Sword and Rose

Demon Master?

The Master of the Demon Seed Pavilion on Arc Moon Mountain, mentor to the giants of the demonic path!

This name is known throughout the cultivation world, from the novices of the Gathering Qi Realm to the avatars who stir the heavens with a flick of their fingers. His reputation is unparalleled, his power unrivaled.

Under his command are the Purple Extreme Demon Lord Zhao Xinting, the Rakshasa Palace Mistress Ye Qishuang… It’s said that even the beloved daughter of the Abyss Demon Clan’s Emperor seeks favor at the feet of Demon Master Qin Gou.

Since Qin Gou descended from the mountain, this name has haunted him like a shadow.

He was filled with resentment, having devotedly and painstakingly nurtured his lamb-like disciples, only to become a legendary demon king who could terrify the elderly and quiet crying children. He was revered by demonic sects, with golden statues erected in his honor.

Qin Gou’s mouth twitched as he suppressed his anger, speaking coldly, “You heard what my disciple said, right? Hand over the Rain Flower Sutra to me for safekeeping.”

His tone was non-negotiable. Situ Pei, his face dark, dared not defy him and ordered, “Go, fetch the Rain Flower Sutra.”

Soon, a Situ family cultivator, his arrogance gone, respectfully handed a jade slip with a flowing green light to Qin Gou.

Qin Gou casually passed the Rain Flower Sutra to Mu Man’er, letting her verify its authenticity.

Mu Man’er inspected it thoroughly with her spiritual energy, then smiled brightly at her master.

“Now, let’s discuss this ‘Dueling’ business,” Qin Gou said, hands behind his back, calm as ever. “You, Situ Pei, will duel my youngest disciple, Mu Man’er. If your family loses, you’ll return everything you’ve taken from the Mu family.”

“Master… I…” Mu Man’er hesitated, a trace of worry on her face. She lacked battle experience and wasn’t confident in defeating the cunning Situ Pei.

“Don’t worry. Everything is under my control,” Qin Gou reassured her with a confident smile, sending his words directly to her mind.

Reassured by her master’s confidence, Mu Man’er stood tall, ready to face Situ Pei.

“But… Demon Master, isn’t it unfair for my family to pay such a high price for a single loss? That doesn’t follow the rules of ‘Dueling’,” Situ Pei protested, his face dark and his brow furrowed.

“The rules of ‘Dueling’? Who created them? Perhaps I should pay them a visit,” Qin Gou chuckled, his gaze growing colder.

That single look was enough to terrify Situ Pei and his followers.

A Demon Master, an avatar! If he wished, he could erase Gu Yue City from existence in the blink of an eye.

“I… I agree,” Situ Pei sighed, having bullied others in Gu Yue City his whole life, never expecting such a powerful figure to arrive at his doorstep.

Situ Pei dismissed his entourage, approaching Mu Man’er alone with his dragon-headed cane. His demeanor shifted from reverence to malice. “Demon Master, I have a request. If I accidentally injure your disciple during the duel, please don’t hold it against me.”

“That’s fine,” Qin Gou nodded slightly.

Mu Man’er bit her lip, bowing deeply to Qin Gou. “I won’t let you down, Master.”

“Here,” Qin Gou said, tossing an ancient-looking sword to Mu Man’er.

Mu Man’er caught the seemingly ordinary sword, but upon touching the scabbard, she understood its true name—Astonishing Immortal Sword.

It was her master’s beloved Astonishing Immortal Sword!

Her eyes reddened slightly, and she lifted her head high, striding confidently toward Situ Pei.

“Begin,” Qin Gou announced, raising his hand.

Instantly, Situ Pei discarded his cane, clapping his hands to conjure a vibrant red rose, its stem covered in thorns, beautiful yet menacing.

Mu Man’er stepped forward, her sword humming like a dragon’s roar as it left its sheath. Her long hair billowed, glowing with a dazzling white light. The ends of her hair transformed into sharp blades, forming a cloak of swords that floated around her.

This was the true form of the Evil Sword Fairy.

Life-Bound Spiritual Tool: Hair Like Swords.

This rare and powerful life-bound spiritual tool was something Mu Man’er had struggled to comprehend, even with Qin Gou’s help.

Even twins practicing the same technique from birth couldn’t guarantee identical life-bound spiritual tools.

Mu Man’er’s Hair Like Swords was only at the Yellow Rank. As it advanced to the Profound Rank, it would become Eyes Like Swords, then Body Like Sword at the Earth Rank, and Dao Transformed Sword at the Heaven Rank. When she reached the Avatar Realm, she might even manifest the legendary Sword Ancestor Avatar, unseen for millennia.

A crimson petal fell from Situ Pei’s rose, spinning wildly as it shot toward Mu Man’er’s face, growing larger as it flew.

Mu Man’er sliced the petal in half with her sword, her cloak of sword blades shredding it to nothing.

But behind the large petal were hundreds of smaller ones, relentlessly attacking Mu Man’er.

Mu Man’er wielded her sword with lightning speed, her life-bound tool automatically defending her. More strands of hair transformed into blades, making her appear like a thousand-armed goddess, her cold sword light reflecting on every face.

“Heh…” Situ Pei’s wrinkled face twisted into a smug grin. The rose in his hand, continuously firing petals, began to grow. Its stem transformed into a thorn-covered green blade, which he grasped tightly, his aged form moving like a ghost to slash at Mu Man’er’s unguarded legs.