<h4>Chapter 387 - Drama Before The Battle</h4>


    On the way back, Long Chen squeezed his brain dry thinking about the situation and finally had some guesses.


    “Brother Chen, why do you think Murong Yu acted that way?” Ling Xi finally asked Long Chen after he left Three Demons City.


    “I’m not sure either, but I’m guessing that the three Demon Elders know that Murong Yu warned me. I thought they would punish and even kill Murong Yu for this, but now I know that they won’t. Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu were their best disciples. Now that Yang Danfeng is dead, Murong Yu is theirrgest bet. Therefore, there’s no way they would punish her; they’ll probably provide more resources so that she bes even stronger!”


    “What has that got to do with Murong Yu’s behavior just now?” Ling Xi still did not understand.


    “Think about it. If you were the three Demon Elders, and you were cing all your hopes on one disciple, wouldn’t you use any means possible, be it threats or lures, to tie Murong Yu to your faction? Right now, Murong Yu is in this situation. Based on what they said, Murong Yu will reach the Ninth River Stage very soon. It looks like they’re going to invest heavily in her, and they are even using a very sophisticated method of controlling her. At least judging from today’s events, Murong Yu looks like she has no ability to fight back at all.”


    “What do we do now?” Ling Xi cocked her head to think.


    “Right now, Murong Yupletely belongs to the three Demon Elders’ side, and I am theirrgestpetitor for the Demon Emperor Sword. If she reaches the Ninth River Stage, then she will be even more terrifying and the sword might end up in her hands. When that happens, then all that I’ve done will have been for nothing.” Long Chen paused, then continued, “However, there’s one thing that we don’t have to worry about. Now that she has be thest disciple of the three Demon Elders, and their final target is me, Murong Yu will be safe as long as she does not disobey their orders.”


    His objective today was to check on Murong Yu. It did not matter what she was thinking, but as long as she reached the Ninth River Stage, the three Demon Elders would not dare to touch her.


    “But I’m afraid Murong Yu won’t live well after this...” Ling Xi was still worried about her.


    “We can only wait and see.” Long Chen shook his head, unable to do anything. He soon returned to the Azure Cloud Residence. Zhao Qingyun had previously said that he had three months. He counted and found that there were about twenty days left, which he was going to spend cultivating.


    Long Chen cultivated quietly while two major pieces of news spread across the whole Heavenly Demon Pce. First was obviously the case of Yang Danfeng suddenly going missing. There were even rumors of Long Chen having killed Yang Danfeng. This was a rumor that spread like wildfire, though the First Demon Elder stepped out to personally exin that Yang Danfeng had only left to train in the wilderness. The people barely believed it. With the fight for the Demon Emperor Sword so close, this exnation was a little forced. As a result, people were more willing to believe that Yang Danfeng had been killed by Long Chen, and the three Demon Elders did not dare to touch Long Chen because of Zhao Qingyun. As for the hostility between Murong Yu and Long Chen, they said it was because Murong Yu was taking revenge!


    The second piece of news was rted to Murong Yu. A few days after news of Long Chen’s appearance at Three Demons City spread, there was an official announcement from the Three Demons City that Murong Yu had sessfully attained the Ninth River Stage. The entire Heavenly Demon Pce was shaken by this news.


    The Heavenly Demon Pce had never had a disciple who reached the Ninth River Stage, and therefore they always looked inferior to the imperial family. Now all was well. With Murong Yu’s achievement, she would be a legendary cultivator just like Lin Zichen once she won the Demon Emperor Sword.


    As for Long Chen, who had shocked the n with his extraordinary results in the Pyro Passageways, he had disappeared from everyone’s view and news about Murong Yu smothered all news about him. She was just one step away from the Heavenly Passage Realm and was likely going to be an ultimate master on a level above Long Chen.


    But this was all irrelevant to Long Chen. He hid in the Azure Cloud Residence all day to cultivate quietly. Even though the outside was chaotic, the noise did not reach him.


    Long Chen knew immediately who had spread the news of Yang Danfeng’s death. It was unquestionably Yang Jun, as Yang Jun knew about the n. When Yang Danfeng did not return, he sensed that something was wrong. After he connected the dots, he figured out what had happened. Shock and rage drowned his senses, but he could not do anything to Long Chen. In the end, if the three Demon Elders had not stopped him, he would have publicized this matter even more.


    The Heavenly Demon Pce disciples had always thought that the extremely talented Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu were a match made in heaven. Now that Yang Danfeng was dead and Murong Yu had reached the Ninth River Stage, the battle for the Demon Emperor Sword was going to be much more interesting. Murong Yu was likely going to use this opportunity to take revenge.


    This was all merely background noise to Long Chen.


    Long Chen waspletely immersed in cultivation as increasing his strength gave him satisfaction and motivation. He had two main tasks at hand: one was to increase his cultivation level, the other was to master the second stage of the Demon Seed nting Technique.


    One day, Long Chen had just finished a cultivation session and was about to study the Demon Seed nting Technique with Xiang when Wang Xing rushed into the yard.


    “Brother Chen!” Wang Xing was huffing and puffing, his face red from exertion. He was now a direct disciple of an elder under Zhao Qingyun, so he was no longer an errand boy. However, since Long Chen was here, he still came often.


    “It’s you! What news do you bring today?” Long Chen asked with a grin.


    “Nothing much. But there’s only ten days left till the fight for the Demon Emperor Sword. Everyone’s been talking about you and Senior Murong Yu. Everyone’s saying that ...” Wang Xing hesitated.


    “What are they saying?” Long Chen asked, amused.


    “They’re saying that ... You killed Senior Yang Danfeng! That’s why Senior Murong Yu hates you to the bone and will likely take your life during the fight for the Demon Emperor Sword! I heard that the battle for the Demon Emperor Sword has been the most heartless contest between disciples since ancient times. No one cares about their opponents'' lives during it. Brother Chen, I heard that Senior Murong Yu has reached the Ninth River Stage. What are you going to do?” Wang Xing asked nervously.


    So that was what Wang Xing was worried about.


    Long Chen had a determined look in his eyes. “Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will not lose.”


    “Even in the face of a Ninth River Stage opponent? That’s impossible. Everyone’s counting down your remaining days ...” Wang Xing said indignantly. To him, Long Chen was a very good person. He didn’t know why almost everyone in the Heavenly Demon Pce didn’t really like Long Chen.


    “Just wait and see. Go back and cultivate.” Long Chen sent him off, then he turned around to find Zhao Qingyun standing there. Long Chen had already sensed his presence.


    “Master, what is it?” Long Chen saw that his expression was solemn.


    “That kid said everything I wanted to say. Sigh. I thought that after you defeated Yang Danfeng, you’d get the Demon Emperor Sword smoothly. I didn’t expect this to happen,” said Zhao Qingyun with a tired smile.


    “Master, do you know what happened to Murong Yu?” Zhao Qingyun had always appeared only when he wanted to. It was a rare chance to meet him, and Long Chen had been impatient to ask this question.


    “Didn’t your cultivation level increase by more than one tier due to the Frost Soul Essence? I saw her a few days ago, and she has indeed reached the Ninth River Stage. I think the Demon Elders were hiding a Frost Soul Essence. After you killed Yang Danfeng, they had to use their trump card, which was their precious Frost Soul Essence.”


    “So it’s because of the Frost Soul Essence ...” Long Chen nodded.


    “Don’t worry about the girl. It’s best if you think about yourself first. You haven’t reached the Eighth River Stage yet, so you are no match for her. Ny-nine percent of people in the Heavenly Demon Pce think you’re going to lose,” said Zhao Qingyun patiently.


    “Don’t worry.” Long Chen smiled mysteriously.


    Zhao Qingyun was speechless to see Long Chen being so reckless in the face of death. He gave a few more reminders and left. Then Long Chen counted again and thought to himself, <i>Based on my current progress, ten days is enough!</i>


    The Frost Soul Essence had brought him very close to the Eighth River Stage. After more than ten days of cultivating and solidifying his base, he had a feeling that he was going to make a breakthrough very soon.


    Indeed, as he worked hard, he finally condensed the eighth pair of starry rivers in his body when there were about five days left, sessfully attaining the Eighth River Stage!


    At the same time, he also finished cultivating the Demon Seed nting Technique. Now he had mastered two of the Three Great Secret Scriptures. Next, he only had to wait for the third and most powerful technique: the Demon Emperor Sword Technique!


    And, of course, the Heaven-tier Demon Emperor Sword!


    Long Chen felt his own strength skyrocket. He was so much stronger than when he first entered the Heavenly Demon Pce. If he was this strong before, then he would not have struggled so much when he fled!


    “Xiao Xi, once this ordeal with the Demon Emperor Sword ends, I will take you back to the Biyang imperial Capital. Then I’ll get the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit! And I will take revenge!”


    There was a cold sh in his eyes as he gazed towards the east.


    After five more days of solidifying his cultivation base, the day of the Demon Emperor Sword battle finally arrived ...