The elder with the long beard flew forward expressionlessly. Behind him, the crowd watched the valiant and fearless elder, then glanced at the Supreme Elder's retreating back. A chill permeated their bodies, and their fear intensified.
How similar this scene was!
Someone else had once become suddenly valiant and fearless like this, and the result was—a tragic death.
Elder Changxu was an old schemer, a shadowy figure who would never risk his own life. Therefore, all reasons naturally pointed to the Supreme Elder.
The Supreme Elder sensed the gazes of the crowd, but his expression remained unchanged. Stroking his beard, he paid them no mind. Instead, he fixed a grave gaze upon Elder Changxu.
Suddenly, Elder Changxu rushed into the dark clouds, and the scenery before him transformed.
Upon entering, the first thing he saw was a group of humans.
These humans possessed strange auras, seemingly mortal, yet they could fly in the air. It was truly odd.
Elder Changxu's appearance attracted the attention of one of their leaders. The leader grinned, but did not concern himself with the elder. However, the sense of fear within Elder Changxu continued to spread, making his limbs go cold.
The man before him was too terrifying. A single glance seemed to see through his very being.
The Supreme Elder, observing from the shadows, felt the same dread. He secretly marveled, murmuring, "Who are these people? Why didn't they stop me from peeking? Do they lack the ability, or do they disdain to intervene?"
Various questions surfaced in his mind, unsettling him.
"Forget it. I'll retreat for now and observe everything from the shadows. At worst, Elder Changxu can perish!"
Having come to this conclusion, his true self secretly departed. He then used Elder Changxu's vision to witness everything from afar.
At this moment, the man raised a large hand, and streaks of black mist erupted from his palm.
Upon seeing this mist, the Supreme Elder exclaimed in shock, "This is the phenomenon produced by the third layer of our Demonic Sword Sect's paramount technique, the 'Demonic Sword Scripture': Holding Black Mist, Great Misty Sky!"
With this realization, he recalled briefly and understood that the dark clouds were the first layer of the 'Demonic Sword Scripture': Dark Clouds Pressing Down, Sky Covered!
"So that's it! He's cultivating our sect's 'Demonic Sword Scripture'! Yet, the version in his hands, only the third layer, is far more powerful than my ninth layer!"
"Who exactly is he?"
His heart pounded with a mix of curiosity and fear.
Meanwhile.
Lin Yu had finally successfully cultivated the third layer of the 'Demonic Sword Scripture'. His physique had also changed slightly, becoming much stronger than before. Especially in terms of lifespan, he felt it had increased by at least three years.
This was only after cultivating to the third layer, which was equivalent to the third stage of Foundation Establishment.
Yet, even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage had a lifespan of three hundred years, while their third-stage Awakened ones only had one hundred and fifty years.
"As expected of a cultivator, the lifespan boost is substantial."
An increase in lifespan also meant an enhancement in vitality. Although his strength hadn't visibly increased, he felt different.
With every movement, he exuded a trace of Dao rhythm, a mysterious power that seemed to allow him to glimpse the traces of laws.
"This is interesting. If I cultivate diligently, I should be able to break through to demigod smoothly."
"No, this technique only has nine layers. One layer is missing, making it impossible to cultivate to the Mahayana stage!!!"
"No wonder this world doesn't even have a single Mahayana stage cultivator. It turns out the technique is incomplete."
"Then I'll try cultivating to the ninth layer first. It doesn't seem difficult for me!"
Lin Yu continued to cultivate, as if divinely aided. In a short while, he reached the seventh layer. It was only at this point that he encountered a bottleneck.
In the distance.
The Supreme Elder watched this scene with utter astonishment, muttering, "How is this possible? He actually cultivated to the seventh layer within three hours? I spent five hundred years to reach the seventh layer back then!"
Lin Yu paid no heed to his shock, now completely immersed in cultivating the 'Demonic Sword Scripture', unable to extricate himself.
Once he began cultivating, he realized that techniques were far more profound than meditation methods. The various mysteries within seemed to have opened the door to laws for him in advance, allowing him to grasp a sliver of their profundity.
"This technique contains traces of dozens of laws. If someone with good talent were to cultivate, they might be able to comprehend a law and cultivate to the Mahayana stage on their own! Unfortunately, the technique is incomplete, making it impossible to reach that realm!"
Three days passed in a flash, and Lin Yu finally ceased his cultivation.
He had now cultivated to the ninth layer, and his overall strength had increased by about ten percent.
Although the increase in strength wasn't significant, his lifespan had increased by three hundred years!
Do not underestimate these three hundred years of lifespan. He was already at the demigod stage, with a lifespan of ten thousand years. To increase it by another three hundred years just by cultivating a single technique was already incredible.
"It seems I must learn from various masters in the future!"
Lin Yu seemed to glimpse his future path, a surge of ambition filling his heart as he set his goal.
At this moment, he finally looked down at the peak below.
This was the Demonic Sword Sect's first peak: Demonic Sword Peak!
From the memories of the Demonic Sword Master, he learned that a demonic sword was sealed beneath this peak. It could only be retrieved to fight when the sect faced mortal peril. Only the sect leader and the Supreme Elder could summon the demonic sword.
And the prerequisite for all this was the cultivation of the 'Demonic Sword Scripture'.
He had initially intended to use brute force to retrieve the demonic sword, but now that he could achieve it without force, it was an even better method.
He smiled, looked down, and a flow of black demonic energy gushed out from his palm.
He let out a loud shout: "Demonic Sword! Come!"
Boom!
The earth trembled, and the peak cracked open.
Outside, the disciples witnessing this scene were all aghast.
"Someone is taking the demonic sword!"
"This... this is our foundation! Why isn't the Supreme Elder taking action?"
"The Supreme Elder will definitely act! Anyone who dares to take our demonic sword is courting death!"
"........."
However, what they did not know was that the Supreme Elder could not even lift a hand.
He watched the scene with horror, his lips pale, and mumbled, "Who exactly is he? A mere glance has rendered me immobile?"
Boom!
A surge of demonic energy shot into the sky, blackening half of it.
The demonic sword had appeared!