https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-83-The-Condensation-Core-Realm-and-Beyond/12940982/
Chapter 82: Condensation Core Sword Pool
Chapter 82: Condensation Core Sword Pool
Before entering the Demon Suppressing Bureau, Hong Lei had also dreamed of roaming the world with a sword and a white horse.
But now it seemed that not entering Qingfeng Mountain and instead joining the more dangerous Demon Suppressing Bureau might not be a bad thing.
Fifty or sixty Qingfeng disciples were being escorted up the mountain by the captains.
It was clearly a return to their sect, but their faces grew increasingly pale.
Shen Yi and Hong Lei walked at the back.
"What is the Sword Pool?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Lei looked at her in surprise, "You're not from Qingzhou?"
"I'm from Baiyun County." Shen Yi did not hide it.
"No wonder, it's a small place." Hong Lei nodded subconsciously, then suddenly realized something was amiss. Was she talking about the Baiyun County he knew? That godforsaken place, could there be a power there capable of nurturing such a person?
He opened his mouth to ask, but hesitated, then changed the topic, "Any first-rate power has a stable method of cultivating Condensation Core practitioners, ensuring that each generation has a master to preside over the sect. Unlike second-rate sects, if the grandmaster encounters an accident or there's a lack of talented successors, within a few decades, the sect would disappear without a trace."
"Our Demon Suppressing Bureau also has something similar, but it's in the capital."
At this point, Hong Lei noticed the slight flicker in Shen Yi's eyes and roughly guessed her thoughts. Being able to fight against Qingfeng elders and great demons alone, she must have also reached Jade Essence Realm Perfection.
He smiled, "With your current strength, if you work hard for a few decades, you'll definitely have a place in the Martial Temple's Condensation Core list. As for the recent ones, don't even think about it. Whether it's Miss Lin or Doctor Bai, they're all ahead of you in line."
"Then let's talk about the Sword Pool."
Hong Lei knew the temperament of these geniuses; they wouldn't tolerate others looking down on them. "Any Qingfeng disciple, after formally entering the sect and paying respects to the founder, the first thing they do is visit the Sword Pool. They offer their blood from the fingertips, between the eyebrows, and the heart's tip, and in return, they receive the founder's protection, greatly accelerating their cultivation."
"Moreover, they can also obtain a sword once used by their predecessors. By continuously nourishing it with their essence, it becomes a Guardian Dao Sword. It can be said that half of their strength lies in this sword. I heard that you broke the clerk's sword, and even after he recovers, his strength will be far from what it once was."
Hong Lei stretched out his palm, "That's why I wanted to see Dai Bing's sword the other day. I wanted to see if she was a Qingfeng disciple. As I suspected... Think about it, the essence blood of thousands of disciples is connected to the Sword Pool. As their cultivation improves, the Sword Pool also benefits. Only such a treasure place can have such miraculous effects in aiding warriors to reach the Condensation Core realm."
"Elder Fury Sword's lifespan is insufficient. According to seniority, he should have had the chance to enter the Sword Pool for cultivation and make a final push, but he gave the opportunity to Zhang Hongzhou. With today's actions... he must be heartbroken."
Hong Lei sighed with emotion.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi fell silent for a moment.
But remembering the rarity of such opportunities to learn about martial arts news, she continued, "If the Sword Pool has such effects and has existed for thousands of years, there should be more than one Condensation Core master on Qingfeng Mountain, right?"
"Are you worried that General Chen came alone and might not be able to defeat them?"
Hong Lei smiled again, "You're in the Jade Dew Realm, and so am I. If you were to face two or three of me, would you be afraid?"
Shen Yi pondered for a moment and shook her head.
"Exactly. What if there were ten or twenty of them..."
Hong Lei continued, but he saw the youth deep in thought, and then she shook her head again.
His square face stiffened with a forced smile, and he averted his gaze, taking a deep breath as if he hadn't seen anything, "If there were ten or twenty of them, the Demon Suppressing Bureau isn't just about Lord Chen. There are twelve Demon Suppression Generals, and Lord Chen is too old. In terms of strength, he's barely ranked behind the Yang'an County General."
"Where does the Yang'an County General rank?" Shen Yi looked at him curiously.
Hong Lei rolled his eyes and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Eleventh."
"Who's first?"
"The second disciple of the Commander."
"And second?"
"The Commander's first disciple."
"Why are they reversed?"
"Brother Shen, we've arrived!" Hong Lei stood with a headache. Could he casually say such offensive things?
Shen Yi, still curious, looked ahead.
In front of the Qingfeng Mountain gate, a vast platform was paved with pure white stone bricks.
At this moment, both sides of the platform were densely packed with Qingfeng disciples in white robes, kneeling.
Three hundred captains and deputy commanders of the inner camp stood outside the platform, their bodies straight and tall, with black chains rising, encircling the entire platform.
There were also over a thousand people from the outer camp, standing in neat rows with cold expressions.
At the forefront of the crowd, surrounded by dozens of deputy commanders, a figure clad in dark armor sat upright in a large chair, holding a wrought iron halberd. His crimson silk cloak billowed wildly, resembling a blood-stained red cloud.
"..."
Shen Yi furrowed his brows slightly, never expecting to see such a scene on the mountain.
He had been fighting desperately below, thinking the situation was dire, but here, there were people kneeling everywhere.
With all this free time, why not go down and save some people?
"It's not as simple as you think."
Seeing Shen Yi's unusual expression, Hong Lei took a slow step forward, leading the group towards the front, his face growing more solemn.
The Qingfeng Sect disciples clearly had no intention of resisting, yet General Chen still surrounded them without letting up, which could only mean one thing.
That old Grandmaster must have gone mad! Right in the middle of the large courtyard.
The man sat cross-legged, his upper body bare, covered in intricate wounds that crisscrossed like a spider web, as if he were a piece of porcelain nearly shattered.
These familiar scars caused Shen Yi to hold his breath involuntarily.
Back in Shuiyun Village, he had seen similar wounds on the body of a water serpent demon, almost identical.
And at this moment.
Shen Yi sensed a hint of aura from the man, and as he took steps forward, the closer he got, the stronger the aura became.
Suddenly, the man opened his eyes and slowly scanned the area.
Those bloodshot pupils, with just a glance, made Shen Yi tense up, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his blade.
Even when he had just woken up, facing the black-skinned dog demon in his mortal body.
The oppressive feeling that surged through him now was far more unsettling.
"He is Zhang Hengzhou."
Hong Lei seemed to feel nothing unusual and simply introduced, "A renowned swordsman from Qingzhou, according to General Chen's deduction, he should be the transformed Yangchun River water serpent demon."
Shen Yi acted as if he hadn't heard.
The man stared deeply at Shen Yi's face, his features contorted in pain, gradually revealing a hint of malice.
Under that gaze.
Shen Yi remained expressionless, only his breathing grew heavier.
A strong killing intent emerged from his heart.
In full view of everyone.
Zhang Hengzhou suddenly stood up and started walking towards the edge.
All the Qingfeng Sect disciples raised their heads, and the Demon Suppression Bureau captains gripped their weapons tightly, shouting, "Get back!"
But their hearts were filled with uncertainty.
The man's last riot was half a month ago, and General Chen had smashed him back with his halberd.
It had been peaceful for so many days, why did he suddenly stand up again?
"I am innocent, you cannot kill me."
Zhang Hengzhou's breathing was heavy, his body slightly stooped, and he spoke in a low voice, looking at the old man clad in dark treasure armor.
He gritted his teeth, "I have been slaying demons for Qingzhou for 150 years, protecting the people of Linjiang Prefecture for 150 years. They revered me as a hero! I am innocent!"
General Chen's hair and beard were all white, but his appearance was not extraordinary; he looked like an ordinary old man.
His expression was calm as he said indifferently, "Read it again."
The deputy commander beside him stepped forward, "Zhang Zitao, a disciple of Qingfeng Mountain, three years ago, went to Shuangyang County to slay a demon, and beheaded a cat demon. Over twenty commoners died, and their bones were nowhere to be found. According to demon hunters' investigations, two days ago, someone saw this demon five hundred li away at Niuwo Beach."
"Zhang Yusong, a disciple of Qingfeng Mountain, two years and seven months ago, did the same in a village in Qi'an County, beheading a demon. Thirty households were destroyed, and their bones were nowhere to be found."
"Zhang Linglong, a disciple of Qingfeng Mountain..."
The beheadings were identical, and the bones were nowhere to be found.
All the names, without exception, were the offspring of this renowned swordsman. Just in the last three years, the deputy commander's mouth had gone dry from reciting them.
The Qingfeng Sect disciples silently lowered their heads again.
"So my achievements are fake?" Zhang Hengzhou alone remained unmoved, still staring at the old man.
"Yours are all true," General Chen nodded slightly. "I sent people to investigate, and indeed, Qingfeng Mountain's reputation as a hero is well-deserved."
"Then—" Zhang Hengzhou's voice suddenly turned sharp, "With my achievements, shouldn't the people of Linjiang Prefecture nurture my offspring?! They are all half-demons, it's in their nature. I've been trying my best to teach them!"
"Why won't you give me some time!"
"Why won't you give me a chance!"
His deep resentment echoed throughout the entire sect.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
