Chapter 94: First Steps on the Demonic Path (6) |
Su Chen entered the inner sect trial. The Sun-Devouring Sacred Land's inner sect trial remained as brutal as ever. All participants fought in a chaotic free-for-all. Only the final survivor would ascend to true disciple status.
Of course, it was not a battle to the death for everyone. Each inner disciple carried a protective talisman. Once the talisman shattered, the bearer would be immediately teleported out of the battlefield, preserving their life.
Su Chen stepped into the secret realm—a minor world personally created by a Saint of the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land. The sect's demonic-leaning system ensured that its disciples were a motley mix of strengths and backgrounds. Some were only at the Spirit Sea realm, while others had already reached Spirit Soul.
The moment Su Chen appeared, he drew attention.
"That kid looks like a newcomer. Let's rob him first, then eliminate him!"
Greed flashed in several eyes. Not everyone had come solely for the true disciple position. Many saw the chaos as the perfect opportunity to plunder resources. Su Chen was hardly a prominent figure in the inner sect. He rarely showed his face, so most regarded him as easy prey.
Two figures suddenly blocked Su Chen's path—one fat, one thin.
"Kid, hand over everything you've got right now. Otherwise, we'll strip you bare before we kick you out!"
The plump youth squinted his tiny green-bean eyes and brandished a mace-like spirit weapon, radiating menace.
The tall, lanky one had an odd appearance and gleaming eyes. "And look at that—he's actually quite handsome!"
A sudden chill ran down Su Chen's spine. With a casual flick of his hand, the sunlight seemed to vanish, swallowed into darkness. A palm resembling a black hole crushed toward the pair.
A crisp shattering sound rang out. Both figures vanished, forcibly eliminated from the trial.
Outside the secret realm.
The fat and thin duo stood frozen, still dazed. They had stumbled upon a hidden powerhouse. The odds of encountering someone playing the pig to eat the tiger were minuscule, yet fate had chosen them. They wanted to cry but had no tears.
Suddenly, they felt a draft. Around them, numerous demonic sect disciples stared with strange expressions.
"Tch… It's actually the Fat and Thin Demon Boys. Both Spirit Soul realm experts were infamous for their twisted antics in the inner sect. Never thought they'd get eliminated so quickly."
"Hahaha, serves them right!"
"…"
Inside the secret realm.
After dispatching the Fat and Thin Demon Boys, Su Chen encountered more opponents.
"This one's strong. Eliminate him first!"
Several Spirit Soul geniuses reached a swift consensus and attacked Su Chen together, hoping to remove the biggest threat early.
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Su Chen raised his hand. A single sword strike erupted. Sword qi swept in all directions. Every one of the Spirit Soul geniuses was instantly eliminated.
To Su Chen, the entire secret realm was filled with nothing but rabble. He could count the number of true spirit bodies on one hand—perhaps two or three at most.
In less than three days, only Su Chen remained.
"Inner disciple Zhou Chen has passed the true disciple assessment!"
Su Chen successfully advanced to a true disciple.
The sky dimmed. A figure appeared wearing a dark purple robe embroidered with demonic patterns. Long, dark red hair cascaded down, lending an even more sinister aura to the aged, weathered face.
"This seat is Red Sun Venerable. Are you willing to take me as your master?"
Su Chen knew this must be one of the surviving members of the Primordial Remnant Clan.
"Disciple pays respects to Master."
Su Chen bowed respectfully and accepted Red Sun Venerable as his teacher. Thus, he completed the transition from inner disciple to true disciple. The name Zhou Chen now echoed as one of the rising stars within the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land.
Su Chen brought Zhou Hanchan to Red Sun Peak. She stared wide-eyed at the opulent, unfamiliar surroundings, feeling as though she were dreaming.
"Brother… you really became a true disciple?"
"Brother, you're incredible!"
Zhou Hanchan's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Su Chen remained completely unmoved.
"Starting tomorrow, your training load doubles."
Zhou Hanchan's small face immediately wilted in despair.
The next day.
Su Chen entered Red Sun Venerable's grand hall. A layer of red light curtain enveloped the two of them.
"Primordial Remnant Clan, Zhou Hongri, pays respects to the Sovereign!"
"Just now, with Zhou Hao's spies watching, this subordinate showed insufficient respect. Please forgive the offense."
Red Sun Venerable dropped to one knee and spoke with utmost deference toward Su Chen.
Su Chen remained completely unruffled. He asked calmly, "Speak plainly. What exactly do you need me to do?"
Red Sun Venerable replied, "Sovereign, we have received word that an ancient tomb will open in the near future. Buried within that tomb is one of our Primordial Remnant Clan's Saint Ancestors. That ancestor possessed the same Primordial Taotie Physique as you. If Sovereign enters the tomb, there is a strong chance of claiming the ancestor's saint artifact. With a saint artifact in hand, we will finally be able to stand against Zhou Hao."
Su Chen nodded. "I see. When the ancient tomb emerges, inform me again."
With that, Su Chen left Red Sun Hall.
Red Sun Venerable rose to his feet and watched Su Chen's departing figure, his gaze fixed and intense.
Back at his cave abode, Su Chen resumed guiding Zhou Hanchan's cultivation while steadily advancing his own.
Two months later.
An unexpected visitor arrived at the cave.
"The successor of Sunset Peak—Luo Hongying? What is she doing here?"
Su Chen listened to the servant's report, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes. A soft chuckle drifted in from outside the door. The voice was like a blade dipped in honey—sweet yet razor-sharp.
"Junior Brother Zhou, surely you aren't refusing to welcome your senior sister?"
As the words faded, a stunning woman appeared in an instant. Her bare feet stepped lightly across the bluestone tiles. The crimson gown she wore burned like living flame, resembling an otherworldly mandala in full bloom. Her eyes flowed with liquid allure; countless sparks of starfire seemed to explode within them. Slender, flawless legs peeked tantalizingly from beneath the hem of her dress, making it impossible to tell whether she was a peerless mortal beauty or a seductive demon come to ensnare souls.
Though Su Chen had never met her before, he had heard of her reputation.
Luo Hongying! Renowned as the number one beauty of the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land—and a true disciple as ruthless and unscrupulous as they came.
Luo Hongying sat down beside Su Chen with effortless grace.
Su Chen remained unmoved. He asked coolly, "What brings Senior Sister Luo to seek out this junior brother?"
Luo Hongying let out a silvery, bell-like laugh. She leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his ear in a soft, intimate murmur. "What if I said I simply missed you, Junior Brother Zhou? Would you believe me?"
Her gentle words carried a deeply bewitching demonic charm. Against most hot-blooded young male cultivators, this combination of allure and closeness would have long since melted their resolve, reducing them to obedient servants at her feet.
Su Chen, however, had seen countless beauties. He was not so easily swayed. Instead, a thread of caution rose in his heart.
"It seems this is the first time Senior Sister and I have met."
Luo Hongying raised a slender, snow-white finger and wagged it playfully.
"Junior Brother Zhou… your parents were once my esteemed teachers. When you were very small, we actually met once."