“Bullshit! Who in their right mind would come here just to collect spiritual energy? I discovered the eight-winged purple python here over a year ago. Even though this eight-winged purple python only had two wings, it still wasn’t something I could handle. But at that time, the eight-winged purple python was about to give birth, and its abilities would be greatly weakened after delivery. I could then seize the opportunity to snatch the baby eight-winged purple python. I’ve been waiting for the right moment for over a year and noticed that this eight-winged purple python often fought with a giant eagle. That giant eagle is also a rare species, but it seems to be domesticated. Although the eight-winged purple python had only evolved two wings, it was evenly matched with the giant eagle. It was only recently, as the python was about to give birth, that it stopped fighting the eagle. Seven days ago, I saw the eight-winged purple python enter its cave and not come out to hunt, so I was sure it was hiding inside to give birth. After it gave birth and came out to hunt again, it would be weak and no match for the giant eagle, and I could take the opportunity to snatch the baby python. Who knew that just as I was about to leave, the baby eight-winged purple python let out a screech, luring the adult python back into the cave early. Luckily, it was already seriously injured at that point, so I was able to kill it. But I was also poisoned by its venom. Fortunately, I was prepared and, with the help of an antidote pill, it still took me an hour to force out the poison. After all that careful planning for a year, I never expected that all my hard work would end up benefiting you, kid—you ate the eight-winged purple python’s inner core! And right after I finished detoxifying, I found out you had the guts to try and kill me! Outrageous!” Eric Brooks cursed.

Brian Carter wasn’t the least bit embarrassed and just grinned cheekily!

“All right, things are settled here. Pack up and get ready to return to the mountain. Take this flying sword and throw away that hunting knife. Although this flying sword is of lower quality, it’s made from refined gold essence mixed with platinum and forged with black iron. It’s far sharper than your broken knife. Use it to cut off the eight-winged purple python’s twin horns, eyes, teeth, and scales for me!” Eric Brooks instructed.

Holding the flying sword in his hand, Brian Carter couldn’t put it down, playing with it fondly. The flying sword was nearly twice as heavy as the hunting knife, emitting a faint platinum glow all over. The hilt was made of some unknown wood, the deep black timber giving off a subtle sandalwood fragrance. It looked quite valuable—cultivators really were flush with cash. The cost of this flying sword alone was probably no less than a thousand gold! Brian Carter couldn’t help but marvel.

It took nearly half an hour for Brian Carter to remove all the items Eric Brooks had ordered from the eight-winged purple python. Only then did he realize Eric Brooks hadn’t been exaggerating—this flying sword was definitely the best weapon he’d ever used!

Before long, Eric Brooks had finished packing up the spoils. By now, Edward Carter already knew that cultivators had so-called storage pouches and storage rings for keeping items. The storage pouch Eric Brooks used was fairly common in the cultivation world, but storage rings were much rarer. Usually, those who wore storage rings were either highly skilled or had powerful backing—not every cultivator had the chance to obtain one!

Eric Brooks took out a smaller storage pouch and handed it to Brian Carter, instructing, “I’ve already explained how to use a storage pouch. I’ve also placed a Mystic Ice Talisman on the eight-winged purple python meat to keep it from rotting. Put the python meat in the storage pouch and feed the baby eight-winged purple python every day. Since you swallowed the eight-winged purple python’s inner core, the baby python will instinctively treat you as its kin. It’s best for you to raise it. Remember, never show the baby eight-winged purple python in front of other cultivators. Human nature is greedy—if a cultivator discovers such a rare beast, they’ll definitely try to snatch it. You won’t even know how you died!”

The storage pouch was the most basic item for cultivators, and Eric Brooks had just explained how to use it: just pick up an item, focus your mind, and you can store it inside.

Effortlessly, he placed piece after piece of eight-winged purple python meat into the storage pouch. Only then did he realize that the tiny pouch was actually three or four times larger inside than the cave itself. He couldn’t help but marvel again at the wonders of cultivation, and his resolve to pursue the path of cultivation grew even stronger!

Chapter 004: First Encounter with the Sect Gate

The master and disciple packed up their spoils and prepared to return to the Wuji Demon Sect.

Eric Brooks was currently at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. With the help of the flying sword, he could barely carry Brian Carter in flight, though it was a bit strenuous and not very fast. Even so, it was an eye-opening experience for Brian Carter, filling him with unprecedented wonder and further strengthening his resolve to cultivate demonic arts.

At this point, Brian Carter already knew he was on a spherical object called Tianxuan. Only about a third of the sphere was land, the rest was sea. The land was mainly divided into four large regions: east, south, west, and north. The four largest landmasses were separated by sea, with countless smaller landmasses scattered throughout.

The sect gate of the Wuji Demon Sect was located on Duanhun Mountain in the Western Continent. But Duanhun Mountain wasn’t home to just the Wuji Demon Sect—there were many cultivation sects there. Although the Western Continent had many famous mountains and rivers, only a few places were rich in spiritual energy and suitable for cultivation. There were thousands of cultivation sects, and competition for resources was fierce.

The largest sect on Duanhun Mountain was the Purgatory Demon Sect, which, along with the Heaven-Slaying Demon Palace of Changhen Mountain and the Sword Demon Palace of Heiyun Mountain, made up the three great demon sects of the Western Continent. Each sect had thousands of disciples and countless experts, standing at the pinnacle of the demonic path for thousands of years.

Besides the Purgatory Demon Sect, Duanhun Mountain was also home to five other sects: the Yin-Yang Union Sect, the Blood Fiend Sect, the Black Demon Sect, the Soul Devourer Sect, and the Talisman Sect. Together with the Wuji Demon Sect, they all relied on the Purgatory Demon Sect to survive and cultivate on Duanhun Mountain.