Chapter 6: Supreme Demonic Nature, Aura of Diminished Wisdom

Chen Yang appeared fierce and ruthless, as if he had taken countless lives, yet every person he killed was for a reason. Whether the reason was justified or sufficient mattered little—so long as there was any reason, it could not be called the senseless slaughter of the innocent. Thus, his humanity would never be lost.

Just as it is said: “The Immortal Way values life, yet the Grand Dao delights in destruction; all things meet their end in oblivion.” This, too, is a reason.

What’s more, not only had he comprehended intermediate demonic arts, but he had also touched upon the highest demonic mysteries.

“I am the Lord of Demons, and all demons must yield to me.”

So long as this thought remained unshakable, any demon who laid eyes upon him would see him as the true Demon Lord, subject to his every command.

This was the supreme demonic art he had grasped—an unparalleled demonic presence.

“I am going to kill. What, do you wish to do it in my stead?”

The fat man trembled, only now realizing that the sect master was brimming with murderous intent. He hurriedly waved his hands, replying, “How could someone as insignificant as me have such ability? I only came to report to you, Sect Master. Of the spirit herbs you require, we can only gather about a fifth here. After all, this is just a small outpost. If we can contact the main branch, we should be able to collect most of what you need.”

This wretched fat man was indeed loyal to the Four Seas Trading Company.

Hearing that a fifth had been gathered, Chen Yang’s expression softened slightly. He nodded, “Let us set that matter aside for now. First, I go to kill.”

With that, a crisp call echoed overhead, and the Blood-transforming Divine Blade, which had been circling above the marketplace, whistled down, wrapping him in a crimson glow and soaring into the sky.

As the blood light vanished beyond the horizon, Fat Xu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and thought to himself,

“This Demon Lord is truly demonic—powerful beyond measure, with such a murderous nature and utterly unrestrained in his actions. Even though the Four Seas Trading Company is vast and influential, if we truly provoke him, our fate would be dire indeed.”

...

Among the three major sects of Zhangze County, the Cloudfall Sect ranked second, boasting one Golden Core Patriarch and seven Violet Palace elders.

With the Golden Core Patriarch secluded and only one Violet Palace elder left to guard the sect, the Cloudfall Sect had all but emptied its ranks for this mission.

Six of them piloted a flying vessel at breakneck speed toward the marketplace.

“What is that?”

As the six hurried along, a crimson arc suddenly appeared ahead, shooting straight toward them.

The blood-hued streak moved with unbelievable speed; one moment it was far off, the next it was upon them.

The flying swords of Mount Shu were renowned for their ferocity, and ever since Elder Long-brow’s emergence, the sword arts of all sects had reached their zenith.

Though the Blood-transforming Divine Blade was forged from mere essence of blood, a pale imitation of its original form, under Chen Yang’s mastery of higher swordsmanship, it could still shatter a thousand spells with a single strike.

The blade’s light seemed to press forward with unstoppable force, yet in truth, as it touched the flying vessel, it shifted and transformed thirteen times in succession, diverting all of the vessel’s defenses.

The flying vessel, as if left unguarded, was split in two by the blade’s light. The Violet Palace elder at the helm had barely time to cry out before the blade changed again, shattering his protective talisman, then looping around.

His eyes widened, head tumbling from his shoulders—a black shadow darted from the blade, flashing by in an instant. It was the Six Desires Yin Demon.

Killing, collecting bodies, capturing souls—a seamless sequence of movements, as if murder itself were an art form.

The change came so swiftly, so abruptly, that the others had not even reacted before one among them had already fallen.

A chill ran down their spines. Their terror, amplified by Chen Yang’s secret demonic arts, surged out of control, throwing their minds into chaos.

In their panic, they hurled talismans and magical implements in every direction, heedless of their effectiveness.

Had it been a single person, it might have been manageable, but with all five behaving thus, they hindered one another, their talismans and artifacts clashing and exploding in bursts of light. The scene was thrown into utter chaos.

This was precisely what Chen Yang desired. The blade’s light danced and shifted amidst the riot of colors, slashing back and forth. When the brilliance faded, of the five who remained, another two were headless corpses.

The survivors, already shaken, were now struck down two more times in an instant. The remaining three passed from terror to panic, and from panic to abject fear—a fear that was endlessly magnified.

The demonic path cultivated the mind, and was most attuned to the fluctuations of thought.

The crimson blade drew back, and the young Daoist hovered in the air, toying with the Blood-transforming Divine Blade. The weapon’s glow lengthened and contracted as if eager to devour someone at any moment.

“Kneel.”

His voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable authority.

Just two short words, yet in the hearts of the three, it crashed like furious waves upon sand, one cresting higher than the last.

“Spare us, lord!”

The three trembled uncontrollably and slowly knelt.

...

With three more Violet Palace cultivators’ remains, the Blood-transforming Divine Blade’s power grew once more, and the Bone Demon finally began to take proper shape.

Devouring the three skeletons entirely, the Bone Demon, which had started as nothing but a skull, now sprouted an upper body and two skeletal claws—immensely strong and capable of shattering all protective spells.

Moreover, the demon came and went without a trace, responding as swiftly as lightning. It could well serve as a variant flying sword.

But the demon’s true might was far from fully realized.

At present, his magical power was still lacking, and the right materials were scarce; thus, its power was not yet evident.

If he could refine it until flesh grew upon bone, then the Bone Demon would truly be complete.

Should he manage to create twelve perfected Bone Demons, and merge them with the twelve Celestial Demons among the Formless Demons, he could forge the legendary “Twelve Celestial Demon Fiends.”

He transformed the Bone Demon back into a pale bone ring and slipped it onto his wrist. The Blood-transforming Divine Blade wrapped around him and the three newly-devoted disciples of the Supreme Demon Sect, bearing them toward Cloudfall Mountain.

Since he had begun, he would see it through to the end. To leave a Golden Core Patriarch lurking in the shadows, nursing a grudge, would be bothersome, even if not truly dangerous.

With three new disciples to lead the way, Chen Yang quickly arrived at the secluded chamber of the Cloudfall Patriarch.

“What matter is so urgent that you must see me?” The voice came before the man appeared.

The stone door opened slowly, and an elder with white hair emerged from the cave dwelling.

The three said nothing, merely standing respectfully behind Chen Yang.

“Who is this?” The patriarch’s brow furrowed.

Chen Yang bowed and smiled. “I am Chen Yang, sect master of the Supreme Demon Sect. I have come today to invite you—either to die, or to serve as a gatekeeper and errand boy in my sect.”

The Daoist arts of Mount Shu were utterly different from the cultivation methods of this world, and could not be compared.

Moreover, Chen Yang could not cultivate qi; all his power was borrowed from the secret demonic arts. In the eyes of the patriarch, he seemed no different from an ordinary mortal.

Normally, if a mere mortal addressed a Golden Core cultivator—or any cultivator—in such a manner, it would be a bizarre event indeed. Anger would be natural, but caution should come first.

The three Violet Palace elders’ deferential stance made it all the more obvious something was amiss.

But, unfortunately… as Chen Yang spoke, he had already employed a subtle demonic art, magnifying all the patriarch’s emotions.

Thus, though the Cloudfall Patriarch was not immediately ensnared by his spell, it was as though his mind had been clouded—he ignored all these oddities, and a furious sense of humiliation blazed up within him, making him laugh with rage.

“To trifle with your elder? You must be courting death!”