The Chong Clan’s estate bore the marks of time on its weathered walls, with silent bronze-armored guards standing watch at the entrance, their vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings.
Dongbo Xueying descended before the main gates of the Chong Clan.
The guards’ gazes immediately locked onto him. Though these were all World Deities whose eyes carried an invisible pressure, to Dongbo Xueying, it felt no more than a gentle breeze.
“I’ve come to join the Chong Clan,” Dongbo Xueying said with a faint smile.
“The Chong Clan’s recruitment for guards and retainers will be in thirty-six thousand years. Return then,” one of the bronze-armored guards replied.
“No, I’m here to offer myself as an Elder Guest,” Dongbo Xueying said, still smiling. “Please announce my arrival.”
“An Elder Guest?”
The bronze-armored guards were visibly startled.
The Chong Clan was a lineage of immense depth, and many cultivators sought to join its ranks for access to greater resources and superior guidance. Most entered as guards or retainers—guards being more tightly controlled, while retainers enjoyed relative freedom, though they were little more than hired fighters. But an ‘Elder Guest’ held a far higher status. Even the Chong Clan would never force an Elder Guest into service, for each one was a formidable asset to the family.
“Esteemed senior, please wait a moment. I shall relay your request immediately,” the lead guard said before swiftly entering the estate to deliver the message.
—
“An Elder Guest?”
A white-haired elder of the Chong Clan sat cross-legged, his aged eyes fixed on the bronze-armored guard before him.
“Second Elder, the visitor indeed claims to seek the position of Elder Guest,” the guard reported.
“Then let us test his strength,” the white-haired elder said, rising to his feet. “Issue my command—awaken the Nine Demon Gods.”
“As you will,” the guard acknowledged.
Swiftly, word spread through the ancient clan—a powerful expert had arrived, seeking to join as an Elder Guest. The Chong Clan had very few Elder Guests, and typically, only Fourth Heaven World Deities were qualified for the position. Of course, those with unique techniques matching such power could also be considered.
—
Under the guard’s guidance, Dongbo Xueying entered the Chong Clan’s estate and soon stood before the white-haired elder.
“Greetings, Second Elder,” Dongbo Xueying said, inwardly surprised. He could discern that this elder was a Transcendent—a being who had surpassed the World Deity realm.
“And you are?” The Second Elder frowned slightly. The Chong Clan’s intelligence network recorded all notable World Deities, yet he did not recognize this black-robed youth.
Dongbo Xueying smiled. “I am Feixue.”
In his youth, his weapon had been the Feixue Divine Spear, so he casually adopted the alias ‘Feixue’ as a precaution. After all, the highest powers in this world might possess means to ‘observe’ outsiders. He had even altered his appearance slightly, sharpening his features to appear more severe.
“Our Chong Clan has not welcomed a new Elder Guest in hundreds of millions of years. To this day, we have only six,” the white-haired elder said. “At the Fourth Heaven World Deity level, most prefer freedom and leisure. Few willingly bind themselves to a clan.”
“I have long secluded myself in cultivation, but after reaching the Fourth Heaven, my progress has stalled. I heard the Chong Clan possesses three supreme techniques, one of which is the *Six Slaughtering Sword Forms*. As I specialize in swordsmanship, I came to offer myself as an Elder Guest, hoping to learn this technique,” Dongbo Xueying explained, his tone tinged with emotion.
This world was vastly different from the Divine Realm and the Abyss—here, cultivation methods and supreme techniques were far more accessible.
In the Divine Realm and the Abyss, even Transcendents struggled to obtain a complete supreme technique. Yet in this world, as Dongbo Xueying had learned from the deceased Black Heaven Palace Master, the Chong Clan alone possessed three such techniques—their clan’s foundational treasures, all teachable.
What could the Chong Clan offer to attract top-tier experts as Elder Guests? Precisely these supreme techniques and treasures.
Of the three—*Illusory Water Body*, *Path of Thunder*, and *Six Slaughtering Sword Forms*—Dongbo Xueying deduced from the Black Heaven Palace Master’s information that the first was water-based, the second thunder-based, and the third a terrifying sword art specializing in slaughter. He suspected it was a supreme technique aligned with the ‘Path of Slaughter.’
Ever since establishing his own paths—the Void Path and the Path of Slaughter—he had been searching for suitable supreme techniques.
Techniques like *Taihao* and *Extinction Primordial Body* had served him well, but he had reached their limits—Fifth Chapter and Fifth Layer, respectively—with no further progress possible, as they did not align with his own paths.
In the Divine Realm and the Abyss, he had never heard of a supreme technique suited to the Void Path. Though some aligned with the Path of Slaughter existed, acquiring them was no simple task—he had once traded the upper volume of the *Blood Devil Tome* just to obtain its lower volume.
“To think I’d find a Path of Slaughter supreme technique in this world,” Dongbo Xueying mused. His reasons for joining the Chong Clan were twofold: first, to obtain this technique, and second, to infiltrate their ranks and uncover the world’s true nature more swiftly.
He had no intention of brute-forcing his way.
While his illusions could handle Fourth Heaven World Deities, their effectiveness against Transcendents was limited—most possessed extraordinary mental fortitude and profound insights.
Moreover, unfamiliar with this world, recklessness could cost him his life.
Far better to integrate, take his time, and quietly gather intelligence.
“Obtaining a Path of Slaughter supreme technique alone would make this journey worthwhile,” Dongbo Xueying thought, his mood bright.
“A supreme technique?” The Second Elder chuckled. Nearly all who sought to become Elder Guests came for those three techniques. “Our Chong Clan’s three foundational supreme techniques are not lightly shared. You must render great service to earn the right to learn them.”
“Naturally,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
“Though I sense your aura is indeed that of a Fourth Heaven World Deity, you must still undergo a trial,” the Second Elder said. “Follow me.”
Dongbo Xueying complied.
His aura was disguised by the robes of the Bloodblade Hall Master. After cultivating the *Ten Thousand Demons True Body* and establishing his own paths, both his divine heart and physical form radiated overwhelming power—surpassing even ordinary Paragons. The mere aura of his *Ten Thousand Demons True Body* could annihilate Fourth Heaven World Deities, necessitating careful suppression and concealment. In an unfamiliar, mysterious world, reckless slaughter would be sheer folly.
The mere existence of the Chong Clan’s supreme techniques told Dongbo Xueying this world was extraordinary. Supreme techniques did not emerge from nothing—they were created by formidable experts. Discretion was paramount until he fully grasped the world’s truths.
—
“The clan is gaining a new Elder Guest!”
“The Elder Guest trial is about to begin!”
“Hurry, hurry!”
Excitement rippled through the Chong Clan as family members, both direct and collateral descendants, rushed to witness the event. Even high-ranking guards with freedom of movement attended—after all, an Elder Guest trial was no ordinary affair.
“Seventh Young Master, be careful!” Two maidservants chased after a young boy.
The child dashed ahead eagerly. “The Elder Guest trial! We mustn’t miss it—I’ve never seen one before!”
The maidservants, both First Heaven World Deities, attended to the boy with utmost care, for he was the seventh son of the Chong Clan’s most revered ancestor. Of his six elder brothers, one had perished before reaching the World Deity realm, while the other five had all ascended to that level.
Soon, the Seventh Young Master, along with other clan members—both direct and collateral—guards, and even two existing Elder Guests, gathered to watch.
“World Deity Feixue, behold,” the Second Elder said, gesturing ahead.
In the open space before them stood nine towering puppets, each radiating formidable power, their crimson eyes locked onto Dongbo Xueying.
“The Nine Demon Gods each possess strength comparable to a peak Third Heaven World Deity. Defeat them, and you pass the trial, becoming an Elder Guest of our Chong Clan,” the Second Elder said with a faint smile.
“Understood.”
Dongbo Xueying drew a sword from his back.
He had carried the blade openly—a top-tier World Deity weapon. Swords and spears shared similarities; a sword was akin to a short spear, with thrusts, slashes, and sweeps as primary techniques. To maintain his disguise, he had even altered his weapon. With his mastery of the Path of Slaughter, crafting a sword technique within the bounds of this world’s natural laws was effortless—though it still rivaled the finest techniques of peak Transcendents. Among Fourth Heaven World Deities, it would be considered peerless.
“It’s starting!”
“The battle begins!”
The spectators—three elders, two Elder Guests, the Seventh Young Master, and numerous clan members—watched with bated breath as the Elder Guest trial commenced.
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