Recognized Again

Inside the crystal mine, over a hundred demons led by the Golden-Furred Rat King were engaged in a bloody slaughter with the disciples of the Sword Sect.

The demons, superior in both numbers and strength, held the absolute upper hand in what could only be described as a one-sided massacre.

The Sword Sect retreated step by step.

The disciples could have scattered and fled for their lives, but to protect the miners who had low martial strength, they persisted in the fight, attempting to escort the miners to safety first.

However, looking at the current situation, it seemed they would all ultimately die at the hands of the demons.

"Why haven't our fellow sect members arrived yet?! Didn't you use the jade distress tokens?!"

"We did! At a time like this, who would be reluctant to use it!"

"Fellow brothers, even if we die today, we absolutely cannot disgrace the spirit of the Sword Sect! We cannot bring shame to the Sword Master! Killing one is breaking even, killing two is a profit!"

At the mention of the Sword Master, the remaining half of the Sword Sect disciples acted as if they had been pumped full of adrenaline.

Each of them was brimming with high fighting spirit. Even the wounded fought fiercely without retreating, erupting with combat power far beyond their usual levels.

But it was ultimately a drop in the bucket, unable to stop the enemies' ferocious onslaught.

Just as everyone was about to be completely wiped out, your stunningly handsome figure descended before them.

You stood in mid-air. In the eyes of the humans present, this posture was equivalent to having "Martial King" plastered all over your body.

You pulled out the Demon Refining Pot. In the eyes of the demons present, this immortal artifact was equivalent to having "dead for sure" plastered all over their own bodies.

"It's a Martial King realm warrior! And he has the Demon Refining Pot!"

"What?! That's the Demon Refining Pot?! When did the Sword Sect get it? Isn't this item in the hands of the Great Wilderness ancestors?!"

"Stop asking damn questions! Run! In a moment, we won't even be able to let out a fart!"

You summoned the Demon Refining Pot and simultaneously activated the Galaxy Divine Art to control the gravity over the entire battlefield, making it impossible for the fleeing demons to move a single step.

Eager to prove its worth, the Demon Refining Pot caused a massive commotion.

"I am the Demon Refining Pot, destined to suppress all demons!"

Surging demonic flames covered the mine, trapping the hundred-plus demons inside and drastically reducing their combat power.

The Demon Refining Pot sucked from east to west, and then from west to east. The terrifying phenomenon of a monstrous sea of blood within the pot blotted out the sky, leaving the group of demons trembling in fear.

The more afraid the demons were, the more severely they were suppressed by the Demon Refining Pot, leaving them with even less power to resist it.

During this time, the Sword Sect disciples pitched in to help, using their last ounces of strength to knock the demons into the Demon Refining Pot.

Joining forces, both sides turned the tide of the battle and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Golden-Furred Rat King and his ambitions were buried together within the Demon Refining Pot, and soon they would be refined into a pool of bloody water.

"I will definitely return!!"

The Golden-Furred Rat King declared just before being sucked into the pot.

After the battle ended, you gently raised your hand, and the Demon Refining Pot flew into your palm, bobbing up and down.

"Master, under your brilliant command, I have taken all the enemy demons into the pot! In just forty-nine hours, they will all be refined into bloody water!"

You nodded slightly.

"Well done."

The Myriad Soul Banner chimed in.

"Don't waste the souls of the dead. Remember to transfer them over to my side."

Every Sword Sect disciple in the mine, holding their swords, dropped to one knee and bowed to you.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives! We earnestly hope you will stay. The elders of our sect will arrive shortly, and the Sword Sect will surely reward you heavily!"

You put on an old and experienced demeanor.

"There's no need. I come from the Great Qian of the Central Plains, heading to the Great Wilderness in search of the Holy Land. Passing by here and seeing you in trouble, I simply lent a helping hand. No thanks are necessary."

The expressions of the crowd looking up at you gained an extra layer of worship.

Just as you were about to fly away, you suddenly spoke to the Demon Refining Pot.

"What crystals do you need? I just gave you a bunch last time, and you've used them up so quickly?"

You wore a troubled expression.

Seeing your difficulty, the Sword Sect disciples hurriedly said.

"Senior, if you need crystals, please wait a moment. There are some readily available in the mine's warehouse, and we will fetch them for you."

"How could I have the nerve to accept your crystals?"

"Senior saved our lives; what do a few crystals matter?"

"Sigh, it's all this Demon Refining Pot's fault. Next time I go out, I'll be sure to bring enough crystals."

You found an excuse to stay behind and wait for the people from the Sword Sect to arrive.

Soon, the reinforcements from the Sword Sect arrived.

The first to arrive was the Sword Master.

After hearing the whole story from the disciples, the Sword Master rushed over to you with red-rimmed eyes and solemnly bowed.

"Thank you, Daoist friend, for your righteous intervention. If not for your rescue, losing a mine would be a small matter, but the deaths of all these disciples would be a tragedy. How would I have answered to their families then! Please, come to the Sword Sect so that we may express our gratitude!"

"Sword Master, you are too serious. I still need to hurry to the Great Wilderness to find the Holy Land... By the way, if I could have a map of the Great Wilderness to make my search easier, that would be wonderful."

Such a trivial matter, the Sword Master gave it to you on the spot.

He continued to warmly invite you to the Sword Sect so that the entire sect could express their thanks.

It was hard to decline such great hospitality, and it just so happened that you also wanted to use this opportunity to get more familiar with the Sword Master.

You were actually quite familiar with him.

But to him, this appearance of you was a first meeting.

You stayed at the Sword Sect for a month.

The Sword Sect treated you to grand banquets every day. The sect's high-ranking officials took you on tours around the sect, letting you experience its various unique features.

Every few days, the Sword Master would hold a Dao preaching assembly, sitting down to discuss the Dao with you while all the disciples listened in. He took the opportunity to spread the story of your heroic rescue, urging the disciples to learn from you.

For a time, you became the most famous person in the Sword Sect, second only to the Sword Master.

When it was time to leave, the Sword Sect gifted you a massive pile of crystals, alchemy materials, artifact forging materials, sword Dao insights, and more as a token of gratitude.

You put on a show of politely declining three times before finally, with feigned reluctance, opening your storage ring and accepting everything.

"Sword Master, please head back. I really must be on my way."

"It is truly a pity that Brother Chen has to leave. I had hoped to continue discussing sword Dao insights with you, but alas, it is not to be..."

"There will be opportunities. I am going to the Holy Land to find my relatives, and I will return to the Five Regions again."

After many days of interaction, the Sword Master and you had developed a mutual appreciation. Upon your departure, he personally escorted you for three hundred miles.

"Sword Master, even if you escort me for a thousand miles, we must still part ways. Please go back."

The Sword Master looked back.

Then he suddenly said something out of the blue.

"Brother Chen, are you really going to the Holy Land to find relatives, or did you set your sights on some treasure of theirs?"

You froze for a moment, then suddenly realized what he meant.

Your expression shifted, and finally, you let out a bitter laugh.

"I wonder how the Sword Master recognized me. Although I bear some resemblance to Yi Qianjun, there are many people in the world who look alike."

"Last year in the Star Realm, I left a mark on you."

You actually remembered this move of the Sword Master.

You just didn't know how he left the mark, nor had you noticed anything extra on your body.