Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 481 - 424: Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder!

Shenxiao Sect...

The middle-aged man straddling the crimson-scaled flood dragon slowly twirled the gold-rimmed thumb ring, his eyes lowered, a fleeting cold gleam barely visible within them.

Qi Xiu and Daoist Yunxiong’s entrance clearly commanded more attention than those of the many Ancient Sect Nobility before them. The black thunderclouds spanned thousands of miles. Accompanied by thunderous roars that shook the heavens and earth, their presence turned the faces of countless ordinary cultivators deathly pale, nearly causing them to collapse to their knees.

"’Heh heh, these Thunder Law cultivators still enjoy striking fear into people’s hearts.’ The Dao Expert from the Fire Dragon True Sect, caressing two crystal-clear glass orbs that seemed to hold a flowing river of molten lava within, raised his eyelids slightly and chuckled softly.

"After all, Thunder Magic is the King of All Techniques. It’s only right for them to be imposing." Adjacent to him, a Dao Expert of the Red Dust White Mist Sect, with red lips, white teeth, a youthful face, and exuding a faint fragrance, continued the conversation. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"It can’t be helped. The world is vast, but only the Shenxiao Sect can truly pass down the Daoist Inheritance of Thunder Magic," said the Dao Expert from Iron Blood Flag Gate, an imposing figure whose voice was like clashing metal, resonant and trembling.

"Tsk, Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder... It appears the Shenxiao Sect is serious this time." Recognizing Daoist Yunxiong, the Dao Expert from the Fire Dragon True Sect clicked his tongue softly, a measure of gravity appearing in his eyes.

"Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder? That name sounds familiar..." The Dao Expert from the Red Dust White Mist Sect narrowed his eyes, searching his memory.

"I remember now. The Stone Forest Buddha Massacre, which shocked the entire nation and was regarded as the first major case of bloodshed since the founding of Great Xuan, was led by this Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder, wasn’t it?

"The Stone Forest Zen Monastery was once the foremost Buddha Sect sacred place in Huihuai Province. Though it lacked a Primordial Spirit True Honor, it was guarded by thirty-six Dao Experts, each revered as a living Bodhisattva.

"Rumor has it the monastery, in its attempt to cultivate a Primordial Spirit True Honor for themselves, secretly abducted core disciples from various Ancient Sect Nobility, forcefully converting them and extracting the True Scriptures of their various Dharma Gates. Their intent was to fuse a hundred scriptures and create a Skill System and Methodology for the Primordial Spirit Great Path.

"As these activities increased, clues to their wrongdoing started to surface. Yet at that time, the Stone Forest Zen Monastery was a branch of Dahua Highest Temple. Many Ancient Sect Nobility were wary of the colossal Dahua Highest Temple. Lacking concrete evidence, they chose to temporarily endure in silence. This continued until these bald fools had a moment of madness and targeted Shenxiao Sect disciples."

"Then what happened?" asked the Iron Blood Flag Gate Dao Expert curiously.

Glancing at the Iron Blood Flag Gate Dao Expert, who looked eager for the scoop, the Red Dust White Mist Sect Dao Expert shrugged. "Then they poked a hornet’s nest, of course. The Stone Forest Zen Monastery, perhaps growing complacent over the years with no one daring to touch them, became reckless. In abducting disciples from Shenxiao Sect, they failed to cover their tracks, leaving behind clues that Shenxiao Sect uncovered.

"What happened next took everyone by surprise. Without concrete evidence, Shenxiao Sect secretly dispatched fifty Dao Experts, who quietly arrived at Stone Forest Zen Monastery.

"On that day, the weather was cool, and the skies were clear. A ’Nine Heavens and Ten Earths All-Gods Demon-Slaying Divine Thunder Great Formation’ suddenly erupted from the ground. The Stone Forest Zen Monastery’s prized ’Lesser Wuxiang Heart Zen Great Formation’ held for less than ten breaths before being torn apart by the terrifying Divine Thunder.

"What followed was a one-sided slaughter. According to Shenxiao Sect, since everyone suspected the Stone Forest Zen Monastery but lacked evidence, why not cut it open and see what was inside to make everything clear? Convict first, find evidence later! This was the logic of Shenxiao Sect.

"The Stone Forest Zen Monastery might have had thirty-six living Bodhisattvas, but Shenxiao Sect came with a full fifty Dao Experts. The Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder you see now was the leader of that operation. At that time, the monastery’s abbot, supervisors, the elder in charge of imparting techniques, and even the monks sweeping the Scripture Pavilion, all died at his hand, their very souls utterly extinguished.

"In that battle, the entire Stone Forest Zen Monastery was massacred! All thirty-six Bodhisattvas, every single Dao Expert among them, fell, with none spared. Thirty-six Dao Experts in total, all killed. This was a bloodbath unprecedented in thousands of years.

"Afterward, Dahua Highest Temple wanted to hold Shenxiao Sect accountable for the wanton killing without evidence. However, Shenxiao Sect not only found evidence within the Stone Forest Zen Monastery of their abduction of disciples from various Ancient Sect Nobility and extraction of their Dharma Gates and True Scriptures, but also discovered their secret conspiracy with Outer Realm Evil Gods. With this evidence laid bare, even the eloquent Dahua Highest Temple had no choice but to fall silent.

"After that battle, the name of Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder became widely recognized, leaving a profound impression on all the cultivators across Great Xuan’s Twelve Provinces."

Having listened to the tale from the Red Dust White Mist Sect Dao Expert, the Iron Blood Flag Gate Dao Expert’s gaze towards Daoist Yunxiong couldn’t help but carry a mix of wariness and solemnity.

"What about that young Daoist accompanying him? To travel alongside Venerable Saint Wrathful Thunder, he must not be a simple character either."

After recognizing Daoist Yunxiong, the other Dao Experts, surprised, also took notice of Qi Xiu, who was with him.

"Hmm? With Divine Luster Inward Concealment, this Daoist is not simple either." Noticing Qi Xiu, these True Monarchs instinctively tried to probe Qi Xiu’s cultivation realm.

However, after Qi Xiu reached the Dao Body Realm, the many Divine Marvels of his Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Body had ascended to another level. The effect of Divine Luster Inward Concealment was even more profound, completely elusive to ordinary Dao Body Realm cultivators. Additionally, the Clear Moon Cloud Robe he wore also had the effect of concealing his aura. With both effects combined, it was feared that only a Primordial Spirit True Honor could see through his cultivation.

As more and more Dao Experts paid attention to Qi Xiu, their gazes grew increasingly grave. Compared to Daoist Yunxiong, who was utterly unguarded, his presence recklessly wild and overbearing, this young Daoist with a fair complexion seemed like a calm sea—vast and unfathomably profound. On the surface, he appeared unassuming, hiding his depths. Yet, in every movement, he subtly exuded a robust and boundless aura that made one feel an inexplicable, heavy pressure.

This lad is by no means simple! For a moment, many Dao Experts had already regarded Qi Xiu as an existence on par with Daoist Yunxiong and grown wary.

At this moment, above the firmament, Qi Xiu and Daoist Yunxiong walked on the clouds. Perceiving that the gazes of these Dao Experts on his master had clearly changed somewhat, Qi Xiu couldn’t help but laugh. "Master, it seems you are quite well-known. Many people recognize you."

"When I was young, I was too hot-tempered, too heavy-handed, and killed too many. These people are too narrow-minded, holding onto such trivial matters for so many years." Feeling the same wariness in the gazes of these Dao Experts, Daoist Yunxiong chuckled and led Qi Xiu onto the battleship known as the Dragon Whale King.

"Daoist Yunxiong, I didn’t expect you to come personally." No sooner had they boarded the battleship than a middle-aged man dressed in light gray—tall and sturdy, with bulging veins on his partly exposed forearms, exuding an immense sense of strength—came up with a smile. This man was Liu Tai, one of the True Monarchs of the Dao Body who had gone to the Shenxiao Sect with Yang Jingzhe last time for a duel. His honorific was Bearer of Mountains True Lord.

"Liu Tai? The Domineering Body Sect managed to get you involved this time?" Daoist Yunxiong greeted Liu Tai with a smile. After the last duel, the relationship between Shenxiao Sect and Domineering Body Sect had entered a honeymoon period. The Domineering Body Sect borrowed Shenxiao Sect’s Thunder Magic to temper their bodies and, in return, taught many of its body cultivation Divine Marvels unreservedly to Shenxiao Sect. Although not many in Shenxiao Sect followed the path of physical cultivation, the methods and skills taught by the Domineering Body Sect included many uncirculated secrets for tempering flesh and blood and strengthening spirit and will. These were invaluable teachings for Shenxiao Sect.

"I had no choice; the Sect Master wasn’t particularly concerned about this matter. I asked around, and no one wanted to come, so we had to draw lots.

"Luckily, old Feng and I became the ’lucky ones.’" The ’old Feng’ Liu Tai mentioned was Feng Jun, another Dao Expert from the Domineering Body Sect. Though his name was unremarkable, he was one of the Domineering Body Sect’s prominent True Monarch experts. His honorific was Quadsplit Sea True Lord.

"This journey to the Southern Ming Wasteland is fraught with crises. Should we join forces? It’s always good to have each other’s back," Liu Tai suggested as they walked side by side on the deck. Before their departure, Sect Master Yang Jingzhe had given them significant instructions, making clear the level of danger involved in the Southern Ming Wasteland trip. To prevent mishaps, Yang Jingzhe, Dongfang Qing, and a few other familiar Primordial Spirit True Honors had made a private agreement for their respective sects to look out for each other.

Having already discussed this with Dongfang Qing, Daoist Yunxiong nodded in response to Liu Tai’s proposal. "That would be good indeed. This trip to the Southern Ming Wasteland will surely be a fierce battle.

"Our Sect Master received a secret report before his departure. It stated that from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the Seventy-Two Demon Caves and the One Hundred and Eight Demon Caves had all dispatched Demon Kings, preparing to head to the Southern Ming Wasteland. Considering this, the number of Demonic Evil Cultivators might exceed ours by about thirty percent."

"We haven’t had such a large-scale war with the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains for several thousand years. I imagine that aside from the battlefield in the Southern Ming Wasteland, the Primordial Spirit True Honors are unlikely to just stand by and watch. Perhaps their contest will be the crucial factor determining the outcome of this great war." Not only Shenxiao Sect but also Domineering Body Sect had secret operatives in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, so Liu Tai was already aware of the situation Daoist Yunxiong described.

While Daoist Yunxiong and Liu Tai analyzed and discussed the situation in the Southern Ming Wasteland, Qi Xiu listened quietly, neither speaking nor moving away.

"This Daoist seems unfamiliar. Is he a newly promoted True Monarch of the Dao Body from Shenxiao Sect?" A deep voice suddenly reached Qi Xiu’s ears, causing his earlobes to twitch slightly. He lifted his eyelids and saw a middle-aged man approaching, dressed in an exquisite brocade robe, with a short beard and a gold-rimmed thumb ring.

Before Qi Xiu could reply, Daoist Yunxiong suddenly stepped in front of him. "Mr. Zhao, with your esteemed status, what brings you to join this bustle?" Smiling at the middle-aged man, Daoist Yunxiong spoke slowly, yet his narrowed tiger-like eyes revealed not the slightest hint of a smile.

"The Southern Ming Wasteland concerns the fate of our Human Race. As a member of Great Xuan, it is only right that I take the lead to repay the nation’s kindness. Daoist Yunxiong, I trust your Sect Master is doing well?" Directly addressing Daoist Yunxiong by his honorific without hesitation, this Lord Zhao released a Five-Colored Divine Light from his eyes. An immense, invisible pressure instantly bore down on Daoist Yunxiong.

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