Wandering Swordsman |

Seeing that Shen Mo was unwilling to say more, Yue Linglong did not press him further. Instead, she turned to Xie Xin and said with pride, "Never mind if you don't want to talk about it. But Junior Sister Xie Xin has made rapid progress under my guidance and is already half as strong as me." Her words revealed her recognition and satisfaction with Xie Xin's progress.

Upon hearing Yue Linglong's words, Xie Xin blushed slightly and said modestly, "It's all thanks to Senior Sister's excellent guidance. If it weren't for Senior Sister's patient instruction, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."

The Moon Demon Lord watched all this quietly from the side, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips. "Both of you have made great progress," she said slowly, "especially Xie Xin, it's truly remarkable that you've made such significant progress in such a short time."

Shen Mo looked at Xie Xin, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up inside him. He remembered the scene when Xie Xin asked him to take her away from Qilin Village. At that time, she didn't know any martial arts, but now, in just two months, she had become a martial arts master.

......

Three days later, as the first rays of dawn fell upon Tianjian Ridge, it marked the centenary of the Heavenly Demon God's westward journey. On this day, the sect assembly was solemnly convened in the Heavenly Demon Palace within Tianjian Ridge. The entire Heavenly Demon Palace was teeming with people, with the three Demon Lords, the twelve Venerables (actually eleven due to the passing of one), and their subordinate forces all present. The grandeur of the scene was breathtaking.

The three Demon Lords sat on three high platforms at the very front of the hall, arranged in a triangle with a certain distance between them, symbolizing the cooperative yet competitive relationship between them. The Flame Demon Lord sat in the very center, his seat carved from crimson rock, radiating a fiery aura that seemed to demonstrate his control over fire. The Moon Demon Lord sat to the left, her seat crafted from cold white jade, exuding a serene and mysterious aura, as elusive as she herself. The Blood Demon Lord sat to the right, his seat cast from deep purple metal, appearing both noble and somewhat sinister.

Eleven Venerable Ones were seated on two rows of benches below the three Demon Lords, forming a semi-circle around them to ensure that each Venerable One could clearly see and hear the three Demon Lords' speeches. Juechenzi, as one of them, sat on the side closest to the Moon Demon Lord, his gaze sometimes fixed ahead, sometimes sweeping across the surrounding crowd, showing his keen attention to the current situation.

Shen Mo was among the disciples under the Moon Demon Lord, gathered directly below the platform where the Moon Demon Lord stood. This was one of the core areas of the entire hall; although far from the three Demon Lords, the powerful aura emanating from above was still clearly felt. Shen Mo sat quietly, his eyes revealing focus and anticipation. Xie Xin beside him occasionally cast encouraging glances, while his fellow disciples around him whispered among themselves, discussing the upcoming competition and their respective expectations.

A tense yet expectant atmosphere permeated the entire Heavenly Demon Palace. As the three Demon Lords announced the start of the meeting, all whispers gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes focused ahead, preparing for this crucial meeting that would determine the future. A slight unease seemed to linger in the air, for everyone knew that every decision made today would have a profound impact on the Heavenly Demon Sect and even the wider martial arts world.

The Moon Demon Lord was the first to stand up, her clear yet authoritative voice resounding throughout the hall: "Gentlemen, we have gathered here today to discuss the reopening of the Demon Refining Mountain." As soon as she finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, and everyone's attention was focused on her. Moonlight streamed through the tall domed windows, bathing her in a silvery glow.

"A hundred years ago, the Heavenly Demon God embarked on a journey to the west in pursuit of a higher realm, leaving behind an edict: if he did not return within a hundred years, then the Demon Refining Mountain should be reopened, and a new generation of Heavenly Demon Gods who can be accepted by the Heavenly Demon Qi should be selected." The Moon Demon Lord's gaze swept over everyone, his voice steady and powerful, "Now, this hundred-year period has arrived, and we should follow the Heavenly Demon God's will and reopen the Demon Refining Mountain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Flame Demon Lord slowly stood up, his figure exceptionally upright. He was a middle-aged martial artist, but his aura had already reached the level of the Moon Demon Lord, clearly having also achieved the state of returning to simplicity. His eyes were piercing and bright. "Respected fellow practitioners," the Flame Demon Lord's voice was deep and magnetic, "the matter of restarting the Demon Refining Mountain is of great importance. I propose that a martial arts competition be held to determine who will obtain a place to enter the Demon Refining Mountain."

The Flame Demon Lord surveyed his surroundings and continued, "Only true powerhouses can withstand the trials of Refining Demon Mountain. This competition is not only to select the strongest disciple, but also to ensure the future glory of our Heavenly Demon God Sect. Sending the most outstanding candidates to Refining Demon Mountain is our greatest respect for the Heavenly Demon God." Despite these words, it was clear to everyone that the Flame Demon Lord's actions were intended to increase the chances of his disciples becoming Heavenly Demon Gods. After all, among the three Demon Lords, the Flame Demon Lord had recruited the most geniuses, including many renowned powerhouses.

Upon hearing this, Moon Demon Lord immediately objected. Her eyes sharpened, and her voice carried an undeniable determination: "Flame Demon, according to tradition, all disciples under the age of thirty are qualified to enter Demon Refining Mountain. This is a rule established when the Heavenly Demon God Sect was founded, and it cannot be changed arbitrarily."

The Flame Demon Lord smiled slightly, seemingly having anticipated the Moon Demon Lord's reaction: "Moon Demon, I understand your concerns. But the times we live in are different now. The world is changing, and we need to adapt to new challenges. If we insist on the old rules, it will only cause us to stagnate. Besides, when the Heavenly Demon God went west, he said that he entrusted us with the responsibility of restarting the Demon Refining Mountain. So don't bring up the sect rules anymore."

Hearing that the two disagreed, the Blood Demon Lord seemed less enthusiastic about the matter. He frowned slightly and said, "Flame Demon, Moon Demon. We've already waited a hundred years. With our lifespans, why not wait another hundred years until the Heavenly Demon God returns? There's no need to restart the Demon Refining Mountain."

Blood Demon Lord was a thin young man in his early twenties. If it weren't for the fact that he was sitting with Moon Demon Lord and Flame Demon Lord, and that he had reached the realm of returning to simplicity in martial arts, it would be hard to imagine that this person was Blood Demon Lord. Although his words were calm, they revealed a detachment from worldly affairs, as if all the conflicts in the world were not enough to shake his heart.

The Flame Demon Lord shook his head slightly, his tone firm and unwavering: "Blood Demon, you are too conservative. While we old folks are still in our prime, we can still nurture the next generation of Heavenly Demon Gods. If we wait another hundred years, our lifespans will be nearing their end, and how will we then assist the new Heavenly Demon God? The future is full of uncertainties. We must seize this opportunity to select a new Heavenly Demon God and ensure the future of the Heavenly Demon God Sect."

His words stirred up a storm in the hall, generating a murmur of discussion. The Flame Demon Lord's gaze was firm and fervent, burning with boundless hope and determination for the future. His figure appeared exceptionally tall amidst the interplay of light and shadow, every line radiating an undeniable power.

......

One of the venerable ones stood up, breaking the deadlock. His gaze swept over the crowd, and he offered a compromise: "Since everyone has different opinions, why don't the three Demon Lords each send one of their young heroes to compete? The winner's opinion will be adopted."

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent instantly. The three demon lords were slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting such a suggestion. However, when they saw the other venerable ones nodding in agreement, their eyes gleaming with recognition, they couldn't help but fall into deep thought.