Chapter 1

[Status: Updated to Chapter 1335: Battle at the Peak of the Spirit Sea! Feng Yi] [Synopsis: 【Hot-blooded fantasy, fast-paced and hyper-satisfying】 Young Fang Chen had his Dao Bone stolen, suffered betrayal, and endured endless humiliation. Fortunately, he obtained the Little Pagoda, receiving a supreme inheritance. He inherited the Blood of the Sword Demon! He grasped the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth! One sword strike opens the chaos! One sword strike annihilates celestials and gods! I grasp my sword and become a demon! By my command! Ten thousand celestials and a thousand gods shall submit!]

Chapter 1: Five Years of Guarding the Tomb, All for This Day

Twenty miles outside the Tianyu Divine Sect in the Shendong Domain, on a small hill.

In front of a wooden hut, by a stone table, a young man and a young woman were huddled together. The youth was handsome, and the maiden was exquisitely beautiful—a perfect match.

"Brother Fang, am I beautiful?"

Su Wan'er gazed at Fang Chen with her large, watery eyes. Those beautiful pupils were filled with him, and one delicate hand moved incessantly across his chest.

Fang Chen revealed a blissful smile: "Wan'er will always be the most beautiful."

Five years ago, Fang Chen’s master, the Master of the Seventh Peak, Tian Yangzi, had returned suddenly, gravely wounded. On the brink of death, he ignored Fang Chen’s desperate questions and commanded him to cripple his own Dantian and guard his tomb for five years. After five years, all answers would be revealed.

Fang Chen, deeply indebted to his master, did not hesitate despite his confusion, destroying his Dantian right before his master’s eyes. Shortly after, Tian Yangzi passed away. He buried his master on this hill, twenty miles southwest of the Seventh Peak, and had been guarding the tomb here for five full years.

Over these five years, his status had plummeted from a core prodigy of the Seventh Peak to an outer-circle disciple of the lower peaks, labeled a useless fool by everyone. Yet, his Dao companion and junior sister, Su Wan'er, had never left his side, accompanying him throughout these years.

Su Wan'er smiled sweetly, then asked curiously: "Brother Fang, has your Congenital Dao Bone matured and formed yet? If it has, perhaps your Dantian can be repaired."

A Congenital Dao Bone was the mark of a prodigy, one in ten thousand. It was a natural gift, granting the possessor the potential to become a top-tier powerhouse on the continent. It was the supreme divine bone all cultivators dreamt of.

Fang Chen smiled faintly. This was a secret he had only shared with Su Wan'er and his master. He said: "It finished forming last night. Today is the final day of guarding Master’s tomb. Once I return and activate the Dao Bone, I will certainly be able to recast my Dantian."

"Once my Dantian is reforged, I will surely pass the Seventh Peak’s assessment and return to the Seventh Peak!"

"It has already formed?"

Upon hearing this, a joyful smile appeared on Su Wan'er’s face, but in the next instant, a flicker of viciousness flashed in her eyes. "Then I don't need to keep acting anymore," she said, her tone turning cold.

*Boom!*

The next moment, Su Wan'er struck suddenly! Her palm slammed directly into Fang Chen’s chest! Caught off guard, Fang Chen was sent flying, spitting blood mid-air before crashing hard onto the ground!

"Hahaha!"

Before the pain could even register, a roar of laughter echoed. A young man walked out from the distance, his eyes full of mockery and excitement. "Fang Chen, Wan'er has spent five full years with you. Did you really think she liked you, a piece of trash? She was just waiting for the Dao Bone in your body to mature."

Hearing this, it was as if Fang Chen had been struck by lightning. He forgot his pain, staring at Su Wan'er in disbelief. "Su Wan'er! Tell me! All of this is fake!" he roared, desperate to hear her deny it.

But Su Wan'er’s face was full of contempt and ridicule. She walked straight to the young man, took his arm, and kissed his cheek. "Trash, do you know who this is? This is Senior Brother Luoyun, a genius of the Second Peak’s inner sect! He started training at six, reached Peak Spirit Gathering at fifteen, and is now at Houtian Realm Level 6! He is leagues above a piece of trash like you."

Cultivator realms are divided into: Spirit Gathering, Houtian, Congenital, Zhouyuan, Asking Dao, Spirit Sea, and Enlightening Divinity. Being at Peak Spirit Gathering at fifteen was indeed impressive.

"If not for the Dao Bone in your body, why would I have wasted my time on you?" she sneered.

Luoyun burst into loud laughter: "Fang Chen, do you know? Ever since you became a waste, Wan'er has been my woman, and she gave me her first time. For these five years, I’ve laughed every time I saw you acting like a lapdog for a woman I’ve had countless times. Especially just now, I was overjoyed. You really are just like the rumors say—not just a waste, but a complete fool!"

"Why! I loved you so much! Why treat me like this!" Fang Chen roared, charging toward them! But as a cripple, how could he be their match?

Before he could get close, Luoyun stepped on him! Luoyun pulled a dagger from his back, its blade flashing with cold light. He directly severed the tendons in all four of Fang Chen’s limbs!

*Ah!*

Fang Chen’s agonizing scream echoed across the entire hill.

"Alright, it’s time to take the bone. Your screams will be very pleasant in a moment." Luoyun grinned viciously! The dagger descended, peeling away Fang Chen’s flesh layer by layer!

*Ah!*

The excruciating pain flooded Fang Chen’s entire body! His wails were filled with despair, rage, and hatred. Finally, the unbearable pain dragged him into darkness.

But no one noticed that a golden light shot out from Tian Yangzi’s tomb in the distance, flickering once before entering Fang Chen’s body! Neither Su Wan'er nor Luoyun noticed it at all.

"Wan'er! I treated you as my dearest, yet you treat me like this!"

Fang Chen let out a roar and sat bolt upright! He found himself in a pool of blood, while Luoyun and Su Wan'er were long gone.

"My wounds... they’ve healed?"

Fang Chen stared in astonishment at his blood-stained hands. The tendons Luoyun had severed were fully restored, and though his back still ached slightly, it was as if he were back to normal. If not for the blood on the ground and the empty void where his Dao Bone used to be, he would have thought it was all a dream.

"What is going on?" He stood up, bewildered. But no matter how he looked, he couldn't figure it out.

Just then, two figures appeared in the distance. Fang Chen became alert, putting aside the mystery of his recovery. As the figures drew closer, Fang Chen finally recognized them. One was an old man, the other a young woman.

The girl was beautiful and cold, her eyes like pools of black jade, her skin as fine and white as ivory. The old man had an ethereal air; though thin, he exuded an unfathomable aura.

When they reached Fang Chen, the old man spoke first: "Are you Fang Chen?"

Fang Chen was confused but replied, "I am Fang Chen."

Seeing Fang Chen acknowledge his identity, the old man looked at the girl and stepped back.

The girl spoke, her voice melodious yet icy: "My name is Lin Xueyan. Ten years ago, the Seventh Peak Master made a marriage contract with my grandfather. Today, I am here to annul it."

"Annul the engagement? Ten years ago?" Fang Chen paused, searching his memory. When he was a child, he had displayed astonishing talent, and Lin Xueyan’s grandfather had taken notice, arranging the match with Tian Yangzi. Tian Yangzi had initially refused, but given the old man's sincerity and promise that the engagement would stand no matter what, he had agreed.

It seemed they had no intention of keeping that promise now. Fang Chen was only six then, and he had only heard his master mention it in passing, never taking it to heart. He hadn't expected the person in question to show up today.

Seeing Fang Chen silent, Lin Xueyan assumed he was unwilling, so her tone grew even colder: "I am the current Saintess of the First Peak. The difference between us is like heaven and earth; this is no longer suitable. Hand over the marriage certificate."

Saintess of the First Peak?

Fang Chen was shocked! The First Peak and the Seventh were both part of the Tianyu Divine Sect, but the First Peak had always been the head of the seven. The title of Saintess was reserved only for the direct disciples of the sect leader. In other words, the girl before him was not only a proud daughter of the First Peak, but also the sect leader's own disciple—her future was limitless!

However, after his initial surprise, he remained calm. None of this mattered to him anymore.

"Follow me," he said, rising and walking into the wooden hut. Lin Xueyan followed, her brow furrowing slightly at the dilapidated state of the hut, though she said nothing. She was here only to end the engagement and resolve the karma. She had no interest in anything else.

At the same time, she felt anxious. This marriage certificate was a golden ticket for Fang Chen; what if he refused to cancel it?

Moments later, Fang Chen returned holding a primitive wooden box. "The marriage certificate you want should be in here."

Lin Xueyan’s eyes brightened, but she knew Fang Chen wouldn't give it up easily. "As long as you give it to me, I can give you a Grade 2 Spirit Origin Pill..."

Fang Chen frowned. He shoved the marriage certificate from the box toward her without ceremony and said coldly, "Take it. I don't need anything of yours."

Lin Xueyan was stunned. She hadn't expected him to relinquish the certificate so easily. Her previous calculations were rendered useless, leaving her feeling as if she had punched a cloud.

"Anything else? If not, please leave." Fang Chen only wanted to finish his final day of guarding his master’s tomb and had no desire to converse with Lin Xueyan.

"You... take care of yourself." Lin Xueyan frowned slightly, looked at Fang Chen deeply, then drifted away with the old man.

Fang Chen remained calm, though his heart was in agony. It wasn't because of Lin Xueyan, but because of Su Wan'er’s betrayal.

"Forget it. Today is the final day of my five-year vigil. After today, I will think of everything else." His expression was dim and filled with grief.

But the next moment, he felt a surge of heat in his chest! A golden light appeared before him!

Chapter 2: Ancient Sword Demon, Supreme Among Demons

The golden light faded slightly, revealing the object beneath: a small pagoda. It was made of bronze, covered in rust, and consisted of nine tiers. It had a strange, peculiar design and was filled with the scent of ancient times.

"What is this?" Fang Chen stared at the pagoda, puzzled. Before he could react, the space around him twisted, and he felt a wave of dizziness. When he came to, he found himself inside the pagoda.

It was no different from a standard circular Dao tower, with little inside except for a sealed stone staircase and, in the center, a table with a box.

Before Fang Chen could react, a voice echoed in his head, and moments later, he understood what this place was.

"So this is the opportunity Master left for me." He gazed at the box on the table, muttering to himself.

The voice was his master’s message. This pagoda was a treasure of heaven and earth, and it was precisely because of this treasure that his master had been so grievously wounded. He had been told to guard the tomb to nurture the pagoda with his own essence, and to cripple his Dantian because a shattered one was required as a medium. To grant Fang Chen this opportunity, Tian Yangzi had gone to such great lengths.

"Rest assured, Master! I will strive with all my might! I will not waste your efforts!" He said this firmly and approached the table. "According to Master, this pagoda has ninety-nine tiers, each containing a fortune. I wonder what the fortune of the first tier is."

As he spoke, he opened the box. Floating inside was a single drop of black blood. The moment it opened, a wave of demonic energy surged out, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sword intent!

"Demonic energy? Sword intent?"

The next moment, the drop of blood seemed to see a delicious meal! It lunged at Fang Chen, entering through his forehead!

Fang Chen felt as if his head had been hacked with a blade—from his skin to his bones, down to his very brain! The excruciating pain sent him tumbling off the high platform, writhing on the floor and roaring!

The blood seemed to want to devour his body, the tearing pain making him nearly break down! He screamed madly, rolling on the ground; the blood within him boiled as if countless ants were devouring his flesh! This pain was ten times worse than the stripping of his Dao Bone! He wanted nothing more than to die to end it.

But he felt that if he fainted, he might never wake up again. He could only clench his teeth, ball his fists, and kneel on the ground, resisting with every ounce of his will!

He thought of his master’s words, Su Wan'er’s betrayal, and Luoyun’s humiliation!

*I cannot die here! I have so much left to do! My revenge is not yet taken!*

In this way, Fang Chen held on for a full half-hour based on sheer willpower alone. His fingernails were embedded deep into his palms, blood flowed from his mouth, and his eyes were terrifyingly scarlet.

But the moment the pain vanished, Fang Chen’s body seemed to shed its old shell! Ancient patterns appeared on his arms. In that instant, he felt an endless supply of power!

"My Dantian has recovered?"

To Fang Chen’s shock, his shattered Dantian had not only healed but was several times larger than before, about the size of a basketball.

"I have my Dantian back! I can cultivate! Wait! I’ve reached the Spirit Gathering Realm! Spirit Gathering Level 4!"

"And! My Dao Bone seems to have returned! Wait? Why is my Dao Bone pitch black? And why is there demonic energy?"

While Fang Chen was stunned, the drop of demonic blood appeared in his Dantian, now a quarter smaller than before. It flickered like a flame, sending faint wisps of demonic energy through his meridians.

As the energy reached his sea of consciousness, memories associated with the demonic blood flooded in.

"Ancient Sword Demon, the most powerful race of the ancient era. One sword strike opens the heavens and splits the earth! One sword strike wipes out ten thousand spirits!"

Fang Chen was shocked. That was the most powerful race of the ancient era! And the blood he had just absorbed was a remnant drop from that race? And he had only absorbed one-quarter of it?

"My Dao Bone has been reborn through the demonic blood and transformed into the Ancient Sword Demon’s Dao Demon Bone!"

"With this bone, I will understand anything related to the Demon Dao several times faster than others! I can even channel the energy from the Sword Demon's blood into the Dao Demon Bone to make it stronger and awaken more talents!"

He closed his eyes. In the next moment, he had an epiphany! A white character—"Sword"—the size of a fist appeared before him.

Looking at this character, Fang Chen was filled with disbelief.

"A Dao Pattern! I’ve actually comprehended a Dao Pattern just like that?"

"This Dao Demon Bone is truly heaven-defying! It’s far stronger than my previous Dao Bone!"

To go further on the path of cultivation, one must comprehend a Dao Pattern. To reach the Asking Dao Realm, one must possess one. The Dao Pattern represents not only the Asking Dao Realm but also individual combat power. In a clash, the one with a Dao Pattern wins nine times out of ten. Yet, they are difficult to comprehend; most cultivators never grasp one in their entire lives, stopping at the Zhouyuan Realm.

Most importantly, those who manage to comprehend a Dao Pattern usually do so only upon reaching the Zhouyuan Realm. Those who can do so at the Spirit Gathering Realm are few and far between—they are the supreme geniuses of the Qitian Continent!

And he had comprehended the "Sword" Dao Pattern by absorbing only a quarter of the Sword Demon’s blood. How could he not be excited?

"This must be the fortune Master wanted to gift me! Master truly did not lie to me!"

"Dantian! Dao Pattern! Body! Dao Demon Bone! Although I am only at Spirit Gathering Level 4, I already have the combat power to fight someone at Spirit Gathering Level 9!"

A basketball-sized Dantian is something only a Houtian realm cultivator should have after reopening their Dantian. It proved he possessed the vast spiritual energy of an early Houtian realm cultivator while still at the Spirit Gathering Realm! Combined with the body transformed by the Sword Demon’s blood and the talent of the Dao Demon Bone, fighting a Spirit Gathering Level 9 was indeed no problem!

Tears slid down Fang Chen’s face. No one knew how he had survived these past five years. Once a child prodigy, a disciple of the peak master, the focus of everyone’s attention—he had lost his master, become a useless cripple, suffered humiliation, mockery, and betrayal.

After a long while, he gradually calmed down.

"Master! Your disciple understands your painstaking efforts! I will not let you down! I will carve out my own path in this world of cultivation!"

"Su Wan'er! Luoyun! Just wait! Fang Chen is back!"

He spoke the last few words through gritted teeth. He looked toward the stone staircase leading to the second tier. According to his master, it would open once he reached a certain realm.

Fang Chen decided not to linger and, with a thought, left the Little Pagoda. After a wave of dizziness, he returned to his hut.

Upon returning, he checked his Dantian. The golden pagoda was floating within, emitting a faint light. Besides it, there was the remaining three-quarters of the Sword Demon’s blood, which he was too weak to absorb yet. He would have to wait until his cultivation improved or he found a source of pure Yin energy to balance the Yang within the demon blood.

Fang Chen smiled faintly and returned to his master’s tomb, kneeling and kowtowing three times.

"Master, the five years are up. I am leaving the mountain, but I will return to visit you one day."

"Mistress knows I am leaving, so she must have prepared a meal for me. Do not worry, Master; Mistress has treated me like her own son, and I will treat her like my own mother. I will take good care of her and ensure she lives in happiness."

He kowtowed three more times. After his master died, his mistress had moved from the Seventh Peak to settle in Yu City at the foot of the mountain. It was curious; his master was a peerless genius, a peak master over ten thousand people, yet his mistress was a mortal without any cultivation. Fang Chen had asked his master once, but his master had only smiled without explaining. Still, Fang Chen could tell his master loved her deeply.

As a child, Fang Chen and Su Wan'er had been raised by her, as his master was often preoccupied with cultivation. She had been incredibly doting, giving Fang Chen a carefree and bright childhood.

Thinking of seeing her again brought a smile to Fang Chen’s face.

But at that moment, the jade talisman he kept at his waist trembled violently. Fang Chen was startled, picking it up. A moment later, the talisman shattered, and his expression changed.