Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 415 - 371: Making Trouble?

Thousands of thunders roared, changing the color of heaven and earth.

The oppressive might rolled up fierce winds, causing the mountains and forests within hundreds of miles to sway wildly, producing a continuous rustling sound.

The last remaining soldier in talismanic armor looked at Qi Xiu approaching with large strides, his face pale with fright, legs trembling uncontrollably as cold sweat dripped from his chin.

His entire back was already drenched with sweat.

Although he couldn’t discern the young Daoist’s cultivation, the terrifying Thunder Magic alone suggested this person was at least a great cultivator of the Blood-Stained Realm.

What rotten luck! How could it be so coincidental...

Bitterness of regret filled his mouth. The soldier in talismanic armor hadn’t expected that merely stopping a few Dao-Entering Realm junior cultivators to extort some Dao Gold would provoke a true grand cultivator of the Blood-Stained Realm.

"Are you... Uncle-Master Qi Xiu?"

Hearing the somewhat surprised question from behind, Qi Xiu turned slightly, looking back at Chang Kong, who had a pleased expression.

"Who are you?"

By nature, he was indifferent. Within the sect, apart from secluding himself on Yunti Peak, he rarely ventured out. Even when he did, it was with his Master.

He had very little interaction with other martial brothers and sisters in the sect.

Therefore, even though Chang Kong recognized him, he had no impression of him.

"This humble one is Chang Kong, a disciple of Yunli Peak, under Master Ye Qing’er."

Seeing Qi Xiu’s confused face, Chang Kong quickly explained.

"Yunli Peak, Ye Qing’er?" Qi Xiu furrowed his brows slightly; the name did sound somewhat familiar upon first hearing it.

He urged his soul to search for the name within his vast memories. It didn’t take long for a flicker to appear in his eyes, a trace of realization showing.

No wonder it sounded familiar. Isn’t Ye Qing’er the female disciple who became Dao partners with Dong Xingzhou at the ceremony Master took me to attend?

"You’re Ye Qing’er’s disciple?"

Qi Xiu was not very familiar with Ye Qing’er; he had only met her briefly during the ceremony years ago.

Later, he heard she had fallen out with her Dao partner, Dong Xingzhou, over some matter. She then stole a Magical Treasure from Master Yunxiang and hunted Dong Xingzhou for over a month, nearly beating him to death.

If Master Yunxiang hadn’t arrived in time, the Butcher King’s sole heir would likely have died at this woman’s hands.

However, Master Yunxiang’s "timeliness" was debatable. His Magical Treasure was stolen, and it took him over a month to notice. Furthermore, he just happened to arrive precisely when Ye Qing’er was about to kill Dong Xingzhou. It seemed that if not for Dong Xingzhou’s status, Master Yunxiang probably wouldn’t have noticed his Magical Treasure was stolen at all.

"How has your Master been recently?"

Knowing that Chang Kong was Ye Qing’er’s disciple, Qi Xiu asked casually.

"She’s doing alright. Ever since that incident, Master has been in secluded cultivation on Yunli Peak. Her cultivation has now reached the Blood-Stained Triple Realm."

Mentioning his Master Ye Qing’er, a trace of awkward embarrassment flashed across Chang Kong’s face.

After all, beating one’s own Dao partner half to death wasn’t exactly a glorious affair.

Fortunately, Dong Xingzhou was later personally retrieved by the Butcher King, and his entire Thunder Magic cultivation was revoked. Under the "reminder" from their Grandmaster, Master Yunxiang, no one in the sect spoke of the incident anymore.

"That’s good. You all step aside for now. I will take you back to the sect later."

Nodding, Qi Xiu directed Chang Kong and the others to wait aside, while he himself approached the talismanic-armored soldier, whose face had gone deathly pale.

"People from the County Yamen?"

Transforming into a Lei Mang, Qi Xiu instantly appeared before the soldier in talismanic armor, his eyes looking down at this man who resembled a bandit more than a soldier.

"Yes... yes, this lowly one is from the County Yamen, Zhang Lin, Squad Leader of the Fifth Squad, Thirteenth Camp, Right Vanguard Army." Zhang Lin’s teeth chattered, and he bowed his head low, answering with a quivering voice.

"Did the County Yamen order you to intercept those entering Dianchuan Province?"

"Yes, the County Yamen issued an order... ordering us to strictly inspect all who enter Dianchuan. Anyone who disobeys interrogation will be imprisoned. Senior, Senior, forgive me! This lowly one... I was momentarily foolish! Please, Senior, spare my life!"

Under the roar of thunder filling the sky and Qi Xiu’s indifferent gaze, Zhang Lin finally broke down, collapsing to his knees and begging loudly for mercy.

Frowning, Qi Xiu flicked his sleeve, sending Zhang Lin flying.

With a loud BANG, the immense Vigor shattered the soldier’s talismanic armor—strong enough to withstand attacks from cultivators at the Peak of Dao Entry. The man’s expression contorted as he died instantly, his body falling into the distant Forest Sea.

If they treat cultivators from great sects so ruthlessly and despicably, what would happen to ordinary cultivators? Wouldn’t they be skinned alive by you lot?

After dealing with Zhang Lin, Qi Xiu’s eyes flickered as he pondered the news he had just heard.

What is Gao Tianxiong up to now?

Truthfully, ever since learning the cause and effect of the Dianchuan catastrophe, he had little fondness for this Dianchuan Festival Envoy.

Although, given his position, ordinary Spirit Beings were no different from dust in his eyes.

That was why he could use the lives of hundreds of millions of Spirit Beings in the entire province as a bargaining chip to exchange for a chance at rebirth and another life.

But for Qi Xiu, who had risen from insignificance step by step, Gao Tianxiong’s actions and his own principles were completely divergent.

Indeed, as the saying goes, those whose paths diverge cannot plan together.

Dianchuan Province had just suffered a great disaster and was still in a period of recuperation, yet this Dianchuan Festival Envoy was now starting to blockade Dianchuan, which truly vexed him.

Heaven and Earth are the chessboard, and all living beings are the pieces. These great figures are far too obsessed with the feeling of being the players.

Shaking his head slowly, Qi Xiu felt some aversion in his heart, but with his current strength, he was far from qualified to argue with these chess players.

His pent-up frustration unreleased, Qi Xiu lifted his head slightly, a faint, unusual glint appearing in his clear, black-and-white eyes.

His heart, which had always sought only to live peacefully and mind his own business, had subtly begun to change.

But that is a story for another time.

Collecting his emotions, Qi Xiu turned to Chang Kong and the other juniors. With a sweep of his large sleeve, he enveloped them. Immediately, clusters of cloud-thunder rose beneath his feet, carrying them towards the Shenxiao Sect.

"Uncle-Master, we just killed all those people from the County Yamen. Won’t that cause trouble?"

Thousands of meters high in the sky, a strong wind blew against them. The other disciples wore expressions of amazement, while only Chang Kong showed a trace of worry.

This was not surprising. They were all Dao-Entering Realm disciples and, in their daily lives, usually only mingled with fellow cultivators. At most, they encountered Blood-Stained Great Cultivators; Dao Body Realm Leaders, like their own Grandmaster, were figures they had seen only a few times.

The County Yamen, after all, belonged to the imperial court and was a direct force under the Dianchuan Festival Envoy, Gao Tianxiong.

Having killed all those people from the County Yamen, he couldn’t help but worry.

"You child, you certainly are honest."

Hearing Chang Kong’s worries, Qi Xiu smiled reassuringly. "They were merely a hundred or so minor soldiers, nothing significant. What’s more, they were the aggressors; we were only counterattacking in self-defense. Besides, if this matter were exposed, the County Yamen itself would be in a load of trouble."

These words weren’t meant merely to console Chang Kong; they were the truth.

For his grand resurrection plan, Gao Tianxiong had thoroughly played all the major sects and prominent families in Dianchuan Province.

Although Gao Tianxiong had offered some compensation afterward, the pride lost from being used as pawns had yet to be reclaimed.

Never mind Qi Xiu killing a hundred or so of his minor soldiers; even if he wiped out the County Yamen’s entire Right Vanguard Army, they would have to grit their teeth and swallow their grievances.

Otherwise, they could just wait for this ancient great sect, which had stood for several eras, to properly settle the score with them.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Qi Xiu returned to the Shenxiao Sect Gate with Chang Kong and the others.

Just as he was about to form the incantation seals to enter the Mountain Gate, a dazzling, overbearing crimson Lei Mang suddenly shot out from within. The electric light filled the sky, imposing and unimpeded, startling the birds and beasts for hundreds of miles into a frenzy of terrified flight.

Who’s being so reckless?

Quickly forming several Daoist Incantations, a flash of lightning sparked in Qi Xiu’s eyes. The rampaging, surging crimson Lei Mang was instantly subdued by him, gathered entirely in his palm.

Although he hadn’t cultivated the sect’s "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Scripture," the "Hidden Thunder Heavy Pupil" from the Yellow Official Document was also a supreme Thunder Magic.

However, compared to the "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Manual," which was more comprehensive and systematic and could be cultivated as a principal True Scripture Volume, the "Hidden Thunder Heavy Pupil" was merely a Dharma Gate technique. It couldn’t be cultivated as a principal True Scripture Volume, yet in terms of commanding thunder, it was faintly superior to the "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Scripture."

As the glow of lightning and electric radiance faded, a graceful figure emerged.

The woman was dignified and charming, yet her eyes held a captivating, sharp iciness, even more piercing than a man’s.

"Master?"

Before Qi Xiu could get a clear look at the woman before him, Chang Kong, at his side, exclaimed in surprise.

Master? Ye Ling’er?

Lifting his gaze slightly, Qi Xiu recognized the fellow disciple before him. It was indeed Ye Ling’er, whom he had met once on Yunli Peak years ago.

"Senior Sister Ye, it’s been a long time."

Having recognized Ye Ling’er, Qi Xiu raised his hand in a polite greeting.

Even though with his current cultivation, a hundred Ye Ling’ers combined would likely not match even one of his hands, seniority and order must be respected. Basic courtesy and rules shouldn’t be transgressed due to differences in cultivation Realm.

Looking at the young Daoist before her, Ye Ling’er first showed a contemplative expression.

After all, with her cultivation, she couldn’t see through Qi Xiu, whose Divine Luster was Inwardly Concealed. She only saw her own Thunder Magic technique effortlessly caught and held in his palm.

But before she could question him, she heard him respectfully address her as Senior Sister, and for a moment, her mind couldn’t quite process it.

"Master, this is Uncle-Master Qi Xiu. He was passing by and saved us," Chang Kong quickly stepped forward to Ye Ling’er’s side, eagerly relaying how Qi Xiu had rescued them.

Hearing this, Ye Ling’er’s serious face instantly softened considerably. She reined in the surging Thunder Magic within her and returned the greeting to Qi Xiu, "So it’s Qi. We haven’t seen each other for many years; you’ve become somewhat unfamiliar. Thank you for saving these unworthy disciples of mine."

"We are all fellow sect members; protecting juniors is a matter of course. You’re too kind, Senior Sister."

"You’ve returned at just the right time. Some troublemakers have arrived, and the Sect Master has been quite vexed. Now that you’re back, he can finally get to play a satisfying hand of mahjong."

"Troublemakers?"

His expression slightly surprised, Qi Xiu felt confused.

Causing trouble at the Shenxiao Sect? What, have they never been struck by lightning before?

...