Chapter 6491 - 6500
A moment later, the white-robed elder snapped out of his shock, his voice cold and resolute: “No matter the reason, you must leave immediately.”
With a flick of his whisk, an invisible force pushed Gui Yuanzi back three steps.
Gui Yuanzi steadied himself, raised his head, and looked directly into the elder’s eyes.
Those eyes were deep, as if they held the vicissitudes of countless years, yet they were as clear as mountain spring water.
He took a deep breath, clasped his hands, and said, “Senior, I have not come for personal gain. My young master possesses the Great Luo Golden Scripture of the Daoist sect and is the chosen successor of the Daoist patriarch.
His physical body has been destroyed, leaving only a wisp of his soul. He urgently needs the Chaos Spiritual Liquid to reshape his body and revitalize the Daoist sect. I beg you, senior, to grant my request.”
The white-robed elder’s brow twitched slightly, a flicker of emotion flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
He shook his head, his tone still cold: “Young Master of the Dao Sect? The Great Luo Golden Scripture? I don’t care who you are, nor who this so-called Young Master is.
The Chaos Secret Realm has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, and its rules have never changed. If you want the Chaos Spirit Liquid, there are only two paths: either defeat me, or offer something more precious than the Chaos Spirit Liquid in exchange.
Since you can’t defeat me and can’t offer a treasure of equal value, then please leave.”
Gui Yuanzi clenched his fists. He knew the old man was telling the truth, but he couldn’t give up.
The Young Master was still waiting in the jade bottle; the Young Master needed him.
He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, “Senior, this junior has offended you.”
This time, Gui Yuanzi didn’t hold back.
He pushed his spiritual power to its limit, and dazzling spiritual light flowed across his cyan longsword. Dense cyan runes appeared on the sword, the secret sword technique passed down through generations of the Gui Yuan Sect—the Azure Dragon Sword Art.
He unleashed a sword strike, the sword energy transforming into a ten-zhang-long azure dragon, baring its fangs and roaring as it charged towards the white-robed elder.
Wherever the azure dragon passed, the mist in the hall was torn apart, space itself distorted slightly, and the air emitted a piercing shriek.
The white-robed elder watched the charging azure dragon, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
He had lived for ten thousand years and seen countless geniuses, but few could unleash such a fierce sword technique at the early stage of the third rank of Golden Immortal.
He raised his right hand, fingers spread, a ball of white light surging from his palm.
The light was pure and warm, without a trace of ferocity, yet it contained world-destroying power.
The light transformed into a massive shield, blocking the azure dragon.
The azure dragon crashed into the shield, unleashing a deafening roar, causing the entire hall to tremble slightly.
The shield trembled violently, yet remained unmoved, showing no sign of shattering.
Gui Yuanzi gritted his teeth and unleashed another sword strike.
This strike was even fiercer and more domineering than the first.
He channeled his primal spiritual power, sacrificing his foundation, pushing the Azure Dragon Sword Technique to its limit.
The Azure Dragon’s size doubled, its roar causing the mist in the hall to churn violently, and even the ancient runes on the walls to flicker.
The Azure Dragon slammed into the light shield again; this time, cracks appeared, spreading outwards like a spiderweb.
The white-robed elder frowned slightly.
He withdrew his right hand, and the light shield dissipated.
Freed from its obstruction, the Azure Dragon pounced on the elder with overwhelming force.
The elder didn’t dodge, nor did he cast any defensive spells; he simply raised his left hand and casually struck the Azure Dragon on the head.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the Azure Dragon shattered, transforming into countless azure specks of light that drifted through the hall like fireflies.
Gui Yuanzi was sent flying backward by the backlash, spitting out blood. He tumbled several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground, sliding several meters away.
His cyan longsword was stuck in the ground not far away, its spiritual light completely dimmed, and several fine cracks appeared on the blade.
Gui Yuanzi struggled to stand up, but found that his legs were no longer under his control.
His left arm was broken, his right leg was also injured, and at least two ribs in his chest were broken.
He lay on the ground, panting heavily, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the ground, staining a small patch of bluestone red.
An Dao and Ling Yue stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching Gui Yuanzi being severely injured, and then looking at the unfathomable aura of the white-robed elder. The two exchanged a glance and made a decision at the same time.
They were only sent by the Void Merchant Guild to monitor Gui Yuanzi, not to fight to the death.
If they couldn’t get the Chaos Spirit Liquid, they could just go back and report; there was no need to lose their lives here.
An Dao sheathed his twin swords, turned and ran.
Ling Yue followed closely behind, and the two rushed out of the main hall one after the other, disappearing into the deep tunnel.
They didn’t even leave behind a “take care.”
Gui Yuanzi watched the two fleeing figures, a wave of sorrow washing over him.
He didn’t blame them; they weren’t his comrades to begin with, merely spies sent by Wu Heng to monitor him.
But he still felt a chill, not a physical one, but a chill in his heart.
For his young master, he could fight to the death, but he couldn’t expect others to do the same.
“Gui Yuanzi, go…you go too.”
Kai’s voice came from the jade bottle, tinged with urgency and helplessness.
He had seen everything outside through the jade bottle: Gui Yuanzi severely injured, An Dao and Ling Yue fleeing.
He knew that if the fighting continued, Gui Yuanzi would die.
“Young master…this subordinate can try one more time…”
Gui Yuanzi gritted his teeth, his hands bracing against the ground, trying to stand.
But his body wouldn’t obey him; his elbows buckled, and he collapsed back down.
“Go!”
Kai’s voice turned stern, carrying an unquestionable command. “Don’t throw your life away in vain. As long as you’re alive, there’s always hope. If you live, we still have a chance. If you die, who can I rely on?”
Gui Yuanzi’s body jolted violently. The young master was right.
He couldn’t die.
If he died, the young master would truly have no hope.
He gritted his teeth, using his last bit of strength to get up from the ground, stumbling towards the entrance of the main hall.
He glanced back at the white-robed elder, the figure standing in the center of the hall, his whisk gently swaying, his expression indifferent.
“Ancestor, you… why did you stop me from rebuilding the young master’s physical body?”
His voice was hoarse, filled with confusion and a hint of resentment.
The old man in white didn’t answer, only staring at him silently, his eyes devoid of any emotion, like a stagnant pool.
Gui Yuanzi waited a moment, receiving no response, then turned and staggered into the tunnel.
Behind him, the light in the hall gradually dimmed, and the old man’s figure slowly dissipated into the mist, leaving only a barely audible sigh.
“Gui Yuanzi, you are stronger than your master.”
Gui Yuanzi didn’t hear these words.
He was already far away.
After leaving the secret realm, Gui Yuanzi dared not linger for a moment, gritting his teeth as he flew towards the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.
His injuries were severe; two ribs were broken, his left arm hung limply at his side, and every step he took with his right leg was excruciatingly painful.
His face was as pale as paper, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and his clothes were soaked in blood, clinging to his body, sticky and cold.
But he dared not stop. He feared that the figure would pursue him, and even more so, he feared that the Heavenly Supreme Venerable’s subordinates would appear at this moment.
He gritted his teeth, urging on the remaining spiritual power within his body. The auspicious cloud beneath his feet dimmed to the point of almost dissipating, but he still persisted in flying forward.
What he feared most came to pass.
After flying less than a thousand miles, five golden lights appeared in the sky ahead.
The five golden lights moved at extreme speed, tearing through the sky with a piercing shriek, and in the blink of an eye, they blocked Gui Yuanzi’s path.
The golden light dissipated, revealing five figures—it was the Heavenly Supreme Venerable and his four Golden Immortal elders.
Elder Zhao, Elder Qian, Elder Sun, and Elder Li.
The combined aura of the four elders was like a mountain, pressing down on Gui Yuanzi, making it hard for him to breathe.
Standing at the forefront was the Heavenly Venerable, a peak third-grade Golden Immortal, his body radiating golden holy light, his pressure as imposing as a mountain, his aura overwhelming.
Gui Yuanzi’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
He subconsciously stuffed the jade bottle in his robes deeper into his clothes and gripped the cyan longsword tightly.
The cracks on the sword were glaringly obvious in the sunlight, and the spiritual light on the blade had almost completely dissipated, yet he still held it tightly .
The Heavenly Venerable looked at Gui Yuanzi, a cold smile playing on his lips.
His gaze swept over Gui Yuanzi, landing on his tattered robes, severed left arm, and numerous wounds, his contempt undisguised.
“Gui Yuanzi, why aren’t you staying in the Gui Yuan Sect? What are you doing in the Cangmang Mountains? Are you looking for something to help that little remnant soul rebuild its body?”
Gui Yuanzi gritted his teeth, remaining silent.
A mouthful of blood was stuck in his throat, unable to be swallowed or spit out.
He knew that saying anything was useless; the Celestial Venerable would not let him go, nor would he let the young master go.
The Celestial Venerable’s gaze fell on the jade bottle in his arms, his greed undisguised.
That purple divine soul, that golden tome, that heaven-defying treasure surpassing even the Golden Immortal, was all inside that small jade bottle.
He only needed to kill Guiyuanzi to obtain everything.
“That purple divine soul is in your arms, isn’t it? Hand it over, and I might spare your life.”
Guiyuanzi gripped his longsword tightly, raised his head, looked at the Celestial Venerable, and said, word by word, “Dream on.”
The Celestial Venerable’s face darkened, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. “You won’t listen to reason, so you’ll have to suffer the consequences. Elder Zhao, kill him.”
Elder Zhao responded and stepped forward, his golden longsword unsheathed, its blade shimmering with a blinding light, slashing towards Guiyuanzi’s throat.
This strike was swift and ruthless, the blade tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.
Gui Yuanzi raised his sword to parry, the blade clashing and sparks flying. Already severely injured, the blow caused his hand to split open, blood streaming down the hilt of his sword,
nearly causing it to fly from his grasp. He was thrown back several steps, staggering and almost falling.
Elder Qian, Elder Sun, and Elder Li surrounded him, their auras intertwining like an iron wall, sealing off all his escape routes.
Gui Yuanzi’s heart sank.
He knew he might not be able to leave today.
He glanced down at the jade bottle in his arms; the purple divine spirit within glowed faintly, as if telling him: Don’t give up.
“Young Master, I am incompetent…” he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Just then, a white light flew from the horizon, moving with incredible speed, like a shooting star, leaving a long trail of flame, and landed beside Gui Yuanzi.
The light dissipated, transforming into a woman in a white dress—the Demon Empress Qingqiu.
Qingqiu’s figure was as aloof as snow, her white robes as bright as the moon, her long hair as black as ink, gently swaying in the wind.
A faint white spiritual light surrounded her, the primal power of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, gentle yet resilient.
Her amber eyes, calm and undisturbed, swept over the four Golden Immortal elders, finally settling on the Celestial Venerable.
The Celestial Venerable narrowed his eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Qingqiu, you also wish to oppose me?”
Qingqiu remained silent.
She raised her right hand, fingers spread, a white spiritual light surging from her palm.
The light transformed into a gigantic phantom of a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, ten zhang tall, its nine tails swaying gently behind it, each tail shimmering with a different color—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, gold, and silver.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox phantom opened its maw, letting out a silent roar. The roar was soundless, but an invisible shockwave of divine souls surged forth like a tsunami.
The shockwave caused the surrounding mist to churn violently, and even the four elders behind Venerable Tianji involuntarily took a step back.
“Guiyuanzi, take Kai and leave. I’ll hold them off here.”
Qingqiu’s voice was calm, utterly devoid of emotion, as if stating something utterly ordinary.
But Guiyuanzi sensed the resolute determination beneath that calm.
Guiyuanzi hesitated, glancing down at the jade bottle in his arms, then at Qingqiu’s retreating figure.
He knew Qingqiu was risking her life to buy him time.
He couldn’t let her down.
“Your Majesty, take care!”
He gritted his teeth, turned, and flew towards the direction of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.
Elder Zhao tried to give chase, but his path was blocked by Qingqiu’s nine-tailed celestial fox phantom.
The nine tails swept across like nine giant dragons, and Elder Zhao hastily raised his sword to parry, only to be forced back several steps.
Venerable Tianji’s face darkened, and he raised his hand to strike Qingqiu.
Golden holy light condensed in her palm, transforming into a gigantic golden hand that blotted out the sky, crushing down upon Qingqiu.
This palm strike used seventy percent of the Heavenly Venerable’s power, enough to level a mountain.
Qingqiu did not retreat.
She activated the illusory image of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox; its nine tails lit up simultaneously, the nine colors of light intertwining to form a nine-colored pillar of light that met the golden palm.
Boom!
The two forces collided, unleashing a deafening roar.
The entire sky trembled, the ground cracked, debris flew everywhere, and the mist within a hundred-foot radius was torn apart by the shockwave, revealing a gray sky.
Qingqiu was forced back dozens of steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, but her posture remained upright, her gaze unwavering.
Her white dress was torn in several places by the shockwave, revealing her fair skin, but she didn’t care.
Her cultivation was inferior to that of the Heavenly Venerable; in a head-on confrontation, she was no match.
However, this was the Vast Mountain Range, not far from the Myriad Demon Ridge. She could use the ridge’s protective barriers to ensure that the Heavenly Venerable couldn’t kill her in a short time.
The Heavenly Venerable’s expression was grim, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.
He hadn’t expected Qingqiu to fight so desperately, much less that she would completely break with the Heavenly Palace for an outsider.
“Qingqiu, do you think you can stop me?” His voice was icy, filled with suppressed rage.Qingqiu wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled.
The smile was faint, yet carried a chilling stubbornness. “Even if you can’t stop me, you will. I’ve said it before, the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge is not a place for your divine race to run wild. Today, unless you step over my dead body, don’t even think about passing.”
The Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s fists clenched, veins bulging.
He wanted to kill Qingqiu, but he couldn’t.
At least not now.
Although Qingqiu’s cultivation was inferior to his, this was the Vast Mountain Range, not far from the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. Qingqiu could use the Ridge’s restrictions to her advantage; he couldn’t kill her in a short time.
Moreover, if Qingqiu died, the demon race would surely retaliate fiercely, making the Heavenly Extreme Palace’s situation in the Northern Region even more difficult.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said in a deep voice, “Withdraw.”
The four Golden Immortal elders were stunned for a moment, but seeing the Palace Master’s expression, they dared not ask further questions, quickly sheathing their weapons and retreating behind him. Five golden lights pierced the sky and disappeared into the horizon.
Qingqiu stood in the void, watching them depart, and let out a long breath.
Her face was pale, her lips bloodless, and cold sweat streamed down her face.
That palm strike had seriously injured her, and most of her spiritual energy had been depleted.
But she couldn’t fall; she had to go back, to see Kai rebuild his physical body, and to lead the demon race to continue their struggle against the gods.
She turned and flew towards the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.
Guiyuanzi staggered into the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, passing through layers of thick fog and overcoming numerous restrictions, finally returning to the Demon Emperor’s Palace.
Qingqiu had returned a step earlier and was already waiting in a side hall.
Her face was still pale, and her breath was somewhat weak, but her eyes remained resolute.
She sat on the warm jade bed, holding a cup of spiritual tea in her hand. The tea had gone cold, but she didn’t drink it, simply gazing quietly out the window.
Gui Yuanzi entered the side hall, his knees buckling as he knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, thank you for saving my life. Otherwise, both the young master and I would be finished.”
Gui Yuanzi wasn’t afraid of death, but if Kai’s soul in his arms were also taken away by the Heavenly Venerable, he would be a sinner, a sinner of the entire Daoist sect.
Qingqiu put down his teacup and shook his head. “Get up. It was I who took the initiative to help you. I didn’t do it for you, but for Kai. After all, he also has the bloodline of my Fox Emperor clan within him.”
Gui Yuanzi stood up, looking at Qingqiu, his eyes red-rimmed. “Your Majesty, the guardian in the Chaos Secret Realm is too powerful. I can’t defeat him, and the Chaos Spirit Liquid… I can’t get it.”
Qingqiu was silent for a moment. “What realm is that guardian at?” ”
Peak of the third rank of the Golden Immortal Realm, but I don’t know if that’s his peak cultivation.”
Gui Yuanzi’s voice was full of self-reproach. “And… and he is also…”
“And what?” Qingqiu asked.
“He’s still our Guiyuan Sect’s ancestor. I don’t know why he became the guardian of the secret realm, how he’s survived until now, or why he only has the cultivation of a peak third-grade Golden Immortal.” Guiyuanzi knew nothing about his ancestor.
“What?” Qingqiu was full of doubt. “The Guiyuan Sect’s ancestor is actually the guardian of the secret realm?”
Qingqiu was also puzzled, not understanding what was going on. What did the Chaos Secret Realm have to do with the Guiyuan Sect, or rather, with the Daoist sect?
“Alright, we’ll talk about the secret realm later. You go and recover first. I also need to arrange the defense of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. The Wuji Palace won’t let this go easily.”
Qingqiu waved his hand.
“Yes!” Guiyuanzi nodded and then withdrew.
…
In the vast mountains, An Dao and Lingyue had been hiding in the shadows.
Only after Guiyuanzi left, and Qingqiu and the Heavenly Extreme Venerable had left, did they dare to show themselves.
“Let’s go back…” An Dao said, and his figure disappeared instantly.
This time, they didn’t dare to take the spirit boat, afraid of being discovered.
An Dao and Ling Yue raced forward, not daring to linger for a moment.
The nights in the vast mountains were far more dangerous than the days. Thick fog churned in the darkness, like invisible behemoths, their jaws agape, waiting to devour any lone cultivator.
The roars of demonic beasts echoed from distant valleys, rising and falling, filled with bloodlust.
An Dao gripped his twin blades tightly, while Ling Yue’s whisk constantly shimmered with spiritual light. Their divine senses were constantly extended, covering a radius of a hundred feet, vigilant for any potential danger.
They traversed layers of fog, bypassed the treacherous peaks teeming with demonic beasts, and finally returned to Tianque City the following evening.
The setting sun bathed the entire city in a golden-red hue. The three blazing suns on the horizon were slowly sinking below the horizon, their last rays casting a dark golden glow upon the black stone tower of the Void Merchant Guild.
The tower soared into the clouds, solemn and oppressive, like a colossal beast lurking within the city, silently watching over everything.
The two landed before the stone tower, straightened their robes, and strode through the gate.
The hall was brightly lit, and several cultivators were handling business at the counters—some selling spirit herbs, some buying magical artifacts, and some consigning items for auction.
Behind the counters, staff busily recorded each transaction, spirit stones piled high on the tables, shimmering with spiritual light. An Dao and Ling Yue’s entry attracted little attention; they walked straight through the hall and into the back corridor.
The corridor was deep and dark, with pale blue spiritual lamps embedded in the walls on both sides, the light dim, barely enough to see the path beneath their feet. The two walked quickly, one after the other, to the stone door at the end of the corridor.
An Dao took out a token from his robes; the token was entirely black, with the character “令” (command) engraved on the front and the Void Merchant Guild’s mark on the back—an open eye, symbolizing all-seeing insight.
He affixed the token to the stone door and infused it with spiritual power.
With a flash of light, the stone door slowly opened.
Inside the secret chamber, Wu Heng was sitting at a stone table, drinking tea, engrossed in an ancient scroll.
The ancient book’s cover bore the inscription “Secret Records of the Northern Region,” a copy he had retrieved from the Void Merchant Guild’s main archives. It contained the hidden histories and legends of the major powers of the Northern Region.
He had already perused most of it but found no clues about the Guiyuan Sect’s patriarch.
Hearing the stone door open, he slightly raised his eyelids, but without looking up, simply said, “Back? Did you get the Chaos Elixir?”
His tone was flat, devoid of any expectation. An Dao knelt on the ground, head bowed, his voice hoarse: “Guild Master, I am incompetent.”
He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, before finally speaking truthfully, “There is a guardian in the Chaos Secret Realm, whose cultivation is at least at the peak of the third rank of Golden Immortal. Even Gui Yuanzi, fighting with all his might, was no match for him. Ling Yue and I… did not even make a move.”
His forehead pressed against the cold ground, not daring to look up.
The floor tiles of the secret chamber were made of obsidian, icy cold, the chill seeping into his bones from his knees.
But that wasn’t the coldest thing; the coldest thing was that Wu Heng didn’t utter a sound. That silence was more unsettling than any reprimand.
Ling Yue also knelt down, her voice trembling slightly: “Guild Master, that guardian’s aura was too terrifying. I knew I was no match for him. Making a rash move would only have been a pointless death. I… I withdrew with An Dao. Please punish me, Guild Master.”
Wu Heng’s fingers paused slightly. He put down the ancient book in his hand and looked up at An Dao.
His gaze was calm, without reproach or anger, only a hint of scrutiny.
He had lived for tens of thousands of years and seen countless cultivators like An Dao. They were loyal, but not blindly so; they knew when to fight and when to run.
He didn’t blame them; the Void Merchant Guild didn’t tolerate reckless fools.
“How is Gui Yuanzi?” Wu Heng asked.
“Gui Yuanzi was injured but escaped the secret realm. He was later ambushed by the Heavenly Extreme Venerable and his men, and almost died,” An Dao said.
Ling Yue quickly chimed in, “However, the Demon Emperor of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge intervened and saved Gui Yuanzi.”
“Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, Heavenly Extreme Palace, interesting. The Seventeenth Heaven is about to fall into chaos.” Wu Heng smiled coldly, then asked, “What does the guardian look like? What are his characteristics?”
An Dao thought for a moment, recalling the appearance of the white-robed old man.
“He wore a white robe, with a faint spiritual light flowing through it, like moonlight shining on snow. In his hand, he held a whisk, its white bristles fine and resilient, each one seemingly alive, gently swaying in the mist.
His face was aged, but his features were regular; he must have been handsome in his youth. His eyes were calm, devoid of murderous intent, yet they inspired awe and fear.
His aura… I can’t quite put my finger on it; it seemed peaceful, yet unfathomable, like a bottomless abyss hidden beneath a calm sea.”
Lingyue added from the side, “That guardian, Guiyuanzi calls him ‘Ancestor.’ Moreover, his whisk is engraved with the Dao patterns of the Guiyuan Sect, which I saw with my own eyes. Those Dao patterns are exactly the same as the whisk in the portrait of the Guiyuan Sect’s founder; there’s no mistake.”
Wu Heng’s eyes narrowed.
He put down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the wall with his hands behind his back, looking at the landscape painting on it.
The painting depicted a majestic mountain peak, upon which stood an ancient Taoist temple. Before the temple stood an elderly man with white hair, holding a whisk, gazing up at the sky.
It was a portrait of the founder of the Guiyuan Sect, which he had specially commissioned to be painted.
Hadn’t the founder of the Guiyuan Sect ascended to heaven tens of thousands of years ago?
How could he appear in the Chaos Secret Realm, and even become its guardian?
This defied logic and the laws of nature.
An ascended powerhouse wouldn’t remain in the lower realm, much less lower their cultivation to guard a secret realm.
“Are you sure you haven’t misread it?”
Wu Heng turned around, his gaze sharp, as if trying to pierce Ling Yue’s eyes and see into the depths of her soul.
Lingyue shook her head, her tone firm: “I have cultivated for thousands of years and know the Dao patterns of the Guiyuan Sect inside and out. I would never be wrong.
The whisk in the guardian’s hand is indeed the possession of the Guiyuan Sect’s founder. Moreover, the spiritual light on that whisk is exactly the same as the aura of the founder recorded in the Guiyuan Sect’s scriptures.”
Wu Heng was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I will investigate this matter thoroughly. The Void Merchant Guild’s intelligence network covers all the heavens. There is no secret in the Seventeenth Heaven that can escape our notice.
You two will have to go through the trouble of guarding the vicinity of the Chaos Secret Realm and watching the entrance. Report any unusual activity immediately, but do not approach or disturb the guardian.”
An Dao raised his head and looked at Wu Heng. “Guild Master, the guardian of that secret realm is too powerful. I…”
“I’m not asking you to venture into the secret realm,”
Wu Heng interrupted him. “I’m just asking you to keep an eye on things and see if anyone else enters the secret realm, especially people from the Guiyuan Sect. If they do, report back immediately. You only need to watch from a distance. Even if you only see a single figure, you must send a message immediately.”
“Yes,” Dark Blade and Spirit Moon replied in unison, rising and leaving the secret chamber.
The stone door slowly closed, and silence returned to the chamber.
Wu Heng stood alone by the wall, gazing at the landscape painting, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, again and again.
Dark Blade’s words flashed repeatedly through his mind—the patriarch of the Guiyuan Sect, the guardian of the secret realm.
What secrets did the Guiyuan Sect hold?
What was the connection between the Chaos Secret Realm and the Guiyuan Sect?
He had to find out.
His intuition told him that what was involved in this matter was far more important than a bottle of Chaos Elixir.
Perhaps, the entire Northern Region’s格局 (geju, a concept encompassing overall structure, overall situation, and overall dynamics) would change because of this.
He stood up, walked to the other side of the secret chamber, and opened a hidden door.
Behind the hidden door was an even larger secret chamber, in the center of which floated a huge crystal ball, about ten feet tall, completely transparent, with countless tiny points of light flowing within.
That was the Void Merchant Guild’s intelligence network—each point of light represented a message, and behind each message lay a secret.
He raised his hand and placed it on the crystal ball, probing it with his divine sense to search for all information about the Guiyuan Sect, the Chaos Secret Realm, and the Guiyuan Sect’s patriarch.
The light within the crystal ball flickered intensely, information surging forth like a tidal wave, traversing millennia to converge before him.
Wu Heng’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
The Guiyuan Sect’s patriarch ascended to heaven 38,000 years ago from the sect’s back mountain.
On the day of his ascension, extraordinary phenomena graced the heavens and earth; auspicious clouds stretched for miles, spiritual energy rained down, and the entire Northern Region could feel the immense pressure of the Heavenly Dao.
After his ascension, successive generations of Guiyuan Sect patriarchs had tried to contact him, but never received a response.
Everyone assumed he had ascended to a higher realm, severing all ties with the lower realms.
But now, he appeared in the Chaos Secret Realm, a guardian, his cultivation suppressed to the peak of the third rank of Golden Immortal.
What had happened in between?
Who had trapped him there?
Or did he choose to remain there himself?
If it was his own choice, why?
Wu Heng withdrew his divine sense and let out a long breath.
He knew that the Void Merchant Guild’s intelligence network in the Seventeenth Heaven alone would probably not be able to uncover deeper secrets.
This matter might require higher-level authorization, or even the use of headquarters resources.
But that’s for later.
Right now, he must keep an eye on the entrance to the secret realm and see if the Guiyuan Sect will go again.
He can tell that Guiyuanzi is relentless; he won’t give up until he achieves his goal.
He will definitely go again. An Dao and Ling Yue left Tianque City overnight, heading once more towards the Cangmang Mountains.
The night was thick; there were no stars or moon in the sky, only heavy, dark clouds obscuring the entire expanse.
A howling wind whipped up pebbles and withered grass, stinging their faces.
The two traversed the mountains, avoiding a group of nocturnal beasts and navigating several natural traps, finally arriving near the Chaos Secret Realm around midnight.
Instead of approaching the entrance, they lay in ambush on a mountaintop a hundred miles away.
This mountaintop was the highest point within a hundred miles, offering a wide-open view and excellent visibility, clearly showing the entrance to the secret realm.
An Dao set up a concealment array on the summit, while Ling Yue took out two gray cloaks from her storage ring, draping them over herself to completely conceal their presence, blending into the surrounding vegetation.
From a distance, it appeared as a barren mountain, completely unremarkable.
“What do you think the Guild Master is thinking?”
Ling Yue leaned against the stone wall, gazing at the distant entrance to the secret realm, and asked in a low voice.
The stone gate leading to the secret realm in the distance glowed with a faint blue light in the night, like a half-closed eye.
An Dao shook his head, remaining silent.
He wasn’t one for speculation; he only did what he was supposed to do.
Wu Heng had told him to keep watch, so he kept watch.
As for why, that wasn’t his concern. His task was simply to monitor, not to ponder.
Ling Yue didn’t seem to care, continuing, “The fact that the patriarch of the Guiyuan Sect has become the guardian of the secret realm is too strange.
The Guiyuan Sect isn’t a major power in the Seventeenth Heaven, but Guiyuanzi is no ordinary person, and the young master he’s chosen is even more extraordinary.
The Great Luo Golden Canon chose that young master; there must be a reason. Tell me, what is the young master’s background?”
An Dao still didn’t speak, only staring intently at the entrance to the secret realm, his eyes unblinking.
Ling Yue sighed and fell silent as well.
The two of them silently guarded the realm, from night to day, and from day to night.
…
Heavenly Palace, Main Hall.
The luminous crystals embedded in the dome illuminated the entire hall, golden light flowing within and reflecting on the figure on the throne, coating him with a cold, golden glow.
The stone pillars on either side of the hall stood silently, their carved reliefs of divine battles flickering in the light, seemingly bearing silent witness to the oppressive and chilling atmosphere.
The Celestial Venerable sat on the throne, his face as somber as the sky before a storm.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, once, once, and again, the sound echoing in the empty hall like the tolling of a death knell.
The four Golden Immortal elders stood in the center of the hall, heads bowed, not daring to raise their heads or utter a sound.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads, and the backs of their robes were soaked with cold sweat.
They had stood there for a whole day, their legs numb, yet none dared to move.
The palace doors were tightly shut, and the guards outside dared not utter a sound. The entire hall was like an ice cellar, save for the dull thud of Venerable Tianji’s fingers tapping the armrest, one tap after another.
“Qingqiu… Guiyuanzi…” Venerable Tianji’s voice was soft, but each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with suppressed rage. “A mere demon king of the demon race, a minor sect leader of the human race, dare to oppose me? Dare to block my path?”
The scene from that day flashed repeatedly through his mind.
Guiyuanzi was covered in wounds, yet he clutched the jade bottle in his arms tightly, refusing to hand it over.
Qingqiu, dressed in white as snow, his nine-tailed celestial fox phantom blotting out the sky, took his palm strike head-on, not retreating a single step even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Those two ants dared to challenge him.
He slammed his palm on the armrest, shattering it and sending splinters flying.
The four elders shuddered simultaneously, their heads bowing even lower.
Elder Zhao steeled himself and stepped forward, clasping his hands in a fist salute. “Palace Master, I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should.”
“Speak.” Venerable Tianji’s voice was cold, so cold that it seemed to lower the temperature of the hall.
Elder Zhao took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm.
“Palace Master, the Myriad Demon Ridge is guarded by Qingqiu and protected by ancient restrictions, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Although the Guiyuan Sect is not strong, Guiyuanzi is no ordinary person. He was able to gather all the disciples of the Guiyuan Sect in just a few days, so his strength should not be underestimated.
Although our Tianji Palace is stronger than them, if we fight head-on, we will suffer heavy losses.”
He paused, carefully observing the expression of the Tianji Venerable. Seeing that he was not angry, he continued, “Palace Master, the Seventeenth Heaven is not only home to the Tianji Palace, but also other divine forces. The Northern Region has the Shenyuan Pavilion, and the Western Region has the Tiansheng Palace.
If we attack the Myriad Demon Ridge alone, even if we win, we will be severely weakened. At that time, will other forces take advantage of the situation? Will they reap the benefits? Palace Master must be wary.” The
Tianji Venerable frowned.
Elder Zhao was right; he had to be wary.
Although the divine races belonged to the same race, the open and covert struggles between the various forces never ceased.
If the Tianji Palace suffered a major loss of strength, the Shenyuan Pavilion and the Tiansheng Palace would certainly not let this opportunity pass.
At that time, not only would he fail to obtain the Great Luo Golden Scripture, but he might even lose the Heavenly Pole Palace.
“What do you mean?”
Elder Zhao raised his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. “Palace Master, I suggest we unite with other forces of the Divine Race in the Northern Region to jointly launch an attack and besiege the Myriad Demon Ridge.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages to them, let them know that allowing the Myriad Demon Ridge and Guiyuan Sect to grow stronger will not benefit anyone. At that time, with the combined efforts of all parties, the Myriad Demon Ridge can be destroyed in the blink of an eye.”
The Heavenly Pole Venerable was silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, one tap after another.
He was weighing the pros and cons.
Uniting with other forces meant sharing the benefits.
He couldn’t guarantee that he could keep the Great Luo Golden Scripture and the purple divine soul all to himself.
But if he didn’t unite, he wouldn’t even have a chance to obtain them.
“Alright.”
He stood up, a resolute glint in his eyes. “I will personally go to the Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly Saint Palace. You will stay and guard the Heavenly Pole Palace, strengthen the defenses, and do not allow anyone to approach.”
“Yes!” The four elders responded in unison, relieved.
The Divine Abyss Pavilion sits atop a solitary peak at the northernmost tip of the Northern Region, covered in millennia-old ice.
This solitary peak, named “Ice Abyss Peak,” is tens of thousands of feet high and perpetually blanketed in ice and snow.
Legend has it that in ancient times, a powerful ice-elemental cultivator passed away atop the peak, his life’s cultivation transforming into eternal ice, freezing the entire mountain to this day.
The founder of the Divine Abyss Pavilion discovered that this place was rich in spiritual energy and contained a profound concentration of ice-elemental laws, so he established his sect here, which has been passed down to this day.
The palace is entirely constructed of black ice, crystal clear, refracting seven-colored light under the sun, like a crystal palace built in ice and snow.
The temperature here is extremely low; even True Immortal Realm cultivators would be frozen solid if they did not circulate their spiritual energy to protect themselves.
The cultivators within the palace wear white robes, their faces cold and stern, their aura chilling, all cultivating ice-elemental techniques.
Frost often adorns their brows and eyes, a result of years of practicing ice-elemental techniques.
Venerable Tianji arrived at Shenyuan Pavilion alone, without any attendants.
He landed before the mountain gate, gazing at the ice-blue stone door.
Two large characters were carved on the door – “Shenyuan” – the strokes powerful and chilling.
On either side of the door stood two ice sculptures, depicting the guardian beast of Shenyuan Pavilion – the Ice Qilin.
The Ice Qilins were lifelike, their eyes wide with fury, as if they might come to life at any moment.
The guarding cultivator recognized him and quickly went inside to report.
A moment later, the Pavilion Master of Shenyuan Pavilion – Venerable Xuanbing – personally came out to greet him. Venerable
Xuanbing was at the same cultivation level as Venerable Tianji, a peak third-grade Golden Immortal, cultivating ice-based techniques. He had a somber personality and disliked speaking much.
He wore an ice-blue robe, his long hair as white as snow, his face thin, with a hint of malevolence in his eyes.
His eyes were ice-blue, with snowflakes seemingly drifting in his pupils; he stood there like a millennia-old iceberg.
“Palace Master Tianji, your presence is an honor. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you sooner.”
Venerable Xuanbing clasped his hands in greeting, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion. “May I ask what brings you here today?”
Venerable Tianji did not beat around the bush. “Palace Master Xuanbing, I have come today to discuss the matter of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.”
Venerable Xuanbing’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Ten Thousand Demon Ridge? The territory of the demon race. What does it have to do with me?”
Venerable Tianji briefly recounted the events.
Of course, he concealed the matter of the Great Luo Golden Scripture, only saying that the purple divine soul contained a lost ancient treasure of the divine race, crucial to his breakthrough.
“The Demon Emperor Qingqiu of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge has joined forces with the Guiyuan Sect of the human race, intending to oppose my divine race. If we allow them to grow stronger, they will eventually threaten the safety of the Divine Abyss Pavilion. I hope the Divine Abyss Pavilion can send troops to join forces with me to jointly besiege the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.”
Venerable Xuanbing was silent for a moment, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his icy blue eyes.
“Lord of the Heavenly Pole Palace, neither of us is a newcomer to cultivation. There’s no need for such formalities.”
His voice was slow, each word seeming to emanate from an ice cellar. “You’ve come to me because you can’t defeat the Myriad Demon Ridge alone, haven’t you?”
“Besides, they only target your Heavenly Pole Palace. What does that have to do with my Divine Abyss Pavilion? We have never provoked the Myriad Demon Ridge or the human race.”
The Heavenly Pole Venerable’s expression darkened, but he didn’t lash out. “Xuanbing, we are both members of the divine race. Are you just going to watch the demon race and the human race unite to bully our divine race?”
“Stop…” Venerable Xuanbing waved his hand. “Although our Ice God lineage is also a member of the divine race, have the other branches of the divine race ever treated us as their own?”
“Back then, our Ice God lineage was practically enslaved by the gods, our entire race nearly wiped out. I survived for ten thousand years in the Seventeenth Heaven, establishing the Divine Abyss Pavilion. Did you, my fellow gods, ever help me even once?”
Venerable Tianji frowned slightly. “Xuanbing, you know better than I why your Ice God lineage was suppressed by the God Emperor back then. In all these years in the Seventeenth Heaven, have I ever suppressed you?”
“Alright, enough said. You’ve asked me for help, and I can send troops. But I have one condition.”
Venerable Xuanbing smiled faintly. “After it’s done, I want a share of the treasure within that purple divine soul.” Venerable
Tianji’s pupils contracted slightly.
He hadn’t expected Venerable Xuanbing to also know about that supreme treasure.
Had the news leaked?
Or… He asked calmly, “What treasure? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Venerable Xuanbing smiled.
That smile was cold, so cold that it lowered the surrounding temperature.
“Lord of the Heavenly Pole Palace, do you think I’m deaf? Although it wasn’t mentioned in your bounty, the Void Merchant Guild has already spread the news.
Hidden within that purple divine soul is an ancient treasure, surpassing even the Golden Immortal level, which even the combined efforts of your nine Golden Immortals from the Heavenly Pole Palace couldn’t refine.
You sent four Golden Immortals to pursue it, and even personally went to the Guiyuan Sect to demand its return. Do you think I don’t know?”
He paused, his tone laced with sarcasm. “You traveled a thousand miles to the Divine Abyss Pavilion to find me, isn’t it because you can’t handle it all alone and need help?
Since you need help, you have to pay the price. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
The Heavenly Pole Venerable’s fists clenched.
His worst fears had come true; the news had leaked.
The secret of that treasure was no longer known only to him, Han Yuan, and Chi Yan.
Now, the Xuanbing Venerable knew, and the Heavenly Saint Palace probably knew as well.
“How much do you want?” The Heavenly Pole Venerable’s voice was cold.
“Thirty percent.” Venerable Xuanbing held up three fingers. “I want thirty percent of that treasure. I also want thirty percent of the resources of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.” ”
Thirty percent?” Venerable Tianji’s face turned ashen. “You’re only sending five hundred soldiers, and you want thirty percent?”
“Pavilion Master Xuanbing, five hundred soldiers isn’t a small force. Moreover, without the help of Shenyuan Pavilion, you can’t conquer Ten Thousand Demon Ridge alone. You know that yourself.”
Venerable Xuanbing’s tone left no room for argument. “Thirty percent, not a penny less. If you don’t agree, I’ll pretend I never met you today. Please leave.”
Venerable Tianji remained silent for a long time.
He was calculating, weighing his options.
Thirty percent, plus the possible share from Tiansheng Palace, how much would he ultimately get?
But without cooperation, he wouldn’t get even a tenth.
“Fine. Thirty percent.” He gritted his teeth, saying each word clearly.
Venerable Xuanbing laughed. “Excellent. Shenyuan Pavilion will send five hundred soldiers, led by me personally. When do we make our move?”
“We’ll talk about it when I return from the Heavenly Saint Palace.” Venerable Tianji turned and left, his eyes filled with killing intent.
The Heavenly Saint Palace is located in the central part of the Northern Region, built atop a range of rolling hills.
These hills are called “Holy Light Ridge,” with gentle terrain and abundant spiritual energy.
The founder of the Heavenly Saint Palace discovered an ancient holy light array here, and thus established the sect, based on holy light, a tradition that continues to this day.
The palace is entirely constructed of white jade, resplendent and magnificent.
The roof is covered with golden glazed tiles, shimmering in the sunlight, resembling a sun built on the earth from afar.
In the plaza in front of the palace stands a massive white jade pillar, atop which floats a golden sphere of light—the Heavenly Saint Palace’s most prized treasure—the Eye of Holy Light, said to be able to perceive everything a thousand miles away.
The cultivators here practice light-based techniques, inheriting the holy light of the Heavenly Extreme Palace, yet with differences.
The Heavenly Extreme Palace’s holy light emphasizes attack and defense, while the Heavenly Saint Palace’s light-based techniques emphasize perception and purification.
Their cultivators wore long white robes embroidered with golden sun patterns at the hem, exuding a pure and untainted aura.
When Venerable Tianji arrived at the Heavenly Saint Palace, Venerable Shengguang was meditating in the main hall.
The hall was softly lit, its ceiling inlaid with countless luminous crystals, illuminating the entire space. A faint sandalwood incense filled the air, bringing tranquility to the mind.
Venerable Shengguang was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties, with a gentle face and a detached, otherworldly air about him.
He wore a long white robe, his long hair tied up with a jade hairpin, and a faint golden halo surrounded him.
His cultivation level was mid-stage of the third rank of Golden Immortal, slightly lower than Venerable Tianji’s.
He didn’t rise to greet him, but merely glanced at Venerable Tianji indifferently, his tone distant: “Palace Master Tianji, long time no see. The last time we met was at the Northern Region Dao Discussion Conference three thousand years ago. Back
then, we sparred a few moves, ending in a draw. Now that your strength has increased, you haven’t come here today to challenge me, have you?”
Venerable Tianji suppressed his displeasure and clasped his hands in greeting: “Palace Master Holy Light, I’ve come today to request that the Heavenly Saint Palace send troops to join forces with me to besiege the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.”
Venerable Holy Light frowned slightly. “Ten Thousand Demon Ridge? The territory of the demon race, what does it have to do with me?”
Venerable Tianji repeated the same words.
This time, he didn’t hide the matter of that supreme treasure—because Venerable Holy Light already knew, and there was no point in hiding it.
“Qingqiu, the Demon Emperor of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, has joined forces with the Guiyuan Sect of the human race, intending to oppose my divine race.
They possess a purple divine soul, within which lies an ancient treasure, surpassing the level of a Golden Immortal.
I want that treasure, and the resources of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge can be shared with you.”
Venerable Saint Light paused for a moment, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
“An ancient treasure, surpassing the level of a Golden Immortal…” he murmured, “Lord of the Heavenly Pole Palace, you’re quite willing to part with it.”
“It’s not that I’m willing, it’s that I have no choice.” Venerable Heavenly Pole’s voice was cold. “Venerable Xuanbing has already agreed to send troops, on the condition of receiving 30%. What about you? How much do you want?”
Venerable Saint Light smiled.
The smile was gentle, but Venerable Heavenly Pole knew that behind it lay greed.
“Fifty percent.” Venerable Holy Light held up five fingers. “That treasure, I want fifty percent. The resources of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, I also want fifty percent.” Venerable
Heavenly Extreme’s face darkened completely. “Fifty percent? Why don’t you just rob it?”
“Palace Master Heavenly Extreme, calm down.”
Venerable Holy Light’s tone remained gentle. “Think about it, the Divine Abyss Pavilion only sent five hundred soldiers, while the Heavenly Saint Palace sent a thousand, twice as many. My fifty percent is fair.”
“Fair?” Venerable Heavenly Extreme sneered. “Palace Master Holy Light, your appetite is too big.”
“Big?”
Venerable Holy Light stood up, walked to Venerable Heavenly Extreme, and looked him directly in the eyes. “Palace Master Heavenly Extreme, let me ask you a question. Without the help of the Heavenly Saint Palace, could you have conquered Ten Thousand Demon Ridge?
Even if you had, how many people would your Heavenly Extreme Palace have left? Could you bear the losses?”
Venerable Heavenly Extreme fell silent.
Venerable Holy Light was right; he couldn’t bear it.
Without the help of the Heavenly Saint Palace, even if he managed to conquer the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, the Heavenly Extreme Palace would be severely weakened. Would the Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly Saint Palace take advantage of the situation? Would those smaller forces that had always coveted the Heavenly Extreme Palace’s territory kick him
while he was down? He dared not gamble. “Forty percent,” the Heavenly Extreme Venerable gritted his teeth, “Forty percent of the treasures, forty percent of the resources.” “Fifty percent,” the Holy Light Venerable did not budge, “Not a single penny less.” “Forty -five percent.” “Fifty percent.” The Holy Light Venerable’s tone remained gentle, but the smile in his eyes had vanished. “Heavenly Extreme Palace Master, I have already given you a chance to bargain. Now, I will not yield. Fifty percent, if you agree, I will send troops. If not, then so be it. I don’t mind cleaning up the mess after you’ve both been severely weakened. At that time, I won’t need to send troops; I can take everything.” The Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins bulging. He knew the Holy Light Venerable was right. If he didn’t agree, Venerable Holy Light would truly sit back and watch them fight, waiting until they were both weakened before reaping the rewards. At that point, he wouldn’t even get forty percent. “Fine. Fifty percent.” Venerable Heavenly Extreme gritted his teeth, saying each word as if squeezed out from between them. Venerable Holy Light laughed, “Excellent. Heavenly Saint Palace will send eight hundred troops, led personally by me. When to make our move?” “Wait for my notification.” Venerable Heavenly Extreme turned and left, nearly bursting with anger. Venerable Holy Light watched his retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, “Venerable Heavenly Extreme, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
When Venerable Tianji returned to the Tianji Palace, it was already late at night.
The hall was brightly lit, and the four Golden Immortal elders remained standing, not moving an inch.
They had been standing for a full day and night, their legs numb, their robes soaked with sweat, yet none of them dared to sit down.
Seeing Venerable Tianji enter the hall, the four bowed simultaneously, their eyes filled with anticipation.
“Palace Master, how did things go?” Elder Zhao spoke first, his voice hoarse and tinged with urgency.
Venerable Tianji did not answer immediately. He walked to the throne and slowly sat down. His
fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, once, then again.
His face was gloomy, but a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
“The Divine Abyss Pavilion agreed. Venerable Xuanbing will send five hundred troops, on the condition that they receive thirty percent of that supreme treasure, as well as thirty percent of the resources of the Myriad Demon Ridge.”
His voice was calm, so calm that it sent chills down one’s spine.
The four elders exchanged glances, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in their eyes.
Elder Qian stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “Palace Master, demanding 30% of the 500 troops is too much…”
“I know,”
Venerable Tianji interrupted him, “but that old fox Xuanbing isn’t easily fooled. He already knows about the treasure. If we don’t give it to him, he won’t send troops. We have no choice.”
The four elders fell silent.
They knew the Palace Master was telling the truth.
Without the help of the Divine Abyss Pavilion, if Tianji Palace attacked Wan Yao Ridge alone, even if they won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.
In the end, Tianji Palace itself would suffer even greater losses.
“What about Tian Sheng Palace?” Elder Zhao asked.
Venerable Tianji’s face darkened further, “Venerable Sheng Guang wants 50%.”
“50%?” Elder Li exclaimed in shock, “He’s only a mid-stage Golden Immortal of the third rank, and he dares to ask for 50%? Palace Master, have you agreed?”
Venerable Tianji snorted coldly, “What can we do if we don’t agree? Venerable Sheng Guang said he doesn’t mind cleaning up the mess after we’ve both been weakened. At that time, he won’t need to send troops to get everything.”
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
The four elders’ faces were grim.
Three percent plus five percent, that’s already eighty percent.
Their Heavenly Pole Palace had been running around trying to get it all, only to end up with twenty percent.
This deal was a huge loss.
Elder Zhao gritted his teeth and whispered, “Palace Master, in this way, wouldn’t our Heavenly Pole Palace only have twenty percent left…”
The Heavenly Pole Venerable waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking.
He leaned back on his throne, his fingers still lightly tapping the armrest, the rhythm slow and steady.
His eyes held no anger, no resentment, only a chilling calmness.
“Do you really think I would share the treasure with them?”
The four elders were simultaneously taken aback.
Elder Zhao’s eyes lit up, “Palace Master, you mean…”
The Heavenly Pole Venerable sneered, a smile so cold it seemed to lower the temperature of the hall.
“The Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly Saint Palace—I know exactly what they’re up to. They simply want to take advantage of this opportunity to squeeze a piece out of me. But they’ve forgotten that I’ve never been one to be slaughtered.”
He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, put his hands behind his back, and gazed at the glowing crystal on the dome.
Golden light shone on him, casting a long shadow.
“The Divine Abyss Pavilion, remnants of the Ice God lineage. Back then, they were suppressed within the God Clan and fled to the Seventeenth Heaven to eke out a living. Does Venerable Xuanbing think that I haven’t touched them all these years because I’m afraid of them? What a joke. I’m just too lazy to bother with a bunch of stray dogs.”
His voice was full of disdain. “This time, they’ve come to me willingly; how could I let them go?”
Elder Zhao’s breathing quickened. “Palace Master, you mean…”
“Use them first to conquer the Myriad Demon Ridge. Once the Myriad Demon Ridge is destroyed and their forces are nearly exhausted, I’ll turn against them.”
A cold glint flashed in Venerable Tianji’s eyes. “By then, how many of the five hundred cultivators from the Divine Abyss Pavilion will be able to return alive? Whether Venerable Xuanbing himself can even leave the Myriad Demon Ridge alive is a question.”
Elder Qian frowned. “Palace Master, what about the Heavenly Saint Palace? Although Venerable Saint Light’s cultivation is not as high as yours, he’s not easy to deal with.”
Venerable Tianji snorted coldly. “Venerable Saint Light? He’s nothing but a treacherous opportunist. Although the Heavenly Saint Palace has eight hundred soldiers, only half of them are truly capable of fighting.
As long as we turn against them before the Divine Abyss Pavilion… ” The Holy Light Venerable had no time to react. Even if he did react, would he dare to fight me?
Elder Zhao’s eyes lit up. “Palace Master, you’ve prepared everything all along?”
The Heavenly Extreme Venerable didn’t answer, only saying calmly, “Within the Divine Race, there are never eternal allies, only eternal interests. The Profound Ice Venerable and the Holy Light Venerable want to take advantage of me, and I will make them pay the price.”
The four elders bowed in unison. “Palace Master is wise!”
The Heavenly Extreme Venerable turned around and looked at them. “Pass down the order: prepare for battle. One month from now, crush the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. Also, send people to closely monitor the movements of the Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly Saint Palace. Report any abnormalities immediately.”
“Yes!”
…
In the following days, the entire Heavenly Extreme Palace was busy.
On the training ground, Divine Race cultivators practiced day and night, with flashing swords and deafening battle cries.
Elder Zhao personally led the training of battle formations, dividing the three thousand elites into five large teams, each with six hundred men, equipped with different weapons and spells.
The first battalion, personally commanded by Elder Zhao, excels in frontal assaults;
the second battalion, commanded by Elder Qian, specializes in ranged attacks;
the third battalion, commanded by Elder Sun, excels in defense and trapping the enemy;
the fourth battalion, commanded by Elder Li, specializes in ambush and assassination;
and the fifth battalion serves as a reserve force, ready to support the front lines at any time.
In the storeroom, spirit stones, pills, and magical artifacts are continuously being moved out and distributed to each cultivator.
Each cultivator receives ten high-grade healing pills, five bottles of spirit-restoring liquid, and twenty offensive talismans.
Armor and weapons have also been reforged, gleaming with spiritual light and incredibly sharp.
In the council hall, Venerable Tianji and the four elders sit around a massive sand table, repeatedly deducing the routes and tactics for attacking the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.
“The Ten Thousand Demon Ridge is surrounded by nine layers of restrictions. The first layer is the Misty Forest, perpetually shrouded in dense fog, with extremely low visibility.”
Elder Zhao pointed to the markings on the sand table, “The fog is riddled with traps and warning arrays laid by the demon race. Rushing in rashly will easily trigger the alarm.”
“How do we break through this misty forest?” Venerable Tianji asked. Elder
Sun stood up and took out a fist-sized golden bead from his sleeve. The bead’s surface was covered with dense runes, radiating a dazzling golden light.
“Palace Master, this is the ‘Barrier-Breaking Bead,’ which I spent hundreds of years refining. It’s specifically designed to counter fog and illusion arrays. Throwing it into the misty forest will dispel the dense fog within a hundred feet radius, lasting for an hour. As long as we cross the misty forest within an hour, we can reach the gate of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.”
Venerable Tianji took the bead, examined it carefully for a moment, and nodded in satisfaction. “Good. The first hurdle depends on you.”
“Your subordinate obeys.” Elder Sun clasped his hands in a fist salute.
“Beyond the Misty Forest lies the gate of the Myriad Demon Ridge,”
Venerable Tianji said, pointing to the sand table. “The gate is personally guarded by Qingqiu, and further reinforced by ancient restrictions. Although Qingqiu’s cultivation is only at the mid-stage of the third rank of Golden Immortal, with the blessing of the Myriad Demon Ridge, their combat power can be raised to the peak of the third rank of Golden Immortal.
Adding Guiyuanzi, they’ve likely also contacted Golden Immortals from the Qingyun Sword Sect and the Myriad Laws Sect; their high-end combat power is no weaker than ours.”
Elder Qian frowned. “Palace Master, what do we do then?”
Venerable Tianji sneered. “We’ll leave the high-end combat power to the Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly…” “The Holy Palace. Venerable Xuanbing is a third-grade Golden Immortal, Venerable Shengguang is a mid-stage third-grade Golden Immortal,
and with myself, the three of us can easily take on four of them. As for those miscellaneous soldiers, our three thousand elite troops are more than enough to crush them.” He paused, then continued, “After breaching the mountain gate, we will split into three groups. Elder Zhao will lead the first and second battalions to attack the Demon Emperor’s Palace from the front;
Elder Qian will lead the third battalion to circle around to the rear of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge and cut off their retreat;
Elder Sun will lead the fourth battalion to clear out the scattered demon soldiers on the outer perimeter. I will personally lead the fifth battalion to oversee the central army and provide support at any time.”
“Yes!” the four elders responded in unison.While the Heavenly Palace was preparing for battle, the Myriad Demon Ridge was not idle either.
Qingqiu, her injuries not yet fully healed, forced herself to personally inspect every defensive line of the Myriad Demon Ridge.
Her face was still pale, and her steps were somewhat unsteady, but her eyes remained resolute. Guiyuanzi followed behind her, his left arm still in a sling, his chest wound not yet fully healed, but he could already walk.
Along the way, demon warriors bowed their heads in respect upon seeing Qingqiu, their eyes filled with reverence.
“Your Majesty, your injury…” Guiyuanzi said softly, his voice full of worry.
“It’s nothing.” Qingqiu waved her hand, her voice weak but undeniably firm, “The Heavenly Venerable won’t give us much time. We must make all preparations before he arrives.”
She walked to the edge of the Misty Forest, looking at the perpetually thick fog.
The fog surged and billowed, like a living thing, occasionally revealing faint glimmers of light from its depths—traps and warning arrays laid by the demons.
She reached into the mist, feeling the cool, damp air, and remained silent for a moment.
“The Misty Forest is the first line of defense. As long as we hold this place, the Heavenly Palace army can’t get in. But the Heavenly Venerable is no ordinary person; he must have a way to break through the mist. We need to set up more traps and ambushes in the Misty Forest.”
Gui Yuanzi nodded. “I’ve already arranged for Gui Yuan Sect disciples to set up hundreds of warning arrays and offensive rune arrays in the mist.
As soon as a Divine Race cultivator steps into the Misty Forest, these arrays will be triggered. The arrays are based on spirit stones and use talismans as catalysts; once triggered, they can injure at best and kill at worst.”
Qingqiu shook her head. “It’s not enough. The Heavenly Palace has three thousand elite troops, plus the people from the Divine Abyss Pavilion and the Heavenly Saint Palace, at least four thousand five hundred.
A few hundred arrays won’t stop them. Even if each array can kill ten people, it’ll only be a few thousand. Moreover, once an array is triggered, its location will be exposed, and subsequent enemies can easily bypass it.”
“Then what do you mean, Your Majesty?”
Qingqiu was silent for a moment, “Send the demon warriors into the Misty Forest, using the fog as cover to ambush the gods. The goal isn’t to kill them, but simply to buy time.
Every day we can hold them off is a day in the future. The demons have lived in the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge for generations, and they know this mist like the back of their hand. They can move freely through it, while god cultivators are like blind men once inside.”
Guiyuanzi frowned, “Your Majesty, while the demon warriors have an advantage fighting in the mist, they will also suffer heavy casualties…”
“I know,”
Qingqiu interrupted him, her voice tinged with reluctance but even more so with determination. “But this is the only way. We cannot allow them to easily cross the Misty Forest. Every day we delay, we have one more day to prepare, one more chance of victory.
The demon warriors are not afraid of death; they fear the destruction of their homes, the enslavement of their descendants by the gods.”
She turned to Guiyuanzi. “Guiyuanzi, go and invite the leaders of the Qingyun Sword Sect and the Wanfa Sect. Tell them that the survival of Wanyao Ridge hinges on this battle.
If Wanyao Ridge falls, then it will be the time for your human forces to be wiped out. You are both human forces; they should not stand idly by.”
Qingqiu knew that the demons alone were no match for the alliance of the gods; only by uniting with the humans could they have a glimmer of hope.
“Yes,” Guiyuanzi clasped his hands and turned to leave.
Guiyuanzi’s injuries had not yet fully healed, but he forced himself to go to the Qingyun Sword Sect and the Wanfa Sect himself.
He dared not delay; the Celestial Venerable could attack at any moment, and the sooner they joined forces, the greater their chances of victory.
The Qingyun Sword Sect was nestled in a mountain range in the eastern part of the Northern Region. Its mountain gate was majestic,
its sword aura soaring into the sky. From afar, the entire mountain gate was shrouded in a layer of pale blue sword light—the Qingyun Sword Sect’s protective array, said to be composed of tens of thousands of longswords. Once activated, all ten thousand swords would unleash their power simultaneously, unleashing boundless might.
The stone steps before the mountain gate numbered nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, each engraved with sword runes. Walking on them, one could feel the sharp sword intent rushing towards them. The sect
leader, Qingyunzi, was an elderly man with white hair, a Golden Immortal of the third rank, and had known Guiyuanzi for many years.
He wore a blue Daoist robe, a long sword at his waist, and had a lean face and an air of otherworldly grace.
Upon seeing Guiyuanzi’s wounded and pale appearance, his expression instantly changed.
“Guiyuanzi, what happened to you? Who injured you?”
Qingyunzi quickly stepped forward, supporting Guiyuanzi’s arm. Warm spiritual energy emanated from his palm, helping to stabilize the chaotic energy within him.
Guiyuanzi gave a bitter smile and recounted the entire incident.
From Kai’s soul being taken to the Seventeenth Heaven, to the Heavenly Venerable’s coveting of the Great Luo Golden Scripture, to the Guiyuan Sect recognizing him as their master, to seeking the Eternal Soul Wood at the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, to the Heavenly Venerable forcibly taking the Primordial Divine Water, to seeking the Chaos Spiritual Liquid in the Chaos Secret Realm, to finally being intercepted by the Heavenly Venerable and Qingqiu being injured.
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, almost shouting at the end. His voice echoed in the hall, causing dust to fall from the dome.
“Sect Leader Qingyun, Venerable Tianji has gone too far! He not only wants to steal the Young Master’s Great Luo Golden Scripture, but also wants to destroy my Guiyuan Sect, my Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, and my human race!
I have come today to beg the Qingyun Sword Sect to send troops to fight against the God Race! If the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge falls, the God Race’s next target will be my human race!”
Qingyunzi remained silent for a long time after hearing this.
He stood up, walked to the window of the main hall, and looked at the sea of clouds outside.
The surging sea of clouds mirrored his current emotions.
With his back to Guiyuanzi, he slowly spoke, his voice low and heavy.
“Guiyuanzi, we’ve known each other for hundreds of years, and I trust your character. As for the young master you mentioned, although I haven’t met him, I trust your judgment. And as for
the Great Luo Golden Scripture you spoke of, although I haven’t seen it, I trust the lineage of the Daoist patriarch.
The Heavenly Palace has oppressed our human race for years, and my Qingyun Sword Sect has long held a grudge against them. It’s just that in the past, our strength was insufficient, so we could only swallow our anger and watch the gods run rampant in the Northern Region.”
He turned to look at Guiyuanzi, a resolute glint in his eyes—an anger that had been suppressed for hundreds of years and had finally found an outlet.
“Guiyuanzi, rest assured. I will immediately gather the elites of our sect and personally lead the team to Wanyao Ridge.
Although our Qingyun Sword Sect is not as powerful as the Tianji Palace, all three hundred of our disciples are at least at the ninth rank of True Immortal Realm, with sharp sword energy and fearless courage. The blood of our human race cannot be shed in vain.”
Guiyuanzi’s eyes reddened, tears welling up. “Sect Leader Qingyun, I cannot express my gratitude enough. If there is any need for your service in the future, the entire Guiyuan Sect will be ready to die for you.”
“No need to thank me.”
Qingyunzi waved his hand, walked up to Guiyuanzi, and patted him on the shoulder. “We are not doing this for you, but for the human race. To prevent the gods from defecating on our heads.
Three hundred years ago, my junior brother died at the hands of the Tianji Palace. I have always remembered this debt. Today, it is time to settle it.”
The Myriad Laws Sect was located in the western part of the Northern Region. Its sect leader, Fa Yuanzi, was a middle-aged woman with a cultivation level of the third rank of Golden Immortal. She was forthright and had a fiery temper.
Her sect was built on a plain, without towering gates or imposing palaces, only ancient stone towers scattered across the plain in a pleasing arrangement.
Each stone tower was a magical artifact, capable of fighting alone or forming an array, possessing immense power.
When she met Gui Yuanzi, she was reprimanding her disciples in the training ground.
Her voice was loud and could be heard from afar. She wore a dark red robe, with a string of bells hanging from her waist, jingling as she walked.
Seeing Gui Yuanzi covered in injuries, she was first taken aback, then burst into laughter, her hearty laughter causing leaves to fall from the trees.
“Gui Yuanzi, you’ve been beaten? Who dared to do this? Tell me, and I’ll beat them back! I’ll see if I don’t beat them to a pulp!”
Gui Yuanzi recounted the events once more.
This time, he spoke in greater detail, from the bounty placed on him by Venerable Tianji, to the pursuit of the young master by Venerable Chiyan and Venerable Hanyuan, to the process of Guiyuan Sect recognizing him as their master, to the dangers in the Chaos Secret Realm, to the circumstances of Qingqiu’s injury.
His voice was hoarse, but every word was clear.
Fa Yuanzi’s laughter gradually subsided, and the smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression.
Her brows furrowed into a deep knot, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the bell at her waist, making a crisp tinkling sound.
“The Celestial Venerable… that old bastard, I’ve disliked him for a long time. Relying on the support of the Divine Race, he runs rampant in the Northern Region, bullying my human cultivators.
I used to tolerate him because I couldn’t beat him. Now, with your Guiyuan Sect, with the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, and with my Myriad Laws Sect joining forces, what are we afraid of?
No matter how strong his Celestial Palace is, he only has three thousand elites. The three of us combined have two thousand people, plus the ancient restrictions of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, we might not be unable to defeat him!”
She patted Guiyuanzi’s shoulder, making him almost vomit blood, but her eyes were full of sincerity.
It was a sincerity born of experience and a deep understanding of the world.
“Guiyuanzi, rest assured. My Wanfa Sect is sending troops! Two hundred disciples, each proficient in magic and formations. Although we may not be as good as the Qingyun Sword Sect in a direct assault, when it comes to defense and support, the Wanfa Sect is second to none.
Don’t worry, with me here, even the Heavenly Extreme Venerable will have to step over my corpse before he can flatten the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge!”
Guiyuanzi bowed deeply. “Sect Master Fayuan, your great kindness and virtue will be forever forgotten by the Guiyuan Sect.”
“Stop with the formalities.”
Fayuanzi waved his hand. “After the battle, have your young master invite me for drinks. I heard he has the Great Luo Golden Scripture, which belongs to an ancient Daoist patriarch. I’ll have him tell me what the mysteries of the Great Luo Golden Scripture are all about.”
The two sect leaders kept their word.
In less than three days, the Qingyun Sword Sect and the Wanfa Sect each arrived at the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge with their elite disciples.
Three hundred disciples from the Qingyun Sword Sect arrived, all with cultivation levels above the ninth rank of the True Immortal Realm. Each wore a blue Daoist robe, a long sword at their waist, and exuded a chilling aura.
Their steps were perfectly synchronized, causing the ground to tremble slightly with each step.
Leading them was Qingyunzi, the sect leader of the Qingyun Sword Sect, dressed in a blue Daoist robe, his white hair flowing,
possessing an air of otherworldly elegance. Two hundred disciples from the Wanfa Sect arrived, also with cultivation levels above the ninth rank of the True Immortal Realm. They wore robes of various colors and carried a diverse array of magical artifacts, including whisks, bells, talismans, and array plates.
They huddled in small groups, discussing something in hushed tones, their eyes gleaming with shrewdness.
Leading them was the Grand Elder of the Wanfa Sect, a second-rank Golden Immortal, proficient in various spells and arrays.
Adding the three hundred disciples from the Guiyuan Sect and the demon warriors from the Wanyao Ridge, the total force reached nearly two thousand men.
Two thousand men, though still fewer than the four thousand five hundred of the Heavenly Palace, were at least no longer utterly helpless.
More importantly, these three forces came from different races and sects, but their goal was the same—to protect their homeland and resist the gods.
Qingqiu stood in the plaza before the Demon Emperor’s Palace, watching the reinforcements arriving from all directions, a warm feeling welling up inside her.
She had lived for tens of thousands of years, witnessing countless betrayals and deceptions, as well as countless acts of loyalty and sacrifice.
At this moment, she knew she had not chosen the wrong allies.
She turned to face everyone, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
That voice carried the Demon Emperor’s majesty, and also the hope of an entire race.
“Fellow Daoists, I am deeply grateful for your arduous journey to Ten Thousand Demon Ridge today.
The Heavenly Palace’s Divine Race harbors wolfish ambitions, seeking to unify the Northern Region and enslave all races. We refuse to be slaves and have no choice but to rise up in resistance.
Today, we join forces not for power or territory expansion, but simply to survive, so that our descendants will never again be enslaved by the Divine Race.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over every face—young and promising disciples, white-haired elders, and sharp-eyed demon warriors.
She took a deep breath, her voice suddenly rising.
“I am not good with empty words. I only know that whoever tries to oppress the demon race, whoever tries to oppress our allies, I will fight them to the death. Even if it means being shattered to pieces!”
Nearly two thousand cultivators on the plaza echoed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the entire valley.
Gui Yuanzi stood in the crowd, watching Qingqiu’s retreating figure, then looked down at the jade bottle in his arms.
“Young Master, we have allies and troops. Now, we await your physical reshaping.”
Kai’s soul flickered slightly within the jade bottle, remaining silent.
He knew the true decisive battle had not yet begun.
But he was not afraid.
Because he was not alone.
Behind him were the Guiyuan Sect, the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, the Qingyun Sword Sect, and the Wanfa Sect.
Behind him were all those who refused to be enslaved by the gods.