Chapter 20: Demonic Tides and a Fatal Encounter

In the Great Yu Continent, while the righteous path was spearheaded by four major sects, where there was righteousness, evil also thrived.

Scattered throughout the shadowy corners of the Great Yu Continent’s cultivation world were numerous demonic sects, both large and small.

Demonic cultivation typically knew no bounds; soul-snatching, human refining, and murdering for treasures were commonplace.

The most egregious instance occurred over a thousand years ago, when a Demonic Lord emerged and, in his pursuit of ascension, sacrificed millions of lives.

Ultimately, the Demonic Lord was jointly annihilated by the major righteous sects.

This event left a profound impact on the Great Yu Continent.

Before this, cultivation was not inherently divided into righteous and demonic, but afterward, any cultivation method that was cruel and defied natural laws was classified as the demonic path.

The next chapter of the story would revolve around these demonic forces.

Qin Yangjun arrived at the foot of the outer peak, his gaze falling upon the outer sect’s mountain gate not far off.

After a moment of contemplation, he concealed his presence and slipped into a nearby thicket of trees.

After traversing a bamboo grove, Qin Yangjun’s vision suddenly cleared, revealing a tranquil lake before him, beside which stood a small wooden cabin.

A man in green robes sat serenely before the lake, holding a simple fishing rod.

From a distance, the scene resembled less a cultivation ground and more the dwelling of a reclusive hermit in the mortal countryside.

While every peak provided communal dormitories for disciples, one could personally apply to the Peak Master for a private plot of land.

Whether the application was granted, however, depended entirely on the Peak Master’s disposition.

Qin Yangjun offered a faint smile, then, in the very next instant, materialized directly beside the man.

“Hmm… this is quite a nice spot indeed,” Qin Yangjun mused aloud. “Good mountains, clear waters, perfectly suited for cultivating one’s mind and body.”

The sudden voice startled the man, causing his fishing rod to plunge immediately into the lake.

Upon realizing it was Qin Yangjun, the man hastily bowed in reverence.

“This junior disciple, Shan Guangyun, greets Senior Martial Brother.”

Qin Yangjun subtly raised a hand.

“Ah, there’s no need for such formalities,” he interjected. “It’s just the two of us here.”

“Oh… oh, I see. Then, Senior Martial Brother, may I ask the purpose of your visit to this humble abode?”

Qin Yangjun unfurled his golden silken fan, then turned to glance at the thatched hut.

“I was merely passing by coincidentally,” he explained, “but for some inexplicable reason, I suddenly sensed a surge of demonic energy. Junior Martial Brother, do you have any idea why?”

At these words, a peculiar glint flickered in Shan Guangyun’s eyes, only to be swiftly suppressed.

“Senior Martial Brother speaks nonsense,” Shan Guangyun replied, a hint of forced calm in his voice. “The name of my Yuqian Sect alone is enough to deter all demons. Petty demonic scoundrels would flee from this place as quickly as possible; how could they possibly appear here?”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Qin Yangjun’s voice rose slightly, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

The brief, intense gaze exerted immense pressure on Shan Guangyun, and a flicker of anxiety surfaced in his eyes.

Buzz!

Qin Yangjun sharply snapped his fan shut, and a formidable aura erupted from his person.

Shan Guangyun’s expression instantly shifted, and in a flash, he retreated, putting a hundred meters between himself and Qin Yangjun in the blink of an eye.

Qin Yangjun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Cloud-Soaring Steps (TL Note: A high-grade movement technique),” Qin Yangjun remarked, “you truly aren’t one for a quiet life, are you? It seems the disciples who accompanied you on missions before didn’t die by accident, after all.”

Cloud-Soaring Steps was a fifth-grade movement technique, typically only accessible to disciples under the direct tutelage of an Elder.

As an outer sect disciple, Shan Guangyun could not possibly have obtained such a cultivation method, leaving only one plausible explanation.

Murdering for treasures.

Seeing his deception exposed, Shan Guangyun immediately turned and fled.

He knew that, as a cultivator in the early Foundation Establishment stage, he was no match for the person before him.

Qin Yangjun wasted no words.

A ball of fire erupted in his hand, and a colossal palm print wreathed in flames shot towards Shan Guangyun with the speed of a gale.

Shan Guangyun, in the midst of his desperate escape, watched his face contort in horror.

“Great Blazing Palm!”

This was one of the Yuqian Sect’s ultimate techniques; if he were struck, death was certain.

Realizing that he would surely perish if he didn’t exert his full power, a burst of black energy erupted around his body.

A faint smile touched Qin Yangjun’s lips, and in the next second, both his figure and the colossal palm print vanished entirely.

A suffocating sensation suddenly assailed Shan Guangyun’s consciousness as a large hand clamped around his throat.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Yangjun had appeared directly in front of him.

“Mirage Mirror Image (TL Note: A movement or illusion technique)... you knew about me all along…”

Snap!

Without another word, Qin Yangjun tightened his grip with a single hand.

Shan Guangyun’s head lolled to the side, his life extinguished.

The technique Shan Guangyun had just employed was a demonic escape art that burned one’s life force, capable of instantly teleporting the user a hundred li (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of distance, approximately 500 meters or 0.3 miles).

Fortunately, Qin Yangjun was a character who had read the script, aware that this move had a ‘wind-up’ phase.

Had it not been for his feigned attack, Shan Guangyun might truly have escaped.

Perhaps due to the merging of memories, Qin Yangjun felt no particular emotion after taking a life, as if he had merely stepped on an ant by accident.

Qin Yangjun retrieved Shan Guangyun’s storage bag, then casually tossed the corpse aside like refuse before conjuring a ball of flame.

His series of actions flowed seamlessly, as if he had performed them countless times before.

The storage bag contained nothing of great value: a few demonic cultivation manuals, some herbs, and a scattering of bizarre trinkets.

Qin Yangjun dismissed these items as trash, his gaze quickly moving past them until he found what he truly sought.

It was a small, irregular yellow bead, rather unappealing in appearance.

Yet this bead was no mere ornament; it was crafted from human bone and served as a token.

Having secured the item, Qin Yangjun departed without a backward glance.

After achieving his objective, Qin Yangjun did not immediately return to his manor.

Instead, he took a circuitous, leisurely stroll, arriving at the foot of the main peak, where the new disciples were housed, just as evening descended.

Weaving through the forest at the base of the mountain once more, Qin Yangjun reached an exceptionally secluded cave entrance.

Inside, someone was already waiting for him.

The figure stood with their back turned, speaking as they slowly turned around.

“Hmm… punctual as ever. This is the first time I’ve contacted you…”

The very next second, upon seeing who had arrived, Cheng Lieqing froze.

Qin Yangjun, meanwhile, regarded the man before him with a knowing smile.

“Good evening, Junior Martial Brother Cheng,” Qin Yangjun greeted cheerfully. “You’ve chosen quite a good cave dwelling here—hidden, warm in winter, cool in summer. Though perhaps the mosquitoes might be a bit bothersome in the summer.”

“Ah… oh… haha… yes, yes… ah…”

Cheng Lieqing’s mind was a tangled mess.

Why was Qin Yangjun here?!

Cheng Lieqing was utterly panicked.

Qin Yangjun had clearly overheard his words; how could he possibly explain himself? Should he just run?

‘No… no! This infiltration was meticulously planned by the Cult Master for a long time. If anything goes wrong, I’ll face severe punishment… What do I do… what do I do…’

Despite his inner turmoil, his mental fortitude, honed by his mission as an infiltrator, was commendable.

His panic did not betray itself on his face.

Qin Yangjun, however, had no intention of toying with him further.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the bone token he had obtained from Shan Guangyun floated into the air.

Then, he uttered softly.

“Myriad Demonic Laws Descend (TL Note: A phrase that could refer to a powerful demonic technique or a concept where all laws become demonic, indicating a significant demonic presence or authority).”

At this, Cheng Lieqing could no longer suppress his emotions.

His expression shifted from composure to utter shock, his eyes widening, his jaw slightly agape.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

“Destroy… Destroy Yuqian’s Buried Bone (TL Note: This phrase, ‘Cui Yu Mai Gu’, likely refers to a specific demonic token or artifact, possibly related to the bone token Qin Yangjun just revealed, or a code phrase for a demonic identity.) … Is that you? But how is this possible?!”

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