Strongest War Emperor

The Celestial Tyrant Saber Technique was a derivative from the War Emperor’s early research into the Prison Guardian Blade Technique. It was a Sword Skill he abandoned due to some flaws.

It barely reached the level of an Emperor Level technique.

Although it had many flaws, that was only from the perspective of a Venerable Level figure like the War Emperor.

On the continent, it would absolutely be considered a top-tier, powerful Sword Skill.

The difference between this Sword Skill and ordinary ones was that when cultivating it, one did not absorb normal Spiritual Qi. Instead, it focused on the Slaughter Qi within the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

The Slaughter Qi between heaven and earth was extremely aggressive. Many experts could crush an opponent’s spirit with their Killing Intent alone, defeating them without a fight.

When this Slaughter Qi accumulated to a certain point and suddenly burst forth, it possessed the power to sunder the heavens and shatter the earth.

And the Celestial Tyrant Saber Technique was exactly this kind of Qimen Saber Technique, one that transformed Killing Intent into Sword Qi.

Although it only barely reached the Emperor Level, its Attack Power was likely far superior to many other cultivation techniques.

However, this Sword Skill was truly not something an ordinary person could cultivate. A single misstep could lead to a backlash from the Killing Intent, causing one to fall into the Demon Dao.

In more severe cases, one could directly succumb to cultivation deviation, losing control of the overwhelming Killing Intent and self-detonating.

Without superhuman Willpower, most people would not dare to even attempt this Sword Skill.

...

Since Xiu Ban had already offered his Soul Blood, he knew Shen Lang would not harm him now.

Besides, Shen Lang had said before that if Xiu Ban passed this test, he would grant him a tremendous fortune.

An expert who dared to make such a promise naturally possessed great power and unimaginable resources.

So, he opened his Sea of Consciousness without hesitation. He immediately felt a sharp pain in his head as a massive amount of information poured in.

Xiu Ban endured the excruciating pain and examined the information that had been poured into him, almost fainting from sheer ecstasy!

A Martial Artist who cultivated a Sword Skill could best understand how powerful such a technique was.

As an ordinary disciple of the Holy Light Sect who was also pushed around by the Young Sect Leader, Yao Chengjie, the best cultivation technique Xiu Ban had ever learned was merely a High Tier Mortal Level technique.

Mortal Level, Profound Level, Earth Level, Emperor Level...

And now, after a brush with death, he had suddenly obtained an Emperor Level technique—and a Sword Skill with unparalleled Attack Power at that!

Even if Xiu Ban had been somewhat mentally prepared, he was now left dizzy and reeling from the shock...

’An Emperor Level technique! It’s actually an Emperor Level technique!’

He didn’t know if the Imperial Dragon Sect had an Emperor Level technique, but a Profound Iron Level Influence like the Holy Light Sect definitely did not.

If this technique appeared on the continent, it would be an absolutely priceless treasure—a cultivation technique powerful enough to cause the collapse of a Profound Iron Level Influence!

For a Martial Artist who had only ever cultivated Mortal Level techniques to suddenly receive an Emperor Level technique... even a strong-willed person like Xiu Ban felt as if he were in a dream.

’Submitting to him and offering my Soul Blood was absolutely the most correct decision of my entire life!’ Xiu Ban made no effort to hide the ecstasy in his eyes.

Suddenly, Xiu Ban felt a coolness in his palm.

He looked down, and the corners of his eyes immediately twitched several times.

It turned out that Shen Lang had pressed four small bottles into his hand.

Each of the bottles contained a dozen or so Elixir Pills of various colors, all with an alluring luster.

”Take these Elixir Pills and return to the Holy Light Sect. If you can’t cultivate that Sword Skill to the Third Floor and raise your cultivation to the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven or higher within two years, don’t bother coming to see me.”

Shen Lang waved his hand with a hint of impatience.

”Dust-Settling Pill, Spirit Stabilizing Pill, Celestial Heart Pill, Fire Yang Pill... These are Top Grade Elixir Pills for Qi Martial Realm Martial Artists! So many of them! Oh my god!” Zhao Qing from Evil Wind Valley howled. ”Skin Tempering, Bone Boiling, Refining Marrow, Essence Enhancing... They’re all here! If I had these, I could raise my cultivation to the Spirit Martial Realm in a year or so!”

Xiu Ban stared blankly at the Elixir Pills in his hand, tears streaming down his face.

Life’s fortunes changed so drastically and so quickly; it was simply too overwhelming...

He knew Zhao Qing, and Zhao Qing’s expertise in the Alchemy Dao was formidable, so he didn’t doubt his words in the slightest.

As a disciple born into a poor family, who had suffered endless bullying and struggled to get by in the Holy Light Sect, to now have such an encounter and such a great fortune filled him with countless emotions.

Even though he had offered his Soul Blood, this mysterious Ghost-faced Person hadn’t asked him to do a single thing so far!

’If I want to live, if I want to truly be of help to this lord in the future, I must cultivate with everything I have!’

’If I still accomplish nothing with his guidance, such a powerful Sword Skill, and so many precious Elixir Pills, then I might as well just die!’

’As long as I cultivate diligently, one day, I too can become an expert standing at the peak of the continent!’

Xiu Ban gathered the four bottles of Elixir Pills, prostrated himself on the ground, and kowtowed respectfully three times. Without a word, he turned and dashed away.

Shen Lang glanced coolly at Xiu Ban’s retreating back, then turned around nonchalantly. He looked at the dumbfounded people from Evil Wind Valley and said, ”No one else will know about what happened between him and me, right?”

He didn’t make a single move, and his expression didn’t even change, but everyone from Evil Wind Valley felt a bone-chilling coldness rise in their hearts.

Yi Hongchen, his scalp tingling, declared loudly, ”Senior, rest assured! It is absolutely impossible for anyone besides the few of us to know. I guarantee it! I won’t even tell my own father, you can be at ease! I’ll have them all swear an oath right now to never leak this matter to anyone!”

”That would be best,” Shen Lang said leisurely. ”Now then, let’s talk about the Demon Iron Vein.”

The hearts of the Evil Wind Valley group skipped a beat. They all thought, ’Here we go, the main topic!’

In fact, anyone with a bit of sense knew this was coming.

They had seen Shen Lang’s cultivation clearly. It seemed it wouldn’t take much effort for him to slaughter everyone from both the Holy Light Sect and Evil Wind Valley.

Following the methods of other experts, he could have easily killed everyone from Evil Wind Valley, destroyed the evidence, and then taken the Demon Iron Vein for himself.

But in the end, he had saved the people from Evil Wind Valley and kept them alive.

To say it was simply out of compassion obviously didn’t make sense.

Yi Hongchen, a little nervous yet very cautious, said, ”Regarding the matter of the Demon Iron Vein, this junior has already thought of a proposal.”

”Oh?” Shen Lang gave Yi Hongchen a look that was not quite a smile.

Yi Hongchen pondered for a moment before saying respectfully, ”This junior boldly invites Senior to become an Honored Elder of Evil Wind Valley.”

The others from Evil Wind Valley were taken aback. They exchanged glances but said nothing.

”I’m not one to ask for favors, but trying to brush me off with a useless Honored Elder position is a bit too naive,” Shen Lang said with a light chuckle.

Although an Honored Elder was still an Elder, they basically held no real power in any Sect.

Disciples might revere an Honored Elder, and their status was lofty, but on many important Sect matters, their opinion was merely for reference; they had no decision-making power.

However, being an Honored Elder had its perks—namely, freedom. They were not bound by rules and had a much more comfortable position than ordinary Elders.

Yi Hongchen’s smile froze. He gave a dry cough and said, ”For an expert of Senior’s cultivation to condescend to be an Honored Elder of Evil Wind Valley is indeed a bit demeaning. However, this junior hasn’t finished speaking. Please allow me to explain.”

”Continue,” Shen Lang said flatly.

’Talking to a smart person is so much easier; no need to beat around the bush.’

”We discovered the Demon Iron Vein on the Tala Prairie. Even if Senior were to kill us all, you wouldn’t be able to claim it for yourself. The vein is located within Evil Wind Valley’s territory, and large-scale mining requires a professional team and enough experts to guard it. No matter which power Senior belongs to, it would be nearly impossible to mine such a huge vein within Evil Wind Valley’s sphere of influence.”

Yi Hongchen glanced timidly at Shen Lang. Seeing no reaction, he continued, ”Every influence has its own territory. Aside from some contested or neutral zones, while a vein or treasure discovered within a faction’s territory doesn’t automatically belong to them, its appearance will inevitably trigger a fierce battle if other powers try to seize it. Even if Senior’s faction is stronger than Evil Wind Valley, we still have the Imperial Dragon Sect backing us. If a war were to truly break out, the losses would likely outweigh the gains.”

”A little interesting. Go on.”

’They are both from Profound Iron Level Influences, yet the difference between Yao Chengjie of the Holy Light Sect and this Yi Hongchen is like heaven and earth.’

”On the other hand, Senior has already killed everyone from the Holy Light Sect. They will not let this matter rest and will surely investigate. While Senior may not fear the Holy Light Sect, making an enemy of a Profound Iron Level Influence is still a troublesome affair.”

”So you want me to join your Evil Wind Valley?”

”This junior’s meaning is quite simple. An Honored Elder is not bound by the Sect rules of Evil Wind Valley. You receive a fixed stipend of Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills every year and only need to return to help when the Sect is in trouble. It’s a very free position. And only if Senior becomes our Honored Elder can I properly discuss the Demon Iron Vein. If Senior agrees to become Evil Wind Valley’s Honored Elder, I can contact my father and give Senior thirty percent of the profits from the vein—and you won’t have to do a thing.”

”What?” Luo Fengling and the others were shocked.

To get thirty percent of the Demon Iron Vein for doing nothing... that was truly a grand gesture.

Shen Lang let out a sly laugh and held up four fingers. ”I want forty percent.”

Yi Hongchen was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. ”Fine! Forty percent it is!”

”You make it sound easy. You may be the Young Sect Leader of Evil Wind Valley, but can you really make that decision? Don’t think a Sect Leader is so great. To put it bluntly, the Sect Leaders of many sects are just managers pushed to the forefront. There are plenty of people with more authority than the Sect Leader. Regarding the vein, your father might not be able to convince those old geezers in the Evil Wind Valley’s Elder Council to honor your promise.”

”You don’t need to worry about that, Senior. Since this junior dares to say it, if there are any problems, my father will find a way to make up for the forty percent share of the vein’s profits. Besides, I am one hundred percent confident I can make it happen. Now, it all depends on whether Senior is willing,” Yi Hongchen said with great confidence.

Shen Lang didn’t waste any more words and said decisively, ”Very well. I agree to become Evil Wind Valley’s Honored Elder. Contact your father.”