Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

Chapter 154: Hundred Refinements Sect Declares Submission

In an instant, Shentu Jin was terrified out of his wits. Without hesitation, his Nascent Soul left his body, abandoning the physical form and fleeing towards the distance.

The Nascent Soul had many marvelous uses, with one of the most important being the ability to teleport by consuming its essence, reaching any location within the span of the spiritual sense in an instant.

"Waiting for your Nascent Soul to leave the body was exactly what I planned," Shang Tianjue sneered ominously.

In the next moment, he teleported directly in front of Shentu Jin's Nascent Soul. The Nascent Soul, still concerned about what was behind, did not notice the large hand already reaching for it.

"Ahh!" the Nascent Soul cried out in agony.

Shang Tianjue grasped it fiercely, casually kneading it before tossing it into his mouth. The cultivation methods of the Nether Dao Sect emphasized ruthlessness and dominance. Golden Cores and Nascent Souls were consumed directly, no additional processing needed. Such raw consumption was considered the best in terms of nutritional value.

After swallowing Shentu Jin's Nascent Soul, Shang Tianjue casually scooped up Shentu Jin's remains along with his storage bag and then headed straight for the Heaven Burning Sect's main gates.

...

Black Dragon Mountain.

The elder, Jian Yitong, personally visited to deliver significant news to Chu Xuan. "Fellow Daoist He, the Nascent Soul ancestor of the Heaven Burning Sect, Shentu Jin, has perished, and his sect was bloodily purged by Shang Tianjue alone. From top to bottom, not a single one was spared... it was too tragic."

Jian Yitong trembled as he spoke. Truly, the title of Overlord was well-deserved. What a ferocious man.

The headquarters of the Heaven Burning Sect, which included three Golden Core cultivators, over eighty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and more than a thousand Qi Refining disciples, were all turned into blood mist and devoured by Shang Tianjue.

Only those Golden Core elders and their disciples who had established their own dwellings outside were spared.

Chu Xuan listened, clicking his tongue in amazement at the sheer brutality of it all.

The Nether Dao Sect's methods were indeed tyrannical. They didn't use any cauldrons or alchemical apparatus; instead, they directly refined people into blood pills and soul pills for consumption.

No wonder the sect was once feared by many smaller sects. When the sect fell, it was these smaller sects that kicked them while they were down and fanned the flames.

Jian Yitong sighed lightly, "That Shang Tianjue will likely make his way to our Hundred Refinements Sect next. If that truly happens, how shall we respond, fellow daoist He?"

Chu Xuan responded with righteous fervor, "I, He Liang, have received great kindness from the Hundred Refinements Sect; naturally, I cannot abandon the sect! In life, I am a person of the Hundred Refinements Sect; in death, I will be its ghost!"

Jian Yitong smacked his lips and said, "Alright, fellow daoist He, I understand. I'll be taking my leave now."

Chu Xuan watched Jian Yitong depart, a smile crossing his face. This old man was a cunning sort, very clear-headed.

"Just as I expected, that Shang Tianjue is no easy adversary," he mused. "A well-known Nascent Soul ancestor was slain by him, and the Heaven Burning Sect was obliterated overnight… Shang Tianjue is definitely a Nascent Soul cultivator, not to be trifled with. If he doesn't come looking for me, all the better. But if he does, then it's time to flee."

The concepts of sect loyalty or deep master-disciple bonds never existed in Chu Xuan's dictionary. He felt no psychological burden about it—ready to flee at a moment's notice.

With treasures like the Blood Mirror to preserve his life, survival was his utmost priority. If worse came to worst, he could seclude himself in the Blue Star to cultivate for decades or even a century to reach the Nascent Soul realm. Then, returning to the cultivation world, he'd rise again as a formidable force.

As for the disciples at Black Dragon Mountain, they could scatter to the winds when the time came. Still, he could wait a bit. Even if he had to flee, he'd need to gather necessary resources first.

A few days later, Chu Xuan received unexpected news that even he found surprising. The Hundred Refinements Sect had actually submitted to Shang Tianjue. This news, issued by a Nascent Soul ancestor of the Hundred Refinements Sect, reached every Golden Core elder's token.

Upon receiving this news, Chu Xuan's first reaction wasn't joy but concern. This meant that the entire Hundred Refinements Sect was now tied to Shang Tianjue's chariot.

Sooner or later, Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, the absolute dominator of the Mystic Azure Star, would learn of this, and then the Hundred Refinements Sect would have to face their towering wrath.

"However... until Feather Transformation Heaven Palace makes a move, we are safe for now," Chu Xuan considered. "With Heaven Burning Sect destroyed, there's still one thing I can do…"

Remembering an old man, he immediately activated his Imperial Sky Mirror, soaring southward…

Beneath the banner of the Heaven Burning Sect were two branches of the Huang family.

One, burgeoning with Golden Cores, was a bona fide Golden Core lineage.

The other had only sporadically produced Golden Cores, and for several centuries now, had not seen a new one, relegating them to a mere Foundation Establishment family.

There was scant interaction between the two Huang clans. Yet, the founders from centuries ago were two brothers.

Chu Xuan had hesitated to strike immediately, wary of this connection. Eliminating this Foundation Establishment family could likely provoke inquiries from the Golden Core lineage. Should such scrutiny trace back to him, the costs would outweigh the gains.

Now, with the Heaven Burning Sect no more, all the cultivating families were thrown into utter disarray. The time had come to fulfill the vows once made.

Moments later, at the Huang residence, corpse puppets roared and blood bees buzzed. The grounds were strewn with the slaughtered scions of the Huang family.

Huang An stood amidst the crowd, his rage of decades finally erupting. With corpse puppets bolstering his assault, he carved a path of carnage, unstoppable.

"You harmed my grandson! You deserve to die! My grandson was a prodigy! He was destined to become a great Foundation Establishment cultivator! You damnable members of the direct line!"

Huang An bellowed, his sword descending. The direct descendant of the Huang family before him was cleaved into a mound of flesh.

"Uncle! I am not of the direct line, I am also from a collateral branch! Spare my life! Spare my life, please!"

The young man by his side was utterly terrified, retreating continuously.

But the fire in Huang An's eyes did not wane, "You are of the collateral branch, but you are a dog of the direct line! I have thoroughly investigated; my grandson was harmed abroad, and it was you who added fuel to the flames! You envied his talent! You deserve death even more!"

The sword fell, and blood sprayed wildly!

Chu Xuan stood aloft, taking in everything below.

Huang An was universally acknowledged as an honest, simple man. Diligent, earnest, and meticulous in all his endeavors. But such a man, once provoked, could wreak disastrous consequences.

Moments later, Huang An returned to Chu Xuan's side. His emotions had stabilized, Only his hands still trembled.

Huang An began to laugh. His smile was complex, tinged with resignation and resentment, profoundly intricate.

"Master, your servant's wish has been fulfilled. If you no longer have need of me, I shall take poison and end my remaining days."

Huang An spoke with deep respect.

Chu Xuan's gaze drifted into the distance, deep in thought.

Huang An's life or death hung on his decision. Yet, such a loyal servant as Huang An had become a rarity. He was quite useful.

Chu Xuan had no desire to dispose of him so hastily. He flicked his finger lightly. A mid-grade storage bag fell into Huang An's hands.

"The contents are now yours. Though you are too old to build your foundation normally, you could do so through demonic means. When I need you again, I will appear."

With that, Chu Xuan vanished.

Clutching the storage bag, Huang An's hands trembled uncontrollably.

He kowtowed on the spot, solemnly saying, "Master's grace, your servant will never forget for as long as I live!"