Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Early the next morning, Gu Chen arrived in the courtyard and began to breathe rhythmically towards the proud sun rising in the sky, his chest heaving unevenly.

In the air, one could see strands of pale golden airflow shimmering, flowing into Gu Chen's body through his seven orifices and the pores all over his body.

This was the practice method of the Pure Yang True Body, which involved absorbing the essence of the nascent sun's fire at dawn each day to temper the body.

Of course, because the sun was so far away, the power absorbed was very weak, so to achieve great success with the Pure Yang True Body required an extremely long time.

Only someone like Gu Chen, with the help of his system, could achieve great success with the Pure Yang True Body overnight.

In ancient times, the prodigies within the Pure Yang Martial Sect needed various extremely yang treasures from heaven and earth or great medicines to assist them in order to cultivate this technique to great success.

Otherwise, without around ten years or so, it was absolutely impossible to achieve this step.

This reflected the difficulty of cultivating the Pure Yang True Body.

Just as Gu Chen had finished his breathing and circulation exercises, suddenly, a minor official with a respectful expression and bowed head walked in.

"Lord Gu, Marquis Wang Jiuzhi is looking for you," the minor official said respectfully beside Gu Chen.

"Understood."

Gu Chen nodded, then signaled the minor official to leave before he bathed and changed his clothes. Afterwards, he arrived at a great hall within the Jing Tian Department and met with Wang Jiuzhi.

At that moment, besides Wang Jiuzhi, there was another person in the great hall.

"You're here," Wang Jiuzhi said, nodding slightly to Gu Chen.

Gu Chen clasped his fists in a salute and said, "I've seen Marquis Wang."

Wang Jiuzhi waved his hand and said, "There's no need for formalities. Let me introduce you to him, this is Lord Xue Ling, the Earth level Commander of the Jing Tian Department in Yan State."

Xue Ling was a middle-aged man dressed in a blue military robe, with a relatively lean figure. He nodded to Gu Chen upon seeing him.

"Lord Xue just came out of seclusion and is aware of your exploits. Today, I have summoned you both because I have received information that the Holy Shadows Sect and the Black Sky Sect are making moves in DaHuang Mansion. Currently, I must stay in Yulong City. The Jing Tian Department must not fail its duty. Therefore, I need the two of you to make a trip in my stead," Wang Jiuzhi said slowly.

"DaHuang Mansion, the border?" Xue Ling frowned.

Gu Chen also furrowed his brow and asked, "Marquis, what is the current situation like in DaHuang Mansion?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Ling's face changed instantly and he asked, "The barbarian tribes have invaded the border?!"

He had just come out of seclusion and was immediately summoned here by Wang Jiuzhi. Wang Jiuzhi had only briefly informed him of recent events and had not mentioned this matter.

Wang Jiuzhi's expression became grave as he said, "Indeed, the barbarian tribes have officially dispatched troops to attack Da Xia. Right now, Marquis of Pingxi is leading his Xuan Iron Army in combat against the barbarians, and both sides have suffered losses."

"Did the Holy Shadows Sect and the Black Sky Sect appear there for the essence blood?" asked Xue Ling.

He had crossed hands with members of the Holy Shadows Sect and the Black Sky Sect and knew that the demonic cults currently required a large amount of essence blood to nourish their devils and ghosts.

And where could one find the most corpses? The battlefield was without a doubt!

Wang Jiuzhi's expression became severe, and he said, "I have the same thoughts as you. The appearance of the two demonic branches under the Six Union God Sect there must be to collect the essence blood of dead soldiers amidst the war between Da Xia and the barbarians in order to nurture their devils and ghosts.

Thus, we absolutely must not let the demonic cults succeed, which is why I am sending the two of you to DaHuang Mansion."

Xue Ling, hearing this, nodded his head too. He was well aware that devils and ghosts were different from the Human Clan. Human martial artists needed to struggle with cultivation and rely on various resources to break through, but devils and ghosts only needed a constant supply of flesh and blood to keep evolving. Compared to human warriors, they were indeed blessed.

Seeing that Gu Chen remained silent, Wang Jiuzhi's gaze turned towards him and he asked, "Gu Chen, do you have any other thoughts?"

Gu Chen's brows were slightly furrowed as he contemplated. If the Holy Shadows Sect and the Black Sky Sect were in that place, could it really just be for the essence blood?

The next moment, Gu Chen voiced his thoughts, saying, "Marquis, I'm wondering if it's possible that the barbarians have already allied with the demonic cults?"

At that, Wang Jiuzhi's expression immediately changed, and Xue Ling's brow tightened even further as he said, "That's impossible, isn't it?"

"Why not?" Gu Chen looked at Xue Ling and said, "Right now, the Da Xia Emperor is missing, chaos reigns throughout the land, and our great Da Xia occupies the central thirteen provinces, holding the orthodox position of the world. Whether it's geographical position or resources, we are second to none in the nine provinces. The barbarians need supplies, and the demonic cults need essence blood.

They might unite for their mutual benefits."

"Your words make sense," Wang Jiuzhi said, frowning deeply and slowly nodding his head.

Xue Ling, confused, said, "Wouldn't the barbarians be afraid that the catastrophe brought by the devils and ghosts would affect the entire world?"

Wang Jiuzhi spoke coldly, "Do you think the barbarians would care about such matters? Right now, they reside within the Hundred Thousand Mountains where the conditions are extremely harsh. They are already struggling to survive, so where would they find the concern for much else? Besides, with the intellect of those barbarians, they might not even foresee such far-reaching consequences.

They only care about immediate gains."

Gu Chen's expression grew increasingly solemn. If this were the case, then matters were serious indeed. If the demonic cults could ally with the barbarians, they might also be able to join forces with other powers, such as the Da Yuan.

A pack of wolves hunting a dragon might indeed become a reality before long.

Xue Ling's expression darkened as he said, "The demonic cults, no matter what, are part of our Da Xia citizens from the rivers and lakes. To think they would ally with the barbarians, aiming to seize control of the Central Plains and covet the National Artifacts, is utterly unforgivable!"

Wang Jiuzhi shook his head and said, "The barbarians might not necessarily have intentions over the Central Plains. What the barbarians desire is merely resources. What truly aims at invading the Central Plains is the Six Union God Sect!"

Wang Jiuzhi's voice turned cold as he continued, "From the moment they chose to merge with the devils and ghosts, they ceased to be part of the Human Clan and became demons instead. They want to invade the Central Plains, to occupy the thirteen provinces of Da Xia, to bloodbath the common people, and use endless essence blood to cultivate devils and ghosts, to establish their rule."

Xue Ling, upon hearing these words, even as a Transcendent Realm martial arts master, felt shocked.

Gu Chen's expression was cold and indifferent. He had long seen through the evil sect's intentions, so compared to barbarians or the Great Yuan, he found the evil sect even more detestable.

If the evil sect were to succeed, then the entirety of the Nine Provinces would no longer have the existence of the Human Clan.

"Hmph, Six Union God Sect!" Xue Ling also showed a murderous intent, as he had nearly been killed by martial arts masters from the Holy Shadows Sect and the Black Sky Sect during their invasion of Yan State.

It was only now that his injuries had barely healed, and he didn't expect that as soon as he came out of seclusion, he would hear news of the two evil sects again.

"Lord Gu, given the current tense situation in Yan State, I cannot spare too many people for you. Take the commanders from Tiandu, and Xue Ling, and head to DaHuang Mansion together. No matter what the evil sect is plotting, you must not let them succeed!" Wang Jiuzhi said with a grave voice.

"Yes!"

Gu Chen and Xue Ling saluted to accept the command, and then, with a gesture from Wang Jiuzhi, the two left the place.

Actually, there was one more thing Wang Jiuzhi had not told Gu Chen and Xue Ling, which was that support from Tiandu would not be arriving any time soon.

Because just a few days earlier, while Gu Chen was in seclusion, a Specter level monster appeared in Shen Zhou, causing countless casualties. In the end, it was Qin Wu, the deputy commander of the Jing Tian Department, who personally took action and just barely managed to slay the Specter level monster.

Now, the situation in the whole of Shen Zhou, or rather in the other states, was not much better than Yan State.
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Moreover, the Great Yuan was also eyeing them covetously, with frequent friction with Da Xia, and it was unpredictable when they might send troops and aim their spears at Da Xia.

Wang Jiuzhi's expression was somber. He knew that the real test had begun. If they could withstand it, then Da Xia would still be Da Xia.

If they couldn't withstand it...

The entire Nine Provinces would once again fall into endless warfare.

And the national fortune of Da Xia, spread over more than five hundred years, would come to an end.

Meanwhile, Gu Chen, who had taken on the task, gathered Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the rest of the commanders who followed him from Tiandu to Yan State.

During this period, monsters had also appeared in Yan State, but none of high level. They had been mobilized several times already.

Not all monsters came from the evil sect; more often than not, the monsters would suddenly descend upon the Nine Provinces, and the evil sect was constantly capturing them.

By now, they had been in Yan State for some time, and after several deadly battles, Song Yu and Wang Yan had made significant progress in martial arts. Now, both of them had reached the condition of being tough as bronze and iron, and even among the first rank Metropolitan Procurators, they were considered to possess extraordinary strength.

Hearing that Gu Chen wanted to head to the frontier, everybody else didn't show much reaction, but Song Yu and Wang Yan's expressions changed.

The two came up to Gu Chen and said in a low voice, "DaHuang Mansion, that's the territory of the Marquis of Pingxi. Have you thought this through? Once there, it would be all too easy for the Marquis of Pingxi to deal with you!"

Wang Yan also had a serious look. Both of them knew of the grudge between Gu Chen and Cao Zhen. Although it had now been proven that Gu Chen was not the killer, would the Marquis of Pingxi believe it?

"No matter." Gu Chen remained calm and reassured them.

He was well aware that the frontier was the Marquis of Pingxi's territory, but he was no longer the same as before and could stand up to martial arts masters, so even though he was going to the frontier, Gu Chen did not feel uneasy.

If the Marquis of Pingxi thought he, Gu Chen, was a soft persimmon to squeeze, that would be a grave mistake.

Besides, Gu Chen was, after all, affiliated with the Jing Tian Department, and no matter what, the Marquis of Pingxi would definitely not dare to turn against him openly. As for any underhanded moves in secret, Gu Chen would naturally be cautious.

Seeing Gu Chen so confident, Song Yu and Wang Yan didn't say much more. If the person involved wasn't afraid, then they had even less to worry about.

Song Yu and Wang Yan had known Gu Chen for no short time, and they were very clear about his character. Gu Chen would definitely not do anything he was not sure of.

Thereupon, they set aside their concerns and said no more.

Shortly after, Xue Ling got ready to depart, and Gu Chen introduced Xue Ling's identity to Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the others.

Upon learning that this was an Earth level commander and a martial arts master, Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the other commanders hurriedly paid their respects, saying, "We've seen Lord Xue."

Xue Ling nodded faintly, his face expressionless, for he was a Transcendent Realm martial arts master, and Song Yu and the others weighed little in his eyes.

Only Gu Chen could garner a bit more consideration from Xue Ling.

In the path of martial arts, masters are the watershed. The gap between a master and a non-master is simply too vast.

In Xue Ling's eyes, there was no one among those present, aside from Gu Chen, who would become a martial arts master in the future.

Such people naturally wouldn't be considered important by him.

Even for Gu Chen, Xue Ling would interact more only because of Wang Jiuzhi's face, as a master naturally has the pride of a master.

Gu Chen glanced at Xue Ling and said nothing more. He could tell that Xue Ling considered himself above interacting with Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the rest.

"Depart!"

Immediately following Gu Chen's command, the officials outside had already prepared the necessary horses and resources. Gu Chen and his team mounted the horses and, under the watchful eyes of the citizens of Yulong City, left the place and headed off to the frontier.