Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Evil Technique

The first specializes in Water Techniques, with cultivation just a hair’s breadth from stepping into the Seventh Layer; frequently taking on missions, this person’s combat awareness is not weak.

It’s quite normal for Zhu Chen to lose to him; instead, many are surprised that Zhu Chen reached the second place.

The Outer Sect competition often allows some Sixth Layer Qi Refining cultivators to enjoy Inner Sect resources in advance, thus breaking through to the Late-Stage Qi Refining, slightly enhancing the sect’s overall strength.

A dark horse like Zhu Chen is quite rare.

However…

“What a pity… Senior Brother Zhu… is getting old.”

A hint of regret appeared in the eyes of a certain disciple below.

At sixty-one, in the world of mortals now, besides those princes and ministers, wealthy gentry, and magnates, few can live to sixty-one.

For Qi Refining cultivators, sixty-one is already more than half of their lifespan, and Zhu Chen is only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, with cultivation getting more difficult the further one progresses.

There are many like that Senior Brother who competed with Zhu Chen for the top sixteen who have been stuck at the Late-Stage Qi Refining barrier for decades.

Zhu Chen, however, was unconcerned.

Jiang Ming also didn’t mind.

[You successfully won the top five in the Outer Sect competition, entering the Inner Sect in advance.]

[You’ve achieved second place in the Outer Sect competition, earning the sect’s rewards; you’ve received twenty bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, twenty pieces of Low-grade Spirit Stone, and one High-Tier Long Saber Magical Artifact.]

The Qi Gathering Pills and Low-grade Spirit Stone are of equivalent value; typically, an Outer Disciple can only claim one piece of Low-grade Spirit Stone per year, which, combined with the sect’s Spiritual Qi, suffices for a Qi Refining early-stage cultivator’s everyday practice in the sect for a year.

Jiang Ming has, in one go, won resources equal to forty years of daily practice for an Outer Disciple, and the high-tier artifact, crafted personally by an Elder and tailored to Zhu Chen’s fighting style, is even more precious, a rarity beyond what many Inner Sect disciples possess.

[Upon entering the Inner Sect, your reputation has already spread throughout, and you can feel the curiosity of others toward you.]

[The salary for an Inner Sect disciple is five times that of an Outer Disciple, and the Foreign Affairs Hall also allocates more high-tier missions to Inner Sect disciples.]

[Upon stepping into the residence prepared for Inner Sect disciples, cries from a woman outside the residence catch your attention. You choose…]

[A· Ignore B· Go out and check]

Jiang Ming, looking at these words, felt puzzled.

Zhu Chen usually had no disputes with anyone, and had no female acquaintances; he was either engrossed in cultivation or swiftly completing missions.

Daily, he maintained decent relationships with fellow disciples, with his reputation of integrity spreading through most of the Outer Sect.

“If something unusual happens, there must be a demon behind it…”

“Go out and check!”

Zhu Chen frowned slightly, a flash of cold light in his eyes.

“Who makes such a clamor?”

In front of Zhu Chen’s door stood a graceful and spirited woman.

Upon Jiang Ming’s appearance, she immediately fell to her knees on the ground.

“Daughter of Lady Yi from the Silent Tower, begging Master Demon Saber to stand up for my daughter!”

Master Demon Blade? This title left Jiang Ming somewhat dazed.

It seemed like he had returned to those days when he roamed the Jianghu.

Lady Yi?

A bit of a memory, she seemed like an effective subordinate once; only after Jiang Ming betrayed the Silent Tower did she choose to stay, and Zhu Chen didn’t stop her, naturally breaking off contact.

When did Lady Yi have a daughter?

Back when she first entered the Silent Tower, Lady Yi was merely a sixteen-year-old girl, mischievous yet obedient after being disciplined by Zhu Chen.

And this woman before him resembled the Lady Yi of the past a bit in appearance…

The vivid memories conflicted with reality, and an overwhelming sense of time passing surfaced from within, yet Zhu Chen wasn’t one for melancholy and swiftly severed this slight emotion.

“Demon Saber has already vanished, I am now an Inner Sect disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect, a Foreign Affairs Hall Steward, Zhu Chen!”

As Zhu Chen said this, he turned to leave.

“Master Demon Saber! Only you can save me now!”

“Immortal Zhao Yang! Immortal Zhao Yang is slaughtering and tormenting us servant disciples! Master Demon Saber, for the sake of our past as Jianghu people, I beg you… I beg you…”

Zhu Chen felt someone clinging to his thigh, he turned and seriously confirmed, “Zhao Yang?”

“The Inner Sect disciple, Zhao Yang? Slaughtering and tormenting servants?”

The Inner Sect didn’t have many disciples, at most under two hundred, comparable to five or six classes from a previous life, easily memorable for a cultivator.

“Y-yes…”

“Get up, lead me there.”

“You’ve agreed? I’ll take you there immediately.”

“To wherever he is slaughtering and tormenting you.”

Zhu Chen’s hand subtly grasped the long saber at his waist.

He was not intervening for this woman’s sake, for if all former Jianghu associates came to him, how could he continue his cultivation?

Only thirty percent of his motive was for the former Jianghu associates.

The aim of making a name in the Inner Sect accounted for twenty percent.

The remaining fifty percent was because… If Zhao Yang does this, it’s likely he is cultivating an Evil Technique!

Moreover, it’s a forbidden technique across all sects that involves slaughtering innocents for cultivation.

The Cyan Cloud Sect is not a righteous sect, but definitely not a demonic one.

If someone harbors the intent to slaughter the mundane, they’re essentially uprooting the Cyan Cloud Sect.

For the sake of the sect and the Cyan Cloud Sect, Zhu Chen wouldn’t sit by and do nothing.

Before departing, Jiang Ming first used a Communication Spiritual Artifact to inform a few colleagues and Elders in the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Then he arrived at a cave mansion’s entrance and knocked on the door.

Zhao Yang was astonishingly practicing such an Evil Technique within his own cave mansion.

“Who goes there?” A raspy voice sounded.

“Zhu Chen.” Zhu Chen frowned, his hand on the saber’s hilt.

The door opened, revealing a hollow-eyed, emaciated man.

Inside the cave mansion, there were no peculiar auras.

Zhu Chen casually said, “This girl…”

The next moment, the True Essence surged, and the black saber, carrying a black-red saber light, swept forward directly.

Suddenly, pitch-black flesh crazily grew, transforming into a long saber, just about to block the saber light.

Zhu Chen’s saber move, seemingly prepared beforehand, twisted, sending the long saber with True Essence flying violently.

“Splurt!”

Zhao Yang was knocked backward, pinned to the cave mansion’s wall, staring at Zhu Chen with disbelief.

A mysterious glint flashed in Zhu Chen’s eyes.

Moments ago, his Greedy Celestial Demon suddenly began to stir restlessly; this anomaly prompted Zhu Chen to take decisive action.

Meanwhile, Zhu Chen rapidly dispatched information.

Several figures swiftly departed their dwellings, flying towards Zhu Chen.

“Haha… how did you find out…”

“Was it merely based on what this woman said?”

Though pinned against the wall, with the True Essence flowing from the High-Tier Magical Artifact, the black saber severely suppressing him, Zhao Yang managed to curl a sly smile.

At this point, noticing Zhu Chen’s hands already weaving seals and forming incantations.

Fiery flames surged forward; half a minute later, nothing remained pinned by the black saber but charred remains.

A shadowy figure burst free, making for Jiang Ming.

“How dare you!” A sea-like Divine Sense rolled over, the elderly voice carrying tremendous power.

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