Chapter 12: Slaying Demon Festival

The third day of the third lunar month.

Two spacious carriages stopped outside the gates of Jade Sun Palace. Ge Yu, the dean of Mirror Lake Dao Academy, stepped out from the first carriage. From the carriage behind, six Dao Academy disciples alighted, including Meng Chuan, Wu Qi, and Wan Mang. The carriage compartment was very spacious, allowing the six of them to sit comfortably without feeling crowded.

“Jade Sun Palace,” Meng Chuan and the other five looked up at the palace. Jade Sun Palace was considered a sacred place in the entire Eastning Prefecture, and the Jade Sun Palace Master was also the most powerful being in the prefecture.

Legend had it that Yuanchu Mountain had built a Jade Sun Palace in every prefectural city of the Great Zhou Dynasty. They also dispatched a disciple to preside over each Jade Sun Palace, with the Palace Master being the strongest force safeguarding a prefecture. The most powerful Godfiend in Eastning Prefecture over the past century, the Old Ancestor of the Zhang family, also joined Yuanchu Mountain and was now stationed in a different region.

“Follow me in,” Ge Yu said, walking ahead. Meng Chuan and the other five followed, stepping through the gates of Jade Sun Palace together.

Just then, several more luxurious carriages arrived from behind, and people began to disembark. Meng Chuan and his companions glanced back.

“Hmm?” Meng Chuan immediately spotted Yun Qingping, and also Yun Fuan. Yun Fuan had even brought his wife along.

“The Jade Sun Palace Demon Slaying Grand Event is a rare spectacle in Eastning Prefecture,” Dean Ge Yu remarked casually. “Both the imperial court and the five great Godfiend families are permitted to send representatives. However, each family is limited to a maximum of ten attendees.”

“It’s Meng Chuan,” Yun Qingping, who was with her family members, also saw Meng Chuan. At this moment, her heart was filled with complex emotions. After all, ever since she was old enough to understand, she had been told – ‘That is the person you will marry and spend your life with!’

Although she had successfully broken off the engagement, he remained different from others in her heart. And not long after the engagement was annulled… Meng Chuan soared to prominence, comprehending a secret technique and becoming a dazzling genius in the entire Eastning Prefecture. Even her family members and friends gossiped about it, which naturally unsettled her. However, Yun Qingping knew clearly that she had no regrets, because no matter how powerful Meng Chuan became, he was not what she wanted.

“You young ones, pay close attention,” Yun Fucheng, the burly patriarch of the Yun family, said to the six younger generation members. “When you turn twenty and enlist for military service, you will all have to fight monsters to the death. This time, you will witness the ferocity of demons with your own eyes. If any of you are scared and close your eyes, you’ll be confined to a quiet room for ten days!”

“Yes, Father (or Uncle),” Yun Qingping and the six young men and women obediently replied.

Yun Fucheng was the eldest of the Yun family and the most outstanding among the three prominent figures. During his military service at Qinyang Pass, he achieved exceptional merits. He not only comprehended ‘Momentum’ but also successfully formed a ‘Core’. However, he sustained damage to his foundation by using forbidden techniques for too long during his battles with demons, forever losing any hope of becoming a Godfiend.

“Big Brother, let’s go in quickly; we shouldn’t block the palace entrance,” Yun Fuan said with a continuous smile. He always greeted his elder brother with a smile, and even when scolded, he had to meekly endure it! There was no other choice; in the military at Qinyang Pass and in the eyes of the imperial court, his elder brother Yun Fucheng was far more respected.

“Hmm, let’s go in,” Yun Fucheng nodded. Both brothers entered Jade Sun Palace with their wives and the six younger generation members of their family.

Within Jade Sun Palace, on a spacious plaza, stood a large arena with numerous seats arranged around it. The Eight Great Dao Academies, the Five Great Families, the imperial court officials, and Jade Sun Palace each had their designated seating areas.

Meng Chuan naturally took his seat among the Mirror Lake Dao Academy’s contingent.

“Chuan’er,” Patriarch Meng Yanping and Meng Dajiang had also brought eight younger members of the Meng family to gain experience. Meng Dajiang even winked at Meng Chuan.

“My old man,” Meng Chuan mumbled.

“Many youngsters from various families have arrived,” Meng Chuan quickly noticed. Typically, the five great families sent two or three high-ranking members to lead a group of younger generation members, all for the purpose of broadening their horizons. “Only the Yun family, whose patriarch Yun Fucheng and Yun Fuan, surprisingly brought their wives. That makes sense… the Yun family probably only has these six youngsters between the ages of six and twenty.”

The Yun family was sparsely populated. The Yun family’s Old Ancestor was the first generation, followed by the second generation with five sons and one daughter. The third generation consisted of Yun Qingping’s generation… The entire Yun family comprised only a few dozen people. To attend the Jade Sun Palace Demon Slaying Grand Event, all eligible younger members were present, and they could even bring their wives along. Meanwhile, among the other four great families, the internal competition for their younger members to attend and watch the event was incredibly fierce.

“The Jade Sun Palace Master is here.” Immediately, everyone stood up. Everyone present rose to their feet; even the prefect from the imperial court stood up and even stepped forward to greet him.

“The Jade Sun Palace Master?” Meng Chuan also looked on from a distance.

He was a tall, burly young man. His entire being seemed carved from jade, and with each step he took, he appeared to be the most dazzling presence in all of heaven and earth. His gaze was brilliant; when he looked upon them, everyone instinctively lowered their heads slightly, not daring to meet his eyes. This was the most powerful being in Eastning Prefecture, the guardian deity protecting it. He was also a Godfiend who had emerged from Yuanchu Mountain!

The Jade Sun Palace Master walked to the main seat and sat down directly. Even while seated, an invisible aura of power subtly enveloped the surroundings. Even the most uninhibited Dean Ge Yu became cautiously well-behaved in front of the Jade Sun Palace Master.

“Hmm?” It was then that Meng Chuan and his companions noticed a slender young man and a white-robed boy standing on either side behind the Jade Sun Palace Master.

“That slender young man is Mei Yuanzhi, but who is the white-robed boy?” Meng Chuan wondered.

“Senior Brother Meng, do you know who that white-robed boy is?” Wan Mang whispered, asking.

“I don’t recognize him,” Meng Chuan shook his head.

“It’s understandable for Mei Yuanzhi to stand behind the Jade Sun Palace Master, but who is that white-robed boy?” People in other areas also murmured, clearly everyone had noticed the white-robed boy.

At this point, the Prefect stepped forward, surveyed the surroundings, and declared in a loud voice, “Esteemed guests, the Jade Sun Palace Demon Slaying Grand Event occurs once every three years, as decreed by Yuanchu Mountain. Its purpose is to train the young heroes of each prefecture, allowing them to engage in combat with demons beforehand and truly experience their might before entering the battlefield. This way, when they eventually step onto the battlefield, they will have a better chance of survival. All of you should understand Yuanchu Mountain’s benevolent intentions.”

“Now, listen carefully to the rules of this Demon Slaying Grand Event, all you young heroes,” the Prefect announced loudly. “This time, when you step onto the arena to fight demons to the death, if you find yourselves unable to resist, you can simply jump off the arena to save your life. You needn’t worry about accidents, because with the Palace Master present, no accidents can occur.” As he spoke, the Prefect even smiled at the Jade Sun Palace Master.

“Of course, outside interference is prohibited on the arena; even if you die in battle, there will be no complaints. These are the rules of the Demon Slaying Grand Event, and no one may violate them,” the Prefect said coldly. “I can tell you upfront that historically, there have been those who died on this arena, and many who suffered broken limbs. If you are afraid, you may directly forfeit this opportunity.”

No one would forfeit. During military service, battlefields were far more dangerous than this event. If one were to forfeit this opportunity, they would be ridiculed and looked down upon by the entire Eastning Prefecture.

“Very well, let the Demon Slaying Grand Event begin,” the Prefect announced before returning to his seat.

A prison cart slowly approached. Inside the cart was a bipedal pig demon. This pig demon stood roughly four meters tall, its body covered in thick fat and black fur. Its eyes stared at the numerous people sitting outside its cage, filled with hatred and murderous intent.

“Behave yourself,” said a one-armed man pulling the prison cart. Upon hearing the one-armed man’s voice, the pig demon’s body trembled, and a hint of fear appeared in its eyes.

“If you win on the arena, you’ll get a full meal. If you can kill a human youth, you’ll enjoy ten days of delicious food and fine wine,” the one-armed man said. “But you must not leave the arena. If you dare step outside, you will be cut into a thousand pieces and die!”

“I know,” the pig demon replied in a low, human-like voice.

The prison cart arrived beside the arena, and the cage door was opened.

“Go on,” the one-armed man said coldly. With a single stride, the pig demon leaped onto the arena. Heavy chains still bound its wrists and ankles, clanking as they hit the arena floor.

Meng Chuan watched intently. He could faintly sense the immense power the pig demon possessed, and its black bristles were as tough as heavy armor. The pig demon looked around with murderous intent; to it, every human around was an enemy! The madness in its eyes, and the intense hatred and killing intent, caused some of the human youths to tremble. The youngest boy from the Yun family, only eight years old, was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he clung tightly to his mother.

“Don’t cling!” Yun Fuan snapped at his son, then gave his wife a cold stare. “A doting mother spoils her child!”

At this moment, a court official looked through a list and announced loudly, “Disciples of the Marrow Cleansing Realm will ascend the arena first. The first one is Zhang Rushang from Blazing Sun Dao Academy.”