Chapter 34: You're a Demonic Cultivator!
Chapter 34 – You’re a Demonic Cultivator!
When the Chen family’s arrival was first reported, some sharp-eyed disciples rushed to the Elder Hall to request the Grand Elder’s intervention.
Conveniently, the Grand Elder and several elders were already holding a meeting in the Elder Hall.
Thanks to the Grand Elder’s timely arrival, everyone voluntarily put away their magic artifacts and regained their composure.
After learning the situation, the Grand Elder sternly reprimanded the Chen family members, ordering them to leave the hall immediately and wait outside.
Then, he took over the investigation into Xiao Chen and Elder Chen, personally overseeing the proceedings.
After several hours, the investigation concluded with no evidence found against Xiao Chen—or Elder Chen, for that matter.
Only when the two were brought out for a physical search did the elder from Blazing Peak, who was inspecting Xiao Chen, notice something amiss.
“You’re at Lian Qi Stage 7!”
His exclamation silenced the room instantly, all eyes turning to Xiao Chen.
Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Xiao Chen remained calm. “Esteemed Elder, this disciple experienced an epiphany during morning cultivation and successfully broke through.”
As he spoke, he deliberately radiated his aura.
A cultivator who had just broken through their cultivation stage would naturally emit an unstable, fluctuating energy signature—easy to detect.
The elders present exchanged stunned glances, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Everyone knew that according to the investigation, Xiao Chen had been a mere Lian Qi Stage 1 servant disciple just six months ago.
Yet now, in only seven months, he had surpassed what others achieved in seven years, advancing all the way to Lian Qi Stage 7.
In the entire history of Lihuo Sect, no disciple had ever cultivated so rapidly.
Even a legendary ancestor with a Heavenly Fire Spirit Root had taken ten months to reach Stage 7.
Yet Xiao Chen had shattered that thousand-year-old record, accelerating it by thirty percent.
Unbelievable!
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Jiang Shiyou roared, his face flushed crimson, eyes bulging.
The moment he heard Xiao Chen’s “morning breakthrough” claim, he realized he’d been outmaneuvered by Elder Chen.
No wonder Elder Chen had vouched for Xiao Chen—it was a calculated move to secure a genius disciple with immense potential.
This meant Xiao Chen would not only become Elder Chen’s apprentice and favor the Chen family but also harbor resentment toward the Jiang family—especially Jiang Shiyou himself.
Elder Chen, meanwhile, wore a confident smile, his plan unfolding perfectly.
By orchestrating this confrontation, he ensured that once Xiao Chen matured, he would stand firmly with the Chen family against the Jiangs.
Jiang Shiyou’s eyes narrowed. He couldn’t back down now.
Better to eliminate an enemy completely than leave a threat behind.
Suddenly, he recalled Xiao Chen’s file—his lower-tier spirit root.
Such a rapid breakthrough must have a hidden cause.
An idea struck him. Thirty years ago, a disciple from Sihai Sect, another of Li Zhou’s three great sects, had experienced a similar meteoric rise.
Initially hailed as a prodigy, the disciple was later exposed as a demonic cultivator who’d taken forbidden shortcuts.
Jiang Shiyou’s gaze sharpened on Xiao Chen. Could this sudden genius also be a demonic cultivator?
Though purely speculative, he wasted no time. Pointing at Xiao Chen, he bellowed, “He’s a demonic cultivator! A spy sent by the evil sects!”
The accusation hit like a boulder into a still lake, sending shockwaves through the crowd.
“Demonic cultivator” was the gravest possible charge—a label that branded one a heretic, a monster.
Throughout cultivation history, demonic cultivators had committed atrocities so heinous that the orthodox Dao and all cultivators, whether sect-affiliated or solitary, shared an unshakable creed: demonic cultivators deserved death.
Once accused, one was cast out, hunted, and slain—a deed celebrated as heroic.
In essence, Jiang Shiyou had just condemned Xiao Chen to death.
Elder Chen exploded in rage. “You’re spouting nonsense, Jiang Shiyou! Do you even understand what you’re saying?!”
The Grand Elder’s face darkened. “Such accusations require evidence. Do you have any?”
Jiang Shiyou pressed on. “I checked the sect archives. Xiao Chen entered with a lower-tier spirit root—lower-tier! Everyone here knows what that means. Lower-tier spirit roots struggle at every cultivation bottleneck. Only upper-tier roots can advance smoothly to Lian Qi Stage’s pinnacle.”
He turned to Jiang Cungang. “You have a mid-tier spirit root. Tell us—how long did it take you to reach late Lian Qi Stage?”
Jiang Cungang hesitated. “After perfecting Foundation Building Layer Six, I spent another year refining my energy before breakthrough.”
Jiang Shiyou seized the moment. “You all heard that! Yet Xiao Chen, with a lower-tier root, advanced nonstop. How?!”
He pointed at Xiao Chen. “Explain! How did you bypass the natural cultivation bottlenecks?!”
Before Xiao Chen could answer, Jiang Shiyou declared, “The truth is clear—he’s a demonic cultivator!”
Elder Chen snapped. “Jiang Shiyou, you can’t just call someone a demonic cultivator without proof! Show us evidence!”
“If you can prove Xiao Chen’s guilt, I’ll execute him myself. But without proof, shut your mouth and stop slandering him!”
Jiang Shiyou smirked. “Xiao Chen, tell us yourself! How did you bypass your spirit root’s limits? Can’t answer? Then you’re guilty!”
Xiao Chen almost laughed. “Elder Jiang, as an Enforcement Hall elder, do you convict people based on mere words? Should I now prove my innocence? By what logic?”
Jiang Shiyou ignored him, turning to the Grand Elder. “Senior Sect Brother Song, if a demonic cultivator infiltrates our sect, the consequences are catastrophic.”
The Grand Elder pondered, then nodded. “Xiao Chen, explain your breakthrough. If your method benefits others, I’ll reward you with five hundred spirit stones for sharing your insights.”
He paused. “But if you can’t… I’d rather err on the side of caution than let a potential demonic cultivator slip through.”
(End of Chapter)
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