Martial Cultivator

Why is it that only when a demon cultivator steps into Nepenthe are they called a great demon? Why is it that only when a cultivator steps into Nepenthe are they referred to as a great cultivator?

This was the wisdom accumulated over countless years by those who came before. Stepping into this realm was a true chasm between oneself and all other cultivators.

Chen Chao had previously fought against a so-called great demon before. But at that time, he himself had not yet stepped into the Nepenthe, so his understanding of the demon race’s so-called great demons.s great demons was very limited. But now, having become a Nepenthe martial artist himself, upon encountering a great demon again, he was startled to find that this great demon who was currently hidden somewhere unknown, had an aura even sharper and more terrifying than the one he had previously fought.

It was not that Chen Chao could not accept that there were stronger existences than that great demon, but rather, within Great Liang’s borders, there should not be such a being.

After all, these demon creatures within Great Liang’s territory truly could not be compared with those of the demon territories.

After that instant of absentmindedness, Chen Chao quickly returned to his senses. He moved through the countless falling leaves, listening to the sound of the wind rustling them. Even with this kind of interference, Chen Chao still heard footsteps.

He suddenly turned around. A leaf sliced through the air, simultaneously cutting through countless other leaves midair, and it even had a bit of that ’internal strife’ feeling.

That leaf streaked over abruptly, and it seemed to carry enough power to cleave apart this entire world.

Chen Chao was instantly surrounded by a terrifying killing intent.

Chen Chao could not help but mock himself. He had not even confirmed the opponent’s identity, yet that great demon had already made up its mind to kill him.

Looking at the leaf rushing toward him, Chen Chao extended a hand and made a fist.

Then opened his palm.

A ripple slowly spread out from the center of his palm.

As if in that very instant, between heaven and earth, a peaceful lake surface had appeared.

The falling leaf landed within it, and in a flash, stirred that seemingly calm lake into utter chaos, churning and roiling with unrest.

Chen Chao furrowed his brows slightly. He had not expected this leaf’s power to be so astonishing. He had intended to block it with skill, but in the end, he had underestimated the leaf’s stubbornness.

With a crash.

It was as if a stone had really fallen into the lake.

The ripple before Chen Chao dissipated. The leaf was only slightly damaged, and had already arrived just in front of him.

Chen Chao turned sideways, trying to avoid the leaf. But unexpectedly, after he dodged, the leaf instead altered its trajectory and shot toward his face. Chen Chao gave a bitter laugh. With such a relentless fighting style, this battle probably would not be an easy one.

Whether it would be easy or not did not really depend on the opponent’s cultivation realm. What truly mattered was their way of fighting. If the opponent focused more on skill than on sheer killing, then this battle could be approached more calmly. Even if the opponent was truly determined to kill, as long as they did not fixate on landing a kill within one or two moves, then it was still manageable. But the most troublesome kind was this kind, the kind who calculated every single move, practically wishing to beat you to death in one blow. That was what really gave you a headache.

Moreover, judging by their cultivation realms, Chen Chao estimated that the two of them were likely evenly matched.

Could this great demon be a woman?

Chen Chao could not help but have this thought. Furthermore, he quickly became certain of it. Aside from the possibility that the other party was a woman, there really was no other explanation.

This brief thought passed in an instant. Chen Chao came back to his senses and had no choice but to raise his blade. The edge of Cloud Mud faced the oncoming leaf.

The two clashed swiftly.

The leaf struck the edge of Cloud Mud, yet it was not instantly sliced in half by this peerlessly sharp weapon. Instead, where the two met, an endless burst of sparks erupted. That single leaf, at this moment, looked more like a piece of metal or stone.

Chen Chao gripped the saber’s hilt tightly, feeling the tremendous impact carried by the leaf. His expression turned momentarily serious.

After a brief stalemate, the leaf still failed to withstand Chen Chao’s Cloud Mud, and was split down the middle. However, the two halves of the leaf did not fall to the ground. Instead, they swept past at incredible speed, leaving two thin streaks of blood across Chen Chao’s left and right cheeks.

Chen Chao did not feel any pain. The two shallow wounds quickly closed and did not leave any marks on his face.

It was only then that he saw the figure of that female great demon at the end of the leaf’s path.

But the moment he laid eyes on her, Chen Chao shook his head rather helplessly.

“I should’ve known it was you.”

Chen Chao let out a quiet sigh. Right, other than this woman, there really was no other great demon who would make a move quite like her.

Autumn looked at the young martial artist before her, her expression just as complicated. She had fought Chen Chao a total of twice before. The first time, she had subdued the young man so easily that he had not even been able to draw his saber. The second time was in the desolate north, by then, Chen Chao’s cultivation had nearly caught up with hers. That battle left them both injured. It had seemed there was no clear victor, but had it not been for her unique body with two hearts, she would likely have already died by his hand.

After that fight, Autumn began cultivating diligently. Her cultivation advanced rapidly, and breaking through into the Nepenthe Realm had been only natural. She had since deepened her foundations in that realm, and originally believed she had long left this young martial artist far behind. Yet unexpectedly, upon seeing him again, she was shocked to discover that Chen Chao had advanced greatly as well.

Why has this young martial artist progressed so quickly?

Autumn narrowed her eyes, and a flicker of confusion flashed through her snowy white pupils.

”What? Do you think that I can’t cross over because the desolate north has become a forbidden zone?”

Autumn looked at the young martial artist. The killing intent in her eyes slowly dissipated, but if one were to say that she would spare a person just because that killing intent faded, there probably was not anyone in the world who could guarantee that.

Chen Chao smiled and said, “We’re at least old acquaintances, why is it that the moment we meet, it has to be all fighting and killing? Can’t we sit down, have a couple drinks, and catch up properly?”

“You’re human, I’m a demon. There’s nothing to catch up on. Besides, I came south this time just to kill you.”

Though it had been a long time since they had last seen each other, the candidness of this demon princess still earned Chen Chao’s admiration. Saying she came to kill him just like that, without hiding anything. That alone made her far more interesting than many other cultivators.

But Chen Chao did not think someone so forthright was necessarily a good person.

Especially since she was not even a human.

Chen Chao gave a wry, surprised smile. “There does not seem to be any deep hatred between the two of us, right? Why do you insist on killing me?”

If one were to ask who among this generation of young people had the highest talent for cultivation, Chen Chao would not be able to say for sure. After all, whether it was the Twin Pillars of Daoism, Xie Nandu, or the demon princess before him, any of them had the potential to contend for that so-called number one under the heavens. But if talking life-or-death battle, who among this generation did Chen Chao fear facing the most would definitely be Autumn without a doubt.

Some people seemed to be born to be the protagonist of the world.

Autumn was that kind of person.

The crux was that someone like her who was already born gifted, born with a golden key in hand, did not choose to live life easily. Instead, she worked harder than most people who had come from hardship.

Chen Chao sighed deeply.

If that were all, it might still be tolerable, but the real issue was that this kind of person had terrifying willpower; nearly without flaw or weakness.

Autumn said calmly, “If you have any last words, you can say them now. After I kill you, I’ll pass them on to this world.”

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m still not ready to say goodbye to this world just yet.”

“No last words then?”

Autumn looked at Chen Chao and nodded her head.

Chen Chao rubbed the webbing between his thumb and index finger where he gripped his saber. This damn woman was really savage.

”Don’t be in a rush to fight.”

Chen Chao was genuinely afraid this woman might suddenly attack again without warning. It was not that he lacked the confidence to defeat her, but he was very clear that even if he did win, killing her would not be an easy task.

The most likely outcome would be mutual injury, both of them sustaining serious injuries.

“Have you considered that even if you manage to kill me, you might not be able to leave Great Liang alive?”

Chen Chao was very curious, what reason could drive this demon princess to cross the desolate north forbidden zone just to pick a fight with him?

Autumn replied coolly, “How many people do you think would avenge you and try to make me remain behind forever?”

Chen Chao was speechless. He knew his own reputation. There really were quite a few people who wished for his death. And given that the Demon Emperor had not been confirmed dead, when it came to this demon princess, many probably would not dare do anything.

After all, the demon monarch behind her held an extraordinary fondness for her.

To harm her would mean bearing the wrath of the Demon Emperor.

Among the countless cultivators under heaven, how many truly dared to try?

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “Seems like I might be the only person in this world who dares to kill you.”

Autumn gave a silent laugh, displaying a faintly mocking smile.

Clearly, she did not believe Chen Chao could defeat her again. Otherwise, she would not have come at all.

Chen Chao took a deep breath and asked one final question, “How did you find me?”

Autumn replied calmly, “You go around flaunting your power, a Nepenthe Realm, killing weaklings just because they’re beneath you.. Is it really that surprising you were found?”

Chen Chao smiled bitterly.

There was no point in saying more. Truthfully, the moment he saw this young woman, he should have known that this battle could not be avoided.

“Oh right. That sword cultivator who headed north, your paramour?”

Autumn suddenly asked. But it was just a casual inquiry, without any other implication.

But Chen Chao’s eyes narrowed instantly, anger rising. “What did you do to her?”

Since Autumn had come from the north, it was entirely possible she had crossed paths with Xie Nandu on the road. With her cultivation, killing Xie Nandu would have been no more than a thought.

“What else? Naturally, I killed her.”

Autumn glanced at Chen Chao and shook her head. “That paramour of yours had a lot of flying swords, but her cultivation was too low. Useless.”

That single sentence stirred violent waves across the surface of Chen Chao’s heart.

Like a lone boat, drifting peacefully across a lake, suddenly struck by violent winds and towering waves, nearly capsizing in an instant.

His mind even faltered for a moment.

Autumn shook her head in disappointment. “Just a single woman is enough to shake you like this, how do you expect to escape from me today?”