Slaying the Snake Demon

Text continually appeared on the panel before Lin Jun.

You began diligently practicing the Flowing Swallow Saber Technique. The saber technique was a common Mortal cultivation art, nothing special. You chose:

[1. Study diligently and train hard, rise at the crow of the rooster, and believe persistence will bring rewards (costs 20 experience)]

[2. Even amid the ordinary lies a hidden paradise; perhaps this saber technique contains deeper meaning (costs 50 experience)]

[3. I am Heaven's favored son; perhaps I can improve this cultivation art (costs 80 experience)]

Three choices appeared before Lin Jun.

The simulation had begun.

Naturally, Lin Jun did not dare choose either of the latter two options. He only had 200 experience points in total and could not afford to squander them.

He chose the first.

[You studied diligently and trained hard, not daring to waste a moment. Your saber technique improved.]

[Your cultivation encountered an obstacle, and you could not advance an inch. You felt that perhaps you should cultivate another way. You chose:]

[1. Continue studying diligently and training hard; dripping water can pierce stone (costs 20 experience)]

[2. Why was the saber technique called Flowing Swallow? Perhaps this was worth investigating (costs 50 experience)]

[3...]

The first option!

Lin Jun did not even look at the choices below. Now was not the time to study cultivation arts, but to gain strength in the shortest time possible.

Only after he had spent one hundred experience did the text change.

[You held fast to your original resolve and diligently practiced the saber technique for thirty years. Your saber technique has reached great completion.]

[Flowing Swallow Saber Technique (Perfected)]

Lin Jun was astonished to discover that his once frail body was becoming stronger. Even his heartbeat had grown exceptionally forceful.

His hands were no longer smooth, but covered in calluses—the hands of a true saber wielder.

The once unfamiliar saber technique had become exceptionally clear, every move and stance merging into his body.

Lin Jun was like a treasured saber drawn from its sheath, proclaiming its sharpness to the world.

The Snake Demon suddenly stopped and turned to glance at Lin Jun with a strange look.

For some reason, her instincts told her that Lin Jun was full of danger.

Then the Snake Demon shook her head and gave a contemptuous snort.

What danger could there be in a spoiled young master whom she had frightened unconscious at first sight?

She paid Lin Jun no further heed and continued dragging him deeper inside.

Seeing this, Lin Jun directly used all his remaining hundred experience points for further simulation.

He chose the first option every time.

[Faced with countless paths of cultivation, you remained steadfast, believing Heaven rewards the diligent. You have now practiced the saber for sixty years. Now, no one in the world understands the Flowing Swallow Saber Technique better than you.]

[Flowing Swallow Saber Technique (Transcendent Realm)]

The Transcendent Realm!

Though his previous self had been a good-for-nothing, he still knew the basics of martial arts.

Beginner, Minor Success, Major Success, Perfected, Transcendent Realm.

The Transcendent Realm was the highest level of martial arts, a realm one could encounter but never seek.

Once one reached that final realm, even the most ordinary cultivation art could unleash several times its power.

At this moment, Lin Jun was like a plain battlefield saber riddled with notches—utterly ordinary and inconspicuous.

Yet no one knew just how many lives that broken saber had claimed.

That sharp, exposed aura vanished in an instant, and the Snake Demon secretly nodded.

It seemed she had been too tense lately. She had just laid eggs recently and had become somewhat oversensitive.

Before long, the Snake Demon dragged Lin Jun into the depths of the cave.

A massive stone bed stood before them, upon which a giant python six zhang long lay coiled.

The edge of the stone bed was littered with human bones and clothing.

"Wife, shouldn't such fine goods be enjoyed after the children are born? Why has my wife become so impatient?"

The giant python spoke in human words.

"Husband, this brat called you his wife. Why don't we eat him today?"

The Snake Demon tossed Lin Jun into that pile of human bones.

"Let us do as my wife says."

The giant python nodded, only to see Lin Jun rise from among the bones.

Among the pile of human bones were skulls no larger than a palm.

The giant python looked at Lin Jun in puzzlement. There was not the slightest fear in this human's eyes?

How interesting.

He wanted to see what this human would do.

He would treat it as entertainment before the meal.

Lin Jun pulled an ownerless saber from the human remains, its blade still stained with blood.

Under the Snake Demon's gaze, a streak of silver flashed.

Gripping the plain saber, Lin Jun cleaved the coiled giant python in two from bottom to top!

Blood gushed out in torrents, and half of Lin Jun's clothes were dyed red by the foul-smelling snake blood.

He was like a god of slaughter.

"Husband!"

The change had come too quickly for the Snake Demon to react.

Lin Jun drew the plain saber backhandedly and hurled it straight at the Snake Demon.

The plain saber became a silver swallow swooping at the Snake Demon, striking her squarely in the chest.

The tremendous force sent the Snake Demon flying with the incoming saber, pinning her entire body to the wall.

The tenacious vitality of a snake kept her alive. The Snake Demon gripped the saber with both hands, about to pull it out.

Seeing this, Lin Jun rushed forward, seized the hilt with one hand, and yanked the saber free.

Before the Snake Demon could react, he severed her neck with a single slash.

The headless Snake Demon lay on the ground, twitching for a while before finally becoming still. Her human form faded, turning into a green snake.

The entire killing sequence flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without a single superfluous movement.

He was like an old saber wielder, his saber technique already an instinct.

This was the Flowing Swallow Saber Technique at the Transcendent Realm. Even though it was a Mortal martial art, at the Transcendent Realm it possessed the power to slay demons.

Looking at the two snake corpses on the ground, Lin Jun cut off a chunk of meat, slung the plain saber over his shoulder, and headed out of the cave.

Fear? Terror?

Lin Jun felt nothing of the sort. Instead, an indescribable exhilaration filled his heart.

He had merely killed two snakes.

In the simulation, he had practiced the saber for sixty years. His heart had long become as cold as his blade.

After only a few steps, he saw the people locked behind the prison gate.

A trace of life seemed to return to the old farmers' clouded eyes as they stared blankly at Lin Jun.

In their memories, no one had ever emerged from within.

At that moment, Lin Jun split the prison gate open with one strike and tossed the snake meat before them.

"Eat. Eat until you have strength, so you can travel."

The old farmers stared blankly at Lin Jun, the fear in their hearts overwhelmed by another emotion.

A shock beyond words.

He had killed the Snake Demon?

Seeing that these people did not react, Lin Jun ignored them and started a fire by himself.

His previous self's notorious reputation had spread far and wide, and Lin Jun had never expected to change others' impression of him in a short time.

Before long, the fire was burning. Lin Jun used his saber to prop up the snake meat and began roasting it.

One by one, the people eyed Lin Jun sideways, unable to understand why Lord Lin, usually so arrogant and domineering, had changed so completely today.

"Big brother... I'll help you."

The child trembled as he walked toward Lin Jun.

The sight frightened the old farmers out of their wits.

"Fine."

Lin Jun used his saber to divide the snake meat into several strips, skewered them on branches, and handed several skewers to the child.

Before long, the meat was cooked, and Lin Jun began eating by himself.

The snake meat was fresh and tender. Even without seasoning, its original flavor alone was delicious.

The old farmers could no longer endure the fragrance drifting from the snake meat and began eating with the reckless abandon of smashing the jar after it was broken.

Once they started, they could no longer stop.

"Big brother, it's delicious."

The child had always been poor and had never eaten anything so delicious.

"If it's good, then eat more."

Lin Jun patted the child's head and revealed an indulgent smile.

At the sight, the old farmer's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

Was this really that Lord Lin whom everyone loathed, man and dog alike?

Lin Jun told a few more jokes, making the child giggle, then began studying the changing panel.

[You slew a Mortal male Snake Demon, gaining 200 experience.]

[You slew a Mortal female Snake Demon, gaining 180 experience.]

[Current experience: 380]

Current martial arts:

[Mortal martial art: Seven-Star Step (Beginner)]

[Mortal martial art: Flowing Swallow Saber Technique (Transcendent Realm)]