Chapter 41 of 100

Chapter 41

15 min read3,870 words

"Turns out to be a Martial Arts Grandmaster." Gu Chensha saw the other party's move and knew their true cultivation, secretly surprised. This time, the three counties' heretical cult and the barbarian tribes truly had an abundance of experts. Even in Bannan Province, there were only two Grandmasters, yet attacking a small town involved two Grandmasters.

The previous cult leader, a Grandmaster, had already rushed to the town's city wall to kill people, while this Grandmaster held the "Blood Melt Blade" and was about to slash at Gu Chensha.

This blade was filled with a sinister blood aura, capable of seizing souls and spirits. It seemed to have a magical power, and its sharpness was far beyond that of ordinary treasured blades. Gu Chensha knew without looking that he must not let this blade cut his skin.

Although this blade was not as good as the Dragon Bone Sword, it still possessed terrifying killing power.

"Good blade, I was just worried about not having a weapon, and you bring it to me." Gu Chensha had already killed a Second Transformation Dao Realm Black Bat; how could he be concerned about an ordinary Martial Arts Grandmaster?

He moved his feet, continuously dodging the blade's light, his eyes keenly observing. In an instant, he found a weakness, thrust his palm, and from behind, shattered the heart meridian of the cult leader.

At the moment of killing the cult leader, he communicated with the Altar of Heaven space, which absorbed the leader's blood essence and soul, forming a blood ball that floated above the altar.

The "Blood Melt Blade" then fell, and Gu Chensha grabbed it, finding it to weigh a hundred pounds. He didn't know what kind of steel it was made of, but when he swung it, a bloody aura was overwhelming. Upon closer inspection, he saw blood-colored talismans flickering, transmitting a bloodthirsty intent and a set of violent blade techniques into his mind, trying to turn him into a bloodthirsty demon, killing everywhere.

In other words, whoever grabbed this blade would be controlled by it.

Each kill would allow the talismans on the blade to absorb the victim's essence, energy, and even soul, enhancing the blade's power.

"What an evil blade." Gu Chensha quickly recalled the secrets of the heretical cult he had read, and a record flashed in his mind.

"The Bloodthirsty Cult kills and sacrifices to the Blood God to refine the blade. They first refine seven Blood Melt Blades to align with the Seven Killings, each slaughtering living beings, then merge them into a Human Demon Blood Blade. Further refinement can turn it into an Earth Demon Blood Blade, and finally, a Heaven Demon Blood Blade. This blade is the Heaven Demon, and the Heaven Demon is this blade. Once completed, it will cause blood rain, ghostly cries at night, and blood to flood the world... In ancient times, an unparalleled Blood Demon refined this blade, was suppressed by the ancient emperor, and the blade was destroyed and sacrificed to heaven, turning into a Demon-Slaying Blade..."

In short, this evil blade, once controlled by someone, would make them go berserk, with the blade controlling the person, not the other way around.

"Hmph! A mere Blood Melt Blade wants to control me? What a joke!" Gu Chensha focused his mind, and the blade disappeared, entering the Altar of Heaven.

Buzz!

Gu Chensha destroyed the blade and sacrificed it.

The blade suddenly exploded, and the blood light, wronged souls, and evil blood god's will were all absorbed by the Heavenly Dao. A weapon that was neither a blade nor a sword appeared on the altar.

"The prototype of the Demon-Slaying Blade?" Gu Chensha slightly moved his mind, and the weapon fell into his palm, weighing a hundred pounds, emitting a green light. When slightly shaken, it swayed like a green dragon, showing its spirit: "This sword is sharp, though not as good as the Dragon Bone Sword. If I can find the other six Blood Melt Blades and sacrifice them to the Heavenly Dao, I can obtain a Demon-Slaying Blade that surpasses the Human Demon Blood Blade. At that time, it might not be inferior to the Dragon Bone Sword."

The true Demon-Slaying Blade can injure a Heaven Demon. The current prototype's power is less than one ten-thousandth, but it is still a divine weapon. With this weapon, combined with the Sun and Moon Kill technique and the hidden power of the Altar of Heaven space, even a strong person with copper skin and iron bones could be harmed.

Without a divine weapon, even if Gu Chensha used the Sun and Moon Kill technique and struck with his bare hands, he might be able to kill a Second Transformation Dao Realm Black Bat, but he would be helpless against a Third Transformation person with copper skin and iron bones.

"The leader is dead, the leader is dead!"

Many cult members saw clearly that someone had leaped onto the high platform, killed the leader in one move, and taken the Blood Melt Blade. This sudden change shook the cult members' spirits, and even those on the periphery began to scatter.

Originally, the cult members were forced civilians. Even with some training, brainwashing, and drinking evil talismans to stimulate potential, they could not compare to elite soldiers trained for over a decade. This determined that historically, cult rebellions almost never succeeded.

Gu Chensha didn't bother with them, holding the prototype of the Demon-Slaying Blade, he leaped off the high platform and headed straight for the town's city wall to kill the remaining Martial Arts Grandmaster.

When he leaped onto the city wall, he was surprised to find that the cult leader, a Grandmaster, was about to go on a killing spree but was being held back by five young men.

The five young men all held swords, forming a sword array, moving left and right, with great power, like a net of heaven and earth, silk from silkworms, restraining the cult leader, a Grandmaster, who could not harm them for a moment.

The five young men were also quite skilled, all Martial Arts Masters, at the third level of the Mortal Realm, "Transcendence." This was a miracle for the town.

Even the disciples of wealthy families in the provincial capital found it extremely difficult to become Martial Arts Masters, with only one in a hundred achieving it.

It should be noted that a Martial Arts Master entering the army, as long as they achieved some military merit and killed some barbarians, could become a Sixth Rank General. The Da Yong court stipulated that all military officials from Sixth to Fourth Rank must be Martial Arts Masters, and those above Third Rank must be Martial Arts Grandmasters.

"What sword technique is this? It encompasses all five elements, seamless, like spring rain, summer thunder, autumn frost, winter snow, and scorching sun." Gu Chensha rushed to the city wall, observed for a moment, and found that these five young men had great potential, seemingly having had a fortuitous encounter, and their swords were ancient and not like those cast today.

However, dealing with the current cult leader, a Martial Arts Grandmaster, was not so easy.

"Blood Melt Blade!" At this moment, the Grandmaster pulled out a weapon from his back, and blood light burst forth, another Blood Melt Blade appeared.

As soon as the blade appeared, the five young men became dizzy and were in grave danger.

Gu Chensha leaped across, and the prototype of the Demon-Slaying Blade in his hand emitted a wave of sword light.

Clang!

All the blood light disappeared, the Blood Melt Blade vanished, and the cult leader, a Martial Arts Grandmaster, fell to his knees, his head rolling off the city wall.

"Killed a Grandmaster in one move?" The five young men regained their senses, almost stunned: "Could it be a Dao Realm Immortal?"

To many mortals, a Dao Realm person who doesn't eat human food and breathes the essence of heaven and earth is already an "immortal."

"Now that the leader is dead, the cult members have lost their support. Attack immediately and disperse them." Gu Chensha waved his hand.

"Everyone, open the gates and charge!" The five young men raised their arms, and the townspeople rallied, opening the gates and charging out.

The cult members resisted for a while, but without a high-level expert, they could not continue and scattered in all directions.

The townspeople did not chase them, fearing that more cult experts might come to attack.

"I am the town mayor. Thank you, great hero, for saving us. May I ask your honorable name?" The mayor led the five young men and a few elders to pay respects to Gu Chensha.

"I am the Nineteenth Prince, Gu Chensha, enfeoffed as the Duke of Dust, and I have come to Xianzhou as an imperial envoy to suppress the heretical cult rebellion in Bannan Province. You don't need to be afraid; the imperial army is ready to march at any time. I came to investigate the enemy situation." Gu Chensha did not hide his identity.

"What?" The mayor was stunned. The highest official he had ever seen was probably a county magistrate or a prefect. Even a provincial governor was a figure he could only look up to. However, he was a scholar and had a cultivated appearance, so he quickly knelt and said to the five young men, "You should kneel too."

Immediately, everyone knelt.

"Unaware of the arrival of the Nineteenth Prince, we are guilty of a capital offense!"

"Rise, it is a critical time." Gu Chensha waved his hand. "This town cannot be stayed in now. The heretical cult and the barbarian tribes have many experts. After the two Grandmasters are dead, they will surely send stronger experts. Why don't you go to Bannan Province's capital?"

"Prince, our town has over ten thousand people. If we all retreat, how can we run with our families? We would likely be caught by the cult before reaching the provincial capital, or we would die from exhaustion. Besides, the provincial capital is already full, and many county residents are fleeing there for safety, unable to enter the city. We have discussed it and decided to defend the town, to live or die together." One of the young men quickly said.

"That's true." Gu Chensha looked around and saw many elderly people, women, and children in the town. These people could not walk a hundred miles in a day, let alone carry gold, silver, and food. Even if ten thousand people reached the provincial capital, they could not be accommodated, and the daily expenses and waste would be enormous.

After some thought, he knew that defending the town was the only option.

"What are your names? I saw your martial arts were quite good, and your sword techniques are ancient. Why don't you take the martial official exams and serve the court?" Gu Chensha asked.

"One of them is my son, and the other four are the sons of wealthy families in the town. They have been friends since childhood, sworn as brothers, and follow the teachings of the ancients, reading many books and traveling far. They obtained five volumes of sword scriptures in a mountain and each practiced one, achieving some success. They originally wanted to take the martial official exams, but the cult outbreak and the withdrawal of the imperial army delayed them. Meeting the Nineteenth Prince is a blessing from a past life, and they are willing to serve the Nineteenth Prince, hoping to gain a position." The mayor was good at seizing opportunities.

"You five have great potential. I am short of people, but it depends on your willingness." Gu Chensha thought that having all his household staff be Long Yuyun's people was not right. These five had fortuitous encounters, unique sword techniques, and clean backgrounds. If he could recruit and cultivate them, they would be good subordinates.

"Quickly thank the Nineteenth Prince!" The mayor saw the five young men hesitating and became furious.

"Thank the Nineteenth Prince." The five quickly kowtowed.

"Since that's the case, after this, go to my mansion in the capital and find the eunuch Xiaoyizi. I will write you a letter of recommendation." Gu Chensha thought for a moment. "For now, you need to protect the town, but your martial arts are still shallow. Find a quiet place, and I will teach you a few moves. Then I need to leave and delve deeper into the enemy's lair."

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