Chapter 543: The Great Demon of Northern Hong and the Dragon Girl of Eastern Hong (Map Prologue)

Chapter 543: The Great Demon of Northern Hong and the Dragon Girl of Eastern Hong (Map Prologue)



In the vast waters of Hongze, it was rare for a sect to possess a harmonious treasure land for protection. This was why the immortal sects were revered by countless cultivators, bearing their names with respect.

The vast majority of sects were exposed and could only hide themselves through various array formations. When faced with a truly powerful foe, they became like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of their enemies.

Thus, they would usually pay respects to a superior sect, becoming their vassals and using the superior sect's name to deter demons and evil spirits.

The Red Maple Valley paid respects to the only immortal sect in the surrounding area, the Yunhe Sect.

Although the Yunhe Sect couldn't compare to the top-tier forces of Western Hong, it had existed for countless years. The founding ancestor of the sect still presided over it, his cultivation base profound and unfathomable. He was not someone that newly ascended giants could compare to.

At the very least, before the Yunhe Ancestor ascended, any demon or evil spirit that wanted to invade this place would have to think twice about the consequences.

However, at this moment, outside this peaceful land filled with red maple trees, there was a six-zhao long iron spear, as thick as a human leg, clearly a weapon used by demons.

It was stuck straight into the ground at the valley entrance, with six bloodstained robes hanging from it, fluttering in the wind like a banner! In front of this spear, all the array formations of Red Maple Valley were directly shattered.

"... "

An elderly man in a long shirt stood in the valley, his face haggard and his eyes vacant as he gazed at the banner.

No one would have guessed that this man, devoid of any vitality, was actually the master of Red Maple Valley.

Red Maple Valley had a total of twelve elders, three of whom had ascended to the White Jade Capital. Each of them had made a name for themselves in Western Hong. But now, these three powerful elders were all hanging on the iron spear.

As a powerful cultivator who had opened three cities, the master of Red Maple Valley didn't even know how his elders had perished.

Ever since the first elder mysteriously disappeared, he had sent someone to Yunhe Sect to report the news. But the next day, another robe would appear on the spear, whether they went together or tried to hide their presence and go alone, the outcome would not change.

As for the corpses... they were probably devoured by the demons.

It was impossible for such a powerful demon to exist near Yunhe Sect without them knowing about it, especially since their sect had lived in this area for many years.

If it were an outsider, how could it have evaded the patrols of Yunhe Sect?

Unless their cultivation level was even higher than that of the immortal sect elders.

But if that were true, a demon of such a level wouldn't stoop to eating cultivators' corpses. As their cultivation level increased, they would also pay more attention to their image. Unless it was a battle to exterminate a sect, usually, these powerful demons would restrain themselves.

With their strength, they would have to interact with sects. Although human medicinal pills were fragrant, consuming too many would attract attention. They weren't small fries who lived from hand to mouth. It would be more appropriate to obtain heavenly treasures and spiritual stones from sects for a stable supply.

Moreover, if they really wanted to devour cultivators, why bother eating them one by one? Wouldn't it be better to just kill them all at once?

"What do you really want..."

The master of Red Maple Valley already had a guess as to their intentions. After all, their sect didn't have many valuable possessions.

The only thing of value they could offer was the Jade Maple Pill, which they supplied to the Yunhe Sect.

So, these demons wanted to intercept the tributes meant for Yunhe Sect and take their place as their superior sect? But while making this threat, they were also acting in a way that didn't match their strength, revealing a greed and pettiness that clashed with their power.

They were eating the cultivators of Red Maple Valley while also wanting a stable supply of resources.

The master of Red Maple Valley didn't know what others thought, but he certainly wouldn't believe in such a new "superior sect".

"I wonder how Liu Heng is doing now."

The remaining six elders slowly gathered, their eyes still filled with fear.

Those with profound cultivation bases had too dense of an aura to be able to leave, so they had no choice but to send a disciple in the Tribulation Transcendence stage to deliver the message, even if it would take a while. At least there was still hope that the news would reach Yunhe Sect.

"It's still early if we calculate the time."

The master of Red Maple Valley retracted his gaze, not daring to look at the robes on the spear anymore.

Unlike the immortal sects, small sects didn't have the protection of a Harmonious Dao giant. In Western Hong, where everyone depended on each other for survival, the bonds were stronger... Those elders were like brothers who had experienced life and death together.

Now, they were all gone, and he couldn't even take revenge, let alone find out the identity of the demons.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a loud shout.

"Valley Master, the disciple I sent for help has returned!"

Outside the valley, Liu Heng hurriedly flew back on his sword, then jumped off and ran towards the valley.

The master of Red Maple Valley and the elders' faces changed slightly. They hadn't sensed the presence of any Yunhe Sect cultivators, and with Liu Heng's cultivation, he couldn't even control a slightly valuable flying magical treasure. There was no way he could have made a round trip so quickly.

Just as one of the elders was about to question if this young man had run away out of fear, his eye twitched as he saw a purple figure following Liu Heng.

The person who had come had a tall and slender figure, smooth hair, a dragon scale sword at her waist, a plain white shirt inside, and a thin purple skirt on the outside. The only accessory she wore was a simple jade hairpin in her hair.

She had a graceful temperament, like a gentle spring breeze.

"This... this is..."

Liu Heng hurried to the valley master's side, panting as he tried to introduce her.

However, the master of Red Maple Valley had already respectfully bowed.

As a cultivator of Western Hong, he had also been young once. He had once been one of the many cultivators who gathered by the lake to watch the white dragon bathe.

The beautiful and elegant face was so striking that anyone who laid eyes on it would find it hard to forget.

The remaining elders were also deeply moved. They never dared to dream that in such a critical moment, Red Maple Valley would be fortunate enough to encounter a purple-bearded white dragon!

"Now that you're here, we finally have salvation!"

A chubby elder exhaled sharply, his tense mind finally relaxing a little.

After all, up until now, only elders of Red Maple Valley had perished.

Who knew who would be next? Under such immense pressure, if it weren't for his concern for his disciples' panic, this chubby elder would have been mentally broken long ago.

Seeing that the group recognized her, Purple Orchid Fairy nodded but didn't say more. "Let's first take a look at the situation."

"We understand," the master of Red Maple Valley said, lifting his head. Anyone who knew about the Eastern Dragon Palace would understand that the fairy's words didn't mean she wouldn't help if the situation was too serious. Once the purple-bearded white dragon took action, she would do so with her full might. Her concern was only whether she had the ability to resolve the issue.

However, in the vast waters of Hongze, there had only been one incident in hundreds of thousands of years that had left the Eastern Dragon Palace helpless.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the girl in the purple skirt scanned the surroundings and then walked towards the iron spear, reaching out to touch it lightly and sensing the aura on the spear.

She gazed at the six bloodstained robes, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

Then, she waved her hand, taking down the robes and sending them over to the master of Red Maple Valley with her aura. "First, bury these fellow Daoists."

"..." The master of Red Maple Valley held the robes, gritting his teeth. "Thank you, Fairy."

This was the tragedy of a small sect. Before they could find out the enemy's details, they didn't even have the right to lay their elders to rest.

"I will stay here for a few days. Send someone to explain the specifics to me. If they come, call me, and I will speak with them."

Purple Orchid Fairy didn't say more and turned to walk into Red Maple Valley.

Her simple words brought immense relief to those present. With the promise of the purple-bearded white dragon, at least until this matter was resolved, Red Maple Valley had leaned on one of the sturdiest trees in Hongze.

Just then, Purple Orchid Fairy suddenly turned around.

The master of Red Maple Valley and the elders also looked into the distance. Only Liu Heng seemed to remember something and slapped himself, realizing he had forgotten the breath-hiding technique the valley master had taught him when he returned with a disturbed mind.

In an instant, a surging black wind swept in from the horizon.

Its target was clear.

Anyone who left the valley would die!

Almost at the same time, a crisp sound rang out from the sky.

"Eastern Dragon Palace, Purple Orchid."

Just as the black wind was about to engulf Liu Heng, the purple figure had already steadied herself in front of the young disciple, her gaze unwavering as she stared at the black wind mere inches away.

She had no intention of hiding her identity. The Eastern Dragon Palace had taken action only to resolve the issue, so of course, they would use the most effective method.

Moreover, this demon's strength... was a bit beyond her expectations.

Even if she hadn't truly stepped into that realm, she was at most only a hair's breadth away.

"Heh!"

The black wind suddenly solidified in the air, revealing a ferocious bear-like face.

It stared fixedly at the woman in front of it, its mouth slightly open to reveal sharp fangs.

Seeing the demon's face for the first time and sensing its terrifying aura, the Red Maple Valley cultivators' eyes filled with intense fear, and the valley master's heart sank.

His greatest fear had come true. The one targeting Red Maple Valley was indeed a terrifying demon that had subtly surpassed the White Jade Capital, and whether it could rival the Combined Realm was beyond his ability to discern.

After all, without Purple Orchid Fairy's help, Red Maple Valley alone would have been completely powerless to resist, and that remained true even now.

But at this moment, even if Purple Orchid Fairy was still at the White Jade Capital realm, after declaring herself from the Eastern Dragon Palace, even if the demon was comparable to the Combined Realm, it wouldn't dare to act rashly.

Sure enough, the bear demon, hidden within the black wind and only revealing its face, stared at the trembling Liu Heng on the ground for a long time before coldly glancing at Purple Orchid Fairy and then retreating back into the black wind.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the iron spear, which had been stuck straight into the ground, suddenly shot up and landed in the bear demon's palm. With terrifying force, it threw the spear, aiming at the chubby elder.

The seemingly ordinary spear transformed into a surging thunderbolt that seemed capable of piercing the clouds the instant it left the demon's hand. The dense demonic power caused the already crimson Red Maple Valley to be completely shrouded in blood!

The master of Red Maple Valley had been prepared to summon a defensive artifact, but at this moment, facing the incoming spear, he didn't even have half a chance to react.

The gap between their realms had grown so wide that it was impossible to make up for it.

Even he, a cultivator who had opened three cities, was like this, let alone the chubby elder, who had only reached the twelfth layer of Returning Void. He probably wouldn't have been able to react even as the spear pierced through him.

Roar!

A dragon's roar suddenly rang out.

A slender and massive white dragon coiled and soared, its sharp claws gripping the spear. Purple beard flying, the dragon's eyes, cold as they pierced through space, were fixed on the tiny spear.

In front of the minuscule spear, the dragon's claws, covered in scales, instantly cracked, blood flowing like a river. The dragon's body was pushed and tumbled, crashing through several cliffs and flattening dense red maple trees, leaving a terrifying gash in the ground.

At the White Jade Capital realm, it had hard-blocked a spear comparable to the Combined Realm!

The purple-bearded white dragon finally stabilized its body, the spear gripped in its dragon jaws, blood and saliva dripping from its mouth as it spat the spear onto the ground. "Pui!

The next moment, she reshaped her human form, wiping the corner of her crimson lips with the back of her hand as she stared silently into the distance.

Purple Orchid Fairy had no intention of making any more threats. The situation had already spiraled beyond her control, and any action that might anger this powerful demon would only lead to more unnecessary casualties.

As she took the blow from the spear, the black wind reached the chubby elder, gripping his neck in its grasp. Then, in full view of everyone, the wind opened its mouth and devoured him alive.

After chewing for a moment, it spat out a tattered, bloodstained robe.

The black bear lifted its head, casually tossing the robe, now soaked in saliva, onto the Red Maple Valley Master's face. In a detached tone, it said, "I want a thousand years' worth of Jade Maple Pills, the tribute you offer to the Yunhe Sect. Don't keep me waiting too long... Also, anyone who leaves will die. Remember that."

Without even sparing the purple-bearded white dragon another glance, it turned and transformed back into the black wind, swirling into the sky and soon disappearing from view.

"Cough, cough."

Purple Orchid Fairy staggered to her feet, covering her mouth as she coughed up another mouthful of her lifeblood.

Given her cultivation, the price she had to pay to take that blow, which far surpassed the strength of someone in the White Jade Capital realm, was not light.

The lady in purple quickly adjusted her breathing and then took slow steps towards the trembling Red Maple Valley Master. After a moment's pause, her voice hoarse, she said, "I'm sorry, my cultivation is too low."

The other elders looked at the pool of blood on the ground with complex expressions, at a loss for words.

With even the Eastern Dragon Palace showing no fear, it was hard to blame Purple Orchid Fairy. Even if a cultivator from the Yunhe Sect had come, the outcome would not have been any better.

Moreover, it had all happened so suddenly, and this fairy didn't even know the specifics of the situation. Yet, she had still been badly injured.

But now, trapped in this desperate situation, they didn't have the heart to comfort or thank her.

"Do you recognize it?"

Purple Orchid Fairy looked in the direction where the black wind had disappeared, her tone devoid of anger, but everyone could tell that she intended to continue pursuing the matter.

"No... we don't know it," the elders replied hastily.

One of them, as if remembering something, added, "Wait! An unknown Combined Realm expert with such a style of acting, who doesn't even put the Eastern Dragon Palace in his eyes... have you thought that it might be..."

Reminded by him, the other elders also looked up.

Then, one of them began to describe in detail the recent rumors in Western Hong, as well as the fall of Pan Boyang, the Immortal Emperor of the Limitless Dao Emperor Sect.

"I understand," the lady in purple said, nodding slightly. She then took out the conch shell again and said, "Come here first. I need your help, and... please pass a message to my aunt for me."

Putting down the conch shell, she reached out and removed the tattered robe from the Red Maple Valley Master's face, looking at his pale and lifeless expression. With a slight pout, she said, "Since it doesn't want to talk here, I'll go and find it. Don't lose hope yet. Let's try again."

It was extremely strange that a demon with such strength had escaped her notice.

The reason was simple. Powerful beings couldn't have grown up by just eating the wind. Especially for demons, nurturing a demon comparable to the Combined Realm would require occupying a vast territory and having countless demons under its command to accumulate heavenly treasures and spirit stones.

There was no way such an existence could have gone unnoticed.

Moreover, according to what the Red Maple Valley elders had said, there was more than one such powerful being.

If it was a separate force that had cultivated this being... at least within the waters and lands of Western Hong, the only ones with that kind of background should be the Western Dragon Palace.

More precisely, it could only be either the Second Uncle Qi or her maternal uncle.

Whoever it was, Purple Orchid was very curious about what they were trying to achieve by fostering such a mysterious force, and whether it had anything to do with her aunt...

"Huuu."

Purple Orchid Fairy asked the Red Maple Valley cultivators to return first, and then she sat down cross-legged to recuperate her lifeblood.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, another black cloud appeared in the sky, and the aura of its occupant was almost on par with the previous one!

"Who hurt you?" Before the person even arrived, a slightly anxious voice rang out.

"I'm sorry to trouble you again," Purple Orchid Fairy said, opening her eyes and shaking her head apologetically. "I was supposed to come with you to find your brother..."

"Tsk, don't say such polite things. Besides, my brother has suffered for so many years. It's finally his chance to come out and relax a bit. I'll just turn a blind eye and let him have some fun before he goes back and gets provoked by that Xue Yan again."

The black clouds dissipated, revealing a young man with a horn on his forehead, just like the previous one. He wore a dark green robe, and his face was covered in fine scales, even more delicate than dragon scales.

He raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Let's get down to business. I want to see who dares to be so bold."

Purple Orchid shook her head again and extended her fingertip—a unique talent of the purple-bearded white dragon clan. Their sensitivity to auras was something others couldn't imagine.

"Don't be careless. There might be a Combined Realm expert among them. I'll just borrow your black cloud to investigate. Since they've made a move against Red Maple Valley, they probably won't spare the other small sects. I'm worried there will be heavy casualties. Once we find out more, we should ask my aunt to take action."

"I'll do as you say." The young man in the dark green robe looked into the distance, his eyes sharp.

In an instant, he released the black cloud again, enveloping Purple Orchid Fairy as well.

Following the aura on her fingertip, they headed towards the cave where the demon was hiding.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end