Chapter 166: Heaven Demon Sect's Recruitment

The Dueling Arena had been reduced to ruins due to the breakthrough into the True Intent Realm, and rebuilding it would likely require considerable effort.

Those who had fled earlier now returned, all shocked by the sight of the wreckage before them.

Jiang Yan offered no further explanation. He called Yang Qing over and assigned him the task of overseeing the reconstruction.

Afterward, Jiang Yan returned to Wind-Wounded Cliff to continue refining his Spiritual Power.

Lamp, Pool, Spring, Abyss, Cave Heaven, Tide.

With his current Abyss-level Spiritual Power, it was time for Jiang Yan to test the hypothesis he had formed earlier.

That was—to move the Spirit Platform, relocating its other half into the Divine Martial Space.

If the plan succeeded, his Spirit Platform would enter an untargetable state, making it impossible for anyone to locate it thereafter.

The Cave Heaven Realm held profound mysteries, and the spiritual energy required would be immense.

For other Martial Artists, this would be a daunting challenge, but Jiang Yan was not concerned.

His absorption efficiency was fast enough to avoid many detours.

As for Spiritual Power techniques, he had yet to master any.

However, the Trait [Soul Shock] he had acquired earlier was quite versatile. In practice, he found it could not only suppress an enemy’s Physical Body but also exert a certain degree of suppression on their Spiritual Power.

It was quite useful, though not exceptionally so.

Against those stronger than him, the suppression was limited; against those weaker, it was unnecessary.

Lost in thought, Jiang Yan felt his Spirit Platform tremble within his consciousness, wisps of Spiritual Power drifting out.

“It’s moving!”

Driven by his Abyss-level Spiritual Power, Jiang Yan’s hypothesis was quickly put into practice. The Spirit Platform slowly rose, trembling and inching forward within his Divine Sense.

In the outside world, Jiang Yan was drenched in sweat.

Moving the Spirit Platform consumed an astonishing amount of energy. In just a few seconds, he felt overwhelming exhaustion, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Finally, relying on instinct, Jiang Yan managed to move the Spirit Platform two meters.

Why rely on instinct?

Because he had no idea where the Divine Martial Space was!

Moving it without direction might only take him farther away.

But without moving it, he would never find the Divine Martial Space.

Wind-Wounded Cliff was silent and desolate, with black crows occasionally flying by. When corrupted by malevolent spirits, they would plummet into the abyss, becoming part of the nourishment accumulated over millennia.

At this moment, however, a man was braving the surging remnants of souls, cursing under his breath as he wandered along the cliffside, seemingly searching for something.

“Damn it, is Jiang Yan human or a ghost? How can he stand staying in a place like this?”

“What do you think?”

Suddenly, the man felt a chill run down his spine, shuddering as he recalled the voice he had just heard.

In the next moment, he took a step back, bumping into the cliff wall, and finally saw the newcomer clearly.

“Jiang Yan!”

Whoosh!

A Saber pierced through the Void, embedding itself in the stone wall just a centimeter from the man’s head.

“Speak. What do you want? I’m short on time, so I hope you’ll make it quick.”

Jiang Yan yawned, having expended too much mental energy earlier while moving the Spirit Platform. All he wanted now was a good sleep.

“Don’t attack! We’re friends!”

The man was terrified, his Divine Soul nearly shattered by the Saber pressed against his neck, and he pleaded urgently.

“Oh? Tell me, how did we become friends?”

Jiang Yan still did not withdraw his Saber, merely watching the man with an ambiguous smile.

“Jiang Yan, I came here to propose a collaboration. Have you heard of the Heaven Demon Sect?”

The man spoke quickly, fearing that any delay might cost him his life.

“Heaven Demon Sect?”

“Right, the Heaven Demon Sect!”

“Never heard of it, what do they do?”

The man was at a loss for words, forcing himself to explain: “The Heaven Demon Sect is a sect dedicated to studying the progress of human Martial Way. Though not understood by the world, everyone there is willing to oppose the world for the advancement of the Martial Way!”

The man grew more and more excited as he spoke, and when mentioning the Heaven Demon Sect again, his expression became reverent, as if in worship.

“Or rather, we originally weren’t called the Heaven Demon Sect, but… the Heavenly God Sect!”

Slap!

A red mark appeared on the man’s face.

Jiang Yan withdrew his hand, saying calmly, “Speak plainly.”

The man covered his face indignantly, his voice choked with emotion:

“We are the Anti-Sect Faction.”

Jiang Yan: “Oh~ so you’re the villains~”

“But this is only temporary. Sooner or later, our achievements will be accepted by the world, and that day won’t be far off!”

Slap!

Jiang Yan slapped the man again, and his head quickly swelled up like a pig’s.

“Stop making empty promises. Tell me, what does an Anti-Sect Faction member like you want with me?”

The man forcibly suppressed the anger in his chest, speaking humbly:

“Jiang Yan, join our Heaven Demon Sect.”

Jiang Yan looked at him as if he were an idiot: “What’s in it for me?”

The man was overjoyed—no refusal meant there was room for negotiation!

“Well… if you join our Heaven Demon Sect, you will gain the power of demons!”

“You’ve seen Pei Qin, aren’t you envious of his abilities?”

Jiang Yan was speechless. Are you even listening to yourself?

“So what? Pei Qin is dead, and I’m alive. Why should I envy a dead man?”

“No, you must have used some other method to kill Pei Qin. There must be higher-ups from Tianyuan Star behind it. Don’t think I’m as easily fooled as those idiots outside!”

The man was certain, clearly brainwashed by the so-called Heaven Demon Sect before coming to see Jiang Yan.

“Sigh, you already know I have Tianyuan Star higher-ups behind me, yet you still came to find me. Are you stupid, or are the people behind you not very smart?”

Jiang Yan’s words hit the mark, instantly leaving the man dumbfounded.

“That’s right, the Helmsman told me Jiang Yan had the chance to kill Pei Qin because he had Tianyuan Star higher-ups behind him, but… if he has Tianyuan Star behind him, why would we, as the Anti-Sect Faction, try to recruit someone from the official side?”

“Isn’t that contradictory?”

The man began to question the Helmsman’s words, but his ingrained brainwashing quickly made him overlook this flaw.

He spoke up: “No matter who is behind you, joining our Heaven Demon Sect will bring you nothing but benefits!”

Jiang Yan looked increasingly bored: “Can your sect leader defeat the authorities?”

The man placed a hand on his chest, as if performing some kind of ritual: “Of course, the sect leader is the earthly incarnation of the Sky Demon, invincible to all!”

“Then can he protect me?”

“How so?”

Jiang Yan thought for a moment and said: “Hmm… like letting me shit and piss on the Martial God’s head.”

“What are you saying? That’s the Martial God, even our sect leader has to show some respect!”

“Seems your sect leader isn’t all that impressive~” Jiang Yan mocked with a smirk.

“How dare you! Insulting the sect leader is like insulting Master Sky Demon. You, Jiang Yan, have lost your chance to enter the Heaven Demon Sect. You will forever fall into the painful cycle of Reincarnation.”

“Master Sky Demon will seize the secrets of heaven, overturn life and death, and your Soul will forever burn in the fires of karma—”

Sizzle—

Jiang Yan swept his saber across the man’s neck, then tossed the body into the endless abyss below.

“It seems even the noble Sky Demon Master couldn’t protect you from my blade.”

“But…”

“Why target me? And why send this fool?”

“Was it a genuine attempt to recruit me, or something else?”

Ever since he killed Pei Qin, threads of Karma had begun to entangle him.

He didn’t believe the Heaven Demon Sect would truly seek to recruit him.

Just then, a sinister voice drifted up from the depths of the abyss.

“Do you… truly believe you can kill me?”

Jiang Yan lowered his gaze slightly, offering no reply.

Yet, above the Cliff of Wounding Winds, a colossal gray-white saber blotted out the sky, trembling precariously.