Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Three days later, in Qiongtian City, Lord Gu Chen took the siblings Zhang Zining and Zhang Yining back to Qiongtian Mansion to see the master, Wen Ziyun.

Upon meeting Wen Ziyun, Gu Chen immediately had Zhang Zining recount the entire incident in full detail.

Having served many years in Qiongtian Mansion, Wen Ziyun naturally had dealings with the Arsenal. Hearing Zhang Zining's account, his expression darkened as he said, "I never expected the Arsenal, with its splendid reputation, famed throughout the world, to engage in such atrocities. They are indeed unforgivable!"

As the master of Qiongtian Mansion, Wen Ziyun could not overlook such misdeeds occurring within his jurisdiction. Moreover, since the siblings were brought back by Gu Chen, the astute Wen Ziyun understood the implications of Gu's actions without words needing to be spoken.

Wen Ziyun then turned his gaze to Gu Chen and asked, "What does Lord Gu plan to do about this matter?"

After all, this matter involved the Arsenal, and even though Wen Ziyun did not practice martial arts, he was well aware of its formidable reputation. He could see that Gu Chen had a keen interest in the Zhang family's ancestral legendary weapon.

Of course, it wasn't just Gu Chen; even he harbored intense yearnings for legendary weapons. However, Wen Ziyun knew all too well that even if he obtained a legendary weapon, he wouldn't be able to keep it.

Hearing Wen Ziyun ask for his opinion, Gu Chen had already made up his mind on the journey back and promptly said, "Dispatch someone to keep a vigilant eye on the Arsenal, and inform me at once of any slightest movement. As for everything else, leave it to me to handle."

"Alright, then everything shall be as Lord Gu commands," Wen Ziyun nodded. After all, the Arsenal was part of the martial world, and naturally fell under the purview of the Jing Tian Department. Whatever Gu Chen decided, Wen Ziyun's role was to cooperate.

After Wen Ziyun agreed, Gu Chen left with the siblings Zhang Zining and Zhang Yining, planning to find a place for them to settle down.

After some thought, Gu Chen turned to the siblings and said, "The two of you can temporarily settle down here in Qiongtian Mansion. Once the situation is resolved, we can discuss what to do next."

After all, the Qiongtian Mansion stretched over a vast area with plenty of space. More importantly, the mansion was secure, with no one daring to create trouble here.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zining and Zhang Yining were overjoyed. They no longer looked like the muddy beggars they were on that rainy night; traveling with Gu Chen, they had been well fed and clothed in new garments.

Zhang Zining and Zhang Yining were twins, with Zining being slightly older and thus the elder brother, while Yining was the younger sister.

The siblings were both attractive, with Zining tall and handsome, bearing a prominent nose, and Yining possessing a graceful figure and a beautiful, fair face.

Grateful to Gu Chen for his willingness to help, they noticed the care he had shown them along the road. Thus, at this moment, the siblings exchanged a look and suddenly knelt before Gu Chen.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gu Chen raised an eyebrow as he looked at the two.

"We beg Big Brother Gu to take us as disciples," the siblings pleaded in unison from their knees.

This was something both had decided on during their journey. Although Gu Chen was only a few years older than them, he was more than qualified to be their master in the martial arts.

In the martial world, countless individuals wished to forge connections with Gu Chen. Not to mention other places, just in Qiongtian City itself, numerous nobility, including Wen Ziyun, felt the same.

Naturally, the siblings' wish to take Gu Chen as their master wasn't just because of his strength and fame. Having spent time with him, they recognized his cold exterior but warm interior, which led them to resolutely decide that they wanted to follow him.

Upon hearing their plea, Gu Chen's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I do not take disciples. You should both rise," he said.

Mainly, Gu Chen simply didn't have the time to mentor disciples, being preoccupied with his own affairs. Accepting them would be to delay their progress, so he could not agree.

"This…"

Seeing that Gu Chen had no intention of taking disciples, the siblings Zining and Yining hesitated, unsure of what to do.

"Rise," Gu Chen repeated when the siblings didn't immediately get up.

The siblings, fearing Gu Chen's impatience, quickly got up, looking somewhat disheartened as they stood to one side.

After all, their aim in venturing out was to become disciples and learn the true arts. Although their family had some martial arts heritage, a good teacher and access to martial resources were also vital.

This was why so many in the martial world were eager to be accepted into prominent sects and become their disciples.

Seeing the dispirited siblings, Gu Chen had to admit that Zining and Yining were gifted. At such a young age, they had already attained the Cultivation Realm and were considered promising candidates.

However, at present, he truly had no desire to take on disciples and lacked the time; it would be a disservice to them. Hence, Gu Chen naturally would not consent.

It was then that Gu Chen said, "For the time being, you two will reside in Qiongtian Mansion. If you have any questions regarding martial arts cultivation, you may ask me, and I will provide guidance."

Upon hearing this, Zining and Yining immediately rejoiced and promptly thanked him, "Thank you, Big Brother Gu."

Gu Chen shook his head, signaling that it was nothing, and then a servant took the siblings away to choose their rooms.

In the following days, Wen Ziyun continuously had people watch the Arsenal and seek the whereabouts of the Blood Shadow Sword. Meanwhile, Gu Chen spent his time instructing the Zhang siblings in their cultivation. It had to be said that their talents were quite impressive, often grasping his teachings with just a hint.

After all, no matter how one puts it, the Zhang family ancestors did produce a martial arts grandmaster, and through the guidance during this period, Gu Chen discovered that his younger sister Zhang Yining had even more talent than her brother Zhang Zining.

She was a natural martial arts prodigy, and under Gu Chen's tutelage, her progress in the martial path was astonishingly fast, far surpassing Zhang Zining.

Zhang Zining naturally noticed this as well, but he didn't harbor any jealousy. It was clear to see, the siblings had a really good relationship.

One day, as Gu Chen was instructing the Zhang siblings in martial arts in the garden of the city lord's residence, he received news from Lord Wen Ziyun that a trace of a divine weapon had been discovered.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen immediately rushed over.

Upon meeting Wen Ziyun, the lord of Qiongtian Mansion, Gu Chen got straight to the point and asked, "Where is it?"
Your journey continues on empire

Seeing that Gu Chen had hurried over, Wen Ziyun did not dawdle and said, "The Chi Dragon Mountain Range."

"And where might that be?" Gu Chen asked with a puzzled look towards Wen Ziyun.

Wen Ziyun clapped his hands, and a servant immediately spread out a map on the table, depicting the geographical environment of the entire Qiongtian Mansion.

Then, Wen Ziyun extended his finger to a spot on the map and said, "Lord Gu, please look here, this is the Chi Dragon Mountain Range."

Following the direction Wen Ziyun pointed out, Gu Chen realized that the Chi Dragon Mountain Range was some distance away from Qiongtian City. It would take him about three and a half days to reach it with his current speed.

Wen Ziyun continued, "Just yesterday, I received a report that a martial artist saw a divine light flash across the sky above the Chi Dragon Mountain Range. Thinking it was some kind of rare treasure, he rushed over immediately, only to come up empty-handed. On that same day, many martial artists saw the same phenomenon, and the news has already spread.

However, they probably do not know it was a divine weapon; the truth could possibly be kept hidden for a little while longer."

Hearing this, Gu Chen nodded. The fewer people who knew about the emergence of a divine weapon, the better; otherwise, it was sure to stir up a storm of blood and violence in the martial world.

Although Gu Chen wasn't afraid, if he could obtain the Blood Shadow Sword without any effort, he certainly wouldn't want to go through a major battle.

"What's happening at the Arsenal?" Gu Chen asked.

Wen Ziyun replied, "The Arsenal has also been searching for clues to the divine weapon recently, scouring the entire Qiongtian Mansion as if they would turn it upside down. They probably have received the news by now and are heading towards the Chi Dragon Mountain Range."

Gu Chen nodded and, without further hesitation, stood up and set out for the Chi Dragon Mountain Range.

...

The Chi Dragon Mountain Range, two thousand miles long from east to west and eight hundred miles wide from north to south, was said to be the dwelling of a Chi Dragon in ancient times. The Chi Dragon, a rare ancient species, wasn't as mighty as the true dragons, but it was still magically potent and powerful, serving as the totem for many ancient tribes.

Back then, the local villagers offered tributes to the Chi Dragon annually in hopes of securing fair weather and successful crops to sustain their livelihoods. Their offering: boys and girls.

As long as the Chi Dragon was satisfied with the offerings, it would conjure spells and bring forth heavy rain, ensuring the villagers a year of plentiful harvests.

But if the offerings failed to meet the required amount and the Chi Dragon wasn't pleased, three years would pass without significant rainfall, causing the crops to wither and die of drought.

Perhaps due to the Chi Dragon's man-eating causing divine punishment, one day, a torrential downpour unexpectedly struck the Chi Dragon Mountain Range. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and infinite thunderbolts descended, striking the Chi Dragon to death.

It was rumored that the Chi Dragon condensed an inner elixir, which remained even after it was smitten by the thunder tribulation. According to popular belief, it lay hidden within the Chi Dragon Mountain Range.

Legend had it that even an ordinary person who consumed the Chi Dragon's inner elixir would undergo purification, instantly transforming and acquiring an innate constitution, becoming an unparalleled martial arts prodigy.

And for a martial artist who consumed it, advancing bravely and rapidly in martial prowess to become a great grandmaster of the innate realm was also not out of reach.

Three days later, at the Chi Dragon Mountain Range.

During this time, the news of a rare treasure appearing at the Chi Dragon Mountain Range had spread among many martial artists.

Of course, they still didn't know it was a divine weapon, after all, there were plenty of legends about the Chi Dragon Mountain Range.

So, many martial artists who witnessed the light thought it was the emergence of the Chi Dragon's inner elixir.

Of course, many also believed this was mere nonsense. The Human Clan had ruled the nine states for countless years, and although there were still fierce beasts in remote wildernesses, they were merely ordinary creatures with low intelligence, at most comparable to children and certainly not possessing the divine powers attributed to the legendary Chi Dragon.

Many simply thought these were mythological stories and did not take them seriously.

However, when Gu Chen arrived, indeed, many martial artists had gathered at the place. Over the past few days, roughly hundreds of martial artists had been coming and going from this area.

Among them were representatives of some of the top forces in the martial world.

This showed that many still believed in the rumors of the Chi Dragon and wanted to try their luck.

As for Gu Chen, he was somewhat skeptical about such mythical tales, for he knew very well that the light was not the inner elixir of the Chi Dragon.

Looking around at the crowds, Gu Chen's gaze swept across the area and he unexpectedly saw people from the Sunset Sword Sect and the Heavenly Saber Sect.

Suddenly, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He didn't expect these two top powers from the nine states to also be here. Could it be they had received some news?