Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Zang Feng Mountain Villa, located in Mohu City of DaHuang Mansion, is named after its owner's avid collection of famous swords.

The owner of Zang Feng Mountain Villa is a martial artist at the Gang Qi Stage. His reputation in Mohu City is widespread, and rarely does anyone dare to provoke him. However, the disciples of the villa have always heeded the master's teaching to act with restraint and have never caused any trouble in the surrounding area.

The Villa was silent on this clear morning, and for some reason, not even birds would fly over its skies.

Mohu City is not too far from the vast Ten Thousand Mountains, and the weather here is quite changeable. Now in the early morning, just as the sun had risen, the temperature had already become extremely hot.

Due to the unique geographic location of Yulong City in Yan State, Lord Gu led the forces of the Jing Tian Department and took less than ten days to arrive at Zang Feng Mountain Villa.

At this moment, Gu Chen and Xue Ling were at the front, while Song Yu, Wang Yan, and other commanders followed behind. First-rank commanders at the Vajra Stage could still manage, as the worst of them had bodies impervious to fire and water; the heat might have increased, but it could not touch them.

But the second-rank commanders at the External Breath Stage were struggling. Even though they had Inner Breath Body Protection, the climate of DaHuang Mansion was too erratic, and the scorching heat caused them to sweat after a while on the road. If it weren't for their Inner Breath capable of drying their clothes, their sweat would have soaked through by now.

"They say the border climate is variable, but I didn't feel it much in Yulong City. Now I truly understand," said Song Yu from behind Gu Chen with a sense of realization.

Wang Yan deeply agreed, nodding vigorously. Even those at the Vajra Stage felt some heat, so it was no wonder the second-rank procurators couldn't handle it.

Xue Ling rode on horseback next to Gu Chen, his expression as usual. They hadn't talked much along the way.

When they set out, Wang Jiuzhi had already told him that for this mission, follow Gu Chen's lead as much as possible. After all, the men were from Tiandu, and they were Gu Chen's soldiers. Unless there was an accident, Wang Jiuzhi asked Xue Ling not to get involved.

Since it was an order from Wang Jiuzhi, Xue Ling naturally wouldn't say much. He knew that Wang Jiuzhi sent him to protect Gu Chen.

After all, Xue Ling was a master who had undergone blood exchange and muscle cleansing three times, and even among those in the Chu Tai realm, his strength was extraordinary. Ordinary masters might not be his match.

With him present, Wang Jiuzhi could be at ease.

Having undergone blood exchange and muscle cleansing three times already indicated Xue Ling's strength. In the entire Yan State, the number of martial arts masters who had completed blood exchange four times or more was extremely scarce.

As one progresses, blood exchange and muscle cleansing become increasingly difficult. Each occurrence is a complete transformation, with vast differences between them. A figure like Xue Ling was capable of dominating Yan State and even the whole world. Only a few individuals from the top forces were his match.

In front of Xue Ling, those who had undergone the process twice wouldn't be suppressed with a single palm strike, but disciplining them wouldn't take much effort.

Keep in mind that Wang Jiuzhi, in his Chu Tai realm, had gone through blood exchange and muscle cleansing seven times before breaking through to the Hundred Orifices Stage. This was already an extremely impressive achievement.

After all, individuals like him were far too rare. In all of Yan State, among billions of living beings, aside from Marquis of Pingxi, only the leaders of the seven pinnacle forces could compete with him.

Wang Jiuzhi's strength, even within the ranks of Yan State's Jing Tian Department, was definitely one of the strongest under the Metropolitan Procurator.

Especially now, as he had broken through one of the cosmic mysteries, his power was fearsomely immense.

Soon, Gu Chen and his men arrived at Zang Feng Mountain Villa. As soon as they got there, Gu Chen and Xue Ling instinctively furrowed their brows and exchanged glances, both sensing the cold undercurrent in the air.

"It truly is the hiding place of the demonic teaching!"

Gu Chen frowned, having received news that Zang Feng Mountain Villa had been occupied by the Great Dark Sky Sect, and the disciples that belonged to the original villa had all been massacred by the demonic martial artists of the sect. Over a hundred lives had been lost.

The reason why no noise had been heard, the Jing Tian Department surmised, was because of the presence of Specters of Evil.

Even low-rank Specters of Evil could confuse the human heart, let alone high-ranking ones, and moreover, the Villa's owner had only the strength of the Gang Qi Stage. Facing an evil specter, he would be killed instantly, without any chance to resist.

It was early morning now, and a thin mist enveloped Zang Feng Mountain Villa, which was eerily quiet and somber.

With a clang, Gu Chen drew the Blood Shadow Sword from his waist and raised it towards the sky, saying sternly, "Kill!"

"Charge!"
Continue your journey with empire

"The remnants of the demonic teaching deserve death; not a single one shall be spared!"

At Gu Chen's command, Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the rest of the Jing Tian Department's commanders charged forward, and the main gate of Zang Feng Mountain Villa was immediately blasted away.

"Keh keh keh keh..."

Suddenly, a cold and eerie laugh spread, like the ghastly laugh of a hellish specter. Apart from commanders Gu Chen and Xue Ling, all the others including Song Yu and Wang Yan trembled, goosebumps forming on their skin.

Then, a dense and chilling black fog spread from the depths of Zang Feng Mountain Villa, covering Gu Chen and his group.

Song Yu, Wang Yan, and the other commanders of the Jing Tian Department were shocked at the sight.

Xue Ling stood emotionlessly on the side, showing no intention of acting. Unless Gu Chen was in danger, he would not make a move.

Throughout the journey, Gu Chen knew well that Xue Ling held his status in high regard and wouldn't act unless it was a crisis. He, clad in black robes, sat firmly on his tall horse, his figure lithe, and his body gleaming with a crystalline sheen. His face was masculine and handsome, exuding extraordinary heroism.

Boom!

As the black fog rolled towards them like a tide, Gu Chen didn't make any visible move, simply snorting lightly. Immediately, flames blazed in the void, incinerating the black fog upon contact with the inferno.

"Lord Gu is invincible!"

Seeing this, Song Yu's spirits lifted, and he shouted aloud. Following his cry, the rest of the Jing Tian Department's men also came alive with cheers.

"Kill the enemy!"

Remaining calm, Gu Chen reminded Song Yu and Wang Yan among others not to forget their mission without a hint of ripple in his eyes.

"Hmph!"

Suddenly, a cold snort came from inside the hidden villa as his attack was easily thwarted by Gu Chen.

"Gu Chen, I have been waiting for you for a long time!"

As the words ended, a large number of demonic cult martial artists rushed out, their expressions fierce, weapons in hand, and immediately started clashing with the other side.

At the same time, a dark shadow swiftly approached from afar, gliding through the sky like a giant roc and quickly arrived in front of Gu Chen.

At this moment, a strong-looking youth about thirty years old, with a sinister face and fierce features, approached. His name was Hei Xun, and he was the most outstanding successor of the Great Dark Sky Sect of this generation.

Bang!

A cloud of dust rose as Hei Xun approached Gu Chen. His eyes were cold as he looked Gu Chen up and down, like a ferocious beast scrutinizing its prey.

"Gu Chen, knowing you would come, I have been waiting for you for a long time!" Hei Xun grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth, but there was no smile in his eyes, only a terrifying coldness.

"Waiting for me?" Gu Chen's eyes remained tranquil, without a ripple, as he said, "Waiting for what, eagerly seeking death?"

"Hmph!"

At these words, Hei Xun let out a cold snort, his face darkening as he said, "Indeed, just as the rumours say, you look down on everyone. Gu Chen, you are too arrogant. Today, I will let you know that there are always people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens!"

Observing Hei Xun in front of him, Xue Ling frowned slightly, sizing him up. He could tell that this man was no ordinary individual.

Hei Xun, from some unknown courage, ignored Xue Ling, focusing solely on Gu Chen at this moment.

Who among the martial artists under the sky did not know of Gu Chen's name? While countless martial artists idolized Gu Chen, naturally, there were also countless who envied and coveted his position, wanting to replace him.

Hei Xun belonged to the latter group. He felt that the world exaggerated Gu Chen's talent too much, and Hei Xun did not think he was any less than Gu Chen.

Although he only possessed the Returning to True Stage full circle cultivation, his body had fused with a demon of the ultimate limit level of nefariousness, signifying boundless potential.

One must know that a demon reaching the limit level is even among peers of the same rank, quite rare, and truly extraordinary.

Since merging with the demon, Hei Xun knew that from then on, his path in martial arts would be smooth, with no bottlenecks to speak of.

How talented could Gu Chen be? As long as he could continuously devour living souls, Hei Xun believed he would be ten times the monster Gu Chen was, and Gu Chen was fit only to eat his dust!

"Gu Chen, you are my stepping stone. From today onwards, I shall let the whole world know of my strength, Hei Xun's might, and the name of the Great Dark Sky Sect will echo throughout the land!" Hei Xun roared and lunged toward him fiercely.

"Anonymous nobodies, worthy only of dogs barking!"

Gu Chen remained indifferent, not taking Hei Xun seriously at all. His strength was now such that within the Returning to True Stage, looking across all of Yan State, no martial artist could compare.

Gu Chen had this confidence in himself!

"Courting death!"

Upon hearing this, a vicious light flashed in Hei Xun's eyes. Everyone knew Gu Chen had an extraordinarily robust physique, having achieved the Vajra indestructible body that no one in Yan State had managed for hundreds of years. Today, Hei Xun intended to defeat him in the area Gu Chen was most confident in!

With a thunderous boom, Hei Xun instantly reached Gu Chen, his body wreathed in billowing black mist, his fist carrying a dark glow as he smashed it towards Gu Chen's face.

Bang!

Gu Chen raised his hand, steadily catching Hei Xun's punch.

However, Hei Xun sneered coldly at this moment, a chilling aura creeping along his fist, spreading over Gu Chen's palm.

"Leave your hand behind!"

Hei Xun's eyes were icy cold, believing that even with Gu Chen's Vajra indestructible state, close at hand, being corroded by the power of a demon of the ultimate limit level of nefariousness meant he could not possibly remain unharmed.

After all, demons naturally oppose all living beings of Yan State, like yin and yang, utterly incompatible. A demon's power is like a deadly poison to martial artists, extremely corrosive; even a slightest touch could likely result in death.

Even a martial arts grandmaster who had undergone a blood exchange would not remain unaffected if corroded by the power of a demon of the ultimate limit level within Hei Xun's body at close range.

Let alone Gu Chen who had yet to reach the grandmaster realm and never undergone a blood exchange.

"I really don't know who gave you such confidence. Haven't you ever heard the saying? Overconfidence to the point of blindness is stupidity!"

Gu Chen's expression was indifferent as he let Hei Xun's power from the demon invade, yet his palm remained unscathed.

"What?!"

Hei Xun's expression changed. But before he could react, Gu Chen's counter-palm struck him on his chest, and his body immediately exploded from the impact, blood gushing as he flew out like a rag doll.