Chapter 1 Sulun's Decision

In the southern part of Ruin, Angulos County, Sulun and Mr. Mirror were camped in a forest on the outskirts of the city.

Recently, Constantine Reynolds, the evil "Evil Archmage" from the Celestial Plane, had been traveling around the major southern cities, carrying out sneak attacks. The two of them were lying in wait nearby, hoping to have the luck to ambush him.

Unexpectedly, they hadn't waited for the enemy, but received a communication from Qian Tiao.

"Qian Tiao-jie, you... you're back?"

Sulun's expression immediately changed upon hearing this news.

Two years ago, when venturing into the Dragon Kingdom sea area, Qian Tiao, in pursuit of her own way of the sword, resolutely boarded the Ghost Train to the Land of the Yellow Springs.

After that departure, there was no news.

According to the description in the travel notes of the great writer Fujiwara Hayato, the Land of the Yellow Springs was the home of the dead. It was a higher plane of the underworld, and a forbidden zone for any living being.

Sulun had always been worried that something had happened to Qian Tiao, but there was nothing he could do.

Now, hearing this familiar voice, he immediately felt that his mood, which had been extremely depressed by the bad news recently, suddenly cleared up and became sunny.

A lazy response came from the communicator, "Yeah. I don't even know where I am now. The Ghost Train dropped me off when it arrived. Hmm... it looks like I should still be in the Dragon Kingdom sea area."

Sulun replied, "Okay, wait for me, I'll come pick you up right away."

Mr. Mirror, who was beside him, looked at him with an inquiring gaze, seeing him so excited.

Sulun explained, "Qian Tiao-jie is back."

Hearing this, a look of joy also appeared on Mr. Mirror's face, "Oh? She's back."

At the same time, in the Dragon Kingdom sea area, it was midnight.

Thick fog filled the sea, and the dark sea was dim. A steam train could faintly be seen roaring through the fog, and then disappearing into thin air like a ghost.

Only after the Ghost Train disappeared did the fog on the sea dissipate a little.

Looking closely, a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat, tattered swordsman's robes, and a weed in his mouth was standing on the sea.

Looking at that head of high-tied green hair and heroic face, who else could it be but Qian Tiao?

She put down the communicator, took two long breaths, and muttered to herself, "Ah, the air in the human world is more comfortable to breathe. It's not like in the Yellow Springs, where taking a breath is like swallowing an ice knife..."

Qian Tiao had just returned from the Land of the Yellow Springs. If anyone could see death energy, they would definitely be able to see a layer of thick black gas lingering around her body like flames rising.

This black gas was completely incompatible with the living world, like water and fire.

Qian Tiao glanced at her body, seemed to realize the problem, and raised her eyebrows slightly, not caring much.

It would probably take some time for Sulun to come and pick her up, and she seemed a little bored.

She took a few steps on the sea, wanting to see if there were any islands nearby where she could rest.

Suddenly, a hint of sharpness flashed in her eyes, and she murmured to herself: "Oh? The death energy has attracted some big guys."

This was the Dragon Kingdom sea area, and there were countless terrifying monsters in the sea.

Not long after getting off the train, she noticed that several powerful auras had locked onto her.

But she wasn't surprised at all.

Just like when she first went to the Land of the Yellow Springs, the aura of a living person was a fatal temptation to the undead. Now, the death energy on her body was like a bright lamp in the dark night, and could be sensed from a long distance.

Qian Tiao didn't care at all about the feeling of being spied on by a powerful being. With her hand on the hilt of her sword, she lazily continued to walk on the waves.

She hadn't taken a few steps when suddenly, a shadow appeared under the sea where she was standing.

The shadow grew larger and larger, and with a "splash," a deep-sea monster with a mouth full of fangs suddenly jumped out of the water, looking like it wanted to swallow her in one bite.

There was no fear on Qian Tiao's face at all. The finger resting on her waist flicked slightly.

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

Only a flash of cold light was seen, and the huge sea monster that was about to close its mouth and swallow her was instantly split in two.

Seawater and blood sprinkled down in the sky, falling on the bamboo hat and dripping into the sea.

This was a seventh-order deep-sea monster with Titan blood, a lord-level.

Qian Tiao didn't even glance at it. Killing was a basic ability to survive in the Yellow Springs Hell. Drawing the sword was just an instinctive reaction. A seventh-order monster wasn't worth paying attention to.

After walking a few more steps, a breeze blew by, and the fog dissipated a little.

She then saw a towering mountain at the end of her vision, and identified her approximate location, thinking: "West of Hell Volcano, the territory of the Dragon Clan, seems a bit troublesome..."

The dangers of the Dragon Kingdom sea area had been learned by the Dawn Squad when they came here before. This sea area was full of troublesome high-level lord-level sea monsters.

The most troublesome were the dragons.

But she had no boat and no island, and she had nowhere to go.

It would probably take a while for Sulun to come.

Qian Tiao continued to walk east, wanting to avoid the Dragon Clan's territory.

However, things didn't go as planned.

The death energy emanating from her body was more likely to attract powerful monsters than the smell of blood.

Suddenly, a high-pitched dragon roar resounded in the night sky.

Qian Tiao looked up at the huge black shadow rapidly approaching in the sky, and pouted.

She didn't know when Sulun would come, and it would probably be a long wait.

She really didn't want to provoke the dragons in this sea area.

However, looking at the aggressive dragon might, it was obvious that the eighth-order red dragon in the sky had no intention of giving up on this "delicious food," or perhaps wanted to plunder the precious death energy of the law from the Yellow Springs.

An eighth-order pure-blooded dragon was equivalent to a ninth-order professional in terms of combat power.

There was still not much expression in Qian Tiao's eyes, and she was lazy.

Looking at that expression, it seemed that the only thing she was worried about was trouble.

As for other thoughts, there were none at all.

Rakshasa, born to kill.

If you dare to come, I dare to draw my sword.

Having been to the Yellow Springs, she had nothing to fear in her heart.

Just as this thought flashed through her mind, the eighth-order red dragon was already a few hundred meters away. The scarlet dragon scales on its neck cracked ferociously, and after accumulating power, it spewed out terrifying dragon flames from its mouth.

The scorching dragon flames swept across the sea, and the hot temperature filled the sea with a large amount of white gas. The dragon might, which shook the creatures in this sea area, pressed down like a mountain, but there was no change on Qian Tiao's face at all.

The strong wind blew her robe, and the bamboo hat on her head moved slightly.

She reached out and pressed the bamboo hat with one hand, and exerted force with the other hand holding the hilt of the famous sword [Buddha Slayer].

Suddenly, she drew her sword, and thunder roared in the sky.

In an instant, as if a demon from hell had descended, an overbearing and unmatched aura descended on the sea.

Qian Tiao's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and she whispered: "Thunderous One-Sword Style Light Whisper!"

Looking again, lightning burst out from the blade, turning into a crescent-shaped sword energy and slashing forward.

This sword seemed to cut space apart.

Seawater, sky, dragon breath, and the ferocious fire-breathing dragon a few hundred meters away... Wherever the sword energy passed, everything was split in two!

The seawater cracked open, and the sword energy swept across the seabed, cutting a smooth crack in the seabed hundreds of meters deep.

As if some mysterious force was preventing the seawater from closing, the kilometer-long gap on the sea surface had not subsided for a long time.

Coincidentally, at this time, a spatial fluctuation flashed, and a figure appeared not far from Qian Tiao, just in time to see this amazing scene.

It was a long way from Ruin to the Dragon Kingdom sea area.

Although Sulun didn't delay, he also teleported and transferred many times before rushing over.

However, during the last shift, he determined the spatial coordinates of Qian Tiao, and was instantly subjected to a terrifying dragon might as soon as he oriented and shifted over.

Sulun immediately identified that this was a high-level dragon.

Just when he thought he would encounter some trouble, an overbearing sword energy suddenly descended.

And that dragon might was like a candle blown out by the wind, abruptly extinguished.

Then he saw this amazing scene: Qian Tiao sheathed her sword, a flying dragon fell from the sky, and a huge kilometer-long crack appeared on the sea.

Sulun's eyes twitched inexplicably, a little incredulous: an eighth-order dragon, killed with one sword?

He could also kill it himself, but it would definitely not be so easy.

Just in this moment of愣神, Qian Tiao had already looked over.

She seemed to be completely indifferent to how exaggerated a sword she had just slashed, and raised her eyebrows and said, "Yo, Sulun, you're here. I thought you would be later."

Two years ago, it was indeed impossible to rush over in a short time, but now Sulun's strength and travel speed were naturally faster.

But that was not the point.

Sulun asked curiously, "Qian Tiao-jie, have you advanced to the ninth order?"

With his All-Knowing Eye, how could he not see the death energy emanating from Qian Tiao?

At this moment, Qian Tiao was more accurately described as an undead than a living person. She was in a very strange state, a state of being integrated with the laws of heaven and earth, returning to simplicity.

And the sword just now had already cut out threads of rules, this was definitely the Sword God Realm!

But to be able to kill an eighth-order dragon so easily was not an ordinary Sword God Realm. At least, the current eighth-order peak old sword god Bartolo would find it difficult to slash this sword.

Hearing this, Qian Tiao gave him a lazy look, "Yeah."

After a moment of silence, she added meaningfully: "In that place, you will really die if you don't become stronger."

Her tone was understated.

But it made people hear a hint of indifference that had seen the ultimate darkness in the world, so there was no difficulty that could not be overcome.

Hearing this, the shock in Sulun's eyes subsided, replaced by joy.

Seeing the real person, he breathed a sigh of relief, and the heart hanging in his chest also fell, and he said lightly: "It's good to be back."

After not seeing her for more than two years, Qian Tiao's appearance had not changed much, but the heroic spirit between her brows was three points more fierce.

Sulun walked over and immediately felt a feeling like an ice knife scraping his bones. He reached out and touched the death energy emanating from Qian Tiao's body, and was curious: "Is this the real Yellow Springs energy?"

The Land of the Yellow Springs belonged to a part of the underworld, and he was also very curious about what the home of the dead was like.

This death energy was of great research value.

Qian Tiao didn't answer directly, but was surprised to see that Sulun was not affected by the death energy at all, and said in surprise: "Yo~ Sulun boy, long time no see, you have become a lot stronger too."

Saying that, she grabbed Sulun's arm, just like before.

Sulun smiled slightly and didn't explain much.

He sensed the surrounding environment and had already discovered that several dragon roars were ringing out, "Let's go back to Ruin first, this is not a place to chat."

Qian Tiao nodded.

A spatial fluctuation flashed, and the two disappeared on the sea.

Also disappearing with them was the body of the eighth-order red dragon.

Not long after, in the forest outside Angulos County in southern Ruin.

The campfire in the camp was burning brightly. A spatial fluctuation flashed, and the figures of Sulun and Qian Tiao appeared out of thin air.

Mr. Mirror also opened his eyes from meditation when he saw the two returning, and smiled gently, "Aurelia, you're back."

"Yeah."

Qian Tiao greeted Mr. Mirror.

But she looked at the forest and immediately shouted: "Ah, why are you living in the wilderness? I thought you were in an apartment, and I wanted to take a bath when I came back."

Saying that, she added: "You don't know, the Land of the Yellow Springs is good in every way, but the living conditions are terrible for humans. The rivers are flowing with blood, and it's always raining, so there's no way to take a bath... I've been there for two years, and I'm almost pickled."

Listening to this, Mr. Mirror's gentle eyes rippled with a smile, and he casually explained: "Because we have to guard against enemy attacks, we set up camp in the wilderness."

It would have been better if he hadn't said that. As soon as he said that, Sulun also noticed that Qian Tiao's swordsman's robe was not only tattered, but almost covered in patina.

The liquid, which was unknown whether it was blood or something else, had congealed into lumps, covering the original color of the clothes, and there was also a strong smell of death spirits.

The underworld was the home of the dead, and it was said that it was also the gathering place of all the filth, darkness, and depravity in the world. It was impossible to have a normal human life there.

For Qian Tiao, who liked to gamble, not taking a bath for two years was simply torture for her.

"Ah, Sulun, hurry up and get a bathtub out. I'm going to die."

Qian Tiao shouted, and then, as if she was half a beat slow, asked: "By the way, what enemy?"

Sulun responded: "There have been big moves in the Celestial Plane these two years since you went to the Land of the Yellow Springs. Now a demigod powerhouse has sneaked into Ruin and is attacking cities everywhere, which makes the empire's official very headache. My senior sister and I have been blocking that guy these days..."

While he was talking about the recent situation of the plane war, he took out a large bathtub from the Small Void Realm, and also took out a hot water boiler.

There were many of these things in the Small Void Realm. He took them out casually and assembled them into an open-air bathroom in a few moments.

After adjusting it, hot water sprayed out of the brass nozzle with a crash.

There were no outsiders here, and Qian Tiao didn't avoid it at all. She directly took off her tattered swordsman's robe in front of Sulun and Mr. Mirror, and then stood naked under the nozzle, enjoying the long-lost warm water. Water droplets strung together like beads, sliding down her skin, and also washing away the lingering death energy.

Seeing her bold behavior without any concealment, Mr. Mirror's eyebrows showed a slight helplessness.

Sulun was used to it.

But looking at the unhealed scars on Qian Tiao's body, his eyes were fixed.

He could see that the reason why these wounds had not healed was entirely because they were eroded by some high-level laws. The opponents who caused these wounds were of very high rank.

Qian Tiao didn't care about the gazes falling on her body at all. The hot water washed over her, and she enjoyed the feeling of comfort in her pores.

"Hoo..."

She exhaled a long breath of pleasure, and muttered: "Ah, this is how I feel like I've come back to life."

Saying that, Qian Tiao seemed to remember the previous topic again, and interjected: "By the way, what you said about 'demigod'? Is that the kind of existence that is a little stronger than the ninth order, but has not reached the god rank?"

Sulun nodded, "Yeah. Have you seen it in the Land of the Yellow Springs, Qian Tiao-jie?"

Qian Tiao also responded: "Hmm. I've seen some."

Sulun was not surprised to hear this.

He also knew something about the Land of the Yellow Springs, thinking that there should also be demigods in that high-level plane.

However, just as he finished speaking, he never expected that Qian Tiao would add: "I killed one before. It was quite powerful."

As soon as these words came out, it was as if time had been paused.

Sulun: "..."

Mr. Mirror: "..."

The two turned their heads and looked over, with surprised expressions.

Quite powerful...

And killed it?

This seemed quite contradictory.

Sulun's eyes twitched, and he asked incredulously: "Qian Tiao-jie, you killed a demigod?"

"Yeah. A monster unique to the Yellow Springs Country [Sei Rogokumo]. It is said to be a lost god, but it has not reached the level of a true god. It's probably the 'demigod' you just mentioned."

Qian Tiao didn't seem to think it was anything great.

While speaking, the hot water crashed down from her head, wetting her green hair and sticking it to her skin.

After a pause, she seemed to remember something, and couldn't wait to share her experience, saying: "The Land of the Yellow Springs is the home of the dead, but it's not just the dead of our plane. I met a lot of powerful guys there. Oh, you may not know that feeling. Those outstanding swordsmen who died hundreds or thousands of years ago are all in the Land of the Yellow Springs. Experts from various eras and various schools, I almost found the source of all sword arts! It's so exciting. Do you know, being able to exchange sword arts with those experts is really the most magical experience of my life..."

"..."

Listening to these words, Sulun and Mr. Mirror could hear the excitement in her tone.

For a swordsman, there was nothing more fortunate than finding an opponent and exchanging sword arts with an opponent stronger than oneself.

And in the Land of the Yellow Springs, time would allow countless dead swordsmen to accumulate there. Theoretically, the Land of the Yellow Springs contained all the history of swordsmanship.

But before he had time to ask in detail about the situation in the Yellow Springs, Sulun was more curious about other things.

He asked: "Qian Tiao-jie, have you seen a god?"

Qian Tiao responded: "I've seen one from afar. I avoided it because I couldn't beat it."

Hearing this, Sulun and Mr. Mirror looked at each other, and shock was revealed in their eyes.

She had really seen a god...

Then she had seen the scenery on the top of the mountain.

At this time, Sulun asked again: "Qian Tiao-jie, have you understood your own 'rule'?"

In his opinion, to be able to kill a demigod, one must have understood the mysteries of the rule.

Maybe this gambling-addicted young woman was already a demigod herself.

However, Qian Tiao gave an unexpected answer.

She asked: "Rule? What is that?"

Sulun thought that she didn't understand the concept, and patiently explained: "'Rule' is above the law, a special existence in the universe. Well, it can be roughly understood as the power that only demigods and gods can master."

Qian Tiao nodded repeatedly, "Oh."

"Rule" could not be explained clearly in words. Without reaching that realm, no amount of description would be useful.

Sulun used his wisdom to roughly describe the rule. He thought that Qian Tiao understood it.

But unexpectedly, after Qian Tiao nodded, she asked again: "So... what the hell is that thing?"

"..."

Sulun's eyes twitched fiercely, and he asked quietly: "You haven't understood it? Then didn't you kill that eighth-order dragon before with a slash in the realm of rules? How did you do it?"

Qian Tiao was rubbing the foam on her hair. Hearing this, she took the time to make a hand-knife gesture and said lightly: "I just killed it with a casual slash."

As soon as these words came out, it was cold again.

Sulun: "..."

Mr. Mirror: "..."

A breeze blew by, the leaves rustled, and a crow cawed on the branch.

The two then realized that Qian Tiao really didn't know what "rule" was. Her fighting ability was more of a physical instinct and intuition, rather than understanding in her mind.

But the only thing that could be determined was that Qian Tiao's current combat power could kill a demigod.

Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration suddenly flashed in Sulun's mind, and a thought popped up: "Senior Sister, I have an idea!"

Before, they were still lacking some means to kill a demigod, but now that Qian Tiao was back, it directly made up for this shortcoming.

Mr. Mirror was also extremely intelligent, and obviously understood what he wanted to say, and said: "You mean not to intercept the 'Evil Archmage' Constantine Reynolds, but to ambush the Great Princess Octavia J. Fielding?"

Sulun nodded solemnly: "Yeah."

The reason why the enemy dared to sneak into Ruin to make trouble now was that they were sure that the alchemic plane lacked top combat power, so they could do nothing about him.

But with Qian Tiao here, the Dawn Squad already had the strength to steadily kill a demigod.

And this information was currently a blind spot for the enemy.

If Qian Tiao really showed up, the enemy would definitely be prepared next time.

Therefore, the surprise attack plan could only be used once.

So this time, if they were going to play, they would play a big one.

Killing an ordinary demigod and killing an imperial great princess, obviously the latter had a greater return!

And if they could really kill Octavia, the demigod, it would not be difficult to kill Constantine again.

Even, it would allow Sulun and the others to have no more concerns and directly confront the million-mage army.

As long as the plan succeeded, with the current strength of the alchemic plane, it was really possible to severely damage the Celestial Plane's plan for this decisive battle!

In an instant, Mr. Mirror obviously thought of these things too.

But although the plan was perfect, she thought of a very real problem: "But Octavia is now the commander of the million-strong army, and she will definitely not easily take action again. It's not easy to lure her out alone..."

Sulun's eyes turned, and he had a plan long ago, and said: "Normally, it is indeed impossible to lure her out. But I have a god-forbidden object in my Small Void Realm. As long as it appears, she will definitely take the bait."

Hearing this, Mr. Mirror obviously thought of something too, and her crystal eyes lit up instantly.

This plan was definitely feasible!