Chapter Thirty-Four
In Tai'an City, Han Diao Si sat upright in his study, his expression grave. He held a recently arrived secret letter in his hand. Its contents concerned Wang Ritain's challenge to Wang Xianzhi.
He furrowed his brow slightly, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes. Then he called out, "Someone!"
A nimble subordinate hurried into the study and knelt on one knee. "What are your orders, sir?"
Han Diao Si gently set the letter on the desk and said in a low voice, "Go. Gather everything you can about Wang Ritain. The more detailed, the better." The subordinate accepted the order and swiftly withdrew. Leaning back in his chair, Han Diao Si silently pondered, Wang Ritain is only a minor retainer of the Xuanyuan Family, yet he rose to fame in such a short time and even challenged Wang Xianzhi. There must be more to this than meets the eye.
Before long, the subordinate returned to the study with a thick stack of documents. Han Diao Si eagerly took them and began reading. The more he read, the more deeply his brow furrowed, and the more astonishment filled his eyes. "He came from an ordinary background and was only a minor retainer, yet he achieved all this. Wang Ritain must be hiding a great secret," Han Diao Si murmured. He rose and paced back and forth across the study. After a moment, he stopped and ordered, "Send someone to Wudi City. Keep a close watch on Wang Ritain's every move, and make sure you uncover the secret he's hiding." The subordinate accepted the order and left again. Gazing out the window, Han Diao Si gave a cold laugh. "Wang Ritain, you may be formidable, but challenging Wang Xianzhi is still beyond your reach. Before him, you're no more than an ant." In Han Diao Si's heart, Wang Xianzhi's might was unshakable, inspiring a fear that ran bone-deep.
At Liangchan Temple, the morning bells rang out, and the Buddha's chants drifted through the air. Dressed in her monk's robes, Li Dongxi came bouncing over to her father, Li Dangxin, curiosity written all over her face. "Father, I heard there's a man in the martial world named Wang Ritain who's going to challenge Wang Xianzhi. Can he win?" Li Dongxi asked, blinking her wide eyes.
Li Dangxin had been meditating with his eyes closed. Hearing his daughter, he slowly opened them, a gentle smile on his face. He reached out and patted Li Dongxi's head. "Dongxi, Wang Xianzhi isn't someone just anyone can stand against." As a Great Vajra of the Buddhist sect, Li Dangxin possessed immense strength; ordinary masters of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm were no match for him. Even Cao Changqing had once been defeated before his golden body. Yet at the mention of Wang Xianzhi, a grave look flashed across Li Dangxin's eyes. He shook his head slightly and sighed. "Wang Xianzhi has kept the martial world under his heel for sixty years. His power is beyond imagination. Even I would struggle to gain the upper hand against him, let alone Wang Ritain."
Throughout the martial world, whether in bustling taverns or busy marketplaces, everyone was talking about Wang Ritain's challenge to Wang Xianzhi. People shook their heads, utterly unconvinced that Wang Ritain could win. Wang Xianzhi's reputation for invincibility was deeply ingrained in the martial world. His oppressive presence hung over everyone like the Sword of Damocles. "Wang Ritain's got guts, but the gap in strength is plain to see. How could he possibly defeat Wang Xianzhi?" an old martial artist said disdainfully, taking a sip of wine. "Exactly. We'll see how many moves Wang Xianzhi needs to beat him tomorrow. I'd say even ten would be too many," another man chimed in. Everyone burst out laughing, as if Wang Ritain's challenge were nothing but a farce.
Outside the gates of Wudi City, three powerful figures stood shoulder to shoulder: Deng Tai'a, Cao Changqing, and Huang Longshi. Deng Tai'a gazed at the city gates, a complicated look in his eyes. "That final sword of Wang Ritain's seemed to hold an even more terrifying power he hasn't revealed yet," he said softly. His instincts told him Wang Ritain was no ordinary man. Cao Changqing nodded slightly and said with a sigh, "For someone so young to have achieved so much is truly astonishing. Unfortunately, his odds against Wang Xianzhi are still slim." Huang Longshi, meanwhile, frowned deeply, inwardly shocked. Wang Ritain's divination remained shrouded in uncertainty, making him seem all the more mysterious. "Who exactly is this Wang Ritain? Why are his readings so strange?" Huang Longshi muttered.
Wang Ritain returned to the inn and sank heavily into a chair the moment he entered his room. He knew the world had little faith in his challenge because of Wang Xianzhi's reputation. He gazed out the window, his eyes resolute, and thought, With my current strength, I can't do anything to Wang Xianzhi. Sword Twenty-Three is powerful, but it still falls short against Wang Xianzhi, who's invincible among his peers. I have to grow stronger if I'm to have even the slimmest chance. With that, Wang Ritain opened the system and looked at the Prestige Points that had surged after his several battles in Wudi City. Excitement welled up inside him. "At last, these Prestige Points can come in handy," he murmured, then opened the system's exchange shop.
The system's exchange shop was filled with dazzling manuals and secret techniques. Wang Ritain's gaze swept across the many books, and he couldn't decide. Then a manual radiating a mysterious aura caught his eye: the Summoning Demon Scripture. His attention fixed on it at once. He studied its description and learned that it was a treasured manual of the Chen Family, perfectly suited to the Seven Demonic Blades he had cultivated before. Without hesitation, Wang Ritain spent a large number of Prestige Points to exchange for the Summoning Demon Scripture.
In an instant, an immense torrent of information flooded Wang Ritain's mind. He learned that the Summoning Demon Scripture's original name was the Martial Scripture, hailed as the grand compendium of all martial arts under heaven. Practiced in reverse, it became a demonic scripture. After the system's modifications, the technique could be used with the Seven Demonic Blades to temper demonic energy and summon his demonic self. At its peak, it could even transform its practitioner into the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon and defy the Heavenly Dao. Wang Ritain was overjoyed. He knew this manual might be the key to defeating Wang Xianzhi.
Wang Ritain eagerly began cultivating the Summoning Demon Scripture. Sitting cross-legged, he circulated the true energy within him and guided his demonic energy according to the manual's instructions. But the moment he began, the demonic energy inside him went out of control, surging wildly like a runaway horse. Everyone else in the inn instantly felt an overwhelming pressure, as if an invisible hand had clamped around their throats. "What's happening? Why is there such a terrifying pressure?" a martial artist in the inn cried in alarm. Fear filled everyone's faces as they looked around, trying to find the source.
As Wang Ritain cultivated, boundless demonic energy poured from his room and spread throughout the inn. Those practicing martial arts inside were disrupted by it, their faces contorting in pain. Some of the weaker-willed even began to suffer cultivation deviation, letting out anguished howls. "This is bad! That's the aura of a demonic technique! Get out of here!" an old man shouted. The others snapped out of their daze and rushed for the inn's exit.
The sky-high pillar of demonic energy instantly drew the attention of everyone in Wudi City. The guards on the city wall saw it and blanched. "Quick! Go report this to the city lord! A demon has emerged!" they shouted in panic. The townspeople also stared toward the inn in terror, fear written across their faces.
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