2. What is the fine tradition of the Demon Cultivator?

Black Heart Mountain is a mountain, just as a certain village is inevitably a village, and likewise, words without causation tend to be empty talk.

However, there is a reason why Black Heart Mountain bears this name.

There's also a reason why the Heartless Old Man used disciples as consumables, refining even those with unparalleled talent.

That year, when the Heartless Old Man was over a hundred years old, which was a cause for great celebration in the Jiawu Realm, for a century of cultivation meant reaching the pinnacle of purity in one's practice.

Filled with ambitious zeal, the Heartless Old Man then set out to gather the remnants of the Demon Cultivators and re-establish their sect!

But then...

First, because the other branches of Demon Cultivators would not submit to him, he fought with them. They destroyed his prized demonic form, and then came the disciples from Mt. Extinguishing Sword, which had quelled the Demon Cultivator sect leaders in the past. They unleashed seventy-two sword formations against him, forbidding his magic, commanding him with law, and suppressing him with power, giving the Heartless Old Man a thorough chill to the core.

It was only thanks to his early mastery of a "black heart" that he was able to transfer his injuries to his disciples in the nick of time, thereby saving his life.

However, with his demonic form severed and his black heart expended, most of the Heartless Old Man's cultivation was also gone. Moreover, the seventy-two sword formations from Mt. Extinguishing Sword gnawed at him like a bone-deep ulcer, tirelessly corroding his being.

Thus, came the reason why the Heartless Old Man took in disciples such as Tan Shuchang.

Speaking of Black Heart Mountain, this mountain is enshrouded in dense clouds all year round. Looking into the distance, one would see either jagged rocks showcasing ghastly and terrifying features, or intertwining shadows incessantly consuming what light was visible.

Stare too long, and one might even get the illusion that those shadows are living things.

So, although there are quite a few people on Black Heart Mountain, it often feels desolate, with only the sound of nature rustling the grass and trees. At this moment, two light shadows, like blurred streaks of lightning, approached swiftly from afar, moving so fast that one could only see two overlapping phantoms with the naked eye.

These two light shadows began to solidify.

More accurately, the two people who had rushed here had stopped.

They were two women of differing ages, one in the bloom of youth and the other in the prime of her life, both standing tall and elegant. However, their beauty was marred by an absence of expression, making them look like wooden figures.

Where these two women landed was a somewhat simple thatched hut. Though the hut itself was modest, it was surrounded by plenty of garlic and green onions, lending the area a lush green appearance that inexplicably brought a sense of calm.

After all, this was Black Heart Mountain, and unexpectedly encountering such vibrant greenery naturally offered considerable relief.

After stopping, the two women prepared to ring the bell hanging outside the thatched hut, for cultivators on mountains near and far knew that this was the rule of Tan Shuchang, the third eldest brother of Black Heart Mountain. Even the second eldest brother, who had annihilated his humanity to the extent of destroying his lineage, did not dare to violate this rule.

However, before they could touch the bell, the door of the thatched hut creaked open.

And as the door opened, the power that had obscured all prying disbanded in an instant around the hut, allowing the simple furnishings inside to come into view.

A stone bed, a duvet of goose down silk, and a camphor wood pillow.

Just these three items, with not even a table or chairs for hosting guests.

Because Tan Shuchang was never hospitable.

"My two junior sisters have arrived. Instead of attending to our master, why have you come to me?" Tan Shuchang stepped forward, his aura still sharp, but his tone unusually gentle.

"We've seen Third Senior Brother!" The two women were expressionless, their voices devoid of any emotion. After this semblance of a greeting, they immediately stated their purpose, "Third Senior Brother, the ritual for your fasting ascension to a demon was originally scheduled for after the new year. However, considering the recent opportune time and superior effect, Master intends for you to undergo the fasting ascension to a demon ahead of schedule."

"The Blissful Ascension to a demon? I have long looked forward to it. Ever since Second Senior Brother contacted me and told me that ascension is a blissful affair, I've been thinking about it day and night. I didn't expect it to be brought forward. Please, junior sisters, lead me there quickly," Tan Shuchang responded, first startled, but soon his face was full of smiles, and even his tone was tinged with excitement.

He knew of the abnormalities that occurred during his cultivation. Once this old demon head felt that he himself could no longer break through that barrier of power, he would likely find it hard to resist making a move against him.

Tan Shuchang had realized this since he ascended Black Heart Mountain.

Originally, with both the eldest senior sister and Second Senior Brother to draw attention away from him, Tan Shuchang's anomaly hadn't fallen into this old demon head's field of vision.

If Tan Shuchang had known about the "fasting ascension to a demon" being moved forward, he would have had no choice but to curse his luck and attempt to flee Black Heart Mountain at all costs.

But now, he had assimilated the fierce ghost he had captured... oh, that he had invited from that strange game.

Tan Shuchang was confident that the Heartless Old Man's chances of defeating him were less than fifty percent.

At this moment, the two women showed no reaction to Tan Shuchang's display. However, the Heartless Old Man secretly controlling them let out a sigh of relief. He immediately had these two puppets take this third disciple to his true place of cultivation.

It was believed by many, though not a consensus, that the Heartless Old Man resided on Black Heart Mountain.

In reality, after witnessing the seventy-two sword forms on Sword Exempt Mountain, this old demon had hidden outside of Black Heart Mountain in a city managed by the disciples of the Jianxia Sect.

The Jianxia Sect was considered part of the righteous path. However, as many of its disciples had marital relations with branches of the Demon Cultivator sects, over time, it came to serve as a buffer between the righteous and demonic paths.

Although Sword Exempt Mountain's Exalted Ancestor had killed the previous Demon Cultivator sect leader, commanding respect throughout the Jiawu Realm, with the Demon Sect Leader gone into hiding, Sword Exempt Mountain's old ancestors all went into seclusion or rarely appeared in public.

Therefore, the relationship between the righteous and demonic paths often followed the principle of avoiding conflict when possible.

The neighboring mountain mentioned in Tan Shuchang's diary was actually where the Jianxia Sect was located.

Now, as Tan Shuchang followed the two puppets to Qinghe City of the Jianxia Sect, he felt a measure of surprise; he had not expected this old demon to be hiding here.

He also realized why he had been untroubled so far.

He thought it was because, aside from his eldest senior sister and Second Senior Brother drawing attention to themselves, he had been extremely lucky. It turns out, the old demon was too far away to detect the abnormalities within him.

The foundation of a hundred years of cultivating the truth was indeed formidable, but even the formidability had its limits.

"Does our venerated teacher reside here?" Tan Shuchang looked at the large mansion before him, already sensing the Heartless Old Man. However, he still chose to feign ignorance and ask.

"Hahaha, your teacher is right here. Come in quickly!" The hearty laughter of the Heartless Old Man came from inside, the tone laced with barely concealed excitement.