After dealing with the Buddhist monks, Ye Xuezhang was in a great mood. Finding a secluded place, he retrieved the Seventh-Grade Spirit Grass and consumed it.
The potent medicinal properties of the spirit grass were immense. Even with the Guigu Breathing Technique, it took him seven days to fully absorb its essence.
The results, however, were well worth it.
The Thousand-Illusion Garan not only enhanced his internal energy by a full ten years but also significantly refined its purity, boosting Ye Xuezhang's combat prowess to a new level.
Once he had fully absorbed the grass, Ye Xuezhang stood up and continued his journey toward Qilin Prefecture.
The system's navigation function provided a clear path to the designated sign-in location. After ten days of travel, Ye Xuezhang finally arrived at Chuanjiang City, the host city for the Heavenly Secrets Gathering.
His sign-in destination was now less than 5,000 miles away.
Coincidentally, tonight marked the start of the Heavenly Secrets Gathering.
If he chose to head to the sign-in location first, the round trip would take at least seven days, causing him to miss the gathering entirely.
After some thought, Ye Xuezhang decided to attend the gathering first. Once it was over, he could head to the sign-in location.
Given that the sign-in spot was deep within Demon Cult territory, he figured it prudent to bolster his strength with resources from the gathering before venturing further.
Relying on the Guigu Breathing Technique, Ye Xuezhang had nothing to fear about exposing his true cultivation. The technique's concealment was unparalleled—unless his opponent exceeded him by several great realms, no one could discern his strength.
To remain cautious, Ye Xuezhang checked into an inn, donned a disguise, and swapped his attire. Wrapping himself in some cloth to alter his physique, he then donned a mask he had purchased along the way.
He left Yuanhong Sword behind to avoid drawing attention, quietly slipping out of the inn and heading toward Mount Xianke, the gathering's location.
Meanwhile, at a secluded courtyard within Chuanjiang City, a blindfolded Netherworld Ghost King entered with a nine-year-old girl, Zhang Xiaoyu.
The courtyard was occupied by seven figures, both male and female.
A burly man among them laughed heartily upon seeing the Ghost King.
"Haha, Old Ghost! I heard you got injured and even lost your eyes?"
The Netherworld Ghost King replied calmly, "It's just a minor setback from Buddhist toxins. I'll recover in two or three months."
A stunning woman with a fiery figure and an air of ethereal elegance scrutinized Zhang Xiaoyu.
"And who's this little girl?"
"She's my new disciple, Ye Xiaoling," the Ghost King replied.
The woman nodded approvingly.
"This child has excellent potential."
Turning back to the Ghost King, she asked, "I heard you were saved by a mysterious swordsman?"
"That's right," the Ghost King said with a grin.
"I thought my time had come, but thanks to him, I'm still here."
A pale, shriveled man, no taller than Zhang Xiaoyu but with a face older than the Ghost King's, interjected.
"If that swordsman saved you from the hands of the Buddhist protectors, his strength must be extraordinary."
The Ghost King chuckled, his teeth gleaming eerily.
"'Extraordinary' doesn't even begin to describe it."
"One of the Thirty-Six Protectors of Buddhism, Duyuan, ranks at least within the top twenty. And yet—guess what?"
The Ghost King paused dramatically.
"That swordsman killed him with a single strike!"
His words shocked everyone present.
"A single strike?"
"Are you sure you didn't imagine it?"
The Ghost King shook his head.
"Although my eyes were blinded, my perception remained sharp, and Xiaoling witnessed it herself."
The burly man exclaimed, "If he could kill Duyuan with one move, his strength must rival that of Blood Child!"
The pale man turned to the red-clad woman.
"Grand Star Lord, could you defeat Duyuan in one move?"
The woman thought for a moment before replying, "If I took him by surprise, I'd have a seventy percent chance."
She shifted the conversation.
"I came here to inform you all of something important."
The seven figures turned their attention to her.
The Grand Star Lord spoke slowly and deliberately:
"The Cult Leader has returned."
"What?"
"The Cult Leader is back?"
"I thought she was still in Taihua Prefecture, enjoying her domestic life with her lover."
"Heh, maybe they had a lover's quarrel?"
"With her temper, if they quarreled, that guy would already be a corpse."
The Grand Star Lord shook her head.
"I've examined the sword momentum left by the swordsman who saved the Ghost King. It matches the traces from the fall of Zhaotian Sect and the death of Huntian Divine Lord. It's the same person."
"The Cult Leader's return is directly related to him."
Turning to the Ghost King, she added, "Come with me. The Cult Leader wants to see you."
Zhang Xiaoyu's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Master! Master! Can I come with you to meet the Cult Leader?"
After a moment's thought, the Ghost King nodded.
"Let's go."
"Haha! Am I really about to meet the legendary Demon Cult Leader?" Zhang Xiaoyu thought.
The first-ranked figure on the Mythic List, the one she admired the most, was finally within reach!
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