Chapter 144: Becoming a Sword Demon; Can I be Assassinated with My Identity? 【5,000 Words, Please Give Me a Monthly Vote】

Chapter 144: Cultivating Sword Killing Force; How Can I Be Assassinated with This Identity? 【5000 characters for monthly votes】

Ten Thousand Demons Sect, Main Hall.

Led by the Bone Throne, Jiang Li flew all the way to the Ten Thousand Demons Great Hall at the peak.

The main hall was framed by the bones of gigantic, savage Yao Beasts, covered with special spirit minerals that grew by absorbing earth vein Evil Qi, and under the eaves hung thousands of dried skulls of powerful individuals, clashing in the wind to produce soul-stirring sounds.

“Underworld aesthetic…” Jiang Li commented.

This was the Sect Master’s main hall of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. With his previous low status, let alone approaching it, even a glance would have been considered a great disrespect, and some demon-possessed Disciples would even use it as an excuse to demand a life-and-death battle.

This was the Demonic Path.

Compared to the relatively peaceful atmosphere of the Righteous Path Immortal Sects, the Demonic Path revered strength, and the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord, as the Sect Master of the Demonic Path, was the core of it all. The kneeling welcome of ten thousand demons was the most authentic manifestation.

Entering the main hall.

Jiang Li, being managed by the Divine Ability, walked down.

He sat on the new throne in the center of the main hall.

Above the nine-tiered obsidian steps, a twisted throne stood, forcibly cast and compressed from countless struggling, wailing soul bodies. Soul shadows formed the base and armrests, their faces and arms constantly trying to break free but were confined by an invisible force field, emitting silent screams and radiating despair and resentment that stung one’s Divine Sense.

The Bone Throne, meanwhile, disintegrated and fell, transforming back into bones to enter the blood pool, awaiting its next use.

Jiang Li understood.

The Bone Throne was a vehicle; the Ten Thousand Souls Demonic Throne before him was the true symbol of the Sect Master’s authority. “Quite luxurious, indeed. As expected of a Demonic Sect Master on par with Immortal Sects; his extravagance is evident just from his mode of travel, especially the two gigantic ferocious ghosts guarding outside the hall, who actually possess Soul Transformation Stage cultivation.”

He couldn’t help but click his tongue: “From today onwards, he is also a respectable person with Soul Transformation bodyguards. Whatever resources he wants, he just has to give an order and someone will collect them for him. This is too convenient.”

Just as he was thinking.

Outside the main hall, Elders of various appearances filed in one by one.

They took their respective seats.

The lowest Cultivation Base was at the Soul Transformation Stage, and among them were six Void Refining Stage Cultivators.

“My Lord, these Soul Transformation Cultivators are the Cave Masters of the top thirty caves, and the six Void Refining Cultivators are the Great Cave Masters ranked in the top six. They generally do not show themselves, so it seems your appearance has signaled something to them,” Blood Fiend Senior dutifully played the role of explainer, detailing the identities of these Elders to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li was inwardly startled.

“No.”

“Am I already facing the highest echelons of the Demonic Path? All I want to do now is quietly go into seclusion to fuse with the Tiansha Qi and Cultivate Sword Killing Force, not to hold a Sect meeting to determine future work guidelines.”

“More importantly, the System won’t speak in such situations; it will definitely trigger NPC dialogue and make me improvise. Any slight mistake, and my persona will collapse, leading to suspicion of my identity, which would then expose my facade of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside. At that point, I would truly be trapped in a demonic lair, unable to even save myself.”

“Damn.”

“So the dog System was waiting for me here.”

“Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Supreme Divine Thunder Induction Heart Sutra” is staring wide-eyed at the chaotic scene of demons dancing. The Heart of Justice, the Soul of Justice, the Oath of Justice, and the Belief in Justice are beginning to boil, urgently desiring to destroy the demonic lair before it, flatten the Demonic Sect, and restore peace to the world.”

Jiang Li: “Don’t mess around. If you act now, your filthy justice will only be severely trampled.”

“Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Original Divine Fire True Understanding” feels a deep sense of pressure, a sense of urgency. Trapped deep within the Demonic Sect, treading on thin ice, can I still reach the other shore? The Cultivation Technique blockage disappears, the Cultivation Technique’s operational speed increases, and the Cultivation Technique progress +10%.”

Jiang Li: “?”

“You, an identity disguised by Divine Ability, feel the pressure of a ghost? The only one feeling pressure here is me. This should be my mental journey. You wouldn’t be using me as Cultivation fodder, would you?”

“You, a Cultivation Technique, have no heart.”

Amidst his mumbling.

Jiang Li began to inquire more specifically about the situation of the top thirty Cave Masters. This was something he had never encountered before, and not understanding it beforehand could easily expose him.

Among them, Jiang Li saw an old acquaintance.

That was Lord Gu Xin, the Cave Master of the Tenth Cave, and also the top superior of the top superior of the top superior of his undercover identity. This was an insider who knew his undercover identity, so he had to be eliminated, and his undercover files stored in the Ten Thousand Demons Sect also had to be destroyed to eliminate any risk of exposure.

The moment he saw Lord Gu Xin, another target appeared in Jiang Li’s mind.

“Sect Master, how are you? The Ten Great Immortal Sects were despicable and shameless, ganging up on you, Sect Master, to besiege you. This grudge, we must avenge. We just don’t know how your condition is, Sect Master. According to the Immortal Sects, you, Sect Master, were gravely wounded and on the verge of death, with your Lifespan nearing its end. But now, it’s clear the Immortal Sects greatly exaggerated.”

A Cave Master spoke first.

Both overtly and covertly, he was probing the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s physical condition.

As for using Divine Sense to probe, the Soul Transformation Stage Cave Masters didn’t have the guts. However, the six Void Refining Stage Great Cave Masters on the scene subtly or openly directed their Divine Sense.

But unfortunately… with the enhancement of the Divine Ability “Formless Myriad Transformations Art,” even Void Refining Stage Cultivators couldn’t discern Jiang Li’s true state. Their Divine Sense vanished the moment it penetrated, as if Jiang Li’s body formed a black hole vortex, devouring anything that entered.

“Ding, the Divine Ability “Formless Myriad Transformations Art” is deeply role-playing the current character and taking measures to activate a bond mode with the Qi Refining Method.”

“Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Supreme Divine Thunder Induction Heart Sutra” actively responds, punishing Devil Heads, everyone has a share.”

The next second.

Jiang Li, managed by the Divine Ability, raised his gaze. His eyes, like dark vortices, were captivating. His dark purple fingertips lightly tapped the armrest, and a three-colored Heavenly Tribulation lightning bolt, exuding destructive fluctuations, shot out.

It struck the Soul Transformation Stage Cave Master who had spoken first.

“Ah!”

The Soul Transformation Stage Cave Master screamed, his chest charred black, his face contorted in pain.

Thunder itself is the ultimate Yang power of heaven and earth, and Heavenly Tribulation lightning is the power of heavenly punishment, possessing double damage amplification against Demonic Path Cultivators.

“This is the first time, and also the last time.”

Jiang Li spoke.

He cast a sidelong glance at the six Void Refining Stage Great Cave Masters.

His voice was devoid of any fluctuation.

“Yes, yes, this subordinate overstepped. Thank you, Sect Master, for showing mercy.”

The Cave Master, struck by the Heavenly Tribulation lightning, endured the sharp pain and immediately bowed his head in apology, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The various Cave Masters below, each with their own thoughts, also lowered their heads one after another, secretly startled: “Didn’t they say the Sect Master suffered a siege by the Ten Great Immortal Sects and almost underwent spiritual dissection, losing not only his Physical Body but also having his Primordial Spirit reduced to less than a tenth of its former state? What’s with this Heavenly Tribulation lightning power? Could it be that the Sect Master broke through after suffering and even gained control over the power of Heavenly Tribulation?”

The six Great Cave Masters higher up also looked solemn, thinking: “Is this move by the Sect Master merely a facade, needing to establish his authority to deter them, or is he truly not as severely injured as the outside world claims?”

For a moment.

The entire Ten Thousand Demons Great Hall fell into an absolute low-pressure atmosphere.

Jiang Li also clicked his tongue in wonder.

The Divine Ability’s tactic of ‘killing the chicken to scare the monkeys’ was quite brilliant. It neither exposed his facade of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside, nor did it punish the Soul Transformation Stage Cave Master who had probed his physical condition, keeping the punishment at a level where he felt intense pain but it wasn’t fatal. Moreover, it thereby deterred the restless Great Cave Masters.

Of course.

This dramatic probing also allowed Jiang Li to see some clues.

There was an undercurrent of unrest within the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. The masters of the various caves had developed various ulterior motives due to the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s near-death experience, and today’s probing was a trend.

Jiang Li thought: “These Cave Masters wouldn’t be trying to carry on the Demonic Path’s fine tradition of killing to ascend, would they? No wonder the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord isn’t in seclusion within the Sect; he probably knows he’s not safe.”

“Damn.”

“Then my disguised identity as the Sect Master isn’t safe either.”

He originally thought that with this identity, he could wield absolute power within the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Now, it seems he thought too simply. This idea might work in an Immortal Sect, but in the Demonic Path, where people are devoured whole, even the Sect Master has to constantly guard against betrayal from his subordinates.

“You live quite cautiously…” Jiang Li looked sympathetically at the wailing Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s Primordial Spirit in his Sea of Consciousness.

Because of Jiang Li’s ‘killing the chicken to scare the monkeys,’ the subsequent discussions proceeded without further complications.

The Great Cave Masters below began to report on the general situation of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect during this period, which included the matter of the Heaven Sword Peak Chief of the Tianxuan Holy Land.

One Cave Master said: “Sect Master, that True Disciple of the Immortal Sect from the Tianxuan Holy Land is a peerless Prodigy rarely seen in a hundred thousand years. I hear he also has a personality that despises evil. His threat is unprecedented; once he grows, the Demonic Path will be in danger.”

The other Cave Masters also spoke up, stating that this Heaven Sword Peak Chief had the potential of a True Immortal and would undoubtedly become a sharp sword hanging over the heads of the Ten Great Demonic Sects in the future, and must be eliminated at all costs.

As Jiang Li listened, his sense of urgency grew even stronger.

Is his reputation really that terrifying now? He’s being discussed in the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s high-level meetings, and a group of Soul Transformation Stage Cave Masters are all stating that they want to eliminate him as soon as possible. This kind of treatment, for other True Disciples of immortal Sects, is absolutely unheard of.

Indeed, his actions during this period have been too high-profile.

For the next period, he needs to settle down and lay low.

Jiang Li thought to himself… soon.

As the high-level meeting concluded, the various Cave Masters left one by one.

Lord Gu Xin stayed behind and handed Jiang Li a list of undercover agents.

It contained information about his own undercover identity.

“Sect Master, I have set the information on this Heaven Sword Peak Chief Jiang Li as top secret. Only you within the Sect can see it. On the surface, he is a True Disciple of Tianxuan Holy Land, but secretly, he is an undercover agent for our Ten Thousand Demons Sect. I have already managed to send Disciples from the Sect to find him, and we must re-establish contact with him at all costs. He will be our Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s lethal weapon in conquering Tianxuan Holy Land.”

Jiang Li’s expression was a little subtle.

The person you’re looking for at all costs is standing right in front of you.

To be honest, seeing his former superior now respectfully standing before him reporting the situation, this feeling was quite exhilarating. If not for the fact that the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s main body could return at any time, and if not for the many ambitious Cave Masters within the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, he wouldn’t mind staying here.

Jiang Li typed: “En, you handle this matter.”

His mind was currently focused on cultivating the Sword Killing Force in seclusion. He didn’t want to participate in any Demonic Path work; after all, he wouldn’t be staying long.

Little did he know.

His calm, emotionless attitude, in the eyes of Lord Gu Xin, stirred up a raging storm.

He secretly thought: That Heaven Sword Peak Chief is indeed one of the Sect Master’s Possession bodies.

As one of the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s trusted confidantes, he knew quite a bit of inside information about the Possession bodies. When he combined Jiang Li’s performance with this matter, he immediately realized that the strongest Golden Core of this era was very likely one of the backup bodies chosen by the Sect Master.

The Sect Master’s current reaction also confirmed this point.

Of course.

There were also doubts.

To speak disrespectfully, he actually felt that the Sect Master couldn’t Cultivate such a peerless Prodigy, rarely seen in a hundred thousand years, especially with the identity of the strongest Golden Core of this era being too astonishing. Not to mention that their Ten Thousand Demons Sect was only the third-ranked Demonic Path Sect, even the first-ranked Primordial Demonic Sect wouldn’t dare to say that they could Cultivate an “Invincible Golden Core” recognized by the Will of Heaven and Earth.

He was more inclined to believe: That Heaven Sword Peak Chief obtained some great Opportunity, rose to fame, and allowed the Sect Master to take advantage, commonly known as striking it rich.

Jiang Li: The process was completely wrong, the result was completely right… As Lord Gu Xin left, the hosting of the Divine Ability “Formless Myriad Transformations Art” officially ended, and Jiang Li regained control of his body. His Divine Sense extended out, all the way to where the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord was in seclusion.

The source of the Blood River flowing around the one hundred and thirty-six Demonic Caves was located here, a huge Soul Refining Blood Pool appeared before his eyes. Within the pool, Yao Beast Evil Qi boiled, and countless twisted soul shadows intertwined and melted within it, providing a continuous stream of Yin Evil Qi.

Just one look was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

Jiang Li ignored these.

He casually found a spot to sit down and activated the Cultivation Technique hosting mode.

【Ding, activated successfully.】

【Sword Art “Xuantian Dragon Slaying Sword” begins to act.】

Jiang Li released control of his body, allowing the Sword Art to take over.

The next second.

A wisp of Emperor Flame Fire, already fused with two portions of fire-attribute Tiansha Qi, rose up.

Three jade bottles were all opened.

Three streams of dark orange glowing Qi rotated within the bottles.

He held the Emperor Flame Fire in his left palm and the jade bottle containing the fire-attribute Tiansha Qi in his right hand, continuing to fuse the two.

A heart-palpitating destructive power once again manifested.

The grayish-yellow color within the Emperor Flame Fire grew deeper, as if a new layer of power had been forcibly injected into the core of the purple-gold flame.

The Emperor Flame Fire was violent, seemingly wanting to burn everything and explode.

But under the Cultivation Technique hosting state, everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

Gradually.

This ball of purple-gold flame completely calmed down, the grayish-yellow color inside had completely fused with the purple-gold flame, giving birth to a wisp of Void Breaking Power.

Jiang Li’s eyes lit up.

“The most crucial step in fusing Tiansha Qi has succeeded. Next is to extend my Divine Sense into the purple-gold flame and condense this flame, which has given birth to a wisp of Void Breaking Power, into Sword Light.”

Cultivating Sword Killing Force is divided into three steps.

The first step is to condense pseudo-Sword Killing Force, which is the prerequisite. Without comprehending this step, one cannot fuse Tiansha Qi.

The second step is to fuse the corresponding attribute of Tiansha Qi. According to the ratio of one portion of Tiansha Qi being able to condense one Sword Killing Force, the Tiansha Qi is integrated into the corresponding attribute.

The final step is to condense Sword Killing Force.

Divine Sense penetrates into the attribute power fused with Tiansha Qi, condensing it into Sword Light. The brand-new Sword Light formed in this way is the Sword Killing Force of the fifth realm of the Sword Dao.

This is the most dangerous step.

A slight mistake could lead to minor Divine Sense damage, or in severe cases, being devoured by the Sword Killing Force and turning into dry bones.

Precisely because of this.

Many Cultivators in immortal Sects and Demonic Path Sects condense Sword Light, but truly cultivating Sword Killing Force is rare.

Once Sword Killing Force is formed, even Soul Transformation can be killed.

“I can’t wait,”

Jiang Li secretly thought.

The Sword Art also began to act.

Time passed.

Three days went by like this.

On this day.

A golden-red beam of light extended from the Emperor Flame Fire in his palm, like the golden scorching sun in myths and legends, carrying endless destruction and devastation.

Jiang Li had a feeling that with his Physical Body cultivated to Perfection in the second layer of his Body Refining Technique, if he were to take this Sword Killing Force head-on, half of his body would be incinerated.

After thinking for a moment.

Jiang Li took out a third-tier Spirit Treasure from his Storage Ring.

These Spirit Treasures came from the deceased members of the Seven Fiends of the Demonic Path, including the Blood Drinking Blade, the Hundred Ghosts Soul Refining Banner, the Heart-Hooking Lock… and so on.

Jiang Li took out the Blood Drinking Blade.

He inserted the tip of the blade into the golden-red Sword Killing Force.

Upon contact, this third-tier Spirit Treasure was instantly vaporized, forming a circle of white mist.

Jiang Li gasped.

A third-tier Spirit Treasure is a common weapon for Nascent Soul Cultivators, posing a huge threat even to Nascent Soul Cultivators, but under the Sword Killing Force, it didn’t even last a second before being directly vaporized.

Such power made Jiang Li exclaim in terror.

“I’ll call you Great Sun Sword Qi,”

Jiang Li named this brand new Sword Killing Force.

His eyes were full of smiles.

With the fifth-tier Sword Killing Force, if his cultivation was sufficient, even a Soul Transformation Cultivator would fall under this Great Sun Sword Qi.

Even though he currently only had Golden Core cultivation, once the Sword Killing Force appeared, almost no Cultivator below Soul Transformation could contend with it.

“With my current cultivation, exhausting all my magical power is enough to activate fifty percent of its power. It is unstoppable below Soul Transformation. If I restrain its power and only release ten percent of its might, I can also achieve several attacks, killing Cultivators below Late Stage Nascent Soul without a problem.”

Jiang Li was secretly excited.

With the Sword Killing Force, his overall strength had greatly improved, giving him a greater sense of security in this man-eating Demonic Cave.

“Next, it’s time to condense the lightning-attribute Sword Killing Force. With two Sword Killing Force in hand, even if I encounter a true Soul Transformation Cultivator, I can temporarily repel him. Also, cultivation. Without the support of cultivation, the Sword Killing Force cannot exert its full power.”

Jiang Li secretly thought.

His most urgent priority now was definitely the improvement of his cultivation. As long as his cultivation increased, even without the lightning-attribute Sword Killing Force, he might still be able to try and kill Soul Transformation Cultivators.

Of course.

The best outcome would naturally be for both to proceed simultaneously.

It’s just… trying to perform demon-slaying acts in a Demonic Cave like the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, this is simply a pipe dream.

Just then.

Jiang Li’s Divine Sense suddenly captured a fleeting shadow pouncing.

The owner of the shadow was extremely fast, with a cultivation level as high as Late Stage Nascent Soul, making Jiang Li almost unable to react. The opponent’s face was disfigured, and he held a finger bone in his hand, which stabbed straight towards Jiang Li’s glabella like a coffin nail.

Jiang Li:?

Holy crap.

An assassin infiltrated the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord’s secluded cultivation spot, attempting to assassinate the Ten Thousand Desires Demon Lord?

Was he crazy, or was the assassin crazy?

These Cave Masters aren’t even pretending anymore, are they? One wave of probing after another.

Jiang Li’s heart trembled.

He gained a new understanding of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s wickedness.

The next second.

Jiang Li opened his mouth.

A golden-red beam of Great Sun Light shot out from his mouth.

“Seeking death.”