Volume One: The Young Lord of the Demon God Chapter 19: Second Elder, I Have Come to Kill You!

Qi Yu could hardly believe it. “Me?”

Yao Yao replied, “Yes, and I’m afraid you’re the only one in the mortal realm who can do it.”

At that moment, Su Kaishan trembled all over, his voice weak. “Young friend, help me get the medicine!”

Qi Yu searched Su Kaishan’s body and surprisingly pulled out a large pile of pills. Just as he was about to ask which one to use, he realized Su Kaishan had already fainted.

Suddenly, Little Fish appeared, looking at the scattered pills. “Brother Qi Yu, these are all top-grade elixirs!”

Qi Yu carefully gathered the pills and asked Yao Yao in his mind, “Sister Yao Yao, how do I save him?”

Yao Yao’s voice came from his mind. “Qi Yu, you should have formed an inner core by now, right?”

Qi Yu was puzzled. “Inner core?”

He suddenly recalled the dark red orb in his dantian. Could that be the inner core?

Yao Yao nodded. “All demons form an inner core, also called a demon nucleus. You just need to activate your inner core and peel away the demon-sealing mark on his chest.”

Following Yao Yao’s guidance, Qi Yu placed his hand on Su Kaishan’s chest and closed his eyes. Sure enough, he saw a complicated seal. He then activated the dark red orb in his dantian and slowly began to strip the mark away.

An hour later.

Su Kaishan opened his eyes, his pale face gradually regaining color.

Qi Yu smiled at him. “Senior Su, how do you feel?”

As Su Kaishan stood up, he suddenly stiffened. Two layers of the demon-sealing mark on his chest had vanished. An uncontrollable joy surged across his face.

He said excitedly, “Young friend, did you help me remove the demon-sealing mark?”

Qi Yu nodded slightly. “But I couldn’t remove it all at once. The seal has been there too long, and you’ve used too many pills to suppress it. The mark has penetrated deep into your bones and needs to be peeled away gradually.”

Su Kaishan’s eyes shone with hope. “Thank you, young friend!”

Qi Yu’s heart swelled with happiness. Su Kaishan radiated an unfathomable aura—at least of the Xuan Emperor realm. It was only because of the demon-sealing mark that his true strength was hidden. Saving his life today added another debt to the many he already owed.

Just as Qi Yu was about to leave, Su Kaishan suddenly spoke seriously. “Young friend, your father and you have done me a great kindness. I have no way to repay you. The Su family is wealthy. I wish to gift you half of the Su family estate. Please, do not refuse.”

Qi Yu frowned and shook his head gently. He did not want to accept such wealth but was interested in some elixirs for strengthening the body and bones.

Su Kaishan thought for a moment and said, “Young friend, since fate has brought us together, how about we become sworn brothers?”

Qi Yu’s pupils trembled. He had not expected such a gesture of gratitude from Su Kaishan.

Su Kaishan was clever; when Qi Yu had unleashed his bloodline power and the demonic aura had spread, Su Kaishan had not uttered a word.

In truth, this was a mutual test between the two.

After seeing Su Kaishan off, Qi Yu ransacked the bodies of the Fifth and Sixth Elders. After dealing with the corpses, he returned to the Sword Sect. Dawn was breaking on the horizon. After a night of fierce battle, Qi Yu felt utterly exhausted and collapsed into bed, falling into a deep sleep.

It was not until nightfall that hunger woke him. Suddenly, he sensed someone standing in his room.

“You’re awake.”

An elder, with a face marked by time, stood there.

Qi Yu hurriedly rose and respectfully saluted. “Third Elder!”

This was none other than Zhang Wendian, the Third Elder of the Sword Sect.

When Qi Zhenming had ventured into the demon’s lair, Zhang Wendian had cared for Qi Yu for three years. He had taught Qi Yu the sect’s cultivation methods. Since Qi Yu had no cultivation at the time, Zhang Wendian and Fourth Elder Wu Feng had clashed repeatedly with the First Elder over the marriage arrangement with the Sacred Maiden.

Zhang Wendian’s face was filled with satisfaction. “Qi Yu, you truly have cultivated. I always believed you would never remain mediocre forever.”

Qi Yu smiled. “When we parted, I wanted to bid you farewell, but the sudden events forced me to leave without notice.”

Zhang waved his hand. “No matter. The Sect Leader has already informed me. Come, let me see how advanced your cultivation is now!”

Qi Yu nodded and formed a hand seal. The Cold Cicada Sword floated to his hand.

Zhang nodded repeatedly. “Not bad, not bad. You’ve learned to control the sword!”

Qi Yu smiled and asked, “Third Elder, when will Xue'er return?”

Zhang hesitated. “Three days after you left the Sword Sect, news of your death spread. I thought Xue'er would make a scene, but she acted as if nothing had happened and even requested to go to the Ancient Wild City to train. She went alone.”

Qi Yu’s smile stiffened, and worry crept into his voice. “Alone? Third Elder, the Ancient Wild City is full of dangers. How could she go alone?”

Zhang said, “You need not worry. Xue'er writes often to assure us of her safety.”

Qi Yu asked, “By the way, why did Xue'er’s marriage to the Su family become the talk of the Sword Sect?”

Zhang chuckled. “That was the doing of the Second Elder. Xue'er is no longer in the sect, so she knows nothing of it. Rest assured, Xue'er’s heart belongs only to you.”

Qi Yu’s cheeks flushed as if recalling something. “Third Elder, what about the Fourth Elder? I haven’t seen him since I returned.”

Zhang’s face turned grave. He frowned deeply and sighed. “Alas, the Fourth Elder has passed away.”

Qi Yu was stunned. “Impossible! He was fine before I left.”

Zhang’s expression grew serious. “The Second Elder killed him. Acting under orders from the Sect Master, he was tasked with eliminating demonic fiends within the sect. Using this as an excuse, he falsely accused the Fourth Elder of colluding with demons. Therefore…”

Qi Yu clenched his fists, eyes blazing with fury. “The Second Elder again! Did Master Chen believe him?”

In Qi Yu’s mind, Chen Qingming was not the type to be easily deceived.

Zhang sighed again. “Alas, the Sect Leader does not believe it either, but he is helpless.”

Qi Yu asked, “Why helpless?”

Zhang explained, “The Second Elder is deeply entrenched within the sect and has formed his own faction. Besides, he is an elder of the Su family, a powerful status. Otherwise, the Sect Leader would have removed him long ago.”

So, both Chen Qingming and Zhang Wendian knew the Second Elder’s misdeeds but dared not act due to sect politics.

After a moment of silence, Qi Yu turned to Zhang Wendian and said deliberately, “I will kill the Second Elder.”

“You? Kill him?” Zhang’s pupils contracted sharply. “No, no! Qi Yu, you mustn’t be foolish. The Second Elder’s cultivation is second only to the Sect Leader’s. He has reached the ninth level of the Xuanwu Realm. You’ve only just entered the Xuan Realm. How could you possibly stand against him?”

Qi Yu replied calmly, “Third Elder, don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Zhang frowned deeply. “Qi Yu, the matter of the Second Elder will be handled by me and the Sect Leader. Also, be cautious—I suspect the Second Elder will try to harm you in secret.”

After speaking, Zhang’s expression softened. “Qi Yu, don’t overthink it. Just focus on your cultivation. As long as the Sect Leader and I are around, the Second Elder cannot harm you.”

Qi Yu sincerely thanked him. “Thank you, Third Elder!”

Zhang Wendian took a cultivation scroll from his bosom and handed it to Qi Yu. “I’ve wanted to give you this for a long time. Unfortunately, you had no cultivation before. Now, you can finally practice it.”

The cultivation techniques were ranked from highest to lowest: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow. Each rank was further divided into superior, middle, and inferior grades.

The entire Heavenly Gang Sword Sect possessed only ten mysterious-grade techniques, underscoring their rarity.

After leaving the cultivation manual, Zhang Wendian departed into the night. Once he was gone, Yao Yao and Little Fish appeared behind Qi Yu.

Yao Yao picked up the scroll and examined it. “Not bad. With your current constitution, you can’t practice my techniques yet. This one is perfect as a transition.”

Qi Yu nodded. “Sister Yao Yao, didn’t you say you would teach me the true meaning of the Godslaying Sword Technique?”

Yao Yao gave a soft “Mm.” “What I gave you earlier were the moves and heart method. The Godslaying Sword Technique has not only its true meaning but also its ultimate secret. However, the final tenth secret must be comprehended by yourself.”

Qi Yu was puzzled. “By myself?”

Yao Yao said, “Yes. Even I have only mastered eight of the ultimate secrets. I have pondered the last one for centuries without success.”

Qi Yu was dumbfounded. So difficult?

In the days that followed, Yao Yao began teaching Qi Yu the true meaning of the Godslaying Sword Technique. Under her guidance, his swordsmanship advanced rapidly, and his sword aura became ever more refined.