The Path Toward Heaven

The Bloody Demon Church was the master of all the other deviant sects over a thousand years ago, being very powerful at the time. Later, they were destroyed by the Center Sect and other orthodox Cultivation sects working together. But even now, their influence could still be felt.

Many magic treasures and secret methods of the Bloody Demon Church were left behind. Their magic treasures became the guardian magic treasures of many deviant sects, and likewise, their magic methods became the main secret methods of many deviant practitioners.

These sects considered themselves as the authentic inheritors of the Bloody Demon Church; it seemed as if they could obtain a high status in the deviant circle by claiming so.

The Dace Devil Pill Liu Shisui ate had a secret method attached to it, which was one of the secret method left behind by the Bloody Demon Church and was the magic method of the highest level, called the “Bloody Demon Method”.

This Bloody Demon Method could conceal the energy of the Devil Pill almost perfectly, which could help Liu Shisui improve his Cultivation state by many folds in a short time. It was indeed powerful magic.

It could be imagined that he would be welcomed by many deviant sects if Liu Shisui had really betrayed Green Mountain.

The Mysterious Dark Sect was to change its sect name; did they intend to become the second Bloody Demon Church?

The Mysterious Dark Sect was extremely powerful a couple of hundred years ago, and was the number one sect in the deviant circle. But they were defeated in their fight with the Green Mountain Sect, and their headquarters were destroyed. Their great grandmaster of the third generation became a Hidden Swordsman in a sunless place. They had been keeping a low-profile ever since. Why would they suddenly become so bold?

If they intended to use the change of name as an opportunity to increase their popularity to lead the revitalization of the deviant sects, weren’t they worried that they might be attacked by the orthodox Cultivation sects?

The people in the restaurant came back to their senses from the initial shock, discussing the news in tandem.

“If the sect is called the Mysterious Dark Church now, then who will be the Church Master? Is Su Qige going to be the Church Master?”

“Su Qige was paralyzed a long time ago.”

“Speaking of which, it was a truly dubious event as to how the Sect Master Su went mad back then.”

“Dubious? Who doesn’t know that it was that demon embryo who had grown up and avenged his mother. He succeeded in sneak-attacking his father and making his own father a disabled person.”

“Watch your mouth! You dared call that person the ‘demon embryo’; do you have a death wish or what?”

“You are worried too much. It’s quite different now; there is no need to worry about him?”

If it were a few years ago, nobody would dare call Su Ziye a “demon embryo” in Jiuye City, or in the restaurants filled with the fragrant flavors of wines and meats, even though the city was protected by the Windy-Broadsword Sect. It was because they feared that they might be heard by the devil men of the Mysterious Dark Sect and punished secretly.

Yet, Su Ziye had already been driven out of the Mysterious Dark Sect and gone to the West Ocean, becoming an orthodox Cultivation practitioner; so nobody in Jiuye City was afraid of him anymore.

“We don’t know what will be the reaction of the Young Sect Master after he hears the news. The new Church Master is perhaps the rumored one, a very mysterious person…”

Somebody commented sentimentally.

Jing Jiu was listening to these discussions on the top floor, remaining reticent.

If Guo Dong were the person he had guessed, she would be the really mysterious person.

The water soup in the hotpot was almost dry.

The sliced green onions were laid on the edge of the pot, looking supple and a bit over burned, resembling the magic army’s damaged Linqi cannon.

Seeing this, Jing Jiu finally realized what Guo Dong intended to do.

The names and phrases like Tong Yan, Su Ziye, Yizhou, the Baotong Zen Temple, and joining the orthodox sect were like the tiny water drops drifting in front of his eyes and then turning into a patch of fog.

A path was visible intermittently in the fog.

It turned out that she wanted to kill Jian Xilai.

Jing Jiu shook his head. “Where is Pei Baifa lately?” he asked Gu Qing.

Gu Qing was startled for a moment and then said, “After the battle of the Cloud Platform, Mister Pei has been cultivating on the Longevity Mountain.”

The Green Mountain Sect and the No-Mercy Sect had been on good terms for many generations, so it was natural that Gu Qing knew something about him; but Gu Qing wasn’t sure why his Master was suddenly concerned about it.

Jing Jiu remained silent for a while, and then shook his head.

The reason he shook his head was not that he was sentimental, or regretful, or scornful; it meant that he didn’t think their plan would work out.

It was because they couldn’t kill Jian Xilai.

And they couldn’t do it even with the help of Pei Baifa.

…

…

Outside Jiuye City, the iron sword shot up skyward.

Gu Qing sat in the rear and held the white cat tightly. “Master, are we going to the Mysterious Dark Sect?” he asked.

Jing Jiu said, “No, we are going to the West Ocean.”

To get to the West Ocean from the snowland, the shortest and most convenient way was to start from Jiuye City, pass the Cold Mountain, arrive at the west seashore, and then go down south along the coastline.

If Jing Jiu’s destination was not Haizhou City within the territory of the West Ocean Sword Sect, but the islands in the West Ocean where the headquarters of the West Ocean Sword Sect were located, they would have to fly to the deep part of the ocean from there.

The black iron sword flew in the dark night as if it was invisible. It didn’t emit any sword light, traveling noiselessly; but it still alerted some people.

Dozens of broadsword wills gradually appeared in the dark night, like an iron chain; they left Jiuye City and headed toward the barren land.

Now that the Windy-Broadsword had learned of the news that the Mysterious Dark Sect became a church, they were alarmed and sent out many highly achieved swordsmen.

The other orthodox sects couldn’t get here in such a short time, even if they had learned of the news.

Few practitioners could fly as fast as Jing Jiu; and the high speed Chaotic Wind could actually blow someone directly to death.

The starlight was dim, but the broadsword lights were as white as the snow. A thin swordsman of the Windy-Broadsword Sect showed himself in the night sky and asked tersely, “Who are you?”

Jing Jiu didn’t heed his question, and his eyes were still closed.

Since the flying sword traveled at such a high speed, even Jing Jiu had to concentrate on the control of the sword.

Gu Qing stood up on the sword and took out the Sword Board, saying, “We are the Green Mountain disciples passing by.”

The swordsman of the Windy-Broadsword Sect sensed the sword will of the Green Mountain on the Sword Board and felt surprised, but he let them pass nonetheless.

It was merely the blink of an eye that the iron sword had already traveled a mile, passing those broadsword wills and disappearing into the darkness of the night.

The iron sword flew too fast for Gu Qing to say “Thank you” to the swordsman. He had no choice but to sit down tight on the sword.

The iron sword traveled to the deep part of the barren land. The ground grew uneven, and the mountains up ahead appeared jagged under the starlight. It was the Cold Mountain that was often heard in the rumors.

The Cold Mountain occupied a large area, where countless devil men of the deviant sects and cruel free-travel practitioners lived.

In fact, if the deviant sects had united rather than fought among themselves, they wouldn’t be in such a weak position; and the Windy-Broadsword Sect might not be able to hold onto Jiuye City so easily.

It would be the case especially when the Broadsword King of their sect had been in White Town the entire time.

Once in a while in the night sky, one could spot some devil figures full of deviant energy and black smoke, displaying an arrogant air. It was altogether different from the other places of Chaotian.

The deeper they traveled into the Cold Mountain, the more frequent the appearances of the arrogant figures were.

The Gate Formation of the deviant sects was connected to the ground sources; so it was hard to penetrate. Worst of all, those ground sources more often than not had cracks connecting the Abyss; as such, it was possible that the devil men of the Underworld might show up at any time. Unless one was a swordsman in the Broken Sea State, an orthodox Cultivation practitioner in the lower state scarcely came to the Cold Mountain by himself in an effort to avoid encountering unnecessary danger.

It should be safe for them though, because the iron sword traveled along the edge of the Cold Mountain.

It was the first time Gu Qing came to the rumored Cold Mountain, so he couldn’t help being a bit nervous; but he was more curious about the place than anything. He even stuck half of his head out in order to see a band of black smoke in the distance more clearly with no concern for the coldness.

The white cat who was on Gu Qing’s chest was unpleased, thinking that Gu Qing had no need to hold him so tight even if he didn’t mind Gu Qing taking a look of the smoke; does Gu Qing actually regard me as his heater? The cat mused.

Suddenly, a surprised expression showed in Gu Qing’s eyes.

Countless flames suddenly sprang up in the distant mountains, burning the band of black smoke into nothingness!

No matter whom that band of black smoke belonged to and regardless if he was a swordsman of a deviant sect or a free-travel practitioner, he would be dead for sure.

What were those flames? They were so powerful. They could feel their terror even from a distance of three hundred miles.

In such a dark night, those flames were as bright as the sun.

“It’s the Sun Banner.”

Jing Jiu opened his eyes and looked in that direction.

Gu Qing realized by now that it was the mountain gate of the Mysterious Dark Sect over there.

As a major deviant sect that had been very powerful in the past, they still had profound resources even though the sect had weakened recently; the Sun Banner was the proof of it.

It was rumored that this evil magic treasure was made by sacrificing several thousands of virgin boys to the fire, and that the swordsmen of the Heavenly Arrival State couldn’t even be able to defeat it.

Seeing the mountain gate of the Mysterious Dark Sect in the distance, Jing Jiu was slightly alarmed.

His alarm was not due to the Sun Banner.

He had encountered the Sun Banner many years ago, though it was his Big Brother who was engaged in the fight.

His alarm was due to a lethal intent toward him.

Someone was looking at Jing Jiu by the mountain gate of the Mysterious Dark Sect.

That person had a burning desire to kill Jing Jiu.