Chapter 275: 223 Zhangg Witch God Sect? [1 more!]
"The ’Jade-faced Arbiter’ has killed again!"
"Who is it this time?"
"I overheard outside the Examination Hall—it seems to be Yannan Island’s ’Golden-scaled Ancestor’!"
"Golden-scaled Ancestor?!"
"Gasp!"
"He’s incredibly powerful. It’s said that he can transform into a dragon the moment he encounters storms, with abilities like summoning wind and rain. Yet even he wasn’t a match for the ’Jade-faced Arbiter’?"
"Ha! While the Golden-scaled Ancestor is indeed formidable, this leaderboard-topping Dai Zong wields the Daluo Heavenly Sleeve with unmatched mastery. Even many True Persons in the sect feel greatly inferior to him. No matter how strong the old monster’s magical treasures are, Dai Zong simply sweeps them into his sleeve. Without his treasures, the Golden-scaled Ancestor’s strength is dramatically reduced—how could he possibly stand up to him?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
"In just one year, hasn’t this made the fourth Second-order Old Demon that Dai Zong has dispatched?"
"Indeed."
"Crossing realms to kill head-on—truly ferocious!"
...
Outside the sect gates.
Cheng Beixuan and Zhu Ran listened to the scattered discussions of the Heaven Mending Sect disciples, their expressions shifting between disbelief and shock.
"Jade-faced Arbiter?"
"Golden-scaled Ancestor?"
"A First-order killing a Second-order?"
"Four Second-order Old Demons slain in one year?"
Forget Zhu Ran.
Even Cheng Beixuan found it too exaggerated to believe.
It was only after he himself advanced to the Second-order that he truly understood how powerful that rank was. Looking back at the First-order now felt like comparing the heavens and the earth.
But that Chen Jichuan, still in mere Qi Refinement, had managed to slay four Second-order cultivators—how could this not be stupefying?
"A sword honed for a century."
"After painstakingly cultivating the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ for ninety-some years, with one strike, earth-shattering results!"
Hearing the disciples of the Heaven Mending Sect marvel, Cheng Beixuan’s initial shock gradually waned: "That’s true. When Junior Brother first joined the Heaven Mending Sect forty years ago, he had cultivated for less than a century, yet had already become a Qi Refinement invincible force and had killed Fengchi Island’s ’Doom God.’ Now, after nearly another hundred years, armed with the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve,’ it’s rather unsurprising for him to overturn Second-orders."
As he thought of this.
Cheng Beixuan started to feel a desire to meet this Junior Brother firsthand.
But before that, he needed to arrange matters for Zhu Ran and report another important engagement to the Heaven Mending Sect’s higher-ups without delay.
So, without lingering at the gate, he took Zhu Ran and headed into Mount Tailao.
...
Tachen Peak.
Dharma Transmission Hall, Scripture Pavilion.
Chen Jichuan stepped inside for the third time.
This was a sacred site of the Heaven Mending Sect, housing the sect’s five divine techniques and nine ultimate skills, distributed across nine layers according to the Five Directions, each guarded by skilled overseers.
"I made it after all."
"It wasn’t a wasted effort."
As he entered the Scripture Pavilion, Chen Jichuan let out a breath.
Over the past two years,
he had first scrambled to gather funds through various means, borrowing and pooling enough to perform fifteen rounds of ’Enlightenment’ on the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve,’ advancing it to the third realm, the Body Fusion state.
Then, moving continuously from battle to battle, he slew four Second-order Old Demons.
Finally, before turning two hundred years old, he accumulated twelve thousand Great Merit points, allowing him to exchange for a third ultimate skill from the Heaven Mending Sect.
"My ability to kill Second-orders comes from two things: first, cultivation of both immortality and longevity, making neither my mana nor my physical body a weakness."
"Secondly, the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve.’"
"Slaughter Ring Sea cultivators rely heavily on magical treasures, and the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ counters that perfectly. The Second-order Old Demons I targeted were relatively weak, possessing only Second-order treasures. Once their treasures were stored away, their prowess diminished. I seized the chance to deploy my own treasure for attack—weakening them while strengthening myself makes it straightforward."
As Chen Jichuan reflected on those four battles,
he didn’t feel overly proud.
Possessing super-level techniques, with the third realm of cultivation behind him, and using a skill that heavily countered most Slaughter Ring Sea cultivators, while focusing on Second-order demons at the bottom tier—it wasn’t worth boasting about.
Pushing these thoughts aside.
Chen Jichuan headed directly to the sixth layer of the Scripture Pavilion.
...
The Heaven Mending Sect possessed nine ultimate skills, each being super-level techniques.
Among these, ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ and ’Heaven Mending Seal’ were already in his grasp, leaving seven others for Chen Jichuan to choose from.
Before coming here,
he had already decided.
"Daluo Heavenly Fire!"
Among the nine ultimate skills, some focused on movement techniques, escape skills, protective seal techniques, or methods for demon suppression and demon refining...
But most of these had comparable high-level techniques in Chen Jichuan’s repertoire, rendering them less urgent.
Hence.
After careful consideration, Chen Jichuan finally settled on ’Daluo Heavenly Fire.’
"If I wish to perform further ’Enlightenments,’ financial resources are indispensable. Mastering ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ will aid me in alchemy and artifact refinement, while also serving as an offensive tool for demon refining."
"Killing two birds with one stone."
"It helps ease my financial pressures."
"Additionally, I’m adept at many techniques, yet I lack a standout fire-based skill. ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ fills that void and gives me an additional option, reducing the risks posed by specific counters."
Having resolved his thoughts, Chen Jichuan did not hesitate.
He stepped into the sixth layer.
...
While Chen Jichuan immersed himself in the Scripture Pavilion to study ’Daluo Heavenly Fire.’
Mount Tailao’s main peak.
Inside the hall.
The Heaven Mending Sect’s sect master, two Supreme Elders, and six hall masters had gathered together.
These nine individuals, each one alone, held reputations that shook the Central Continent and dominated Slaughter Ring Sea. Ordinarily occupied with their own affairs, it was rare for them to convene even within the sect.
But today, they were unusually gathered in one place.
"Has Dai Zong entered the Scripture Pavilion?"
Sun Jiuzhang looked to the Examination Hall’s hall master, Chen Pu, and asked aloud.
"Yes."
"He’s inside."
"That lad has finally returned to the right path and chosen ’Daluo Heavenly Fire.’"
Chen Pu replied with a chuckle.
Back when Chen Jichuan selected his first ultimate skill, Chen Pu had advised him to study ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ to hone his skills in alchemy and artifact refinement.
Yet Chen Jichuan had chosen ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve.’
The second time, Chen Pu had tried again, but Chen Jichuan picked ’Heaven Mending Seal.’
Now, on the third occasion.
Understanding that Chen Jichuan had his own ideas, Chen Pu stayed silent. Unexpectedly, Chen Jichuan chose ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ this time.
This pleasantly surprised Chen Pu.
"Haha!"
"That lad has some character. If we hadn’t advised him previously, he might have picked ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ on his first try."
Sun Jiuzhang teased with a laugh, his tone light but his approval undeniable—his face full of gratification.
The Heaven Mending Sect didn’t lack for high-end combat power; by comparison, as sect master, Sun Jiuzhang naturally hoped for more top-tier alchemists and artifact refiners.
He had originally harbored great expectations for Chen Jichuan,
only to feel disheartened later.
Now, seeing Chen Jichuan opt for ’Daluo Heavenly Fire,’ renewed anticipation blossomed in his heart.
The two discussed.
Nearby, Five Directions Hall master Shen Chong shook his head, remarking, "Dai Zong prefers action over repose. Though he’s talented in alchemy and artifact refinement, as soon as he could craft Second-order pills and treasures, he stopped focusing on those arts. This time, picking ’Daluo Heavenly Fire’ seems more about improving his demon-slaying prowess. Given his temperament and battle skills, he truly belongs in my Five Directions Hall and would certainly strike fear into all demonic beings!"
Chen Jichuan had reigned atop the Immortal List for over 130 years; the sect’s higher-ups were naturally well-acquainted with him.
To Shen Chong, Chen Jichuan was a talent deserving of high regard—one he wished to recruit for the Five Directions Hall as a blade against demons and devils.
"We’ll see."
"The mysteries of the Alchemy Dao are endless. Once he ascends to the Second-order and experiences the hardships of cultivation, he won’t need much persuasion to focus on alchemy on his own."
The Danyi Hall’s hall master, Chen Yuanning, said with a calm yet confident smile.
The group spent some time deliberating over Chen Jichuan.
Not a wasteful use of their time.
True disciples represented the future of a sect; someone like Chen Jichuan, dominating the leaderboard for years and possessing the ability to slay Second-order demons while still in the First-order, was an invaluable asset deserving of their attention.
Especially in the past year, Chen Jichuan had demonstrated remarkable mastery over techniques, advancing the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve’ to a deep level of comprehension.
Chen Pu himself had personally witnessed its brilliance, calling it ’unsurpassed,’ and frankly admitted feeling inferior. He acknowledged that Chen Jichuan’s grasp of this ultimate skill far exceeded his own.
A character of such talent, such exceptional talent.
Many believed he had a strong chance of one day leading the Heaven Mending Sect as sect master or one of its hall masters—it was perfectly natural for them to focus on him.
...
After discussing Chen Jichuan,
the group turned their attention to the main issue at hand.
"Over ten days ago, Kunyu Sect sent word of an Evil God sighting in Outer Sea Domain 427—the 24th Evil God incident in the past decade. Today, Nine Refinement Immortal Mansion reported finding traces of the Evil God in Outer Sea Domain 340—making it the 25th incident."
Sun Jiuzhang swept his gaze across the others, the smile vanishing from his face, replaced with a grave expression: "We paid little heed to earlier cases because those Evil Gods were weaklings, incapable of causing a stir. But in just ten short years, we’ve seen 25 cases, and those are only the ones our sect uncovered. No telling how many remain undiscovered in the Slaughter Ring Sea and beyond."
As one of the Seven Immortal Sects of the Central Continent, the Heaven Mending Sect had always been a leader of the Righteous Path, bearing the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the world through demon-slaying and suppression.
Subordinate sects like Kunyu Sect and establishments such as Nine Refinement Immortal Mansion, were branches of the Heaven Mending Sect founded by its True Persons; these affiliated forces closely collaborated with the sect, receiving resources and acting as its eyes and ears to monitor the Slaughter Ring Sea, preventing demonic forces from rising unchecked.
This recent ’Evil God incident’ had surfaced abruptly, progressing rapidly, with patterns suggestive of an organized campaign.
At first glance, it seemed manageable.
But for individuals like Sun Jiuzhang, proactive measures were essential. Waiting for the problem to escalate before reacting would only lead to disaster, potentially overburdening the Heaven Mending Sect.
"Details regarding the ’Evil Gods’ are in each group member’s hands."
"Due to earlier neglect, the information remains fragmentary. However, Five Directions Hall’s five vice hall masters have already dispatched teams to investigate. Results should be forthcoming in a few days, yielding more comprehensive insights."
As he spoke.
The other attendees either pondered the matter or rapidly reviewed the jade scrolls, scanning the incident summaries.
"Evil Gods."
"Ancestor Spirits."
"Faith."
"Earth Caves."
"Priests."
...
Dharma Transmission Hall master Muc Chenzhu furrowed his brow as he studied the material, finally musing aloud: "Evil Gods specialize in bewitchment, feeding on Incense Fire Source Power, and manipulating the Five Elements—be it wind, fire, thunder, or lightning. This bears resemblance to the ’Witch God Sect’ from ten millennia ago. Could it be that the Witch God Sect is resurging, planning a comeback?"
Ten thousand years ago,
an infamous force emerged within the Slaughter Ring Sea, created by an ambitious demonic being calling itself the ’Witch God.’ With considerable divine skills, it established the Witch God Sect and sought dominion over heaven and earth, aiming to bask in the Incense Fire of all living spirits.
For a time, it even rivaled the Seven Immortal Sects.
But ultimately, its demonic path led to its failure; unable to sustain, the Witch God Sect was annihilated by Righteous Path cultivators with the Seven Immortal Sects at the helm. The Witch God itself was slain, and its sect fractured irrevocably, never regaining prominence.
Over the course of ten thousand years,
many had forgotten that the Slaughter Ring Sea ever housed a force as formidable as the Witch God Sect, which once challenged the Seven Immortal Sects.
But among the upper echelon of the Heaven Mending Sect, memories of the Witch God Sect remained vivid, and upon hearing Muc Chenzhu’s suggestion, their expressions immediately hardened—
"Witch God Sect?"
...