https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-518-Xi-Hong-s-Demon-Catcher-Comes-Online/12554858/
Chapter 519: An Ill-Timed Arrival
Chapter 519: An Ill-Timed Arrival
Yan Chongzhang froze in mid-air, his palms hovering as he turned to look at the group of Nan Hong Daoists with a puzzled expression.
For some reason, he had sensed an odd undertone in Shen Xiaoyou's words.
It seemed that this young cultivator was not very familiar with these Daoists.
Could they have guessed wrong?
A bold speculation suddenly crossed Yan Chongzhang's mind. Since they had come to pay respects to the sect together, he had subconsciously assumed that Shen Yi was a cultivator of the Nan Hong Seven.
"Could it be that we've jumped to conclusions?" he wondered.
Perhaps Shen Xiaoyou only had some connection to the Nan Hong Seven and was merely traveling with them, rather than being a fellow cultivator from the same sect?
Shaking his head, Yan Chongzhang dismissed the thought. Regardless, this was absolutely unacceptable.
Given the vast and treacherous nature of Hongze, even the most prodigious talents, let alone fully matured giants at the Unity with the Dao realm, would not dare to act recklessly.
There were countless demons and monsters, and innumerable dangers. One wrong step could lead to disaster.
For cultivators like them, who had grown up in Xi Hong, it was customary to travel with fellow sect members for mutual support. Even if something unexpected happened, there would at least be a chance to send news back to their sect, giving their backers time to react.
This was especially true for a newcomer like Shen Xiaoyou.
To be blunt, he might not even know his way around and could easily stumble into trouble.
However, Yan Chongzhang refrained from saying more. It wasn't their place as outsiders from the Banshan Sect to interfere in such matters. The Nan Hong Daoists seemed experienced and would surely keep Shen Xiaoyou from taking reckless actions.
But what left the two from the Banshan Sect bewildered was the obvious worry on the faces of Wei Yuanzhou and the others.
They seemed eager to say something, but hesitated, exchanging glances without anyone speaking up.
Finally, Su Hongxiu stepped forward, her brow furrowed as if she had guessed something. She struggled to choose her words carefully before speaking in a low voice, "I'll remind them... it won't affect your special preference."
"...!"
The two from the Banshan Sect turned to look at her in astonishment.
Wei Yuanzhou and Bai Wu stood frozen, especially Wei Yuanzhou, whose lips twitched as confusion filled his eyes.
He couldn't fathom how Su Hongxiu and Shen Zongzhu had become so close.
"Special preference?"
Shen Yi's temples twitched as he slowly turned his gaze towards Su Hongxiu. Since leaving Nanyang Sect, he had learned to keep his emotions in check, concealing Nanyang Baodi's predicament from others.
But now, he was truly struggling to maintain his composure.
What was this Heavenly Sword Daoist talking about? Had her veiled attacks turned into outright slander?
"Uh..."
Under the intense stare of Shen Yi's pitch-black eyes, Su Hongxiu seemed to falter, whether due to the pressure of his position as a sect leader or some other reason.
This was a rare emotion for her to experience.
"That's not what I meant," she said, realizing how her words could be misinterpreted. A hint of embarrassment crept onto her usually cold and pretty face. She turned her head away, avoiding the young man's gaze, and waved her hand dismissively as she tried to explain calmly, "I just feel that it's too dangerous."
The way she looked at that moment struck the others.
While the two from the Banshan Sect didn't sense anything amiss, a strong sense of shock filled Bai Wu's eyes.
"Damn!" he thought. "I've known Su Hongxiu for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen her show such an expression."
"...!"
Shen Yi shot her a disdainful glance before turning away. "Don't worry," he said, his jaw set. "I have my plans."
In truth, he had no particular plans.
However, in this unfamiliar place of Xi Hong, the companions Shen Yi trusted the most were the two deputy palace lords from the Myriad Demon Hall.
But due to the previous incident with the messenger from Nanlong Palace, these two pillars had drawn the attention of the Unity with the Dao realm expert, Ke Jia's young master.
Until Shen Yi was confident that he could protect himself from a Unity with the Dao realm demon, he would not let anyone know of his connection to these two pillars, not even the Nan Hong Seven's sect leaders.
Shen Yi was not one to entrust matters of life and death to others.
"Okay," Su Hongxiu nodded as well. For someone who could save Nanyang Baodi single-handedly and quickly gain the recognition of the Nan Hong Seven, becoming the sect leader in such a short time, a reminder like this was enough.
Even if she was still worried, as a Daoist, it was not her place to make decisions for the sect leader. To say more would be overstepping her bounds.
Within a sect, the sect leader's word was law, and with that power came the responsibility to bear the consequences.
"Okay?" Yan Chongzhang couldn't hold back any longer. Was this it? Were they just going to let Shen Yi go on this dangerous journey? Nan Hong Seven might be willing to take the risk, but he, Yan Chongzhang from the Banshan Sect, was not!
However, before he could say anything, the Daoists had already started walking towards them. "Daoist Yan, let's talk as we walk," they said.
Wei Yuanzhou put aside his personal feelings. What mattered now was not their romantic entanglements but ensuring that the Banshan Sect Daoist didn't continue on this path. They had to prevent Shen Yi, the Nanyang Sect Leader, from becoming the Banshan Sect Leader.
"I really don't understand you guys," Yan Chongzhang said through gritted teeth. He glanced at Yang Yunheng, who understood his meaning.
The great elder of the Banshan Sect hesitated for a moment before reaching into his storage treasure and taking out a jade slip. "Shen Xiaoyou, this is a map of the surrounding area. You've just arrived in Xi Hong, and even if you want to go out, you must first familiarize yourself with this."
He reached out to take the jade slip and bowed in gratitude.
Regardless of whether the Banshan Sect had ulterior motives, he had undoubtedly gained a lot from them. However, with his current precarious situation, he could only think about repaying them once he had stabilized his own position.
The others felt that Shen Yi didn't have much of a sense of belonging to the Nan Hong Seven.
Even those among them who knew him the best felt this way.
After all, with Shen Yi's talent, even if the Nan Hong Seven were to lose to Dragon Palace in their dispute, he would only lose a Unity with the Dao treasure land at most. With his unparalleled talent, it was highly likely that other sects, such as the Banshan Sect before them, would be willing to offer him a similar opportunity.
It had been less than a year since he had left seclusion, and he had barely formed any deep bonds with the Nan Hong Seven.
Such a person gave others the impression that he was like a drifting duckweed, always ready to leave at any moment.
However, only Shen Yi knew the immense pressure he was under.
It had only been a few years since he had traveled through this world.
Whether it was in Qingzhou or with his acquaintances in Da Qian, they all depended on the treasure land for their survival.
If Dragon Palace truly crushed Nanyang, he would have nothing left.
There had to be some meaning to cultivation, some embellishments along the path to longevity; otherwise, it would all feel too dull and monotonous.
Moreover, according to Elder Xuan Qing, his greatest obstacle in preserving the Nanyang treasure land might not be Dragon Palace... but an even more terrifying existence.
"Farewell."
Shen Yi put away the jade slip, bade everyone goodbye, and turned to summon the dark light flying sword. He stepped onto the sword and left the Banshan Sect, following the golden light that had led him there earlier.
He returned to the towering pillar that connected the sky and the sea.
Shen Yi looked down at the boundless ocean beneath his feet, which seemed similar to the one in Nan Hong, but the rolling waves concealed an even more unfathomable danger.
He glanced back at the towering peak shrouded in clouds and fixed his gaze on the gigantic palm print, sensing the heart-stirring aura that still lingered there after countless years.
He was still far from reaching the White Jade Capital.
He closed his eyes and recalled the map in his mind. The simulation in the panel hadn't improved his understanding much, but it had sharpened his memory.
Soon, he chose a secluded place, stepped onto his sword, and transformed into a flowing light, speeding away!
The young man's hair fluttered slightly, and his thin ink-colored robe billowed in the wind, traveling thousands of miles in an instant. The sky and the sea intertwined, and for a moment, he resembled the image of a sword immortal he had imagined before.
However, amidst this graceful scene, he stood quietly on the sword, giving off a sense of immovability, as if he could withstand the rotation of the heavens and the earth.
Divine Mountain Intent!
This was Shen Yi's gain from his time in the nameless mountain.
It was a realization of that oppressive feeling, something that couldn't enhance his cultivation or be used as a technique. It was related to the Unity with the Dao realm, and while it seemed precious, it was like eating chicken ribs—tasteless and unappetizing.
And the Divine Mountain Art was the method to utilize this Divine Mountain Intent effectively.
The main reason Shen Yi wanted to leave the Banshan Sect was that this art was their sect's most treasured technique. Aside from the sect master and the Daoists, no one else should have access to it. If he accidentally leaked any traces of this art like he had done before, it might cause unnecessary trouble.
The Banshan Sect as a whole didn't seem to pose any major problems, but if he were to test their patience with temptations that exceeded their comprehension, the consequences would be unpredictable.
What surprised Shen Yi slightly was that to pass the test of the nameless mountain, one needed to have undergone body refinement, but the art he obtained had nothing to do with the Body Refinement Spirit Physique Art.
As for what it was exactly, he would have to finish simulating it first before he could find out.
Shen Yi put away his dark light flying sword and quietly landed on a hill.
Although the Divine Mountain Art was something he had never encountered in relation to the Unity with the Dao realm, the pressure he felt was not as overwhelming as when he was in the nameless mountain.
After all, he now had the Divine Mountain Intent to guide him, and also...
Shen Yi closed his eyes and extracted the soul of the East Hall Master.
Compared to the vast expanse of time, the loneliness of cultivating alone was even more terrifying. Having someone to discuss things with helped ease the strain on one's mental state.
"My lord... Actually, Wu Jun is quite smart too..."
The yellow dragon, with its rough and aged scale armor, which usually appeared dignified and majestic, now looked just as awkward and embarrassed as it had before when facing this intimidating young man.
Before Ke Shisan could finish his sentence, he found himself being dragged helplessly into the panel once more.
【Remaining Demon's Life Force: 8.1 million years】
【Unity with the Dao•Divine Mountain Art: Uninitiated】
【First year, you sit cross-legged and begin to orally transmit the entire Divine Mountain Art to Ke Shisan, allowing him to carefully experience the Divine Mountain Intent. The demon soul is pinned to the ground, reliving the journey of climbing the mountain that you once experienced...】
As the life force of the demon poured in without cessation, it seemed as if another nameless mountain was slowly rising amidst the vast mountain range, and the oppressive feeling spread steadily outward.
...
In the western region of Hong, there existed a place known as Water Qilin Cave Heaven.
A pitch-black stone protruded from the water, extending upward in an exaggerated arc toward the sky. One couldn't tell its full length from a close distance, and its horizontal expanse was incredibly vast, resembling a clawing demon reaching out with its elongated arms, as if grasping for something.
Only when viewed from a great distance could one see that at one end of the black stone, on the sharp tip of the demon's outstretched arm, there was a small cluster of greenery.
Within those deep holes, occasionally, a round and thick body would squirm, emitting a faint glow, its slippery scales making a teeth-grinding sound as they rubbed against the tree.
Throughout the world, once demons and monsters acquired their own lairs, they would unanimously take on human forms, building tall towers and establishing their own domains, wanting to show off their status.
However, the Earth Abyssal Python clan preferred to show themselves in their original forms, as these demonic bodies were what they relied on the most.
Ever since they were driven out of the waters by Dragon Palace, they had been extra cautious, and it was only in recent years that they had eased up a little.
At this moment, inside this ancient tree.
A black python, noticeably smaller than the other Earth Abyss Pythons, impatiently flicked its tail, smashing away a few other pythons that wanted to get close.
"Scram!"
The young master of the Dark Python raised his head, his eyes cold as he gazed towards the cave entrance.
Then he lowered his body again.
For demons and monsters, especially those as powerful as the White Jade Capital, with lifespans of two to three hundred thousand years, sleeping for hundreds of years was a very normal occurrence.
However, choosing to hibernate and being forced to stay in a cave heaven were completely different feelings.
In the past year or so, the Western Hong region had been turbulent.
Although the Earth Dark Python clan was strong, they were not yet at the level where they could allow their young master to wander around freely.
Even for it to lie here peacefully, it had to rely on other strengths.
The young master of the Dark Python felt the restlessness in its heart growing stronger, and the sense of unwillingness became more and more intense.
It was a well-known figure in Western Hong and, coupled with its extraordinary bloodline, its strength was also extraordinary.
However, in front of the Wuliang Dao Emperor Sect, the entire Dark Abyss Python clan combined was not worth a mention.
If this situation was to change.
Either the Wuliang Dao Emperor Sect suddenly captured enough demons and monsters, or they gave up on this idea, or a similarly powerful demon tribe saw the situation and stepped in to mediate.
The former depended on fate.
As for the latter... those truly powerful demon tribes that could speak up to the Wuliang Dao Emperor Sect were still watching from the sidelines. After all, the Dao Emperor Sect was quite measured in their actions. They not only refrained from taking action themselves and let other forces do their bidding, but they also did not truly offend the major demon tribes.
For example, Dragon Palace did not feel the impact of this storm involving the entire Hongze at all. Instead, due to the major sects being busy capturing demons and monsters, they were stretched thin, allowing Dragon Palace to become even more domineering and leisurely.
Thinking of this, the young master of the Dark Python glanced at the surrounding "concubines" and suddenly felt a sense of nausea.
It simply closed its eyes again, forcing itself into a slumber.
Just at this moment, a deafening roar reverberated throughout the Water Qilin Cave Heaven!
Rumble!
Below the ancient tree, which was as huge as a mountain, near the water's surface.
A middle-aged man in black and white shorts stood on the water's surface, his rough palm quietly resting on the tree trunk. Although his arm did not seem to be exerting any force, this ancient tree, which had been occupied by the entire Phantom Python clan, visibly moved backward by three feet.
"Hiss!"
In an instant, snake-like bodies burst out from the tree, hissing and writhing like a crowd of demons. They glared furiously at the water's surface.
Yan Chongzhang slowly retracted his palm, leaving a deep golden handprint on the tree trunk, which had endured countless years without decaying.
Behind him, Yang Yunheng and more than ten other White Jade Capital cultivators stood with their arms crossed, their gazes indifferent as they looked at the group of hissing giant pythons, each over a hundred feet long.
"The Moving Mountain Sect has come to subdue demons. Please accept your deaths," Yan Chongzhang said, cupping his hands towards the sky.
Before the group of Earthshadow Pythons could react, they saw three figures standing side by side in the clouds.
The one at the front was a woman in a bright red robe.
Her thin lips were pursed, and her eyes carried an unwavering coldness. Her delicate white fingers held a smooth jade sword, which looked like an exquisite toy.
In an instant, the jade sword swept across the sky.
White light converged, illuminating the entire pitch-black ancient tree, and then quickly converged.
The bodies of the Earthshadow Python clan, which they took the most pride in, quietly melted and shattered under the white light, and the crimson blood poured down like torrential rain, soaking the giant tree and the ocean.
"..."
Yan Chongzhang's eyelids twitched, and he unconsciously compared the scene in his mind, then blurted out a strange number, "Sixty?"
Yang Yunheng took a deep breath and shook his head, not because he disagreed but because Tianjian Daozi had only opened two immortal cities, and with the third immortal city hidden, it was meaningless to judge the ranking of this jade sword in the Daoist Soldier Record.
It was common knowledge that as the number of opened immortal cities increased, the power of the Daoist soldiers would also increase, assuming the same quality.
Just as this group of cultivators prepared themselves and summoned their White Jade Capital immortal cities.
Within the trembling ancient tree.
The young master of the Dark Python did not go out but stared blankly at the white light that had flashed across the sky.
In the instant its body shuddered, a strange expression appeared in its eyes.
It did not feel too sad about the death of several of its fellow powerful demons. Instead, it slowly writhed its body and turned its gaze towards the top of the ancient tree, towards that patch of greenery...
Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?
The Moving Mountain Sect has come to subdue demons? Yan Chongzhang, what do you have to subdue them?
(End of Chapter)
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