Record of a Demon's Cultivation

Chapter 542 - The Imperial In-Laws

Translator: Cinder Translations

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"It must be Xu Geng helping him in secret," Song Wen thought to himself, observing the arrogant Cui Huo.

Throughout the entire battle, besides successfully using the Soul Blood Seal, Cui Huo had not shown many other remarkable abilities.

The Cui Family Tournament was scheduled to last for seven consecutive days, even continuing into the night without interruption.

The arrival of nightfall didn't affect the strength of the Cui Family cultivators; instead, it enhanced the abilities of the ghostly creatures they controlled, who thrived in the dark.

After resting for an hour, Cui Huo stepped onto the arena again. He pushed forward relentlessly, using several unfamiliar spells, which earned cheers from the spectators.

With each victory, Cui Huo grew more confident and aloof.

In the end, he won every match and claimed the championship of the tournament.

When the judge announced him as the winner, Cui Huo stood proudly on the stage, basking in the cheers and praises of countless family members and loose cultivators.

"We were wrong earlier; Cui Huo is not bad at all," said Cui Hongying from aboard the flying ship.

"His temperament still needs some work, but he can be honed over time," replied Cui San.

Neither Cui Hongying nor Cui San were aware of Xu Geng's involvement, so their judgment of Cui Huo was somewhat misguided.

"Cui Huo is the champion of this year's tournament. Next is the challenge round. We welcome Qi Refining stage loose cultivators to step forward and challenge Cui Huo. If you win, not only will you receive a hundred mid-grade spirit stones as a reward, but you will also have the chance to join the Cui Family as an outsider steward."

"To ensure fairness, we will select three loose cultivators to challenge him. Please feel free to participate."

The judge announced loudly from the arena.

Many of the loose cultivators at the Qi Refining stage were eager to try, but no one stepped onto the arena right away.

After a moment, a female cultivator walked up.

She appeared to be in her early forties and had reached Qi Refining Peak Stage.

At her age, if she couldn't form her foundation soon, she would probably never have the opportunity to do so.

She hoped to win this challenge to earn the Cui Family's recognition and obtain the chance to form her foundation.

However, the female cultivator was no match for Cui Huo.

After the battle began, she lasted only a few breaths before she was defeated.

Perhaps it was the string of victories that had changed Cui Huo's mindset, or maybe it was because his opponent was just a loose cultivator, not a family member, which gave him the freedom to act without restraint.

When facing the female cultivator, he showed no mercy. Even though she had clearly lost all resistance, he did not stop his attacks, shredding her into a pile of bloody meat.

Seeing the blood and flesh scattered across the arena, Cui Huo's expression became inexplicably excited, awakening the darker, more violent side of him.

Even the watching loose cultivators did not find it inappropriate that Cui Huo killed the female cultivator.

On the contrary, her death only made the atmosphere more heated.

"Any other challengers willing to step onto the stage?" the judge called.

After a while, a middle-aged male cultivator stepped up to the stage.

This man was no match for Cui Huo either and was quickly defeated.

"I surrender!" he shouted.

But his cries of surrender were drowned out by the crowd screaming, "Kill him!"

The cries of "Kill him!" came from the many loose cultivators watching.

"Poof!"

A blood-colored crescent slash cut through the air, splitting the middle-aged cultivator's body in two.

His crimson intestines and blood spilled across the arena.

"Cui Huo, Cui Huo, Cui Huo..."

"Haha, that's right, kill them all..."

The crowd erupted below the arena.

The loose cultivators crazily chanted Cui Huo's name, cheering for the slaughter.

"There's one last spot left. Who else wants to step up?" the judge called again.

Below the arena, cheers and shouts filled the air, but no one stepped forward.

Although these demonic cultivators were bloodthirsty, they were not fools. Cui Huo was in a killing frenzy, and anyone who stepped onto the stage would die if they lost.

Better to avoid death than to fight for someone else's amusement!

Finally, a young figure leaped out of the crowd and landed on the high platform. "I am Wei Ding, please enlighten me."

At this moment, Song Wen appeared to be a loose cultivator in his early twenties, with cultivation at the Qi Refining Peak Stage, just like the previous two challengers.

"Another one coming to die!" Cui Huo muttered to himself.

He quickly formed hand seals and once again cast the Soul Blood Seal.

A blood-colored spiritual force shot out like lightning. Just before it touched Song Wen, it exploded, turning into a blood-red ring that flew toward him.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Song Wen.

It was a late-stage First Rank Corpse Puppet, which Song Wen had purchased from a market when he was watching the tournament below the arena.

The blood-colored ring hit the Corpse Puppet.

Holding a large wolf-tooth club in his hands, Song Wen suddenly dashed out from behind the Corpse Puppet.

Seeing that his usually unstoppable technique had failed, and noticing Song Wen charging at him with the huge club, Cui Huo showed a clear expression of fear, which quickly turned into anger.

He had spent thirty years in obscurity and finally gained attention today. He would not let that attention be ruined by a mere loose cultivator.

He quickly formed hand seals again, and a blood-colored shield materialized in front of him.

"Bang!"

Song Wen closed the distance, and the wolf-tooth club smashed into the shield.

The shield shook but did not shatter.

Song Wen relentlessly swung the club like a brute.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Finally, the shield could not withstand the immense force of the club and shattered, turning into a mist of blood.

"Die!" Cui Huo snarled, his face twisted in fury.

In the moment the shield broke, he completed his hand seals. A blood-red light shot out like a sword, aiming directly at Song Wen's chest.

Song Wen's eyes widened in shock, momentarily stunned by the sudden red beam.

At the last possible moment, he quickly twisted his body, shifting his torso two inches to the side.

At the same time, he thrust his wolf-tooth club forward.

Both Song Wen and Cui Huo were sent flying backward at the same time.

Both of them were drenched in blood as they flew through the air.

The red beam struck Song Wen's left shoulder, and blood began pouring from the wound.

The wolf-tooth club struck Cui Huo's left shoulder, tearing it apart, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Bang! Bang!"

The two of them crashed to the ground simultaneously.

"Eh! This person is clever; he knew to use a Corpse Puppet to block the Soul Blood Seal. And he's also a rare body cultivator," said Cui Hongying on the flying ship, her eyes filled with a hint of approval.

"He does have some ability. If he succeeds in foundation building, he could be accepted as an outsider relative of the family," Cui San responded.

To solidify their power, major factions would use every means possible.

Sects would widely recruit disciples, while family forces focused on expanding their bloodlines, particularly valuing those with extraordinary talent.

For exceptional talents outside the family, the most common way to bring them in was through marriage.

When an outsider genius married a family member, there was a chance that their descendants would inherit strong talents.

Cui San's lips moved slightly, and below, the Foundation Establishment Stage referee on the arena immediately moved to the center of the stage, interrupting the struggling Song Wen and Cui Huo, who were about to continue fighting.

"You two no longer need to continue. The match is a draw."

He turned to Song Wen and asked, "Where do you cultivate?"

"I am a loose cultivator with no fixed place to stay," Song Wen replied.

"Would you be willing to join my Cui Family and become part of it?"

Song Wen was stunned, overwhelmed with excitement and surprise.

"I am willing."

(End of the Chapter)

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