C21 Ignorant

Gongsun Zhi was not only an elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect but also the son of the Great Elder Gongsun, the highest-ranked among the sect's Four Great Elders.

At just over thirty years old, Gongsun Zhi had already reached Level Three of the Dao Entering Stage, showcasing his considerable talent. Had Chen Ming not joined the sect, Gongsun Zhi would have been the frontrunner to succeed as the next Sect Master.

Chen Ming sprang into action, sweeping Zhuo Qingyao into his arms and setting her down before Lee Changgeng. "Look after Qingyao for me," he implored.

Despite their occasional squabbles, Lee Changgeng was a man of integrity. He nodded firmly, "Rest assured, I'll take good care of her."

Gongsun Zhi assisted Lee Qianer to her feet as she addressed him, "Master..."

With eyes blazing, Gongsun Zhi fixed his gaze on Chen Ming. "If it weren't for you, I would have been the next Sect Master. Your arrival changed everything!"

Chen Ming responded with a laugh, "Victory and defeat have always decided such matters. If you're less talented than I am, you should focus on improving your cultivation."

Gongsun Zhi fumed, "Is that what you think? Did you know that when Qianer was in my bed, she was crying out your name?"

What the heck!

Was it really that scandalous?

A forbidden romance between teacher and student, and somehow, he'd managed to unwittingly cuckold Gongsun Zhi!

Chen Ming retorted, "How could I have known? Blame it on my good looks, why don't you!"

Gongsun Zhi laughed bitterly, "None of that matters now. Chen Ming, did you really think the Prince Regent Mansion could wreak havoc in Pitfall Mountain without consequence? The Bull Demon General has already led his demon troops here. While all you elders are preoccupied with the disciples' competition, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sect Master has already been devoured by the Bull Demon General!"

"If you beg for mercy now, I might grant you a swift end," Gongsun Zhi sneered. "Otherwise, I'll make sure you endure the most excruciating torment imaginable before you die!"

Chen Ming cast a quick glance at Gongsun Zhi's danger rating: 130. Merely a worthless fool.

"Ding! Storyline mission triggered: Resolve the crisis facing the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Rewards will be based on mission completion rating. Basic reward: 500 Spirit Sense points, 50 reputation points."

Chen Ming eyed Gongsun Zhi, who was doomed to die that day. First things first, he had to dispose of the traitor in league with Pitfall Mountain. Feigning panic, Chen Ming exclaimed, "What? We're surrounded by Pitfall Mountain?"

Approaching Gongsun Zhi, Chen Ming pleaded, "Gongsun Zhi, no, no, Lord Gongsun, I don't want to die. Could you spare my life?"

Gongsun Zhi was swelling with smug satisfaction. "Hahahaha, Qian-er, are you watching? This Chen Ming is nothing but a spineless coward, terrified of death. What does he really have to offer..."

Suddenly, Gongsun Zhi grasped his neck, a thin line of blood tracing where the Prince Su Sword had left its mark. Staring at Chen Ming, he gasped, "You... you... aren't you afraid of Pitfall Mountain's vengeance?"

Without hesitation, Chen Ming struck with his sword, piercing Gongsun Zhi's chest and heart. "Concerns for later. You die first."

"Ding! You have slain a Level Three Dao Entering Stage cultivator and earned 30 Spirit Sense points."

Sheathing his sword, Chen Ming turned to Lee Qianer on the ground and said coolly, "She can wait for Qingyao to deal with once she's awake. I'm off to check the back mountain. Get the Mountain Protecting Great Array ready!"

With those words, Chen Ming soared away on his sword. As he left the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and neared the Sect Master's peak, he spotted a Demon General with the head of a bull, clad in full armor, wielding a massive axe, and carrying the unconscious Sect Master.

This had to be the Bull Demon General. Chen Ming assessed the formidable foe, whose danger value spiked at 250. A force to be reckoned with. Despite the mere 70-point difference from his own rating, he was only 50 points above Gongsun Zhi, whom he had easily dispatched.

Even when facing an uphill challenge, one must adhere to the fundamental principles!

And behind the Bull Demon General stood dozens of formidable demons, each at the Dao Entering Stage!

How was he to defuse this situation?

Chen Ming's gaze on the Bull Demon General abruptly halted when he noticed a halo encircling the demon.

Ignorance.

To describe him as low IQ would be an affront to the term itself.

Effect: Immune to the Stupefying Halo. Without an IQ to begin with, how could it possibly be lowered? That's the real conundrum.

Could such a halo truly exist in this world?

It looked like it could be easily fooled. Chen Ming quietly shifted the Fire Crow Spell's Dao Palace to the forefront, radiating a thick demonic aura.

He stowed the Prince Su Sword behind him, opting instead for a Demon Cloud formed from condensed demonic energy.

Chen Ming charged toward the Bull Demon General, bellowing, “You've sabotaged my grand scheme!”

The Bull Demon General was taken aback by the sight of a humanoid demon before him. Could it be a Demon King? Only Demon Kings took on human form. The chief of Pitfall Mountain, for instance, was a Great Demon that had transformed.

Even if this being wasn't a transformed Great Demon, a Demon King would surely become one eventually, given that this demon already bore a human shape and had certainly cultivated a Dao Seed.

Though the Bull sensed his own strength surpassed that of the newcomer, he remained wary. Could this be a Demon King concealing their true power? And to suggest this individual wasn't a demon – preposterous! Was there any mistake in such potent demonic energy?

The Bull inquired, “Brother, from which mountain do you hail?”

Chen Ming replied, “It's quite a tale. Back when I was but a crow, a massive serpent sought to devour me. However, it was the Demon King of Pitfall Mountain who, with a mere gesture, vanquished the serpent and spared my life. I pledged to dedicate myself to cultivation, to one day repay the Demon King's life-saving grace. After achieving Great Demon status, I intended to journey to Pitfall Mountain, but I was hindered by the lack of a suitable tribute. Upon reaching Yan Kingdom, I uncovered their treacherous plans to break free from the Demon King's dominion. Utilizing my ability to transform, I assumed the identity of the Prince Regent's heir, aiming to present the entirety of Yan Kingdom to the Demon King. Yet here you are, having disrupted my grand endeavor. You've incurred the wrath of the Demon King of Pitfall Mountain!”

The Bull Demon General remarked, “My apologies, I wouldn’t dare to offend. Hold on, you’re a fellow demon from Pitfall Mountain? We hail from there too!”

Chen Ming feigned astonishment, replying, “What? You’re also brethren from Pitfall Mountain?”

With a hearty laugh, the Bull Demon General flew to Chen Ming’s side and clapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming, “Hahahaha, so you’re a Pitfall Mountain demon as well! We’re kin! Seeing your commanding presence and distinguished looks, I have no doubt you’ll rise to prominence. Our Demon King doesn’t need any welcoming gifts. He’d be overjoyed to learn that a demon of your caliber has come to join us. It’s a stroke of luck to meet a brother from the same mountain. Come on, let’s celebrate with a drink!”

Chen Ming chuckled, “I’ll go fetch some appetizers for us to enjoy!”

Waving the old Sect Master in his hand, the Bull Demon General joked, “Why bother with appetizers when we’ve got someone right here?”

Catching the Sect Master, Chen Ming made a face of distaste, “This one is far too old, the meat’s not going to be tender or tasty. He’s hardly fitting for our stature. I’ll go find something more delectable for us to feast on!” With that, Chen Ming hoisted the Sect Master over his shoulder and dashed off.