Chapter 338 The Hunter Who Killed Immortals (89)



(Secret Headquarters Of The Crimson Demon Sect)

(Hidden Mountain Range- Temple Of Agar)

When Xu Lu opened her eyes, she found herself standing in the centre of an expansive circular chamber around the size of a football field.

Towering walls made from stone enclosed the arena and every inch of each wall was covered in dark purple writings that glowed with an eerie light.

She looked down and discovered that the arena floor was made of polished obsidian which dimly showed her reflection.

The entire space was illuminated by a faint orangish-red glow, but she could not tell where the source of light was coming from.

Wait…

Xu Lu squinted slightly and saw enormous mystical braziers hidden beneath the shadows of the towering walls.

Inside each brazier was a flame that burned with an otherworldly intensity. 

This entire place seemed like it belonged to a different plane of existence as if it was both a dream and reality at the same time.

The former saintess cautiously looked around some more and waited to see what would happen next.

According to Yang Xia, she would have to face challengers over the next three days and these battles could end in death.

She would be risking her life to become the successor.

Xu Lu slowly exhaled, and a faint white mist escaped her mouth. 

She withdrew her plain longsword from the sheath attached to her waist and the edge of the blade gleamed softly under the dim lighting.

"Quite an unremarkable weapon," a melodic voice suddenly spoke.

Xu Lu quickly turned in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man wearing dull grey robes looking at her with a kindly expression on his face.

"No need to be so cautious… I am but an echo," the mysterious elder laughed as he gestured at his body.

Xu Lu furrowed her brows in confusion as she realised that the elderly man was hovering slightly above the ground and his body seemed partially transparent.

"A wisp of spiritual energy and consciousness left behind by a man who had too many regrets," the elder joked in a lighthearted tone.

"Don't know why he trapped me in this place but hey! Can't really complain when I get a free show of entertainment every couple of hundred of years or was it thousands?"

"Hmm… can't really remember… time is a funny thing!"

He stepped closer to Xu Lu and stretched out his palm. His hand went straight through her skin and exited the other side.

It was a bizarre sight and Xu Lu was shocked to realise that she didn't feel anything. The elder withdrew his hand and continued to smile.

"So, judging from that amulet you must be the successor!" the elder exclaimed with glee as he clapped his hands together.

"This will be so exciting! There will probably be many fools who think that they can take your place… man… this brings back memories…"

"Wait… what was I talking about again? Sorry… been 'alive' for so long that my memories are kind of fuzzy…"

"Ahh yes!" 

"A fight will only end if you finish off your opponent or they surrender. Either way they will be kicked out of this space, and you will have time to heal your injuries."

"Best of luck kiddo!"

The elder waved his hand wildly like a child and then vanished. 

Xu Lu was taken aback by the entire encounter and numerous questions surfaced in her mind.

That person was a leftover wisp of spiritual energy? But who did the energy belong to? How long had he been trapped in this arena?

Was he mentally well?

The answer to that question was probably not.

Xu Lu sat down cross-legged on the ground and took in a several deep breaths. She began to circulate the demonic qi in her meridians around her body.

She could feel a warm current flowing around her insides and this heat was so intense that she felt as though she was burning up alive.

Dark markings appeared on her skin and these patches of crimson began to glow and pulsate with a rhythm similar to a heartbeat.

She felt invincible.

No one would stand in her way. 

She would get her revenge and crush the Holy Sword Sect… she would make her former master and sect leader pay for their betrayal.

And why stop there?

Everyone who wronged her should be punished.

Xu Lu's emotions grew wildly out of control as the demonic qi forced out her true emotions. She suddenly felt a surge of desire as a face appeared in her mind.

The face belonged to a beautiful mortal goddess who had captivated her. She wore a simple hemp dress but in Xu Lu's eyes she was a queen.

Jiang Xin.

Why should she be alone in this awful world? 

She deserved romance… no… more than that… she could not stand the thought of Jiang Xin being with someone else.

No one should touch her.

She was mine… MINE… MINE!

Xu Lu growled darkly as a faint crimson mist began to spread outwards from the corners of her eyes.

She needed to become the successor and leave this place immediately. Her lover was waiting for her to escape.

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(Meanwhile)

(Outside The Temple)

The mood had shifted once the masked woman entered the temple's door and disappeared into the darkness.

The succession ceremony had officially begun.

Many cultivators looked at each other and even though they all wanted to compete, there were few who wanted to be the first to move.

Finally, a sickly young man who looked to be on the verge of death swore under his breath and approached the stone steps.

He walked up the steps with laborious movements. His back was bent so far forward that he looked as though he was on the verge of collapse.

His efforts were the catalyst and soon other members of the demonic sect who wished to challenge the successor followed his lead.

Soon dozens of people were crawling, walking, or barely moving up the steps. Meanwhile the inner and true disciples watched from a distance.

The succession ceremony would last for three days. 

There was an advantage in going later since the masked woman would be mentally and physically exhausted from the constant fights.

Was it an honourable way of thinking? 

Absolutely not but demonic cultivators cared little for notions of honour.

Finally, the slender disciple reached the obelisk, and he lightly touched it using his right palm. 

The massive stone structure glowed ominously and then the same door that Xu Lu had entered swung open.

Only cultivators at the same cultivation level or lower could challenge the successor during the ceremony.

Since the masked woman was a qi tide cultivator that meant that those in the void stage and beyond could not take part.

Not that there were many individuals who fit into that category.

The sickly disciple opened his mouth to say something, but his body was immediately sucked into the door which closed with a bang.

The next disciple in line was a beautiful woman with light hazel coloured hair. She had an innocent smile on her face and gave off a harmless aura like a sweet puppy.

She touched the obelisk, but no door opened.

"You will need to wait until the fight has ended," Yang Xia coldly spoke as she saw the woman looking around in confusion.

The woman nodded her head in understanding and waited patiently to see when the doors would open.

Hopefully the disciple who went before her would be able to significantly injure the successor before dying.

BOOM!

A loud explosion rocked the arena and a figure appeared on the opposite side. 

Xu Lu slowly rose up from the ground and saw a sickly-looking disciple staring at her with a serious expression on his face.

He stretched out his arm and his pale white flesh looked ghostly. The disciple did not say any words before pulling two daggers out of his robe and rushing forward.

A bloodthirsty grin spread across his face, but his killing intent did not faze Xu Lu even the slightest.

Demonic Sword Arts- Crimson Lightning!

Xu Lu stepped forward and a wave of terrible pressure emanated from her body. The disciple's eyes widened in terror as the ground beneath his feet cracked.

The former saintess swung her blade casually and a wave of crackling red lightning shot forward from the tip of her weapon.

The lightning slammed directly into the disciple's body, and he collapsed on the ground twitching and moaning in pain.

Xu Lu vanished from the spot and reappeared directly above his body. Her eyes were completely crimson with a hint of gold flashing around the edges of her pupils.

She could see a faint golden thread extended from the collapsed disciple's chest. Xu Lu touched the thread, and the sins of the fallen disciple entered her mind.

Xu Lu's face contorted into a fierce scowl as she swung her sword and neatly decapitated the injured disciple.

He was a mass murderer. 

He experimented using the bodies of mortal children to use forbidden techniques.

He deserved the same death which he had brought upon the innocent.