Yunluan Mountain, Demon-locking Forest.
The pure and untarnished Young Palace Master, resembling an immortal or saint among all disciples and followers, the great Senior Sister Song Brahman Mirror.
After half a year of training outside, searching for the 'Primordial Pill' opportunity in the Third Step, upon her return, she brought significant news to the entire Yunluan Mountain.
It is said that when she returned to the sect, she brought back a 'demon'.
Moreover... she got him through the obstacle set by the Mundane Elder and brought him into the Demon-locking Forest.
According to the rules.
All Yunluan disciples entering the mountain must first learn fist techniques for half a year, then practice sword techniques for another half year, enter the Demon-locking Forest, and slay an imprisoned invading demon, using its entire essence as a precious medicine to breach the Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, before they can be considered true Sword Palace disciples.
Unlike spirits, demons wear human skin, and unless they reveal their true form, they are indistinguishable from humans.
Furthermore, due to their lineage, compared to humans of the same level, they possess more techniques derived from bloodline divine techniques, making them particularly challenging.
If it weren't for the ever-present, never-dissipating sword energy prohibitions in the Demon-locking Forest, which could restrict the demons, reducing their power by ninety percent.
Even ten disciples who haven't entered the realm wouldn't be enough to deliver food.
Rather than saying this is a trial for the disciples.
It is better to say it's to help disciples overcome their fear of 'demons' so that in life-and-death situations in the future, they have the courage to face strong enemies without fear and dare to draw their swords.
But...
These are all meant for human trials.
Since the founding of Yunluan Mountain over a hundred years ago, amidst storms and turmoil, it has never been heard that a 'Half-Demon' could enter the sect.
If not for Great Zhao establishing the country and setting order, only to eradicate evil demons and not labeling human-demon hybrids as abominations to be exterminated.
I'm afraid the current situation would be even more difficult.
After all, 'Those not of our race, their minds must be different.'
This kind of peculiar look and innate exclusion has been deeply rooted even before the establishment of Great Zhao.
During the seven days of Song Chai Xin's 'Demon-locking Forest' trial.
Stories about him gradually spread.
"Hey, did you hear, Senior Sister braved getting into trouble with Elder Pu, personally intervening in sect affairs, just to have a 'Half-Demon' registered in the sect records and bring him into the Demon-locking Forest!"
"It shouldn't be. When I joined the sect, Senior Sister Song Brahman Mirror had already slain hundreds, if not thousands, of demons under her sword. It's said that every time she goes down the mountain, all the demons within hundreds of miles in the Third Step would tremble in fear. Because of this, she earned another title, 'Eight Hundred Mile Demon Slayer'!"
"Only in recent years, as she sought the Primordial Pill opportunity, did she gradually become low-profile. Otherwise, her sword and white dress would be perpetually stained with demon blood, like a god of death."
"How could someone like her collude with demons?"
"Sigh, you can't judge a book by its cover, what do you know."
"I heard that the Half-Demon is a descendant of a True Flood Dragon, very handsome, which even stirred the heart of our radiant Young Palace Master, giving her the idea of 'building a golden house to hide the beauty'..."
"No way!"
"Why not? Everyone has desires, regardless of gender. Someone like the Young Palace Master, who trains in swordsmanship year-round, repressing her nature, once it erupts, it's like a monstrous flood. It's unstoppable!"
"Do you think this matter will alarm the Yunluan Sword Master, who is in seclusion at the Cloud Peak Celestial Pool, that Third Step Peak figure?"
"Such a small matter as a Half-Demon entering the sect can't possibly shake an existence like that. You're overthinking..."
Rumors are such things.
They spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred.
Especially when the subject of the rumors is the one hailed as one of the strongest Celestial Prides of the future Northwest 'Baoping State'.
After all, Song Brahman Mirror, apart from being young, her other qualifications and gifts are not inferior to the top tier of the current generation.
Such lofty figures hardly have much interaction with the lower-ranked disciples and followers.
Apart from expressing 'respect' for their status in everyday life,
compared to hearing her stories of 'demon slaying',
most people naturally prefer to hear these embellished gossip stories.
...
At the entrance of the Demon-locking Forest.
Hearing that the 'trial period' was about to end.
Many sect disciples, upon hearing the news, came whispering to each other.
"Master, how could you allow a 'Half-Demon' into the Demon-locking Forest? Even if Senior Sister Song approves and Elder Pu agrees, isn't this too absurd!"
"Listen to what our fellow disciples have been discussing these days."
The top disciple of the Elders of Yunluan Mountain, responsible for overseeing the 'Demon-locking Forest', the Law Enforcement Elder, was indignant.
Meanwhile, the Law Enforcement Elder, holding the sword, glanced at his disciple with an indifferent expression:
"I only oversee the Demon-locking Forest for two purposes."
"First, to protect the sect."
"Two, suppress the evil calamity in this place."
"As for recruiting disciples, deciding who enters the sect is not my responsibility. Since Pu Zhengquan agreed, it's naturally his duty to handle it."
The Law Enforcement Elder, although not fond of the Half-Demon,
would not offend Song Brahman Mirror over this.
To be blunt,
unless the Yunluan Sword Master or the future inheritor of Yunluan Mountain is a demon,
otherwise, not to mention Half-Demon, even if she is willing to harbor two demons, who would openly interfere?
Moreover...
When Song Chai Xin, drenched in blood, with skin and veins seemingly 'transformed', exited the pitch-black Demon-locking Forest entirely different from when he entered.
At the first sight of Song Chai Xin,
the Law Enforcement Elder, having reached the third step of cultivation, with deep eyes, was already lost in thought:
"Jiao Dragon Blood, no matter how thin, is extremely rare and valuable cultivation resources for humans."
"The first scroll of the Golden Lock Jade Technique is the most suitable Foundation Establishment Secret Method in Northwest Baoping State before the 'Great Innate' confirms the main cultivation technique."
"If burning the Flood Dragon blood is used as a cost, for a short time, the Martial Gate Foundation Establishment won't be able to stop him."
"He's a good seedling, and these seven days have shown his tenacity and decisiveness. If he weren't a Half-Demon... in the entire Yunluan Mountain, apart from Song Brahman Mirror, he would rank first in terms of character."
"What a pity."
At this moment,
as Jixia, on behalf of Song Chai Xin, walked out of the Demon-locking Forest.
[You broke through the Martial Arts Foundation Establishment 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins', and the feedback from the Flood Dragon blood ritual was successfully triggered.]
[It will grant you talents that are difficult for ordinary people to possess.]
[Perhaps your aptitude is not excellent by demon standards, but with the fragile human body coupled with your superior comprehension, it will be enough for you to aspire to be called a 'Celestial Pride' in cultivation.]
[After walking out of the Demon-locking Forest, your 'sect entry assessment' has been completely finished, but the situation isn't favorable.]
[Because of you, rumors are gradually stirring on Yunluan Mountain; the chief disciple under the Law Enforcement Elder, Cui Chan in the 'Great Innate' realm, looks down on you, viewing you like an ant.]
["Your deeds, we've heard, but if you truly want to do right by the Young Palace Master, leaving Yunluan Mountain is the best choice for you; otherwise, your existence will bring her shame."]
[Cui Chan, chief of the Demon-locking Forest, in Martial Dao 'Great Innate', without the most brilliant Ming Pearl to suppress all directions, he could have earned the title of Celestial Pride.]
[His hostility towards you makes it difficult to network within the Yunluan Mountain authority.]
"You're quite something, aren't you?"
In reality.
Jixia's face darkened.
He was cultivating quite well in the 'Reincarnation Celestial Book', thinking he could practice some superior secret techniques in Yunluan Mountain to benefit himself.
But you wouldn't let it rest and had to find fault with me.
Martial Dao 'Great Innate'!
By seniority, a newly admitted Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, when seeing the likes of Song Brahman Mirror or Cui Chan, would have to call them 'Senior Uncle' or 'Senior Master'.
With his low cultivation level, he probably could only endure it.
But then...
[Song Brahman Mirror, who came upon hearing the rumors and coincidentally heard Cui Chan's opinion of you.]
[Out of pity and some hidden pain in her heart, she drew her sword.]
[In an instant, the famous sword named 'Cold Snow', a single sword that drank the blood of nearly a hundred demons in Xuanqing Lake, pointed directly at 'Cui Chan'.]
[Meanwhile, the young woman's tone was as cold as frost in June: "Junior Brother, if you are dissatisfied with my decision."]
["At the Punishment Sword Platform of the sect, I can bet the position of 'Young Palace Master' with you, if you can defeat me with the sword, Song Chai Xin and I will both leave Yunluan."]
["Dare you accept, yes or no?"]
The young woman was cold in demeanor, her delicate face like ice.
But her words left Jixia, who was simulating the reincarnation, momentarily stunned.
Song Brahman Mirror...
This woman.
Putting oneself in the shoes of Song Chai Xin, it's undeniable.
Song Brahman Mirror was the only beam of light in his life at the moment.
Even though she said she wouldn't aid him, she unwaveringly drew her sword against the cold ridicule of fellow sect members.
Memories surged of a young woman with fluttering robes, dismounting from Yun He's back, drawing her sword like flowing clouds and water.
Jixia thought that if given the chance, he should repay this girl somehow.