The Lone Demonic Sect and the Faltering Disciple

[You had once witnessed the brutal slaying of evil cultivators.]

[These cultivators, bolstered by the faith of their ancestors, were far more formidable, capable of reducing living beings to a mere mist of blood in an instant.]

[You still vividly recalled the despair in the eyes of a particularly handsome man, whose legs had been broken before he was bound and dragged back to his sect.]

[Recognizing the futility of confronting such power, you promptly resolved to flee.]

[You resolved to adopt a strategy of cautious evasion.]

[Having exhausted all your savings from the past year, you made your escape to the tumultuous Southern Lands.]

[While chaotic, the Southern Lands were undeniably a realm overflowing with unforeseen opportunities.]

[You shrewdly seized an opportune moment, disrupting the mental state of an evil cultivator during their breakthrough, which ultimately led to their demise, bleeding from all seven orifices.]

[To your astonishment, you discovered you could absorb half of their cultivation.]

[Consequently, you established your roots in this place, founding a demonic sect consisting solely of yourself.]

****

Five years later.

In the Goblin Caverns.

Though its peaks soared into the clouds, the Goblin Caverns lacked any semblance of the ethereal aura typically found in a cultivator’s abode; instead, the structures were starkly simple and rustic.

Despite the cavern’s immense size, only its innermost depths were truly utilized, furnished sparingly, much like a primitive dwelling.

A solitary table, a single bed.

Disregarding the disarray of his surroundings, Mingqian remained engrossed in his meditative cultivation.

‘Five years… that’s truly been long enough.’

‘Though this is merely a simulated world, five years of near-total silence has me wondering if I’ll even remember how to form words.’

Mingqian sighed, a profound sense of weariness in his voice, before circulating the true qi within his dantian and slowly opening his eyes.

‘Mmm…’

A faint, dark shimmer flickered within his eyes, betraying a power that now far surpassed the Golden Core stage, showing a clear trajectory toward breaking through to Nascent Soul.

Initially, he had been utterly clueless about cultivation, yet when that malevolent cultivator met a violent end before him, Mingqian’s body had, of its own accord, astonishingly absorbed the fallen cultivator’s power.

Within this simulation, Mingqian possessed a unique talent known as the [Evil Cultivator Spiritual Root], and it seemed increasingly probable that this very spiritual root was the mechanism by which he absorbed the cultivation of others.

Through the combined effects of the [Fool] trait and the artifacts bestowed upon him by Aile, his absorption efficiency had reached a staggering 50%.

Mingqian never actively sought out challenges; the Southern Continent was far too volatile, and the evil cultivators there utterly lacked cohesion.

For them, death was as common as daily bread; even if they survived a challenge today, they would inevitably be slain by a punitive expedition dispatched by the righteous cultivators tomorrow.

Consequently, an endless stream of individuals sought to ambush or challenge him daily.

At first, Mingqian struggled to overcome the evil cultivators who dared to challenge him, yet by relying on his impenetrable defenses and the unparalleled strategic thinking granted by the [Fool] trait, many cultivators found themselves ensnared in his schemes during their very first encounter.

As his absorbed cultivation progressively intensified, he now effortlessly dispatched any who dared to approach him.

To him, these mobile sources of power were as tiresome as moths relentlessly drawn to a flame.

Numerous punitive expeditions dispatched by the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect had likewise met their defeat at his hands.

This time, he had intentionally allowed some to escape, solely so they might carry his name back to the wider cultivation world.

He had made it clear that he harbored no desire for enmity with the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect; his sole wish was to cultivate in peace.

Even without absorbing the cultivation of others, he could still diligently practice his elemental magic in this very place.

The revelation that what was known as magic power and true qi were, in fact, two entirely distinct and unrelated systems had left him utterly astounded.

This implied that he might potentially become a dual-wielding mage!

Under the profound influence of the [Fool] trait, he could now perfectly comprehend the intricate composition and practical application of magic.

‘An evil cultivator, as they call me, should certainly act the part!’ Mingqian declared, clenching his fists. ‘In this life, I am a sigma male, devoid of attraction to either women or men.’

This desolate, forgotten place was so barren that even demonic beasts shunned it.

Only a single fox he had raised, whose tails inexplicably multiplied with each passing day, kept him company.

He let out a soft sigh, recalling rumors that the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect’s most formidable figure had barely reached the Soul Transformation stage—a mere single realm above his own—and he harbored no doubt that he would emerge victorious against her.

Furthermore, he was blessed with Aile’s divine protection.

‘Heh, with this, no yandere could ever hope to harm me!’

[Your name has resounded throughout the entire Southern Continent; everyone acknowledges you as the most prodigiously talented evil cultivator.]

[The Southern Continent boasts numerous evil cultivation sects, their disciples as plentiful as clouds, yet you stand utterly alone.]

[However, the cultivation world is an ever-shifting and unpredictable realm; as a lone figure, you will inevitably find yourself overwhelmed.]

[Should you wish to continue your focused breakthroughs, assistance is paramount, thus you have finally resolved to recruit a disciple.]

[You have but one stringent requirement: the chosen disciple must possess a minimum of three spiritual roots.]

….

….

****

Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, First Peak.

Ethereal clouds coiled gracefully around the First Peak, and the crisp, clean air, along with the melodious calls of demonic beasts, gradually filled the young girl’s heart with a burgeoning sense of joy and excitement.

The girl, her verdant hair swaying with each step, quickened her pace ever so slightly.

Rumor had it that many within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect kept personal demonic beasts; she herself had witnessed fire-breathing lizards, soaring dragons, articulate owls, and a bird that proudly proclaimed itself ‘Ava.’

A wistful question formed in her mind: would she, too, one day possess her own demonic beast?

Lost in these whimsical thoughts, Qin Yumeng let out a soft, dreamy giggle.

‘What are you laughing at?’ the girl beside her inquired, casting a suspicious glance. ‘Is there something amusing?’

Six years had elapsed since her selection as an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect at the tender age of six.

Throughout these years, her cultivation had, regrettably, shown absolutely no progress, leaving her at the very bottom, the absolute last, among her peers.

Consequently, she dedicated the majority of her days to menial chores, yet she harbored no resentment.

Her mother had always impressed upon her that being chosen by the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect was a profound honor, and she hadn’t returned home in many years.

‘I… I was just thinking about my own demonic beast…’ Qin Yumeng confessed, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment that made her hesitant to speak further.

She was, after all, merely an entry-level disciple who had yet to even break through the Qi Condensation stage.

To indulge in such fanciful dreams felt utterly presumptuous, and she felt a wave of shame for entertaining such thoughts.

Indeed, the girl beside her let out an almost imperceptible chuckle, yet it was not one of mockery, but rather a wry smile tinged with a touch of worry.

‘You, my dear, should focus more on improving your cultivation, lest significant trouble befall you.’

Xiao Lin, though her contemporary, possessed an extraordinary innate talent for cultivation, having swiftly broken through from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment in a mere few years, establishing herself as a rising prodigy within the sect.

Her knowledge of current affairs far surpassed Qin Yumeng’s.

‘Trouble?’ Qin Yumeng asked, tilting her charming head and casting a sideways glance at her friend.

‘Mmm, but you mustn’t tell anyone; this is something my master confided in me…’

Despite sharing the same master, only Xiao Lin was permitted to address her as such, as if this girl alone truly held the status of her disciple.

Unaware of Qin Yumeng’s subtle discontent, Xiao Lin continued, ‘That utterly ruthless and formidable evil cultivator, Mingqian—the one responsible for the deaths of countless senior brothers and sisters—is rumored to be taking on disciples.’

‘Evil… an evil cultivator!’ Qin Yumeng exclaimed, her shoulders instinctively hunching.

She had never imagined such a terrifying term would ever escape Xiao Lin’s lips.

‘Wuwu! Xiao Lin, wuwu!’