"Shrinking the ground to an inch—truly an Immortal's method. To Master this top-tier movement art demands extraordinary Comprehension Ability from a Cultivator."
Such a supreme Cultivation Technique was in truth not something an ordinary Cultivator could even touch.
It counted as a Sect's apex Legacy, open only to the Sect's Prodigies.
Even many geniuses with transcendent Comprehension Ability struggled to fathom such a profound technique."
"I have to bring this to Perfection."
Han Xuanji quietly resolved.
With the System in hand, he felt he couldn't afford to waste time.
But if he ever provoked a truly Powerful Expert, he still needed a way to keep his life…
Before long, news that the Heavenly Demon Sect's number-one Protector had fallen spread far and wide.
Every power in Yong Province was debating who had struck the blow.
Some rejoiced; naturally, others worried.
Celestial Azure Venerable's death would not halt the Heavenly Demon Sect's expansion.
On the contrary, the demonic Sect might well dispatch someone even stronger.
Inside Shenxuan Sect, many high-level members were beaming, itching to throw a banquet in celebration.
The reason was simple: Celestial Azure Venerable had once been a Shenxuan Prodigy, and many at the time had thought he would become Sect Master—until he defected to the Heavenly Demon Sect, publicly slapping the faces of the Elders.
Han Xuanji knew nothing of this Karma.
At the time he had merely tested the man; he never expected him to be so fragile.
He had no interest in learning the background of the soul that fell beneath his blade.
Better to spend that time on actual Cultivation.
One day, Lu Fan came to visit.
As the Chosen Son of Fortune designated by Han Xuanji, Lu Fan had fully displayed his Genius: after entering the Golden Core Realm he first became an Inner Sect Disciple, then distinguished himself in the inner-Sect grand competition. Many saw his talent now surpassed the past and his future was boundless.
To prevent him from being poached, Lingxiu Peak's Peak Lord, Ye Chen, personally took him as a Personal Disciple.
Lu Fan shot up like a meteor, transforming overnight from an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple into the Peak Lord's Personal Disciple.
He had spent the past days secluded in a training Secret Realm and knew nothing of Yong Province's events.
On emerging, his cultivation had advanced greatly. At first he enjoyed the praise of Elders and Junior Brothers, but once he learned what had happened outside, his mood dipped.
After all, if a Late Stage Soul Transformation expert could die so easily, what was a puny Golden Core like him worth?
Lu Fan poured out his thoughts.
"A mere Golden Core like me has it so hard…"
Han Xuanji listened seriously, but he felt the guy was flexing in front of him.
"Look, I'm only at Foundation Establishment—am I panicking?"
"Actually, you're breaking through incredibly fast. Those Soul Transformation powerhouses have all been cultivating for centuries, even millennia. Given time, you'll rise too, become the Sect's pillar, and Shenxuan Sect will rely on you to prosper!"
Lu Fan nodded, feeling Han Xuanji had spoken straight to his heart.
In truth he was quite satisfied with his own progress; he just needed to vent. He didn't want to lower his standing in Master's eyes, nor lose face before fellow True Disciples, so only with this "bosom" friend could he speak freely.
Lu Fan sensed that Han Xuanji treated him no differently because of his status as a True Disciple; the ease of conversation felt just like old times.
After becoming a Peak Lord's Personal Disciple, he finally tasted what worldly wisdom meant.
Those who had once bullied him, learning of his rise, sent lavish apologies, even kneeling to beg forgiveness.
Oddly, when he'd been powerless he'd dreamed of revenge, yet when he faced them the hatred had vanished.
Because he had never cultivated to wash away disgrace or to take revenge—only for himself.
Lu Fan understood: strength is everything. As a Peak Lord's Personal Disciple he still depended on his Master's prestige; if he abused that status daily, who knew what end awaited him.
At that moment, the Demon Lord's voice suddenly sounded in Lu Fan's mind.
"Perhaps it's my imagination, but I sense a secret on your Junior Brother."
"Really?" Lu Fan was unconcerned.
He too sometimes felt Han Xuanji was extraordinary; such looks and bearing hardly fit an ordinary Disciple.
He had scrutinized Han Xuanji's cultivation and found no flaw; the Demon Lord had secretly observed likewise and detected nothing amiss.
Moreover, Han Xuanji's background was spotless, even younger than himself—hardly the look of a villain. When he had helped Lu Fan back then, he couldn't have foreseen Lu Fan's rise.
As they chatted, Lu Fan lowered his voice mysteriously.
"Word is the Heavenly Demon Sect's Third Elder has led many elite culti-vators into East Cang Province. They're right across the border in Qing Province, and quite a few Qing Province Sects have already pledged allegiance…"
"A Heavenly Demon Sect Elder?" Han Xuanji started.
The ten Great Elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect are each a mighty expert in the Returning to Void Realm; a single stamp of their foot can shake a whole region. The emergence of such figures proves the Sect is playing for keeps.
"Seriously?"
"I heard it from my Master, so it's true. You'll hear the rumors yourself soon enough."
Lu Fan's face was solemn.
Han Xuanji pressed on:
"Then do you know which expert killed Celestial Azure Venerable?"
Lu Fan shook his head.
"Not really. Inside the Sect some guess it was the Demon-Slaying Sword Master."
"But plenty disagree—after all, it's said he only broke through to Soul Transformation recently; he couldn't have so easily slain a Peak Soul Transformation expert… I think the killer bears a blood feud with the Heavenly Demon Sect, but, fearing reprisals against friends and family, struck while hiding his identity."
As a Personal Disciple of the Peak Lord, he knew full well the culprit wasn't a Shenxuan Sect powerhouse.
Han Xuanji's expression turned odd; he had no idea what wild tale this guy was spinning about him in his head.
Probably some bitter, tragic back-story.
"Returning to Void Realm, huh?"
Han Xuanji fell into thought.
A Returning to Void expert had appeared; before long, when the Heavenly Demon Sect attacked, would he flee or stand his ground?
Even if he ran, he'd need enough strength not to be caught.
With that, Han Xuanji's gaze hardened; he lost any desire to keep chatting.
"Senior Brother Lu, we've got to train harder. When the Sect comes, no egg stays whole under an overturned nest."
"Junior Brother is right."
Hearing that, Lu Fan couldn't help feeling ashamed.
If even Junior Brother Han was pushing himself, what right did he have to slack?
If the demonic Sect really came, he needed power to protect those beside him.
At the very least, he had to keep Junior Brother Han safe.
After leaving Han Xuanji's Immortal Cave, Lu Fan secretly contacted the Demon Lord:
"Senior Demon Lord, I need your guidance… I must form my Nascent Soul as soon as possible."
"Good. Cultivate quickly; one day I may need you to help me exact vengeance."
The Demon Lord watched Lu Fan, quite pleased.
Meanwhile.
North of Central Continent lies Northern Dark State, a paradise for demon Cultivators under demonic Sect rule.
The Heavenly Demon Sect resides here, the strongest demonic power.
At this moment, inside the Heavenly Demon Main Hall.
A crowd had gathered; every aura was overwhelming, the weakest at Soul Transformation, many at Returning to Void.
"Third Elder, I hear Saint Chen Sheng is dead—so not just anyone can be a Saint."
A wizened, pint-sized Elder spoke in a syrupy tone.
His own Disciple had lost the Saint contest; hearing of Chen Sheng's death delighted him.
The Third Elder flared with rage:
"Someone bullied the young, no honor at all!"
"Hmph."
Now the purple-robed man on the main seat spoke:
"Inferior skill, that's all. If the Shenxuan Sect were easy pickings, it wouldn't have stood in East Azure State so long."
"Fourth Elder, any progress on the task I gave you?"
The skinny old man pondered, then said:
"Reporting to the Sect Master: our infiltrators found nothing useful, no sign anyone has obtained Heavenly Night Demon Lord's Legacy."
"Mm."
The purple-robed man nodded, unbothered, and asked:
"Have we identified who killed Celestial Azure Venerable?"
The Fourth Elder hesitated. "No. According to our spies, even the Shenxuan Sect doesn't know, though they suspect the Demon-Slaying Sword Master."
At those words the hall fell silent.
After a moment someone said, "Didn't the Demon-Slaying Sword Master just reach Soul Transformation?"
Celestial Azure Venerable had been a Peak Soul Transformation Cultivator; unless a Returning to Void expert struck, he wouldn't have perished without even escaping.
The implication was obvious.
None could believe the elusive Demon-Slaying Sword Master was the culprit.
It had to be some Old Ancestor of the Shenxuan Sect returning.
At this point the long-silent Hall Lord of Wuxiang Hall finally spoke:
"That youth is far stronger than he appears. I suspect he is a reborn powerhouse of the Shenxuan Sect, or harbors some great secret."
"All this mystery around the Demon-Slaying Sword Master—likely the Shenxuan Sect broke the rules."
"After all, everyone knows Celestial Azure Venerable's origin; the Shenxuan Sect could never let him be."
The Third Elder said coldly:
"Then let me take charge in East Azure State and see what Saint or demon dares show his face."
"Good. I await your performance, Third Elder."
The purple-robed man smiled; in a blink his figure vanished.
Everyone present started—no one saw how he left.
Someone sighed:
"A mere Incarnation of the Sect Master is already so strong; his true body must be nearing the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. Let's see what the Shenxuan Sect does then."
Should the Heavenly Demon Sect produce a Tribulation Transcendence Cultivator, it could dominate any land beyond Central Continent.
The many demon Cultivators began scheming over how to claim their share of the spoils…