Chapter - 26

Blue Cloud City - Long Clan

Long Chen returned to their courtyard thinking about practising later that evening when a pretty figure flashed in front of him.

"Young Master? My heart is so sad. How could you leave me with a little girl and play alone?" the girl's eyes fluttered, looking very miserable. There was even mist in her eyes.

Long Chen was indifferent to this. He had experienced great baptism dealing with his girlfriend and was immune to this wave of pity.

"Hmph. Is there any use bringing you everywhere? Did you forget about grandmother's treasure taken away from us?" Long Chen refused. If not for the system's proposition, why would he have to pitch his life in some competition?

The girl was surprised. Didn't this little brat always come to her, crying like a baby before?

Long Chen One would have rolled his eyes if he had heard that. That's because back then, I was a baby.

"Young Master, how could I forget it?" the girl's sad expression disappeared and changed into a cold emotion. She contracted her eyes and looked in some direction.

Long Chen understood her meaning, but before he could answer her, she continued, "However, if you promise me that you will bring me with you, I will present you something?"

"Deal !!!" Long Chen promised readily.

The girl started smiling happily and took out 2 scrolls from her ring. She pointed to them and started lecturing about the techniques.

"These are the two techniques I have with me. Each is profound in its way. But know this, you can only pick one."

"Ok."

"The first technique is something your ancestor had obtained at an ancient ruin. A sect called themselves Priests of Gods, which had long since decimated. There are five canons in total—Mortal, Immortal, Divine, Celestial, Dao. For now, you only need to know the mortal canon. It's named Heavenly Inflammation."

"The what?"

"The second technique is an incomplete but high-level technique that your grandmother had recovered from the memory of an ancient corpse. This is an Evil cultivation technique. You need tremendous willpower to keep your heart and mind in check. It is divided into five sutras. Fiend, Devil, Demon, Asura, Dao. I shall only give you the Fiend sutra for now. It's called Nether's Consumption."

"Can't I have both?"

"No." The girl giggled.

"Sigh. Fine. But say, I gotta ask? Why do those two techniques sound like disease names?"

After getting nearly kicked once by Huian, Long Chen returned. He started to read the technique he had decided.

Heavenly Inflammation

Although it sounds like an infection, it was pretty decent, according to Huian.

The process of cultivation in this world is divided into several realms. Although there might be some differences depending on the techniques, generally, all follow the same pattern. Absorb energy, circulate, convert into Qi, breakthrough.

Every creature in this world is born with roots - that allows a person to absorb spiritual energy from the outside, channels - vessels that circulate both external energy and Qi within a body and finally, Dantian- an internal organ that performs the conversion of external energy into Qi power as well as the storage of this Qi. However, these organs slowly deteriorate as one gets older. Hence, a person has to make sure that they constantly circulate the energy with their body.

Long Chen was full of expectations when he read the introduction. A long time ago, humans didn't know how to cultivate and lived under the mercy of other creatures that occupied all the lands. Then, when humanity reached its lowest point, a group called themselves Gods descended. They thought cultivation to these simple folks and shepherded humans into one of the strongest races in existence. But, except for some sacrifices and faith, the Gods didn't ask anything in return. Then they vanished.

Various sects started to form around this worship of Gods. A very particular cult, the Servants of Gods, claimed that they exist to spread the majesty of these saviours. The earliest ancestors created this 'Heavenly Inflammation' and were considered one of the most powerful techniques.

The technique has three main steps. First, the cultivator must build an altar using precious materials and carve various runes using soul power. He already knew some of these runes from the memory crystal.

The second step is to sacrifice various spiritual treasures whilst praying according to the specific realm. Depending on your sacrifice, the altar will start producing a mist referred to as Divine power that can be easily absorbed by an individual performing the sacrifice. This divine power is said to be a lot stronger than the spiritual energy of this world.

The final step is to circulate the energy within the body recorded in the technique. After several circulations, the divine power will be transformed into Qi and stored within the Dantian. When this Qi reaches a particular threshold, it can be externalised, allowing a person to apply this in battle.

This Qi is called Holy power and is known as evil's bane. This is because it can cleanse evil whenever cast and purify a soul.

'What the fuck is this? Altar, sacrifice,...' Long Chen thought but still proceeded accordingly.

"System, Is this a good technique?"

The system didn't respond.

"Hmm? Let's try this breathing. Cough... cough.... for the love of God. Still not right!"

"This way? How can a person sit cross-legged all day like this? I think I will get haemorrhoids."

Long Chen constantly adjusted his stance, standing upside down, sitting cross-legged, lying horizontally, reclining, childbirth positions and some even he felt a person can do..... But no matter his postures, both the spiritual energy and Long Chen seemed to be minding their own business. He wondered whether this was pitting him.

"Huian, I think this technique is full of shit."

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and stood outside Huian's room and shouted.

When one thinks of fiends, devils and other evil creatures, if one had seen many TV shows or read a lot of books from the earth, then the image of smelly, disgusting monsters comes to mind. However, never in a million years would Long Chen have thought that one could author such a book and call it Nether's consumption.

After arguing for a long time with Huian, he eventually convinced her to tell him more details about this technique. He finally decided that it was not compatible with him. He even used the cultivator's top ten punchlines 'It seems I have no fate with this item'.

Huian went silent. He knew she was enraged inside.

Hmm. Hmm. Let's talk later.

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Blue Cloud City - Long Clan

The next morning...

Long Chen was still sleeping on his bed. He was dead tired and was immersed in his own dreams when someone shouted.

"Long Chen, hmph. come out."

"What the....?" He was startled. He was so frightened that his heart thumped constantly.

'Who's this scoundrel? Can't others knock on doors like normal people? Scared the shit out of me,' Long Chen blasted.

Long Chen pushed open the door with a squeak only to see a white-clothed handsome man with a long sword on his waist.

"Noisy bastard, did you eat shit or something this early in the morning? Why the fuck are you shouting like that?" Long Chen's first reaction was to cuss. He had no idea who this person was.

The white-clothed man raised his head, showed a disdainful expression and laughed, "Ha ha ha ha, come! Come! Isn't this the great fiancee of Chen Wan'er? Well, everybody, look at this pathetic piece of trash. I heard that you nearly died after getting beaten by a little girl."

Long Chen's mind was a little messy. He had pulled an all-nighter studying the battle skills and inscriptions. As a result, he hardly slept an hour, and now he was getting aggravated. The more irritated he got, the more difficult it was for him to calm his mood.

"Dude, I have no idea who you are. You and I neither have any grievances nor grudges. So why are you looking for me? Did you by any chance come to the wrong house?" If possible, he prefered to resolve any issues peacefully.

Long Chen honestly felt that the aristocratic clan management was terrible. Noble clans where members scheme against their own people. What kind of shitty group is this? The better enigma, how the hell did these clans even survive this long? No matter where he goes, assholes keep popping out of nowhere.

Long Chen felt that his balls ache.!!

"Hmph? Lacking hatred and enmity, did you think so? Even if I take a risk and cut off your head, I won't be able to relieve my hatred!" The white-clothed man vocalised devotion to his revenge, worthy of a few tv episodes appearances vigorously.

"Hey? Such a huge enmity? Are you sure it's me? Also, can you tell me what exactly did I do for you to have such a big hole in your heart?" Long Chen cautiously asked. Of course, he tried his best to remember.

The white-clothed man frowned.

"Our fight is already predestined, then let this sabre master show you the result of my untold sufferings. Long Chen, do you dare to fight this Long? I will return you back the humiliation." A murderous aura emanated from the white-clothed man's body.

Long Chen suddenly asked: "Wait. Are you perhaps one of the admirers of Wang XiaoXiao?"

"Long Chen, shut up. You don't have the right to say her name. I am not some piece of trash like you but a dignified sabre wielder. My sabre is drenched with the blood of ferocious beasts; I have walked the path of death and life to strengthen my sabre heart. I can only calm my sabre heart only if I soak my weapon in your blood."

The killing intent of the white-clothed man started to get stronger.

Long Chen was silent. He didn't know what to say anymore.

He facepalmed. Long Chen looked at the gathered crowd. Some nodded their head impressively, and some seemed to be moved in their hearts.

No one can reason with a full-fledged chunni.

The white-clothed man still continued his nonsense, "Since you tried to touch my goddess with your filthy hands. Long Chen, either you cut down your own hands, or I will do it."

"Also, let it not be said that I bullied a weakling. Now, I'll give you a chance to make a move. If you can beat me, I will turn around and leave. Otherwise, I will take your head as the price for tarnishing the woman in my heart."

The white-clothed man ended his speech in a dignified tone.

Long Chen again felt tired in his heart.

"Alright then. Then I am announcing in front of this crowd that we will fight to the death three years from now. You happy? Let us both go home now and sleep well, shall we?" Long Chen yawned, as he really didn't want to waste his time on this.

"No." The white-clothed man rightly rejected Long Chen's suggestion.

"Just because you said that I am better doesn't mean I should simply accept it. The only stain in my life must be removed by myself."

The atmosphere is suddenly turned tense.

The white-clothed man suddenly moved. He slowly took out the sabre from his waist and yelled.

"Receive my sabre."

"Moon sabre art. First, move. Crescent moon slash."

*** BOOM ****