307: I am coming

Qi Lao Da and the other two exchanged a quiet glance.

Then, they all knelt in the air.

"Juniors, we three admire Senior's might and wish to remain by Senior's side to be at his command."

After they finished speaking, they all bowed.

Only those who know how to adapt are truly wise.

"Acceptable."

A deep voice rang out.

Only then did the three truly relax.

Although they had suspected that merely capturing them without killing them meant he wanted them to surrender, a guess was still just a guess.

"Three Elders, please rise quickly."

Zhou Xiutong stepped forward with a smile, helping the three up, her sincerity genuine; these were all talented individuals.

Seeing this, the three gave a wry smile and nodded in agreement... Qingyang Prefecture.

Beside a secluded, isolated spirit field.

A Formation surrounded it.

A young Cultivator was enveloped in black Qi, roaring in pain.

After a long while, the roaring stopped.

The young Cultivator did not rest; instead, he began chanting scriptures, golden light flickering.

"Disciple, are you truly not going to inform your Clan about this?"

Demon Lord of Suffering asked.

During this period, he had learned much about the Zhou Family from Zhou Xiangyu.

He knew that the Zhou Family had a powerful Nascent Soul Stage Old Ancestor overseeing it.

This had surprised him for a long time.

If they could invite that Nascent Soul True Lord for help, Zhou Xiangyu's chances might increase slightly.

But only slightly.

After all, for the Jiang Family, a Nascent Soul True Lord, while deserving of respectful treatment, would not make them wary.

This was the confidence of a ten-thousand-year-old Family.

"No."

"The Family gave birth to me, raised me, and gave me the opportunity to step onto the path of Cultivation."

"How could I be ungrateful and, for my own selfish reasons, put the entire Family in a difficult position?"

Zhou Xiangyu refused without a second thought.

This was no ordinary force.

From how cautiously his two Masters treated it, one could glimpse its power.

Although he held deep admiration and respect for the Old Ancestor, he didn't believe his own Old Ancestor was the strongest in the world.

Furthermore, as a small Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage, how could he accurately know the true strength of his Family?

Now, his aura had already transformed.

Even if he were to die in the Jiang Family, he believed it wouldn't implicate his Family.

Demon Lord of Suffering nodded, saying no more.

"It's just the Legacy of my two Masters..."

Zhou Xiangyu hesitated in his heart.

If he died, the Legacy of the Demon Lord of Suffering and Bitter Heart would truly be lost.

"Haha, if you wish, then leave a copy with your Clan when the time comes."

Demon Lord of Suffering chuckled, knowing what Zhou Xiangyu was thinking.

"I imagine that Old Bald Donkey (Derogatory term for a Buddhist monk) won't have any objections either."

Bitter Heart nodded.

Zhou Xiangyu's heart filled with joy.

"Thank you, two Masters."

Demon Lord of Suffering waved his hand.

Two lonely individuals, solitary souls who should have died long ago.

As long as their Legacy could be passed on, it was good.

They no longer cared about the identity of the successor, other than the Disciple they had jointly taken in.

"This way, I can also repay the Family's kindness in raising me..."

Zhou Xiangyu's regret in his heart lessened slightly.

Then he closed his eyes again, earnestly comprehending the profound Buddhist methods within the buddha heart.

Time flowed by.

Four months later, by the spirit field, the figure sitting cross-legged radiated black Qi.

"Hoo~"

"Qi Refining Fifth Layer."

Zhou Xiangyu stood up, his voice filled with joy.

To Breakthrough from Qi Refining Fourth Layer (Cultivation Level) to Qi Refining Fifth Layer in such a short time was related to the buddha heart Demonic Seed, the personal instruction of the two Nascent Soul True Lord, the Family's resources, and Zhou Xiangyu's own desperate efforts.

"Master."

Zhou Xiangyu stood up and bowed to the floating Nascent Soul remnant soul.

"Even if it's a Demonic Technique, this speed is too fast. This will surely make your Foundation unstable, and you probably won't last long."

Bitter Heart sighed, regretting.

"Master, I don't care."

"I only need to desperately improve my strength within these three years."

"As for what happens after..."

"I dare not imagine."

Zhou Xiangyu shook his head.

"That's how it should be. As for what happens after, we'll consider it once you've passed this hurdle."

Demon Lord of Suffering was quite open-minded.

"Disciple, although you don't care about the future, merely having the Realm without protective methods is like a castle in the air, collapsing at a touch."

"Today, I will teach you three blades."

Demon Lord of Suffering continued.

"My Dao lies in the blade."

"It is divided into three blades: Body Severing, Heart Severing, and Spirit Severing."

"Body Severing has four forms: flaying flesh, dissolving blood, carving bone, and extracting marrow, and each form has forty-nine variations..."

Demon Lord of Suffering imparted all his knowledge without reservation.

However, he only taught the Body Severing Art.

"Old Bald Donkey (Derogatory term for a Buddhist monk), it's your turn."

After Demon Lord of Suffering finished teaching, without waiting for Zhou Xiangyu to recover, he urged Bitter Heart.

"Donor of Suffering taught you offensive techniques; I will teach you techniques to ward off enemies."

"The fundamental Buddhist protective golden light..."

Bitter Heart slowly spoke.

Zhou Xiangyu dared not miss a single word, his mind rapidly turning, striving to engrave everything into his heart.

After the two finished teaching, Zhou Xiangyu contemplated for a moment.

He stood up, picked up an ordinary long saber, and under the guidance of Demon Lord of Suffering, the long saber spun, sharp and ruthless.

My suffering is the enemy's suffering.

The stronger the suffering Zhou Xiangyu absorbed, the greater the power of the Body Severing Art.

Just like this, Zhou Xiangyu Cultivated every moment, fully squeezing every bit of his energy.

His Cultivation Level improved rapidly, and the four forms of Body Severing, the protective golden light, the Vajra's wrathful gaze, and other methods became increasingly proficient... Two years later, Zhou Xiangyu's Cultivation Level had already Breakthrough to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

When he circulated his magical power, Demonic Qi surged, yet Buddhist intent was also revealed.

Golden and black colors intertwined, like a demon and like a Buddha.

"It's time to set off..."

Zhou Xiangyu stood up, his voice hoarse and broken.

The suffering he had endured over these two years, from body to mind to spirit, if there was a hell in the world, it would probably be no worse than this.

"But I still need to return to the Clan once..."

To leave behind the two Legacies and to take one last look.

Demon Lord of Suffering and Bitter Heart were silent. Only the two of them knew what Zhou Xiangyu had sacrificed and experienced over these two years.

Precisely because of this, they increasingly recognized Zhou Xiangyu's status as a Disciple.

At the same time, in the Barren Continent, within the Xuan She Tribe, Third Elder Miao received his first mission in two and a half years.

Under the envious gazes of Qi Lao Da and the other person, he took a Storage Pouch and flew out of the Xuan She Tribe, heading towards Qingyang Peak... Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Xiangyu left several Jade Slip in his Immortal Cave.

Then he left the Green-Eyed Azure-Striped Snake and his identity token behind as well.

Only then did he turn and depart.

"Father, Mother, forgive your unfilial son..."

Arriving outside a residence, Zhou Xiangyu silently watched for a long time.

He slowly withdrew his gaze only when it was almost dark, heading down the mountain.

At the foot of Qingyang Peak, a handsome young man, who had grown quite a bit, saw Zhou Xiangyu's figure from afar and came to greet him.

"Brother Yu."

"Xiao Xu?"

Zhou Xiangyu was surprised.

He had returned without alarming anyone.

"Brother Yu, I know you have something on your mind. This is a small token of my regard; you cannot refuse it."

Zhou Xiangxu, without explanation, hung a Storage Pouch on Zhou Xiangyu's waist.

Zhou Xiangyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He wanted to refuse but gave up. "Just take it."

"Brother Yu, I'll wait for you to come back."

Zhou Xiangxu took two steps back and smiled brightly.

"Good!"

Meeting Zhou Xiangxu's smile, Zhou Xiangyu's heart warmed, and he nodded solemnly.

Watching Zhou Xiangyu depart, "This should count as completing the mission, right...?"

"I wonder what Brother Yu is thinking..."

Zhou Xiangxu pondered in his heart.

After leaving the Zhou Family, Zhou Xiangyu's speed grew faster and faster, heading towards the southern part of the Sword Domain, where the Extreme Cold Ice Realm was located.

Zhou Xiangyu had already found out that the Jiang Family's grand event, even without an invitation, allowed entry for viewing.

Within the Sword Domain, many forces had already begun to move.

"Ning Chan, I'm coming!"