Theodore, a grand elder from the Serene Lotus Sect, listened to the conversation between the representatives of the other two sects. With his proficiency in hiding, nobody noticed him.
"These two sects plan to let the kid die. We agreed to poach him, should we save him?"
Theodore consulted with his friend, Elmer. The latter contemplated the issue for a while before coming up with a solution.
"It'd be risky to run away from all those grand elders while carrying and protecting a burden."
"Indeed, that's why I'm not sure what we can do about it."
"There's the legend of the Bloodthirst Sect, I think they were situated in this area, so the mountain this kid is on should be included in their past territory."
Theodore raised an eyebrow in surprise. The Bloodthirst Sect was an evil sect that practiced many techniques of blood and murder. They were exclusively lunatics, and the whole cultivation world sighed in relief when their top elders were gone.
"Are you sure it's appropriate? And can we even count on a legend?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Although it happened 2,000 years ago, some living people met witnesses from the event. This can't be a lie; it only wasn't tested since no righteous force would complete the condition to open their secret realm, and they were the last evil sect in the Central Zone."
After the fall of Bloodthirst Sect, the top 5 righteous sects managed to banish all evil forces from the Central Zone permanently, and they were the only forces with free access to the trove of treasures known as the Central Zone.
"All right, do what you think. If it doesn't work, don't blame me for the kid's death."
"I won't blame you. It's our safest way to save the kid without making everyone angry at us."
"True. They will be angry, but not at us."
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Ken was quite exhausted from the endless fighting. Despite replenishing his Qi and nourishing his muscles, bones, and the rest of his body with Qi to avoid needing sleep and food, there was a limit to how much it could achieve. He'd collapse long ago if he wasn't a powerful Core Formation cultivator.
"Hello kid, I'm Grand Elder Elmer from the Serene Lotus Sect. Have you heard of my sect? Just nod with your head if you have."
Ken heard a voice whispering straight to his ear, and by the lack of change in his opponent's expression, he could tell he was the only one to hear it.
Ken nodded his head and waited for the man to continue.
"You have slightly under an hour left to live. The Divine Sword Sect received an ultimatum from the Four Seasons Sect to declare you as an evil cultivator so they can kill you and save some face. Do you think they will risk their skin to help you?"
Ken only shrugged in response. He didn't believe they will, but he didn't want to disrespect the Divine Sword Sect when he didn't know to whom he was talking.
"I will take it as a no, and the reason is quite simple. They don't know you and war will cost them a lot of resources and casualties. They will not bear this loss for a stranger only because of the possibility that he might join them and be loyal."
Ken didn't respond. He just waited for the elder to get to the point.
"Not the talkative type even when it comes to nodding, huh? Anyway, you only have one chance at surviving. Legend says that an evil sect resided in this area of the Central Zone many years ago. One day, all their top 7 elders ascended to the Immortal Realm at once."
Ken only raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. It was the first time he heard about a human becoming an immortal.
"Good to see a reaction from you. Before ascending, they left one message that could be heard thousands of kilometers away. The message said they stored cultivation manuals, special techniques, and treasures in a secret realm that will open when one person under 75 kills ten thousand people by himself without a break."
Ken could see where it was going. He'd lie if he said he wasn't interested; he liked both remaining alive and getting treasures.
"Do you think you can reach 10,000 kills in a single hour? It's your only way to survive."
Ken grinned widely under the mask when he thought about it. He nodded confidently and killed his opponent.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe didn't change his tactic at all other than putting more effort into killing his enemies faster.
'It's been nearly 3 whole days since this challenge began. I've killed 9232 disciples so far, meaning I still have to kill 768 more before the secret realm will open according to that old man.'
Ken knew he couldn't trust a stranger for no reason, but his words made sense. He overstepped his boundaries when he came to the suicide mission of exterminating a top sect in an emotional outburst.
He did his best to keep his killing rate up for the next 45 minutes, managing to keep a pace of 4 kills per minute.
'I need to kill 588 more in those 15 minutes. I think I've restored enough Qi to execute my plan.'
Ken took a deep breath and looked around him. He was still surrounded by black-wearing disciples, but there were many wearing yellow robes; his 'fellow' disciples from the Divine Sword Sect.
Oddly enough, everyone watched his fights without fighting other than dissing and provocations. It was almost like watching the fans of two football teams during a match.
'It's time to let them enjoy a feast of blood. Mind-Poisoning Domain – Frenzy Mode.'
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"Send all powerful disciples under the age of 75 here on airships. The secret realm of the Bloodthirst Sect is opening. I want our disciples to get that inheritance!"
Elmer sent his instructions via the communication device in his hands before putting it back into his storage ring. He was intrigued to watch Ken's method of reaching the necessary kill count with the few minutes he had left. He still believed in the kid; after all, he seemed too relaxed not to have a plan.