Be the Hardest Working Demon Cultivator!

Chapter 45: 45, "Stepping Stone" became an enemy of the Son of the Heavenly Mandate in this way.

Impulsive individuals dealing with urgent matters often not only fail to solve the problem but also tend to create additional troubles. This was well understood by the cultivators who descended the mountain with Long Zhangyuan.

However, they had no intention of stopping Zhao Huaiji.

This was not because Zhao Huaiji had a special status, nor because they had confidence in him, believing that despite his hot temper, he could handle the situation well.

Rather, it was because, as long as Zhao Huaiji didn’t kill all the attendees of the Anxin Charity Meeting, and only injured or disabled a few, then to them, the cultivators of Sword Disciple Mountain, it was an irrelevant matter.

Sword Disciple Mountain had been exercising patience for too many years, and now there was no need to continue doing so!

The moment Long Zhangyuan was found, and the trajectory of the Heavenly Mandate began to move, they finally made contact with ancestors who had been lost for three hundred years!

Although the connection was now very weak, allowing only brief communication with the ancestors, it was enough for the ancestors to teach them some Divine Secret Skills.

Especially the Secret Technique that could lock one’s essence and greatly slow down the aging of the body, thereby greatly extending life—a technique that has made the power of Sword Disciple Mountain unprecedentedly strong!

Those hundred-year-old ancestors who once struggled to survive due to physical limitations could now act freely.

Had it not been for the instructions from their ancestors, demanding that they wait until the Son of the Heavenly Mandate has grown successfully, otherwise, the rejuvenated ancestors would have already hosted a banquet and invited all the Immortal Sects!

"With wine we lay down our arms," applies to the Immortal Sects as well.

...

Meanwhile, at this moment, amid the spoken praises and concealed scorn from those around him, Long Zhangyuan felt he was on the verge of an outburst.

Sword Disciple Mountain had undoubtedly given him a new lease on life, so hearing these people speak of Sword Disciple Mountain in such a manner—even if they were merely using ambiguous words without overt insult—made Long Zhangyuan’s rage reach its peak.

He, Long Zhangyuan, was certainly not an ungrateful person!

Sword Disciple Mountain, not to be insulted!

Clang!

Consequently, another Sword Qi slashed out.

Although they needed to protect the Son of the Heavenly Mandate, the hardships and setbacks he ought to experience were also indispensable. Otherwise, there was no way for the Son of the Heavenly Mandate to grow.

They would only cultivate someone who relied on them for everything, appearing mighty but actually incapable of handling any significant challenge—a fancy but ineffective spearhead.

Therefore, Zhao Huaiji spontaneously decided to add another stepping stone for the Son of the Heavenly Mandate.

Yes, another one.

Because of his diary being stolen, and thousands of copies printed with his portrait explicitly left on it, several people recognized Tan Shuchang. But looking across the entire Jiawu Realm, the actual number was quite small.

Extremely few, to be precise.

Plus, a person of Zhao Huaiji’s stature would never care about a junior with such an insignificant background. Thus, although Zhao Huaiji knew that his Sect Leader brother had prepared a stepping stone named "Tan Shuchang" for Long Zhangyuan, the Son of the Heavenly Mandate, he had no idea what this stepping stone actually looked like.

Now, hearing what his uncle Zhao Huaiji said, Long Zhangyuan’s complexion changed abruptly.

And at this moment, he noticed the pile of powder at his feet.

He had no idea when his Jade Pendant could have been shattered like this, and whether he was as close to death as his uncle Zhao Huaiji had said.

Because this Jade Pendant was not a one-time use; it could withstand many attacks.

Non-fatal attacks that landed on him would only leave a hairline crack invisible to the naked eye.

"Daoist friend, it was just an accidental slip on my part; aren’t you being a bit too vicious?" Long Zhangyuan’s gaze was icy as he looked at Tan Shuchang, his face full of anger.

After all, he had almost been killed—who wouldn’t be enraged by that?

"You can make an accidental slip, but Tan Shuchang cannot?" At this moment, a voice as pleasant as that of a hundred birds chimed in, and as the voice ceased, the rampant Sword Qi was instantly suppressed.

As a consequence, Zhao Huaiji let out a muffled groan, fell to the ground, and had to retreat several steps before steadying himself.

"Luoja’s Mystical Attire, the God Concealing Drapery, what impeccable skill!" Zhao Huaiji was both shocked and furious, for he never expected a junior Cultivator to so easily dissolve his Sword Qi, and he was angry that Luoja Mountain seemed to show him no respect.

However, Zhao Huaiji immediately had to set aside his emotions, looking incredulously at Tan Shuchang and demanding, "Are you that Tan Shuchang?"