Chapter 519: Unwelcome Arrival

Chapter 519: Unwelcome Arrival

Yan Chongzhang's hands froze in mid-air, and he looked at the Nanhong Daoists with a puzzled expression.

For some reason, he seemed to sense an odd implication in Shen Yi's words.

It appeared that this young cultivator was not very familiar with these Daoists.

Could it be that they had all misunderstood?

A bold guess suddenly flashed through Yan Chongzhang's mind. Since they had come to pay respects to the sect together, he subconsciously assumed that Shen Yi was a disciple of the Nanhong Seven Sons.

Could it be... that they had jumped to conclusions?

Perhaps Shen Yi was only somewhat related to the Nanhong Seven Sons, and they were traveling together, not because they were from the same sect?

At this thought, Yan Chongzhang shook his head. No matter what, this was definitely not acceptable.

Given the vast dangers of Hongze, not to mention the Celestial Prodigies, even a fully matured Unification Realm grandmaster would not dare to act recklessly.

With countless demons and countless perilous places, one could easily fall into danger if they let their guard down.

For cultivators like them who grew up in Xihong, it was customary to travel with a few fellow sect members for mutual support. Even if something happened, there would be a chance to send news back, giving their backing forces some time to react.

This was especially true for a young newcomer like Shen Yi.

To put it bluntly, he might not even know his way around and could easily step into a trap.

However, Yan Chongzhang did not say more, as it was not the place of the Banshan Sect outsiders to interfere. The Nanhong Daoists seemed experienced, and they would not let Shen Yi cause trouble.

But to the surprise of the Banshan Sect duo, Wei Yuanzhou and the others looked worried, wanting to say something, but they glanced at each other, and no one spoke up.

In the end, Su Hongxiu frowned and approached, as if she had guessed something. She struggled to find the right words, then spoke softly, "I'll remind them... it won't affect your special... preference."

"...?"

The Banshan Sect duo turned around in astonishment.

Wei Yuanzhou and Bai Wu stood frozen, especially Wei Yuanzhou, whose lips twitched twice, filled with confusion.

He couldn't imagine how Su Hongxiu and Shen Yi had become so familiar.

Special... preference?

Shen Yi's temples twitched, and he slowly turned to look at Su Hongxiu. Since leaving the Nanyang Sect, he had gotten used to keeping his emotions in check to avoid revealing the Nanyang Sect's embarrassment.

But now, he was truly struggling to hold back.

What was this Sky Sword Daoist talking about? Was he now spreading rumors?

"Erm..."

As Shen Yi's pitch-black eyes stared at her, Su Hongxiu suddenly became flustered, whether it was due to the pressure of his sect master's status or some other reason.

This was a rare emotion for her to experience.

"I didn't mean it like that."

Su Hongxiu realized that her words could be easily misunderstood. Her usually cold and stern pretty face gradually showed signs of embarrassment. She turned away, avoiding the black-robed youth's gaze, and waved her hand, explaining calmly, "I just think it's too dangerous."

The others saw her reaction.

The Banshan Sect duo didn't think much of it, but Bai Wu's eyes widened in shock.

Damn it! He had known Su Hongxiu for so many years, and this was the first time he saw her with such an expression.

"...?"

Shen Yi gave the woman a cold look and turned away, lowering his gaze. He nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, I have my plans."

Speaking of plans, he didn't have any.

In this unfamiliar place of Xihong, Shen Yi's most trusted companions were the two deputy hall masters from the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.

However, due to the previous incident with the Southern Dragon Palace messenger, these two stone guardians had already caught the attention of the Kong Family Prince, who was on par with a Unification Realm expert.

Before Shen Yi could be confident of surviving under a Unification Realm grandmaster, he would never let anyone know that these two stone guardians were connected to him, not even the Nanhong Seven Sons' sect masters.

Shen Yi was not accustomed to entrusting such life-threatening matters to others.

"Alright."

Su Hongxiu also nodded, and for someone who could save the Nanyang Treasure Land with their own strength and gain the recognition of the Nanhong Seven Sons to become the true sect master, a reminder was enough.

Even if she was still worried, as a Daoist, it was not her place to make decisions for the sect master. Continuing would be overstepping.

Within the immortal sect, the sect master's words were as heavy as a mountain, and of course, they must also be prepared to bear the consequences.

"Alright?"

Yan Chongzhang finally couldn't hold back any longer. What were these Daoists thinking? Was this it?

The Nanhong Seven Sons were willing to let Shen Yi take risks, but the Banshan Sect was not!

However, before he could speak, the Daoists had already walked over, "Daoist Yan, let's talk as we walk."

Wei Yuanzhou put aside his disappointment. Now, those trivial matters of love were not important. The most crucial thing was to stop this Banshan Sect Daoist from continuing, or else Shen Yi's title as the Nanyang Sect Master would soon become the Banshan Sect Master.

"I really don't understand you guys."

Yan Chongzhang sighed helplessly and gave Yang Yunheng a look.

The Banshan Sect's grand elder was taken aback, but he soon understood what Yang Yunheng meant. He took out a jade slip from his storage treasure, "Shen Yi, this is a map of the nearby area. Since you've just arrived in Xihong, even if you want to go out, you must first study this thoroughly."

As an outsider, there was no reason to stop this matter, so one could only try to minimize the risks.

"Thank you."

Shen Yi's expression finally turned serious. With the strength of the Mountain Movers Sect, as a dominant force in the region, their understanding of the surroundings was undoubtedly far beyond that of other factions. This jade slip was far more useful than the previous pills.

He reached out and took the jade slip, then bowed politely.

Regardless of whether the Mountain Movers Sect had ulterior motives, he had received many benefits. However, he was now in a precarious situation, so he could only wait until he recovered before repaying them.

The others felt that Shen Yi didn't have much sense of belonging to the Southern Flood Seven Sons.

This included the Daoists who were most familiar with him.

After all, with Shen Yi's talent, even if the Southern Flood Seven Sons were defeated by the Dragon Palace, he would lose at most a Unification Realm Sacred Land. With his unparalleled talent, other factions would likely offer such treasures, like the current Mountain Movers Sect.

He had only been away for less than a year, so he couldn't talk about any gratitude with the Southern Flood Seven Sons.

Such a person was like a floating weed without roots, giving others the feeling that he might leave at any moment.

However, only Shen Yi knew how much pressure he was under.

He had only been in this world for a few short years.

Whether it was in Qingzhou or Daqian, his acquaintances all relied on Sacred Lands to survive.

If the Dragon Palace were to truly flatten Nanyang...

Then he would truly be left with nothing.

Cultivation must have some meaning, and the path to longevity also needed some embellishments, otherwise, it would be too dull and tasteless.

Moreover, according to Senior Xuan Qing's words...

His greatest opponent in wanting to protect the Nanyang Treasure Land might not be the Dragon Palace... but an even more terrifying existence.

"Farewell."

Shen Yi put away the jade slip, bid farewell to the others, and summoned his black-robed flying sword. He followed the golden light that had guided him earlier and rode the sword away from the Mountain Movers Sect.

He returned to the towering pillar that connected to the sea of clouds.

Shen Yi looked down, and the boundless ocean beneath his feet seemed identical to the Southern Flood, but the rolling waves concealed dangers that were even more profound and unpredictable.

He turned back and glanced at the towering peak shrouded in clouds, his gaze falling on the enormous palm print. He felt the lingering heart-palpitating sensation that remained after enduring a long period of time.

He was still far from reaching the White Jade Capital.

He closed his eyes and recalled the map in his mind. The simulation on the panel didn't improve his comprehension, but it did improve his memory.

Then, he chose a secluded spot and rode his sword, transforming into a streak of light!

The young man's hair fluttered slightly, and his thin black robe fluttered in the wind as he soared through the sky, covering hundreds of miles in an instant. The azure sky and emerald sea intertwined, giving him a hint of the Sword Immortal image he had imagined earlier.

In this graceful scene, he stood calmly on the sword, giving off a sense of the heavens and earth turning upside down while he remained unwavering.

Divine Peak True Intention!

This was Shen Yi's gain from the Nameless Mountain.

It was an understanding of that oppressive feeling, which couldn't enhance his cultivation or be used as a technique. It was clearly precious, yet it was like eating chicken ribs, leaving no impression.

The Divine Peak Technique was the method to utilize this True Intention.

The main reason Shen Yi wanted to leave the Mountain Movers Sect was that this technique was their sect's foundation, and the Sect Master and Daoists had surely practiced it. If he emitted a similar aura as before, it would inevitably cause more trouble.

The Mountain Movers Sect as a whole wasn't a big problem, but if they were foolish enough to test others with temptations beyond human comprehension, then it would be hard to say.

What surprised Shen Yi was that to pass the trial of the Nameless Mountain, one needed to have experienced Body Tempering, but the technique he obtained had nothing to do with the Spirit Body Art.

As for what it was exactly, he'd have to finish the simulation first.

Shen Yi put away his black-robed flying sword and quietly landed on a hill.

Although the Divine Peak Technique was a Unification Realm method he had never practiced, the pressure in his heart was less than what he felt inside the Nameless Mountain.

After all, he had the Divine Peak True Intention as a foundation, and on top of that...

Shen Yi closed his eyes and extracted the demon soul of the Eastern Demon General.

Compared to a longer period of time, the more terrifying aspect was the loneliness of cultivating alone. With someone to discuss with, one could barely keep their sanity from collapsing.

"My Lord... Actually, Wu Jun's brain is quite good..."

The rough and aged Yellow Dragon, with its scaly armor, revealed a sheepish smile like before when facing this intimidating youth.

Before Ke Shisan could finish speaking, he was dragged into the panel, tears welling up in his eyes.

[Remaining Demon Souls: 8]



[Path Convergence. Divine Peak Technique: Uninitiated]



[First Year: You sit cross-legged, begin dictating the entire Divine Peak Technique to Ke Shisan, and let him thoroughly experience the Divine Peak True Intention. The demon soul is pinned to the ground, reliving the climbing journey you once experienced...]



As the demon souls' lifeforce continuously poured in,

It was as if another Nameless Mountain slowly rose within the vast mountain range, and the oppressive feeling gradually spread out.

...

Western Hong, Water Scale Cave Heaven.

The rugged black stones emerged from the water, extending towards the sky in a dramatic curve. At a glance, one couldn't tell how long it was, but it was incredibly wide, resembling a menacing ghost with its long arms reaching out to grab something.

Only by standing far away could one see that on one end of the ghost's sharp arm, there was a small cluster of green foliage.

This is not just some black stone, but rather a fallen ancient tree, half of it exposed above the water's surface and the other half buried beneath. The entire tree trunk resembles a withered corpse, its surface akin to stone, riddled with deep holes.

A tree as massive as a mountain, yet dead!

Within those dark holes, occasionally, a round, thick body with a faint glow writhes, its scales smooth and slimy, emitting a sound that makes one's teeth sour as it rubs against the tree.

Among the demons and spirits in the world, after obtaining a demon mansion, they would unanimously transform into human forms, build tall buildings, and establish their lairs, all to enhance their prestige.

However, the Earth Nether Python Clan is accustomed to appearing in their original forms, as their demon bodies are their most trusted assets.

Ever since being driven out of the Dragon Palace's waters, they have been extremely cautious, only becoming slightly more relaxed in recent years.

At this moment, inside this ancient tree...

A black python, significantly smaller than the other Earth Nether Pythons, impatiently flicks its tail, driving away several Netherworld Pythons that were approaching.

"Scram!"

The young master of the Netherworld Pythons raises his head, his sinister gaze fixed on the outside world.

Then, he lowers his body back down.

For demons and spirits, especially those as powerful as the Jade Capital's, with lifespans of two to three hundred thousand years, sleeping for a few hundred years is a completely normal occurrence.

However, voluntary hibernation and being forced to stay in a cave heaven are entirely different experiences.

For the past year or so, the Western Flood has been in turmoil.

Although the Netherworld Python Clan is powerful, they are not yet at a level where their young master can roam freely.

Even his ability to lie here peacefully is due to other factors.

The young master of the Netherworld Pythons feels the restlessness within him intensifying, along with a growing sense of reluctance.

He is a well-known figure in the Western Flood, and with his extraordinary bloodline and formidable power, he stands out even more.

However, compared to the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect, the entire Earth Nether Python Clan combined is insignificant.

For this situation to change, either the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect must catch enough demons and spirits, abandon this idea, or a demon clan of equal status must step in and intervene.

The former is a matter of fate.

As for the latter... Those truly capable of speaking up to the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect are still watching, as the Dao Emperor Sect acts with restraint. They do not intervene personally, leaving it to other forces, and they will not truly offend those major demon clans.

For instance, the Dragon Palace has not sensed the turmoil affecting the entire Floodze, and due to various sects being busy capturing demons, they are stretched thin, allowing the Dragon Palace to become even more dominant and leisurely than before.

Thinking of this, the young master of the Netherworld Pythons glances at the surrounding "Empresses," and suddenly feels nauseous.

He closes his eyes, forcing himself to fall asleep.

Just then, a massive rumbling sound reverberates throughout the Water Scale Cave Heaven!

Boom!

Beneath the ancient tree, which resembles a colossal mountain, near the water's surface.

A middle-aged man dressed in black and white casual attire stands on the water's surface, his rough palm calmly resting on the tree bark. Although his arm doesn't seem to exert any force, the entire tree, which houses the entire Netherworld Python Clan, visibly moves three feet backward.

"Hiss!"

In an instant, snake-like bodies with a faint glow burst out from the tree, all hissing like a horde of demons dancing wildly. They glare angrily at the water's surface.

Yan Chongzhang slowly retracts his hand, leaving a deep golden palm print on the ancient tree, which has endured countless years without decay.

Behind him, Yang Yunheng and over ten Jade Capital cultivators, led by Yang Yunheng, stand with their arms folded and an accurate description of the concept.

- They mention the unique trait of the tree, which has endured countless years without decay, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue.

"The Mountain Movers Sect has come to subdue the demons. Please accept your deaths." Yan Chongzhang bows towards the sky.

Before the Earth Nether Pythons can react, they see three figures standing side by side in the clouds.

The one in front is a woman in a bright red robe.

Her thin lips are slightly pursed, her eyes cold and unyielding, and her slender fingers grasp a smooth jade sword, resembling a delicate toy.

In an instant, the jade sword sweeps across the sky.

White light converges, illuminating the entire black tree, and then quickly retracts.

The Earth Nether Python Clan's most prized demon bodies, under the white light, quietly dissolve and break apart. Scarlet blood pours down like a torrential rain, covering the giant tree and the ocean.

"..."

Yan Chongzhang's eyelids twitch, and he subconsciously compares the scene in his mind, then mutters an incomprehensible number: "Sixty?"

Yang Yunheng takes a deep breath and shakes his head, not necessarily disagreeing, but the Sky Sword Daoist Elder has only opened two Immortal Cities, and judging the ranking of this jade sword in the Armament Record is meaningless.

As commonly known, the power of the Armament increases as more cities are opened.

Just as the cultivators prepare and summon their Jade Capital Immortal Cities...

The trembling ancient tree...

The young master of the Netherworld Pythons does not leave but stares blankly at the white light fleeting across the sky.

In an instant, he shivers, but a strange expression appears in his eyes.

He is not overly saddened by the fall of several powerful demons from his clan but slowly writhes his body, directing his gaze towards the top of the ancient tree, where a patch of green catches his eye...

Could this be a coincidence?

The Mountain Movers Sect has come to subdue the demons? Yan Chongzhang, what do you have to subdue them with?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end