Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Course after course of exquisite dishes were brought forth, and hearty laughter echoed from every corner. Each guest who entered bore lavish gifts and the sounds of well-wishing for Old Master Zheng's birthday celebration were ceaseless.

In the main hall of the estate, tables of banquet were laid out, and Zheng Jinan occupied the seat of honor. He had a broad back, a face that seemed formidable, and though he was over fifty years old, he still had a full head of black hair and appeared extremely vigorous.

For martial artists, especially those with significant cultivation, living past a hundred was not an uncommon feat.

However, such longevity is rare to see in the Jianghu, and not because cultivation can simply be advanced by shutting oneself away from the world. Fighting against others is an essential part of martial training. Moreover, a mere fit of anger can lead to bloodshed within five steps, and most martial artists are of a fiery and impetuous nature.

Frequent battles inevitably lead to injuries. Over time, the accumulation of internal wounds means that many martial artists, even if they reach the External Qi Realm, might be riddled with sickness. Even if these ailments do not manifest in their youth, they will certainly cause problems as they age.

This is why very few martial artists live to see their hundredth year.

Zheng Jinan sat at the head, and on this day of his grand birthday, he looked at each and every prestigious and influential figure from Li Mountain County who came to offer their congratulations. His delight was evident for all to see.

Of course, what truly thrilled him was that his long-standing hidden ailment was soon to be cured, which meant that he might have the chance to further advance his stagnant cultivation of many years and reach a new pinnacle of power.

Being in the External Qi Realm might have made him somewhat famous in the region, but Zheng Jinan was far from satisfied. Despite being in his fifties, he felt that his heart was still full of passion and his blood still hot; he had no intention of retiring quietly.

In the Jianghu, life is all about power and prestige, and no one who lives in this world is free from the desire for these two things.

Everyone has desires; who doesn't want to be renowned across the land?

Wielding power over the world when awake, and lying in the embrace of a beauty when drunk is what every jianghu martial artist yearns for.

Of course, on the surface, Zheng Jinan still had to put on an act as if he were declining with age. Today, he was planning to announce at his birthday feast that he was washing his hands clean of worldly affairs and retiring, but in secret, he intended to gradually improve his abilities using the techniques of the Evil Heart Sect.

His face seemed to wear a smile, but inwardly, he itched to rip out the hearts of everyone there to celebrate his birthday and devour them.

The taste of a human heart was truly exquisite, Zheng Jinan thought to himself, and a subtle shade of darkness flickered in his eyes.

At times, Zheng Jinan truly wondered, if these people ever found out one day that he was a member of the Evil Heart Sect, what kind of expressions would appear on their faces?

With this thought, the smile on Zheng Jinan's face grew even wider, almost to the point of distortion.

At that moment, a voice from the servant guarding the door rang out loudly, "Young Master Zheng has arrived!"

Hearing this announcement, Zheng Jinan immediately stood up. Zheng Yan was his only son and pride, having lived up to his expectations to become a core disciple of the Sunset Sword Sect, and even securing the twelfth spot on the prestigious Star Rankings, with prospects of becoming an heir to the Sect's legacy.

Seeing Zheng Jinan stand up, everyone else in the hall rose to their feet as well and looked towards the entrance.

There, the handsome and talented Zheng Yan led a group of disciples from the Sunset Sword Sect into the hall. Upon seeing his father, a smile appeared on Zheng Yan's face as well.

He bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Unfilial son Zheng Yan is here to celebrate Father's birthday."

"Hahaha, Yan'er, there's no need for such formalities, no need at all," Zheng Jinan replied with a robust laugh as he walked down from his place to where Zheng Yan stood, helping his son straighten up from his bow.

With a beaming face, Zheng Yan turned to Chen Song behind him and instructed, "Bring forth the birthday gift."

"Yes."

Chen Song took a sizable gift box from a disciple beside him and presented it, handing it over to Zheng Jinan.

"Father, this is a Longevity Pill refined by our Sunset Sword Sect's pill chamber, known for its power enhancement and life-prolonging effects."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yan's eyes lit up immediately. He hurriedly took the gift box and upon opening it, he found a pill inside that was round and the size of a longan. Waves of medicinal fragrance wafted out, refreshing the spirit and heart just by smelling it.

"A true case of 'like father, like son.' The head of the Zheng family is indeed fortunate. This Longevity Pill, I've heard that the Sunset Sword Sect can refine only one batch every ten years, with no more than thirty pills each time. Not only can it prolong life, but it can also add fifteen years of cultivation effortlessly, sparing one from many years of arduous cultivation.

It truly is a rarely seen superior-grade treasure pill."

The person speaking was named Wang Cheng, a warrior in the External Qi realm from Huaiyang City and also a friend of Zheng Jinan for many years.

Pills that could enhance one's power were extremely rare on the market and very seldom seen. Each time one appeared, it would be frantically pursued by various forces, only top-tier sects like the Sunset Sword Sect would have them, and even then, the quantity was limited each year.

Typically, such pills were only allowed within the confines of a sect and were forbidden to be shared externally, hence, only outstanding figures from the Sunset Sword Sect such as Zheng Yan had the privilege to gift them.

Of course, mainly because this person was his father, if it were someone else, the Sunset Sword Sect would not have agreed to it.

Hearing that it could increase as much as fifteen years of cultivation, Zheng Jinan's smile grew even wider as he said, "Yan'er, your father understands your sentiment, but let's forget about the pill. It's too precious—keep it for your own use. I am old now and don't have many years left, but it's different for you; your future will be much stronger than your father's."

"Indeed, Young Master Zheng, at such a young age, is already ranked twelfth on the Star Ranking, and also a core disciple of the Sunset Sword Sect. In the future, a place in the top ten of the Star Ranking is definitely waiting for you. It's even highly possible that you'll secure a position as a direct successor of the Sunset Sword Sect," Wang Cheng said beside him with compliments.

Within a large sect like the Sunset Sword Sect, the internal hierarchy was extremely strict, divided into outer sect disciples, inner sect disciples, core disciples, and finally, direct disciples.

Among them, outer sect disciples were the most numerous, while direct disciples were the fewest in number and held the highest status, with only ten in total.

Only the disciples of the Supreme Elders or the Sect Master of the Sunset Sword Sect could be called direct disciples. The future leaders of the sect, including the Sect Master, would also emerge from these ten individuals.

At this moment, Zheng Yan's primary goal was to become one of the Sunset Sword Sect's direct disciples.

Zheng Yan said, "Father, this is a token of my filial piety, please accept it. This year, the sect produced a slightly larger batch of Longevity Pills, and I received three."

What Zheng Yan left unsaid was that it was precisely because he had consumed two Longevity Pills that he had managed to open up forty-three meridians at the Channel Opening realm.

Zheng Yan was preparing, once the birthday celebration for Zheng Jinan was over, to challenge the individual ranked tenth on the Star Ranking and vie for a place among the top ten.

Of course, with so many people present and much chatter, these were things he did not need to mention now. Once the celebration was over, he would tell Zheng Jinan personally.

"Good, good, good!"

Zheng Jinan said the word 'good' three times in a row, clearly showing the joy in his heart.

With this Longevity Pill, his goal of healing his hidden injuries and reaching a higher level had just become more attainable.

"Master Liu has arrived."

At that moment, the voice of a servant came from outside the door. In Huaiyang City, the only person entitled to be called 'Master' was Liu Tong, the magistrate of the city.

Liu Tong was a middle-aged man with a goat beard, dressed in official robes, followed by a group of constables as he walked in.

"Head of the Zheng family, congratulations on your joyful occasion," Liu Tong said with a big laugh.

"Hahaha, Master Liu, your presence is what truly adds to the joy and brings brilliance to my residence," replied Zheng Jinan with a beaming smile. Looking at all the guests in his hall, each was a person of influence in the martial world of Li Mountain County. And now, with the magistrate of Huaiyang City present in person, his sense of vanity was greatly satisfied.