Chapter 433: The Powerful and Confident Black Sword

Chapter 433: The Mighty and Confident Black Sword

If before, Qi Yuan’s words would have been taken as a joke,

Now, that confidence and dominance moved them.

Among so many prodigies present, who was not subdued by the Black Sword?

Even Ice Sword, though he would not admit it aloud, had always striven to catch up to the Black Sword.

He knew that the more he chased, the greater the gap grew.

But now, what did this Blood Robe say?

The Black Sword had not attained the Great Principle, and was unworthy to be his goal!

All the prodigies’ minds trembled; they turned to Qi Yuan with varied gazes.

This Blood Robe was provoking the Black Sword!

Or rather, declaring war on the Black Sword.

Old tales of Ziyuan Heaven were unsealed in their memories.

Many seemed to smell the scent of battle and gunpowder.

Recalling that the ancestor of Ziyuan Heaven had directly given the Blood Robe the Black Demon Ancestor’s blood, they could not help but think further.

The Black Sword represented the Great Elder of the Black Demon Abyss.

Half of the other nine elders were disciples of the Great Elder.

The Sixth Elder of Ziyuan Heaven was also one.

But the Sixth Elder had a grudge against the Great Elder, never yielding—this was no great secret in the Black Demon Abyss.

Now, the Blood Robe’s provocation of the Black Sword made everyone sense a thick smell of gunpowder.

Was this a continuation of the struggle between the Sixth Elder and… the Great Elder?

But… did this Blood Robe truly have the confidence to match the Black Sword?

After all, once a Great Principle master who held the supreme principle visited the Black Demon Abyss and, upon seeing the Black Sword, said, “In my youth, I was far inferior to the Black Sword.”

Of course, they did not know that Qi Yuan had no such intention.

Others said he wanted to surpass the Black Sword, to take him as a goal.

He merely wanted to prove his innocence—the one he wished to surpass, the Black Sword was not even qualified to be.

The Black Sword’s expression did not change, calm as a chrysanthemum: “I have merely walked a little ahead of you; do not take me as your target to surpass.”

It seemed he had not taken Qi Yuan’s words to heart.

An Xunlu looked at the Black Sword, stars in her eyes, then turned to Qi Yuan with disdain: “Look at Brother Black Sword, then look at yourself—now you see the difference?”

“Ah?” Qi Yuan did not quite understand An Xunlu’s words. “I see it—he’s not as good-looking as me. That’s the difference.”

“You!” An Xunlu was furious. “What nonsense are you spouting? Brother Black Sword’s talent is a hundred times greater than yours, and his appearance a hundred times better!”

Qi Yuan could not be bothered to argue with An Xunlu.

He had figured it out—she was a blind fan.

He disliked blind fans the most; arguing with them was pointless—she would just fill in the gaps with her imagination.

But then, Ziyuan Xiaolu beside him could not help but say, “Clearly, Senior Brother Blood Robe is better-looking than… Senior Brother Black Sword!”

“Ziyuan Xiaolu, are you blind?” An Xunlu was surprised that the usually shy girl would retort.

“My eyes are just fine; Senior Brother Blood Robe is clearly more handsome!” Ziyuan Xiaolu’s face flushed red; arguing was clearly not her forte.

“Hmph!” An Xunlu changed the subject, for indeed… the Blood Robe was far better-looking than Brother Black Sword. “Brother Black Sword is a Yang God Venerable, the foremost prodigy of our Black Demon Abyss, his talent far surpassing the Blood Robe!”

“Senior Brother Blood Robe only started cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art late; if given enough time, surpassing the Black Sword would be no problem!” Ziyuan Xiaolu argued stubbornly.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan was stunned.

This Ziyuan Xiaolu… seemed to be his blind fan.

Qi Yuan suddenly felt he had been biased, looking at a certain group through tinted glasses.

There were good people among “blind fans” too.

The two girls bickered endlessly.

Then, the Black Sword spoke, his voice calm: “There is one more thing to announce.

The Great Principle Discourse is about to begin; the younger generation has thirty spots to observe.

The observation spots will be allocated based on contributions to the Black Demon Abyss.”

Hearing this, the prodigies’ faces changed abruptly, their breathing quickened.

The Great Principle Discourse was one of the most significant events in the Six Heavens.

At that time, all Yang Gods and forces that received invitations would go to the Principle Assembly to debate the Way.

That was Yang Gods debating the Way, comprehending the Great Principle!

For prodigies like them, the benefits were immense—it could lay the foundation for their future paths.

It could be said that if they gained insight, they could save hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.

But ordinary cultivators had no qualifications to attend.

Even ordinary Yang Gods, unless they worked for free for the Principle Assembly, had no right to participate.

Only top-tier holy lands like the Black Demon Abyss had more spots, even allowing the younger generation to attend.

“Contributions… it seems we can’t just cultivate anymore; we have to do missions!”

“Damn it, I haven’t done a mission in years!”

“With less than a year until the Great Principle Discourse, how many contributions can we earn?”

The prodigies’ faces were grim, a mix of joy and worry.

There were two ways to earn contribution points: one was doing missions, the other was breakthroughs in the Ancestral Blood Art.

The higher the level of breakthrough in the Ancestral Blood Art, the more contribution points one obtained.

For example, Ice Sword had already reached the eighth layer of the Ancestral Blood Art.

The contribution points he could exchange from that alone were enough to secure his spot at the Great Principle Discourse.

The Venerable’s lecture ended, and everyone slowly departed.

Ziyuan Xiaolu’s face was still red; clearly, she rarely argued with others and was not skilled at it.

She frowned now and then, lost in thought, as if replaying the argument in her mind, pondering where she could improve.

Just then, An Xunlu from nearby suddenly attacked her with sarcasm: “Senior Brother Blood Robe just arrived at Ziyuan Heaven, only recently started cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art, and hasn’t done any missions. He’ll probably miss this Great Principle Discourse—what a pity!”

Qi Yuan felt nothing upon hearing this.

Even if he were unqualified, he still had Mo Chi’s invitation.

When the time came, he could just pretend to be Mo Chi and go.

However, it made An Xunlu so furious that she directly turned her head away and refused to look at him.

Any unpleasant remarks, she would simply ignore.

An Xunlu looked triumphant, as if declaring victory; she paid no more attention to Qi Yuan and instead headed toward the mountain peak to meet Black Sword.

Zi Yuan Xiaolu’s face bore a worried expression.

With a wave of her hand, she revealed a long list of tasks.

She stared at the task list, her expression anxious.

“Senior Brother Blood Robe, the contribution points for these tasks are far too few, and the time they consume is too great. You…”

She was deeply concerned for Qi Yuan.

After all, Senior Brother Blood Robe’s talent was absolutely terrifying, but if he failed to attend the Supreme Principle Discourse, the loss would be immense.

The gap between him and Black Sword would only grow wider.

“It’s fine.” Qi Yuan’s expression was languid; he looked down at the task list below and suddenly asked, “Can these contribution points… be exchanged for Black Demon Ancestor Blood?”

Because he noticed that many of these tasks were related to the Mara Clan.

Recently, the Mara Clan had stopped paying tribute, stirring up no small commotion in the Black Demon Abyss.

Many newly issued tasks were connected to the Mara Clan.

If he wanted to complete them, he could do so with a mere flick of his hand.

For instance, one task required going to the Fifth Heaven to negotiate with the Mara Clan, demanding they offer at least a hundred portions of Mira Light as tribute.

These tasks were right up Qi Yuan’s alley.

“No.” Zi Yuan Xiaolu shook her head, her face troubled.

The preciousness of Black Demon Ancestor Blood was such that, aside from the Great Principle, there was almost no other way to obtain it.

Seeing Qi Yuan’s gaze fixed on the column related to the Mara Clan, she thought of something: “Could it be that Senior Brother Blood Robe can resolve the tasks concerning the Mara Clan?”

Senior Brother Blood Robe had come from the Demon Abyss and might have a close bond with the Mara Clan.

And the way he asked seemed to suggest he was confident about the Mara Clan tasks.

“I am confident I can resolve them.” Qi Yuan was honest.

Zi Yuan Xiaolu’s eyes sparkled: “Senior Brother Blood Robe is amazing! Why not take on these tasks? If you complete them, you should have enough contribution points to attend the Supreme Principle Discourse.”

“I won’t complete them.” Qi Yuan shook his head.

Was he a fool?

To go and complete these tasks.

Completing the tasks would indeed earn him contribution points, but he… would lose out.

Most of these tasks demanded tribute from the Mara Clan.

The Mara Clan was his; offering his own possessions as tribute to the Black Demon Abyss in exchange for a pittance of contribution points—

Was he out of his mind?

“Ah?” Zi Yuan Xiaolu was stunned, somewhat puzzled.

“Pink-Horned Girl, don’t worry. I have my own plans regarding contribution points,” Qi Yuan said confidently.

Couldn’t he earn contribution points without doing tasks?

Just upgrade the *Ancestral Blood Art*.

“How many layers of the *Ancestral Blood Art* would yield enough contribution points to attend the Supreme Principle Discourse?” Qi Yuan asked.

“Six layers might be enough… to be safe, seven layers!” Zi Yuan Xiaolu seemed to grasp Qi Yuan’s idea, but thought it was far-fetched.

Still, she didn’t press further and answered directly.

“Oh, tonight it’s settled.” A smile crept into Qi Yuan’s eyes.

He intended to attend this Supreme Principle Discourse not only as the Demon Blaze Heavenly Venerate but also under the name of Blood Robe.

After all, he now had backing.

With the Great Principle behind him, things would be much easier.

“Ah?” Zi Yuan Xiaolu blinked, not understanding Qi Yuan’s meaning.

But she was always shy; since Qi Yuan didn’t explain, she felt too embarrassed to ask.

“Where is the place in Zi Yuan Heaven to test the cultivation progress of the *Ancestral Blood Art*? I want to go and test it, to exchange for contribution points!”

Hearing this, Zi Yuan Xiaolu’s eyes widened, and her breath quickened slightly.

Senior Brother Blood Robe was going to use the layers of the *Ancestral Blood Art* to exchange for contribution points?

Did that mean he had cultivated at least to the first layer, or even the second or third?

The fastest record for the *Ancestral Blood Art* was set by Black Sword—entering the third layer in half a month and the fourth layer in three months.

And he remained far ahead.

For example, she herself had taken a full year just to reach the first layer.

“Alright!”

…

At the mountain peak.

Black Sword, clad in white robes, was as radiant as jade.

Beside him, a Yang God of the Great Heavenly Realm smiled with a hint of approval: “This Blood Robe… is somewhat arrogant.”

There was a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice.

Hearing this, Black Sword’s expression remained calm: “He has his own goals. Not seeing me as someone to surpass is not a mistake.”

“Ah, you… you’re just too magnanimous, too good-natured,” the Yang God of the Great Heavenly Realm sighed.

The more one understood Black Sword, the more one realized how terrifying his talent was.

“That he does not regard me as his goal is like how I… have never noticed the struggling ascetics behind me. This is nothing at all,” Black Sword said indifferently.

What he said was nothing but the truth.

He was not afraid of challenges from his peers—or rather, he ignored them.

Those who fell behind him would only fall further away. His gaze was always fixed on the Star Realm, on the few Great Principles who wielded supreme truths.

As for those chasing from behind, why would he turn his head to look?

“The rise of the Black Demon Abyss lies with you,” the Yang God could not help but remark. “The rest are but fleeting clouds.”

While other prodigies of the same generation were still struggling to break through to the Yang God realm, Black Sword had already become a guest of honor among Yang Gods of the Great Heavenly Realm, even able to discourse on principles with the Great Principles.

“That Blood Robe is valued by the Six Elders; his talent must be extraordinary.

He might well become another Great Principle.

Brother Black Sword, you could now temper him a little, honing him into a sharp blade at your disposal,” the Yang God Heavenly Venerate advised.

Toward Black Sword, he felt both reverence and envy, as well as jealousy.

Now with the intention of forming a bond.

"Thank you for telling me, fellow Daoist," Black Sword replied indifferently.

As for the man's words, he paid them no heed at all.

He was invincible on his own; why would he need a sharp sword?

"An Xunlu is coming, I'll take my leave..." The Yang God Venerable smiled, and his figure vanished in that instant.

No sooner had his form disappeared than An Xunlu's eager voice rang out.

"Brother Black Sword!"

An Xunlu trotted over, her face brimming with undisguised adoration.

"Mm, how has your cultivation been lately?" Black Sword was kind, treating An Xunlu with great gentleness.

An Xunlu's heart swelled with sweetness; the arrogance and coldness she showed toward Qi Yuan vanished, replaced by a demure charm.

"The Ancestral Blood Art is still stuck at the fifth layer," An Xunlu said, a hint of distress in her voice.

"Cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art depends solely on bloodline; there's little I can do to help you there."

"No, I'll work hard," An Xunlu said. Then, as if recalling something, she couldn't help complaining, "The ancestors are truly too unfair! They gave the Black Demon Ancestral Blood to Blood Robe, but not to you, Brother Black Sword!"

At this, An Xunlu was furious.

An elder had once said that when Black Sword stepped into the Ultimate Truth Realm, he would be granted a portion of Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

Yet Blood Robe had only just entered the Black Demon Abyss when he received it.

Naturally, she felt aggrieved on Black Sword's behalf.

"It's fine. The Black Demon Ancestral Blood doesn't help me much; whether I have it or not is unimportant," Black Sword said calmly. "I can rely on myself."

His bloodline was already of the same origin as the Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

Or rather, the blood flowing through his veins was itself a lesser Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

When he cultivated the Ancestral Blood Art, it was as if other prodigies were constantly consuming Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

This wasn't cheating; it was a trait of his bloodline talent.

Thus, the Black Demon Ancestral Blood was nearly useless to him now.

But when he entered the Ultimate Truth Realm, it would be different.

"But it's so unfair!" An Xunlu still felt indignant for Black Sword.

Black Sword smiled, gently stroking An Xunlu's hair. "Don't overthink it. Focus on raising your contributions these days. Surely you don't want to miss the Ultimate Truth Discourse?"

Hearing this, An Xunlu quickly nodded. "I'll work hard!"

"And don't worry about me, or think that this Blood Robe threatens my position," Black Sword said, his voice calm. "The resources I've gained in the Black Demon Abyss were earned by my own hands; no one can take them away."

Black Sword had his own confidence.

Blood Robe hadn't set him as a target to surpass; when had he ever noticed Blood Robe behind him?

His gaze was always fixed on Lin Ya Tui.

Within Lin Ya Tui, even Yang Gods were mere pawns, powerless to control their own fates.

A Yang God at the Great Ultimate Truth Realm was nothing more than an oversized pawn.

Only those who grasped the supreme Ultimate Truth could be considered players of the game.

The Black Demon Abyss nurtured him so that he could enter the board, become a player, and look after the Black Demon Abyss within Lin Ya Tui.

But his ambition was greater than the Black Demon Abyss's. He didn't just want to be a player—he wanted to be the strongest player!

To dominate the game of the Six Heavens!

As for Blood Robe... he probably couldn't even be considered an oversized pawn.

Why would he pay him any mind?

Watching the gentle and confident Black Sword, An Xunlu's eyes shone with admiration and reverence.

"Brother Black Sword..."

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(The chapter ends)