Volume One: The Young Demon Lord, Chapter 31: Devilish Training

For Qi Yu, the idea of pandering to anyone was out of the question. It mattered not if they stood in the high halls of power or hailed from an illustrious lineage. He had once considered keeping a low profile, but that had only invited a near-fatal disaster. Thus, he had decided to abandon restraint—whoever provoked him would face his wrath, regardless of who they were.

Zhen Xingfan’s gaze was frigid. "Qi Yu, one month from now, at the Life-and-Death Arena. Do you dare?"

Qi Yu agreed without hesitation. "Fine!"

Seeing Qi Yu accept, Zhen Xingfan sneered, "Then prepare for your death!"

Qi Yu replied indifferently, "I'll be waiting for you."

With that, he took Liu Rouxue’s hand and walked away. The disciples nearby looked at Qi Yu with varying expressions. The women gazed at him with envy, suddenly finding him incredibly dashing—a charm that made their hearts flutter. The men, however, burned with murderous jealousy. Liu Rouxue was not only a Saintess but also the greatest beauty of the Tiangang Sword Sect; countless men coveted her but dared not express it.

Deep within the Elder Hall, the Grand Elder and Zhang Wendian observed the scene. The Grand Elder sipped his tea and remarked, "Zhen Xingfan is a genius of the Sword Sect and a scion of a noble family from the Great Yan Imperial City. He cannot be allowed to meet with misfortune within the sect."

Zhang Wendian asked, "Does the Grand Elder mean that Qi Yu’s life is of no consequence?"

The Grand Elder shook his head. "If it were the old Qi Yu, it would be a different matter. But now, Qi Yu is Xue’er’s fiancé and an peerless genius who has conquered the Demon-Sealing Tower. It is just a pity..."

"A pity for what?" Zhang Wendian asked.

The Grand Elder stroked his beard. "It is a pity that he may be walking the same path as his father."

"What path?" Zhang Wendian asked, puzzled.

The Grand Elder fell into memory. "Qi Yu’s father was also a peerless genius among sword cultivators. With a single strike, he split the Demon-Sealing Tower. Later, in the Demon Abyss, he severed the path of the Demon Race with one sword, keeping them from setting foot in the human realm for decades. But then, he brought back an infant from somewhere—that infant was Qi Yu. Since then, he gave up on himself, abandoned the path of the sword, and spent his days muttering the name of a woman. That is what led to his eventual downfall."

Zhang Wendian was silent for a moment. "Grand Elder, are you saying Qi Yu will also be trapped by the shackles of love?"

The Grand Elder took a sip of tea. "I hope I am overthinking it. Regardless, if either of them dies, it will be a tremendous loss for the Sword Sect."

Zhang Wendian remained silent, lost in thought.

Back in Qi Yu’s courtyard, Liu Rouxue was deeply worried. Though Zhen Xingfan was a scoundrel, his cultivation was genuinely at the second level of the Profound Martial Realm. Qi Yu was only at the eighth level of the Entry-Profound Realm, and each realm gap was a formidable barrier. Even with Qi Yu’s exceptional talent, it was impossible to reach the Profound Martial Realm in just one month.

Liu Rouxue brought out a set of Gold-Scale Armor. "Brother Qi Yu, my master gave this to me when I was training in the Desolate Ancient City. You should wear it."

Qi Yu shook his head. "There is no need."

Liu Rouxue said earnestly, "Brother Qi Yu, you must promise me you won't get hurt!"

Seeing the sincerity in her expression, Qi Yu smiled and tapped her nose. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to me!"

He then asked Yao Yao in his mind, "Sister Yao Yao, with my current sword realm, can I defeat a practitioner at the second level of the Profound Martial Realm?"

Yao Yao replied, "If you stop posturing, it'll be quite easy."

Qi Yu: "..."

***

In a hidden chamber, Zhen Xingfan sat on a chair while before him lay a figure covered in white bandages, unrecognizable and disfigured.

The figure spoke in a raspy, jagged voice, "Haha, good! That ignorant brat is courting death by challenging you, so let him die on the Life-and-Death Arena!"

Zhen Xingfan’s face was sinister. "I will surely kill this ant!"

The figure continued, "Hidden in this chamber is a mid-tier Earth-grade technique. Take it and cultivate. Furthermore, there is a place you must go to train."

"Where?" Zhen Xingfan asked.

"Canglan City, the Trial Tower," the figure replied.

***

In the Demon God Sword Domain, Qi Yu sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. Wisps of spiritual energy flowed into his body. Within him, a dark red orb released waves of energy, constantly battering his ninth meridian. Qi Yu was incredibly tense; the slightest mistake would not only render his efforts futile but could also leave him a cripple.

The assault lasted for fifteen days. Heaven rewards the diligent—the meridian was finally breached. In an instant, a massive surge of spiritual energy poured into him like a river. Fortunately, his Dantian had evolved into a Dantian Sea, or he would have been torn apart.

Qi Yu began attempting to refine the spiritual energy into spiritual power. Finally, the energy coalesced into tangible power. He extended a hand, and milky-white spiritual energy danced at his fingertips like flame.

Qi Yu was overjoyed. "Sister Yao Yao, I succeeded!"

Yao Yao and Little Fishy approached him. Qi Yu chuckled, gripped his Cold Cicada Sword, and looked toward the giant sword in the center of the domain, his gaze turning resolute.

*Swoosh!*

The Cold Cicada Sword was coated in a layer of milky-white spiritual power, and a murderous aura filled the air.

*Hum!*

The sword trembled, and a golden light erupted from its tip.

*Swish!*

Qi Yu finally swung. In an instant, the entire domain seemed to shudder. A sword aura several yards long, condensed from spiritual power, tore through the air toward the giant sword. Yet, just as before, the aura gradually dissipated into the domain.

A smile tugged at the corner of Qi Yu's mouth; the aura had come closer to the giant sword than ever before! But the next moment, a bamboo switch rapped him on the head.

"Ouch!"

Qi Yu clutched his head, complaining, "Sister Yao Yao, I’ve already condensed spiritual power, why are you still hitting me?"

Yao Yao frowned. "Are you getting cocky? Let me tell you, many people were already Sword Immortals at your age!"

Qi Yu was incredulous. "What?"

Little Fishy chimed in, "Brother Qi Yu, Sister Yao Yao is right. I’ve seen many who attained the status of Sword Immortal at your age."

Qi Yu’s eye twitched. "Sword Immortal? I’m not even a proper sword cultivator yet!"

Yao Yao said, "Qi Yu, while you might be considered a genius here, in the wider world, your talent is merely average."

Qi Yu felt crushed; he suddenly felt as though he lacked the strength to even hold his sword.

Yao Yao continued, "But do not be discouraged. My first master had not even touched a sword at your age."

Qi Yu paused. "Your first master?"

Yao Yao nodded. "Yes. You are my second master, and my last. My first master was a Sword God!"

Yao Yao pointed to the giant sword in the center. "I am the God-Slaying Sword! I am the only sword in this world to have ever slain a god. Every sword in this domain was defeated by me; I climbed to the pinnacle by stepping over their corpses!"

Yao Yao placed a hand on Qi Yu’s shoulder. "If my first master could do it, you certainly can!"

Qi Yu asked tentatively, "Sister Yao Yao, was your first master incredibly powerful?"

Yao Yao’s eyes filled with longing. "Of course!"

Qi Yu looked at Little Fishy. "Little Fishy, do you know Sister Yao Yao’s first master?"

Little Fishy blinked her large eyes and nodded. "I do! The Sword God!"

Qi Yu asked again, "Where is he now?"

Little Fishy shook her head. "I don't know."

Yao Yao scoffed. "Trying to fish for information? Don't bother. Little Fishy truly doesn't know. Only I do, but I won't tell you who it is, nor will I tell you where he is."

Qi Yu: "..."

Yao Yao struck Qi Yu’s head again with the bamboo switch, her voice cold. "Qi Yu, I have decided. Starting today, you will undergo devilish training!"

Qi Yu was alarmed. "Devilish training?"

Yao Yao said, "Little Fishy and I will take turns being your opponents, and we will absolutely not hold back!"

"What?" Qi Yu asked in disbelief. "Sister Yao Yao, what is your cultivation level?"

Yao Yao replied, "I have no level."

No level? What did that mean? Had she reached the limit of cultivation?

A layer of spiritual power began to coat the bamboo switch in Yao Yao's hand. Sensing the danger, Qi Yu quickly asked Little Fishy, "Little Fishy, what is your cultivation level?"

Little Fishy rubbed her head. "I don't know either."

"Ah, monsters! You’re both monsters!"

Yao Yao approached step by step, a cold smirk on her face. "Monsters? Heh, no. We are demons!"

"Prepare yourself!"