Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

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"Miss Zi Qing?"

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Upon hearing these words, a look of surprise crossed Gu Chen's face as he envisioned the graceful allure of Zi Qing.

Huang Wei gave a slight smile and nodded, "Indeed, Lord Gu, what do you think of Zi Qing?"

Originally, during the Yao Platform Sect's grand event, it was indeed intended to select a young talent to enter into a marital alliance with the sect.

The candidate for marriage was none other than Zi Qing, after all, with her exceptional talent and having reached the Great Completion of the Vajra Stage at such a young age, coupled with her gentle nature, and striking appearance, she was deemed worthy of any top-ranking power's scion.

However, at this grand event of the Yao Platform Sect, Gu Chen came out of nowhere, surpassing all the heroes known in the martial world, naturally, Huang Wei wanted to probe Gu Chen's impression of Zi Qing.

After all, she had a basic understanding of Gu Chen's information and knew that he was still unmarried.

Seeing Gu Chen silent, she thought he might be hesitant due to his status because Huang Wei knew that Gu Chen had been conferred the title of viscount by the Da Xia Imperial Court. She said, "Lord Gu need not worry, Zi Qing is a maiden of the martial world and doesn't care much for official titles. As long as you are sincere, even being a concubine would suffice for her."

No matter how one looked at it, Gu Chen was an excellent match, with great potential for the future. Not to mention other things, reaching the status of a Martial Arts Master was highly probable for him, and there was even a slight chance that he could achieve the position of a Grand Master at the Innate Realm, so it would be Zi Qing's good fortune to marry Gu Chen.

As long as Gu Chen did not mistreat Zi Qing, having multiple wives and concubines was extremely common in the state of Jiuzhou.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen felt somewhat helpless inwardly. He shook his head and said, "Elder Huang is overthinking it. It's not Zi Qing's status that concerns me, but rather that she and I have only just met, having seen each other only once, with absolutely no emotional foundation to speak of, so naturally, there's no talk of marriage."

Huang Wei laughed, "It doesn't matter if there's no affection. Affection can be cultivated over time, and since Zi Qing will only be a concubine for Lord Gu, whether there is affection or not shouldn't be that important, right?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen fell silent. Coming from the modern era, his notions about marriage were different from those in Jiuzhou. In his view, two people without affection would find it extremely difficult to sustain a relationship.

Moreover, even at this point, Gu Chen had no intention of marrying. To him, feelings were not a source of strength but a burden.

Therefore, he spoke frankly, "I apologize, Elder Huang, but this is not a matter of whether feelings can be cultivated or not. I truly have no thoughts of matrimony at the present."

Huang Wei's eyes flashed with a touch of disappointment, and she could only nod helplessly.

After all, if Gu Chen was unwilling, then nothing she said would make a difference. Though Gu Chen was currently at the Yao Platform Sect, she certainly could not force him to marry.

Yet Huang Wei was somewhat perplexed. For a woman like Zi Qing, she was sure no one would be unwilling to take her as a concubine, right?

If it weren't for the great difficulties currently faced by the Yao Platform Sect, they would never have resorted to such measures. After all, as women themselves, the Yao Platform Sect was quite open-minded about their disciples' marriages, and such arranged marriages rarely happened.

Even when they did occur, they were based on mutual affection, but now, with a formidable enemy at the gates of the Yao Platform Sect, they could only resort to this strategy, hoping to bring in a powerful ally through the marriage alliance.

"Lord Gu, our sect leader wishes to meet you. What do you think?" Huang Wei said suddenly.

Gu Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, "Your sect leader wants to see me?"

"Indeed," Huang Wei nodded slowly.

This inevitably surprised Gu Chen because the leader of the Yao Platform Sect was a Martial Arts Master, no less remarkable than Yang Ling, the chief of the Heavenly Saber Sect, both merely a step away from entering the Innate Realm and becoming a Grand Master of martial arts in Jiuzhou.

What would such a person want with him?

Gu Chen never thought that by killing Hu Wanyuan, he had become a significant figure in Jiuzhou; there were still several realms of difference between a Martial Arts Master and the Gang Qi Stage.

But since the sect leader of the Yao Platform Sect wanted to meet him, Gu Chen naturally could not refuse and so nodded.

Following Huang Wei's lead, Gu Chen arrived at an ornately decorated grand hall at the peak of the mountain and met the sect leader of the Yao Platform Sect.

The leader of the Yao Platform Sect was naturally a woman, seated at the head of the hall, beautiful in appearance, exuding an extraordinary mature charm. Her red lips were fresh and moist, her nose high and elegant. Her delicate eyebrows and phoenix eyes were complemented by hair as dark as clouds.

Time seemed to have left no mark on her cheeks, not even a single wrinkle appeared on the mature jade face of the sect leader of the Yao Platform Sect. If not for her dignified aura, Gu Chen would never have guessed her to be the leader of the Yao Platform Sect.

"I pay my respects to the elder," Gu Chen bowed with a fist, for she was the leader of the Yao Platform Sect and also a revered Martial Arts Master, deserving of the utmost respect.

"Gu Xiaoyou, there's no need for such formalities. Please, take a seat," said the leader of the Yao Platform Sect in a soft voice, her tone rich and magnetic, leaving an unforgettable impression upon hearing it.

"Thank you, elder," Gu Chen replied and then seated himself to one side.

After bringing Gu Chen here, Huang Wei performed a respectful bow and exited the hall.

After all, as an Elder at the Gang Qi Stage, her status within the great sect of the Yao Platform Sect was not considered very high.

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After sitting down, Gu Chen noticed that there was a woman sitting opposite him. She was wearing a pale moon-white long dress, with her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, wearing a veil that only left her smooth forehead and delicate brows and eyes exposed.

Seeing this, Gu Chen smiled and greeted her with a cupped fist salute.

The woman also nodded slightly in response, returning the courtesy.

At this moment, the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect, seated at the head of the table, gently parted her lips and said, "This is LiuLuo, the leading direct disciple of our Yao Platform Sect, and also the candidate for the next Sect Leader."

Upon hearing this, the woman known as LiuLuo also spoke softly in a crisp voice to Lord Gu, "LiuLuo, has seen Lord Gu."

"I have seen Miss LiuLuo," Gu Chen nodded slightly and then looked towards the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect. He got straight to the point and directly asked, "May I ask what matter brings me here this time, Elder?"

The Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect slightly fell silent for a moment before saying, "This time, I have summoned you, Young Hero Gu, because there is an important matter to inform you of."

Although the other party had only said this much, Gu Chen immediately understood that the Yao Platform Sect must have sought him for the backing of the Jing Tian Department.

After all, if this were not the case, the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect would not need to see him. She wouldn't even make an appearance for something like the Yao Platform Festival, so why would she take the trouble to personally meet him, a mere Vajra Stage Metropolitan Procurator from the Jing Tian Department?

"Please, Elder, speak," said Gu Chen.

"Not long ago, the leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect ascended our Yao Platform Sect's mountain gate and exchanged blows with our Sect's Grand Elder."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen's pupils shrank instantly. The leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect had been to the Yao Platform Sect?

Gu Chen quickly asked, "May I dare to ask what cultivation level the leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect possesses, Elder?"

The Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect said in a heavy voice, "A Grandmaster of Martial Arts in the Innate Realm, just one step away from breaking free of shackles."

As expected!

A shock ran through Gu Chen's heart. The Red Flame Demon Sect indeed had a Grandmaster of Martial Arts in the Innate Realm, and there might be more than just one.

As for what the Elder meant by "just one step away from breaking free of shackles," Gu Chen didn't understand.

After all, that realm was far too distant for him, and even in the Jing Tian Department, he had not seen any specific descriptions or introductions of it.

Thus, the presence of that Innate Realm individual at the Yao Platform Sect was undoubtedly the same Grand Elder mentioned by the other party.

Gu Chen also knew that, like these top-tier forces, there would always be a Grandmaster of Martial Arts in the Innate Realm; otherwise, they wouldn't be worthy of being called the top factions of the Nine Provinces.

Gu Chen looked towards the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect and said, "Then may I inquire why you have sought me, Elder?"

If it were just this message, Gu Chen felt there would have been no need for the other party to meet with him in person.

Upon hearing this, the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform did not immediately answer Gu Chen, but instead said, "The day the leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect arrived at the mountain gate of our Yao Platform Sect, he proposed a demand that our sect submit to the Six Union God Sect.

Naturally, we were unwilling, and thus, the leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect and our Sect's Grand Elder agreed to exchange three strikes. If he won, the Yao Platform Sect would submit to the Six Union God Sect; if he lost, it would be as if he had never come."

Hearing this, Gu Chen immediately became interested. After all, he was extremely curious about such powerful individuals and asked, "What was the result?"

The Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect sighed softly, "Our Sect's Grand Elder lost, and he lost at the second exchange."

Gu Chen was startled. To be both Grandmasters of Martial Arts in the Innate Realm and yet to lose in just two exchanges?

The Sect Leader of the Yao Platform seemed to detect Gu Chen's skepticism and said, "The leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect is highly profound and extremely terrifying. Just one step away from breaking the shackles of the Innate Realm and advancing to another realm, our Sect's Grand Elder, given his advanced age, was naturally no match for him."

"When the leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect left, he left a message that we need to make our choice. If we don't submit to the Six Union God Sect, the thousand-year foundation of our Yao Platform Sect will be destroyed in an instant."

Gu Chen could imagine how frustrated the people of the Yao Platform Sect must have felt at that time. Clearly, the Yao Platform Sect couldn't detain the individual; otherwise, the Sect Leader wouldn't be seeking him out today.

This was the strength of a Grandmaster of Martial Arts in the Innate Realm. Once that level was reached, even top-notch sects like the Yao Platform Sect couldn't do anything to him. He could come and go as he pleased; all the lands under the heavens were traversable.

Of course, according to the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform, this leader of the Red Flame Demon Sect was extremely powerful even among those in the Innate Realm, being only one step away from a breakthrough. It was precisely because of this that the Sect's Grand Elder was defeated.

At this moment, Gu Chen looked towards the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform, seated at the head, and asked, "What do you mean then, Elder?"

The Sect Leader of the Yao Platform Sect said with a heavy tone, "Of course, we cannot possibly submit to the Six Union God Sect. Considering the Six Union God Sect's past behavior, submitting to them would be like a slow death. Therefore, I ordered the invitation to be sent to Young Hero Gu for this Yao Platform Festival."

Gu Chen understood. It was no wonder he, a figure from the imperial court, had been surprisingly invited to this rendition of the Yao Platform Festival; the Yao Platform Sect had something to ask of him.

At this moment, the Sect Leader of the Yao Platform spoke with a stern face and said gravely, "The reason I sought Young Hero Gu is to ask you to convey to the Jing Tian Department that our Yao Platform Sect is willing to submit to Da Xia!"

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