu revealed the truth behind the facade. “That’s why he was struck dead by tribulation lightning.
Otherwise, no matter how fierce the lightning, it could not harm the Sword Demon.”
“...”
“The Sword Demon’s method of soul attachment and bodily resurrection is nothing but empty talk,” Shopkeeper Hu said. “The current demonic cult has no ties to the Sword Demon... As the leader of the Sacred Flame Sect, your future depends entirely on your will.
How you are determines how the Sacred Flame Sect will be.”
At this moment, Su Ye realized all traces left by the Sword Demon in the world had vanished into dust.
Only the once invincible legend remained.
The cause and effect born from the Great Creation Art had finally come to a complete end.