“Master, wait for me……”
Ye Fan silently repeated those words in his heart, while recalling what the Medicine Saint had said before falling into slumber.
“Kid, remember… this Demon Emperor Inheritance belongs to the renowned Nine-Lives Cat Demon Emperor from ancient times. That creature once stood at the 9th stage Combined Body Realm, a heaven-reaching powerhouse. Its cultivation realm was unfathomable. Even more terrifying, it was born with a Yin-Yang Exotic Flame, capable of reversing life and death, filled with boundless mystery. It is both a supreme flame for cultivation and a world-destroying inferno that can burn the heavens!”
“Back then, its ambition soared to the skies. It sought to lead the demon race army to conquer the Central Region. In the end, it provoked the Eight Great Families of the Central Region into joining forces to suppress it. That battle shattered the heavens and split the earth. The Eight Great Families killed it eight times, yet it still escaped with its ninth life, hiding here and barely clinging to existence.”
“Your Heaven-Burning Art is already a supreme cultivation technique capable of controlling all flames under heaven. If you can seize this opportunity to subdue that Yin-Yang Exotic Flame, not only will your strength surge dramatically, but with its power over life and death, it can also restore my remnant Primordial Spirit and awaken me from slumber!”
Awaken Master.
That was the most important thing right now.
Ye Fan lifted his head and looked toward the liveliest part of the city center.
There, the fluctuations of spiritual energy were at their peak, and faint sounds of metal clashing echoed through the air.
It was the martial arena established by the five great sects for rogue cultivators.
The space within the Demon Emperor Inheritance was limited and filled with danger. Thus, the five great sects organized a grand competition, promising that the top one hundred rogue cultivators would be allowed to enter alongside them.
Ye Fan stepped forward, moving against the flow of people as he headed toward that bustling area.
Before long, a massive square built from stacked stone came into view.
On the square stood ten bluestone arenas arranged side by side, each surrounded by crowds of cultivators.
At the edge of the square, behind a long table, several disciples from the five great sects lazily handled registrations.
“Name, origin, cultivation realm,” a disciple from the Heavenly Sword Sect asked without even lifting his head.
“Wang Er, rogue cultivator, 5th stage Foundation Establishment Realm!” a burly man with a face full of flesh declared excitedly.
“5th stage Foundation Establishment Realm and you dare join the fun? Looking to die?” the disciple sneered, though he still casually tossed him a wooden token. “Next!”
Soon, it was Ye Fan’s turn.
Ye Fan lowered his voice, making it hoarse as he spoke, “Xiao Fan, rogue cultivator, 7th stage Foundation Establishment Realm.”
“Heh, another one hiding his face.”
The disciple glanced at Ye Fan’s black robe and mocked him with disdain. “What, afraid to show your face? You rogue cultivators really love wrapping yourselves in black robes. It’s so cliché.”
Ye Fan ignored the provocation.
Seeing no response, the disciple lost interest and clicked his tongue. “Arena No. 2, third match.”
Ye Fan immediately walked toward Arena No. 2, but his vigilance never wavered.
That old fox, Lu Qingxuan… who knew if he had left behind any hidden moves?
…
Meanwhile, at the Joyous Harmony Sect.
The entire place was shrouded year-round in a hazy pink miasma. Within the sect, exquisite palaces and jade pavilions stood adorned with intricate carvings, radiating both luxury and allure.
Soft, intoxicating music drifted faintly through the air, stirring the mind and igniting the blood.
This was a place of moral decay—a demonic sect—yet also a paradise of ultimate pleasure that countless people dreamed of.
Suddenly, a streak of azure sword light hovered above the sect’s mountain gate.
The figure instantly drew the attention of countless disciples below.
“Look! Who is that? What nerve, flying on a sword above our sect!” a young junior sister, her hair tied in twin buns, stared upward in shock.
Beside her, a seductive senior sister leaned lazily against a pillar, her naturally alluring eyes half-lidded. She covered her red lips as she yawned, then glanced at the figure in the sky. Instead of hostility, a playful smile curved her lips. “Tsk, making a fuss over nothing. Judging by that attire and that fake, self-righteous aura, it’s probably another so-called Ancestor from the righteous path.”
“From the looks of it… seems like Ancestor Lu Qingxuan of the Azure Immortal Sect.”
“Ancestor of the Azure Immortal Sect?!” the junior sister covered her mouth, even more shocked. “He… what is he doing here? Has he come to eliminate demons and uphold justice?” Follow the newest chapters on NovelPing.
“Eliminate demons?” The seductive senior sister burst into laughter, her body swaying enticingly, drawing the gazes of nearby male disciples. “My silly junior sister, do you think righteous pillars who come to our Joyous Harmony Sect are rare? Most of them just sneak in through the back mountain under the cover of night, terrified of being seen and ruining their reputation.”
Another senior sister, who had been trimming flower branches nearby, paused and looked over with interest. “This Ancestor Lu is quite the character. To visit openly in broad daylight—his courage alone surpasses those hypocrites.”
“I’ve seen plenty of bold ones.” The seductive senior sister raised a lacquered fingertip to her lips and lowered her voice mysteriously. “Last time, I personally saw Ancestor Due from Wangu Temple outside our Ancestor’s chambers!”
“What?!”
The surrounding disciples who had been eavesdropping were instantly stunned.
“Wangu Temple? Aren’t they monks?!”
“Ancestor Due? Isn’t he said to have profound Buddhist Light, already possessing an indestructible body, free from worldly desires? How could that be possible…?”
“My heavens, even monks come here? Isn’t he afraid of breaking his vows and ruining thousands of years of cultivation?”
Seeing their astonishment, the seductive senior sister lifted her chin proudly and sneered. “Who knows if he’s just a wine-and-meat monk. But that only proves how extraordinary our Ancestor’s dual cultivation secret art truly is. No matter if it’s a revered monk or a righteous Ancestor, once they stand before our Ancestor, they all obediently drop their pretenses.”
The crowd was both shocked and intrigued.
Just as they continued discussing, a silver-bell-like laugh suddenly echoed from the void, gentle as a spring breeze, instantly suppressing all the noise.
“Hehe… I wonder what fragrant wind has blown such a rare guest like Fellow Daoist Lu to my humble Joyous Harmony Sect?”
Before the voice fully faded, a fragrant breeze filled the air. Countless peach blossom petals materialized out of nowhere, dancing gracefully.
Within that shower of petals, an incomparably beautiful figure slowly took form, appearing before Lu Qingxuan.
Hua Qianying looked at Lu Qingxuan with a radiant smile. Her intimate and warm demeanor was like greeting an old friend she hadn’t seen in ages, as if she had already forgotten that her life-bound Lovesick Knot had been taken by this very man not long ago.
Below the mountain gate, the disciples bowed respectfully upon seeing their Ancestor appear, not daring to make a sound.
Lu Qingxuan stood atop his sword, his white robes fluttering gently in the wind. Facing Hua Qianying’s world-toppling charm, his gaze remained calm and indifferent.
“I’m here to return your sachet.”