Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

"Hand over the items!"

The hall was expansive, but fights were breaking out everywhere, some over elixirs, some over weapons, and others over gold and silver treasures. Of course, most were fighting over martial arts techniques.

As a treasure trove of the Evil Heart Sect, how could there not be martial arts manuals? Along the way, Gu Chen had passed through chambers housing such manuals, but they had all been claimed by the fighters of the Jianghu already.

Of course, the fiercest battle was at the very center of the hall, where waves of energy surged, and martial artists dared not approach within several zhang.

Because the combatants there were prestigious figures from Huaiyang City and its surrounding Jianghu, each with a cultivation level not lower than the later stages of the Channel Opening Realm.

"Hand over the superior martial arts technique!"

"You wish!"

As the two sides fought and argued, Gu Chen instantly understood that they were fighting over a superior martial arts technique.

A superior martial arts technique, if introduced to the Jianghu, was worth at least several hundred thousand taels of silver. Even for practitioners in the External Energy Realm, let alone the Channel Opening Realm, there were few who owned or had learned one.

Only the renowned clans in the Nine Provinces, or some of the top sects, could possess such resources.

A superior martial arts technique, even if one could not learn it, could be sold or used to repay a favor.

Of course, many martial artists would choose to pass it down through generations. Even if they couldn't learn it themselves, someone in their lineage might.

The value of a superior martial arts technique was self-evident, which explained why it incited such a scramble. The remaining Jianghu fighters would have likely joined the fray if they were strong enough.

Of course, it was also possible someone was laying in wait for these people to be mutually wounded, so they could swoop in and reap the benefits like a fisherman.

Gu Chen glanced over and soon lost interest. Though valuable, a superior martial arts technique couldn't drive him to the frenzy it did those people.

For one, the Jing Tian Department had countless internal techniques, and Gu Chen himself possessed a superior martial arts manual, so his need for another was not as intense as those Jianghu fighters.

More importantly, the reason Gu Chen had come was that he felt something was amiss with the whole situation, which most likely related to Zheng Jinan.

He was here primarily for Zheng Jinan, hoping to find some evidence.

If it were not for this reason, Gu Chen might have indeed chosen to join the fray.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared beside Gu Chen, whispering, "Brother Gu."

Gu Chen turned his head and saw a young man with ordinary features and a particularly noticeable mole at the corner of his mouth.

"Luo Feng?" Gu Chen looked at the young man, recognizing who he was.

Luo Feng gave a slight smile and said, "Brother Gu still has sharp eyes."

Gu Chen didn't take his flattery to heart. He scrutinized Luo Feng and noticed his chest looked bulgingly full, clearly indicating a significant haul.

Gu Chen moved swiftly, his slender fingers brushing past Luo Feng's chest and snatching a stack of silver notes.

Luo Feng's expression changed instantly, not expecting Gu Chen to make such a move. He clearly hadn't been on his guard against Gu Chen, or else he would have reacted in time.

Of course, the speed of Gu Chen's action was indeed fast enough to send a chill through Luo Feng, causing him to reassess Gu Chen's strength once more.

Gu Chen glanced at the silver notes, estimated the amount, pocketed them, and said, "We're even now."

Luo Feng could only force a bitter smile, not knowing what to say.

Then, he spoke formally, "Brother Gu, do you know the reason why I've asked you to come here?"

"Speak," Gu Chen said calmly, his gaze drifting towards the chaotic brawl in the distance within the hall.

Luo Feng said, "The appearance of these ruins is highly suspicious. I suspect Zheng Jinan intentionally set this trap to lure Jianghu martial artists here, so he can wait until the end to gain the benefits of a fisherman."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen looked at Luo Feng and asked, "You're saying, he's treating everyone here as bait?"

"Exactly," Luo Feng nodded gravely, "I suspect that the moment we leave, Zheng Jinan will show up, kill us all, and use us as nourishment for his demonic cultivation."

The techniques of the Evil Heart Sect are extremely sinister, requiring the devouring of hearts for cultivation. The higher a martial artist's cultivation, the greater the benefit to them.

Even in rumors, if one were to cultivate the Evil Heart Sect's techniques to their pinnacle, it's said that a second heart could be nurtured within the body. At that point, one's cultivation realm would reach an entirely different plane, and even the physical body would undergo a transformation from head to toe.

As Gu Chen and Luo Feng were conversing, a loud shout suddenly came from not far away.

"Everyone stop!"

Gu Chen and Luo Feng, along with many others from the jianghu, looked towards the entrance of the great hall upon hearing the cry. There, a group of teenagers from the Sunset Sword Sect, dressed in red robes and carrying an air of arrogance, slowly walked in.

"Sunset Sword Sect!"

"How did they appear here?"

"The one leading them… the one leading them is Zheng Yan, who ranks twelfth on the Star Ranking!"

Anyone in the jianghu would know about the Star Ranking published by Diancang Pavilion; it showcased Zheng Yan's prestige to stand out among young martial artists from all over the world and be ranked twelfth.

No one present in the jianghu could match him in a fight.

Those martial artists struggling for superior martial arts saw Zheng Yan leading a group of Sunset Sword Sect disciples and frowned slightly, not expecting that even a top sect like the Sunset Sword Sect would be interested in the demonic techniques of the Evil Heart Sect.

"We've seen Young Master Zheng." Despite some dissatisfaction in their hearts, these people still greeted Zheng Yan with a gesture of respect. Even though most of them were much older than Zheng Yan, they couldn't help it since Zheng Yan was strong and backed by a good lineage.

Zheng Yan had a handsome face and remained silent. Standing behind him was Chen Song, who still had some bruises on his face, but his injuries had mostly healed.

At that moment, a cold smirk crossed Chen Song's face as he shouted, "Put down all your weapons immediately, and hand over everything you've obtained here."

Upon hearing this, the jianghu martial artists present suddenly became agitated; they had fought with their lives for their gains, and now Chen Song wanted them to give everything up with just one command, which was unreasonable.

Seeing that no one was moving, Chen Song's expression chilled as he shouted with a stern voice, "You have thirty breaths of time, those who don't comply will die!"

His words instantly incited chaos among the crowd below.

"Silence!" Zheng Yan's expression darkened, and his voice, empowered by his internal energy, echoed through the great hall. This display of power alone intimidated all the jianghu people present.

At this time, a middle-aged martial artist stepped forward, cupping his fist and saying, "Young Master Zheng, the Sunset Sword Sect is a renowned and esteemed sect. How could you have an interest in the demonic techniques of the Evil Heart Sect?"

This man was one of those who had contended for the superior martial techniques earlier in the great hall and was the owner of a martial hall near Huaiyang City.

"Our Sunset Sword Sect is one of the top sects in the nine provinces, and we possess countless divine techniques and secret teachings, which are inexhaustible. Naturally, we would not be interested in heretical techniques of the demon cult."

Zheng Yan paused, then continued, "However, even among the many branches of the demon cult, the Evil Heart Sect is known to be particularly sinister.

Now that the ruins of the Evil Heart Sect have emerged, it is both the responsibility and duty of our Sunset Sword Sect, as the leader of the various forces of the Qiongtian Mansion and the holder of power in the jianghu, to ensure that such demonic techniques do not persist in this world, but are instead permanently sealed within our sect to avert future disasters."

Zheng Yan spoke with an air of righteousness, but everyone present was no fool; they all knew it was just an excuse, yet no one dared to point it out.

The middle-aged martial artist responded, "Since Young Master Zheng has said so, naturally, we agree. We will surrender any heretical techniques related to the Evil Heart Sect, but for the other techniques, we ask for Young Master Zheng's indulgence to let us examine them before submitting them."

"Nonsense!"

Zheng Yan's expression chilled, and in a swoosh, his figure flashed, closing the distance to the middle-aged martial artist. With a speed like lightning, he struck the man's chest with his palm.

"Pugh!"

The middle-aged martial artist was far less powerful than Zheng Yan and couldn't react in time. He was struck directly in the heart by Zheng Yan's palm, which shattered it, causing blood to burst forth, resulting in an unequivocal death.

"Master!"

The disciples of the middle-aged martial artist cried out in grief at the sight, tears in their eyes.

Zheng Yan paid no attention, instead he coldly swept his gaze across the entire hall. Anyone he looked at shrank their neck back, daring not to meet his gaze.

Everyone knew that Zheng Yan was making an example out of the dead man, and hesitation would likely lead to their own demise.

Seeing Zheng Yan exert his formidable power, killing a martial artist in the vessel-passing stage with one palm strike, Chen Song and the other disciples of the Sunset Sword Sect had a smug smile on their faces.

They felt that they could get a piece of the spoils as long as Zheng Yan got the lion's share.

Suddenly, Chen Song's eyes flashed as he spotted a familiar figure in the corner. His body trembled as he recalled the miserable state he had been in not long ago. Anger surged to his heart, and he pointed at Gu Chen, shouting coldly, "You little bastard, so you're here too!"

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