Chapter 121: Altar of the Devil
And in fact, this title did not have practical power. According to Lian Lin, she refused this title because she had animosity towards the Empress, and in her position at that time, it was inconvenient to agree.
"Hm, so that's what you're planning. You want to use his reputation to unite the righteous cultivators?" Xu Mei raised an eyebrow and smiled: "And you're still so pushy. Aren't you satisfied with the power you hold in your hands?"
"It's not about my power, Xu Mei. Stop portraying me as some greedy woman," Yu Longfeng rolled her eyes and said. She turned to Xie Qing and explained: "Your personality as a genius is very valuable to the Dynasty, I admit it. However, my intentions are pure, I just want to use your help to show the current geniuses that they cannot relax."
"So... Your Majesty wants to make them feel threatened, right?" Xie Qing asked and tilted his head thoughtfully to the side: "And I, presumably, should graciously agree to become a target for evil eyes, right?"
"Heh..."
Xu Mei smiled weakly, hearing the sarcasm in Xie Qing's voice, and proudly puffed out her chest. Although, on the one hand, the woman... shouldn't you have taught him much more useful things?
However, one way or another, Xie Qing was right. As soon as he became the so-called threat to the current geniuses, he would immediately become the target of many evil eyes.
Who would want to see a potential genius who could pose a danger to them? Honestly, few can restrain their murderous intent.
The Dynasty had been conducting such a policy for a very long time. Those geniuses who did not obey them, the then Emperor easily killed to avoid danger in the future. As a result, this led to a large-scale war.
And if Xie Qing appears? And if his talent becomes known? This will shake the whole world. Although Xie Qing's current achievements were already terrifying, they stood between the category of a super genius and a monster.
Among the monsters, of course, were the Sword Empress and the Sword Princess, who in antiquity were often the target of many evil eyes.
"I won't deny it, it will be dangerous," Empress Yu Longfeng admitted and nodded, looking at Xu Mei: "Do you remember our youth? When you just became popular, one group pursued you very passionately."
"By 'passionately' you mean ruined cities and thousands of killers?" Xu Mei rolled her eyes and said, then nodded: "Yes, I remember. I personally finished off these beasts to the last member. And what about them?"
"Well, you know, after that you started to grow much faster," Yu Longfeng noted and sat on the throne. This time the curtain was removed, so her majestic figure, towering on a high platform, looked impressive: "Forgive me for my rudeness, but your student also wouldn't hurt to gain strength. Although his development rate is fast, he won't be able to compete with new events."
"New events?" Xu Mei frowned.
Yu Longfeng raised an eyebrow, then relaxed her facial muscles and said:
"Ah, that's right... you haven't heard yet. Allow me to tell you... about the 'Evil God Ritual' that the devilish cultivators are conducting."
***
"Feng Gu, did you feel that?"
"Yes... Sister Liu Yan, I ask you to remind me, this is...
"The Evil God Ritual. I thought the altar had been destroyed."
Southern Continent, Abyss Forest.
This place presented itself with an endless forest, overgrown with dense trees. There was an incredibly poisonous and dangerous environment. Due to the evil power, monsters were irradiated with devilish qi and turned into something stronger.
And it was above this forest, in the air, that two people floated - Feng Gu and Liu Yan. Their faces were serious, and in their hands were personal weapons that accompanied them for two thousand years.
A week ago, Feng Gu felt a strange fluctuation of energy in the Abyss Forest, where the remaining forces of the devilish cultivators were sealed forever. And now, somewhere in the depths of the forest, the aura of the altar appeared.
The Altar of the Devil - a so-called powerful artifact, which, according to legends, had the power to endow a person with the bloodline of a demon and give them strength. And if the devilish cultivators try, there will be an opportunity to summon a demon.
Although the word "demon" sounds ordinary, this race represents evil souls, deprived of a physical body, which from birth have the level of cultivation of the Soul Integration.
"What a pity that we couldn't destroy them completely... if not for that restriction..." Feng Gu regretted it.
"It's too late to regret it. Anyway, we couldn't change anything," Liu Yan coldly replied, her temperament differed from the usual. She frowned and looked at the bright light in the distance: "It seems that we were very stupid, underestimating our enemy. Now we can't even cross the barrier."
"It's completely my fault... I couldn't detect anything suspicious..." gritting his teeth, Feng Gu said with shame on his face.
He clenched his hands into a fist, causing even the bones to turn white. As a man appointed to watch over the devilish cultivators, he watched them every second, but still could not keep track of their actions.
As it turned out, the devilish cultivators were able to change the structure of the barrier and make it so that it was impossible to enter from the outside world. Although the barrier remained for them too, at least they got rid of the hot spot.
Liu Yan did not comfort her comrade, but only coldly watched the situation. If the demon is successfully summoned, the world will meet its worst enemy and, most importantly, will be in danger.
"The Sword Empress... probably only she can provide worthy resistance. True, it is unknown whether she will agree..." Liu Yan bit her lower lip and fearfully looked at the altar: "This power... it will take at least five years to summon a demon. However, this time is too little for the world to get a new pillar."
Despair surfaced on her beautiful face.
"If not for this damned restriction..."
***
The capital has always been famous for its exuberant views, stunning buildings, and powerful beings living in it. Every day, the residents of the capital performed a dragon worship ritual.
The dragon, which was in the form of a golden statue, was considered the main "mascot" of the Dynasty. It had a special meaning.
"If you believe the legends, then the blood in the Empress's bloodline belongs to the golden dragons, but... it is the Silver Dragon," Xie Qing thought, passing by the statue as he was carried on a palanquin. The young man turned his gaze away and added in his mind: "And also the Master suddenly left on urgent business... it seems that the devilish cultivators are not sleeping."
The world was in some active movement. As if there was a lull, but as a spite, a powerful enemy was hiding in the darkness, sharpening his fangs and drooling.
Xie Qing was also very worried about this, as his future was in danger. A few days ago, he successfully reached the third stage of the Nascent Soul.
"After I reached the Nascent Soul, my cultivation speed decreased significantly," Xie Qing thought and frowned worriedly, looking gloomier - even gloomier than the clouds in the sky: "This won't do. If I can't figure out a way to quickly advance through the levels, I'm doomed to fail."
The enemy was at the gates - the matter was urgent. However, it should be noted that Xie Qing was too hurried, because of which there could be mistakes in cultivation.
What he can already breakthrough once a month can be considered a great talent, surpassing all others. Faster cultivation was possible only with the help of certain tricks, which would significantly complicate life in the future.
"I've been warned several times not to rush," Xie Qing recalled and sighed bitterly: "Could it be that I'm really in such a hurry? It seems that I'm starting to lose control of my emotions too quickly."
As much as Xie Qing considered himself a cold-blooded person, it was impossible to withstand such pressure from the enemy, which even Xu Mei was afraid of.
"Who would have thought that I would really be afraid of devilish cultivators," Xie Qing thought with a sigh.
He was indeed scared, as he had never met real devilish cultivators. And when it comes to REAL ones, then the enemies of Xu Mei immediately come to mind, who surpass him not only in level but also in experience.
Sometimes he had nightmares. Where he is weak and cannot protect anyone. This made him suffer, and the idea of quickly raising the level became an obsession for him.
Xie Qing turned his gaze to the sky and narrowed his eyes.
"Something is brewing."
===
Volume 1: END.
Three extra chapters will be released, and then the new season will begin.