Systemless Villain

Chapter 212  Legendary Encounter

"Long Tian, Ling Han, Li Yue'er, and Mo Yuegang now stood in front of a wooden gate sealed with white paper inscribed with ancient Chinese characters.

"It seems we've reached the finish line," Long Tian said, a smirk playing on his face.

Mo Yuegang stepped forward, touching the paper. After a moment, his expression shifted to seriousness. "This paper is at least thousands of years old... It seems evident that this dungeon has been abandoned for quite some time, possibly since the early days of the Heavenly Demon sect," he commented.

"So, what are we waiting for? Open that paper, Sect Master," Long Tian responded.

Mo Yuegang's expression became even more dignified. "Young Master Long, it's important to note that this dungeon is an asset of the Heavenly Demon sect, and legally, it falls under my jurisdiction. But you, young master, have no affiliation with my sect," he explained, maintaining an unwavering gaze on Long Tian. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Long Tian sensed the intensity of Mo Yuegang's gaze. "Then, what do you want, Sect Master?" he inquired, maintaining a calm tone.

Ling Han, recognizing the tension in the air, crossed his arms, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.

Mo Yuegang continued to wear a confident smile. "I won't resort to violence or threats, young master, especially considering the reversed positions. I'm merely extending an invitation for you to join the Heavenly Demon sect," he stated, maintaining his smile.

Long Tian's expression tightened; he had expected Mo Yuegang to make such an offer.

But before he could respond, Mo Yuegang added, "You need not worry about entrance exams or the like. I'll secure your position as a core disciple... Or, if you agree right now, I can appoint you as a holy son of the Heavenly Demon sect without hesitation," he said, his tone resolute, a smile lingering on his face.

Upon hearing this, surprise marked the faces of Long Tian and Ling Han. Ling Han couldn't fathom Mo Yuegang's words, while Li Yue'er struggled to grasp the meaning of the term "holy son."

Long Tian, however, was taken aback. He fully comprehended the significance of a holy son—the designated successor to the leader of a sect.

"Sect Master, don't you harbor trust issues after witnessing one of your elders betray you? Why are you readily offering the position of the sect's holy son to me?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

"Regarding Elder Jin, I understand the gravity of an unforgivable betrayal, but that is a different matter. You, young master, possess a strong demonic origin from the demon's abyss, which aligns with the philosophy of the Heavenly Demon sect. Additionally, I've seen your talent and potential. So, I think it's not a bad choice to offer you the position of the holy son," Mo Yuegang responded.

Long Tian raised an eyebrow. Honestly, Mo Yuegang's offer was quite tempting. Upon reflection, becoming the leader of a sect in the future didn't sound like a bad idea.

But his thoughts were immediately shrouded by the words of his grandfather, who had emphasized the importance of joining the Xuantian Academy.

After contemplating for a moment, he shook his head. His gaze returned to Mo Yuegang. "I think I'll have to decline, Sect Master," he said.

Mo Yuegang responded, "Regarding Elder Jin, I understand the gravity of an unforgivable betrayal, but that is a different matter. You, young master, possess a strong demonic origin from the demon's abyss, which aligns with the philosophy of the Heavenly Demon sect. Additionally, I've seen your talent and potential. So, I think it's not a bad choice to offer you the position of the holy son."

Long Tian raised an eyebrow. Mo Yuegang's offer was undeniably tempting. Reflecting on it, the prospect of becoming a sect leader in the future didn't sound like a bad idea.

However, his thoughts were immediately clouded by the words of his grandfather, who had emphasized the importance of joining the Xuantian Academy.

After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head. His gaze returned to Mo Yuegang. "I think I'll have to decline, Sect Master," he said.

Mo Yuegang fell silent momentarily, then sighed, appearing disappointed with Long Tian's response.

"But I can assure you that the Heavenly Demon sect and the Long family, especially with me personally, will always have a good relationship. We might be able to partner on some projects in the future. With that said, can we enter that gate?" Long Tian asked, a smile gracing his face.

Mo Yuegang remained silent, pondering Long Tian's words. After a while, he responded, "I can allow you to enter, and your offer makes sense, but it's not enough. How about one more thing: if the Heavenly Demon sect faces a significant problem, the Long family must help a few times. What do you think about that?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Sect Master. According to your words, if your disciple or elder causes trouble with the empire, will the Long family help? That's clearly suicidal. How about we agree to help just once, and even then, it comes with terms and conditions that don't involve the empire. Deal?" Long Tian proposed, extending his hand.

Mo Yuegang stroked his chin, but without much hesitation, he agreed. "Deal," he said, shaking hands with Long Tian.

A satisfied smile formed on Long Tian's face. He understood why Mo Yuegang had initially refused entry; after all, he was nobody.

Mo Yuegang, on the other hand, felt that this agreement wasn't bad. Having a positive relationship with the ancient Long family was undoubtedly a valuable development.

"Alright, now that we've made a deal, Sect Master, it's time for you to unseal that gate," Long Tian remarked confidently.

Mo Yuegang, maintaining a composed silence, acknowledged Long Tian's words with a subtle nod. He advanced towards the gate, and with deliberate precision, he laid his hand on the surface of the paper.

As his fingers touched the ancient white paper, the ring on his finger emitted a mesmerizing purple glow. The intricate Chinese characters, etched into the paper's surface, seemed to yield to the influence of this radiant energy, gradually fading away until the paper was left blank.

In the next moment, the once-sealed gate responded audibly. The wooden door, held captive by the ancient seal, creaked open, revealing a pathway beyond.

All eyes were now riveted on the unveiled expanse beyond the gate, bathed in a faint white light that illuminated the surroundings.

Without a moment's hesitation, they ventured inside, and within an instant, they were met with a sight that challenged the boundaries of belief.

Before them lay a vast chamber crafted from marble. Yet, it wasn't the material of the room that seized their attention.

Just a short distance away, numerous formidable chains, flanking both sides of the chamber, restrained a human figure. The chains exhibited such formidable strength that the individual hung suspended in mid-air.

The countenances of everyone present mirrored genuine astonishment at the perplexing scene before them.

"What in the world is this? A human?" Ling Han exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.

"This dungeon dates back thousands of years, implying that person has been confined here for that duration?" Mo Yuegang stated, his tone filled with sincerity.

Long Tian and Li Yue'er maintained a silent vigil, their gazes locked onto the unconscious figure.

"Is he still alive?" Li Yue'er inquired, her voice earnest as she gripped Long Tian's arm.

Before Long Tian could respond, the human figure abruptly opened his eyes, revealing crimson orbs that seemed capable of piercing through everything.

His gaze was immediately fixed on the four individuals standing before him.

His lips moved, producing a voice that carried the weight of years, "Free... Me..."

Ling Han and the others became alert upon hearing this plea.

The mysterious figure continued, his voice carrying an otherworldly weight, "I shall grant unparalleled strength to the one who unshackles me. Especially to you, my descendants," as he pointed an accusatory finger at both Long Tian and Mo Yuegang.

Caught off guard, Long Tian and Mo Yuegang exchanged astonished glances.

"Descendants? What could he mean?" Ling Han queried, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Long Tian ventured a speculative thought, "Could it be related to the time I absorbed demonic souls in the Demon's Abyss? Is this entity considering me as his descendant, and that portion of his soul merged with mine?"

"That's a plausible explanation," Mo Yuegang acknowledged.

While they contemplated the implications, the enigmatic man repeated his plea with a touch of menace, "Free... Me..."

"You're not going anywhere!" Ling Han declared defiantly.

A quizzical expression appeared on the man's face as he refocused his intense gaze on Ling Han. "Hmm?" he responded, "Then, death awaits you," pronouncing a ominous fate with chilling certainty.

Suddenly, a creature emerged, appearing as large as five times of a tiger, adorned with a menacing visage, two formidable horns, razor-sharp fangs, and piercing red eyes. The creature's fur exuded a threatening aura, emphasizing its ferocity.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAWWRRRGH!" The monster unleashed a deafening roar, prompting Long Tian and the others to instinctively shield their ears from the overpowering sound. Ling Han could discern that the creature's aura aligned precisely with the roars he had previously heard.

After a few moments, the room descended into silence, leaving a grave expression on everyone's faces.

Mo Yuegang, displaying profound seriousness, exclaimed, "Shit! That creature is a legendary being, Tao Tie!"

"What? It's real?!" Long Tian voiced his disbelief.

"There's no doubt. The appearance of that creature perfectly matches the descriptions in the legends I've encountered," Mo Yuegang affirmed. He then turned to Long Tian, delivering a stern warning, "Young Master Long, Miss Li Yue'er, you better step back. Right now, I can't even sense the strength of that monster," his tone carried a weight of seriousness.

Long Tian's expression turned solemn. Witnessing a legendary being firsthand was beyond his expectations. Tao Tie's figure was renowned even in legends from his past life, and now, the monster stood before him.

In the midst of the prevailing seriousness, Ling Han boldly advanced.

Observing this, Long Tian promptly inquired, "What are you doing, Uncle Ling?"

Ling Han stomped the ground, directing his gaze to Mo Yuegang, "Sect Master, you mentioned that the monster is Tao Tie, correct?" he asked.

"Yes, no mistake," affirmed Mo Yuegang with a nod.

Upon hearing this, a grin manifested on Ling Han's face, "Then, it's a fitting opponent for me," he declared fearlessly.

Mo Yuegang was somewhat taken aback by Ling Han's confidence. On the other hand, Long Tian couldn't resist asking, "Are you sure about this, Uncle Ling? That's a mythical creature. Wouldn't it be better if we collaborated?" his tone brimming with concern.

"You don't need to worry about me, young master. Perhaps this will serve as an introduction to my martial spirit for you as well," Ling Han responded, his self-assured smile unwavering.

Without awaiting anyone's reaction, Ling Han redirected his gaze toward Tao Tie and confidently took a step forward.

Long Tian appeared surprised and intrigued. Upon reflection, Ling Han had never unveiled his martial spirit before.

In the interim, as Ling Han advanced, Tao Tie emitted a menacing growl, clearly expressing its intent to kill.

Unfazed by the looming danger, Ling Han commenced exuding the true aura of a peak-level golden core realm.

A crimson radiance enveloped him, and in the ensuing moment, a towering figure took shape, resembling a colossal, black-clad man with thick, black hair, a voluminous beard, and mustache, brandishing a sword. The figure exuded a terrifying presence with its two piercing purple eyes.

Long Tian and Li Yue'er stood in awe, yet, the nature of this apparition eluded their understanding.

On the other hand, Mo Yuegang, visibly surprised, acknowledged Ling Han's confidence. "No wonder he's so assured; it happens to be his martial spirit," he mumbled.

In response to this revelation, Long Tian promptly inquired, "Do you have any insights, Sect Master?"

"His martial spirit is Zhong Kui, the demon slayer!" Mo Yuegang responded, his tone undeniably serious.

This disclosure prompted surprise once more on Long Tian's countenance.

The name Zhong Kui wasn't unfamiliar to him; it was a legend that even persisted from his previous life.

Now, the reason behind Ling Han's unwavering confidence became clear. Zhong Kui was renowned for eradicating evil spirits and demons, making him the perfect adversary for Tao Tie, an evil spirit.

In the midst of this, Li Yue'er voiced her concern, "Nevertheless, isn't it too perilous for him to confront the monster alone? Shouldn't we intervene?"

Mo Yuegang promptly replied, "No, let him cook."