Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao never would have imagined that the path into the mountain was underwater, and that the path out was also underwater. The Divine Daughter opened the way for them. The lake water parted to both sides, revealing a massive stone at the bottom of the lake. With a wave of her sleeve, the Divine Daughter moved the stone, revealing an opening resembling a tunnel in the depths below.

The Divine Daughter stood by the lakeshore, and the white deer slowly approached, accompanying her in silently watching the two young ones leave.

Chen Chao walked quite a distance, then could not help but turn back to look at the Divine Daughter, his gaze complex.

The Divine Daughter’s eyes were gentle, yet she said nothing.

Chen Chao vaguely sensed that there was some sort of barrier here, something he could not fully perceive,that was keeping the Divine Daughter trapped and preventing her from leaving.

At the same time, Chen Chao was also astonished that someone as powerful as her still could not break through the barrier.

But the Divine Daughter did not speak much on the matter. Whatever Chen Chao might guess would just remain his own guesswork. As she had said herself, if Chen Chao did not take that step forward and arrived above Nepenthe, then there were things he would never be able to know.

There were things the Divine Daughter did not say aloud, but Chen Chao understood the reason.

He was currently still too weak.

The Nepenthe Realm, while one might be called a powerhouse in the world today, was likely nothing more than the level of an ant in the eyes of those powerhouses hiding in various places.

Existences like the Divine Daughter were certainly not the only ones of their kind.

The coffin girl from before, the Divine Daughter now, and countless existences hiding in unknown places, those were the final secrets of this world.

Chen Chao withdrew his gaze and walked forward slowly.

By comparison, Autumn’s steps were far more resolute. She quickly overtook Chen Chao and moved to the front.

The two of them remained silent throughout the journey.

Because both of them knew that once they stepped outside this place, they would become true enemies once more, facing each other in a fight to the death.

Had Chen Chao given up on killing this demon princess?

Not quite.

No matter the situation, Chen Chao understood clearly that Autumn was the most exceptional of the younger generation of the demon race. To call her the future of the demons was no exaggeration. But to kill her would come at too high a cost and without certainty of success.

Putting aside their opposing sides, Chen Chao did not really feel much hostility toward this demon princess. At the very least, she was more principled than many of the people he had met.

As for her unlikable personality, that actually did not matter much.

The tunnel before them was dark, visibility stretching no more than ten feet ahead. Chen Chao reached out to touch the walls around them and found the material the same as what he had touched earlier when he had first fallen in.

For the better part of an hour, the two continued forward through the darkness. But at some point, the darkness gave way to light. Before they could react, they had already stepped into a forested mountain valley.

So this was what it meant when they said, ”Beyond the shadow of willows, bright flowers bloom.”

After stepping out of the dark passage, Chen Chao instinctively turned around, placing a hand on his saber hilt. After all, now that they had exited, it was very likely that he and Autumn would be forced into a life-and-death battle.

But when he turned back, not only was Autumn nowhere to be seen, but even the tunnel behind him had vanished.

Chen Chao was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood that there must have been some sort of formation within that tunnel. That was why they did not exit together, and why the passage could no longer be found.

He looked around. Though he knew it would be in vain, he still tried to see if he could locate the Divine Mountain. But after only a moment, Chen Chao gave a self-deprecating laugh. He had been too naive.

This kind of top sect from the previous era had entirely different layouts from those of today. Hidden in obscure places, they did not exist in the light of day.

Yet, Chen Chao recalled the scene he had seen by the lakeside, it truly did feel like it existed beneath a real sky.

Chen Chao sighed. The cultivators of that era were destined to be far, far stronger than the cultivators of this era.

Not only in terms of cultivation realms, but also in many other aspects, they could not be compared with those of the current age.

Chen Chao rubbed his cheeks, exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, then walked through the mountain forest for half a day. In the end, he discovered traces of his earlier battle with Autumn. Following those traces, Chen Chao quickly relocated that yellow-mud small temple.

That yellow-mud small temple, compared to before, was already dilapidated beyond repair. But back then it had sunk to the bottom of the mountain, and now it had returned to the surface. It must have been due to some kind of formation.

Chen Chao plopped himself down on that collapsed yellow-mud low wall, not caring whether he got a butt full of yellow mud.

Then Chen Chao took out a flask of alcohol, drank it in small sips, and began to digest the things he had witnessed earlier. Chen Chao narrowed his eyes, not knowing what came to mind.

But not long after, a figure suddenly appeared not far away. It was precisely that demon princess who had previously disappeared without a trace.

Chen Chao looked lazily at Autumn and said, “If we’re going to fight to the death, wait until I finish this flask of wine. It’s not like a few moments will make a difference.”

Autumn did not refuse, she just said, “Give me a flask.”

Chen Chao also did not put on any airs. He took out a flask of alcohol and threw it toward Autumn. Autumn caught it one-handed, then sat down on a rock not far away, likewise sipping the wine in small mouthfuls.

The human race and demon race had confronted each other for so many years. The customs of the demon race had rarely influenced the human race. But many traditions of the human race had, over the years, already begun to subtly affect the demon race.

After alcohol entered the demon territories, it had long since caused countless demon race members, high and low, to develop a fondness for it.

Chen Chao drank a sip of alcohol and asked with a smile, “So obsessed with the divine medicine, is it because you want to save someone?”

Autumn ignored him.

Chen Chao continued on his own, “Not denying means it’s true. But the one you want to save, don’t tell me it’s a man you like?”

Although he said this, the moment Chen Chao spoke the words, he realized he was spouting nonsense. Although he had not spent much time with Autumn, Chen Chao still knew that this girl’s pride likely surpassed even Xie Nandu’s. A girl like this, to say that she would fall in love with some man, was indeed not an easy thing.

Autumn said indifferently, “You like talking that much?”

Chen Chao was indifferent. “Might as well talk while I still can. Who knows, maybe in a bit you’ll hack me to death with a single sword. Then who would I talk to?”

Autumn mocked, “Pathetic.”

Chen Chao could not be bothered with this woman and simply took a large swig of alcohol. Only then did he say, “Come to think of it, you ought to thank me. If I hadn’t channeled those sword qi into your flying sword, could you have gotten this kind of good fortune?”

“Then in a bit, I’ll set your corpse on fire, so you won’t get eaten by demons on this mountain. That counts as repaying you.”

Autumn threw away the alcohol flask in her hand and slowly stood up.

Chen Chao also happened to finish the last mouthful of alcohol and muttered, “You really think Your Father is scared of you? After Your Father butchers you, I’ll peel your tiger hide off and turn you into a seat cushion.”

Autumn remained unmoved. Demonic qi surged out from her body, and killing intent resurfaced.

Chen Chao directly drew his saber. In an instant, a brilliant light erupted. Chen Chao said in a low voice, “If you really want to die, I won’t stop you.”

......

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Autumn’s hair suddenly scattered. That slender flying sword she had used as a hairpin once again flew out, returning to normal size.

Although she had known earlier that the Divine Daughter surely knew the name of the flying sword, Autumn did not ask. Her thinking was simple: since this flying sword now followed her, its previous name no longer mattered. Moreover, after leaving the lakeside, Autumn had already given this flying sword a new name.

Autumn Beyond the Tower.

This was a rather poetic name, who knew how she had come up with it.

Gripping the flying sword, Autumn swept out with a slash. The sword qi that the flying sword carried had not yet been refined and absorbed, so it could only be sealed temporarily, relying entirely on qi flow.

But even so, with that sword thrust forward, it tore open a fissure in the ground, its momentum was overwhelming.

Chen Chao cursed inwardly and rushed forward with saber in hand. Then, with a tap of his toe, he leaped into the air, bringing down a heavy slash. At that moment, terrifying qi gushed forth recklessly, falling like a storm, causing Autumn’s robes to flap wildly, like a lone boat in stormy waves.

Autumn’s face was expressionless. She held the sword horizontally before her, blocking Chen Chao’s slash.

Saber and sword collided, bursting forth countless sparks.

The two locked eyes, but after only a moment, both shifted their gazes. Chen Chao dragged the saber downward, saber force instantly spread out and came crashing down.

This rare martial artist of the current age, now heavy in heart, slashed with fierce momentum. In just several minutes, several saber strikes nearly struck Autumn.

Although Autumn now had a flying sword, since she was ultimately not a sword cultivator, her actual killing power remained rather limited.

Otherwise, Chen Chao’s situation right now ought to have been even more precarious.

But after several slashes, Chen Chao’s advantage gradually no longer existed. Someone as outstanding as Autumn was certainly not the type who would be suppressed the entire time.

However, this time, the two of them did not approach that yellow-mud small temple, likely for fear of being drawn into it again.

Half a day later, the two had fought their way from the mountain forest to a rapid river. Each stood on a broken log, facing the other from afar.

Chen Chao tapped the saber tip against the water, while Autumn casually twirled the sword into a flourish.

The two looked at each other. Both knew that what came next would be a true life-and-death battle without holding back.

Perhaps one of them really would die at the other’s hands.

But no matter who killed whom, it would be enough to shake the world.