Chapter 60: The Eternal Prodigy
Moon Worship, Sword Sect.
It has been established for over a thousand years.
The entrance examination is as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
To put it bluntly, the more than one thousand cultivators in the entire Sword Sect are the accumulated sword-dao geniuses of the Moon Worship Nation and its surrounding countries over a millennium.
No wonder Yu Qiye collected so many sword-dao tags in these short three months.
However, it was not just the accumulation of sword-dao tags.
In these three months, Yu Qiye also completed a new round of cultivation refinement and even fused the tags Wind God (Gold) and Deep Hidden (Red).
"It is time to plunder the tags of the Sect Master and the Elders."
Yu Qiye wore a look of anticipation.
As for the method, he had already figured it out.
There are many secret techniques within the Moon Worship Sword Sect.
Among them is a secret technique called "Qi Infusion".
He planned to discard the Third Elder as a chess piece.
Arrange for him to perform the Qi Infusion on himself.
Then, he would naturally possess the cultivation level of a "Great Demon".
In this way, he could logically challenge the many elders and the Sect Master.
"Since I want to play the role of a genius, I might as well play it convincingly and become a true legend of the Sword Sect."
Yu Qiye's gaze flickered with anticipation.
If people in the future were to find out that the Sword Sect's most terrifying genius—Qiye—was actually an peerless demon king of the demon race,
would the entire Sword Sect spit a mouthful of old blood?
Probably not.
Although he had stayed in the Sword Sect for three months, he could sense that most members of the Sword Sect possessed unyielding backbones and would not go as far as vomiting blood.
However, right at this moment, an extremely cold voice came from afar.
"Junior Brother, would you be willing to cross swords with me?"
Without turning his head, Yu Qiye already knew the identity of the newcomer.
The First Elder's granddaughter—Li Wanxi.
She possessed the red tag—Clear Sword Heart.
Hailed as the number one genius of the Sword Sect.
She was even praised as the "future female sword immortal".
Yet, this very genius had sparred with Yu Qiye several times and was defeated repeatedly.
And now, she had come again.
"Very well."
Yu Qiye did not mind giving some guidance to this future female sword immortal.
...
"I have lost."
Li Wanxi was extremely bitter, crystal tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
Then, stepping on sword light, she flew away into the distance without looking back.
Although everyone whispered that "'Li Qiye' was the illegitimate son of the Third Elder and had practiced in seclusion for many years."
Although everyone whispered that "'Li Qiye' was..."
A loss was a loss.
No reasons were needed, nor any explanations.
Her title as the "number one prodigy of the Sword Sect" should have changed hands long ago.
"Am I bullying her a bit too harshly?"
Yu Qiye watched Li Wanxi's retreating figure and pondered.
Although he only displayed the strength of a "Minor Demon", he possessed the vision of a Profound Immortal and much more.
Let alone a mere Li Wanxi, even Sect Master Li Tiangang, who already possessed the strength of a Demon General, could not possibly be his match.
However, never mind.
She was merely a human female.
In his past life, he had caused countless women to shed tears.
Let alone in this lifetime.
Compared to these trivial matters, plundering the tags of the Sword Sect's elders and Sect Master was far more important.
...
That night, the Sword Sect was silent.
Suddenly, winds and clouds surged over the Third Peak of the Sword Sect.
"I, Li Buyu, am willing to use my lifelong cultivation to help my disciple, 'Li Qiye', ascend to the peak of the heavenly path!"
A roar resounded like thunder.
Immediately following, amidst the astonished gazes of countless Sword Sect cultivators, a streak of sword light soared into the sky, tearing apart the clouds of the night sky.
Looking closely, it was a dark figure.
Dressed in a black robe, with sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and a dashing demeanor.
An ancient sword coiled around his body like a spiritual snake, as if it could take flight at any moment and roar with the sound of thunder.
"Li Qiye of the Third Peak, having received the immense grace of my Master, has ascended in a single bound. I ask my uncles and seniors to offer their guidance."
As these words fell, absolute silence ensued.
One elder after another stood dumbfounded.
Even Sect Master Li Tiangang found it hard to believe.
"Not long ago, the Third Elder said he would forge the number one genius of the Sword Sect? Is this how he meant to forge him?"
"Sacrificing oneself to achieve another? This is far more than just a great grace."
"The crucial point is that 'Li Qiye' actually completely endured his Qi Infusion and even absorbed the greater part of it."
"To be honest, I really believe now that 'Li Qiye' is the Third Elder's illegitimate son."
Following the silence was an uproar.
Yu Qiye did not care about this.
He had merely given everyone a reasonable explanation.
Although he could also plunder by embarking on a massive killing spree,
attracting too much attention was ultimately undesirable.
After all, behind this Sword Sect stood the Daoist Sect, and even the Heavenly Court.
If he could achieve his goal through gentle methods, nothing could be better.
From beginning to end, the only one who sacrificed himself was Third Elder Li Buyu.
But he deserved to die.
...
The night was deep.
"Hum..."
A supremely crisp sword chime suddenly tore through the heavens and earth.
Following that, one figure after another rose into the air, riding their swords.
This was a sleepless night.
The entire Sword Sect was in a fervor.
The number one prodigy of the Sword Sect—Yu Qiye, with a single person and a single sword, challenged the entire sect.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
The sound of air being cleaved rang out one after another, as countless dazzling sword lights cut through the night sky.
No one knew the outcome of the battle.
Only that after this battle, the Sect Master and the remaining elders all went into seclusion.
As for the number one prodigy 'Li Qiye', he vanished as if he had evaporated from the world.
According to the Sect Master's explanation—'Li Qiye' had ascended in a single bound and prepared to wander the world.
Yet at this moment, unknown to anyone, a figure stood lingering for a long time on a mountain peak not far from the Sword Sect.
Reluctant to leave.
It was Yu Qiye.
Beside him, a three-foot-long azure blade coiled around his body like a spiritual snake.
The sword was named 'Azure Snake'.
It was bestowed upon Yu Qiye by the Sect Master after the battle.
This was a magic treasure; although its quality was ordinary, it was already one of the top three foundational treasures of the Sword Sect.
"I originally just wanted to play around, but I never expected..."
Yu Qiye's expression was enigmatic.
And right at this moment,
[Ding, you have collected over two hundred sword-dao tags...]
[Ding, among the sword-dao tags you have collected, there are seven red tags and thirty-one purple tags...]
[Ding, the tags are beginning to fuse and reshape....]
Following prompts one after another, Yu Qiye's entire body trembled.
It was as if he had experienced enlightenment.
Countless insights regarding the sword dao flooded into his mind.
Even figures practicing the sword, one after another, drilled into his sea of consciousness.
They were practicing the sword.
Prying, slashing, thrusting...
Every single movement was as standard as a textbook.
Even sword chimes rang out, and a dazzling sword light seemed as though it would slice through his entire sea of consciousness.
[Ding, through continuous reshaping and fusion, you have acquired the tag Sword Immortal's Demeanor (Gold).]
[Sword Immortal's Demeanor (Gold)—You possess the demeanor of a sword immortal. Anything related to the sword dao can be comprehended effortlessly. With a long sword in hand, the world is mine.... You have a unique comprehension of the ' sharpness' and 'fierceness' of the sword dao, and your killing power when using a sword is massively increased.]
...
Quietly listening, Yu Qiye's expression shifted slightly.
Three months,
like the moon in a mirror, flowers in the water.
Illusionary and dreamlike.
Clearly his cultivation level had not increased by much,
yet Yu Qiye could clearly feel that his combat power had exploded by a massive margin.
Especially...
Slowly lifting his fingertip, an invisible edge flickered like a spiritual snake darting its tongue.
This trace of sharpness could neither be seen nor touched.
Yet if unleashed, it would be utterly irresistible and destructive.
Even the Bull Demon King's terrifying defense might not necessarily withstand this trace of "sharpness".
"The sword dao is still unremarkable today."
"Yet who could have imagined that in the future, the sword dao would display its brilliant edge and possess the demeanor of 'suppressing all DAOs'?"