Blade Drawing Tournament (5)

The "Blade Drawing Tournament" caused a huge stir in the Cultivation World. The fact that the sword originated from the "Eastern Pole Sacred Land" was enough to attract attention. What kind of place was the Eastern Pole Sacred Land? It was an ancient battlefield where High Antiquity spiritual treasures had roamed for generations! No one knew how many mysterious things remained there. Add to that Yue Qianchou's victory over the Daluo Sect Master with this sword, and it was impossible for everyone not to be envious.

The major sects gathered their experts and inventoried their Spirit Stones, all brimming with confidence to seize the sword. Meanwhile, some smaller sects, lacking sufficient strength, called upon their Old Ancestor for help, and some, even those short of Spirit Stones, resorted to borrowing money from various sources just to try their luck.

A mere ten million could very well buy a magical treasure; who wouldn't be tempted? After all, that sword is quite strange; it's not something that can be obtained simply by having the highest cultivation level. Luo Qingtian's cultivation level is high? He still couldn't take it. Yue Qianchou's cultivation level isn't high? He still chased Luo Qingtian around with that sword in hand.

For a time, the news of Yue Qianchou's defeat of Luo Qingtian was rarely mentioned in the Cultivation World. Everyone's focus was on who might be able to pull out that sword. It could very well be a spiritual treasure! Whoever gets their hands on it, even if they can't enjoy it themselves, can immediately auction it off at the Wu family's auction house and make a fortune!

Just then, Yue Qianchou released another major message to the outside world through the Four Great Families... I, Yue Qianchou, am truly ashamed that I have alarmed the entire Cultivation World over such a trivial matter. So, to make the best of a bad situation, I am willing to bring out my other treasured sword as well. In the 'Sword Blade Drawing Tournament,' we will draw both swords together, so that those who are capable of obtaining this sword will not leave empty-handed!

The Cultivation World was shaken once again. If some still felt there was no hope with just one sword, the chances of obtaining both swords together were much greater. Therefore, various sects actively prepared Spirit Stones. Major sects like Fu Xian Island and Myriad Demon Palace, with their abundant talent and wealth, were especially determined to acquire both swords in one fell swoop.

The East China Sea stretches far and wide, its blue waves crashing against the horizon. On a solitary island, seabirds soar. Among the mountains, numerous buildings have appeared, and on the mountainside of the island's highest peak stands a magnificent palace, neither too large nor too small.

The island was nameless, but the palace was called 'Wuji Palace,' hence the island was also known as Wuji Island. The owners of 'Wuji Palace' were none other than the Yan family father and son, forced to flee overseas. Inside the palace, Yan Bugui paced anxiously at the entrance to the underground cave, his fists clenched.

"Heh... heh..." A series of mournful howls echoed from within the cave, the sounds of which were heart-wrenching. Yan Bugui was sweating profusely with anxiety, and he stopped, leaning against the entrance of the cave, tears streaming down his face.

After a long while, the screams stopped, but heavy breathing could still be heard coming from inside. Just then, seven people with distinctive clothing walked out one after another. All seven were drenched in sweat, as if they had been soaking in water.

The leader, a burly man, wore a leather vest over his shoulder and a black cloak trailing behind him; his bare arms were glistening with sweat. As soon as they emerged, Yan Bugui rushed over, grabbed the man, and anxiously asked, "Barbarian Tiger Imperial Preceptor, how did your star-chasing go?"

The man known as the Barbarian Tiger Imperial Preceptor let out a long breath and nodded, saying, "Success! The Young Palace Lord's mind is truly extraordinary. Over the years, countless people have died under the 'Seven Star Bloodletting Art,' but no one has ever succeeded. I never expected that the young master would actually survive."

Upon hearing of the success, Yan Bugui eager to see his son and was about to rush into the cave when he was stopped by the Tiger Barbarian Imperial Preceptor. The latter shook his head and said, "Palace Master Yan, it's best not to go in now. The Young Palace Lord has just formed Demonic Body through the 'Seven Star Bloodletting Art,' and his mind has changed drastically. He probably won't recognize anyone for the time being. Your going in might cause misunderstandings. Please wait patiently for a day, Palace Master Yan."

"Demonic Body?" Yan Bugui exclaimed in surprise, "What Demonic Body? What are you saying? What exactly have you done to those who follow celebrities?"

"Palace Master Yan, please calm down!" Man Hu kindly advised, "Non-Self want to hide it from you, but the Young Palace Lord asked us to do so, saying that he didn't want you to worry. Now that the Demonic Body is formed, the Young Palace Lord's cultivation progress will be rapid, and he will make great achievements in the Cultivation World."

Yan Bugui was no three-year-old child after all. After learning that his son was alright, he quickly calmed down. But his face was gloomy, and he swept his gaze over the seven people. He said in a deep voice, "You had better not hide anything from me. If you dare to plot against my son and me, we'll all perish together. No one will get away with it."

"Palace Master Yan, you're overthinking it! We swore a solemn oath that we would help you unify the Huaxia Cultivation World, and after you succeed, you would use the power of the entire nation to help us find the Star Pearl. After that, we would have nothing to do with each other, so how can you say we're scheming?" Hu Man patted Yan Bugui on the shoulder and said, "Palace Master Yan, let's go outside and talk. I'll tell you the whole story in detail."

Yan Bugui his long sleeves and stormed off, leaving the remaining seven people looking at each other in bewilderment. These seven were originally fellow disciples, trained by the same master, and Man Hu was their senior brother, as well as the Imperial Preceptor of the Diron Empire.

"Senior Brother, if it weren't for our rescue, he would have been dead long ago. Humph! He only has the cultivation of the mid Tribulation stage late Tribulation Transcendence stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm. He's really asking for trouble. I just don't understand why we have to rely on him. Do you think that Cultivation Worlds of our countries combined can't even take down the Huaxia Cultivation World?" The Seventh Brother, who was the last in rank among the disciples, transmitted his voice.

Man Hu turned around and glared at him, then transmitted his voice, "The xenophobic sentiment in the Huaxia Cultivation World is deeply ingrained. Even if we unite and take it down, we will face long-term troubles and will be unable to organize an effective force to find the Star Pearl. The Yan family father and son, especially Yan Zhuixing, are connected to the number one sect of Righteous and Demonic paths. They also have some strength, making them a good target for us to use. You should stop spouting such nonsense in the future."

After saying that, Man Hu turned around and left. The six people looked at each other and silently followed.

Inside the main hall, Yan Bugui had dismissed everyone and stood with his hands behind his back. Man Hu emerged from behind and immediately laughed, "Is Palace Master Yan still angry?"

Yan Bugui turned around and said in a deep voice, "Man Hu, what exactly happened?"

Man Hu smiled slightly, and without wasting words, asked directly, "Palace Master Yan, have you ever heard of the Demonic Path?"

"I hail from the Myriad Demon Palace, the foremost sect of the demonic path; how could I not know the principles of the demonic path?" Yan Bugui sneered.

"No, no, Palace Master Yan misunderstands. I'm referring to the ancient demonic path, an era even more distant than High Antiquity. Not the demonic path of the current Cultivation World," Man Hu laughed.

"Ancient times? That's at least hundreds of thousands of years ago. How could I possibly know about something that far back?" Yan Bugui the subject, displeased. "Man Hu, don't try to change the subject. I'm asking about my son Yan Zhuixing."

Man Hu wasn't angry. He laughed and said, "Palace Master Yan usually a very composed person. How could she be like this today... Alright, to make a long story short, to explain the Young Palace Lord's affairs, we have to start with the Ancient Demonic Path."

"Could the things you did to him be related to that Ancient Demonic Path you mentioned?" Yan Bugui asked.

Man Hu nodded and gazed out of the hall, saying slowly, "Legend has it that in ancient times, in addition to the current Immortal Realm and Underworld, there was also a realm called the Demon Realm, also known as the High Antiquity Demonic Path. It is said that the Demon Realm was a place that even the Immortal and Underworld Realms trembled in fear. However, later, someone sealed the passage to the Demon Realm, and the High Antiquity Demonic Path faded from people's sight. Now, few people know about it."

"Such a thing exists? I come from the demonic path, how could I have never heard of such a thing?" Yan Bugui asked in surprise.

Man Hu laughed and said, "The difference between the demonic path and the Righteous Path from Palace Master Yan came is that they are different paths and cannot work together. The ancient demonic path was a true Great Dao, while the current demonic path is like a grain of rice trying to compete with the bright moon. It is not worth mentioning at all."

"Then how did you know?" Yan Bugui.

Man Hu said with some pride, "Two hundred years ago, when I served as the Imperial Preceptor of the Diron Empire, I accidentally discovered a rare set of ancient books made of animal hide in the inner palace collection. Because the writing on it was too old, no one could recognize it anymore, so it had been left unused. Coincidentally, my master was an expert in ancient writing, and I had followed my master in cultivation for many years and had also dabbled in it, so I recognized the origin of this book."

"What's your background?" Yan Bugui help but ask at this point.

"Demon Codex." Man Hu uttered the two words slowly and solemnly, then exhaled and said, "It briefly introduces some Ancient Demonic Path practices; in reality, it's a grand method for cultivating Devil Cultivation Method..."

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