Xiao Chen: Black-Robed God of Slaughter? What Kind of Ridiculous Nickname Is That?

"Junior Sister Liu, did you see wrong? How could he possibly be that cripple Xiao Chen?"

The moment a male disciple heard the words "Senior Brother Xiao," an inexplicable anger rose in his heart.

He was one of Liu Yue'er's suitors, and he had long disliked how she always stayed by Xiao Chen's side.

When news first spread that Xiao Chen had become a cripple, he had been delighted for a long time.

He had even sent a few fellow disciples he was close to make things difficult for Xiao Chen.

He had thought Liu Yue'er would abandon Xiao Chen once he became a cripple, but unexpectedly, the woman still had him on her mind.

On this training expedition, he had planned to seize the chance to grow closer to Liu Yue'er.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to run into that sleazy fellow Flower Gentleman and lose all face.

The other Dao-Seeking Academy disciples nearby chimed in. "Junior Sister Liu, Senior Brother Tang is right. How could that person possibly be Xiao Chen?"

Even Liu Yue'er's close friend Feng Qinqin spoke up. "Yue'er, have you been thinking about Senior Brother Xiao too much? Never mind that he's lost all his cultivation-even if he still had it, he couldn't possibly have swung a sword like that."

Many people immediately agreed.

Tang Feng said, "That's right. Xiao Chen hasn't even comprehended sword intent, so there's even less chance he could have unleashed that strike."

Liu Yue'er did not argue with them. She said calmly, "I was just speaking offhand. Everyone, focus on healing your injuries first, so no one gets a chance to take advantage of us."

Only then did everyone come to their senses and begin circulating their cultivation to purge the drug from their bodies.

Liu Yue'er took up her sword and stood guard over them, the figure from earlier still in her mind.

I definitely couldn't have seen wrong. He must be Senior Brother Xiao, but why didn't he speak to me?

Not far away, Xiao Chen was silently standing guard over Liu Yue'er and the others.

He had his own reasons for not revealing himself to Liu Yue'er earlier.

It was not that he distrusted Liu Yue'er, but that he distrusted the people traveling with her.

If those people learned he was Xiao Chen, the news that he had recovered his cultivation would soon spread throughout the Dao-Seeking Academy.

When the time came, he would surely be unable to amaze everyone in the outer court competition with a single brilliant feat, or win glory for the Miscellaneous Dao Institute and his master.

This setback had made him much more mature. Not only had his mind matured, but he had also become more steady in everything he did.

By evening, Liu Yue'er and the others had mostly recovered.

Only then did Xiao Chen leave and continue his training in Cloud Dream Marsh.

A month later.

The Black-Robed God of Slaughter's name resounded throughout the outskirts of Cloud Dream Marsh.

Every cultivator training in Cloud Dream Marsh knew of a masked sword cultivator in a black cloak who was immensely powerful.

He was only at the Dao Foundation Realm, yet he had comprehended sword intent.

Whether they were Dao Foundation Realm or True Fate Realm demonic beasts or evil cultivators, none could withstand a single strike of his sword.

Countless people wanted to discover the origins of this Black-Robed God of Slaughter, but unfortunately, no one had seen his true face.

Nor had anyone seen him strike a second time. The first strike they saw was merely the sword-swinging form of basic sword techniques.

Early that morning, the sun had just risen.

Xiao Chen, who was meditating and cultivating, slowly opened his eyes, and his presence surged.

The dew on his hair and clothes was instantly evaporated by the cultivation he released.

After steadying his presence, Xiao Chen stood up and muttered to himself:

"Dao Foundation Second Stage. Sure enough, fighting to the death is the best way to improve my cultivation. It's a shame I can't continue training in Cloud Dream Marsh.

"At this rate, I could return to my peak cultivation within a year.

"But Dao Foundation Second Stage is enough. It's time to return to the Dao-Seeking Academy."

He gathered his things and left the outskirts of Cloud Dream Marsh with a plentiful haul.

Inside the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.

Chu Feng was immersed in a pleasant dream on his couch when a familiar mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Detected that the host's eldest disciple Xiao Chen has broken through one minor stage. The host receives a tenfold reward: one year of cultivation."

Chu Feng paid no attention to the voice at all. He simply rolled over and continued sleeping.

Only when he woke did he discover that the cultivation within him seemed to have increased a tiny bit.

"Huh... I just went to sleep, and my cultivation actually increased?"

Chu Feng muttered to himself. Without giving it much thought, he prepared to begin another day of salted-fish life.

"I wonder when that kid Xiao Chen will be back."

"Achoo!"

Far away in Mist Marsh, Xiao Chen sneezed. He rubbed his nose, felt the warm sunlight, and thought:

Why did I suddenly sneeze? It isn't cold out!

Puzzled though he was, Xiao Chen quickened his pace.

Several days later, he returned safely to Dao-Seeking City.

As soon as he entered the city, Xiao Chen felt dozens of gazes fixed on him. He could also hear those people talking.

But Xiao Chen did not listen to what they were saying at all and instinctively quickened his pace.

When Xiao Chen entered the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, a cry of surprise suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"Look, it's the Black-Robed God of Slaughter!"

"Holy shit, it really is him."

"What's he doing in Dao-Seeking City? Could he be a disciple of the Dao-Seeking Academy?"

"..."

??

Xiao Chen wore a baffled expression and looked at the speaker in confusion.

Black-Robed God of Slaughter? What kind of ridiculous nickname is that? I'm the esteemed chief and eldest disciple of the Dao-Seeking Academy's Miscellaneous Dao Institute, and that's the title you give me?

With just one look from him, the crowd immediately fell silent.

Although there were quite a few cultivators in the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, most were at the Dao Foundation or True Fate Realm.

They did not dare provoke this god of slaughter.

Xiao Chen had no intention of going over to question them either. He walked straight to the place where missions were submitted.

He took Flower Gentleman's head out of the man's storage bag and placed it on the table.

"This is Flower Gentleman's head."

"Do you have anything else to prove his identity?"

The girl attending him asked.

Xiao Chen placed Flower Gentleman's storage bag on the table. "The things inside can prove it."

The girl immediately opened the storage bag with her spiritual sense. At the sight of the dudou inside, her face turned red.

"Honored guest, Flower Gentleman's identity has been confirmed. I'll get your mission reward right away."

"Hiss..."

Seeing this, the people in the hall could not help drawing sharp breaths.

Although they had heard of the Black-Robed God of Slaughter, they had never imagined he was this formidable.

Even that troublesome fellow Flower Gentleman had died at his hands.

Just how strong was the Black-Robed God of Slaughter?

After receiving the mission reward, Xiao Chen put everything directly into his own storage bag.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Chen left the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion.

He did not return to the Dao-Seeking Academy immediately. His current outfit was simply too conspicuous.

If he went back like this, he would surely cause a stir that everyone would hear about.

So Xiao Chen picked an inn at random and checked in.

After nightfall the following day, Xiao Chen changed his outfit, left the inn, and returned to the Dao-Seeking Academy without a sound...