DEMON EMPEROR

CHAPTER 14 : THE SECT LEADER

Ba Bel emerged from the secret path he had created and was now on a public road built by the Shu Empire. After ensuring no one was around where he had exited, Ba Bel quickly covered his secret path with grass and stones, arranging them carefully to avoid suspicion should anyone pass by the boundary wall.

Ba Bel finally arrived at the River of Death Spirits, gazing at the river that had brought ruin to his Sect. No one had ever suspected that beneath this eerie-looking river lay an aquatic plant incredibly useful for a martial artist.

Especially for a young martial artist like Ba Bel, because if he regularly consumed this aquatic plant, combined with the knowledge from the Book of Nine Demonic Transformations he possessed, he would be able to forge the quality of his bones faster than children his age. There was even a possibility that Ba Bel could surpass his achievements from his first life if he regularly consumed this aquatic plant. The plant found in the River of Death Spirits resembled young bamboo, with a maximum length of one meter, and was known as Water Bamboo.

Ba Bel tried to feel the greenish water flowing in the River of Death Spirits; the river's current itself wasn't strong. The River of Death Spirits was only about 2-3 meters deep, which wouldn't be difficult for an adult to dive to the bottom of.

However, as Ba Bel's palm touched the river's surface, he felt an extraordinary sensation of cold. He immediately pulled back his chilled hand. Ba Bel thought it was impossible to have come this far only to return empty-handed.

“Hmph, I have to do something beyond reason to achieve results beyond human comprehension.” Ba Bel gritted his teeth, then searched for tree branches nearby to build a bonfire.

After successfully building the bonfire, Ba Bel stripped off all his clothes and gathered his resolve to plunge into the river, whose coldness was beyond human reason.

Splash!

Ba Bel finally jumped into the river. Within seconds of being in the River of Death Spirits, he nearly lost his breath due to the incredibly cold water. Ba Bel dove deeper with all his might, and just as he reached his limit, he saw an aquatic plant resembling bamboo.

Without thinking twice, Ba Bel immediately pulled the aquatic plant closest to him. After successfully acquiring several Water Bamboos, Ba Bel swam with all his might towards the surface of the River of Death Spirits.

When Ba Bel managed to pull his entire body out of the River of Death Spirits, his body immediately shivered violently and he felt intensely cold. Ba Bel quickly huddled close to the bonfire he had built. Once he was no longer excessively cold, Ba Bel wiped his entire body with the cloth he had brought to dry himself.

“Hehehe, not bad for a first attempt. I managed to get four Water Bamboos, about ten years old.” Ba Bel smiled with satisfaction and stored the sixty-centimeter-tall Water Bamboos in a special container he had prepared.

In his first life, the Earth and Sky Sword Sect was destroyed when it was attacked by dark faction martial artists after the death of the current Sect Leader and the leadership was taken over by Chen Thai. These dark faction martial artists vied for the resources found within the River of Death Spirits: the Water Bamboo.

“Before this aquatic plant causes trouble for the Sect, I will deplete the Water Bamboo for my own benefit and get as much as I can before its existence is exposed in another 20 years.” Ba Bel murmured softly while warming himself by the bonfire.

“What are you doing there, young man?”

Ba Bel was startled when he heard the voice of an adult man addressing him. Ba Bel immediately grew wary and soon spotted an old man, seemingly around 70 years old, walking towards him.

The old man wasn't very tall, only about 167cm, with a potbelly and a long white beard. Ba Bel's eyes widened when he saw the clothes the old man was wearing.

“Sect Leader Jiang?” Ba Bel thought to himself as he saw the old man standing before him.

“While out for a walk, I saw smoke near the River of Death Spirits. Usually, no one comes to this place, so why are you here, young man?” the old man asked with a gentle smile.

"My respects to the senior...I..." Ba Bel struggled to form his words.

Ba Bel was greatly astonished to see an Old Man he recognized from his previous life, even though he had only seen this Old Man's face once, and that was after the Old Man had passed away. But he was certain that the Old Man currently before him was none other than Jiang Ji, the Sect Leader of the Earth and Sky Sword Sect.

Jiang Ji was the sole pillar that made the Earth and Sky Sword Sect respected in the Shu Empire. This was proven a month after his death when the Earth and Sky Sword Sect was attacked by dark faction martial artists seeking to seize the resources within the River of Death Spirits.

Jiang Ji observed Ba Bel from head to toe, raising an eyebrow as he assessed the young man before him. Jiang Ji could see that Ba Bel neither wanted to answer his question nor lie to him.

“If you don't want to answer, then never mind. It's just that this place isn't safe, so come with me.” Jiang Ji extended his hand and touched Ba Bel's shoulder. Instantly, Ba Bel felt his body warm and a sense of comfort.

Jiang Ji could see that Ba Bel was so cold he used his internal energy to stabilize Ba Bel's body temperature.

“Senior, my name is Ba Bel.”

“Hmm, Ba Bel, a unique name,” Jiang Ji nodded slowly, then invited Ba Bel to come with him. Ba Bel felt a slight dilemma but also that he couldn't refuse the request in his current state, so he complied and followed Jiang Ji's wishes.

“Who is this child, really? He's not wearing the Earth and Sky Sword Sect uniform,” Jiang Ji mused.

Jiang Ji observed Ba Bel walking beside him. He could see that Ba Bel had several thoughts but appeared quite calm.

Ba Bel was indeed in a dilemma and trying to navigate the situation. It had never crossed his mind that the very first time he secretly left the Earth and Sky Sword Sect without permission, he would immediately encounter the Sect Leader, Jiang Ji.