Chapter 533: Knife Called God

The Woodcutter Saint looked across, where several demon gods had brought their prized disciples. These young demonic masters were incredibly fierce, each possessing an immensely powerful and terrifying physique, clearly experienced experts who had faced life-and-death situations. Having dealt with the demon race before, he knew their formidable strength. In terms of physical prowess alone, even the most gifted divine practitioners of the Primordial Realm, those with the potential to become true gods, were slightly inferior to the demons.

Furthermore, due to frequent conflicts, the Primordial Realm often had to wage war with the demon race. This made it difficult to establish academies and schools like those in Eternal Peace, or to form large-scale sects. As a result, gods often personally selected and instructed talented individuals. This approach had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that with direct instruction from gods and demons, practitioners became extremely powerful elites, ensuring an unbroken lineage of divine arts and abilities in the Primordial Realm, and allowing god-level cultivation techniques to be passed down. For example, Sang was personally taught by her father, Sang. The disadvantage was that individuals only learned what their masters taught them, making it difficult to acquire the unique skills of others. For instance, Sang practiced her father's cultivation techniques and divine arts exclusively. Even if she learned a few techniques from others, it was unlikely they would teach her with the same dedication as her father did. While specializing in one's own techniques allowed for mastery, it also meant that, in Qin Mu's view, the divine arts and abilities of the Primordial Realm showed little progress, significantly lagging behind those of Eternal Peace.

Just as Qin Mu could discern this, so too could the Woodcutter Saint. The Woodcutter Saint glanced at Qin Mu, who was still forging iron, and felt a flicker of doubt. "I noticed him in danger on the battlefield, so I used a divine art that he could comprehend. He immediately learned it and escaped safely. Logically, this disciple of mine should be extraordinarily talented, having cultivated my techniques to a profound level to grasp my divine art in an instant. But now, why does he seem so unreliable? Did I truly misjudge him?"

At that moment, another god approached, bowing as he spoke: "Heavenly Teacher, the Primordial Realm's Seven Stars Realm experts have arrived!" The Woodcutter Saint looked at the approaching young experts from the Primordial Realm and nodded gently. "Let them enter."

Sang looked around excitedly, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She turned to Qin Mu beside her and said, "Thresher, that girl is Yu He, the top-ranked divine practitioner in the Seven Stars Realm!"

Qin Mu pulled a sword from the forge, inspected it, found it wasn't ready, and put it back.

Sang was thrilled, telling Qin Mu, "Yu He is the disciple of True God Pang Yu. She passed the God-Suppressing Pagoda trial and, during the Battle of Master City, killed three young True Demon-level experts of the demon race. She's hailed as the number one in the Seven Stars Realm! She's that very pretty woman with her hair piled high like a small pagoda!"

Black Tiger God looked over. The woman named Yu He had a calm expression. She removed her earrings and bracelet, then straightened her clothes, clearly ready for a life-or-death battle at any moment. "Indeed, not bad, she's an expert." Black Tiger God praised, "She removed all unnecessary accessories to ensure her movements are unhindered, a sign of someone who has fought countless battles."

Sang suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Thresher, quick, look! All ten of the Seven Stars Realm's top divine practitioners are here... Wait, two are missing. Could they have died in battle?"

Qin Mu, engrossed in his forging, suddenly transformed into the true form of Stellar Lord Chenxing, with red hair and a serpent's body. He drew forth a wisp of water vapor to cool a flying sword, then grasped it, infused it with vital qi, and with a rub of his hands, condensed the gleaming sword into a small pellet. He nodded in satisfaction.

Sang was inexplicably excited, saying, "Look, that's Shu Yao! His master was True God Yan Shuo, but unfortunately, True God Yan Shuo died in battle during his last decisive fight with Bao Riluo... But Shu Yao is truly formidable, embodying his master's style. His cultivation techniques are overbearing, his divine arts fierce, and he follows the path of physical sanctification!"

Black Tiger God looked at Shu Yao, noting the young man's composed demeanor. He remained unflustered even when facing numerous gods and demons, prompting Black Tiger God to commend him: "Much more composed than Thresher; Thresher's expression changed many times on the way here. This Shu Yao is also an expert."

Shu Yao and the others approached. He was an extremely steady young man with a calm and extraordinary demeanor. The few individuals accompanying him were also exceptional. Both men and women, they all exuded a strong aura of killing intent, suggesting they had just returned from a battlefield.

Sang was overjoyed, telling Qin Mu, "Every young expert who emerges from the God-Suppressing Pagoda is a legend! Over there is Huang Yue, who has participated in numerous major battles and has distinguished himself with brilliant military exploits! He is also a disciple of True God Pang Yu and was the fastest to pass the God-Suppressing Pagoda's trial, though he ranks a bit lower, at third place!"

Qin Mu put away the refined flying sword and busily stuffed all the other flying swords from the pellet into the Departing Fire.

Black Tiger God looked at Huang Yue, who was clearly a martial arts enthusiast. Even in the current situation, he continued to cultivate, constantly activating his techniques even while walking, with wisps of cloud-like qi floating above his head. His cultivation technique was quite unique. He had already refined his primordial spirit, and though it couldn't yet leave his body, he could already make it absorb and expel vital qi. The cloud wisps above his head were a phenomenon caused by his primordial spirit condensing vital qi. "This person's cultivation is incredibly profound!" Black Tiger God's eyes lit up as he praised, "Another martial arts fanatic. His mind is pure and unburdened by other thoughts. His singular focus naturally makes his mental state strong enough! Thresher, and you, little girl with the long braid, you should both learn from them."

Sang knew he was giving her advice and quickly nodded.

Black Tiger God looked at Qin Mu, who again took out a pile of flying swords, inserted them into the fire, and diligently hammered them, refining impurities. Black Tiger God's face darkened.

Yu He walked over, her gaze falling on Qin Mu, who was busy forging flying swords. She slightly furrowed her brow and asked Sang, "Junior Sister Sang, who is this?"

Sang looked at her with admiration and smiled, "This is Qin Mu, from another world. The 'Qin' is the 'Qin' of 'thresher'. Senior Sister, your name resounded throughout the world after the Battle of Master City..."

Yu He's expression dimmed. "But Master City still fell into enemy hands. The demon race's strength is indeed somewhat greater than ours, but our divine practitioners in the Primordial Realm are not weaker than the demons. They merely rely on sheer numbers!"

Shu Yao walked over and smiled gently at Sang, saying, "Sister Sang, you haven't entered the God-Suppressing Pagoda yet, have you? I see your current cultivation and strength are extraordinary, much improved from before. You'll definitely pass the God-Suppressing Pagoda's trial."

Sang was greatly encouraged. Shu Yao looked at Qin Mu, slightly frowning, and whispered, "Who is this?"

"Qin Mu, the Thresher."

Yu He sighed helplessly. "He's from another world, a bit eccentric, and came all the way here to forge iron."

Sang's face flushed slightly as she whispered, "Qin Mu is very powerful. He has a gate I've never seen before; wherever it passes, not a blade of grass grows, and it's killed many demon experts. He also has a Grand Lunar Jade Eye that even Bound Winged Owl was shot dead by. His mathematical arts are exceptionally high, but his medical skills are even higher than his mathematical arts, and his forging skills are also superior to his mathematical arts..."

"Bound Winged Owl, Bao Riluo's disciple, was shot dead by him?" Everyone was startled and looked towards Qin Mu, only to see him still forging. Yu He calmly said, "Senior Brother Qin's treasures are indeed extraordinary."

The others nodded in agreement. Bound Winged Owl was very famous among the younger generation, an expert of the Celestial Human Realm. For Qin Mu to have killed him, it must have been due to the power of that so-called Grand Lunar Jade Eye.

Sang quickly interjected, "It wasn't entirely due to the treasure; the main reason is Thresher's extremely high proficiency in mathematical arts. He said he calculated Bound Winged Owl's next move using mathematical arts, which allowed him to shoot Bound Winged Owl dead with the Grand Lunar Jade Eye..." As she spoke, her confidence wavered.

"Mathematical arts?" The others shook their heads. Huang Yue said indifferently, "What use are mathematical arts? They don't boost combat strength at all and only take up cultivation time."

Black Tiger God coughed and stated gravely, "Each of you, calm your minds first. There will be a fierce battle shortly! Just now, my master and Bao Riluo exchanged blows several times, with no clear victor. That's why this proposal was made, to let the younger generation compete and decide the ownership of Li City! Whether we can capture Li City depends on your abilities!"

Shu Yao glanced at Qin Mu, who was still forging iron, and frowned. "How can Senior Brother calm his mind by forging iron here?" The others nodded in agreement.

Black Tiger God said helplessly, "Bear with him a bit. His mental cultivation isn't as profound as yours, so he needs to forge iron to steady his mind."

Suddenly, Huang Yue's gaze fixed intently on the opposite side, his voice a little hoarse. "Zhe Huali, Bao Riluo's most favored disciple! I encountered him on the battlefield; I nearly died by his hand in the darkness, fortunately, reinforcements arrived."

Shu Yao also stared at the young demonic expert, the long blade on his back clanging and humming. He whispered, "I've also fought him and lost. Perhaps only Senior Sister Yu He can defeat him..."

Yu He's gaze landed on Zhe Huali, and she shook her head. "I also encountered him on the battlefield just now. Although the battle formation dispersed us after only two moves, those two moves were enough for me to judge his strength. I'm not entirely confident I can defeat him... You must be careful when facing him!"

Black Tiger God looked at the young demonic expert opposite him, slightly startled. It was a refined and gentle young man; from his appearance alone, there was no indication that he was a demon. "No, he's not a demon; he's human!" Black Tiger God's heart trembled slightly, and he immediately understood Zhe Huali's origins. He said gravely, "He's not just Bao Riluo's disciple; he's descended from the Upper Realm!"

Yu He, Shu Yao, Huang Yue, and the others were shocked and about to ask for details when Black Tiger God leaped up, soaring above a nearby palace. He addressed the Woodcutter Saint: "Master, that Zhe Huali's origin is unusual. He's not of the demon race; he must be from the Upper Realm!"

The Woodcutter Saint nodded, looked across, and said gravely, "Bao Riluo, it seems you also have some connection with the so-called Heavenly Court. This disciple of yours has come down from the Upper Realm; I wonder which high god he is a disciple of?"

Bao Riluo burst into laughter and said leisurely, "Zhe Huali has the most stable foundation, and his demonic cultivation is as strong as mine once was. His abilities are outstanding; he is my most valued disciple. But you're right, his background is indeed significant. He has another master, whom you might even recognize. This person is hailed as a god among blades, calls himself Peerless, and has crossed swords with you."

The Woodcutter Saint's expression slightly darkened, and he nodded. "Divine Blade Luo Wushuang, the Grand General of the Divine Splendor Army. Indeed, an old acquaintance. I just didn't expect you would collude with him."

Qin Mu, who had been diligently forging, suddenly twitched his ears. He put down his hammer, looked up, and asked Sang, "What army? What Peerless?"

Sang quickly replied, "The Divine Splendor Army, Luo Wushuang."

Yu He said calmly, "My master, True God Pang Yu, mentioned him before. Luo Wushuang is the one-armed divine blade from ancient times, a true god whose blade techniques are incredibly powerful! He only has one arm, but his blade skills are transcendent!"

Qin Mu was stunned, suddenly recalling the Luo Wushuang of the Divine Splendor Army whom he had encountered on that night forty thousand years ago. On that night, he had stood on a box, covering the retreat of the Emperor's people, and had severed Luo Wushuang's arm. Could these two Luo Wushuangs of the Divine Splendor Army be the same person?

Qin Mu immediately looked towards Zhe Huali. Shu Yao smiled and asked, "Senior Brother Qin, the Thresher, why aren't you continuing to forge iron?"

Qin Mu didn't answer. Zhe Huali on the opposite side immediately sensed his gaze, looked up, and their eyes met. Qin Mu's gaze fell on Zhe Huali's back, where there was a long blade—eerie and sinister, with an eye growing on its hilt. That eye suddenly opened, staring at Qin Mu.

Zhe Huali saw Qin Mu's face, paused in surprise, and showed an expression of disbelief. He took a portrait from his sleeve, examined it, then looked at Qin Mu again, suddenly revealing a look of delight.

Qin Mu's gaze remained fixed on the demonic blade as he said gravely, "Sister Sang, if I told you that I was the one who severed the arm of Divine Blade Luo Wushuang, would you believe me?"