landbeastnovel Chapter 17 Demonic Shadow
Chapter 17 Demonic Shadow
Life at the Qingyun Sect was progressing faster than Ling Chen had anticipated.
In the blink of an eye, he had been in the mountains for half a month.
For the past two weeks, his life has been so simple as to be almost monotonous—morning lessons at dawn, sword practice at noon, and meditation at dusk. The Sword Stele Square is where he spends the most time each day. The stone stele engraved with the character "sword" is like an inexhaustible mine, and each time he meditates, he can read something new from those mottled strokes.
The sword manual was turned to page twenty-seven. The previous owner—an inner disciple who signed his name "Shen Cang"—had written a line of small characters at the bottom of the page: "The myriad ways of the sword return to one sword. Once one sword is drawn, all other ways cease."
This sentence reminded Ling Chen of the Nine Heaven-Splitting Slashes. He tried to integrate the sword intent he had gleaned from the sword monument into his saber technique, and the effect was surprisingly good. Xiao Lie became the most direct test—the two fought at least once a day in the training ground, with each winning and losing. After half a month, Xiao Lie's gaze towards him changed from initial arrogance to seriousness, and then from seriousness to a kind of mutual respect.
"Your progress is abnormal." One day after a fight, Xiao Lie sat on the edge of the ring, panting, and said bluntly, "Half a month ago, you struggled to withstand ten of my sword strikes, but now you can withstand over fifty. At this rate, in another half month, I might not be your match."
Ling Chen didn't deny it. He had felt it himself. The sword intent within the sword monument, the insights from the sword manual, Elder Mo's guidance, coupled with the recovery speed of his chaotic spiritual energy far exceeding that of others at the same level—these factors combined to make his growth curve almost a steep, upward-sloping straight line. But he wasn't satisfied. The sword foundation of the Qingyun Sect was indeed profound, and Xiao Lie and the others were indeed rare and formidable opponents, but he hadn't joined the Qingyun Sect to become an inner disciple.
He was going to enter the forbidden area. Deep within the forbidden area lay the secret realm of the Celestial Venerable. There lay the true legacy left behind by his previous life.
"Forbidden area?" Xiao Lie's expression changed when he heard this word. "Why are you asking this?"
"Just asking."
"The forbidden area is not something inner disciples can inquire about. Let alone entering the forbidden area, even just approaching the Sword Tomb near its outer perimeter requires approval from the Elders' Council. Unauthorized entry is considered treason." Xiao Lie, unusually abandoning his usual arrogant expression, spoke seriously, "Even I can only enter once a year during the Sword Tomb Trial. What exactly do you want?"
Ling Chen didn't answer. Xiao Lie didn't press further. He simply patted Ling Chen on the shoulder and said, "Whatever you have to do, don't shoulder it all alone. Although the people of Sword Pavilion are arrogant, they won't just watch their junior brother die."
-
On the fifteenth day after Ling Chen joined the Qingyun Sect, a minor incident occurred in Qingzhou City.
After the Blood Fiend Sect was destroyed, its remaining forces were wiped out by the combined forces of the Azure Cloud Sect and the Sunset Valley. This was an expected cleanup operation, but during the cleanup, an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect discovered a black jade slip in a secret underground chamber of the Blood Fiend Sect. The jade slip was engraved with densely packed names, each name marked with a date.
The list was sent back to the Qingyun Sect overnight. Jian Xuan personally checked it and found the names of two Qingyun Sect disciples on the list. One was from the outer sect, and the other from the inner sect. Both of them had disappeared for several days half a year ago while on a training expedition, but returned to the sect behaving normally without any abnormalities. The date on the list happened to be the date they disappeared.
That night, the two were secretly imprisoned. Jian Xuan personally presided over the interrogation, and the result sent a chill down everyone's spine—both disciples had been implanted with demonic seeds, identical to those in Meng Hu's body. The difference was that Meng Hu's demonic seed had already grown to the point where it could activate demonic runes, while these two's seeds were still in their dormant stage, completely undetectable unless actively investigated.
What's even more unsettling is that no matter how Jian Xuan interrogated them, neither disciple remembered the process of having the demonic seed planted on them. Part of their memories had been erased by some sophisticated demonic technique, like a scroll with a crucial section cut out. The overall structure was intact, but the most important page in the middle had vanished.
"It's the Shadow Demon Technique," Elder Mo said in Ling Chen's mind. "It's a high-level demonic technique that only demon generals under the Demon Lord can use. It doesn't directly control a person's mind, but rather erases specific memories, so the person being used won't even remember that something was tampered with. This method is extremely subtle, and even using soul-searching techniques would make it difficult to detect."
"The person capable of planting such a demonic seed must be at least at the Nascent Soul Realm." Jian Xuan's tone was heavy and cold when he met Ling Chen for the second time. "Moreover, this person is still within the sect. The sect leader has ordered a secret investigation, but progress has been very limited. That demonic cultivator is extremely well hidden, and he is confident that he can leave no trace every time he makes a move."
Ling Chen remained silent for a long time after listening.
Are there any other disciples from other sects on the list?
Jian Xuan paused for a moment: "Yes. Three from Luoxia Valley, two from Iron Sword Sect, and some rogue cultivators. Most of the names on the list have already been dealt with—some went missing, and some died unexpectedly while on training." He closed the list and looked at Ling Chen. "The Blood Fiend Sect doesn't just operate in Qingzhou. It's a vast network covering the southeast region, specializing in finding suitable hosts for demons to implant their demonic seeds. Fairy Su destroyed the Qingzhou branch, but its main headquarters is still in the Spirit Realm. And that demonic cultivator lurking in the Qingyun Sect is very likely a pawn planted here by the main headquarters."
Ling Chen's thoughts raced. Meng Hu's exposure of his demonic runes on the arena, while not revealing the demonic cultivator's identity, had at least alerted the sect. He would undoubtedly be more cautious from now on and wouldn't easily reveal himself in the short term. But this also meant that the sect's window of opportunity for investigation was narrowing.
"Elder Jianxuan, how are those two disciples who were implanted with the demonic seed doing now?"
"Their cultivation has been destroyed, and they're imprisoned on the secluded cliff in the back mountain. Although the demonic seeds have been removed, their meridians have been eroded by demonic energy for too long, and they'll never be able to cultivate again in this lifetime." Jian Xuan looked at the sea of clouds outside the window. "The news that the Myriad Paths Return to the Void Diagram is in the Qingyun Sect will soon reach that demonic cultivator's ears. Once the news reaches the Spirit Realm headquarters, the person coming for you won't be a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator. Before that, you must become stronger. Strong enough that even if your identity is exposed, you'll have the power to protect yourself."
Ling Chen gripped the Broken Army Blade on his knee tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"I see."
-
Two days later, an incident occurred in the outer gate area.
A new disciple, who had only been in the sect for less than a month, went missing. They initially thought he was just lost—the outer sect area was vast, and it was common for new disciples to get lost. However, the patrolling disciples searched every possible place but found no trace of him. Then, a hunter discovered a body with a pierced chest in an abandoned hunter's hut ten miles outside the mountains; the deceased was none other than the missing outer sect disciple.
The fatal wound was to the heart. The weapon was not a blade, but a human hand—a hand imbued with spiritual energy pierced directly through the chest cavity, crushed the heart, and swiftly withdrew.
Jian Xuan personally led the disciples to investigate the scene. The murderer's cultivation was at least at the Condensation Realm, and the method was clean and efficient. There was a very faint trace of demonic energy remaining in the victim's dantian. Although the murderer had deliberately erased it, Jian Xuan used a spirit-detecting technique specifically for sensing demonic energy and still managed to detect that almost imperceptible trace.
When the news reached the inner sect, the disciples were in an uproar.
"Demonic cultivators? The Qingyun Sect has demonic cultivators?"
"To be able to disappear right under the noses of the patrolling disciples after killing someone, the perpetrator must be at least a peak Nascent Soul cultivator."
"Is a mere outer disciple worth the effort of someone at the True Condensation Realm? What would the murderer gain by killing him?"
Amidst the murmurs, Xiao Lie pushed through the crowd to Ling Chen's side, pulled him aside to a quiet place, and asked in a low voice, "What does this have to do with you?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Elder Jianxuan mentioned to me that you killed a demonized cultivator during the Qingzhou selection. Before he died, that cultivator revealed a certain name. Now that a murder has occurred, my intuition tells me the killer is after you. Killing an outer disciple might just be—" Xiao Lie paused, "...to alert the enemy."
Ling Chen looked at him. Han Tie had said that Xiao Lie was a trustworthy person, not because of his good character, but because his swordsmanship was free of scheming and trickery. Such a person's intuition was often more accurate than the analysis of a clever person.
"Yes. Someone wants me to know he's watching me. He deliberately left that wisp of demonic energy, deliberately chose to act within the sect, and deliberately made sure no one could find out his identity. He doesn't want that outer disciple's life; he wants to plunge the entire Qingyun Sect into panic."
Xiao Lie's hand gripping the sword made a creaking sound as his knuckles rubbed together: "Starting tomorrow, you'll stay by my side. Whether it's martial arts practice, meals, or going to the sword monument, don't be alone."
"Senior Brother Xiao—"
"I'm not helping you," Xiao Lie interrupted him, a cold and deep look appearing in his arrogant eyes for the first time. "Rule No. 327 of the Qingyun Sect's inner sect—Sword Pavilion members do not abandon their fellow disciples. From the day you defeated me, you have already been a member of the Sword Pavilion."
Ling Chen remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
Back in the courtyard, he closed the gate and held the Ice Soul Communication Talisman in his palm. With just a gentle squeeze, Su Qingyuan would receive his location. Even with the extraordinary abilities of the demonic cultivator lurking in the Qingyun Sect, the Saintess at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm couldn't withstand the full force of an attack from someone with an Ice-type Heavenly Spiritual Root.
But he didn't pinch it. Su Qingyuan was currently at the Central Continent Immortal Sect, buying him time. She had said she needed three months. Before that, he couldn't let her interrupt all her plans and rush back just because of a demonic cultivator who hadn't even shown himself yet.
"Elder Mo, is there any way to track down the demonic energy?"
"Yes. We need to make close contact—at least within ten steps. Once we get close, the Myriad Paths Returning to the Void Diagram will record the unique demonic energy characteristics of that demonic cultivator. After that, the diagram will issue an early warning whenever he appears within a ten-mile radius. But ten steps also means he is close enough to kill you, so we need someone to act as bait."
"I'll take the role."
"I knew you'd say that," Old Master Mo sighed. "But remember—you only get one chance. Once you alert the snake, it won't show its face again for three years."
The next day, after the martial arts demonstration, Ling Chen bowed to Jian Xuan in front of everyone and said, "Elder Jian Xuan, I have recently had some enlightenment and would like to practice alone in the back mountain for a while. Please grant me permission."
Jian Xuan glanced at him and nodded.
Ling Chen turned and left the training ground. He didn't go to the back mountain, but instead took a secluded path—a beast trail hidden in the shade of the mountain, perpetually shrouded in darkness, flanked by dense, impenetrable bamboo forests. He slowed his pace, each step landing on damp, mossy stone slabs.
It took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to leave.
Deep in the bamboo forest, a cold, sinister divine sense silently licked the back of his neck like a snake's tongue.
"They've arrived." Old Master Mo's voice was extremely low.
Ling Chen didn't turn back and continued walking forward. His steps remained unchanged, his breathing remained unchanged, but the Myriad Dao Returning to Nothingness Diagram in his dantian had quietly unfolded, capturing the source of that divine sense.
The chilling aura drew ever closer. Ten steps, nine steps, eight steps. With each step, the temperature of that divine sense decreased. When he reached seven steps, Ling Chen stopped and turned around.
The bamboo grove was dark and deserted.
But the lingering, unsettling sensation of that divine sense still remained in his senses—cold, sticky, and with a barely perceptible sweet, metallic taste. He knew he was being watched. The other person hadn't made a move, but was merely testing him—passing a wisp of divine sense across his skin to gauge his reaction. He could feel the person watching him from the shadows, very close, right behind the bamboo shadows. Little did that person know, the instant his divine sense touched Ling Chen, the Myriad Dao Returning to Nothingness Diagram had already detected his demonic energy.
"This demonic energy..." For the first time, a serious emotion appeared in Elder Mo's voice. "I recognize it. We clashed ten thousand years ago. It is the unique demonic energy of Shadow Demon General, one of the four great demon generals under the Demon Lord. It has an extremely subtle fluctuation, like the shadow itself breathing. I would never mistake this fluctuation."
"Is Shadow Fiend still alive?"
"No. Ten thousand years ago, the Shadow Demon General was slain in the Spirit Realm by your sword in your previous life. But the most troublesome thing about the Demon General is that the death of the physical body does not mean complete disappearance. The Shadow Demon General is good at splitting the soul and possessing the spirit. A wisp of the soul can live in the host's body for thousands of years, possessing and being reborn, passing on the legacy from generation to generation. What is lurking in the Qingyun Sect is not the Shadow Demon General's remnant soul itself, but his current host."
Ling Chen felt a chill run down his spine. As a Qi Gathering early stage cultivator, facing a Demon General host capable of killing a True Condensation Realm cultivator head-on was tantamount to a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"We must tell Jian Xuan."
He reported to Jian Xuan that very night. After listening to his description, Jian Xuan remained silent for a long time before asking, "Are you sure that's the aura of the Shadow Demon General?"
"Old Mo said he wouldn't admit his mistake."
Jian Xuan was the only one who knew of Elder Mo's existence. He stood up and paced around the room three times before stopping at the window. "Don't tell the Sect Master about this yet. The Shadow Demon General's host was able to infiltrate the Qingyun Sect and remain hidden for so long; he must have a legitimate, publicly known identity. Since he can appear before everyone without being detected, it means that this identity is high enough and deeply trusted by the sect—he's likely an elder. Before the sect's higher-ups have thoroughly investigated, any leaks will allow him to disappear beforehand, making it much harder to catch him next time."
"Those two disciples on the list..."
"Keep him locked up. Use him as bait." Jian Xuan's tone was cold, but it carried the forced choice of the head of the Transmission Hall. "If that demonic cultivator wants to silence him, he will definitely approach the Confinement Cliff. Once he makes a move, the mountain-protecting formation will lock onto his location within three breaths. No matter what kind of demonic general he is, he won't be able to escape."
This was the first time Ling Chen had sensed such cold rationality from Jian Xuan. He didn't argue, knowing full well that in the absence of other clues, bait might be the most effective method of investigation. He stood up to leave, but Jian Xuan called him back as he reached the door.
"The worst-case scenario—if the host of the Shadow Demon is really among us, then from this moment on, we will trust no one except for myself, the sect leader, and Elder Gu."
In the darkness, the demonic energy characteristic recorded by the Myriad Paths Returning to the Void Diagram was slowly condensing in the scroll, transforming into a faint black mark.
The Shadow Demon's host is still operating in the shadows. He's waiting. Waiting for the moment when the master of the Myriad Paths Return to Nothingness Diagram is most relaxed, then he'll reach out from the darkness to crush the heart.