Devouring Soul Emperor

"The Blood Sect ruins? What are those?" Chu Qingyun asked.

"You don’t know?"

The girl was clearly surprised. "Don’t tell me you’re not a disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect? Are you from the Land of Hundred Dynasties, here for the sect entrance examinations?"

Chu Qingyun nodded.

For the past three months, he had focused solely on his journey, his only thought to reach Celestial Martial City as quickly as possible. He really hadn’t paid attention to anything else.

"I see. Well then, I’ll be generous and tell you all about it..."

The girl thought for a moment, then smiled and told Chu Qingyun everything she knew about the Blood Sect ruins.

It turned out that over half a month ago, someone had discovered the ruins of the Blood Sect just outside Blood Abyss City. The sect had been destroyed and had vanished more than two thousand years ago.

The Blood Sect had once been one of the sects in the Northern Domain. While it couldn’t compare to the Three Major Sects, it was still a very powerful force in the region.

Later, for some unknown reason, the Blood Sect came under attack by many other sects. Its defenses were breached, and many of its members were killed.

It was said that some of the Blood Sect’s Elders and disciples managed to escape to the Blood-soaked Land, taking with them some of the sect’s Secret Technique Secret Manuals and other Treasure. They went into hiding and eventually faded into obscurity.

Now, after more than two thousand years, the Blood Sect’s ruins had been rediscovered.

Moreover, the timing of the discovery was perfect—right when the sects of the Northern Domain were holding their recruitment examinations and had issued the Forbidden King Order.

Now, many Martial Spirit Realm experts from the Blood-soaked Land, along with travelers on their way to the sect examinations, had all heard the news and flocked to Blood Abyss City.

This was why the girl had initially guessed he was heading there for the Blood Sect ruins.

"Talk about a coincidence, right? They weren’t found earlier, they weren’t found later, but right after the Forbidden King Order was issued. King-level experts can’t even make a move. This is practically a gift-wrapped opportunity for us."

The girl said to Chu Qingyun, her tone tempting.

’A coincidence...?’

Chu Qingyun just smiled and said nothing.

He, however, didn’t believe it was a mere coincidence. He recalled the Martial Soul Hall’s previous actions, not to mention the fact that their members had appeared at the edge of the Blood-soaked Land.

’Knowing the Martial Soul Hall’s usual methods,’ he thought, ’it’s entirely possible these so-called Blood Sect ruins are just another one of their schemes.’

"Hey, aren’t you tempted at all? The Blood Sect was a major sect back in the day, you know! They produced super-experts at the Martial Sect level. Even if those Elders only managed to escape with a fraction of the sect’s treasures, there are bound to be some incredible Secret Technique Secret Manuals. Maybe even King-Level or Emperor-Level ones."

"Seeing as you’re pretty strong, I’ll generously allow you to team up with me. How about it? You can imagine what Blood Abyss City is like right now. Without a Celestial Spirit Realm expert covering you, you won’t last long, let alone enter the ruins to fight for Treasure."

The girl was finally showing her true colors.

So that was it. She had explained so much to Chu Qingyun because she saw how strong he was and wanted to recruit him for the expedition to the Blood Sect ruins.

Although the girl was powerful, having reached the Celestial Spirit Realm, her party only consisted of two people. In terms of sheer numbers, they were at a disadvantage.

And Chu Qingyun was clearly an excellent potential ally. If nothing else, his ability to use Sword Qi and the Thrusting Sword Technique alone was enough for him to dominate the Earth Spirit Realm.

’King-Level... Emperor-Level, Secret Techniques, Secret Manuals...’

He had to admit, Chu Qingyun was a little tempted.

He had already mastered the Mysterious Sky Divine Pattern Secret Technique, so he needed an even more powerful one. As for Secret Manuals, while the Thunder Sword Manual was a King-Level Secret Manual, its final, most crucial Chapter consisted of just a single, utterly baffling paragraph.

Seeing Chu Qingyun’s interest was piqued, the girl continued, "It’s not far from Blood Abyss City to Celestial Martial City. If you travel at top speed, it’ll only take a month and a half. But if you miss out on these Blood Sect ruins, you’ll never get another chance."

"From what I know, the Blood Sect once had a Secret Technique called the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form that was renowned throughout the Northern Domain. It disappeared when the sect was destroyed, so it’s very likely hidden within those ruins."

"Besides that, the Blood Sect had many formidable Swordsmanship Secret Manuals, like the Blood Sword Secret Manual and the Blood-Dripping Swordsmanship..."

In the end, the girl persuaded Chu Qingyun. He agreed to go with her and check out the Blood Sect ruins.

Even if these so-called ruins were a setup by the Martial Soul Hall, the treasures inside were probably real. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to fool so many people.

Chu Qingyun guessed that the Martial Soul Hall had likely discovered the ruins long ago, kept them hidden, and simply chose this moment to reveal them.

The three of them took two days to reach Blood Abyss City.

Along the way, they got to know each other a little better.

The girl’s name was Mu Xiaoxiao. She was a year older than Chu Qingyun. At only eighteen, she had already cultivated to the Celestial Spirit Realm. In terms of Swordsmanship, she had reached the Realm of Qi. Her talent was undeniably immense.

As for Dai, his name was simply Dai.

Although Dai was a bit slow-witted, it was said he had once chanced upon a King-Level Hammer Technique Secret Manual. He couldn’t make heads or tails of the earlier Hammer Techniques, whether they were at the Realm of Momentum or the Realm of Qi.

But when he reached the final Chapter describing the Realm of Intent, he suddenly had a moment of divine inspiration. Using his fist as a hammer, he mastered the first form, Lifting Heavy as Light, on the spot.

That was why Mu Xiaoxiao had taken him under her wing.

Chu Qingyun also learned that on the path of Swordsmanship, the Realm after Sword Qi was Sword Intent. The Sea of Thunder and Lightning he had unintentionally unleashed that day was, in fact, the so-called Thunder Sword Intent.

From Mu Xiaoxiao, Chu Qingyun also learned that a truly complete King-Level Swordsmanship would have a Sword Intent Chapter containing both Sword Techniques and Heart Methods. By mastering the Sword Techniques within, one could cultivate Sword Intent step-by-step.

"Cultivating Sword Intent is just too hard. I achieved Sword Qi over a year ago, but I haven’t even gotten a feel for the threshold of Sword Intent. My Secret Manual’s Sword Intent Chapter has four Sword Forms, but I haven’t even mastered the first one."

"I’m so jealous of Dai. He just skipped all the basic stuff and directly mastered the first form, Lifting Heavy as Light. He’s already started practicing the second form..."

As she spoke of Sword Intent, Mu Xiaoxiao glanced at Dai with a hint of envy.

Chu Qingyun was even more exasperated. "You two have it easy. At least you have a Sword Skill Heart Method to follow. The last Chapter of my Swordsmanship had its Sword Skill Heart Method completely erased, leaving behind just a single, bizarre passage."

"To this day, I’ve only managed to produce a Sword Intent Attack once."

Hearing this, Mu Xiaoxiao was stunned. "You... you’ve actually launched a real Sword Intent Attack? You really channeled the Thunder Power of the heavens and earth?"

Chu Qingyun thought for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose so."

He had indeed unleashed a Sea of Thunder and Lightning, and he was certain it wasn’t just thunder created from Primordial Power using a technique like Thunder Sword Momentum.

"You’re a monster! To actually launch a Sword Intent Attack... that’s something you can only do after completely grasping Thunder Intent."

’He grasped Thunder Intent in a single step, without even a Sword Skill Heart Method... Could it be my father wasn’t lying? That when cultivating Sword Intent, you really can’t get bogged down by the forms and techniques?’

Mu Xiaoxiao muttered to herself.

Since both of them were sword users who cultivated King-Level Swordsmanship and had reached the Realm of Sword Qi, they gained a great deal from their exchanges over the past two days. Their relationship also became much more amicable than when they first met.

Chu Qingyun also discovered that while Mu Xiaoxiao had a bit of a pampered "young miss" attitude, she was actually a good person at heart.

However, Mu Xiaoxiao remained completely unwilling to reveal anything about her and Dai’s origins.

Two days later, the three of them arrived together at Blood Abyss City.