Demon Subduing Sword Technique

Accidents always came without a sound.

Yang Chan had never imagined that Xu Gaocen, a man who rarely ever went down the mountain, would take the initiative to leave Qingyuan Sect, descend the mountain to join the battle, and assist Sect Master Liu Xuan and the others.

When he heard the news, he had wanted nothing more than to smack Xu Gaocen with a medicine furnace and knock some sense into him. Why go looking for trouble at a time like this?

Sect Master Liu Xuan and the others of Qingyuan Sect were now directly facing the Three Great Sects—Lingyu Palace, Taiyu Valley, and Nanhua Sword Sect. That was the most dangerous place of all, yet Xu Gaocen had voluntarily asked to go. Had a donkey kicked him in the head?

Yang Chan had hoped to pass the Pharmacist assessment and avoid taking part in this mission, but Xu Gaocen had been informing them of the outcome, not asking for their opinions.

The names of them Alchemist Assistants had long since been placed on the list of those descending the mountain. This meant Yang Chan and the others had to go down the mountain. Even if they passed the Pharmacist assessment and became Pharmacists, it would not change the outcome.

This matter let Yang Chan personally experience how unpredictable life could be.

Not long ago, he had still lamented the miserable fate of the disciples sent down the mountain. Now he had no choice but to become one of them—and to go to the most dangerous place at that.

Those fighting Sect Master Liu Xuan and the others would surely be experts from the Three Great Sects. Before people like them, even an expert of External Refinement: Skin and Flesh was nothing.

Had no one seen what happened to the disciples who had followed that Internal Refinement Grandmaster elder down the mountain last time? Aside from one Personal Disciple whose Martial Cultivation had fallen, none returned alive.

Though they had been ambushed, it still showed just how perilous it had been.

Even experts at the level of Internal Refinement Grandmasters and External Refinement: Iron Bones could encounter danger after descending the mountain. That showed how dangerous it truly was. Going to such a deadly place now made him feel as though he had fucked a husky.

Yang Chan could not help but offer a heartfelt greeting to Xu Gaocen's mother. After that, he could only follow them down the mountain.

As for thoughts of betraying the sect or fleeing Qingyuan Sect, Yang Chan did not dare entertain them. Qingyuan Sect's Law Enforcement Hall was not to be trifled with.

If he went down the mountain with them, there was at least still a chance to survive. If Sect Master Liu Xuan and the others resolved the matter of the Three Great Sects, then they would be people of great merit, and they certainly would not lack cultivation resources or silver.

Besides, they were Alchemist Assistants. They would not directly face those dangers, but would merely provide support.

Yang Chan could only use such words to console himself.

Before descending the mountain, Yang Chan received a Ten Refinements Long Sword prepared by Qingyuan Sect for disciples like them who were going down the mountain. It was far superior to the ordinary longswords found among the common folk.

It could injure those at External Refinement: Skin and Flesh. It was a longsword forged by Qingyuan Sect's Hall of Artifact Refining.

Elite Disciples could receive Hundred Refinements Long Swords, which were even sharper. Yang Chan had seen the Hundred Refinements Long Sword in an Elite Disciple's hand. When it was drawn, cold light flashed brilliantly.

Just hearing the sound of the sword cutting through the air was enough to tell how sharp it was.

The Thousand Refinements Long Sword of a Personal Disciple had not been drawn, but it was surely even more formidable. It was the strongest existence below a treasured weapon.

Since most Formal Disciples like Yang Chan had never practiced swordsmanship, they were taught a set of Demon Subduing Sword Technique before leaving Qingyuan Sect.

Its name sounded impressive, but in truth it was a sword technique designed to go with the Ox Demon Strength Fist. Under normal circumstances, Formal Disciples could only learn this sword technique in the Hall of Bestowing Merit after their Jing Power had reached mastery. This was to prevent them from delaying the nurturing of Raging Bull Strength by practicing swordsmanship.

But now that they were going down the mountain, they naturally needed means to preserve their lives.

The "demon subduing" in the Demon Subduing Sword Technique referred to subduing the Ox Demon of the Ox Demon Strength Fist. It was a companion technique for the Ox Demon Strength Fist, and the two complemented each other in cultivation. Formal Disciples like them could quickly get started with it.

Once Raging Bull Strength reached mastery, cultivation would be even faster, saving them quite a bit of time.

In a single day, Yang Chan's Demon Subduing Sword Technique had not only reached the entry level, but had already achieved some success. Once he performed the full sword set, it even looked quite convincing.

The fist techniques of the Ox Demon Strength Fist had power, but they still fell somewhat short compared to wielding a weapon.

As the saying went, an extra inch of reach meant an extra inch of strength. Possessing a weapon further enhanced one's power considerably.

Even a child holding a weapon could kill someone.

If Formal Disciples like them descended the mountain without weapons, they would be at a huge innate disadvantage when fighting others.

Cultivating Raging Bull Strength did not mean one became impervious to blades and spears. Even External Refinement: Bronze Skin merely meant one did not fear ordinary weapons and was difficult for ordinary people to injure. It did not mean invincibility.

While practicing the Demon Subduing Sword Technique, Yang Chan heard the Merit-Bestowing Deacon mention that what the technique subdued was the demon ox of the Ox Demon Strength Fist, as well as the tiger demon within the bone-forging fist technique, the Tiger Demon Bone Forging Fist. It was a sword technique paired with both.

By subduing these two Demonic Beasts, the sword moves would become extremely powerful.

These were all complementary cultivation techniques practiced by Qingyuan Sect disciples, reinforcing one another. Only a powerful sect could possess such a complete set of cultivation methods.

From nurturing Jing Power to External Refinement fist techniques and defensive sword techniques, everything was connected. Once one achieved success in cultivation, subsequent cultivation would grow faster and faster, while one's moves would become increasingly fierce.

After a full day, Yang Chan had raised his Demon Subduing Sword Technique to 15% entry level. This progress was somewhat faster than any technique he had cultivated before.

Aside from the mutual support provided by his Ox Demon Strength Fist cultivation, this was also because his aptitude had risen to 12.

After his aptitude increased, his cultivation progress in the Ox Demon Strength Fist, Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, and Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique all improved greatly. The effect was extremely obvious.

Previously, when he had merely possessed low-grade aptitude, there had also been some effect, but it had not been as obvious as this direct rise to medium-grade progress.

For example, when Yang Chan had previously practiced one set of the Ox Demon Strength Fist, he could only raise its entry-level progress by one percent. Now, it was at least three percent. This was a qualitative improvement, and that was with the panel's bonus. Otherwise, the gap might have been even greater.

It was like how he had worked as a menial for two and a half years, yet still had not cultivated the Ox Demon Strength Fist to one hundred percent entry level.

Yang Chan's Demon Subduing Sword Technique progressed quickly, but this progress could not compare to those disciples who had voluntarily joined the mission.

Those disciples who had taken part in the mission of their own accord had been practicing the Demon Subduing Sword Technique in the Hall of Bestowing Merit for nearly a month already. Yang Chan, Shu Yu, and the other Alchemist Assistants were effectively people inserted midway through, so they naturally had far less time to practice the Demon Subduing Sword Technique than those Formal Disciples. Their proficiency with the sword technique was naturally behind as well.

However, Yang Chan, Shu Yu, and the other Alchemist Assistants would not be heading directly into battle. Instead, they would assist Xu Gaocen in sorting medicinal herbs, preparing medicine packets, treating injured disciples, and carrying out other supporting tasks. They practiced swordsmanship so they would have the means to protect themselves, which was also a skill disciples descending the mountain needed to master.

Since Yang Chan had no choice but to descend the mountain, he could only add his Potential Points to the Demon Subduing Sword Technique.

Originally, he had planned to continue improving the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique to increase his Lifespan and aptitude, but that plan had now been disrupted.

His cultivation had now entered the External Refinement: Bronze Skin Second Layer: Brass realm. Ordinary blades and swords found it difficult to injure him, but advancing to the third layer, ancient bronze, required rather too many Potential Points. Naturally, he chose to improve the Demon Subduing Sword Technique first. Using it to protect himself would also make Yang Chan feel somewhat safer.