Volume I: The Young Demon Lord, Chapter 25: Comprehending the Inheritance
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The Demon-Sealing Pagoda was still shaking violently. Beneath it, dozens of restoration arrays activated simultaneously, flashing with dazzling light.
Boom!
A sword aura slammed into the wall, leaving behind a deep, ravine-like scar. Yet in the next instant, the mark visibly healed, returning to its original state.
Qi Yu staggered to his feet and answered Yao Yao inwardly, “Sister Yao Yao, even for a peerless genius, comprehending sword intent is by no means something that can be accomplished overnight. Some people spend their entire lives without understanding it. How could I possibly comprehend sword intent in such a short time? Besides, my sword momentum hasn’t even fully stabilized.”
Yao Yao hesitated before asking uncertainly, “Are you saying you haven’t comprehended sword intent?”
“Perhaps I have,” Qi Yu replied. “But I’ve only grasped a tiny fragment of it.”
The violent shaking continued for nearly half an hour before gradually subsiding. The deacons stationed before the restoration arrays were all tense, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads as they feared that the slightest mistake would reduce the Demon-Sealing Pagoda to ruins.
As Elder Jiang repaired the damage, he cursed, “Damn it, that father and son really are father and son!”
The white-robed deacon repaired the sword scar while saying, “The sect says that Qi Zhenming was frightened out of his wits by the demons inside the Demon Cave and is nothing but a coward. What do you think?”
Elder Jiang replied, “If cleaving straight through the Demon-Sealing Pagoda makes someone a coward, I’ll twist off my own head and let you kick it around like a ball!”
The white-robed deacon muttered, “If it’s a rumor, then where did the rumor come from?”
During that half hour, Qi Yu also recovered a considerable amount of spiritual energy, and color returned to his face.
Shen Yuntian watched as Qi Yu slowly opened his eyes. “Young friend, your talent and temperament are both excellent. It’s just a pity about your sword intent.”
“Life and death are fated,” Qi Yu replied. “Everything depends on Heaven’s will.”
Shen Yuntian’s expression turned strange.
Heaven’s will? Weren’t you just trying to defy Heaven, pointing your sword at the firmament? Why are you submitting to Heaven’s will now?
“Since you have passed my trial, young friend, I will keep my promise. I shall now grant you my inheritance.”
Qi Yu immediately bowed. “Thank you, Sect Master!”
Shen Yuntian chuckled. “You still call me Sect Master?”
Qi Yu froze for a moment. Then, wild joy surged through his heart, and he immediately knelt and saluted. “Master!”
With that one kneel, his seniority soared countless levels. He was now on equal footing with Chen Qingming!
Shen Yuntian raised a finger, and a streak of golden light shot into Qi Yu’s mind.
After all, this was the inheritance of a powerhouse in the Profound Saint Realm. Chen Qingming himself had relied on Shen Yuntian’s inheritance to distinguish himself from countless geniuses and become the sect’s new master.
“This contains everything I learned in my lifetime,” Shen Yuntian said. “This sword art is called One Sword惊鸿. You must comprehend it carefully.”
Qi Yu asked in surprise, “Master, was the sword art you taught Sect Master Chen back then also this technique?”
Shen Yuntian shook his head. “Although he passed the trial as well, his talent was far inferior to yours. What I passed on to him was the Sword Dao Formula.”
Qi Yu hurriedly said, “Master, you flatter me.”
“The road of cultivation is long and arduous. Take your time to comprehend its profound mysteries.”
Shen Yuntian’s figure gradually faded before finally vanishing completely from the arena.
Qi Yu sat cross-legged and slowly closed his eyes.
At this sight, the white-robed deacon and Elder Jiang were both dumbfounded.
Elder Jiang exclaimed, “Damn it, that brat isn’t leaving?”
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The white-robed deacon said, “I’m still waiting to announce the result!”
Qi Yu began comprehending the sword art in his mind.
One Sword惊鸿.
With a single sword, life and death were decided.
When this sword was unleashed, even the sun and moon would lose their light. One sword could sever the boundary between worlds.
Qi Yu’s blood boiled. He formed the sword incantation with his fingers, gripped Cold Cicada, and suddenly rose to his feet.
His sword momentum surged madly into the Cold Cicada Sword. At the height of its golden radiance, wisps of crimson light began to seep through.
Swish!
Qi Yu slashed out with his sword!
Hiss! Hiss!
Sword momentum erupted without restraint. Qi Yu’s figure vanished from where he stood and reappeared thirty feet away.
In an instant, a sword aura dozens of yards long appeared within the arena.
The white-robed deacon and Elder Jiang felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Rumble!
The sword aura slammed into the wall, carving out a deep ravine.
But it did not end there. Continuous thunderous explosions echoed from within the ravine.
In the blink of an eye, the thick walls of the Demon-Sealing Pagoda could no longer withstand the force. They were torn open, leaving behind a massive breach. The sword aura flew out of the pagoda, rivaling the blazing sun before finally dissipating into the distant sky.
Cold wind poured through the breach, lifting Qi Yu’s disheveled hair.
“Haha, I did it!”
Qi Yu panted for breath, sunlight shining through the crack onto his childlike, radiant smile.
The white-robed deacon stared in shock. “This brat is simply outrageous. He actually comprehended the inheritance in such a short time.”
“Back then, Sect Master Chen took a very long time to comprehend it,” Elder Jiang said.
The white-robed deacon anxiously shouted, “Demonic energy is spreading! Hurry and seal the breach!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two men flew over at top speed, restoration arrays glowing in their hands as they directly filled the breach.
The white-robed deacon said to Qi Yu, “Qi Yu, this year’s Holy Son is undoubtedly you!”
Elder Jiang said, with a trace of shame in his voice, “Qi Yu, I’ll escort you out of the Demon-Sealing Pagoda later.”
Once the two of them had sealed the breach, everyone returned to the sect’s martial arena under the white-robed deacon’s leadership.
In truth, there was no need for the white-robed deacon to announce the result. Everyone already knew what had happened, because Qi Yu’s performance on the ninth level of the Demon-Sealing Pagoda had been transmitted to the martial arena through the projection arrays.
When Qi Yu stepped onto the martial arena, no one was more excited than Third Elder Zhang Wendian. He was as thrilled as a two-hundred-pound child, waving repeatedly as he shouted, “Qi Yu, well done!”
Even the Grand Elder beside him looked at Qi Yu approvingly. With such a performance, there was no longer any suspense about Qi Yu entering the Inner Sect and becoming the Holy Son.
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On the martial arena, the white-robed deacon announced excitedly, “In this year’s grand competition, Heaven has blessed our Heavenly Dipper Sword Sect. Everyone has witnessed the talent Qi Yu has displayed, so I hereby announce that this year’s Holy Son of the Sword Sect is Qi Yu!”
As soon as the white-robed deacon finished speaking, waves of uproar erupted from the tens of thousands of disciples below.
Qi Yu had once been considered a good-for-nothing, and they had treated him with indifference. Now, he was someone they could no longer hope to reach.
The white-robed deacon looked at Qi Yu expectantly. “Qi Yu, with your existence, our sect can finally see the light beyond the clouds!”
Qi Yu asked in surprise, “What do you mean by that, Deacon?”
The white-robed deacon sighed. “Although our Sword Sect is comparable to the foremost aristocratic family in Canglan City, in the eyes of the true nobility, we are merely from a barren backwater. That is why we participate in the imperial city’s sect competition, held once every ten years, in order to obtain cultivation resources.”
He paused and let out a long sigh. “Unfortunately, our sect has ranked last in the competition for several hundred consecutive years. If we come in last again next year, we will lose our eligibility to participate.”
Qi Yu frowned slightly.
At that moment, two overbearing auras descended from the sky.
Everyone looked up and saw Chen Qingming and the Second Elder flying over on swords before slowly landing on the ground.
Chen Qingming looked at Qi Yu with undisguised admiration. “Qi Yu, your performance truly surprised me!”
Qi Yu bowed. “Sect Master.”
Chen Qingming beamed. “Haha, times have changed. I’m your senior brother now!”
“Please, Senior Brother,” Qi Yu said. “This disciple is still ignorant and unlearned, and remains a disciple of the Sword Sect.”
“Qi Yu, would you be willing to participate in next year’s sect competition?”
Qi Yu fell silent for a moment. As if seeing through his thoughts, Chen Qingming leaned close and whispered, “Xue’er is going too.”
Qi Yu nodded solemnly. “This disciple is willing to go!”
Chen Qingming continued, “Although you obtained an inheritance this time, you must not slacken in your cultivation. Remember, the outside world is filled with countless monstrous geniuses. You must never become a frog at the bottom of a well!”
Those words poured cold water over Qi Yu, who had been feeling somewhat pleased with himself.
At that moment, the Second Elder standing behind Chen Qingming spoke. “Senior Brother, since Qi Yu has entered the Inner Sect, he must take a master. I am willing to accept him as my final disciple!”
The Second Elder looked at Qi Yu with a smile, his eyes narrowing as dangerous light flashed within them.
His words astonished everyone present. It was obvious to all that Qi Yu and the Second Elder were not on good terms. Moreover, Qi Yu had killed Su Moxuan, the genius the Second Elder had personally cultivated.
The Second Elder’s offer to take him as a disciple was clearly driven by ulterior motives!
Everyone assumed Qi Yu would refuse, but he nodded and said, “I can enter your lineage, but there is no need for a formal apprenticeship.”
To enter the tiger’s lair was the only way to obtain its cub.
If he wanted revenge, his first step was naturally to get close to the Second Elder.
Chen Qingming’s brows furrowed. He had originally planned to take Qi Yu as his personal disciple and groom him as the future successor to the sect, eventually handing the Sword Sect over to him.
He had not expected the Second Elder to suddenly offer to accept Qi Yu as his final disciple. If Qi Yu had refused, there would still have been room to maneuver. Yet Qi Yu had actually agreed.
The Second Elder narrowed his eyes. “Why won’t you formally acknowledge me as your master?”
Qi Yu smiled. “My master is Shen Yuntian, the first Sect Master. Are you planning to compete for the position of Sect Master?”