Chapter 113 - 111 Devouring Heaven Demon Art_1

Sword Sect, Red Dust Peak. Wearing a wide-collared robe, Wenren Pingxin’s eyes brimmed with confusion as she scrutinized the multitude of Sword Sect Disciples before her. After examining them carefully for a while, she furrowed her brows and said, "Where is Shen Wanqian? Why didn’t he return with you all?" "What on earth happened during this journey? Why couldn’t the Sword Sect get in touch with you?" Mo Youqian, Zhen Jianting, Niu Dazhuang, and the others exchanged glances and then nodded. Zhen Jianting took a deep breath, turned to Wenren Pingxin with a look of deep sorrow, and said, "Acting Sect Leader!" "Shen Wanqian should be out training on his own." "While near Mo City, we accidentally stumbled into Unrepentant Cliff!" "There was no way to contact the Sword Sect at all!" Mo Youqian stepped forward, wiped away tears, and added with a melodramatic voice, "We encountered a Dao Integration Beast at the base of Unrepentant Cliff. Its strength was surely at least at the Dao Integration level. Afterwards, Elder Su rescued us, and we owe him our lives!" "Elder Su searched for us with an anxious expression and then fought that nameless Dao Integration Beast at the base of Unrepentant Cliff for three days and three nights!" "He told us to return first, but he himself was seriously injured..." Seriously injured? Wenren Pingxin looked at the Sword Sect Disciples with a skeptical expression on her face. From the moment they spoke of Su Bei battling a Dao Integration Beast, she already felt something was off. When she heard these disciples, who were notorious for making up lies, claim that Su Bei was seriously injured for their sake... What a way to glorify Su Bei. Based on what she knew of him, if there was danger, he’d be the first to flee, certainly not the second to linger. Nevertheless, her beautiful eyes curved. Supporting her cheek with a delicate hand, her crimson lips parted as she feigned anxiety and asked, "And then? Did Elder Su die?" Mo Youqian looked at the yawning Great Elder, his face darkening. If you’re going to pretend to be anxious, at least do it properly. Why does it sound like you’re hoping that Elder Su is dead? Still, he braced himself and said somewhat guiltily, "Fortunately... thankfully, Elder Su was saved by Headmistress Yu of the Red Pavilion Star Moon Sect." "He might be able to return in a few days!" Headmistress Yu? Upon hearing this name, Wenren Pingxin’s interest piqued immediately. She changed from her previously languid posture, furrowed her graceful eyebrows, and stared at Mo Youqian for a long while, making Mo Youqian extremely uncomfortable. Then she said thoughtfully, "Oh? Went to the Red Pavilion?" "Why would that fish be so kind-hearted?" Mo Youqian swallowed hard, not sure how to answer the Great Elder. He exchanged glances with the others, managing only a sheepish smile and said nothing. Noticing the Sword Sect Disciples avoiding her gaze, Wenren Pingxin felt an inexplicable discomfort rise within her. The slightest breeze can herald a storm. Nothing happens without reason. These disciples concocted a bunch of nonsense. She might not know the truth of other matters, but she was certain it had something to do with the Red Pavilion! Perhaps they went to the Red Pavilion seeking courtesans, were detained by that fish, and Su Bei had to bail them out! The thought of Su Bei possibly getting entangled with that fish made Wenren Pingxin frown. She pursed her crimson lips and sighed. After some thought, she picked up a book-like object beside her, waved it in front of the disciples, and said, "Since you all came from Mo City, you should know about this, right?" "It started circulating throughout the Twenty-One Provinces two days ago. I wonder which genius from the Star Moon Sect came up with this idea; it’s truly well done!" Niu Dazhuang looked at the newspaper, his mind seemingly clearing for a moment. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Ah! Isn’t this Elder Su’s..." He stopped mid-sentence when he instantly felt numerous icy glares directed at him. Niu Dazhuang swallowed and shrank back. Wenren Pingxin raised an eyebrow, looking meaningfully at the Sword Sect Disciples, and asked suggestively, "Elder Su what?" "Elder Su is handsome..." Immediately after, the group of Sword Sect Disciples was dragged away by the Red Dust Peak disciples, crying and shouting as each received thirty heavy strokes of the plank. Wenren Pingxin’s face turned visibly red with rage. She felt her blood boiling, tightly clutching the newspaper. After staring at it for a while, she fiercely tore it to shreds. Her ample bosom heaved as she paced back and forth in the empty room. After some thought, she quickly walked to the brocaded couch in her boudoir and sat down, her expression changing rapidly. After grinding her teeth in frustration for a while, her mood gradually calmed down. Wenren Pingxin took a deep breath and muttered to herself, Quite the fish, truly skilled at entangling men. Su Bei, that good-for-nothing! To think he’d just give away such a brilliant idea? A fifty-fifty split? How dare she? This clearly should be a ninety-ten split! Isn’t this just bullying Su Bei because he’s an honest man? After much contemplation, Wenren Pingxin still couldn’t shake off the feeling. Her beautiful eyes gazed at the teacup on the table, her reflection shimmering in the water within. Does that fish think she’s become too desperate after eight hundred years alone? She reached out with her slender jade hand to gently pick up the teacup, pondering as she spoke, Speaking of which, it has been some time since I last saw her... The first batch of newspapers, distributed by the Red Pavilion Star Moon Sect, quickly spread throughout the entire Twenty-One Provinces. Just as Su Bei had predicted, each branch office printed an unknown number of copies overnight. As soon as the newspapers were publicized and put on sale, they were snatched up in an instant. In an era where common people relied on letters to convey information and stories spread only through storytellers in teahouses, this newspaper indeed sparked a tremendous wave. In both the Dongfeng Ancient Country and the South Wind Ancient Country, nearly all citizens wanted to have a look as soon as they heard about it, queuing up from door to door to buy it! The various novelties reported in the newspaper were like a fresh spring gushing into the dry riverbed of the long-stagnant Twenty-One Provinces. It provided a very direct way to see major events happening across the land, a rare pastime that perfectly catered to the masses’ inherent love for gossip! Not to mention that the newspaper also included targeted analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of the current Great Sects. "Do you think what’s written here, about Elder Su of the Sword Sect scaring Elder Luo of the Wuhua Palace into wetting himself, could be true?" "I don’t know! But it feels like it’s not just made up; the whole process is detailed here..." "This thing called a newspaper is really good! I’ve lived most of my life without ever visiting the Dongfeng Ancient Country, but now I know what’s happening there." "Whose idea was this?" Crowds gathered, all discussing the newspaper’s contents animatedly. Some even came to blows while arguing about the veracity of the newspaper’s content. This scene was visible throughout the Twenty-One Provinces! The attraction didn’t stop there. People are naturally curious, and almost everyone became interested in the upcoming Twenty-One Provinces recruitment assembly! Some even began using the information in the newspapers to predict who would win the championship in the upcoming Grand Competition of the Twenty-One Provinces... 「South Wind Ancient Country, Empty Cicada Lake.」 「The Cottage.」 Li Zijun knelt upright on a silk reed mat. Light gently fell upon her delicate face, reflecting on her pale blue, cross-collared gown, subtly revealing her tender, white, slender neck. Her hair was styled in an elegant upswept bun, adorned with plum blossom-shaped golden hairpins slanted on either side. Two beautiful combs, freshly touched with morning dew, were set in her hair, and her lips bore a light stain of cherry red. No rouge touched her cheeks. Viewed from above, her gown spread out around her, like a blooming cherry blossom at its center, a sight so gentle it made the heart flutter. Placed before her on the low desk was a newspaper. She bit her lip gently, lost in thought. Her somewhat dazed eyes lingered on the words ’Elder Su,’ which were circled in bold on the paper. Just then, a maid walked in, leaned over gently by Li Zijun’s ear, and whispered softly, "Miss, Ying’er has found the information you requested. It’s all here!" With that, she took out what looked like a scroll from her sleeve and handed it over gently. Li Zijun tilted her head slightly, her gaze meeting the maid’s shimmering eyes. She composed herself, slowly straightened her posture, looked ahead, and said softly with a gentle smile, "Thank you, Ying’er!" All was silent. Not daring to disturb Miss Zijun, Ying’er lifted the silk curtains and hung the bamboo blinds on all four windows before quietly retreating. The cottage instantly became bright and airy. Li Zijun placed her hands on her lap, her small fingertips stained with peach-red balsam. A flicker of anticipation in her heart was quickly suppressed. She composed herself, shifted her kneeling posture slightly to one side, and gently unrolled the scroll. "Devouring Heaven Demon Art." "This Cultivation Technique originated from the Miaojiang Clan in the South Wind Ancient Country. It was used for sorcerous insects to devour one another, thereby seizing their essence to cultivate an Overlord Sorcerous Insect..." "Later, Evil Cultivators adapted it to cultivate within their own bodies by extracting the bones of others." Li Zijun blinked her eyes, reading the content bit by bit. Gently closing the scroll, her lovely brows furrowed as she bit her lip and mused to herself, It doesn’t say here that cultivating this technique would alter a Cultivator’s personality. Why is that? Master? Suddenly, a small pattern hidden in the booklet caught her attention. Li Zijun blinked, examining the mysterious ring pattern in detail. It seems familiar... as if I’ve seen it somewhere before, but... I can’t recall. Gently pressing a hand to her chest, a bitter smile touched Li Zijun’s lips. I have always been reluctant to believe it. That gentle man, the one who could comfort a crybaby like me all night at the City God Temple... My Master. What could be the reason? My Master. 「The crescent moon hung high, starlight shimmering.」 Su Bei looked down at Xiao Ruoching. She was sitting quietly on the ground, gazing up at the sky, her beautiful eyes wide as she counted the stars. The bright moon hung in the sky, stars twinkling beside it. The light dusted her snow-like eyelashes, which fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. Her eyes, cast downward, held a gleam that reflected the light. Dan Wulan stood quietly behind Su Bei. His cool eyes stared blankly at the burning campfire before he suddenly spoke, "Senior Brother." Su Bei turned around, looking at Dan Wulan with some confusion. "Does the Sword Sect have peach blossoms?"