2: Chapter 2 The First Step to Becoming a Demonic Cultivator: Abandoning Compassion

"There's no need, Junior Sister. From now on, I no longer have any connection with the Tianxuan Sect."

As soon as he said this, a visible trace of loneliness flashed through Lu Shuangxue's eyes.

"Senior Brother, are you really leaving?"

Chu Chen chuckled softly, "Junior Sister Lu, I will return. What the Tianxuan Sect owes me, I will take back myself."

"Shuangxue will not forget the kindness of Senior Brother's guidance in the past. Please accept this falling snow sword as a parting gift from me."

"Junior Sister, the falling snow sword has been your personal sword since you began your cultivation. How can you give it away so easily?" Chu Chen refused.

Ignoring what Chu Chen said, Lu Shuangxue directly thrust the falling snow sword into his hands.

"Senior Brother, take care on your journey!"

Seeing this, Chu Chen no longer refused. "Junior Sister, take care!"

Seeing Chu Chen about to leave, Yuan He immediately shouted at Lu Shuangxue, "Senior Sister Lu, this Chu Chen is a sect traitor who colluded with the Mo Ling Sect to harm our fellow Tianxuan Sect members! You're just letting him go like this? Aren't you afraid the sect will blame you?"

However, the only response Yuan He received was a sharp glare from Lu Shuangxue.

"If it weren't for the fact that we belong to the same sect, the fact that you tried to kill Senior Brother Chu today would have cost you more than just an arm."

"If you don't get lost now, I won't mind killing you!"

Hearing this, Yuan He's face flushed red, but he could only swallow the words he was about to say back down.

He quickly picked up his severed arm from the ground and headed back toward the Tianxuan Sect, fearing that if he lingered, Lu Shuangxue really would kill him.

After all, Lu Shuangxue was the undisputed number one genius of the Tianxuan Sect. There were even rumors before Chu Chen's cultivation was crippled.

If she and Chu Chen had entered the Tianxuan Sect at the same time, perhaps the position of Eldest Senior Sister would have been hers.

Furthermore, Lu Shuangxue had a peculiar, ice-cold personality. Except for Chu Chen, she wouldn't even spare anyone else a second glance.

Even if Lu Shuangxue were to kill him, the sect wouldn't give her any substantial punishment; at most, she would be placed in solitary confinement for a few days.

This was the difference between the number one genius and an ordinary disciple.

Lu Shuangxue watched Chu Chen's departing figure, her face returning to its frost-like coldness.

Senior Brother Chu, I will definitely make those who plotted against you pay the price, even if it means destroying the entire Tianxuan Sect.

Two days passed quietly.

Currently, Chu Chen sat inside a tavern, drinking Peach Blossom Brew while listening to the people around him discuss him.

"Have you heard? Chu Chen, who took first place in the Nine Dragons Trial, has had his cultivation crippled and been expelled from the Tianxuan Sect."

"I heard it too. It's a pity for such a genius of a generation, but he colluded with the Mo Ling Sect to harm us righteous cultivators. He deserves this end."

"But I heard that Chu Chen only met this end because he obtained a fortuitous opportunity in the Nine Dragons Trial and offended someone he shouldn't have."

"Otherwise, why would all the righteous sects within the East Xuan Empire issue a wanted poster? Anyone who captures Chu Chen alive can receive an Earth-Grade Cultivation Method and ten thousand spirit stones."

Chu Chen now understood why the Tianxuan Sect had only expelled him instead of killing him outright.

It was likely because he had taken first place in the Nine Dragons Trial.

Everyone thought that by winning the Nine Dragons Trial, he had obtained a supreme opportunity, but little did they know there was no opportunity at all.

Even his closest and most beloved master, Dan Xuanzi, had crippled his cultivation and even used a Soul Searching Secret Art, all for the sake of an illusory opportunity.

Thinking of this, Chu Chen wanted to laugh. Even though Dan Xuanzi had used the Soul Searching Secret Art, he hadn't discovered what the Nine Dragons Trial's opportunity was.

Because in Chu Chen's memory, there was no such thing as a Nine Dragons Trial opportunity; even a Soul Searching Secret Art couldn't find what didn't exist.

He had even been labeled with the crime of colluding with demonic cultivators. At this moment, he completely understood how cruel the world of immortal cultivation was. Even in front of one's closest kin, they could strike at you without a hint of guilt for a bit of profit.

Let alone for a supreme opportunity like the Nine Dragons Trial. Immortal cultivation isn't scary; what's scary is the human heart.

His past self was a quintessential 'good guy.' If given another chance, he would rather be a demonic cultivator—a demonic cultivator who isn't bound by morality, a demonic cultivator who acts for his own benefit.

[Ding! The Strongest Demonic Path System has been activated.]

[Ding! The Strongest Demonic Path System has been successfully bound.]

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out in Chu Chen's mind.

A system?

Chu Chen was startled by this sudden voice.

[Ding! The system has detected that the host possesses a heart for demonic cultivation. Thus, it has bound itself to the host to assist the host in becoming the strongest Demon God in the myriad realms.]

[Ding! Newbie Gift Pack successfully distributed.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Demon God Body, the demonic supreme treasure ten thousand soul banner, the cultivation techniques Demon God Visualization Method and Divine Firmament Demon Finger, and the growth-type weapon ten thousand demons immortal devouring sword.]

[Ding! Does the host wish to claim them?]

Chu Chen did not rush to claim them. Instead, he first returned to his room in the inn.

Only then did he speak, "Claim."

As he spoke, space fluctuated, and a pitch-black sword and a seemingly ordinary banner appeared before Chu Chen's eyes.

The two cultivation techniques, the Demon God Visualization Method and the Divine Firmament Demon Finger, flooded into his mind.

Then, a powerful and eerie aura descended upon Chu Chen, constantly reconstructing his body.

In an instant, pain surged through his entire body. It felt as if his entire frame was being torn apart and shattered, then reassembled.

Time passed quickly, and two and a half hours went by.

At this moment, Chu Chen's entire body exuded a demonic aura. A demonic red blood seal appeared on his forehead, and a fierce light radiated from his eyes as if they could pierce through everything.

In the next moment, these auras were restrained within his body by Chu Chen.

Except for the demonic red mark on his forehead, Chu Chen looked no different from an ordinary person.

After some communication, he roughly understood this Strongest Demonic Cultivation System. As the name suggested, it was to train Chu Chen to become the strongest Demon God.

"Right, System, introduce this ten thousand soul banner and the ten thousand demons immortal devouring sword."

"The names are quite grand, but why does this look no different from an iron sword on the street? And this ten thousand soul banner is no different from a ragged cloth, okay?"

[Ding! The host has eyes but cannot see Mount Tai; a dog's eyes look down on people.]

[ten thousand soul banner: Can sacrifice the flesh and blood of others to increase one's own cultivation. Those whose souls are sucked into the ten thousand soul banner will be refined into Soul Gu, serving as slaves within the banner for eternity. Inside the banner is the God-Demon Slaying Array and a Small World.]

[ten thousand demons immortal devouring sword: Devours various weapons of the same origin to grow infinitely. It nurtures ten thousand demons that can devour immortals and slay gods.]

[Ding! However, looking at its current quality, the host can at most use the ten thousand demons immortal devouring sword as a fire poker. As for the ten thousand soul banner, it is of great use to the current host.]

[Ding! Mission issued: As a rookie who has just become a demonic cultivator, you need to sacrifice a village to make a name for yourself. Completing the mission will reward you with one top-grade spirit gathering pill.]

"Sacrifice a village? Setting aside the system rewards, I remember that using the ten thousand soul banner to sacrifice others can convert their energy into my own cultivation."

"The first step of a demonic cultivator is to discard compassion."