Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 138 Betraying one's master and ancestors is a tradition of our Demonic Sect
The demon is actually myself?
Chen Yezhen never expected that, after all the twists and turns, he really was a descendant of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect.

Although I've only learned the basics, the Venerable One is probably the true founder.

However, so be it if they betray their master and ancestors. They're all in the demonic path, so they should both be mentally prepared.

Being able to be honest with Su Chunyi was the happiest thing for Chen Ye. There was no longer any barrier between them, and Chen Ye could face her clear eyes with equanimity.

It's just a matter of how the Qinghe Sword Sect will handle this; I imagine they won't stand idly by.

Chen Ye simply put aside his burdens and traveled with Su Chunyi.

When they talked about cultivation, they learned that Su Chunyi did not use the two common methods to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

There are only two reliable ways to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

First, we can have a hundred Transcendent Realm experts unite and use an array to connect their thoughts, creating an illusion that can cleanse the soul, allowing it to undergo a transformation through a hundred lifetimes. Second, we can use the Soul Cleansing Flower, which also creates an illusion to cleanse the soul.

The two are based on the same principle, but the former is much more troublesome, while the latter requires the help of the Incense Burning Sect, since the Soul Cleansing Flower is unique to the Incense Burning Sect.

The Qinghe Sword Sect couldn't gather a hundred Transcendent Realm cultivators, nor did they ask the Burning Incense Sect for Soul Cleansing Flowers; they had their own methods for achieving Nascent Soul Realm.

The sect has a sword tomb, which is also the place where cultivators of all generations have passed away.

This sword mound is somewhat similar to the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, but it is not a place where yin spirits gather. Instead, it contains the sword intent of the Qinghe Sword Sect disciples that has not yet perished.

If one can endure the refinement of sword intent within the Sword Tomb, one can also break through to the Nascent Soul stage, but the difficulty is extremely high, and there is a risk to one's life.

Before Su Chunyi, there was a disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect who tried to break through, but ultimately died in the Sword Tomb, and his own sword intent was absorbed by the Sword Tomb.

Although this method is extremely dangerous, only by undergoing the baptism of sword intent can one continue to cultivate more profound sword techniques.

Like Wang Yichen, who was stationed in Baihai Valley, he seemed inconspicuous on ordinary days, but at the critical moment, he suppressed the members of the Burning Incense Sect with a single sword strike, making them unable to raise their heads.

The Qinghe Sword Sect is the best in the world, not only because of its leader Zhang Qi, but also because every disciple in the sect is capable of standing on their own.

Chen Ye had assumed that disciples of major sects would have elders to protect them during their breakthroughs, but it seemed Su Chunyi would have to face the risks alone. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen when he himself broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

A hundred Transcendent Realm cultivators to help? I don't even know twenty Transcendent Realm cultivators.

Soul-Cleansing Flower? The Incense Burning Sect wished they could skin him alive, pull out his tendons, and refine him into a elixir.

But things will work themselves out; we can consider it further when the time comes.

When the two were alone, time seemed to fly by. Before they could even have a proper conversation, the appointed time had arrived. Chen Ye returned to the place where they had met with Wang Wancheng with a touch of reluctance, only to find Wang Wancheng already waiting there.

However, the other two had already disappeared.

Wang Wancheng explained, "Master Fangyuan from Cixin Temple has arrived and taken his disciple back. As for that Fellow Daoist Feng... I let him go back on his own."

The Qinghe Sword Sect doesn't really like people from the "Qinghe Sect." It's only because Wang Wancheng has a good temper that he's so good-natured; anyone else would have killed these people who are just trying to ride the coattails of the sect with a single sword stroke.

Wang Wancheng looked at the two walking side by side with a smile and asked, "You two have been walking all day, have you gained anything?"

Su Chun quickly explained the trouble Chen Ye had encountered.

After listening, Wang Wancheng looked at Chen Ye with considerable satisfaction. He hadn't misjudged him; Chen Ye's willingness to frankly share these secrets proved he was trustworthy.

In fact, when Wang Wancheng learned that Chen Ye was Mo Ci's disciple, he also had a strange feeling. The word "fate" was really too magical. The grudges of the previous generation could lead to the fate of the next generation.

Although Chen Ye comes from the Demonic Sect, all his actions are righteous. Now he is even willing to tell us his biggest secret. So this person is worth Su Chunyi's deep friendship.

It was worth it for me to rebuild the Ten Thousand Soul Banner for him, and it was worthy of the Qinghe Sword Sect's reputation to vouch for him.

This should have been a great thing, but when Chen Ye mentioned that venerable master, Wang Wancheng frowned deeply.

After the Baihai Valley incident, the Qinghe Sword Sect developed many grudges with the other four major sects, and the mastermind behind it all was this person.

After listening, Wang Wancheng said to Chen Ye, "I will report this matter to the sect leader. To ensure your safety, why don't you come back to Qinghe with me?"

Chen Ye was thinking the same thing; now only the Qinghe Sword Sect could save his life.

But just as he was about to agree, a cloud of black mist appeared beside him, and the phantom of the Crimson Serpent burst out from the mist.

As soon as the Crimson Serpent appeared, countless sword lights trapped it within. Chen Ye couldn't tell whether it was Wang Wancheng or Su Chun who made the move, but the Crimson Serpent seemed to be nothingness, passing directly through the sword lights and arriving in front of Chen Ye.

The giant snake flicked its tongue and said to Chen Ye, "You really betrayed me. It seems I had good judgment; I've chosen a good seedling to become a demon."

Chen Ye gripped the Myriad Soul Banner tightly, not expecting the Lord to act so quickly. Wasn't he afraid of being exposed?
Wang Wancheng and Su Chunyi were even more nervous. The sword energy cage had failed to trap the opponent, so it seemed that this demon was really not easy to deal with.

Just as they were about to continue their attack, the void shattered, and an old man with white hair and beard emerged from between them and the giant snake. Upon seeing this man, Wang Wancheng and Su Chunyi hurriedly said, "Greetings, Sect Leader."

Chen Ye was shocked. This was Zhang Qi, the leader of the Qinghe Sword Sect? Judging from his appearance alone, this old man was quite ordinary.

With his hair haphazardly tied up in a bun, his simple and inconspicuous robe, and his wrinkled face that looked like he was on his deathbed, he was just an ordinary old Taoist priest.

If he hadn't emerged from that shattered void, Chen Ye would have found it hard to believe that he was the number one person in the world today.

No matter how unremarkable the old man looked, the moment he appeared, the crimson serpent shrank rapidly, revealing the true form of the Venerable Lord.

The contemporary Crimson Serpent Demon Lord bowed respectfully to Zhang Qi and said sincerely, "Junior Qu Heng greets True Man Zhang."

Zhang Qi glanced at him and then said, "You are a formidable young man. The Crimson Serpent Demon Lord of yesteryear was far inferior to you."

The Venerable One hurriedly said, "I dare not. In terms of cultivation, I am still no match for those predecessors of yesteryear."

Zhang Qi laughed and said, "I'm not talking about cultivation level. Cultivation level is just a matter of time. What I'm talking about is your ability to scheme against others. It's ten times better than the Crimson Serpent Demon Lord back then. You almost forced me to draw my sword against my fellow cultivators. The Crimson Serpent Demon Lord back then didn't have this kind of ability."

The Venerable One also laughed and said, "Master Zhang, you flatter me. When has your sword ever slain a fellow practitioner? Those who allow you to wield your sword are not fellow practitioners, are they?"

Zhang Qi shook his head and said, "Fine, I can't win an argument with you. Since you made a move, you knew I would come. Now that I'm here, what do you have to say?"

The Venerable One glanced at Chen Ye, then said, "Master Zhang, if I may be so bold as to ask, how much time do you have left?"

Zhang Qi said calmly, "Not much, but enough to kill you."

"Of course, no one in the world can withstand your sword strike. I had no intention of being enemies with the Qinghe Sword Sect; all I sought was to rebuild the Crimson Serpent Holy Sect. Unfortunately, this brat has ruined my plans time and again. Not only that, he took many benefits from me, only to betray me in the end..."

Chen Ye felt somewhat embarrassed by what the Lord had said.

Putting everything else aside, the brow bone of the Demon Lord Wujiu was a top-quality treasure, and I certainly gained a lot from it.

Zhang Qi said impatiently, "You are also a leader of a sect. Don't you feel ashamed to argue with a junior? Since you know that my days are numbered, you know that I am too lazy to listen to your nonsense. Speak your mind, or else take my sword."

Upon hearing this, countless cracks appeared around the Venerable Lord's body, as if space itself had been imprisoned, causing him to be covered in cold sweat.

Before Chen Ye, the Venerable Lord seemed omnipotent, while before Zhang Qi, even the Crimson Serpent Buddha could not save his own life.

The Venerable One hurriedly said, "Master Zhang, isn't it too wasteful to use this sword on me? If you kill me, you will either ascend to immortality or pass away peacefully, but the world will be thrown into chaos. Who will be able to suppress the ambitions of the Incense Burning Sect?"

"The Incense Burning Sect..."

Upon hearing these three words, Zhang Qi's voice also lowered.

The Venerable One continued, "Master Zhang, there was really no need for you to lay a hand on me. Since I was born, I have not done many heinous things. Was the chaos in Hundred Seas Valley truly my fault?"

"You haven't done anything immoral or heinous?"

Zhang Qi didn't believe it; the words of the Crimson Serpent Demon Lord's successor were hardly convincing.

The Venerable One continued, "Things are not what they used to be. I knew that if I wanted to make the Crimson Serpent Holy Sect a heretical sect, I would have to get past Master Zhang sooner or later. If I hadn't been prepared, how could I have dared to meet you? If you don't believe me, you can use the Heart-Questioning Technique on me. If I have done anything to harm others, you may kill me."

Zhang Qi sneered, "There is no interrogation technique in this world that can interrogate a cultivator at the Void Returning Realm, let alone with this Snake Buddha protecting you."

The Venerable One laughed and said, "Not at all, not at all. This lad just happens to have this ability. Master Zhang, he once gave a copy of his soul technique to the Qinghe Sword Sect. You should know the effects of this technique. As long as I do not interfere, this technique will also reflect my sins."

Chen Ye never expected that this would somehow end up affecting him.

Upon closer reflection, he immediately sensed something was amiss and couldn't help but say, "You probably intended to use this tactic from the very beginning. You knew I would tell the Qinghe Sword Sect the truth, so you wanted to lure Sect Leader Zhang here, didn't you?"

The Venerable Lord glared at Chen Ye and cursed, "Who would bet that Master Zhang wouldn't draw his sword? Now that things have come to this, I can only choose a compromise. If you, brat, don't betray me, why should I risk my life? There are so many benefits, and you don't even care about the cost? You dare to confess this? Are you stupid?!"

The Lord was truly helpless. He never expected that Chen Ye would be willing to take such a great risk. He didn't want the brow bone of the Demon Lord Wujiu? He didn't even want such a precious treasure as the ginseng fruit?

Just for the sake of having a clear conscience?

How fragile is this kid? He can't even handle this little bit of pressure?

But now that things have come to this, the Lord has no choice but to make the best of a bad situation and try to negotiate with Zhang Qi.

The Lord's suggestion surprised Zhang Qi somewhat. He was certainly aware of Chen Ye's soul-reflecting technique, which could indeed reveal sins, but could this demon truly be without remorse?
Seeing the change in Zhang Qi's expression, the Venerable One quickly said, "Master Zhang, I've heard that the Qinghe Sword Sect has a rule that crimes must be verified before one can take action to eliminate demons. You can't break this rule yourself. You don't have any evidence of my wrongdoing, do you?"

Zhang Qi laughed and said, "I didn't expect there would be a devil standing in front of me, so self-righteous. Alright, then I'll give you a chance."

Zhang Qi turned to Chen Ye and said, "I'd like to trouble you to take action, young friend. I want to see whether this new generation of Crimson Serpent Demon Lord is guilty or not."

(End of this chapter)