Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Gu Chen opened his eyes and looked around before speaking calmly, "Why are all of you not sleeping at this late hour, surrounding me here in the wilderness? What do you want?"

In actuality, even before he had left Tiandu, Gu Chen had noticed that someone had been lurking outside Gu Mansion all along, especially after that day when he had drinks with Song Yu, Wang Yan, and Xu Qing, there was a clear murderous intent directed at him which Gu Chen had distinctly felt.

Gu Chen had been concerned that in his absence, this group might harm his second uncle, Gu Chengfeng and his family, so he only left after his family had moved to the inner city.

Because the security in the inner city was incomparably better than in the outer city, committing a violent act there would be extremely difficult.

Furthermore, with Chen Yu having promised to help protect them, Gu Chen was even less worried.

Fortunately, a few days after Gu Chen left Tiandu, he sensed a group of people trailing behind him, among them a familiar presence—it was the same person who had been staking out in front of Gu Mansion previously. Find more to read at мѵʟ

This actually pleased Gu Chen. First, he deliberately led them on for a while, then decided to rest here tonight, anticipating their move.

Gu Chen had guessed that they would strike, for it wouldn't be long before he reached the Qiongtian Mansion's city, and by then, their opportunity to act would diminish even more.

Seeing Gu Chen's composed appearance, Cao Ying's temper flared, but he held back and coldly huffed, "Gu Chen, you dared to kill the young Lord Marquis. An eye for an eye—today marks your death!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen looked up at Cao Ying alone, disregarding the others as if they were nothing, and spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, "Did the Marquis of Pingxi send you?"

With a cold laugh, Cao Ying retorted, "You don't need to worry about that. All you need to know is that your death anniversary will be this day next year. Attack!"

As his words fell, the others began their assault. These people were agile and extraordinary, executing their moves with ruthless precision, all aiming for a deadly blow.

Clang!

In that moment, a Golden Bell Shield appeared around Gu Chen, blocking the incoming attacks in front of him. The Golden Bell rippled slightly, and Gu Chen remained unharmed and composed, still seated there.

"Golden Bell Shield!"

One of them, an onlooker, his eyes gleaming with surprise, exclaimed, "Judging by this, this fellow has cultivated the Golden Bell Shield to a high level of mastery. Otherwise, he absolutely couldn't have withstood the combined attack of so many of us."

Cao Ying said in a deep voice, "No need for such talk with a dead man. Eight of us joining forces against him, even if his Golden Bell Shield has been cultivated to the ultimate perfection, it's useless. He will die today regardless!"

The man who had spoken earlier nodded and responded, "Indeed."

At that moment, Gu Chen began to speak, his voice smooth and steady, "Did the Marquis of Pingxi ever consider that sending people to kill a first-level Metropolitan Procurator of Jing Tian Department, who also holds a noble title, would bring trouble upon himself?"

One of the Vajra Stage martial artists said coldly, "Who will know it's us when you die here?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen smiled wryly and said, "You are quite confident. Very well, I shall sit right here. If you can break through my defense, I will take my own life here and now."

"Arrogant!"

"Ignorant of the highness of the heavens and the vastness of the earth!"

"Do you think a highly cultivated Golden Bell Shield is invincible?"

Enraged by Gu Chen's words, Cao Ying and the others, all Vajra Stage martial artists, acknowledged that although Gu Chen was stronger than each of them individually, it was now eight against one. Every one of them had formidable cultivation, and if they couldn't break through Gu Chen's defenses, they might as well take their own lives right there.

"Charge!"

"Kill this naive fool!"

With a command from Cao Ying, he rushed forward, leading with a dagger that flickered with a cold light.

Clang, clang, clang!

In the deep night on the desolate wilderness, a lonely plain shone with a brilliant golden light, illuminating the dark night sky, and the ringing sounds of the Golden Bell carried through the air like the striking of morning and evening bells.

Gu Chen remained seated without moving. As Cao Ying and the others continued their attacks, ripples appeared on the surface of the golden shield, undulating gently like water, but that was all.

As a Superior Martial Skill and with Gu Chen having cultivated the Golden Bell Shield to the preliminary Vajra Stage, its defensive power was so formidable that even if Gu Chen were to sit idle for a day and a night, and his inner energy remained endless, these people would not be able to break through.

After continuous assaults, the expressions of Cao Ying and the others finally began to change, and one exclaimed in disbelief, "This is impossible. Even a Golden Bell Shield at full mastery couldn't achieve this level!"

"A naturally gifted martial body, can it really be this difficult to kill?!" Cao Ying's expression twisted malevolently, nearly driven to madness by his inability to break Gu Chen's defense.

At this point, Cao Ying and his companions saw that Gu Chen, who had been sitting motionless, finally stood up.

"He can't hold out any longer?"

"His inner energy is almost depleted!"

"Damn, he's tough as a tortoise shell indeed. Boy, if you dare, come out and fight me!"

The Vajra Stage warriors jeered, attempting to provoke Gu Chen into coming out for a direct fight.

Gu Chen shook his head slightly, his expression calm, and said, "You are all far too slow. Well, let me send you on your way then."

"Kill!"

Cao Ying and the others saw Gu Chen withdraw his Golden Bell Shield, and they charged at him with ferocious expressions.

Hum!

At that moment, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the shoulders of Cao Ying and his group. Even those among them who had reached the Copper Cast Iron Forged level felt their bodies shake and tremble, with their flesh, blood, and even bones quivering in fear.

As Gu Chen slowly rose to his feet, infinite golden light transformed into tiny motes of luminous rain falling behind him, coalescing into a towering golden figure akin to a small mountain, with fierce features, a tall and mighty stature, eyes wide and bulging.

"The true essence of martial arts, the Buddhist's Furious Dharma King's Appearance?!" Cao Ying and the others were immediately struck with terror.

It was then that Gu Chen moved, his fingers coming together as he slowly clenched his fist. As he did so, it seemed as if the heavens and earth were merging into his palm.

"Great Vajra Fist!"

Gu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but to Cao Ying and the others, it sounded deafening, like thunder exploding in their minds. Their vision darkened, their heads spun, and blood began to flow from their seven orifices.

This was the true essence of martial arts exerting its suppression over the "spirit" of Cao Ying and his group. As Gu Chen's understanding of the true essence deepened, his "spirit" grew stronger. Now, when he utilized the true essence of martial arts, he could directly impose a spiritual suppression on warriors like Cao Ying who lacked this understanding.

Boom!

Just then, as Gu Chen threw a punch, a fierce wind erupted on the plain as though a tempest had struck. With Gu Chen's punch, the force was like a mountain collapsing!

It was as if the Furious Dharma King of the heavenly Buddhist realms was swinging his demon-subduing staff, smashing down with tremendous force. In the perspective and sensation of Cao Ying and his group, the punch was terrifyingly formidable, and it seemed as if the surrounding heaven and earth would shatter, with fissures spreading outward.

"Puff!"

With their spirits overwhelmed, Cao Zhen and the others could only hastily release an attack in defense, but how could they withstand it? The eight Vajra Stage warriors, like eight straw men, were sent flying into the distance by Gu Chen's punch, blood spurting wildly from their mouths.

Thud!

As Cao Ying and the others crashed to the ground, their bodies felt numb, their bones broken in countless places. The three who had reached the Copper Cast Iron Forged realm were somewhat better off, but the remaining five, even with their Vajra Stage Great Perfection cultivation, could not withstand Gu Chen's fierce punch with merely their Water-Fire Invulnerable level physical bodies.

Those five lay there, exhaling more than inhaling, clearly on the brink of death.

"This is impossible!"

Cao Ying's eyes were about to split open, and blood seeped from the corners. He was certain that Gu Chen had not been this strong back in Xu'an County; it simply wasn't possible, or else Wulna of the Holy Shadows Sect wouldn't have exchanged so many moves with him.

At that moment, endless regret surged in Cao Ying's heart. If he had known Gu Chen's progress was so swift, he would not have listened to Cao Zhen in the beginning. If he had acted sooner, Gu Chen would not have grown to his current state.

The eight Vajra Stage Great Perfection warriors, including three who had reached Copper Cast Iron Forged, turned out to be no match for Gu Chen. With just one strike, a single strike, they were severely wounded to this extent, with five of them likely beyond saving.

They were death warriors cultivated by the Marquis of Pingxi, unafraid of death, but being so easily crushed and slain by another was not something they could accept.

"Not worth a blow." Gu Chen said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying and the others were so infuriated that they almost blacked out from rage.

"See you off on your journey!"

With a clear ring, a dazzling sword light flashed by, and at the same time, eight heads soared into the air, as blood spurted like fountains from the severed necks of the eight headless bodies, splashing up three to four feet high.

"Since you came together, naturally, you should leave together. All neat and orderly, it will be good company on the road to the yellow springs," Gu Chen said softly.

As his inner energy settled within his body, the towering and mighty figure of the Furious Dharma King behind him also gradually dissipated, swiftly vanishing as if it had never appeared.

To Gu Chen, this affair was but a minor interlude, not worth mentioning. Meanwhile, this battle made him even more aware of his own strength.

Even Vajra Stage warriors who had reached the Copper Cast Iron Forged realm couldn't withstand a single blow from him. Perhaps, only those with a body like a wild dragon, capable of close combat, could possibly compete with Gu Chen in arm-wrestling.

Afterward, without choosing to rest, Gu Chen continued on his journey. Two more days passed, and he finally arrived at the city of the Qiongtian Mansion.

The city before him was grand and vast, though not as continuous or comparable to the boundless mountain ranges like Tiandu, but it was still a colossal city in its own right.

The city of the Qiongtian Mansion was called Qiongtian City, with a permanent population close to one million. Gu Chen entered the city, and now at midday, the city was bustling with people flowing like water, extremely lively.

Leading his horse down the main street, Gu Chen inquired with a passerby before heading straight for the City Lord's residence.

Upon showing the waist tablet representing his status from the Jing Tian Department, the Qiongtian Mansion's city master, after hearing the news, soon came out personally to welcome Gu Chen.

The city master of Qiongtian Mansion was named Wen Ziyun, a refined middle-aged man in scholar's attire, with a smiling face. He came to the entrance of the City Lord's residence to meet Gu Chen.

"I've heard of Lord Gu's awe-inspiring reputation of a 'sword that frightens the soul,' which has spread throughout the world; I have long been aware of it. Seeing you today, you are indeed a young and outstanding hero, a sight even better than one could imagine from the tales," Wen Ziyun was extremely polite from the get-go, engaging in small talk with Gu Chen and showing his goodwill.

Seeing this, Gu Chen also responded with a smile, beginning his conversation with the city master of Qiongtian Mansion.

As for that title of "sword that chases souls," Gu Chen thought it was a rather distasteful, unpalatable moniker, but he could not really say much about it.

"Sword that Shocks Spirits" would sound better than that "sword that chases souls," making him sound like an assassin.

After the pleasantries, Wen Ziyun spoke to Gu Chen in a serious tone, "Lord Gu, your arrival is timely. I have just received reports that there have been several demon spirits spotted around the city. Fortunately, you have come. If it's convenient, I hope you can go to handle the situation as soon as possible."