Chapter 2: Silver Sword Peak - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

**Chapter 2: Silver Sword Peak** Shu Mountain, Silver Sword Peak. Chu Liang opened his eyes, his gaze bright and clear. He glanced outside; it was still early. The fiery sun had just risen over the mountains, casting red into half of the sky with the morning glow. Having spent more than half a year in this world, he had fully adapted to waking up early. Indeed, he wasn't originally from this world; he was a recent graduate who had just completed his college entrance exams. The day before, he learned he had scored third in the entire province. The next day, as soon as he stepped out, he was struck and sent skyward by a drunk driver. When he woke up again, he found himself in this strange, fantastical world. This world was bizarre, with demons causing havoc, dragons and snakes emerging, and deities wielding incredible power while ordinary humans' lives were as fleeting as grass. Thankfully, the numerous immortal sects, led by the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, safeguarded peace in the human realm. Human cultivators were equally powerful. Martial artists could split mountains and stones with sheer strength, scholars could match armies with their intellect, Taoist masters could summon storms, and Buddhist monks had tamed dragons with a mere gesture... Chu Liang's predecessor was an orphan whose entire family had been killed by demons. Only he was saved by a master, taken back to the mountains due to his potential for cultivation. Hence, his predecessor had an intense hatred for evil entities, harboring a deep desire to swiftly master divine powers and descend to eliminate demons. However, due to his extreme eagerness, his mental state became unstable, leading to possession and his soul dissipated during a breakthrough attempt. One could only sigh at the unpredictability of life. Chu Liang's initial reaction upon arriving in this world was fear. Growing up in a peaceful era, this demon-infested world made him deeply uneasy. Especially since the vivid memories of his predecessor, witnessing his parents and relatives being slaughtered by demons, left a profound impact on his psyche. Quickly, however, he reasoned with himself: fear stemmed from insufficient power. The weak would inherently live in fear every day. To rid oneself of this anxiety, the only solution was to become stronger. And with his cultivation potential, starting in a top-tier sect like Shu Mountain was already a promising beginning. Even more fortunate was the discovery of a change in his soul after the transmigration. A mysterious tower appeared within his mind. Whenever he meditated, a colossal white tower would appear in his thoughts, rewarding him with treasures after slaying demons. This wasn't part of his predecessor's memories, seemingly accompanying him across worlds—perhaps his legendary "golden finger"? Initially, Chu Liang dared not face major demons, instead seeking out haunted sites and cemeteries near Shu Mountain, slaying lantern demons. These lantern demons were malicious spirits, the grievances of the deceased attaching themselves to lanterns, transforming into ghostly fires floating at night, colliding with the living. Once struck, a lantern demon would vanish, while the unfortunate victim might only fall ill. To a cultivator, they posed no real threat. Their weakness was almost endearing. For each lantern demon purified, he received a Qi condensation pill—a modest reward in itself, yet accumulating them considerably accelerated his cultivation progress. On one occasion, he stumbled upon a massive, heavily armored stone statue demon committing atrocities. After an exhaustive battle, Chu Liang finally wore it down. That was when the white tower rewarded him with his first magical treasure—the golden brick that revealed the true form of spider demons. **Demon-Revealing Brick**: When struck upon someone's head, if the person is a shape-shifting demon, their true form will be exposed immediately; if not, they would simply feel pain and potentially become dazed, offering a straightforward method to discern truth from lies. Chu Liang found this treasure rather practical. Elixirs, magical artifacts, divine skills... these were all extremely precious in the world of cultivation. Even disciples of Shu Mountain had to complete tasks for the sect to exchange for resources and treasures. In contrast, Chu Liang could obtain them simply by slaying demons. As his prowess in disposing of demons grew, the grade of treasures increased, significantly enhancing his combat abilities. Thus, Chu Liang found himself in a loop—fearing demons, only to slay them—and from a certain perspective, he was fulfilling part of his predecessor's aspirations. ... Leisurely, he donned his attire, tied his hair, fetched water, and washed up, thus officially beginning his day. He opened the door, stepped out of the small wooden house, and saw the sky vast and cloud-light. It was late spring in April, and the breeze carried the fragrance of grass and wood. Following a path filled with birdsongs and floral scents, he wound around the mountainside to a pavilion at the peak. He was there to see his master. The pavilion doors were ajar, and as he stepped inside, he saw a languid, graceful figure lying across the altar. This was a woman with long hair cascading around her, half her face covered by tresses. The half-exposed face held a dewy luster, with facial features like ink sketches, slightly flushed, her neck elegant as fine porcelain. Dressed in a dark robe, even while reclining, her abundant chest was noticeable, rising and falling with her steady breathing. A jade pendant, tinged with red, nestled between, naturally drawing the eye. Cinched at the waist with a silken band, her hips widened, her long legs extended freely, pale and plush. Beside her lay a large wine gourd, and upon entering, Chu Liang could faintly hear gentle snores—utterly lacking composure. Though deep in slumber, as soon as Chu Liang's footsteps sounded, the woman instinctively awoke, opening her eyes quickly. "Master," Chu Liang gently called from the doorway. Indeed, this woman was none other than Chu Liang's master, the leader of Silver Sword Peak, one of the thirty-six peaks of Shu Mountain—Empress Phoenix. "Oh, it's already morning," Empress Phoenix muttered as she turned over, sitting up, her robes in disarray, exposing her shoulders—like a scene from a crime. Rather than tidying her attire, she first tousled her hair and gazed groggily at Chu Liang. "What brings you here?" Still a bit dazed. “Hmm…” Chu Liang looked up and said, “It was your paper crane, instructing me to find you upon returning, Master.” "Was there such a thing?" The hungover woman scratched her head, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I remember now!" Only then did she adjust her clothes, rising to her feet—what seemed unremarkable lying down now revealed her tall stature and astonishing curves. "Yesterday, the Headmaster summoned the peak leaders for a discussion. They mentioned preparations for the once-a-decade Shu Mountain Summit. You're aware, right? It's the event where disciples from various peaks compete for the title of chief disciple." "I am aware." "Then, I got into a heated argument with that old chap Wang Xuanling. I can't stand his arrogance, boasting that the chief position is sure to belong to his Jade Sword Peak... ugh!" Empress Phoenix's chest heaved with agitation at the memory. "Of course, I had to retort, and after a few exchanges, we made a wager." "If the disciples of Jade Sword Peak take the chief position, I'll give him my Phoenix Blood Jade. But if the disciples of Silver Sword Peak claim it, he relinquishes his Head of Peaks position to me." Glancing at Chu Liang, Empress Phoenix continued, "I've summoned you to discuss who should represent our Silver Sword Peak at the Shu Mountain Summit." "..." Chu Liang was silent for a moment before softly saying, "Master, aren't I the only disciple of Silver Sword Peak..." "Great!" Empress Phoenix clapped, “Your willingness to volunteer makes me truly proud!”