Chapter 4: An Extra’s Sword Can Slay Immortals Too
Flowing Cloud City.
The nearest town at the foot of Mount Yu.
A small border town, neither rich nor particularly prosperous, but with a leisurely and comfortable atmosphere.
Every half a month, the town held a market, where merchants from all over brought their wares to sell on the streets. The small town became bustling with people, much livelier than usual.
After entering the town, Xiang’er happily strolled through the market, looking here and there, just like any other young girl out for a day of shopping.
Chen Yin followed her from a distance, silently observing her.
For the entire morning, Xiang’er didn’t make any unusual moves.
By noon, Chen Yin was still patiently following Xiang’er’s movements.
Suddenly, a sweet, childish voice sounded beside him:
“Big brother, do you want to buy a necklace?”
Chen Yin turned his head and saw a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old timidly tugging at his clothes.
The little girl’s cheeks were dirty, and her clothes were worn and tattered, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, making it hard not to feel affection and pity for her.
Chen Yin glanced at the basket she was carrying, which contained some handmade shell necklaces.
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Yin rubbed the little girl’s head, took all the shell necklaces, and gave her a silver ingot.
“I’ll take all of these.”
The little girl’s face instantly bloomed with a happy smile.
“Thank you, big brother!”
Chen Yin smiled too.
But when he stood up and turned around, he suddenly realized that Xiang’er was no longer where she had been.
Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately chased after her.
Just after Chen Yin left, Yu Xiang’s figure slowly emerged from around the corner of the street.
Her eyes were calm as she spoke to herself:
“System. Who is the person following us?”
“I don’t know.” A mechanical voice sounded in her ear. “There’s no record of him in the plot.”
“He should be an irrelevant extra. Don’t mind him. Let’s just do what we need to do. As long as he’s not in the plot records, whatever he does has nothing to do with us.”
“An irrelevant character…” Yu Xiang’s eyes lowered slightly.
“Then let’s ignore him.”
“Speaking of which, you mentioned before that my Senior Brother is also an irrelevant character.”
“Yes.” The system seemed a little puzzled. “Why do you ask?”
“…Nothing.”
Yu Xiang was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Remember what you promised me.”
“As long as I follow the plot, my Senior Brother will be safe.”
“Don’t worry.”
The system said nonchalantly, “He’s just an extra.”
“Since there’s no record of him in the plot, he’ll definitely be fine.”
“He’ll probably still be an oblivious, ordinary Mist Spirit Sect disciple even five years later when you’ve mastered your demonic arts.”
Yu Xiang looked into the distance, her eyes unfocused.
After a while, she slowly shook her head, her gaze gradually becoming firm.
“…That’s enough.”
“As long as Senior Brother is safe, I can take revenge without any worries.”
Then, Xiang’er’s figure disappeared into the darkness once again.
***
After circling the market, Chen Yin finally found Xiang’er again in front of a stall.
Xiang’er was excitedly picking out some small accessories, putting them on her head with a happy expression, just like any other young girl.
And Chen Yin, once again, began to wait patiently.
This time, he waited until the sun was about to set.
As evening approached, the people in the market gradually began to disperse, and Xiang’er finally showed her first sign of abnormality.
She first looked around, then quietly walked into an inconspicuous small shop.
Chen Yin followed her with a ghostly movement and watched as she twisted a brick in front of a cabinet inside the shop.
Then, the cabinet slowly moved, revealing a deep entrance behind it.
Xiang’er walked in familiarly, and Chen Yin, at the last moment before the entrance closed, concealed himself and followed her in.
They walked for a long time through a long and narrow passage before the space gradually opened up.
…It was a deep and gloomy hall.
The hall was empty, with nothing but a few pillars. Chen Yin could only quietly move behind a pillar and carefully listen to the sounds within the hall.
Above the hall, only one person sat on the main seat.
It was an old man with white hair and a long beard, his face gaunt and bony, his black robe concealing his somewhat sinister eyes.
“Holy Maiden.” The old man said calmly as he watched Yu Xiang approach, but there was no trace of respect in his voice.
“Elder Hei Ran, I’m here to collect this month’s cultivation resources.” Yu Xiang said softly.
…Hei Ran? Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Even he had heard of this name.
The demonic forces were not small, but there weren’t many who reached the level of Elder, a powerful cultivator.
Hei Ran was one of the more famous ones.
It was said that his last appearance was decades ago, when he single-handedly slaughtered nearly a hundred disciples of the Heavenly Net Sect. His methods were bloody, cruel, and outrageous.
At that time, he was already at the late stage of the Boundless Realm.
After decades of seclusion, this old monster’s strength must have become even more unfathomable. He might have even reached the threshold of the Supreme Clarity Realm.
…Even a prodigy like Senior Sister Shen Shuanglian, as abnormal as she was, would only be able to run if she encountered this old monster.
Chen Yin couldn’t help but speculate inwardly.
“Hehe, the sect promised you, so naturally, we won’t shortchange you.”
Hei Ran waved his sleeve, and a ring flew towards Yu Xiang.
After catching it, Xiang’er glanced at it briefly, and her eyes flickered: “Thank you.”
After saying that, she turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Hei Ran’s voice sounded again from behind.
Yu Xiang turned her head and asked calmly, “Does Elder have anything else to say?”
“Hehe, although the sect promised you unconditional support with cultivation resources before you master your demonic arts…”
Hei Ran chuckled, but there was a hint of ambiguity in his eyes:
“But… I wonder if the Holy Maiden is using these resources for cultivation, or… to support a lover?”
“If Elder is worried that my cultivation hasn’t progressed—”
Yu Xiang said expressionlessly, “—you can test it yourself.”
“No, no. I was just joking.”
Hei Ran’s expression stiffened, then he laughed heartily: “It would be best if the Holy Maiden focuses on her cultivation. The sooner you master your demonic arts, the sooner we can rise again.”
“Don’t bother worrying, Elder.”
Yu Xiang turned around gracefully, her voice carrying a hint of coldness: “It’s best if you don’t interfere with my affairs.”
Hei Ran’s face darkened, but it was only fleeting and he didn’t show it.
“I’ll come again next time to collect next month’s resources.”
Hei Ran also forced a sinister smile, watching Yu Xiang’s figure slowly disappear.
Chen Yin, hiding behind the pillar, was speechless with surprise.
…Wow.
Is this still my harmless, well-behaved, and shy Little Junior Sister Xiang’er?
In front of the demonic path, she actually had such a cold and aloof demeanor.
Recalling Xiang’er’s innocent and lovely smile when they were together on the mountain, Chen Yin felt a mix of emotions.
However, based on their conversation, Chen Yin could roughly deduce something.
Xiang’er must have obtained some kind of demonic cultivation technique due to her special physique or some other reason. That’s why the demonic path revered her as the Holy Maiden and generously provided her with a large amount of demonic cultivation resources.
But the reason why Xiang’er joined the demonic path was still unclear.
However, she could even ignore an Elder’s face, which meant that Xiang’er’s status in the demonic path was even more detached than he had imagined…
Chen Yin couldn’t help but ponder.
Just then, that sinister voice sounded again:
“You’ve been watching for so long, why don’t you come out and show yourself?”
Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed.
The next moment, he landed in the middle of the hall, wearing his mask and with a graceful figure.
Hei Ran, seated on the main seat, looked at Chen Yin with interest. But the moment he appeared, a look of disappointment flashed across Hei Ran’s face.
“Heh. It’s just a brat who hasn’t even reached the Cloud Ascending Realm.”
He shook his head and sighed: “I thought there might be some fun.”
“For such a small fry, it’s almost beneath me to even make a move.”
Chen Yin looked at him calmly: “I have some questions for you.”
“Huh?”
Hei Ran seemed to have heard a very funny joke, and his beard twitched:
“Little brat. I don’t think you understand the situation.”
“Whether you stumbled in here by accident or came to investigate the Holy Maiden…”
“Since you’ve stumbled upon our demonic secrets… naturally, there’s no reason to leave you alive.”
“And you still want to ask me questions? You’re truly a newborn calf not afraid of tigers.”
He shook his head and said casually:
“Forget it, I’ll condescend to make a move today.”
“Little brat, you should consider yourself honored to die under my palm.”
“After all, those who died under this palm before…” he said with a sinister smile, “were all Elder-level figures from your righteous path.”
The next moment, a black energy seemed to gather in Hei Ran’s palm, carrying a terrifying aura.
Chen Yin glanced at him, then sighed softly.
…So it’s not that easy to talk, huh?
I didn’t want to use this move right away.
“Alright, I haven’t tested the power of this sword move since I learned it.”
As he spoke, the Eternal Light sword floated out from Chen Yin’s sleeve and hovered horizontally in front of him.
“I wonder… if you can withstand this sword.”
“Arrogant!”
Hei Ran seemed to have been greatly mocked, and he shouted angrily, suddenly striking out with his palm.
Black energy surged instantly, like a tidal wave, towards Chen Yin.
And Chen Yin, holding the sword with one hand, lightly slashed towards Hei Ran.
***
After an unknown amount of time, the entire hall fell silent.
The surroundings had been completely reduced to a horrific ruin, with no intact spot on the ground.
Chen Yin stood amidst the ruins, gently wiping his sword and sighing.
…As expected.
This was why he didn’t want to use this move easily.
Although he had guessed that the power of this sword would be outrageous, he didn’t expect it to be this outrageous.
He originally had some questions to ask that old guy. But with this one sword strike…
…Not even ashes remained.
It seemed that with his current cultivation, he couldn’t fully control the power of these three sword moves.
If he was careless, it would be like this, unable to even leave anyone alive when he originally intended to.
Sighing, Chen Yin was about to sheathe his sword when his eyes suddenly sharpened, and he turned the blade towards a certain spot.
“Who’s there!”
“If you don’t come out, don’t blame me for making a move.”
After a moment, a figure emerged from the void, her face filled with terror and fragility, her body trembling as she slowly revealed herself.
Upon seeing the person, Chen Yin was stunned.
“Are you… the little girl who was selling shell necklaces just now?”
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