Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art

"It could only be this way. But while the Nirvana Nine Swords were astonishingly powerful, they were extremely difficult to cultivate. Ordinary Heavenly Prodigy Rank geniuses might not even get started after half a year. For Xiao Chen, the difficulty was a little too great."

Lin Jiansan glanced at Xiao Chen with some concern.

The Nirvana Nine Swords were Sword Immortal Academy's only Earth Rank Sword Scripture. They had been created by a Peerless Sword Immortal of Sword Immortal Academy in its early days. Their power was extraordinary, not much inferior to many Heaven Tier Sword Scriptures. Yet because they were simply too difficult, they had been rated as an Earth Rank Sword Scripture.

Even with Xiao Chen's terrifying talent, it was almost impossible for him to cultivate them to minor mastery in a short time!

But there was no longer any other choice. They could only hope that Xiao Chen would make use of these next three months to cultivate as quickly as possible!

"Kid, three months from now will be the academy tournament. This battle concerns the academy's very survival, and there can be no mistakes. Are you confident that you can bring the Nirvana Nine Swords to the introductory level within three months?"

A trace of hesitation flashed through Chou Wantian's eyes as he turned to look at Xiao Chen.

"No. Besides, I've already prepared my own cultivation technique."

Xiao Chen shook his head directly.

He possessed the god-tier cultivation technique, the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art. There was no way he would cultivate some Nirvana Nine Swords.

The moment those words came out, everyone present froze.

Sword Dao cultivation techniques had nearly vanished from Great Xia by now. Xiao Chen had actually managed to obtain one?

Even Chou Wantian, who knew Xiao Chen's background, found it somewhat unbelievable.

Although Xiao Chen was the Zhenbei King's legitimate eldest son, rumors from the outside world claimed that he was not favored at all, and his status was scarcely any better than a servant's. How could he have acquired such an incomparably precious Sword Dao cultivation technique?

What was more, the Xiao Family had practiced martial arts for generations. They had never heard of anyone cultivating the sword!

Could it have been something the Zhenbei King had obtained by chance and bestowed upon Xiao Chen?

"What cultivation technique?"

Lin Jiansan looked at Xiao Chen and asked.

"The Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art!"

Xiao Chen answered truthfully.

From what he had learned from the system, the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art had been lost for countless years. Hardly anyone should know of it, so he was not afraid of exposing it.

"You mean the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Sword Sutra, right?"

After pondering for a moment, Lin Jiansan spoke.

He ran through every Sword Scripture name in his mind, and only this cultivation technique matched what Xiao Chen had said.

"That's right, that one."

Xiao Chen went along with it.

"Nonsense! That is merely a mid-grade Yellow Rank cultivation technique. Its name may sound imposing, but in truth it is weak beyond measure. Cultivating it—are you trying to ruin your own future?"

Lin Jiansan's face immediately darkened.

"But it's fast to cultivate! If I cultivate those Nirvana Nine Swords, I won't even reach minor mastery in three months. How will I fight for a ranking for our academy then?"

Xiao Chen casually made up an excuse.

"But..."

Lin Jiansan was instantly left speechless, unable to refute him.

Though he was unwilling to admit it, what Xiao Chen said was indeed correct.

With the Nirvana Nine Swords' terrifying difficulty, even someone with Sword Dao aptitude like Xiao Chen's would likely find it hard to even get started within three months. Naturally, he would not be able to achieve good results in the academy tournament three months later.

Though Yellow Rank cultivation techniques were weak, they had one advantage: they were quick to cultivate. With Xiao Chen's talent, he would certainly be able to reach the introductory level in three months, perhaps even minor mastery. Then, with the overwhelming offensive power of a sword cultivator and Xiao Chen's terrifying Sword Dao talent, he might be able to win Sword Immortal Academy a good ranking.

However, this would have a great impact on Xiao Chen's path as a sword cultivator. After all, changing cultivation techniques later on would damage his foundation to a certain extent.

"Are you worried about delaying my future? It's fine. For the academy, I'm willing to make a sacrifice. If there's nothing else, I'm going to cultivate!"

Xiao Chen smiled, then turned and left. He chose a room beside Lin Qingxian's and prepared to begin cultivating.

As Lin Jiansan and the other two watched Xiao Chen slowly depart, they felt his back suddenly grow taller.

Tears rolled down from Lin Jiansan's cloudy old eyes.

Chou Wantian said nothing. He lifted his gourd and fiercely poured several mouthfuls of wine down his throat.

Even Lin Qingxian, who had disliked Xiao Chen the most, found her eyes reddening slightly at that moment!

Xiao Chen had joined the academy less than half an hour ago, yet he was willing to give up his personal future for the academy. Rather than cultivate an exceptionally powerful Earth Rank cultivation technique, he chose to cultivate an utterly worthless Yellow Rank one. What breadth of heart and spirit that was!

"This kid is actually not bad!"

Lin Jiansan wiped away his tears and said in a trembling voice.

"He really is not bad! He sees the bigger picture!"

Chou Wantian added.

"Perhaps the real him isn't as flamboyant as he appears on the surface?"

Lin Qingxian murmured to herself inwardly.

Elsewhere.

Inside the room.

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged and directly entered a state of cultivation.

"System, activate the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art."

Ding! The Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art is beginning activation!

The next instant.

Xiao Chen entered an illusion. Within it, he became a thirteen-year-old boy.

The village where he lived had suffered an attack from the Demon Race. His parents and relatives had all been slaughtered by the Demon Race, leaving only him, hidden in a cellar, to escape disaster.

After the Demon Race departed, Xiao Chen walked out of the cellar. Seeing the corpses of his family scattered all over the ground, as well as his mother, who had been violated beyond recognition and was barely clinging to life, he cried out in grief, "Mother!"

"Chen'er, don't... don't grieve for Mother. This is fate! Find... find a place, and live well!"

His mother gently stroked his head. Forcing herself to suppress her reluctance, she left behind those words before closing her eyes forever.

All at once, overwhelming sorrow flooded Xiao Chen's heart. Then a towering hatred surged into his eyes. At that moment, he only wanted to slaughter every demon beneath heaven.

"System, what is going on with this illusion? Why do I feel as if my heart is about to shatter?"

Everything the host sees is not illusory. It is the true experience of the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art's creator, the Demon Quelling Sword God, from his younger days. The system uses this to guide the host into the Dao. How much the host comprehends depends entirely on the host's own fortune.

Hearing this, Xiao Chen was immediately stunned. This was not a fabricated illusion, but the Demon Quelling Sword God's real experience?

At only thirteen, his entire family had been exterminated by the Demon Race, while his mother had suffered every humiliation before dying. No wonder he hated the Demon Race so deeply. Later, he had even created the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art and vowed to slaughter every demon beneath heaven.

However, in the present day, thousands of years later, the Demon Race's power had grown even stronger. Countless people died at the hands of the Demon Race every day, while the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art created by the Demon Quelling Sword God had gathered dust for many years. If the Demon Quelling Sword God knew of this, how desolate and sorrowful would he feel?

To cultivate the sword, first cultivate the heart. Host, carefully experience the will and state of mind the Demon Quelling Sword God possessed when he practiced the sword.

Prompted by the system, Xiao Chen immediately calmed his mind and focused his spirit. He completely placed himself in the perspective of the young Demon Quelling Sword God. Before long, he became that mountain village youth once more.

The youth spent three days and three nights digging seven earthen pits in a desolate mountain nearby. After burying his relatives, he began practicing the sword.

At that time, he was very poor. His home possessed only a rusty iron sword, so he used it to practice.

Beneath a great locust tree before his home, the youth swung his sword again and again. Filled with hatred and killing intent, he imagined slicing demon after demon into fragments.

Day after day, through cold and heat without cease!

His control over the sword in his hand steadily grew stronger.

Then one day, he split the enormous boulder before his home apart with a single sword strike.

Ding! Congratulations, host. The Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art has reached the introductory level.

If an ancient sword cultivator had been present, they would have been utterly shocked. The higher the rank of a Sword Scripture, the harder it was to get started. For an Earth Rank cultivation technique like the Nirvana Nine Swords, ordinary Heavenly Prodigy Rank geniuses generally found it difficult to even enter the door after three months.

Yet with a god-tier cultivation technique like the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art, Xiao Chen had reached the introductory level in less than a moment. This was absolutely shocking beyond measure.

"I've gotten started?"

Xiao Chen awoke from the illusion. Looking at the faint Sword Qi coiling around his fingertips, his expression was somewhat astonished.

According to Lin Jiansan, cultivating a Sword Dao technique to the introductory level should have been extremely difficult. He had only spent such a short while, yet he had already gotten started?

It had to be said, having a system really was wonderful!

No wonder people in his previous life always wrote: the system itself was the road to invincibility, so why suffer the hardships of cultivation?

Drawing back the Sword Qi at his fingertips, Xiao Chen rose and walked outside.

At the entrance to Slaying Heaven Courtyard.

Lin Jiansan and the others were clearing away the remnants of the secret chamber when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.

"President Chou, save me!"

The group immediately stopped what they were doing and turned to look. They saw a fifty-year-old man, covered in blood and wearing a terrified expression, racing madly toward them.