Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy

"I am a disciple of the Plague Sovereign Sect! If you dare kill me, my master will never let you go!"

Qi Xiu had heard this same old threat countless times; his ears had long grown calluses from it.

"Plague Sovereign Sect? Good. If your master is truly capable, tell him to find me sooner rather than later."

With a flick of the Long Banner, the White Bone Skull Demons, already eager to move, pounced with grotesque laughter upon the Demonic Evil Cultivators pinned firmly to the ground.

Shrill screams and sharp curses echoed across the sky. The horrifying sounds of chewing were incessant. Sticky, foul-smelling blood meandered across the ground, weaving a grotesque and macabre tapestry.

While manipulating the Myriad Soul White Bone Banner to devour the horde of Demons and fiends, Qi Xiu pondered the Black Water True Skill. This Dharma Gate was one of the supplementary volumes from the Middle Ancient Era Demonic Path titan—the Five Emperors Demon Sect's foundational scripture, "The Great Five Elements Annihilation Scripture." It was acclaimed as the king of all waters, capable of controlling every body of water in the world. The eight sequences of water's myriad forms—ice, snow, hail, dew, fog, frost, rain, and clouds—were also under its command.

His recent attack had employed two types of Divine Marvel: [Fog] and [Rain]. He used [Fog] to erode their defenses and slow the movements of the demonic horde, its bone-chilling cold petrifying their flesh. Then, he struck fiercely with [Rain]; each drop was exceedingly heavy and turbid water, a single droplet weighing ten thousand catties. Unless they were pure-blooded Demons, ordinary mutated Demonic Cultivators simply couldn't withstand such a ferocious assault.

This Dharma Gate is profoundly conceived, capturing all the wonders of the path of water. It's even more profound than the Bing Fire Divine Thunder that I cultivate.

The more Qi Xiu delved into the Black Water True Skill, the more he was awed by the profundity of this Dharma Gate. It was truly a supplementary True Scripture from the ancient Demonic Path teachings. This volume of the Black Water True Skill could even compare to the Dou Chapter of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Scripture from the Shenxiao Sect.

If it weren't for the fact that the Black Water True Skill only grants control over the elements and lacks a fundamental cultivation method, just this single Dharma Gate alone would be enough to establish a sect. It might even rival the many great sects and noble families of this world.

Nodding repeatedly, Qi Xiu took the Black Water True Skill to heart. Although this Black Water True Skill was a quintessential Demonic Path Technique, as the common saying goes: methods are neither good nor evil; only the people who use them are. The Demonic Path's methods still depended on the user's temperament. All Dharma Gates in this world were interconnected; one could achieve enlightenment through various paths. Even Qi Xiu's master, Daoist Yunxiong of the Shenxiao Sect, was proficient in several unorthodox and side-path techniques. The key still lay with the Cultivators themselves.

While Qi Xiu contemplated the Black Water True Skill, the host of White Bone Skull Demons had already devoured the hundreds of Demons and Monsters on the ground. Bolstered by these hundreds of fierce souls, baleful spirits, and demonic flesh, the aura of the Myriad Soul White Bone Banner grew even more savage. The baleful, bone-like script on the banner's surface grew more intricate, ancient, and Stygian, emanating a chilling and terrifying aura.

Leaping onto the largest white bone skull, Qi Xiu flung out his hand. The Myriad Soul White Bone Banner, faintly shimmering with a black radiance, floated autonomously above his head, wisps of black qi cascading down to shield him securely.

Having learned from this ambush, Qi Xiu discarded his contempt. These Demonic Evil Cultivators were a motley crew, a miasma of filth and chaos. Initially, he had paid them no mind. But now it seemed there were capable individuals even among this dross. Although their methods were far from life-threatening to him, if he revealed his capabilities or left any traces because of them, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

...

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

The sound of gongs, which had previously resounded throughout Iron Womb City, echoed once more, instantly spreading to every corner of the dead city. Countless curious Demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators gathered outside the city gates, eager to see which of their fellows had emerged victorious from the day's contest.

With a deep RUMBLE—

The old, heavy city gates creaked slowly open. An arresting figure appeared before the assembled demons and devils: preternaturally handsome, clad in a black robe, with a zhang-long (about 3.3 meters) Big Banner floating above his head from which strands of black qi cascaded, his silhouette tall and straight.

"Just one person?"

"He must have managed to get out ahead of the others."

"Huh? This Daoist looks familiar."

"Familiar? Is he your long-lost cousin or something?"

"HISS! Now I remember! A few days ago, I heard my sixth cousin's third aunt's youngest son mention something. When he traveled by boat to Black Ebony City, there was a Daoist in black robes on the same vessel, exceedingly handsome, wielding a Long Banner Magic Artifact. This person appeared gentle and refined, but his methods were utterly ruthless! The Demonic Evil Cultivators he killed not only had their flesh and blood devoured but even their souls were absorbed by that eerie Big Banner. I reckon that sinister Daoist is the one before us now."

"So, if what you're saying is true... it's not that this person escaped first, but rather..."

"Everyone who went in with him was slaughtered by him!"

The two Demons' whispers grew progressively louder.

Hearing this exchange, the expressions of the other Demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators gathered there shifted dramatically as they looked at the handsome Daoist. Their previously brazen, scrutinizing gazes turned fearful and timid. They all bowed their heads, not daring to meet the eyes of this ferocious entity, terrified that if they displeased him in the slightest, they too would become 'honored guests' on that ghastly Long Banner.

As the handsome Daoist slowly stepped out of the city gates, everyone immediately felt a suffocating pressure in their chests, making it nearly impossible to breathe. The air suddenly grew heavy and cold, and a creeping sense of dread quietly bloomed in the hearts of the assembled Demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators.

The man exited the city gates at an unhurried pace, as if idly wandering. Yet, with every step he took, the ground he left behind seemed to roar with the sound of a colossal tidal wave, as if a flood was about to surge forth and obliterate everything.

Expressionless, he walked up to the gong-beating Deer Demon. His eyes, dark and deep as an abyss, paused indifferently before he uttered two words: "Passage Command Token."

Its entire back drenched in cold sweat, the Deer Demon strained to keep its knees from buckling. With trembling arms, it produced a token carved from animal bone. It was pale as jade and inscribed with four ancient characters in crimson blood.

This was the Passage Command Token! The essential credential for entering the depths of Divine Sorrow Ridge!

Taking the Passage Command Token, Qi Xiu calmly departed, leaving behind the relieved Demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators, who gasped for breath and wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, still shaken.

...

Vipers slithered and insects swarmed. Before a strange, pitch-black mountain range reeking of dense sulfur fumes, Qi Xiu arrived, seated cross-legged on the White Bone Skull Demon.

According to the information contained within the Passage Command Token, this place was a way station to the depths of Divine Sorrow Ridge. The route into Divine Sorrow Ridge was an absolute secret. The so-called Passage Command Token was essentially a ticket. Only those possessing it could proceed to specific way stations and enter the depths of Divine Sorrow Ridge via special pathways.

Just as he reached the foot of the mountain, from the edge of a nearby forest, several Demons suddenly leaped out. They were clad in mere scraps of cloth, hideous in appearance, reeking of a vile stench, and brandishing weapons.

"Stop! Are you heading to the depths of Divine Sorrow Ridge?"

Glancing at these Demons, Qi Xiu slowly nodded. "Mm."

"Hmph, hand over one hundred Xuanjin first!" Eyes darting about, a Demon shouldering a nine-chi nine-ring broadsword stepped before Qi Xiu, demanding Xuanjin with an outstretched hand.

SLAP—

A resounding slap sent the Demon's eyes rolling back as its limbs spasmed.

"You!"

Seeing Qi Xiu strike, the other Demons bared their fangs, ready to pounce. Yet, before they could act, countless White Bone Skull Demons erupted from behind Qi Xiu like a surging spring, obscuring the sky.

CLANG!

Gazing at the overwhelming tide of White Bone Skull Demons, their grotesque laughter echoing chillingly, the group of Demons instantly turned deathly pale. The weapons in their hands clattered unconsciously to the ground.

CLATTER, CLATTER— The sound of dropped weapons echoed. After a chorus of gruesome, flesh-rending crunches, Qi Xiu leisurely departed atop the White Bone Skull Demon, leaving behind only shredded scraps of cloth and a pile of weapons deeply scarred with bite marks.

He proceeded slowly along the mountain path. Along the way, Qi Xiu encountered quite a few 'fellow travelers.' These Demonic Evil Cultivators were far different from the riffraff in Black Ebony City. Each one possessed a profound aura and monstrous energy that soared to the heavens. All of them were at the Dao-Entering Realm Complete cultivation level.

As he neared the summit, Qi Xiu saw a Corpse Demon clad in armor from a former dynasty, wielding a Great Halberd, its countenance stiff. This Corpse Demon rode a bronze demonic steed; wherever it passed, its hoofprints ignited flames, its presence imposing and grim. The other Demons and Monsters gave it a wide berth, keeping their distance.

A Blood-Stained Realm Great Demon...

A hint of purple flickered in his eyes as Qi Xiu activated his Observing Qi Skill, perceiving an aura above the ancient corpse's head entirely different from that of the Initiate Realm.

Traveling with a Blood-Stained Realm Great Demon. Stimulating, indeed...

After a brief moment of contemplation, Qi Xiu quickened his pace towards the mountaintop.

...

On the barren summit plateau, over twenty Demons and Monsters sat scattered in various corners, seemingly at random, yet all maintained a tacit understanding to keep their distance from the Blood-Stained Realm Corpse Demon. Demonic Evil Cultivators were often capricious. Blood-Stained Great Demons were no exception.

After enduring the cold wind on the mountaintop for the better part of the day, Qi Xiu quietly surveyed his surroundings. Suddenly, he noticed several Demons looking up towards an adjacent peak. Sensing something, Qi Xiu followed their gaze.

On the adjacent peak, he saw a toad, five or six stories tall, its body covered in festering sores, reeking to high heaven. Its two eyes resembled gold coins as it lay prone.

THUMP!

With a single leap, the colossal toad landed firmly on the summit plateau, its coin-like eyes slowly scanning everyone present. When its gaze fell upon the Blood-Stained Corpse Demon, an obsequious smile instantly contorted its hideous, repulsive face.

"Please present your Passage Command Tokens!" Speaking human words, the Gold Coin Toad bowed its head to the Blood-Stained Ancient Demon and said, "You are exempt."

The assembled individuals each produced their Passage Command Tokens. The Gold Coin Toad suddenly opened its mouth, its crimson, snake-like tongue darting with incredible agility. In an instant, its tongue snatched all the Passage Command Tokens from their hands and swallowed them whole.

"Hmm, all correct."

After verifying the authenticity of the Passage Command Tokens, the Gold Coin Toad slowly lowered its body. Its festering sores writhed and split open, revealing steaming, bloody sacs of flesh.

"Please, come aboard."

Frowning at the sacs, some of which oozed yellow-green pus at the edges, several Demonic Cultivators showed visible reluctance. Conversely, the Demon Seed creatures seemed unfazed, leaping eagerly into the warm flesh sacs, some even exclaiming how pleasant and comfortable the temperature was.

Activating a spell, Qi Xiu sank into the White Bone Skull Demon and flew into one of the flesh sacs.

Next, he would enter the depths of Divine Sorrow Ridge, a domain overseen by a Dao Body Realm Demon King.

...