CHAPTER 442: CHAPTER 441 ENCOUNTER_1

"Chu nephew, rest assured. Even if Xie Zhiqiu fails to kill Ling Chen, there is another man who will certainly be able to slay Ling Chen and eliminate this menace."

At this moment, the Ghost God Honorific spoke out. Although he was usually reticent, he appeared undisturbed by the situation, as if he had some tricks up his sleeve.

"Who might that be?" A hint of surprise appeared in Chu Tiange’s eyes.

"There’s no need for me to spell it out."

The Ghost God Honorific shook his head with a smile. "Just wait and see who earns Ling Chen’s points and becomes first—then you’ll naturally know who it is."

"Oh?"

Chu Tiange was a bit skeptical. Among the Disciples of this trial, the ones who could potentially assassinate Ling Chen are probably only those three. Could it be Xia Yunxin? That’s impossible. So, could it be Xun Wujie?

"The names of Gu Qingcang, Ao Tian, Yan Xiang, and Chu Tiange have all disappeared from the Devil Scroll."

Xie Zhiqiu was constantly monitoring the changes in the Devil Scroll. Previously, Yan Xiang’s name had faded. Just now, the names of Gu Qingcang, Ao Tian, and Chu Tiange were also removed from the Devil Scroll and vanished from the leaderboard.

Dammit, could it be that Ling Chen killed all of my junior fellow disciples?

Xie Zhiqiu’s face grew dark. Their names wouldn’t vanish without reason—either they died, or they were eliminated. Given the strength of my junior fellow disciples, the possibility of them being eliminated is too low. They probably died.

The only one with a motive to kill them was Ling Chen. As for Xia Yunxin and Xun Wujie, even if they could kill Gu Qingcang and the others, they wouldn’t. After all, they had no grievances with them. Their full attention was on Ling Chen, so they wouldn’t be distracted by dealing with anyone else.

Here I am, the last man standing of the Skypiercing Peak Lineage that should have dominated this trial. Dammit, Ling Chen, in this trial, it’s either you die, or I perish! Xie Zhiqiu’s attitude had completely changed from when he first entered the Sky Demon Tower. At that time, he had looked down on Ling Chen, not giving him the slightest regard.

But now, he didn’t dare underestimate Ling Chen at all.

He was afraid that a single careless move would lead to him following in the footsteps of his fallen fellow disciples.

...

"I really didn’t expect Ling Chen to virtually decimate the entire Skypiercing Peak Lineage."

In another part of the area, Xia Yunxin was also extremely surprised. Initially, she thought Ling Chen would have trouble protecting himself. Yet she didn’t expect things to turn out this way.

With this situation, Xie Zhiqiu is definitely going to desperately search for Ling Chen. I must find Ling Chen before Xie Zhiqiu does.

Xia Yunxin was very clear about Xie Zhiqiu’s strength. She didn’t know what method Ling Chen had used to kill Gu Qingcang and the others, but Xie Zhiqiu’s strength was definitely superior to theirs, perhaps by even more than a single level.

At this time, Ling Chen had arrived at the ninth floor. Strolling leisurely without pressure, he continued toward the entrance to the tenth floor.

Ling Chen was no longer killing Demon Souls because his points were already sufficient. After the recent slaughter, even if he did not kill anymore, no one could catch up to him. What he needed to do now was to digest his gains, advance his True Qi and Cultivation Technique, and ensure that the Ling Tian Sword Scripture was elevated to the next level.

Ling Chen was currently at the Fourth-level "Sword Heart" stage of the Ling Tian Sword Scripture and the Clear Heart Sword level in the Sword Way.

The next level was the Fifth-level Refining Heart and Spirit stage.

Cultivation at this level uses Heart Fire to forge the Spirit, making the Spirit stronger and achieving greater harmony between body and mind. It also tightens the link between the Sword Intent and the Swordsman.

Upon reaching the "One with Body and Mind" stage, Cultivation will be twice as effective with half the effort.

After slaying numerous Demonic Will Remnants, Ling Chen’s Sword Intent had also reached the Great Accomplishment Peak, only a step away from the next level, Grandmaster Sword Intent.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

Ling Chen lifted his head, seeing a silhouette approaching in his line of sight, which put him on high alert.

"Young Master, it’s me, Ye Wuchang."

A man dressed in black stepped forward carrying a Long Spear, smiling broadly as he walked toward Ling Chen.

"Ye Wuchang, I remember you. You’re from the Saintess Hall."

Ling Chen nodded, his guard dropping somewhat. Earlier, when entering the Sky Demon Tower, Ye Wuchang was behind Xia Yunxin. Both he and Bai Qing were young Experts sent by the Saintess Hall to take part in the trial; their strength had already reached the Great Master Seventh Realm.

"Yes, I’ve been in the Saintess Hall, under the Saintess’s command, receiving her teachings for ten years. The Saintess is both knowledgeable and martially proficient; her accomplishments overshadow even Sect Master Sikong Yi. It’s truly my fortune of three lifetimes to cultivate under her glorious guidance," Ye Wuchang said with a beaming smile.

"Young Master, I heard you’ve shown exceptional prowess in this trial, defeating the Skypiercing Peak Lineage to the point of them losing their armor and weapons in disarray. Gu Qingcang, Ao Tian, Yan Xiang, and their ilk were all slain by you one after another. Such achievements are truly earth-shattering, unparalleled throughout the ages."

"Young Master Ling Chen, please allow me, Ye Wuchang, to follow you, cheer you on, and aid you in slaying your enemies."

"If you’re willing to follow, then follow."

Ling Chen didn’t refuse. Since he was from the Saintess Hall and a Seventh-Level Grandmaster, he was no small fry, and there was no harm in keeping him around.

"I’m going to the tenth floor now. If you want to follow, then come. If not, you can stay on this ninth floor."

After saying that, Ling Chen walked onward. Deep within Ye Wuchang’s smiling eyes, however, a sinister glint suddenly emerged.

The two of them moved forward together, slaying quite a few Demon Souls along the way, and finally found the entrance to the tenth floor.

However, standing at the entrance was a figure. He was thin, yet his imposing aura was enough to block the way to the tenth floor.

The figure held a treasure sword radiating Devil Qi. His blade, named the Wither-Flourish Demon Blade, could absorb warriors’ Vital Energy and convert it for his own use. It was a true Magic Knife.

This man was none other than Sikong Yi’s Big Disciple, the strongest Disciple of the Skypiercing Peak Lineage, Xie Zhiqiu.

"Ling Chen, I have been waiting here for you for a long time!"

Xie Zhiqiu, dragging the Magic Knife, had a chilling glint in his eyes.

Ling Chen’s gaze also fell upon Xie Zhiqiu. The man before him was very likely to break through to become a top Ninth Heavy Realm Grand Master and was a sure bet to break through to the Sky Apex Realm in the future.

When Ling Chen entered the Sky Demon Tower, he had already heard Xie Zhiqiu’s name numerous times, and now he finally saw him in person.

Every Disciple participating in this trial could feel the intense changes in the Devil Scroll. With the disappearance of Gu Qingcang, Ao Tian, and others from the leaderboard, and the surge in Ling Chen’s points, everyone knew that these individuals had most likely been slain by Ling Chen.

If this continued, by the time the trial ended, Ling Chen was likely to become the leading figure among the current generation of Demonic Path Disciples.

This was something many people, especially Xie Zhiqiu, did not want to see.