12 012, [Demon Sect]

The torrential rain outside was still falling with deafening noise.

Many people enjoy listening to the sound of the rain, especially when it beats against an old house.

Water hitting the leaves, the tiles, the bluestone slabs... each has its own rhythm and melody.

Ji Li let go of the corner of Lu Xun's clothes, which she had been gently pulling. Seeing that he and Mao Nanbei hadn't fallen out, she sighed in relief.

Lu Xun turned and smiled at her. Then he stepped back half a step, pushing her forward a little... But she didn't move.

Ji Li is strong. Given his current state, Lu Xun naturally couldn't push her.

But that's okay. After all, he had already taken a step back. Now it was time for the sales pitch.

Although he no longer needed Ji Li as his proxy, Lu Xun felt that fate had brought them together, so why not give her a hand?

This young girl was pitiful enough already.

With a warm smile still on his face, he began to narrate Ji Li's life story and experiences.

He was quite eloquent. After all, he hadn't joined any gaming guilds or studios before. Selling equipment and characters was all down to his gift of the gab, and so he had plenty of practice.

Under his subtle embellishments, even Ji Li felt, "Wow, I really have it rough," almost bursting into tears on the spot.

Murong Yan was a kind-hearted person. After hearing Lu Xun's words, the way she looked at Ji Li changed.

She had thought that applying the Blind Eye Method to the Wedding Sword would make things easier for Ji Li. She had not expected that the sword had already brought hardship to her family.

A small girl with cat ears sat on her shoulder. Although her face said she couldn't care less, her right hand was fiddling with the bell hanging from her left hand.

When Lu Xun had finished speaking, he pushed Ji Li's head to make her bow, and then ask to join the sect; but again, she didn't move.

Fortunately, while Ji Li might seem a bit oblivious on a daily basis, she didn't drop the ball at the critical moment. After bowing, she stated her request:

"This Immortal Master has applied a Blind Eye Method to my Wedding Sword, and this other Immortal Master has coldly dealt with the malicious spirits. They both must belong to the Righteous Immortal Gates. Ji Li… Ji Li humbly petitions to join the Immortal Gates!"

Well, everyone was nodding in agreement when Ji Li was speaking, but when she mentioned the "Righteous Immortal Gates," Murong Yan and Mao Nanbei exchanged a look.

Murong Yan looked taken aback, while Mao Nanbei, the little-girl-with-cat-ears, burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA! Little girl, are you trying to kill me with laughter?"

She gently patted Murong Yan, signaling her to squat down so that she could look levelly at Ji Li.

Murong Yan obediently squatted down. Mao Nanbei reached out with her right hand, lifting Ji Li's bowed head. Looking at Ji Li's slightly red eyes, she said word-by-word:

"I belong to the Demon Sect!"

...

...

The atmosphere on the spot became a tad awkward.

Yes, Lu Xun knew about Murong Yan's identity. He knew she was a disciple of the Demon Sect.

The Heavenly Dust Continent housed countless sects. Of these, the Righteous Sects were spearheaded by four great sects: One Sword Mountain, Ten Thousand Sword Mountain, Qingtian Sect, and Luotian Sect.

The names of these four major sects didn't seem out of place individually, but paired up in twos, they looked rather farcical.

The first two seemed unfriendly towards each other, while the latter two seemed to have a close brotherhood.

Indeed, this was the case.

One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain were initially one and the same, known as Sword Mountain.

However, some believed that "One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws" was the essence of the Sword Dao, hence they only practiced one sword technique in their entire life, which was quite eccentric.

Others believed that "Ten Thousand Swords Return to One" was the essence, learning a plethora of sword arts, and attempting to comprehend Sword Dao through mastering tens of thousands of sword techniques.

And thus they inexplicably split up!

It seemed like a secret everyone knew. Everyone could sense there was more to the story, but Lu Xun didn't know the specifics.

The discourses between the two sects of sword cultivators are particularly "amicable", casually "advising" each other upon meeting. Since they're from the same sect, they fondly call each other "Junior Brother" and "Junior Sister", always trying to one-up each other.

They frequently say things like, "Junior Brother/Sister, let me give you some advice on your cultivation."

Then they proceed to fight, turning the world upside down.

Moreover, every few years, the two sides organize open martial arts contests, inviting all major sects to watch.

Both sides are determined, thinking, "Today, it's either me slapping your face in public, or you getting your face slapped by me!"

Sometimes, Lu Xun wondered, "Have the game designers gone crazy?"

However, it turns out that players who joined these two sects had a blast. They fought at every turn, indulged in trash talk, and competed in swordplay, having the time of their lives.

Moreover, such settings actually made players feel an even stronger sense of belonging to their sects!

In the entire "Heavenly Dust", the players of One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain cherished their sect honor the most.

As for Qingtian Sect and Luotian Sect... they just shared a common fondness for the character "天" when their founders were naming the sects. In essence, the two sects had no actual relation.

However, over time, they started viewing each other as "brother sects", similar to how we regard "brother classes" in school.

As for the so-called demonic evil cults, they were led by the three Demon Sects.

Besides, the Spring and Autumn Forest, Boundless Mountain, and... The Demon Sect.

Yes, the last one is simply called the Demon Sect, as if telling the entire world – yes, I'm a demonic evil cultivator!

Murong Yan and Mao Nanbei, both were from the Demon Sect.

The one that Lu Xun wanted to join was also the Demon Sect.

Once there, he could have a "perfect start".

As for the distinction between the righteous sects and the demonic way... Do you think the players would care?

Players didn't care at all! It's just a game after all!

However, the natives of the Heavenly Dust Continent took it quite seriously.

Like Ji Li at this moment.

"De... Demon Sect?" Ji Li's big eyes trembled slightly, just like an anime character.

Although the cultivation technique in her arms was Demonic Arts, and she had once wanted to make Lu Xun her human cauldron, if given a choice, she would prefer joining a reputable sect.

She never expected that the kind-hearted Fat Sister and the vigilante little girl were actually from the Demon Sect!

She vaguely felt that something was off, but since she supposedly traded her brain for her chest, she couldn't figure it out.

So, Ji Li couldn't help but turn her head to look at Lu Xun.

Lu Xun gave her a faint smile and nodded.

Knowing how unique the Demon Sect was, he didn't feel like he was leading her astray. On the contrary, he always felt that the Demon Sect was a good place.

For a late-stage face-chaser like her, that faint smile was like a ray of light.

Ji Li seemed to be encouraged by this.

She also understood that she wasn't in a position to be picky – she needed to cultivate and then avenge her parents!

What she wanted to practice earlier was also Demonic Arts, and quite the vicious kind at that.

So she bowed again to show her determination.

The little loli with cat ears looked at her and said, "Hmph! Don't cry or regret it later!"

However, her cat ears seemed to move comfortably back and forth.

As if... she felt slightly happy about Ji Li knowingly joining the Demon Sect?

...