Chapter Twenty-Two: The Scripture of Severing Lives

“The sixth and seventh levels of the Inner Prison hold many orthodox internal masters captured by the Demonic Sect, while the eighth level contains elders of the Demonic Sect who have committed grave offenses. As for the ninth level, outsiders like us can only speculate about what is imprisoned there,” Du Tianyou said directly, having guessed Li Ju’s thoughts.

“Do you two elders know how many of our orthodox internal masters are held on the sixth and seventh levels?” Li Ju stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“We don’t know the exact number, but from what we’ve gathered over the years in the Inner Prison, I suspect there are no fewer than ten orthodox masters imprisoned on those levels,” Lian Tao replied.

“So many experts?” Li Ju was astonished. Internal masters were not as common as cabbages; in the world of Flying Sword Chronicles, there were barely twenty orthodox internal masters still active. Yet the Inner Prison of the Demonic Sect held almost half that number.

“These masters weren’t all captured in recent years. This is the result of the Demonic Sect’s relentless hunt for our orthodox internal masters over more than a decade,” Du Tianyou shook his head.

“Are you aware that the Demonic Sect possesses a technique called the Soul-Slashing Sutra?” Du Tianyou asked, turning to Li Ju.

Li Ju shook his head in silence, somewhat annoyed by how some older martial artists liked to flaunt their experience before juniors.

“If internal masters are the backbone of the martial world, standing above the masses, then those who reach the Minor Three Primes realm stand at its very peak!”

“Each generation might see over a hundred internal masters, but among them, only three or four may ever break through to the Minor Three Primes. For an internal master to reach that realm is as difficult as ascending to the heavens!”

“A master of this realm can elevate their entire sect to the highest status. At present, including the Demonic Sect’s leader, there are only three experts in the Minor Three Primes realm in the entire martial world,” Du Tianyou explained earnestly. Li Ju listened just as intently, for seemingly trivial information like this could prove invaluable in overcoming the challenges ahead.

“But the martial world rises and falls with each generation. Even the mightiest will, after a hundred years, return to dust. Over the centuries, the top sects have changed hands countless times due to the lack of suitable successors.”

“Only the Demonic Sect, generation after generation, has always produced an expert in the Minor Three Primes realm. Do you know why that is?” Du Tianyou questioned Li Ju.

“It’s because of the Soul-Slashing Sutra?” Li Ju immediately guessed.

“The Soul-Slashing Sutra stands at the pinnacle of the Demonic Sect’s eight secret arts. It is their supreme inheritance, reserved solely for the sect leader.”

“Each secret art of the Demonic Sect has its own unique features: the Ghost Bat Technique grants unmatched speed and stealth, the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body renders the body invulnerable and immune to all toxins. But the Soul-Slashing Sutra is the strongest, not only because of its power but because of its terrifying ability…”

“It allows one to break through to the Minor Three Primes realm without hindrance!” Du Tianyou’s tone was grave.

“Every practitioner of the Soul-Slashing Sutra, upon reaching the peak of the internal stage, needs neither to comprehend the mysteries of the realm nor temper their martial skills. They need only kill twenty internal masters, seize their blood essence and inner force, and they can forcibly break through to the Minor Three Primes.”

“That is why the Demonic Sect hunts so many orthodox internal masters and imprisons them in the Inner Prison—these captives are prepared as stepping stones for the next sect leader’s breakthrough!” Du Tianyou spoke through gritted teeth.

Had Li Ju not saved them this time, they would surely have ended up as mere whetstones for the new leader of the Demonic Sect.

“The Soul-Slashing Sutra truly deserves to be called the Demonic Sect’s supreme secret art…” Li Ju compared its effects with his own Ghost Bat Technique and Hundred Poisons Vajra Body, and found himself coveting that power. With his mediocre martial aptitude, the Soul-Slashing Sutra would be perfect for him.

“Though powerful, the Soul-Slashing Sutra is not without its flaws,” Lian Tao interjected suddenly.

“Each sect leader, though reaching the Minor Three Primes realm, is only active in the martial world for about thirty years. After this period, they pass on their position and disappear from sight.”

“Many experts speculate that although the Soul-Slashing Sutra enables a forced breakthrough, it likely shortens the practitioner’s lifespan, leaving them with only thirty years to live after their breakthrough,” Lian Tao revealed, sharing some little-known secrets of the martial world.

“Enough, seniors. The nature of the Soul-Slashing Sutra won’t change our predicament. What matters now is rescuing the other elders. With their combined strength, we might escape this Inner Prison together.”

“Once we’re free, the vast world awaits us, and our future will be ours to seize,” Li Ju interrupted their discussion.

“Do you two have any knowledge of the Inner Prison’s layout?” he asked.

Du Tianyou and Lian Tao both nodded slowly.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you both to lead the way. If we encounter any elders of the Demonic Sect guarding the prison, leave them to me,” Li Ju clapped his hands to finalize the plan.

…

While Li Ju and his companions set out to rescue the imprisoned orthodox masters, outside the Inner Prison, chaos and slaughter had already erupted.

“Flowing Water Palm!”

Figures burst into a military formation, killing with abandon.

“Flying Sword Thrust!”

Wang Lu drew his long sword and stabbed forward, the blade piercing the heavy armor of a soldier and running him through the chest.

Swish!

Wang Lu twisted aside to dodge a massive axe swinging down at him.

“Are you all right, Young Master Wang?” A middle-aged man with a long blade carved a path through dozens of soldiers to reach Wang Lu.

“I’m fine, Elder Liu,” Wang Lu replied, glancing at the shallow wound on his right shoulder.

“You still haven’t broken through to the internal stage, Young Master. Without inner force for protection, you’re easily hurt on a battlefield like this,” Elder Liu observed, shaking his head.

“How did the Demonic Sect know we were coming to storm the prison? They’d already stationed these soldiers in formation at the gates,” Wang Lu said, frowning as he watched the martial experts slaughtering soldiers within the ranks.

“Perhaps there’s a spy,” Elder Liu replied, shaking his head. After centuries of conflict between the orthodox and the Demonic Sect, it was only natural that both sides would plant informants within each other’s ranks.