The Wangqing Sect, having fallen from grace due to the actions of Immortal Sect cultivators, has tarnished the reputation of the Eight Great Immortal Sects.
Naturally, the Immortal Sect cultivators are determined to eliminate it at all costs.
However, the leader of the Wangqing Sect is a cultivator at the Celestial Realm and was once the head of the Taishi Palace, making it difficult to deal with her.
Fortunately, although she founded the Wangqing Sect, she never meddles in external affairs and remains in seclusion.
Gradually, the Immortal Sect cultivators put aside their concerns about her.
Unexpectedly, she has emerged at this time.
“If the one from Huoxin Palace joins forces with her, I’m afraid Hong Ming will fall,” Yang Xizhou said solemnly, his eyes flickering.
“With another Celestial from the Demon Sect gone, only two remain,” said Han Linchi, the head of Taishi Palace, frowning.
After a moment, he added, “This seems like a good thing for us.
But I’m afraid it might stir up more trouble later.”
“Is it a dispute over the insights gained from worshipping the Dao Ancestor’s physical form?” For cultivators who have reached the Celestial Realm, the existence of the Dao Ancestor and the Demon Ancestor is no longer important.
They understand better than anyone what these entities are, and now they seek a higher level of Dao.
After all, the Dao is endless, and one cannot remain at the Celestial Realm forever.
“Regardless, we must speed up the refining of the artifact,” Yang Xizhou said solemnly.
This artifact requires the combined efforts of several powerful beings to activate, and they cannot be distracted during the refining process.
Otherwise, even if they don’t intervene in the Demon Sect’s affairs, they must at least observe.
Half a year passed in a flash.
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the sky, as if a giant hand had torn the sky in half.
Countless billowing black smoke floated, instantly robbing the sun of its brilliant light.
Amidst the rolling black smoke, faint lights flickered like fireflies, but as time passed, the light suddenly became dazzling, as if stars were competing, sweeping away all the black smoke.
After the black smoke dissipated, the world gradually returned to clarity.
At this moment, a beam of treasure light rose from Taiyuan Palace, as if brewing thousands of suns.
Countless rays of light exploded like fireworks, and the surrounding spiritual energy fell silent.
In this brilliant light, three handsome cultivators sat cross-legged, with a golden seal flowing with light before them.
After a few breaths, Yang Xizhou stood up, waved his sleeve to collect the Yuan Decree Dutian Seal, and looked towards the sky, saying solemnly, “Hong Ming has been defeated.”
A scholar-like cultivator asked, “Should we still go there?” Yang Xizhou pondered for a moment and said, “No need, let’s deal with the North Sea first.
The Heart of the Great Dao is still there.
We can’t stop the Demon Ancestor’s matter now, so we can only push for the Dao Ancestor’s manifestation.”
“The Tai Shang Primordial Embryo doesn’t need the Heart of the Great Dao.
If we act against the North Sea, won’t it slow down the progress?” the scholar asked again.
Yang Xizhou sighed, “Even without the Heart of the Great Dao, the North Sea still needs to be dealt with.
Li Qingxun once went to the North Sea, and you’ve seen the Ran Family’s situation.
The Dragon Lord has old ties with her.
If left unchecked, it will become a disaster.” If the Dragon Lord remained in the North Sea and didn’t interfere with the Tai Shang matter, it wouldn’t matter even if she had old ties with Li Qingxun.
But she stepped out of the North Sea and acted against Ran Jingri, showing her stance.
According to disciples, in the Chaos Shadow Realm, the North Sea and Huoxin Palace have joined forces.
Is it the same now? It’s known that the Dragon Palace only had enmity with the Tianhai Demon Sect in the past.
Seeing that Yang Xizhou had made up his mind, the scholar remained indifferent and stopped persuading.
Having come this far, they couldn’t let the Beihai Demon Cultivators ruin the Immortal Sect’s grand plan.
Moreover, the Yuan Decree Dutian Seal had been refined, and the Great Whirlpool in the Xuanming Yin Region was no longer an obstacle.
After thinking for a moment, he asked, “What about the Path of Killing? Should we inform them?”
“The Demon Sect is committing evil, and they will naturally go.
But as for the North Sea, they probably won’t get involved,” Yang Xizhou said solemnly, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes.
“I’ll personally deal with the Beihai Demon Cultivators.
Although the Dragon Lord has reached the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm, she’s not a true Celestial.
With my strength alone, I should be able to suppress the North Sea.”
While the three were discussing how to target the North Sea, a pillar of light suddenly appeared deep within Taiyuan Palace.
Originally, the white energy was steadily suppressing the black energy, but somehow, the black energy gradually rose, seemingly overpowering the white energy.
This pillar, the “Dingtian Ling Needle,” was used to measure the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
In the past, the Dao flourished while the demonic energy waned, and the pure energy naturally suppressed the turbid energy.
But now, the turbid energy in the world had suddenly become dense! The Twelve Demon God Stakes had been removed, and such a drastic change couldn’t be natural; it must be something the Demon Sect did! Yang Xizhou instinctively looked towards the Demon Sect, but all he saw was a vast mist, clearly obscured.
To find out what was happening, he would have to personally visit the Demon Sect.
“Let the disciples go,” Yang Xizhou said after thinking for a moment.
The disciples of the Eight Great Immortal Sects moved freely throughout Jiuzhou, taking it upon themselves to slay demons and eliminate evil, naturally leading to conflicts with the Demon Sect disciples.
Some even dared to venture deep into the Demon Sect’s territory.
Yang Xizhou and his group had no intention of clashing with the Demon Sect at this time, so they could only maintain the status quo.
In the Taiyuan Dao Palace.
Qin Ruoshui was sitting in the law hall, cultivating, but he couldn’t calm his mind.
After a few breaths, he received a talisman, instructing him to investigate the Southern Border.
Qin Ruoshui silently put away the talisman, his eyes solemn.
He had also seen the anomaly in the sky earlier and knew that something had changed in the Demon Sect.
With the heavenly secrets obscured, they could only send sect disciples as vanguards.
With orders from his superiors, he had no choice but to comply.
He sighed softly and left the law hall where he had been cultivating.
As he was leaving, he encountered a familiar figure.
His brow furrowed instinctively, but he quickly composed himself and greeted, “Disciple greets Martial Uncle.”
“Are you going to the Southern Border?” Wang Shenyu asked urgently.
After Ran Jingri was crippled by the Dragon Lord, she had become hysterical, abandoning her usual calm demeanor.
She had been involved in the Tai Shang plan, but now she knew very little about it.
The Three Palaces likely had new plans, but she was unwilling to let go and clung to the original plan.
Qin Ruoshui nodded, “Yes.”
Wang Shenyu looked anxious, “Can you help find news about A Zhu?” After becoming suspicious, she went to the ruins of the Ran Family to search for Ran Guzhu’s soul but found nothing.
The only possibility was that Li Jingyu had taken her.
After all, they were sisters! Qin Ruoshui looked deeply at Wang Shenyu.
Realizing her urgency, Wang Shenyu took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
She looked at Qin Ruoshui and said hoarsely, “I suspect A Zhu is not dead.”
Qin Ruoshui frowned and replied, “I understand.” He didn’t think Wang Shenyu truly cared about Ran Guzhu’s survival; she was likely more concerned about the “Tai Shang plan.” With the Demon Sect’s situation resolved, the Immortal Sect would likely become more urgent.
With this thought, his mind became even more unsettled.
However, at this moment, another thought occurred to him, and he lowered his voice, “I also want to see Junior Sister Ran.”
Ran Guzhu was nominally Ran Jingri’s daughter, and after Ran Jingri was crippled, Wang Shenyu took care of the “corpse.” Hearing Qin Ruoshui’s request, Wang Shenyu thought for a moment and agreed.
She knew Qin Ruoshui was easy to persuade; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been swayed by Ran Guzhu’s words to take her from the Ran Family.
At that time, everything was under control, and there was no rush for the Tai Shang plan.
Who knew that such indulgence would lead to a series of events, nearly wasting years of effort.
Qin Ruoshui wasn’t the only one who received the order, but he didn’t travel with the Taiyuan Dao Palace disciples.
Instead, he contacted Lin Heng, who was still in the Langhuan Painting Realm.
They met at the agreed location, exchanged glances, and both noticed the other’s somber and unhappy expressions.
“When we traveled together in the past, we never imagined it would come to this,” Lin Heng said with a bitter smile, breaking the silence.
Qin Ruoshui sighed in response.
After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Have you received any messages from the North Sea?” Lin Heng shook his head, “No.” After Shen Zao and Yan Shouxia fled to the North Sea, the Immortal Sect used it as a pretext to act against the North Sea.
Even if there were messages from the North Sea, he wouldn’t dare look at them and would have to destroy them completely.
“I don’t understand the significance of the Tai Shang plan,” Lin Heng continued.
Would they disrespect the Dao Ancestor if he didn’t manifest? Or do they want the Dao Ancestor to confront the Demon Ancestor? But during the Demon Ancestor’s formation, there were many opportunities to interrupt the process.
If they couldn’t, could the Celestial Realm experts not do it? They didn’t even engage with the Demon Sect; was it intentional indulgence? Or did they negotiate some terms with the Demon Sect? Qin Ruoshui spoke, his face full of gloom, “I don’t understand either.” After thinking for a while, he returned to the original purpose, saying, “The Demon Sect has changed.
We don’t know what will happen on this trip to the Southern Border.
Let’s hope we both return alive.”
Lin Heng didn’t respond.
Jiuzhou was more chaotic than before, but it wasn’t just due to the Demon Sect; the Immortal Sect also played a part.
Was it the will of heaven for Jiuzhou to be like this? Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng were prepared to sacrifice themselves, but as they traveled to the Southern Border, they encountered no danger.
Even when they encountered demonic cultivators, they were panicked and helpless, as if something terrifying was chasing them.
They were puzzled, but when they finally entered the Demon Sect’s territory and smelled the thick scent of blood, they found an answer that shocked and bewildered them.
Ling Mountain had manifested.
Countless karmic fires fell like stars, burning the sins within the Demon Sect.
The entire Demon Sect territory was a river of blood.
Could it be the Path of Killing’s Buddhist cultivators exterminating demons? This thought arose, only to be dismissed by Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng.
Ling Mountain was the Pure Lotus Zen’s domain, a symbol of purity and cleanliness, but now, under the karmic fire, it was a sea of corpses and blood.
“The Buddha has fallen to demonhood, yet she is now exterminating demons,” Lin Heng said solemnly.
Qin Ruoshui looked steadily at Lin Heng and slowly said, “Perhaps it’s Huoxin Palace exterminating demons? Are the four sects of the Demon Sect preparing to unite?” When demonic cultivators fall, the turbid energy returns to the world.
What immense turbid energy caused the “Dingtian Ling Needle” to manifest? If they continue like this, the Demon Sect’s power will indeed be greatly weakened, but the imbalance of purity and turbidity will also bring calamity to the Immortal Sect, forcing Immortal Sect disciples to fall and balance the two energies.
Lin Heng was shocked, “Are they crazy?” Qin Ruoshui said, “If it’s just low-level demonic cultivators, the effect wouldn’t be as significant.
The only possibility is that Primordial Spirit Realm or even higher-level cultivators are falling one by one.
The Demon Sect is in chaos.
Junior Brother Lin, you should return to the Confucian Sect.”
Lin Heng looked at Qin Ruoshui, frowning, “What about you?” Qin Ruoshui lowered his eyes and said solemnly, “I need to visit Huoxin Palace.” He had his own plans for this trip, not just to gather information about the Demon Sect.
Now, at Taiyuan Palace, Martial Uncle Wang had likely noticed something.
If other fellow disciples came looking, it would be troublesome.
He said this, but how could Lin Heng leave him to walk alone in the dangerous Southern Border? He immediately decided to accompany him to Huoxin Palace.
In the Demon Sect territory, blood flowed like a river.
The Huoxin Palace’s halls were scattered, shrouded in a faint light, always isolating it from the blood outside.
Li Jingyu propped her chin, half-closed her eyes, listening to the battle reports from her fellow disciples, nodding occasionally.
The Demon Sect cultivators had many ways to hide, but at this time, Ling Mountain’s role became apparent, almost leaving none behind under the karmic fire.
The Demon Sect’s situation was faster and easier than expected; perhaps next, it was time to visit the Dragon Palace? The Immortal Sect’s artifact targeting the Great Whirlpool was likely completed, and what about Ji Yutang? Shouldn’t he have reached the Primordial Spirit Realm by now? As Li Jingyu pondered the North Sea matter, clear footsteps echoed in the hall.
She looked up to see Feng Yuan’s cold expression and asked, “What’s wrong?” Feng Yuan hesitated for a moment before replying, “The Immortal Sect has indeed sent people to gather information, but they are too reckless.
It’s enough to take the information out, yet they insist on entering the Southern Border.” After a pause, she added, “Senior Sister, they claim to be your old acquaintances and want to meet you.”
“Old acquaintances?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing.
Shen Zao and Yan Shouxia fled to the North Sea, and the only ones who could be considered old acquaintances were Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng.
With a light chuckle, she smiled, “Let them come.” After killing the Tai Shang disciples, she had formed a deadly feud with the Three Palaces, but who cared about that? From the beginning, it was destined that there would be no reconciliation with the Three Palaces.
Qin Ruoshui had expected a long wait, but to his surprise, after the other party learned of their presence, they were led into the Huoxin Palace’s law hall.
The Heavenly Maiden Dharma Form on the wall changed endlessly, and Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng silently recited mantras to calm their minds, keeping their righteous gaze from wandering, fearing the allure of the heavenly maiden.
“Coming to my Southern Border at this time, you two truly have great courage.
Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?” Li Jingyu said with a smile, looking at her two old acquaintances.
Qin Ruoshui remained silent.
Li Jingyu’s words were indeed a possibility, as her hands were already stained with the blood of Tai Shang disciples, though in his view, some of those fellow disciples had brought it upon themselves.
Taking a deep breath, he bowed to Li Jingyu and said solemnly, “I have important matters to discuss.”
“What important matters?” Li Jingyu asked with interest.
Qin Ruoshui didn’t say much.
His body radiated with magical power, and with a wave of his sleeve, a stream of light fell into the hall with a thud.
As the light dissipated, the object revealed its true form—a heavily sealed ice coffin.
Inside lay a person with features strikingly similar to Li Jingyu, motionless.
Li Jingyu glanced at it, her eyes growing darker.
She looked steadily at Qin Ruoshui and sneered, “Does Daoist Qin have such a peculiar hobby?” Qin Ruoshui seemed not to hear Li Jingyu’s words and said, “Junior Sister Ran’s soul is in your hands.
I brought her body to the Southern Border.”
Li Jingyu clicked her tongue, “Did the Three Supreme Palaces allow you to do this?” Now that they had the “Tai Shang Primordial Embryo Secret Method,” it didn’t mean they would abandon another path.
After all, everything needed to be in their grasp, right? Even if Qin Ruoshui didn’t speak, Li Jingyu knew the answer.
She laughed, “In light of you bringing Ran Guzhu, I’ll allow you two to leave Huoxin Palace unharmed.
But whether you can leave the Southern Border depends on your own luck and skills.”
Qin Ruoshui raised his sleeve to Li Jingyu without saying much.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard a voice behind him, “The great calamity of heaven and earth is approaching.
With the rise of turbid energy, how does the Immortal Sect plan to face the reduction of heavenly secrets? Will they protect the demonic cultivators slaughtered by my Huoxin Palace, or become demons themselves? Or will they let the younger disciples directly face the calamity? The Immortal Sect’s Primordial Spirit cultivators can’t possibly sacrifice themselves, can they?” Qin Ruoshui frowned, “Is this why you’re exterminating demonic cultivators? Someone tried this path before, but it doesn’t work.”
Li Jingyu laughed, “Different paths.”
Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng didn’t argue further.
Everyone’s Dao beliefs were different, and so were the things they insisted on.
They quickly left Huoxin Palace, transforming into light and departing.
In the hall, Li Jingyu casually approached the ice coffin, her eyes cold as she looked at the person inside, who resembled her greatly.
She was much more pitiful than herself.
“Do you want to let her soul return to her body?” A voice sounded beside her.
Shi Qingchen watched Li Jingyu, knowing that back when they were at the Ran Family, she had taken Ran Guzhu’s soul.
“No.” Li Jingyu shook her head.
A dead person is better than one alive.
Letting Ran Guzhu’s soul return to her body could bring unforeseen changes.
Besides, who knows if Qin Ruoshui’s trip was his own decision or under the orders of the Three Supreme Palaces? She withdrew her gaze from the coffin and looked at Shi Qingchen, saying slowly, “Uncle, I’m planning to go to the North Sea.”
Shi Qingchen nodded and smiled faintly, “Now that you’ve reached the Primordial Spirit realm, you don’t need to worry too much.
We’ll handle the Demon Sect here, and there won’t be any more names like Tianhai Demon Sect or Qingtian Sect in the future.”
– In the North Sea, the winds and clouds were turbulent.
The Xuanming Yin Region is the last line of defense between Jiuzhou and the North Sea, but the Beihai Demon Cultivators cannot place all their hopes here.
The Great Whirlpool, though terrifying, will surely be crossed once the Immortal Sect makes up its mind.
In the underwater Dragon Palace, Ji Yutang stared at the jade slip on the table, lost in thought.
Since coming out of seclusion, she had focused on consolidating her cultivation and searching for her parents, leaving little time to ponder her relationship with Li Jingyu.
However, she wasn’t short of news, such as the unification of the Demon Sect currently on her desk.
The so-called unification of the Demon Sect was just the Huoxin Palace suppressing the demons, right? This greatly weakened the Demon Sect’s power.
Would the Immortal Sect take action at this time? With the great calamity approaching, the clear and turbid energies of heaven and earth were in intense turmoil.
If the Immortal Sect acted against the Demon Sect, it would only make the turmoil worse.
At that time, the Immortal Sect disciples might make various mistakes without the Demon Sect’s intervention.
Their best choice would be to target the Beihai Demon Cultivators.
This would eliminate dissidents, and if any disciples fell, it would be a return to heaven and earth, contributing to the balance of the world.
“I received a message from Huoxin Palace saying that she will be coming soon.” The Dragon Lord’s voice suddenly entered her ears.
Ji Yutang’s eyelids twitched, and she instinctively said, “What’s she coming for?!” To enter the North Sea, one must cross the Xuanming Yin Region, which has already been locked down by the Immortal Sect.
If she travels, she would be exposing herself right under the Immortal Sect’s nose.
It would be safer to stay in the Southern Border.
Calming herself, she said, “We don’t need her help here.”
The Dragon Lord said, “Who can stop her?” Ji Yutang was speechless.
Whatever Li Jingyu decided to do, she would do it.
After thinking for a while, a divine light suddenly shone in her eyes, and she said, “I want to go to the Xuanming Yin Region to wait for her.”
The Dragon Lord said, “Aren’t you afraid of being caught by the Immortal Sect?” Ji Yutang had considered this possibility, but if Li Jingyu fell into the hands of the Three Supreme Palaces, she would also “walk into the trap.”
“The Immortal Sect’s treasure has been successfully refined, right? They will act to suppress the Great Whirlpool.” Ji Yutang pondered for a moment, “Whether she comes or not, I want to go there to hold the fort.”
The Dragon Lord gazed at Ji Yutang for a moment and did not stop her.
She smiled slightly and said, “Then go.” As soon as she finished speaking, the light and shadow dissipated like foam on water.
Xuanming Yin Region.
The floating icebergs had long been scattered by the great power of a Primordial Spirit realm cultivator.
A handsome and elegant cultivator walked on the waves, not following the rule of not looking back in the Xuanming Yin Region, but stopping at a certain place.
Behind him, the Great Whirlpool emitted a terrifying aura, as if it wanted to grind the world to dust.
The cultivator smiled slightly, slowly taking out the Yuan Decree Dutian Seal from his sleeve.
Brilliant light blossomed from the Yuan Decree Dutian Seal, and a vast aura descended upon the Great Whirlpool below.
The surging waters spun, forming vortices as if to swallow the world.
After a few breaths, the Daoist script connected, like a giant hand covering the sky, suddenly pressing down on the Great Whirlpool! After a rumbling explosion, the world returned to silence.
The power born from the Daoist script pushed across the entire sea surface, spreading to the other side in the blink of an eye, completely smoothing the Great Whirlpool.
As long as this method seal was present, the Great Whirlpool would not arise in the Xuanming Yin Region.
The cultivator took a deep breath, circulating his energy to calm the turbulent power within him.
He looked towards the North Sea, where the world was vast and snowy.
