Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

Two hours later, the clearing at the base of Ironwire Mountain was littered with six bodies—each a Gu Master of the Thousand Insects Sect.

Drawn by the signal Chu Xuan had released, these cultivators had hurried to the location without hesitation, dropping all other activities. They arrived unprepared and walked into an ambush where Chu Xuan and his companions had been lying in wait, fully rested and ready.

The outcome was predictable.

Chu Xuan and his senior brothers reaped a rich harvest from this setup. Li Xuanming and Liu Zhenxiong each killed a Gu Master while Chu Xuan, with his superior strength, swiftly eliminated two and then another two in a clash.

As for Zhou Yu, he ended up in a dire situation yet again, with two Ironwire Worms burrowing into his organs. He would have perished if not for Hu, who provided timely assistance.

"Six storage bags in total; we can divide them equally among the three of us," Chu Xuan suggested, handing over two of the four bags he acquired to Li Xuanming and Liu Zhenxiong. They were taken aback by the gesture.

"Junior brother, these are your spoils," Liu Zhenxiong objected, shaking his head.

Chu Xuan smiled. "We jointly finished six Gu Masters. It wouldn't be right for me to keep everything. Besides, we are fellow sect members."

Li Xuanming and Liu Zhenxiong reluctantly accepted the storage bags after these words.

Zhou Yu tentatively raised his hand, "I... I... would like one too..."

Chu Xuan grinned, "Has Fellow Daoist Zhou made up his mind? To nourish the corpse or the worms?"

Zhou Yu quickly withdrew his hand, shaking his head like a rattle, "Forget I said anything."

Chu Xuan smiled subtly. He had already acquired Chen Zhaofeng's storage bag. Aside from the top magic tool and various treasures bestowed upon Chen by the Hundred Gu Daoist, just the large amount of spirit stones was a tremendous gain. He had also secured the storage bags from the three Gu Masters he had killed earlier. Being too greedy would not be wise.

If Chu Xuan hadn't known Li Xuanming and Liu Zhenxiong and if they hadn't been fellow sect members under Wan Wuying, perhaps he could have kept everything for himself without a word. Given his strength, neither would dare to complain.

However, considering their shared lineage and the fact that he had just killed Chen Zhaofeng, once highly esteemed by Wan Wuying, the complexities of internal sect relationships were too entangled. It was safer to share some of the spoils to keep potential complaints at bay—after all, 'He who receives a benefit should never forget it.'

After scouring Ironwire Mountain clean, the group swiftly departed, riding the Heavenly Star Flying Sword back to the territory of the Extreme Yin Cave. Before leaving, they didn't forget about the Foundation Establishment cultivator Liu Zhenxiong had nailed down. Once Chu Xuan learned that it was this individual who had provided the erroneous information that led to their initial trouble, he didn't hesitate to execute him and toss him into the Corpse Nurturing Tower.

...

In the cavernous depths of the Extreme Yin Cave, within the sanctum of Master Wan Wuying, Chu Xuan and his two companions entered in succession, each kneeling on one knee before their master.

Wu Teng had been waiting inside the cave for some time. Master Wan's gaze swept past Li Xuanming and Liu Zhenxiong, finally resting on Chu Xuan.

He snorted coldly, the oppressive aura of a Golden Core cultivator bursting forth, settling like a mountain upon Chu Xuan's shoulders, rendering him breathless.

Master Wan's voice was stern, "So, you return to report only after the deed is done—commendable indeed!" He barked, "Tell me, Chu Xuan, did you kill Chen Zhaofeng out of jealousy?"

Chu Xuan responded firmly, "No, Master, I acted to purge our sect of dishonor!"

Master Wan scoffed with icy mockery, "How righteously you phrase it! Look at me, Chu Xuan, did you desire the top-grade magic tool he possessed so intensely that it drove you to murder?"

Chu Xuan met Master Wan's piercing eyes without hesitation. "Yes, I indeed coveted that top-grade magic tool."

Li Xuanming, Liu Zhenxiong, and Wu Teng looked on in astonishment. They too had desired the legendary tool, yet none could declare it with such disarming candor.

Master Wan, momentarily taken aback, soon huffed, "You are brutally honest, at least. Now, tell me, where have you been these past five months? How did you advance from the second level of Foundation Establishment to the seventh so rapidly?"

As he finished, Master Wan withdrew his overwhelming aura. The invisible weight crushing Chu Xuan dissipated, allowing him to rise.

He had anticipated that his true cultivation level could not be concealed from Master Wan. The revelation shocked Li Xuanming, Liu Zhenxiong, and Wu Teng.

The seventh level of the Foundation Establishment? This was a cultivator on the verge of peak mastery. No wonder Chu Xuan possessed such formidable strength, effortlessly slaying three Gu Masters and lying in wait to dispatch four more.

They too stood up, eager to discover how Chu Xuan had achieved such extraordinary progress.

Chu Xuan, having rehearsed his explanation, spoke fluently, "Master, I was never merely at the second level of Foundation Establishment but at the fourth. I concealed my true strength, fearing the old saying that 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered down' might invite envy from other disciples of the Heavenly Seal Sect."

Master Wan nodded slightly. His student's caution resonated with his own philosophy. During his days as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he too had understood the perils of prominence and had kept his capabilities concealed.

Later, Chu Xuan recounted his ordeal at Ironwire Mountain, where a Gu Master had grievously wounded him. He fled desperately, and in a haze, tumbled into an underground valley.

Chu Xuan's face betrayed no deception as he wove his tale. It was the typical narrative of a fortuitous fall leading to rapid advancement, replete with all the clichés of serendipitous encounters.

Asked about the exact location of this underground valley, he provided evasive, inconsistent answers—now in the east, then in the west. With Wu Province being a region abundant in mountains and valleys, pinpointing any specific location from Chu Xuan's vague descriptions was impossible.

Master Wan Wuying, seasoned and astute, detected the subtext in Chu Xuan's words. He snorted, "It's normal to have one's little secrets. If I hadn't had my share of fortuitous encounters, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Off you go," he continued dismissively, "You've slain so many from the Thousand Insects Sect; the Hundred Gu Daoist will surely be harboring thoughts of vengeance. Better stay in your caves for a few days."

Chu Xuan and his companions bowed respectfully. "Disciples take their leave."

"Senior brothers, I shall head back first." Having bid farewell outside Master Wan's cave, Chu Xuan summoned his Heavenly Star Flying Sword and sped toward the Water Curtain Cave.

Li Xuanming watched his departing figure, feeling a mix of emotions. Wu Teng chuckled, "Senior Brother Li, it looks like your position as the eldest senior brother might be at risk."

Li Xuanming responded calmly, "If Junior Brother Chu continues to surpass me, why should I cling to the title of eldest senior brother?"

The three then dispersed to their respective caves.

...

At the Water Curtain Cave.

Chu Xuan wasted no time. Upon entering his abode, he unfolded the Blood Mirror and returned to the Blue Star.

Atop the rooftop of Haotai Hotel, Chu Xuan sat cross-legged on a plush velvet cushion, looking at the six storage bags arrayed before him. One was from Chen Zhaofeng, three from the initial batch of Gu Masters, and two from those who had come to the rescue.

He first erased the spiritual marks from the five bags and then inspected their contents. As expected, these Gu Masters were mediocre; each had around a thousand small spiritual stones.

The rest was mostly eggs and food for the worms. As for magic tools, most were of medium quality, with only two superior ones, both suited for offense. Finding them of no use, Chu Xuan planned to sell them at the nameless market when convenient.

After organizing his loot, Chu Xuan prepared to break the seal on Chen Zhaofeng's storage bag. "Holy smokes! Jackpot!" he exclaimed as he peered inside.