Paradise Cult

Backstage.

Chen Yao returned with her sword.

The bloodstains that had soaked her skin had now faded, returning to their normal state, as she made her way to the innermost part of the backstage area.

Along the way, many Martial Artists cupped their hands to her, some offering compliments, others praise. There was even a Seventh Rank Martial Artist who inquired about Chen Yao's background, showing her a little goodwill.

But Chen Yao merely smiled and dismissed them.

She walked all the way to the innermost part of the backstage, to the upright wooden board. She raised her hand and took down the wooden plaque inscribed with 'Eighth Rank · Nether Fox', placing it in her palm.

Looking at the plaque, Chen Yao showed a hint of nostalgia. Then, her small hand gently closed inward, her fingers slowly tightening, crushing the wooden plaque into powder in her palm. The powder scattered little by little between her fingers, disappearing into the dust on the ground.

"Not coming anymore?"

Someone nearby saw this and asked with a smile.

Chen Yao opened her palm, letting all the wood shavings fall.

"Yes, not coming anymore."

Leaving this sentence behind, she walked straight out of the backstage area, disappearing from the sight of the many Martial Artists.

"Another one who has achieved success."

Someone sighed and said, "This time, when she leaves, she'll be Seventh Rank, right? I wonder which family or sect she's from."

"I don't think she's from a sect. I think she's from one of the ducal or marquis families in Kyoto."

Another person shook his head, somewhat emotional, and said, "However, being able to walk out of Yuan Wu Alley, as long as nothing unexpected happens, her name will sooner or later resound in the future Jianghu."

"Yes, if we have a chance to see her again, we'll know who she is."

Outside Yuan Wu Alley.

Chen Yao stepped out, then turned back to look, and finally turned around again, clenching her fists. In her heart was a Martial Dao will that had been tempered for three years, as firm as a rock.

Just as the Yuan Wu Alley steward had judged, when she returned this time, she would break through to Seventh Rank Martial Dao within a month. After breaking through to Seventh Rank, she would no longer come to Yuan Wu Alley.

After that, she would join the Yuantian Guard!

The Yuantian Guard is responsible for guarding the four directions of Da Yuan and slaying demons and monsters!

Even Chen Wu back then did not choose to join the Yuantian Guard, but she had already decided. It just so happened that the Xuanguo Estate also needed someone from this generation to join the Yuantian Guard to show the Emperor that the Xuanguo Estate's will to defend Da Yuan had not changed since they were granted their title.

"I wonder what Second Brother is doing right now. Before that, I need to ask Second Brother for help to adjust all the subsequent stances."

Chen Yao muttered to herself.

Then she left Yuan Wu Alley and returned in the direction of the Xuanguo Estate.

And just as her figure disappeared into the distance of the alley, a man wearing patched cloth clothes and with messy hair appeared silently. He glanced in the direction Chen Yao had left, then stepped forward to follow.

And just as the figure of the man in cloth clothes disappeared into the distance of the alley, Chen Mu's figure appeared silently. He looked thoughtfully in the direction the man had followed, then stepped forward to follow.

Chen Yao hurried through the alleys.

Every alley here was extremely familiar to her. As an Eighth Rank Martial Artist, she didn't need to take a carriage or anything similar; her own speed was faster than a galloping horse.

Having 'graduated' from Yuan Wu Alley, she was in a very pleasant mood at the moment. She was thinking of breaking through to Seventh Rank within a month after returning to Xuanguo Estate, and then going to find Chen Mu to see if he would be surprised.

Chen Mu suddenly becoming a Sorcerer had surprised her.

She had to surprise Chen Mu too.

She was thinking this in her heart.

Suddenly.

Chen Yao's steps gradually slowed.

She was standing in a narrow alley, and at the end of the alley in front of her, a figure had appeared at some point. That figure seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time.

The other person was wearing patched and tattered cloth clothes, with messy black hair, looking like an ordinary commoner. But standing there at this moment, it caused Chen Yao's steps to slow down gradually until she stopped.

Something was wrong!

Chen Yao stopped, her gaze becoming unprecedentedly solemn.

Although she couldn't feel any vigorous blood energy or hostility from the cloth-clothed man in front of her, facing him at this moment, she instinctively felt a sense of oppression, an oppression that couldn't be described in words!

Just then.

Chen Yao's gaze met the cloth-clothed man's.

Touching the cloth-clothed man's deep eyes, Chen Yao felt the world before her suddenly change. The narrow street alley disappeared in an instant, replaced by a dim, dark sky!

Chen Yao's breath hitched, and she couldn't help but take a step back. The dark sky curtain also disappeared in an instant, and the surroundings returned to a narrow street alley.

"Sixth Rank Manifestation... No, Fifth Rank Return to Origin!"

Looking at the cloth-clothed man, a strong sense of crisis surged in her heart.

The sudden change in the world just now was not real, but an illusion. It was the other party's Martial Dao will affecting her, causing her to experience a brief distortion.

Although Sixth Rank Martial Artists had already touched this level, it was impossible for them to shake and suppress her will so effortlessly. Therefore, the cloth-clothed man in front of her was at least Fifth Rank!

"I am Chen Yao of Xuanguo Estate. May I ask why senior is here?"

Born in Xuanguo Estate and having undergone three years of tempering, Chen Yao was still able to remain calm when facing a suddenly appearing Fifth Rank Martial Artist. She immediately reported her identity and bowed to the other party.

The cloth-clothed man stood with his hands behind his back, quietly looking at Chen Yao, and said softly:

"The end is nigh, the world suffers. Xuanguo Estate is even more deeply sinful and will surely face heavenly punishment. However, the cycle of heavenly principles always leaves a glimmer of hope. If you sacrifice your body and mind, you can escape the sea of suffering and attain Extremely Blissful rebirth."

The first half of the sentence was fine, but upon hearing the second half, Chen Yao's gaze changed abruptly, and her face instantly turned pale.

Escape the sea of suffering and attain Extremely Blissful rebirth.

Paradise Cult!

In recent years, the world has been in chaos, and many evil cults have emerged. Among them, the Heavenly Born and Paradise Cults are the largest. They both preach that this world is a sea of suffering, and by believing in the Heavenly Born and Extremely Blissful True Persons they worship, one can escape the sea of suffering and be reborn in Extremely Blissful.

The Great Yuan Dynasty and even the Eight Sects of the World regard the Heavenly Born Cult and the Paradise Cult as enemies and have repeatedly encircled and suppressed them. But for some reason, these two cults have extraordinary means of bewitching people, and even many Martial Artists from the Eight Sects and high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court have been deceived by them, making it impossible to completely eradicate them!

"Since senior can cultivate to the Fifth Rank, you must be a person of firm will. Why would you believe in evil demons and external things? Only oneself is true!"

Chen Yao spoke in a deep voice.

A Fifth Rank Martial Artist was not someone she could resist. She didn't even have a chance to escape. Any action at this point was useless. The only thing she didn't understand was how someone like a Fifth Rank Martial Artist could be bewitched by a cult?!

"We sentient beings are all not true. Only the True Person is true."

The man in plain clothes spoke calmly, saying, "When you offer yourself as a sacrifice, you can also see the True Person. But you still need to be sincere to attain Extremely Blissful."

Chen Yao was silent for a few breaths, then suddenly smiled brightly, saying, "If your so-called True Person is as divine as you say, why doesn't he replace the Great Yuan Dynasty? Why does he hide in a hole like a mouse, scurrying around?"

The man in plain clothes didn't get angry, only slowly said, "The time has not yet come. Alright, it's time for you to come with me."

Chen Yao was silent for a moment, then suddenly drew her sword with a clang and thrust it directly at the man in plain clothes.

This sword strike was resolute and decisive. Even knowing that the person in front of her was Fifth Rank and she had no chance whatsoever, Chen Yao still thrust this sword, thrusting out her unwavering will.

Silently.

Chen Yao's sword hadn't even reached within three feet of the man in plain clothes before it was blocked by an invisible wall of energy, unable to advance even half an inch. The entire sword even became bent and twisted, and finally, starting from the tip, it collapsed and shattered inch by inch.

In the end, Chen Yao was left with only a hilt and a small section of a broken sword.

"Let's go."

The man in plain clothes stepped forward.

Chen Yao stood rooted to the spot, then suddenly chuckled, saying, "Heh, I'm not interested in mouse holes."

With that.

She raised the half-broken sword and stabbed towards her neck.

But this half-broken sword didn't manage to stab through. It stopped in mid-air, blocked by an invisible force.

Chen Yao knew that in front of a Fifth Rank existence, she didn't even have a chance to commit suicide. This was just her last attempt. Just as she was feeling somewhat disheartened, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

Although the broken sword stabbing towards her neck was also blocked, it felt completely different from the sword she had thrust at the man in plain clothes. The force blocking her broken sword didn't seem like invisible energy!

Chen Yao was startled.

Looking forward, she saw that the man in plain clothes had stopped, his brows furrowed, and he was looking behind her.

"Well said, what's so good about going to a mouse hole?"

A slightly laughing voice sounded from behind Chen Yao.