White Bone Mountain.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning danced through the thick clouds like a frenzy of serpents.
A massive bone tree rose from the mountain, its branches spreading in all directions, with terrifying ghostly faces faintly visible among them.
Moments later, cultivators from the Tianhai Demon Sect flew over, standing above the ghostly faces of the bone tree, surrounded by a chilling, sinister aura.
After the Tianhai Demon Sect’s demons took their seats, the leader of the Qingtian Sect, a true cultivator, flashed his eyes and roared.
A hundred-zhang long black dragon flew through the air, extending seats for the Qingtian Sect disciples.
Meanwhile, the Wangqing Sect’s approach was simpler, with each cultivator standing on a white jade platform, surrounded by starlight, making them appear like true Immortal Sect disciples.
“Sister, we’re just waiting for us now,” Feng Yuan whispered, standing to the side, her gaze cautiously shifting to Li Jingyu, feeling a bit uneasy.
This was a grand event for the Demon Sect, yet she had brought Ciming along.
Although she had fallen into demonic ways, she hadn’t spoken a word since falling from Ling Mountain.
Who knew what she was thinking?
“What do you think would happen if we offered Ling Mountain as a sacrifice?” Li Jingyu smiled, seeing the shock on Feng Yuan’s face, and then turned her gaze to the silver-haired female cultivator with an expressionless face.
She was still dressed as she was when she fell into demonic ways, but how much compassion remained when surrounded by demonic energy?
“Ji Yue—” an impatient shout came from the Tianhai Demon Sect.
Li Jingyu lifted her eyelids, and a palm-sized palace flew from her sleeve, slowly manifesting in mid-air.
Amidst the swirling clouds, the silhouette of a celestial maiden appeared, scattering countless petals.
Once the Huoxin Palace group was seated, a rough voice echoed from the Tianhai Demon Sect.
The Demonic Dao Assembly was a grand event for the Demon Sect, only allowing disciples from the four major sects to participate.
Ordinary Demon Sect rogue cultivators had no chance, nor would they even know about it.
Their method of selecting the champion was simple and brutal: fighting in the arena.
Unlike the Immortal Sect’s “stop when necessary,” the Demon Sect’s approach was “fight to the death,” extreme and fierce.
In the eyes of the Demon Sect’s upper-level cultivators, the death of lower-level disciples was insignificant compared to those who could enter the Ancestral Source Demon Sea and receive the Demon Ancestor’s blessing.
The Immortal Sect did not want the Demon Sect to hold this event, but due to the “truce agreement” between the two paths, they would not openly intervene.
However, they would not hesitate to hunt down the blessed demon cultivators afterward.
But just because it had always been this way didn’t mean it would go as planned this time.
As the demon cultivators excitedly shouted, offering blood as a sacrifice, a sword light pierced through the thick clouds, splitting them in two.
Countless swirling sword lights stirred like a nebula vortex, dazzlingly beautiful.
The person who acted was precise, not leaking any excess sword energy, yet the pressure belonging to a celestial realm cultivator was undeniable, causing the entire White Bone Mountain to shake violently, as if it might collapse.
Until a sinister white bone apparition appeared in mid-air.
“So it’s Taiyuan Palace’s Yang Zhangjiao.
What brings you to my Tianhai Demon Sect?” A booming voice echoed like thunder, rolling through the air.
The four major sects’ seats immediately manifested phenomena, offsetting the pressure, but even so, the disciples seated were pale and unsteady.
The sword light in the nebula vortex gathered into a vague figure.
Like the Tianhai Demon Sect’s sect master Hong Ming, Yang Xizhou was only an avatar here, but even an avatar of a celestial realm cultivator was difficult for ordinary cultivators to resist.
Li Jingyu squinted, silently circulating her cultivation technique to relieve some of the pressure, carefully discerning the conversation between Yang Xizhou and Hong Ming.
Yang Xizhou waved his whisk, calmly saying, “I am here for Ling Mountain.”
Hong Ming laughed, “Ling Mountain fell into demonic ways a year ago, and Yang Zhangjiao is timely indeed.
But what does this have to do with my Demon Sect? Could it be that an Immortal Sect disciple defected to our demonic path, and Yang Zhangjiao wants to question it?”
Yang Xizhou said, “I and my fellow cultivators have been searching for a year and learned that Ling Mountain was destroyed by your Demon God Stake—”
Hong Ming sneered, “What searching? You, Yang Xizhou, are here to disrupt my Demonic Dao Assembly, aren’t you? What a pretense!”
Yang Xizhou’s words suddenly stopped, and he laughed freely.
His body was surrounded by starlight, and his vast power transformed into countless sword lights, which, with a gesture, rushed towards the Demon God Hall.
An Immortal Sect leader acting like this in the Demon Sect’s territory was beyond provocation, and Hong Ming was furious.
Countless blood spirits emerged from the floating white bones, biting at Yang Xizhou.
Even as avatars, the battle between two celestial realm cultivators was earth-shattering, and in the blink of an eye, they were outside Extreme Heaven.
Not far away.
Ji Yutang and Yan Shouxia’s group had already reached White Bone Mountain, but due to the presence of many powerful demonic cultivators, they dared not approach lightly.
They vaguely heard the conversation between Yang Xizhou and Hong Ming, and Ji Yutang frowned, surprised, “Just here to destroy the Demonic Dao Assembly? What about Ling Mountain? Aren’t they going to do anything? Not even reason?”
“What reason is there to talk with Demon Sect cultivators?” Ran Guzhu glanced at Ji Yutang coldly, “Just solve them, and isn’t that revenge for Ling Mountain?”
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together, silent.
She had little contact with Taiyuan Dao Palace’s disciples, knowing only Qin Ruoshui and Ran Guzhu.
The disciples’ words and actions might be biased, but the leader represented Taiyuan Dao Palace’s intentions—were all celestial realm cultivators like this, or was it just Taiyuan Palace’s leader?
Lin Heng said solemnly, “Although the Tianhai Demon Sect’s leader was drawn away, there are still many powerful cultivators left.
We should wait a bit longer.”
Ji Yutang’s mind turned, immediately understanding his implication.
Besides the Taiyuan Palace leader, there should be many Immortal Sect disciples coming.
But with such a commotion, wouldn’t it start a war between the Immortal Sect and the Demon Sect? Ji Yutang’s thoughts were written on her face, and Yan Shouxia glanced at her, explaining gently, “Above the primordial spirit realm, they only send avatars.
Their true bodies won’t perish.” Even during the great calamity, those powerful figures wouldn’t personally fight, leaving it to their disciples.
At their level, they wouldn’t do anything to harm themselves, unlike rogue cultivators who might be more free and willful.
Moments later, a burst of flames exploded in the sky, and a great bell slowly descended, enveloping the entire White Bone Mountain.
As the power resonated, the bell’s sound was activated, as if countless Buddhist cultivators were sitting cross-legged on mats, chanting scriptures.
These Buddhist Sect scriptures contained Buddhist energy, calming and clearing the minds of Immortal Sect cultivators, but to demon cultivators, it was like demonic noise attacking their souls.
Li Jingyu stood with her hands behind her back in front of the Huoxin Palace disciples, gazing at the bell above.
With Shi Qingchen overseeing, she wasn’t worried about the disciples being overwhelmed.
After a moment, she said slowly, “The Tianhai Demon Sect can’t hold back any longer.
They’re likely to open the Demon God Hall.”
Shi Qingchen frowned at Li Jingyu, then said, “That’s a good thing.” Originally, “fighting to kill” was the primary goal, but now, with the Immortal Sect’s interference, entering the Demon God Hall became the most important thing.
With Hong Ming present, Yang Xizhou’s plans were unlikely to succeed, but seeing this, they would hasten their steps, revealing their plans.
After a moment, Li Jingyu said again, “Uncle, the Immortal Sect brought celestial and primordial spirit realm cultivators to destroy the Demon God Hall.
In such a situation, Golden Core cultivators are useless.
If one doesn’t reach the primordial spirit, they’re just pawns, right?”
Shi Qingchen smiled, “Even the celestial realm is an illusion.” She looked up at the sky, where a Heaven and Earth Chessboard suppressed the heavens, its mysteries unclear and difficult to predict.
This made both the Demon Sect and Immortal Sect reckless, for without charging forward, they wouldn’t know the path ahead.
As Li Jingyu said, the Tianhai Demon Sect wouldn’t give up on opening the Demon God Hall, willing to expend more power to directly open a path within it rather than abandon the Demonic Dao Assembly.
As the demonic and Buddhist energies clashed, creating waves of energy, a black smoke path extended from the Demon God Hall, manifesting six Demon God phantoms. Li Jingyu moved, transforming into a stream of light, flying along the smoke path, almost simultaneously with nearly a hundred figures rising from their seats.
Fierce energy surged from behind like a tidal wave, cold and piercing, but Li Jingyu’s expression remained unchanged.
The water tide behind her suddenly rolled upward, countless Lunar Heavenly Heart Thunders bursting within the water light, filling half the sky with lightning.
Those preparing to enter the Demon God Hall were her enemies, and Li Jingyu showed no mercy, nor did the other demon cultivators.
“The high-level demon cultivators are fighting the Immortal Sect’s powerful figures, while the disciples within the sect are killing each other—” Ji Yutang, gradually approaching White Bone Mountain, saw the black smoke extending from the Demon God Hall and felt her disgust for the Demon Sect rise.
She couldn’t find Li Jingyu’s figure, but she recognized her aura from the surging lightning.
She knew Li Jingyu had been preparing for the Demonic Dao Assembly, waiting for the demonic blessing, but deep down, she still held a glimmer of hope, wanting her to turn back, even wanting to rush into the demonic smoke to bring her out.
The demonic path, why must one enter it? But the Immortal Sect, what is there to hold on to? A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in Ji Yutang’s mind, making her shiver.
“You are truly bold, thinking that group of powerful figures can protect you?” A cold voice suddenly exploded in her ear, and Ji Yutang looked up sharply.
Before her stood a woman in red, stepping on two snakes, her eyes as cold as snowy mountains, devoid of any emotion.
This person is—
“Yun Chixin!” Ji Yutang’s thought had just formed when she heard Yan Shouxia call out the name.
She frowned, worriedly glancing at Shen Zao, and indeed saw a trace of pain and loss on her face.
In the past at Bailu Academy, she had said she no longer cared, but that was clearly a lie, wasn’t it?
“Are you alone?” Shen Zao frowned.
Yun Chixin smiled, “Sister, I’m enough alone.
Do you want to break my heart demon and fulfill my path?”
Shen Zao looked at Yun Chixin, stunned, “Heart demon? You fell into the demonic path because of a heart demon? If the heart demon is broken, can you return to the academy?” Shen Zao’s words were urgent, her tone trembling slightly.
She seemed unaware of anyone else’s presence, her eyes fixed on Yun Chixin, waiting for an answer.
“Her heart demon is us.
To kill us and sever all ties, why hope she can return?” Yan Shouxia gritted her teeth, looking at Yun Chixin, her eyes misty.
Yun Chixin smiled slightly, feigning intimacy, “Ah Xia is smart, unlike Ah Zao, always a bit foolish.” The old titles from the academy days touched Yan Shouxia and Shen Zao’s hearts.
Yan Shouxia could control her emotions, but Shen Zao couldn’t suppress herself.
Her breathing quickened, her chest heaving, unintentionally revealing vulnerability and grievance.
Seeing this, Yun Chixin said again, “Ah Zao, do you want to go with sister?”
“You—” Yan Shouxia looked at Yun Chixin in shock, the nostalgic emotions completely dispelled by Yun Chixin’s words.
Behind her, the Book of Heavenly Questions manifested, characters floating in the air, gradually spreading forward, forming a domain.
Yan Shouxia used “question” as her method, and if one day she exhausted her questions, it would mean her life had reached its end.
The majestic figure in the domain questioned the heavens and earth, while Yan Shouxia wanted to question both the heavens and Yun Chixin’s reasons.
Before Yan Shouxia’s domain could form, Yun Chixin calmly retreated.
Her “heavenly principle” clashed with the Confucian Sect’s righteous path.
The so-called heavenly principle of the Confucian Sect was “great benevolence” and “great goodness,” but why could the unrighteous hold the Confucian Sect’s foundation? The so-called heavenly principle was a heartless and unfeeling order, while human desires were the root of human restlessness.
Only by eradicating human desires could one achieve heavenly principle, and human desires existed with people.
If people died, those desires would dissipate.
Seeing the red figure about to leave, Shen Zao suddenly returned to her senses, raising her voice, “Sister Yun! Why did you stray from the path?”
Yun Chixin chuckled, “Is it a stray path? It’s my path.
In the past, when Qing Xun fell into demonic ways, Master Ran and the Three Supreme Veins joined forces to suppress her.
Was that for ‘benevolence’? When the son of the palace master of Yunhu Academy accidentally killed someone, and the palace master covered it up, was that ‘benevolence’? What can questioning the heavens and earth do? Why not question the heart? You only think I fell into obsession, but am I the only one? Sister, the heavenly principle has already fallen into obsession.
Who can escape?” Her cultivation was indeed higher than Yan Shouxia’s group, allowing her to easily leave.
“Shen Zao, seal this memory.” Yan Shouxia looked at Shen Zao, her tone extremely serious.
Her eyes were deep, as if she would seal it for her if Shen Zao didn’t.
Ji Yutang was stunned for a while before reacting, murmuring Yun Chixin’s words, “The heavenly principle has fallen into obsession? If the heavenly principle has fallen into obsession, can those seeking the path be spared?”
Qin Ruoshui frowned, “Don’t listen to the demon cultivator’s nonsense.” After a pause, he added, “She’s already discovered us, and other demon cultivators might come.
We should leave first.”
“But White Bone Mountain—” Ji Yutang was full of doubts, looking up at Qin Ruoshui, thinking, did they come here just to watch the excitement?
Qin Ruoshui understood Ji Yutang’s gaze, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.
They indeed intended to do something, but when chaos erupted in White Bone Mountain, they realized it wasn’t something they could intervene in.
“We don’t need to go too far.
The real figures can sense our presence and will take us back,” Qin Ruoshui explained.
Ji Yutang absentmindedly responded.
After building her foundation, she thought she could walk freely in Jiuzhou, but who knew she would encounter Golden Core and primordial spirit realm cultivators.
When she successfully condensed her dragon core, she thought she could be independent, but compared to those great cultivators, she was still an ant.
Although they mostly remained hidden, they truly controlled Jiuzhou.
As for herself, she was just a mayfly.
“Sister Ji?” Yan Shouxia glanced at Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang returned to her senses, smiling, “I’m fine.” As they left, she deliberately slowed her pace, walking alongside Shen Zao.
Shen Zao looked around, then withdrew her gaze, transmitting her voice, “Sister Ji, do you have something to ask me?”
Ji Yutang nodded, not wasting words, directly asking, “Sister Shen, do you think those who fall into the demonic path are truly beyond redemption?”
Shen Zao smiled self-deprecatingly, then said, “Sister Ji, why are you considering this? If I remember correctly, you were very determined to uphold justice.”
Seeing Ji Yutang silent, Shen Zao transmitted, “Is it because of Li Jingyu? She seems to treat you well.”
Ji Yutang blinked, her tone somewhat inexplicable, “Just mutual use.”
Shen Zao said, “At least it saved a life, right? Unlike Sister Yun, who only wants my life.”
Ji Yutang fell silent.
Even among demon cultivators, there were different paths.
Wangqing Sect cultivators sought to sever all ties, but Li Jingyu was different.
She had been lenient in the past, but what about after coming out of the Demon God Hall? Would she still be the same? If she opposed the entire Immortal Sect, their relationship wouldn’t matter; they would inevitably stand on opposite sides.
In truth, she hoped Li Jingyu wouldn’t receive the Demon Ancestor’s blessing, but if so, could Li Jingyu even come out of the Demon God Hall? Why did she have to go? The more Ji Yutang thought, the more chaotic her mind became.
“She’s different from other demon cultivators,” Shen Zao thought for a moment, then added, “At least in her attitude towards the Demon God.”
Ji Yutang nodded.
Demon cultivators often killed each other, but directly attacking the Demon God seemed unique to Li Jingyu.
She must have her own purpose, right? For what?
Inside the Demon God Hall.
The black smoke dissipated, leaving nearly fifty people in the Ancestral Source Demon Sea.
Phantom images of Demon Gods appeared, and the overwhelming demonic energy washed over the cultivators’ bodies.
Just clashing with the aura containing the Demon Ancestor’s demonic intent caused nearly ten people to collapse, their bodies disintegrating into a mist of blood.
Most of those entering the Ancestral Source Demon Sea were from the Tianhai Demon Sect, with the fewest from Huoxin Palace, only Li Jingyu.
However, Huoxin Palace’s female cultivators rarely competed for this opportunity, so no one paid it much mind.
To Demon Sect cultivators, “same sect” meant nothing; in the end, it was all about “killing.”
“Ji Yue, all alone, looks quite pitiful, doesn’t she?”
The speaker was a Tianhai Demon Sect cultivator, and Li Jingyu merely glanced at him coldly.
Fighting in the Ancestral Source Demon Sea had a downside: the power was constantly absorbed by the cultivators, leaving little for individuals.
The plan was for only ten people, but now there were several times more.
Li Jingyu’s eyes flickered, ignoring the pitiful or covetous gazes, and released the Jewel of the Rising Tides, transforming into a green light that struck a Qingtian Sect disciple.
As she moved, the others couldn’t hold back.
There was an unspoken understanding among them: the “weakest” and the “strongest” needed to be eliminated first.
After an hour of fighting, only five demon cultivators remained.
Li Jingyu recognized only Wei Jue and Wei Fuming by name.
The other two, with prominent cheekbones and sinister expressions, were Tianhai Demon Sect disciples.
“Ji Yue, as a woman, you have quite the skills,” Wei Fuming licked his lips at Li Jingyu, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
After a pause, he added, “There were supposed to be ten of us entering the Ancestral Source Demon Sea, and now only five remain.
Shouldn’t we stop fighting?” The Qingtian Sect’s techniques were open and aggressive, and his power was significantly depleted.
Fortunately, he and Wei Jue were brothers; otherwise, they wouldn’t have made it this far.
Li Jingyu brushed her hair back and smiled slightly, “We should ask those two senior brothers.”
A cultivator from the Tianhai Demon Sect sneered and said sinisterly, “How dare you taint the Ancestral Source Demon Sea of our Tianhai Demon Sect?” Wei Fuming, upon hearing this, shouted angrily, “Such arrogance!” He roared, his figure suddenly rising, and the ancient demon ape’s form appeared behind him, surrounded by endless black energy, forming layer upon layer of barriers.
The cultivator from the Tianhai Demon Sect sneered, and three beams of light shot out from his hand.
Wei Fuming dismissed it, reaching out to grab them, but as soon as he touched the beams, a burning sensation spread across his palm.
With a few popping sounds, his hand exploded into a burst of blood, and the beams continued to corrode his flesh.
Wei Fuming’s expression changed drastically, while Li Jingyu’s eyes darkened.
She reached out and sliced off the arm that was being corroded by the beams.
“Senior Brother Wei, how could you not recognize the ‘Bone-Eroding Light’ of the Tianhai Demon Sect?” Li Jingyu smiled sweetly, and a sound of rushing water came from behind her, with lightning flickering in the water, hiding a force of annihilation.
A full moon rose above the water, and the falling moonlight turned into countless dark beams, slashing towards Wei Fuming.
“You, you—” Wei Fuming looked at Li Jingyu in shock and blurted out, “It was you at Wuqishan!”
“Did you figure it out?” Li Jingyu smiled brightly.
She ignored Wei Fuming and his group, and a clear shadow suddenly emerged from behind her, slowly walking towards the six Demon Gods hidden in the Ancestral Source Demon Sea.
According to the Tianhai Demon Sect’s plan, one person was to become the vessel for the Demon God, while the others would become the resources for the Demon God’s manifestation.
But as the clear shadow moved, the six Demon God shadows were absorbed by an inexplicable force, merging with it.
“Don’t let her get close to the Demon God!” The two disciples of the Tianhai Demon Sect were the first to react.
They knew the purpose of this Demonic Dao Assembly was to bring the Demon God into the world.
Seeing the clear shadow behind Li Jingyu devouring the Demon God, a sense of alarm suddenly rose in their hearts.
They stared at Li Jingyu and blurted out, “She actually refined the true form of the Earth Mother!”
Water droplets scattered, and the mysterious clear energy floated up from the surging river, with lightning flickering.
In just a few moments, the river turned into a raging thunder river, devouring everything it touched.
If it were the water techniques of the Demon Sect, there might be a way to counter it, but the moment the Demon Sect cultivators came into contact with it, they sensed a destructive force that was clearly the technique of the Tai Shang lineage! And it wasn’t like the demonic transformation of the Wangqing Sect disciples!
“You, you—” Li Jingyu glanced at the four of them, her eyes deep as the Sea Abyss.
“Either the demons devour me, or I command all demons.”
Author’s Note:
Next book “Why is the Junior Sister an Undercover Agent”
Fucangxin is the daughter of the Ghost Lord.
To save her mother trapped in the Hantian Palace, she disguised herself as a cultivator and infiltrated the Hantian Palace.
Before leaving, the elder repeatedly warned her to be wary of the Immortal Sect’s handsome men.
At first, Fucangxin didn’t take it seriously, as she was born with a heart of stone.
But when she found herself lying on the same bed as Mu Zhao, she broke out in a cold sweat.
The Immortal Sect cultivators were indeed dangerous; she almost fell for it.
How could she simply stab them at that moment?
The people of the Immortal Sect were truly despicable, using beauty traps!
—
In her long cultivation journey, Mu Zhao truly cared about only two people: her mentor and her junior sister Fucangxin.
On the path of destiny against Youming and seizing the power of the heavenly palace, she and her junior sister became close, understanding and cherishing each other.
However, just when she devoted all her madness and outlandishness to her junior sister, the junior sister suddenly said she wanted to give up the path and go home to get married.
Later, when she saw her junior sister again, she hadn’t yet recovered from the joy of “the junior sister didn’t get married” when she was hit again.
The junior sister was the daughter of the Ghost Lord, an undercover agent from Youming!
—
From humble beginnings to becoming an emperor, Mu Zhao’s cultivation path was smooth, but there were still two things that pained her.
One was that her mentor was the king of Youming;
The other was that her beloved junior sister was an undercover agent from Youming.
How could she fight against Youming in this life?
