MTLNOVEL Chapter 32: You Are a Demon!
Chapter 32: You Are a Demon!
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these seven days, there were no strange dreams, no disturbances from others, and no miraculous recovery of his sight. Everything was as calm as it had been in the past.
But You Su never let his guard down. During the day, he practiced tirelessly, mastering sword techniques and over a dozen spells from the General Compendium. Unfortunately, only a few of them were truly useful in combat.
At night, he continued to help his junior sister sense the flow of her energy. The first two days were a bit awkward, but by the third day they had grown accustomed to it.
On the night they practiced the third form, some positions were too close to sensitive areas, so You Su exercised extreme restraint to avoid embarrassing his junior sister. However, Ji Lingruo grabbed his hand and pulled it closer, murmuring:
“If this is a serious matter, why hesitate? If you don’t act confidently, it will make this training seem impure.”
Hearing this, You Su understood Ji Lingruo’s determination and no longer held back. Fortunately, the training was effective, and Ji Lingruo’s sword forms began to show a faint aura.
The girl was delighted by her progress and started coming earlier and leaving later each night. At the end of each session, she would cling to him saying, “More, more,” and You Su could only wearily usher her out while holding his aching back.
Through this rigorous training, You Su’s control over his energy also improved significantly. For example, he could now light flames on all ten fingers simultaneously. Just as he was excited about this achievement, he turned the page of the General Compendium and found a technique called “Flaming Palm”.
These were the visible results of his efforts. Behind the scenes, You Su had also been working hard.
He searched through the demonic texts, but found little useful information.
The Demon Suppressing Sect specialized in controlling and raising demons. The texts briefly mentioned a secret sect that studied how to attach and detach demons from the body to gain power, but due to its extreme cruelty, it had been eradicated by the Divine Mountain centuries ago.
The most useful piece of information in the book was a formation that could hide demonic energy. You Su secretly set up this formation around the sect’s residence. Although crude, when he infused it with his energy, it effectively masked any fluctuations in temperature.
You Su also continued to study the Evil Repelling Token, but aside from the information it had conveyed one night, it remained an ordinary jade pendant with green and black hues in his hands. He tried to find other members of the Exorcism Bureau in the city, but to no avail.
The Divine Mountain seemed to be his only hope.
Just as You Su was racking his brains trying to figure out how to take his junior sister and master’s wife to the Eternal Height Divine Mountain, a turning point arrived.
A real visitor from Divine Mountain had come to this remote town.
At the break of dawn.
The first rays of sunlight spread across the land, casting a golden blanket over the uneven rooftops of the city. Through the faint mist in the air, the streets and alleys of Chuyun City were eerily empty.
Even the usually bustling Breakfast Street was devoid of people, with only empty stalls in sight.
You Su wondered if his junior sister would believe him if he told her that the oil pastry shop was indeed closed today.
Shaking his head, You Su walked through the streets, feeling as if the city had become a ghost town.
Who was the esteemed guest the city lord was receiving? Why had City Lord Liu ordered all citizens to stay off the streets until noon and invited every cultivator above the Spirit Platform Realm in Chuyun City to join the reception? It couldn’t be just for show-otherwise, why not have the entire city attend? You Su hoped that the reason had nothing to do with him, lest it add more trouble to his already difficult life.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the ancient and elegant city lord’s mansion.
You Su heightened his senses and noticed dozens of people standing at the mansion’s entrance in an orderly fashion.
City Lord Liu stood at the front, followed by seven highly respected elders, including Blacksmith Wang. Behind them were the younger and middle-aged generations.
You Su, dressed in plain white robes, quietly blended into the end of the line, standing as straight as a pine tree. He thought he had gone unnoticed, but some observant individuals had already spotted him.
“Is that You Su from the Mandarin Duck Sword Sect?”
“Why call it by such a fancy name? It’s just a broken sect. Are you thinking of switching sides?”
“My master would skin me alive if I did. Hey, I heard that the sect leader of that sword sect has been gone for almost ten years, and the sect only has three people left. Is that true?”
“One blind senior brother who’s all show, a junior sister who came out of nowhere, and a master’s wife who never leaves the house. What do you think?”
“How does a sect like that deserve to welcome such an esteemed guest?”
“How should I know? It’s like a bat tying chicken feathers to itself – it doesn’t know what kind of bird it is”.
The comment drew a chuckle from those nearby. Although the two men spoke quietly, everyone present was a cultivator with sharp senses, so their words were easily overheard.
You Su ignored them, mocking himself inwardly because most of their comments were true and hard to refute.
These kinds of rumors and mockery had been constant ever since his arrogant and domineering master went on his journey. You Su had grown accustomed to them for a long time.
“Hui Ren, Hui Yuan, the esteemed guest is about to arrive. Stop making noise,” a young man turned around and scolded the two who had been whispering.
This young man was none other than Wu Cheng. Judging by his position, he seemed to be the leader of the younger generation.
Today, he was meticulously dressed in luxurious yet understated robes that complemented his handsome features. Many young female cultivators were secretly glancing at him, their eyes filled with admiration and desire.
“Yes, Senior Brother Wu,” the two men respectfully replied, not daring to act out in front of Wu Cheng.
Wu Cheng remained expressionless and turned back to look at the distant sky, waiting for the esteemed guest.
“Senior sister, Senior Brother Wu from the Guardian Firmament Sect is so handsome!”
“Indeed, Senior Brother Wu is destined for the Divine Mountain.”
“But if we’re just talking about looks, that You Su seems even more handsome.”
“Huh? You’re right…”
“Junior sisters, please remain silent,” Wu Cheng turned around and smiled gently, reminding them.
The two female cultivators immediately blushed and lowered their heads, their hearts racing.
At that moment, City Lord Liu suddenly announced:
“He’s here!”
Everyone except You Su turned their attention to the direction where the old man was looking.
The bright sky suddenly darkened, and an indescribable pressure grew stronger. When the pressure reached its peak, a cloud of turbid smoke appeared out of nowhere in the open space before the crowd. As the smoke dissipated, a tall and erect middle-aged man gradually came into view.
“So fast!” Everyone thought the same.
The middle-aged man had a cold and stern expression and was dressed in dark robes. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, exuding an intimidating aura without saying a word.
This man was the esteemed guest the cultivators of Chuyun City had been eagerly awaiting – Gu, one of the outer sect deacons of the Mystic Firmament Sect.
On this vast, mysterious, and dangerous continent, the survival of mankind depended largely on the protection of the Five Divine Mountains. The Mystic Firmament Sect was the foremost sect of the Eternal Height Divine Mountain, and held immense influence among the immortal sects of the Central Realm Continent and beyond. In this world where the immortal and mortal realms intertwined, the Mystic Firmament Sect played a crucial role in governing the mortal world.
Thus, despite his seemingly humble title, even an outer sect deacon held an extraordinary status in the eyes of Chuyun City’s cultivators, not to mention his unfathomable cultivation level.
Even City Lord Liu was merely a former disciple of the Mystic Firmament Sect who had been sent to govern this remote city due to his limited talent and unwillingness to leave the sect.
“Senior Brother Gu, it’s been many years.”
City Lord Liu, with his white beard and eyebrows, smiled and initiated the greeting, his tone filled with a sense of the passage of time. However, when he looked at Gu’s face, which bore few signs of aging, a hint of envy flashed in his eyes.
Gu did not respond to the city lord’s greeting. Instead, he looked at the crowd before him and said in a voice as cold as his demeanor:
“Are these all the Spirit Platform Realm cultivators in Chuyun City?”
The city lord was somewhat embarrassed. After a pause, he hunched over and replied:
“Senior Brother Gu, aside from these, there are nine others who are in seclusion and about to complete their Spirit Platforms.”
“You’ve done well in governing, Junior Brother Liu,” Gu said, his stiff smile looking almost painful.
City Lord Liu’s aged face grew even more awkward, and he quickly changed the subject:
“Senior Brother Gu, you flatter me. This is my duty. You must be tired from your journey. I’ve prepared a feast of spiritual wine and delicacies to welcome you. Why don’t we…”
“No need. Cultivators don’t bother with mortal customs. Just prepare a place for me to rest.”
City Lord Liu sensed the veiled criticism in Gu’s words, and his expression darkened further. Reluctantly, he agreed:
“Senior Brother Gu is right. You truly embody the demeanor of an immortal.”
“I am Gu, an outer sect deacon of the Mystic Firmament Sect. There’s no need for you to be curious or afraid of my arrival,” Gu announced to the crowd. “I have come to Chuyun City for three reasons!”
“First, to evaluate suitable sects to become affiliated with the Mystic Firmament Sect!”
“Second, to select talented disciples to study at the Mystic Firmament Sect!”
As soon as Gu finished speaking, the crowd erupted in cheers, their hearts burning with excitement.
They were amazed at the high status of the esteemed guest, and thrilled at the possibility of changing their destiny.
Becoming an affiliated sect of the Mystic Firmament Sect was already a great honor, not to mention the vast resources the sect could provide.
For the young cultivators of this remote city, the chance to study at the Mystic Firmament Sect was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even as unofficial disciples, the knowledge they could gain was invaluable. Outstanding performers might even have a chance to become official disciples of the sect.
You Su clenched his fists as he listened.
“I will stay in Chuyun City for no more than seven days. I hope you won’t disappoint me,” Gu’s voice suddenly became solemn. He continued, “The third and most important purpose! Everyone, line up and come before me one by one!”
With that, Gu stood with his hands behind his back, like an unyielding iron ruler planted between heaven and earth.
The young cultivators exchanged puzzled glances. City Lord Liu lightly coughed and gave the elders beside him a meaningful look. The elders immediately lined up behind the city lord, and the others followed suit. As expected, You Su ended up at the very end of the line.
“Come forward.”
City Lord Liu slowly walked up to Gu and noticed that Gu’s eyes were now glowing with a dazzling golden light, like two suns that could illuminate all the ugliness and evil in the world.
City Lord Liu naturally knew that this was the Mystic Firmament Sect’s advanced secret technique-the Golden Eyes of Dispelling Evil. It was far more profound than the technique he had used on You Su that day.
Its main function was to detect demons. Unlike conventional methods that relied on sensing demonic energy, this technique worked by constantly provoking the evil thoughts of the person being observed, causing any demons within them to resonate and reveal themselves.
This technique was said to be foolproof, but the requirements for mastering it were extremely high. Even within the Mystic Firmament Sect, only a few could learn it.
Despite having seen this technique before, City Lord Liu couldn’t help but lower his gaze, not daring to meet Gu’s golden eyes. Under their radiance, he felt as if all his past misdeeds and shameful thoughts were being exposed. He was no longer the city lord of Chuyun City, but a naked sinner exposed to the sun.
“Junior Brother, your cultivation path has not been easy. Your self-control is commendable,” Gu’s praise seemed genuine this time.
“Senior brother, you flatter me. A cultivator must know what to do and what not to do. This is our duty,” City Lord Liu replied gracefully.
Gu nodded slightly, and City Lord Liu stepped aside. The next person was an elderly man with an immortal aura, dressed in flowing robes. He was the sect leader of the Guardian Firmament Sect and Wu Cheng’s master, Qi Daodong.
“I have long admired Deacon Gu’s reputation. I am Qi Daodong, the sect leader of the Guardian Firmament Sect. I’ve always held the Mystic Firmament Sect in high regard…”
“Step forward silently and look into my eyes.”
Qi Daodong was the second most powerful figure in the area after City Lord Liu, and he had never been treated so dismissively. Being cut off mid-sentence, his proud expression dimmed slightly.
“My apologies.”
Despite his advanced age, Qi Daodong was still vigorous compared to the city lord. However, even he couldn’t resist the surge of evil thoughts provoked by the golden eyes. Fortunately, his cultivator’s discipline allowed him to maintain his composure.
“Next.”
With Qi Daodong’s experience as a warning, no one dared to speak unnecessarily, and the process proceeded quickly.
Notably, when it was Wu Cheng’s turn, Gu finally showed a hint of interest and spoke more than just a few words:
“Not bad talent. A piece of uncut jade.”
For the Mystic Firmament Sect, which was home to countless prodigies and geniuses, such praise from Deacon Gu was already a high recognition.
Wu Cheng didn’t appear to be overly flattered, and his composed demeanor earned him even more respect from the crowd. Qi Daodong’s previously gloomy expression also softened slightly.
As the process neared its end, You Su silently stepped forward.
You Su stood tall and straight, his sharp features seemingly glowing under the clear sky.
Gu, who had seen countless people, was struck by the unique aura that this young man exuded. He stood quietly before you, yet he felt distant, as if he existed in a different world.
Intrigued, Gu found himself wanting to peel back the layers of this young man’s facade. He wanted to see how long this feeling of detachment would last.
But what shocked him even more was that even under the full force of his golden eyes, You Su remained as steady as a pine tree. His clear eyes met Gu’s gaze without flinching.
Gu was incredulous. Even City Lord Liu, who was half a step into the Feather Transformation Realm, had to avert his gaze. Yet this young man at the lower Spirit Platform Realm was like a slender willow or a calm lake, effortlessly dissolving the sharpness and harshness of the golden eyes.
Suddenly, Gu was struck by a terrifying thought. His entire demeanor changed, and the atmosphere became tense, as if the air itself had become viscous.
The surrounding cultivators were confused, their tension rising as the sense of danger increased.
“Has You Su offended the esteemed guest in some way?”
You Su’s voice was clear and calm, filled with genuine confusion as he sensed the hostility from Gu.
Gu’s golden eyes blazed as he stared intently at the frowning young man before him, as if trying to see through him.
The scene fell into an eerie silence, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the crowd.
Then, Gu uttered four words that hit like a thunderclap, instantly changing everyone’s expression:
“You are a demon!”