Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy

Demons ran rampant, and countless devils wreaked havoc.

With the assistance of the 500,000 Demonic Evil Cultivators dispatched by Divine Sorrow Ridge, the pressure on the Golden Flower Maternal Sect was greatly relieved.

The entire An'ning Holy Nation occupied the territory of six prefectures.

It would be impractical for the Golden Flower Maternal Sect alone to conduct a carpet-style search. Let alone a month, a year probably wouldn't be enough.

Despite this, the arrival of such a vast number of Demonic Evil Cultivators also caused great trouble for the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. The demons were unrestrained, and the Demonic Cultivators were greedy. Every city they reached suffered losses.

But at this juncture, the higher-ups of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect could no longer care about anything else. No matter what, they had to capture that mysterious cultivator first. The other losses could be slowly recouped later.

In a dense and shady old forest, hundreds of demons had gathered, creating a miasma of smoke and foul air. The stench was so strong that it yellowed the surrounding grass and leaves.

A Deer Demon, covered in festering sores and with long horns, leaned against a dead tree, humming as he picked his toes, then brought them to his nose for a deep sniff, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"I say, Old Deer, we've just arrived and you're already resting. Isn't that a bit improper?"

Looking around, a Half-Demon—half-pig and half-human—clad in tattered armor, carrying a cleaver, and wobbling his belly, approached. This Pig Demon had a humanoid body with a beast's head, topped with a few black hairs, and a mouth full of yellow teeth protruding from its lips, the epitome of ugliness. Clearly, it wasn't a genuine demon but a Half-Demon mutated by some Demonic Artifact.

"Improper? What's wrong with it, Third Pig? Do you even know what we're here for?" The Deer Demon glanced at the Pig Demon, shifted to a more comfortable position, and began picking at his other hoof.

"Aren't we here to help the Golden Flower Maternal Sect find someone?" Third Pig said, flicking his large, iron-ringed ears and grunting twice.

"You stupid pig! Do you even know who the Golden Flower Maternal Sect is looking for?" Seeing Third Pig's idiotic expression, the Deer Demon sat up and muttered in a low voice, "Rumor has it that this person is a Shenxiao Sect disciple, with extraordinary methods and extreme ferocity. He slaughtered three cities in just ten days. Even great cultivators of the Blood-Stained Realm died at his hands. What are we in comparison? Seeking trouble with such a person is like asking for an early death!"

Baffled, Third Pig scratched at the few sparse hairs on his head. "Then what are we here for, if we're of no use at all?"

"Nonsense! What do you mean, no use at all? At the very least, we're here to put on a show of force for those women. To let everyone in Dianchuan Province know that the Golden Flower Maternal Sect is under our Divine Sorrow Ridge's protection." The Deer Demon couldn't help but show a hint of pride when mentioning Divine Sorrow Ridge.

In the current Dianchuan Province, the Righteous Path and demons each claimed half of the territory. They, these demonic beings, were finally no longer the wretched creatures chased and cornered by Righteous Path cultivators everywhere.

If what the Kings said is true, then sooner or later, this Dianchuan Province will become a paradise for us demons.

"So that's how it is. Then our coming here wasn't entirely useless," Third Pig said, somewhat dejected. With his mind not quite all there, he rubbed his cleaver on the sole of his foot. He was still looking forward to a big fight with that mysterious cultivator.

"Foolish dreamer," the Deer Demon muttered. Rolling his eyes, he ignored Third Pig. He rubbed his dark, foul-smelling fingers on his body before pulling out half a human thigh from a pouch on his stomach.

"Heh heh heh, these old women of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect may not be very skilled, but their talent for 'fattening up' humans is truly exceptional. This time, I really struck gold. It's been ages since Old Deer has had flesh this tender."

He ate voraciously, his face a bloody mess. As the Deer Demon stretched out his long tongue to lick the scraps of meat from the bones, a streak of Spiritual Light inadvertently entered his field of vision.

"Hmm?"

His gaze locked onto it, unable to look away, the Deer Demon's eyes gleamed.

Could it be that my opportunity has arrived? Even just slacking off, I stumble upon a treasure emerging?

Looking around cautiously, the Deer Demon quietly stood up and pretended to stroll nonchalantly towards the streak of Spiritual Light.

Such an obvious streak of Spiritual Light would certainly not be seen by the Deer Demon alone. A dozen Demonic Evil Cultivators who had noticed the flashing Spiritual Light stood up one after another, quickly spotting others around them who shared the same goal.

Grab it!

In a split second, without any hesitation, the Demonic Evil Cultivators who had spotted the Spiritual Light all made their move simultaneously. They vied with each other, resorting to all kinds of tricks, even murder, just to seize the treasure first. Screams, roars, curses, and howls mingled with the surging dust clouds.

His five fingers pierced a Fox Demon's chest, clutching her heart. The Deer Demon's face, splattered with fresh blood, twisted viciously.

"The treasure is mine!"

Tossing aside the Fox Demon's corpse, the Deer Demon leaped forward, clutching the treasure that radiated Spiritual Light tightly in his arms.

"Heh heh heh, mine, it's mine! The treasure is mine!"

Slowly opening his hands, he held an azure gourd that glowed with a hazy light, exuding wisps of the purest essence. Gazing at the azure gourd enveloped in a halo of light, the Deer Demon's face showed elation. Just as he was about to examine it carefully, a mysterious spell suddenly surged into his mind.

This... This is the spell to activate this Sword Gourd!?

He hadn't expected to be so fortunate, not only snatching the treasure but also inadvertently receiving the method to command it.

"Hand over the item!"

While the Deer Demon was muttering to himself in a daze, the Demonic Evil Cultivators behind him who had come to their senses were already charging, baring their teeth, ready to wrestle the Sword Gourd from him.

"Like hell I will!"

Watching the Demonic Evil Cultivators pounce towards him, the Deer Demon's eyes suddenly flashed with a sinister and malicious gleam. He abruptly held up the Sword Gourd in his hands, which radiated an azure light. Bowing deeply forward, he bellowed, "Please, treasure, turn around!"

BOOM—

Before his voice had faded, the seal of the azure gourd in the Deer Demon's hands popped open. The entire gourd trembled violently, and from its mouth emerged a brilliant white light. A force brimming with potential burst forth.

BOOM!

The Sword Light, at its utmost brilliance, exploded forth in an instant. Within a radius of dozens of miles, everything was suddenly shrouded in a layer of glimmering, glass-like light. Invisible and formless, yet extremely sharp, the Sword Light decimated all demons in the blink of an eye.

WHOOSH—

Time seemed to stand still as everything within the range of the Sword Light became rigid and motionless.

Suddenly, a breeze swept through.

RUSTLE! RUSTLE!

The Demonic Evil Cultivators were reduced to bloody fragments, and all the surrounding rocks and trees crumbled into dust. The muddy flow of blood and slime turned into a surging wave, rolling and shaking violently.

"Hahaha! What a treasure! What a treasure!" The Deer Demon was both shocked and delighted to discover the terrifying power of the Sword Gourd.

I, Old Deer, am finally going to turn my life around!

Gazing at the scene before him, which resembled the deepest hell, the Deer Demon raised his hand, summoning the spotless Sword Gourd to fly back into his grasp. He unstoppered the gourd and formed a hand seal for the spell. Activating it according to the methods recorded in the spell, the next instant, an immense suction force suddenly erupted from the mouth of the gourd. The blood flowing on the ground immediately swirled and flew into the Sword Gourd.

After drawing all the bloody foulness, baleful qi, and killing resentment of the area into the gourd, the Deer Demon gave the Sword Gourd a light shake. He felt the Sword Qi fermenting within becoming even more intense and vicious.

I've only killed a hundred or so, and the power of the Sword Light has already increased by at least two levels. If I kill even more, then forget the Initiate Realm or Blood-Stained Realm... Even against those of the Dao Body Realm, I, Old Deer, will one day have the power to contend with them!

Demons, by nature, possess weak and extreme temperaments. Having obtained such a powerful treasure like the Sword Gourd, the Deer Demon's rage surged, and his audacity grew. A pair of blood-red, brutal eyes revealed a hint of madness and greed.

No sooner said than done. After securing the Sword Gourd tightly, the Deer Demon turned to leave, seeking materials to nurture the Sword Light for his treasure.

It's just killing, after all. Killing humans is killing, and killing demons is also killing. It's all the same, all the same!

Just as the Deer Demon laughed manically and departed, thinking his fortune had turned and he was about to make a grand comeback, a figure with tucked sleeves and a fair, delicate face slowly appeared atop a tree branch.

"So gullible," Qi Xiu remarked with a faint smile, watching the departing Deer Demon with the Sword Gourd.

Using blood-resentment and baleful qi to nurture the Sword Light might cause it to lose its utmost purity and essence, but its killing power would be enhanced manifold. If it were any other Sword Cultivator practicing the Gourd Sword Skill, they naturally wouldn't resort to such a ruinous shortcut that would destroy their foundation. But he is different. He has more than one Sword Gourd. The An'ning Holy Nation is vast and rich in resources, and the Golden Flower Maternal Sect has an abundance of talent. I'll need to bring out a few more Sword Gourds to make their earth-shattering efforts to find me worthwhile.

With a slight shift in his gaze, Qi Xiu leaned back, and in an instant, his entire body dissolved into countless streams of water, disappearing into nothingness.

「...」

Western Ring Fortress was a county town situated in the heartland of Yangshan Prefecture. Due to its unique location, all major official roads passed through it. Over time, the county town expanded continually, with numerous wooden stockades built around it, turning it into a fortress more than ten times larger than an ordinary county town. After the Golden Flower Maternal Sect captured Yangshan Prefecture, this place became one of their main strongholds.

Now that the entire An'ning Holy Nation was mobilized to search for the mysterious cultivator, and with Divine Sorrow Ridge dispatching five hundred thousand Demons to assist, Western Ring Fortress had become a major gathering point and relay station for Golden Flower Maternal Sect Disciples and these Demons.

Today, more than ten thousand Demonic Evil Cultivators gathered within this fortress. Demonic energy soared into the sky, dark clouds swirled, and ominous green and grey fumes spread and ravaged. From tens of miles away, one could hear the raucous laughter of those Demonic Evil Cultivators.

Clutching the Sword Gourd, within just over a dozen days, the Deer Demon's aura underwent a dramatic transformation. Originally possessing only the cultivation of the Common Realm, he was someone who nodded and smiled obsequiously wherever he went. But today, he walked with his head held high, his gaze haughty and disdainful. Even when facing the numerous Initiate Realm Demonic Evil Cultivators around, he looked upon them with contempt, sneering continuously.

Approaching a meat stall, the Deer Demon chose a central seat and sat down imposingly. SMACK! He slapped the table.

"Boss, serve the meat!"

At that moment, a Tiger Demon at an adjacent table also called out to the boss.

"Hmm?" The Deer Demon looked over.

"What are you looking at?" the Tiger Demon snarled.

Their gazes collided. The Deer Demon lifted an eyelid, staring coldly at the Tiger Demon.

"What's it to you if I'm looking?" the Tiger Demon retorted defiantly, his demeanor even more arrogant.

"Try looking again."

"Just try me!"

"Hmph, you reckless fool! Since you're seeking death yourself, don't blame my hand for being heavy," the Deer Demon snorted coldly as he abruptly stood up.

"Alright then, let's see who's really courting death!" the Tiger Demon roared.

As their eyes locked, both demons simultaneously reached into their bosoms and drew out an object!

Shockingly, they each held an identical Sword Gourd, with only slight differences in color!

"How do you have one too?!"

"How do you have one too?!"

Staring wide-eyed at the identical Sword Gourds in each other's hands, the two demons exchanged bewildered looks, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.

「...」

Meanwhile, at an unremarkable pavilion in Western Ring Fortress, Qi Xiu, who was polishing a wooden sword, smiled faintly and glanced towards the center of the fortress.

"Not bad. They've all arrived."