Chapter 13 - Journey to Xianmen (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Blackheaven Sect, Qingyun Temple

“Tell me again. What was the man carrying up the mountain?” Startled, the Blackheaven Sect’s Sect Master, Xi Qiu, shot up in alarm from his high seat in the great hall.

“Sect Master, the man said it was a Soul Devouring Gonfalon,” replied the disciple.

“Soul Devouring Gonfalon? It’s a Devouring Gonfalon! Could the man be the Fiendish Cultivator Rui Mi?” Xi Qiu stepped forward with an angry look on his face and said, “The cheek of that Fiendish Cultivator! He actually dares to break into my Blackheaven Sect. I’d like to see what he is capable of. Come with me comrades, let’s destroy this fiend together.” Saying that, he prepared to lead a group of elders down the mountain.

“Senior Brother, wait!” Disciplinary Hall Master Xi Chen held him back hastily. “In my opinion, this person might not be that fiend.”

“How so?” asked Xi Qiu, surprised.

“Senior Brother, have you heard the recent news about the sudden resurgence of Fiendish Cultivator Rui Mi’s Myriad Fiend Den?”

“Of course I’ve heard about it.” Xi Qiu nodded. “How is he connected to this matter?”

“A few days ago, I took a look at the Fiend Den,” Xi Chen explained. “I found that the harmful creatures inside had been totally destroyed. I didn’t see any sign of the fiend, but all his lackeys who practiced on live humans had been killed, and killed by a single stroke of the sword, no less. There was still some Sword Qi lingering in the den. Someone must have broken into it.”

“You mean…” Xi Qiu was stunned. “That person was a Sword Cultivator!” It was rare to come across a Sword Cultivator in this world, and one who was capable of breaking into the Myriad Fiend Den had to at least be at the Golden Core stage.

“Yes!” Xi Chen nodded. “Seeing how this man dared to come up to Blackheaven Sect so openly, and counting the fact that he is carrying the Soul Devouring Gonfalon, I think he is probably the one who broke into the Myriad Fiend Den.”

Xi Qiu’s eyes lit up and his anger subsided. He looked at the disciple in the hall and instructed excitedly, “Quickly, ask the man to come up.”

He walked back to the main seat and sat down. Within a quarter of an hour, he saw a man in white robes approaching from the entrance. He looked no more than twenty, and his entire body exuded powerful Sword Qi. A closer look revealed that he was actually a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, and he was holding a black flag in his right hand. One could faintly see the Ghost Qi swarming inside the flag. This flag was indeed the legendary Soul Devouring Gonfalon.

“Sword Cultivator Yi Qing, paying my respects to the Perfected Ones.” He clasped his fists and saluted.

“Yi Qing!” Xi Qiu exclaimed in surprise, rising from his chair once again. “You are that itinerant cultivator Yi Qing.”

“That’s right,” replied Yi Qing.

Yi Qing’s reply surprised him even more. Even the hall masters present all turned to look at the person in the center of the hall. It was no wonder as Yi Qing was such a well-known name among itinerant cultivators and even among Fiendish Cultivators.

No one knew where he came from because when he appeared, he was already a Golden Core Sword Cultivator. Rumor had it that he abhorred evil with a vengeance and that he was willing to champion the cause of justice. Countless Fiendish Cultivators had died by his hands.

Itinerant cultivators had always been a disorganized lot, made up of all manner of people. Most of them would either switch to become Fiendish Cultivators or turn to pilfering, killing and robbery. He was like a breath of fresh air in the world of itinerant cultivators, and he had ironclad integrity. Any wicked creature who fell into his hands came to no good end. And as if that were not enough, he was also a famous Sword Cultivator who was one level higher than his peers. It was rumored that Fiendish Cultivators below the stage of Golden Core had all been thrashed by him. Very few Fiendish Cultivators committed crimes in places he had passed through.

“Fellow Daoist Yi, what brings you to Blackheaven Sect?” Xi Qiu asked.

Yi Qing immediately placed the flag which he had been holding in his right hand on his other palm, saying, “I’m here to give this to you. I would like to ask you to use your sect’s Spirit Cleansing Qi to rid the Ghost Qi in the flag and release the thousands of vengeful spirits from the gonfalon.”