Chapter 101 - 99: Long Zaitian

Chapter 101: Chapter 99: Long Zaitian

On Dao Yi Mountain, dense clouds gathered today, signaling an impending downpour.

Seven days had passed since Yun Shouxuan ascended and subsequently descended the mountain.

During this time, Chen Sha had taken his Second Senior Sister, Yuu Miaolian, to strip Shangguan Qing of all her Cultivation Power using the Qi Stealing Technique. Afterward, he gave her a swift end without any excessive humiliation. For an expert of the First-Grade Great Innate, her departure was considered quite dignified.

People had to pay the price for their actions, and sometimes, that price was their lives.

After everything was settled, Chen Sha brought Yuu Miaolian outside.

"The Qi Stealing Technique must be used with utmost caution from now on," he said. "Even though I trust you, Second Sister, I still must warn you. Using this technique for Cultivation brings incredibly rapid growth. It’s just like the earthly vices of alcohol, lust, wealth, and wrath—once you succumb to its addiction, pulling yourself out is exceptionally difficult."

Some people were slaves to the bottle, others were consumed by lust, and some were so greedy they felt they could never earn enough wealth. There were also those prone to uncontrollable fits of rage. Such desires existed in everyone. To a large extent, they were almost impossible to eradicate. Therefore, people needed to temper their desires and practice moderation in all things.

One could not overindulge in drink or promiscuity, for crossing the line could easily lead to death. The enhancement of Power was no different. For those who practiced Martial Arts, the intoxicating sensation of rapidly boosting their Power and Breaking Realms—the psychological dominance brought by advancing in Martial Arts—was an even fiercer temptation than any worldly vice.

In this Martial Hero World, as long as one’s Martial Arts were formidable enough, thousand-year-old vintage wines, unparalleled beauties, and boundless wealth were all within easy reach. They could even kill whomever they pleased.

This was exactly why Ancient Transformation Dragon, after practicing the Qi Stealing Technique, had completely lost control over the thrill of skyrocketing Power. He ended up draining the True Qi of everyone around him and even began scheming against those in the Jianghu.

Yuu Miaolian’s expression turned solemn. "Rest assured, Junior Brother. I promise I will only use this technique this once."

Chen Sha shook his head. "I’m not asking you to abandon this great technique forever, Senior Sister. I’m asking you to control it and use it with restraint. If you encounter any villains after you descend the mountain, feel free to use this technique to steal their Power. Not only will you rid the people of a menace, but you will also increase your own Power. Why wouldn’t you do it?"

The only reason he said all this was out of fear. He worried that anyone practicing this Martial Art would become so addicted to the exhilarating rush of absorbing Power and achieving rapid breakthroughs that they would eventually turn on their own flesh and blood, even preying on those closest to them.

In truth, Chen Sha’s own Cultivation Power grew astonishingly fast as well. However, his method of Breaking Realms stemmed from the clearance rewards of the Cosmic Light Fragments. His growing Power didn’t harm the people around him.

The Qi Stealing Technique, on the other hand, harmed others, which was why he needed to heavily caution his Second Senior Sister.

Yuu Miaolian nodded in realization. "I understand."

Looking at her expression, Chen Sha knew his words had sunk in. He actually had full confidence in her. The few individuals who qualified as True Disciples had all passed his father’s character tests. At their core, none of them were evil; they all firmly held onto a moral bottom line. This was the psychological advantage that a Righteous Path Daoist Sect like the Dao Yi Sect bestowed upon its Cultivators.

After settling matters with Yuu Miaolian, Chen Sha returned to the Sect Leader’s courtyard, where he ran into Lin Qingqing.

In the courtyard, she was currently locked in a battle of wits and wills against the ’Immortal Sword’ that had flown to Dao Yi Mountain on its own.

It had been seven days since Chen Sha passed this sword and the Dugu Swordsmanship on to Lin Qingqing. In the beginning, Chen Sha assumed that once this sword encountered Lin Qingqing—an Innate Sword Embryo—it would willingly submit and acknowledge her as its master. To his surprise, he had overestimated his disciple... or rather, he had underestimated the Immortal Sword’s sheer loyalty to Shangguan Qing.

Since Lin Qingqing couldn’t subdue this fiercely loyal Immortal Sword, Chen Sha had initially planned to simply destroy it. He had already killed Shangguan Qing; keeping the sword around would only spell trouble.

Yet, just as Chen Sha was figuring out how to snap the blade, Lin Qingqing had taken the initiative to beg him for a little more time.

Chen Sha pondered for a moment before turning to mutter a single sentence to the sword. Afterward, Lin Qingqing was astonished to see the sword actively flying toward her.

Though it still seemed unwilling to acknowledge her as its master, it showed no intention of leaving, either. Instead, it spent all day hovering in midair, sparring with Lin Qingqing in a man-versus-sword showdown.

***

At this moment, Lin Qingqing saw Chen Sha approaching. She immediately stopped and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Master!"

BUZZ!

The Immortal Sword also trembled slightly in the vast air, releasing an unfriendly ring. However, it was well aware that it couldn’t possibly be a match for this young Sect Leader.

"Peach Blossoms, don’t be rude!" Lin Qingqing instantly put on a stern face. "If you keep this up, my Master really will snap you in half."

BUZZ!

Unexpectedly, the Immortal Sword began to vibrate violently. It was hard to tell whether it was offended because it already had another name and found Lin Qingqing’s choice abhorrent, or if it was still deeply terrified of Chen Sha.

Seeing this, Chen Sha paid it no mind.

Lin Qingqing trotted up to him. "Master, Master! You’ve been busy helping Second Martial Aunt with her Cultivation these past few days, so I haven’t had the time to ask. How exactly did you convince Peach Blossoms to stay and practice swordsmanship with me?"

Chen Sha walked slowly with his hands behind his back and stated simply, "It was nothing much. I merely told it that if it waits for you to reach the First Grade Realm, I’ll allow it to be wielded by you in a battle against me. Whether it can avenge Shangguan Qing will depend on whether you can defeat me in the future."

Lin Qingqing stood frozen in place. Then, she turned around to look at ’Peach Blossoms’, whose tip was angled slightly upward as if to provoke her all over again.

She muttered in a daze, "How about I give you a new name? What do you think of ’Silly Sword’?"

BUZZ!

The Immortal Sword suddenly flew into a rage, stabbing straight toward Lin Qingqing.

Lin Qingqing swiftly dodged. Wielding two swords—’Manhood’ and ’Great River’ from Wuu Liusheng’s lineage—she executed the Breaking Sword Form of the Dugu Swordsmanship, once again clashing and exchanging moves with the Immortal Sword.

"Silly Sword, Silly Sword, Silly Sword..."

She laughed harder and harder, while the variations in her Sword Technique grew increasingly profound. With a sword in hand, Lin Qingqing seemed to transform into a completely different person. Having found the path most suited to her, every strike she unleashed was flawless and natural.

She relentlessly mocked the Immortal Sword. Yet, her heart was deeply moved.

"I will never be able to reach Master’s heights in this lifetime," she thought. "And yet, you want to rely on me to defeat him. To chase a dream like that... I’m afraid you’ll have to spend a lifetime working hard by my side."

That was why she teasingly called it Silly Sword. It had actually believed her Master’s casual remark and genuinely decided to stay. It was exactly like a gullible child.

WHOOSH.

Sandalwood incense was lit inside Chen Sha’s room.

With everything in the sect back on track, it was time for him to attempt clearing the first Chapter of ’Master Zhang Daoxuan’. His main reason was...

He had recently obtained the final two volumes of the Celestial Demon Strategy and was running short on True Qi and Inner Strength again. If he could earn a reward of True Qi, allowing him to master these last two volumes instantly, it would mean the four corresponding Divine Spirits in the Great Yellow Court would be refined simultaneously!

Behind the Southern Heavenly Gate, the First Heaven...

***

Seven days after departing Dao Yi Mountain, Yun Shouxuan was roughly three days away from returning to the Celestial Destiny Palace.

The Celestial Demon Sect ranked among the Six Demonic Paths of the Black Martial Arts. It was a colossal faction; therefore, it didn’t just operate out of a single headquarters like the Celestial Destiny Palace. It boasted numerous sub-branches scattered all across the world.

As Yun Shouxuan passed through Mengzhou, she recalled that the Celestial Demon Sect happened to have a sub-branch here. It was garrisoned by an Elder of the Demon Sect surnamed Tian.

However, when the red-clad Yun Shouxuan stepped into the Celestial Demon Sub-Branch inside Mengzhou City, she was met with an unexpected sight.

The sub-branch, which should have been a tranquil manor, was now littered with bloody corpses. Eagles and mosquitoes, drawn by the foul stench of blood, circled endlessly above the estate.

Despite witnessing this grisly scene, Yun Shouxuan’s expression remained entirely unchanged, though her eyes darkened slightly. Walking toward the area where the bodies were piled highest, she spoke out.

"Your Excellency has truly prepared a grandiose welcoming gift for me."

She stepped further into the manor with her hands behind her back. Parting her red lips, her voice drifted out in all directions, causing the very air to howl and churn.

"You must have received news of my arrival in Mengzhou early on. Knowing I would likely visit this sub-branch, you slaughtered every single disciple here a mere quarter of an hour before I arrived."

Yun Shouxuan offered a detached smile. "Since you went to all this trouble just to wait for my arrival, why skulk in the shadows? Are you afraid to let me see you?"

Silence blanketed the manor.

Yet, three breaths later, a resonant voice echoed from an unknown direction.

"Sect Leader Yun is truly worthy of leading a generation of the Demon Palace. To realize within mere breaths of seeing these corpses that I, Tian, was waiting nearby... your intellect is astonishing indeed!"

Along with the voice, a middle-aged man emerged from the inner pavilion of the manor. He wore a purple robe, had a square face, and carried a smiling expression.

In the next moment.

RUSTLE.

Several Grandmaster Level experts suddenly appeared on the eaves behind him. They were all dressed in purple robes, and they formed a perimeter along the rooftops in all four directions, completely surrounding Yun Shouxuan in the courtyard below.

Yun Shouxuan couldn’t help but sneer. "I was wondering whose dog this was. It turns out to be you, Tian Jingshui, you old mutt. Rather than serving properly as the Sect Leader of one of the Six Demonic Paths, you willingly degrade yourself to wait upon Long Zaitian hand and foot."

The purple-robed middle-aged man known as Tian Jingshui simply took the insult in stride. "If I were your dog, Sect Leader Yun, I suspect you wouldn’t be saying such things."

He looked up at the sky and sighed. "It has been a full century since the Six Demonic Paths splintered following the unification under the previous generation’s Holy Hero. Today, Sect Leader Long is the one with the greatest hope of commanding the Demon Sect once again. I sincerely wish to promote the fusion of the Six Paths and am willing to do my part to rebuild the Demon Sect. What is wrong with that? Why should you scold me for it?"

Yun Shouxuan chuckled faintly, keeping her hands behind her back. "You don’t actually think waiting here today will allow you to block my path, do you? Even if Long Zaitian came personally, he wouldn’t necessarily stand a chance!"

Tian Jingshui smiled subtly. "How did you know Sect Leader Long came personally?"

Yun Shouxuan’s expression shifted slightly.

Long Zaitian was actually here as well?

At that moment, as if sensing something, she abruptly turned her head to look toward the broad dirt road outside the manor’s main gates.

The rumble of a horse-drawn carriage approached from afar.

Yet, there was no driver.

The four fine steeds galloping at the front seemed like divine, intelligent heavenly horses that knew the way. Their hooves pounded in rapid succession, moving swiftly yet steadily down the center of the road.

Inside the carriage, concealed by golden-yellow curtains, sat a middle-aged man with a towering, majestic build. His eyelids were lowered, seemingly deep in Meditation. Just his facial features alone exuded an unearthly, sinister handsomeness that made people afraid to look directly at him. Combined with his imposing and steadfast aura...

A legendary figure of the Martial Arts world had arrived.