Volume 1, Chapter 4: A Peerless Prodigy!
“Senior Brother Chu, could it be that you…”
The Outer Sect Elder suddenly noticed that Chu Tianxing was still staring intently at the Demon-Sealing Stele, his eyes shining brightly.
He was clearly in deep meditation!
“Outer Sect Elder, who is that person beside you? A new Inner Sect disciple just promoted from the Outer Sect?”
Dozens of Inner Sect Elders, having seen Chu Tianxing standing motionless, hurriedly rushed toward him, kicking aside any Inner Sect disciples blocking their path.
The Outer Sect Elder hurriedly bowed respectfully and replied, “Reporting to the Inner Sect Elders, he is…”
Before he could finish, many Inner Sect disciples suddenly exclaimed, “Isn’t that Chu Tianxing?”
“Ah! It really is Chu Tianxing! That useless fellow actually advanced to the Inner Sect?”
“Wasn’t he the one who comprehended the Demon-Sealing Techniques? When I was in the Outer Sect, he was nothing but a worthless disciple who couldn’t cultivate!”
“A mere waste like him could never have comprehended the Demon-Sealing Techniques, much less cause such a spectacular golden light phenomenon!”
“If he really was the one to bring forth that wondrous light, then I’d rather eat dirt!”
“Is that really Chu Tianxing?” The dozens of Inner Sect Elders all halted in their tracks.
Although none of the Inner Sect Elders had met Chu Tianxing personally, they had heard of him long ago.
His name was famous across the Sacred Ground and even the continent.
This was solely because he bore the title of the Crown Prince of Chu Kingdom, yet was the worst disciple in the history of the Demon-Slaying Sacred Ground.
“That is indeed Senior Brother Chu Tianxing, who just passed the assessment,” the Outer Sect Elder said respectfully.
“Truly that waste!” The Inner Sect Elders immediately lost interest.
A disciple who took two whole years just to enter the Inner Sect could hardly have comprehended the Demon-Sealing Techniques.
“I did it! I’ve comprehended the Demon-Sealing Techniques!”
Suddenly, an excited shout rang out, drawing everyone’s attention.
A young man in a blue robe, with ordinary looks but an extraordinary aura, was pumping his fist and shouting enthusiastically.
“Senior Brother Mu Ping!” All the Inner Sect disciples recognized the man in blue, for he was the strongest disciple in the Inner Sect.
Though there were tens of thousands of Inner Sect disciples, most didn’t know each other, but no one dared not know Mu Ping, the senior brother of the Inner Sect.
“Senior Brother Mu Ping, may I ask how many types of Demon-Sealing Techniques you have comprehended?” The Inner Sect Elders stepped forward, even changing how they addressed him.
Usually, they called him by name, but now, even the elders had to address him as Senior Brother.
Mu Ping felt a surge of pride seeing these normally aloof elders treating him with such respect.
“Two,” Mu Ping replied coolly, folding his hands behind his back.
---
“Two?”
The Inner Sect Elders were momentarily stunned, then smiled wryly.
“Senior Brother Mu Ping must be joking.”
“Yes, that golden light phenomenon just now can only manifest if one has comprehended seven or more types.”
“Senior Brother Mu Ping must be mistaken. We ask only because of the sacred rules, which require us to record this information.”
“If only two types were comprehended, the Demon-Sealing Stele would show golden light phenomena but nothing reaching the sky.”
Hearing this, Mu Ping was visibly stunned, instinctively glancing at the Demon-Sealing Stele. Did he really cause that golden light reaching the sky?
“Could it be that, like the Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter, I am a rare prodigy in this world?”
“But why do I only see two types of Demon-Sealing Techniques on the stele?”
Mu Ping’s thoughts churned with doubt. Perhaps after mastering these two, the other types would appear later?
As Mu Ping pondered anxiously, four voices suddenly echoed from all directions.
“Are you willing to join the Demon-Sealing Lineage?”
“Are you willing to join the Demon-Slaying Lineage?”
“Are you willing to join the Demon-Locking Lineage?”
“Are you willing to join the Demon-Trapping Lineage?”
In an instant, the Inner Sect Elders hurriedly bowed respectfully in unison.
“Greetings, Sacred Lord! Deputy Sacred Lord! Lord of Punishment! Guardian Lord!”
All the disciples present were as silent as if chilled by cold air, bowing deeply.
Though the voices came without physical presence, everyone knew these four voices belonged to the leaders of the four great lineages of the Demon-Slaying Sacred Ground.
“Senior Brother Chu, hurry and pay your respects!” The Outer Sect Elder saw Chu Tianxing still standing, eyes fixed on the Demon-Sealing Stele, and quickly reminded him telepathically.
Chu Tianxing frowned slightly, forced himself out of meditation, and stopped his deep contemplation.
“I have only mastered the last three techniques of the nine Demon-Sealing Arts. To master the middle three and the most difficult first three will require more time.”
His gaze flickered as the Outer Sect Elder pulled him to bow, while Chu Tianxing inquired confusedly, “What happened?”
The Outer Sect Elder was stunned. Could Chu Tianxing be the one who had comprehended seven or more Demon-Sealing Techniques?
Otherwise, why would he be unaware of what had just transpired? Could he have truly been in meditation?
“No, Mu Ping admitted he comprehended Demon-Sealing Techniques. There’s no way he would dare lie about it.”
“Even his cousin Mu Yuyao wouldn’t make false claims about the Demon-Sealing Techniques.”
The Outer Sect Elder dismissed the speculation and then recounted the events to Chu Tianxing.
“The leaders of the four lineages of the Sacred Ground all invited Mu Ping to join their lines?”
---
Squinting, Chu Tianxing looked at the astonished Mu Ping, cousin to Mu Yuyao.
Ever since Mu Yuyao became a core disciple, she had brought her uncle’s son Mu Ping into the Demon-Slaying Sacred Ground.
Just two and a half months ago, Mu Ping was still an Outer Sect disciple.
In only two and a half months after entering the Inner Sect, Mu Ping had become the senior brother of the Inner Sect.
“I—I am willing to enter the Demon-Sealing Lineage!”
Mu Ping swallowed hard, his voice trembling with excitement.
“My cousin Mu Yuyao told me she is currently being evaluated by the Demon-Sealing Lineage.”
Hearing this, everyone present was filled with envy.
The Demon-Sealing Lineage was the Sacred Lord’s own, the head of the four great lineages!
True to family ties, mentioning Mu Yuyao at such a moment was perfectly timed!
“You have greater talent than your cousin Mu Yuyao. She initially only mastered three Demon-Sealing Techniques, and those were the last three.”
“However, if you truly comprehend seven or more, I can make an exception and exempt your cousin from evaluation, promoting her to a direct disciple.”
The voice of the Demon-Sealing Lineage leader, also the current Sacred Lord of the Demon-Slaying Sacred Ground, sounded slowly:
“I hope you gain much from the Demon-Locking Tower as well.”
“Give him a Control Demon Pill. Once the trial of the Demon-Locking Tower ends, bring him into the Demon-Sealing Lineage.”
“Senior Brother Mu, please!” The Inner Sect Elder took out a red pill and handed it to Mu Ping.
The so-called Control Demon Pill was a medicine that controlled both soul and body.
Anyone who practiced any number of the Demon-Sealing Techniques had to take the Control Demon Pill, even the Sacred Lord was no exception.
With this pill, the Sacred Ground ensured that the secrets of the Demon-Sealing Techniques would never leak.
Anyone who dared to reveal these cultivation methods would be instantly turned to ash with just a few words!
“Thank you, Sacred Lord! I am confident I will receive the Tower Spirit’s recognition at the top level of the Demon-Locking Tower!”
Without hesitation, Mu Ping swallowed the Control Demon Pill and immediately bowed deeply toward the sky, his expression full of reverence.
“That fool actually believes he caused the phenomenon! How laughable!”
Chu Tianxing sneered disdainfully. Only those who mastered seven or more Demon-Sealing Techniques could summon such a golden light spectacle.
What kind of talent did Mu Ping have? Did Chu Tianxing not know? How could he be considered a peerless prodigy?
Not to mention him, even his cousin Mu Yuyao was unworthy of causing such a phenomenon!
Utterly foolish, and brazen enough to deceive the Sacred Lord—simply courting death!