CHAPTER 35: YOU KILLED MY FAMILY? THEN I'LL WIPE OUT YOURS!

Liu Piao’s head throbbed at her daughter’s words. Her heart ached, torn between helplessness and pain.

"The Black Mountain Sect’s cultivators aren’t decent people. It’d be a different story if their sect is righteous. With them brazenly raising the Blood Crystal Mine’s share, it won’t easily be resolved. Moreover, you’re beautiful. Nothing good will come out of this. Hence why, I thought if you were married, your husband could take care of such matters."

Her daughter tilted her chin proudly. "Then find someone capable. Do you think that weakling will win us the mine dispute?"

Liu Piao sighed wearily. "First you tell me to be cautious, then you call him weak. There’s no winning with you."

Liu Piao knew her daughter’s temper well—sharp, stubborn, and impossible to sway.

***

The Black Mountain Sect was only a third tier faction in the Great Shang Kingdom. They had no Nascent Soul cultivators, let alone a late stage Core Formation powerhouse. Yet, the sect master’s tie to the Black Rooster Demon as his godfather alone had elevated the Black Mountain Sect’s standing. Thus, their arrogance ran rampant across the land.

The sect itself only consisted of a few hundred disciples, a dozen stewards, and several elders. In spite of that, their reputation was utterly vile, to the point commoners would kowtow at the sight of an ordinary Black Mountain Sect’s disciple. Their name alone was enough to silence crying children at night.

Inside the sect, Elder Yu Linglong reclined lazily on a white jade bench. Black gauze veiled her, failing to hide the graceful curves beneath.

Her breath was fragrant as she asked, "Still no word on that masked man's identity?"

The disciple kneeling before her dared not raise his head. After all, not only was Yu Linglong famed as the sect’s top beauty, she was also favored by Black Rooster Demon himself.

Though he hadn’t touched her, rumor had it he intended to nurture her to the Nascent Soul realm, before taking her as a Dao companion to walk the path of dual cultivation together. Hence, her position was even higher than the sect master’s.[1]

The disciple reported, "The masked man wielded a saber, but his strikes were pure swordsmanship. We suspect he’s from the Floating Mountain Sect. Now that Elder Yufeng has returned, the Sect Master has recalled all disciples and elders in preparation to confront Floating Mountain directly."

Yu Linglong smiled languidly, her beauty turning all the more dangerous. "So, Black Rooster Demon is truly about to step into late Nascent Soul."

The disciple kept his forehead pressed to the floor, pretending not to have heard her call Black Rooster Demon directly by his name.

There was a soft rustle of silk slipping. Yu Linglong parted her crimson lips. "Dare to climb up here?"

The disciple's heart lurched, well aware that she resented Black Rooster Demon. Still, he shook his head frantically. "I wouldn't dare!"

Yu Linglong laughed, lightly stroking her chest. "A man with lust in his heart, yet no courage in his bones. Come here. I won't tell anyone."

Cold sweat beaded on the disciple's brow. He wanted nothing more than to escape, afraid that he’d cave in if he stayed.

Between beauty and his life, he knew which was heavier. No matter how much Yu Linglong despised Black Rooster Demon, she wasn’t someone he could touch.

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion shook the air outside.

The disciple went pale and bolted. "I will go investigate!"

***

Outside the gates of Black Mountain Sect...

Qi Yuan advanced forward, wielding a giant sword—or at least, what seemed to be one. It was actually a kitchen knife, cleverly sheathed in metal to resemble a blade of legend.

Crossing the White Bone Bridge, he swung once, cleaving down all five disciples stationed there. With another strike, he shattered the bridge itself, severing the only path in or out of the sect. Escape was no longer possible for ordinary disciples. Only those at Foundation Establishment realm or higher could fly away.

Several Foundation Establishment stewards rushed out, faces twisted in rage.

"Who dares cause trouble at Black Mountain Sect? Name yourself!"

Usually it was the Black Mountain Sect wreaking havoc in others’ homes, not the other way around.

Qi Yuan's roar shook the air. "Black Mountain Sect! You slaughtered my family! I've endured and cultivated bitterly for a hundred years. With my arts perfected, I shall erase you from this world!"

He had even prepared a backstory for himself.[2]

A black-bearded steward sneered. "So, you’re one of the fish that slipped the net."

The Black Mountain Sect had exterminated countless clans. It was inevitable that some would survive.

"A century ago, you managed to escape. Had you chosen to live quietly, you could’ve lived long! Yet you returned, seeking death! Fool! Tonight, your bloodline ends!"

Qi Yuan blinked. He was so deep into character, his eyes turned blood-red. "You dare talk of severing my bloodline? All of you must die!"

With a bellow, he swept his giant sword sideways.

Qi Yuan had long since reached the Peak Qi Refinement realm. In game, his power had grown steadily, transferring back to reality. Even if it wasn’t yet a full hundredfold, it was enough to make him unrivaled among Qi Refinement realm cultivators. He could also kill a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator with ease.

His modified cultivation method had even awakened a spirit within his knife. With the knife in hand, his strength rose to yet another height. A single swing was all it took to decapitate a Core Formation realm elder.

What chance did mere Foundation Establishment realm stewards have?

The gale of his sweeping strike smashed three stewards into the stone gates. Blood sprayed from their mouths as their hearts and meridians burst.

Qi Yuan raised his giant sword again and brought it down, collapsing the very gates of Black Mountain Sect.

"One hundred years ago you murdered my kin! Today I’ll raze your sect!"

His roar rolled like thunder across the heavens.

The disciples inside trembled at the sight of their fallen comrades. The masked man was too terrifying! Standing in his way meant certain death. Only the Core Formation realm elders could stand against him.

Sure enough, as the gates fell, two wrathful Core Formation realm elders flew out together.

The surrounding qi trembled under their power, as disciples cheered around them. The Foundation Establishment realm stewards and other disciples surged forward to surround Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan sneered. With another sweeping strike, dozens of disciples fell dead on the spot.

One of the Core Formation elders roared with outrage. Never before had he seen such a madman, who deliberately cut down disciples first!

His eyes narrowed as he watched Qi Yuan's techniques. "You killed Black Chicken Ancestor!"

He was Elder Yufeng, who had just returned. Examining the corpse taught him a lot.

Qi Yuan met his gaze. "You've seen through me. I cannot let you live!"

He surged into the skies.

The two Core Formation realm elders exchanged wary glances.

"Why does your body hold no Golden Core?"

"Are you not a Core Formation realm cultivator?"

Qi Yuan’s answer came descending in the form of his giant sword, full of killing intent.

1. In orthodox dual cultivation, both parties benefit, sharing yin and yang energy, balancing each other, and potentially advancing together. ☜

2. E/N: Don’t fuck with those who voiced in-game mobs themselves. ☜