Chapter 556: Did You All Plan This?

Chapter 556: Did You All Plan This?

A petite figure hung between the azure sky and the azure sea, with a black horse-faced skirt that fluttered gently.

The vast river of blood flowed into this very stone statue, and under the crimson glow, her skin looked even paler.

Her thick eyelashes trembled as if her eyelids weighed a thousand pounds.

But when An Yi fully opened her eyes, her round pupils narrowed, and a disdainful look emerged within them.

Awakening like a ferocious tiger surveyings its domain, the tiger demon guarding the tomb in Bao Yue's mausoleum, coupled with those from the cloud cover earlier, virtually embodied all the formidable entities of the Hao Yue Frost Tiger tribe. Furthermore, two late-stage Escapement demon beasts joined the fray.

With so much cultivation and such rich bloodlines, all of it was now gathered in one person.

Finally, the demonic power contained in this petite body broke through to an unimaginable level, successfully surpassing the upper limit of the Perfected Earth State.

"...'

Shen Yi sensed the similar aura ahead, and as he had expected, this group of demons was just like White Jade Jing, unhindered by the restrictions of the Dao soldiers or heavenly tribulations that plagued cultivators. The Town Five Soldiers realm, a necessary process for demons, was a unique advantage they held over cultivators.

Of course, this wasn't necessarily a good thing.

After all, cultivators chose to undergo the Five Tribulations because they believed it would benefit their cultivation of the Dao. For demons, it was clearly more advantageous to directly break through to the Celestial State.

Moreover, cultivators had their own strengths that demons couldn't match.

For example, upon reaching unity with the Dao, they could instinctively master a divine ability, even for cultivators at the early stage of the Earth State like the Master of Wanxiang Pavilion.

One such ability was the method of sacrificing the lives of a treasure site.

Although most cultivators wouldn't resort to such a method of self-destruction, the difference between having and not having such an option was significant. It was a blatant declaration of a life-or-death struggle, and no one wanted to easily bet on whether their opponent would hesitate to use it.

Shen Yi was certain he didn't want to resort to sacrificial means.

However, he couldn't guarantee that when faced with a true life-or-death crisis, he would still be able to maintain his rationality. After all, his will to survive was incredibly strong, and his desire to live was an instinct deeply ingrained in his bones.

Moreover, from what they knew so far, the immortal they faced possessed the means to influence the minds of cultivators, even driving them to madness.

Therefore, the best solution was to avoid situations where such a choice needed to be made.

With sufficient strength, no one could force him to gamble with his life.

"How do you feel?"

After allowing An Yi some time to adjust to her new power, Shen Yi called out to her.

"I feel a little uncomfortable... but it's okay."

An Yi tried to clench her fists, not feeling the same shock and excitement as other stone guardians when they advanced. This was because she had never cultivated before and didn't know how terrifying her power had become.

Seeing this, Shen Yi sigthed with emotion and withdrew his gaze.

It was undeniable that this Western Palace Master was incredibly frugal with her life force. Whether it was the reconstruction of her demonic soul, the tribulation, or her current advancement, she had hardly wasted any of her demonic lifespan.

The strength of her demonic soul was purely due to the countless soul-sustaining treasures she had consumed.

That Yuhua Longfei had already paid the price for this in advance.

"It's a pity she's still a bit away from a breakthrough."

Shen Yi sighed inwardly but didn't voice his thoughts. An Yi was likely just one step away from becoming a true Celestial State stone guardian, and that step probably required the sacrifice of her father's life.

He wondered why her father hadn't shown up today.

As he lamented, Shen Yi didn't become overly proud. Based on the situation with the Frost Tiger Elder earlier, if the tribe leader, whose realm was evidently much higher, were to use the same method, they might be able to reach the Celestial State as well.

In that case, he would probably have to find a way to escape, and even this small advantage would be lost.

With that in mind, Shen Yi recalled An Yi and hid her within the Myriad Demon Hall. He then summoned a portion of the black clouds and sped towards the Moving Mountain Sect.

Although these black clouds were Dao soldiers, their function was partially similar to the divine ability of the Horin Horin of the Akiie family. For example, they could conceal one's presence.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Akiie had been caught by the Lingyue Sect Master. That was due to a huge gap in their realms. When pursuing the bear demon, even An Yi, who was close to the late stage of the Earth State, hadn't been able to detect the purple-robed fairy hidden within the black clouds.

With this item by his side, it would be much more convenient to move around.

...

West Hong, Moving Mountain Sect.

Behind the main hall in the mountains.

The master of the Moving Mountain Sect stood with his hands behind his back, looking at his disciple and scolding him in a low voice, "You're causing trouble. You two schemed without consulting Shen Yi. Don't you worry about causing him trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Chongzhang rubbed his eyebrows and wanted to explain, but he dared not.

Although they hadn't discussed this matter with Shen Yi, the results so far had been quite obvious.

At least, from the news they had received, the Liuli Qingfeng tribe had to be extremely careful even when investigating their enemies, and their attention had been diverted to the fictional "mysterious power." They hadn't considered the South Hong Seven at all.

Thinking of this, he forced a smile and said, "Besides, do people need to cause trouble for Shen Yi?..."

The master of the Moving Mountain Sect raised his eyebrows. Somehow, these words didn't seem wrong.

"Master, what about the Town Yue Fa?" Yan Chongzhang changed the subject, knowing that Yang Yunheng, the great elder, had plenty of experience and that it would be reassuring to have him handle this matter.

"Luck is on our side. I've gained new insights," the master of the Moving Mountain Sect said with a smile.

For the West Hong Immortal Sect, being able to complete a rare Earth State treasure was already a significant improvement, especially since it was a direct inheritance.

Of course, if they could completely unlock the last stele in Wumingshan, it would be a Celestial State treasure, based on current estimates. It would definitely boost his strength to the next level.

For cultivators who had passed the Three Tribulations and reached unity with the Dao, the late stage of the Earth State was the end of their journey. To improve further, they had to find other means.

"I wonder when Shen Yi will visit next."

The master of the Moving Mountain Sect sighed. Based on the news brought by his disciple, Shen Yi was a polite and grateful person. However, he wasn't sure if his promise to strongly support the South Hong Daoists would be enough to move Shen Yi.

In the Western Hong, the head of the Moving Mountain Sect, Yan Chongzhang, felt apprehensive. He knew that the incident involved the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect, and it would be wise to lay low for a while.

After all, this Dao Emperor Sect could make half of the Western Hong do their bidding without the intervention of a Harmonious Realm expert.

In terms of strength, they could even restrain the Northern Dragon Palace single-handedly. Calling them the "Prime of the Righteous Path" would not be an exaggeration.

When it comes to status, they hold almost as much influence in the Northern Hong as the Seven Princes do in the Southern Hong. Their word carries weight.

Even with the Moving Mountain Sect's size, and despite the distance, they still feel uneasy about having killed a direct disciple of the Dao Emperor Sect, even if they didn't do it themselves.

The master planned to rally the entire sect, seal the mountain gate, and head to the Southern Hong to support the Seven Princes. There was also the intention to lie low.

"Wait."

Yan Chongzhang suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with astonishment.

Sensing that familiar aura being deliberately revealed to him, he turned his head toward the direction outside the sect. "He... he's here."

Was Shen Daoyou joking by returning to the "scene of the crime" so soon, unafraid of being watched?

Upon hearing this, the master of the Moving Mountain Sect's facial muscles twitched, and he grit his teeth. Enticed by the hidden treasures of Mount Nameless, this dignified late Earthly Realm expert dared to act rashly. "Perfect timing! Let's get it over with quickly. Once this is done, I will take you to the Southern Hong to find those dragon sons and grandsons and have some fun."

The sect master himself did not realize that he had now subconsciously acknowledged Mount Nameless as Shen Yi's private property. It was like an open treasury, where one could take whatever they pleased without any worry about not finding anything.

"Disciple understands."

Yan Chongzhang turned and left toward the outside of the sect. As usual, he welcomed Shen Yi through a small path and led him directly to the foot of Mount Nameless.

He unconsciously looked left and right, then refocused on the young man before him.

It would have been better if he hadn't looked, for this sight caused him to pause once again.

Shen Yi was dressed in the same ink-colored robe, his face still fair and handsome. Apart from the absence of the little girl by his side, he looked almost exactly the same as when they last parted ways.

However, for some reason, Yan Chongzhang felt a sense of strangeness. The change in Shen Yi was not just superficial, but it seemed like a fundamental difference.

"Daoyou Shen... have you... broken through?"

"Luck has been on my side."

Shen Yi nodded, not denying it.

The Moving Mountain Sect was clearly leaning toward the Seven Princes now, and having witnessed Shen Yi slay Pan Boyang, they were somewhat on the same side.

The master of the sect had just used those same four words with Yan Chongzhang.

He forced a smile and stopped the topic, not daring to ask further. He could only bow and say, "Congratulations, congratulations."

From the two previous reunions with Shen Daoyou, it seemed that his "luck" might be far more astonishing than his master's.

With his dao heart not yet firm, it was better for him to save himself the trouble.

"Daoyou Shen... please help yourself."

Yan Chongzhang looked at the small mountain before him, and as he said these words, his heart felt sour.

"Thank you."

Shen Yi was not polite either. With An Yi watching over things in the Myriad Demon Hall, with her current strength, she could already handle most of the troubles.

He sat cross-legged and immersed his spirit into Mount Nameless.

The next moment, the majestic and beautiful treasure mountain revealed its true form once again. The suffocating pressure that could shatter one's soul now fell upon Shen Yi, but it felt like a warm bath, blending with the Divine Mountain True Intent within him, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

He took steady steps and entered the mountain without haste.

Following the familiar mountain path upward, he passed by the Divine Mountain Monument, and then went beyond the Suppressing Mountain Monument.

Shen Yi was prepared to endure that overwhelming pressure once again, but he was astonished to find that this last stretch of the mountain path was exactly the same as before.

He walked toward the summit, filled with doubt. Was it because it couldn't challenge him anymore, so it didn't bother to test him?

He walked to the cliff's edge, lowering his gaze to look downward. The sheer cliff, like a bottomless abyss, still gave no clues.

Shen Yi pondered for a moment, then looked at the panel.

Remaining Demon Lifespan: 1,920,000 years.

After the demons broke through to the Harmonious Realm, their lifespan increased by nearly half. The average lifespan of the White Jade Capital's demons increased from around 300,000 years to over 500,000 years.

Especially for the newly broken-through deer and bat demons, they were the best contributors to demon lifespan.

With so many demon lifespans at his disposal, Shen Yi was in no rush at all. He simply sat cross-legged at the cliff's edge, taking his time.

Just then, he glanced unintentionally at the sky above, and his entire body stiffened slightly, even his pupils shrinking.

The final hidden treasure of Mount Nameless was not on the mountain.

Within the vast sky, hidden behind thick clouds, there stood a square monument.

As the breeze blew away the clouds, the last two characters on the ancient-looking monument's face were finally revealed.

Blue Sky!

After a long and arduous journey, one finally reached the summit and saw the blue sky.

"Hmm."

Shen Yi slightly moved his arms, but there was still no reaction. Compared to the previous forced insights, he found that this time, he needed to take the initiative.

"No problem, it's good to change things up sometimes."

...

In the Western Hong, at the Moving Mountain Sect, a thin and elderly man paced anxiously by a spring. "It's been ten days! Could something have happened?"

In a world where lifespan and martial arts prowess are intertwined, a tumultuous era of evil and chaos unfolds. Shen Yi, the protagonist, seeks to extend his life by hunting demons and claiming their lifespan, a journey that leads him towards ancient secrets and formidable opponents.

Chapter:

Yan Chongzhang stood silently beside his master, understanding the urgency of the situation. After all, Shen Yi's appearance would determine whether the treasure within Unnamed Mountain was a spiritual technique or the rumored celestial technique.

However, his master's haste seemed excessive.

Yan Chongzhang muttered, "Master, when you scouted the mountain before, even ten days wasn't enough for you to immerse your soul within it."

"How can you compare the two?" The Master of Banshan Sect glared at him, then added, "Let me be blunt. If it is indeed a celestial technique, given your abilities, forget about mastering it. Merely grasping it would be an accomplishment." Yan Chongzhang forced a smile.

The Master of Banshan Sect wanted to argue but ended up sighing. "I'd prefer if it were just a spiritual technique. If we're up against Nanlong Palace, we'll need something more practical."

"You're still concerned about such things at a time like this?" Yan Chongzhang shook his head in dismay. Just as he was about to say more, his master abruptly raised his head, looking outside the sect.

This familiar reaction caused Yan Chongzhang's heart to sink with dread.

As if confirming his suspicions, a uniform, deep voice resounded from outside.

"Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect, Master Zi of the Stuart branch, has arrived. You have thirty breaths to open the formation and greet us!"

As these words echoed within the Banshan Sect, Yan Chongzhang's mouth went dry. Despite his calm demeanor, he cursed inwardly, "Are they toying with us?"

Previously, Pan Boyang had arrived first, followed by Shen Yi.

And now, with Shen Yi's recent arrival, the Dao Huang Sect seemed to have sniffed them out, rushing over without delay.

This gave Yan Chongzhang an eerie feeling of collusion between the two parties.

He hurriedly glanced at his master and, for the first time, saw an expression of such solemnity and wariness. "Do you know this Master Zi?"

The Master of Ban Shan Sect slowly clenched his palms, his breathing becoming rapid. "Zi Junrui, among the sixteen masters of the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect, is inexperienced in years but has reached the pinnacle of the Earth Realm in terms of power. If he continues to excel, he could challenge the top ten."

"The pinnacle of the Earth Realm? A prodigy who has united the four soldiers?"

Yan Chongzhang stood frozen, less shocked by the master's strength and more so by...

"A fully matured genius like him doesn't even rank in the top ten?"

"You know nothing." The Master of Ban Shan Sect glanced at his foolish disciple and said with a hint of jealousy, "When you are qualified to attend the Immortal Banquet, you will understand."

The reason why the North Hong dominated the other three Hongs was attributed to the abundance of heavenly atmosphere and treasures. However, if comparing these factors, East Hong is no less impressive than the north.

The primary factor is that North Hong is the closest to the immortals... Compared to this immortal residence, no matter how abundant the other three Hongs are, they cannot compete with the immortal elixirs that the immortals possess.

Moreover, due to a certain incident, the Hongze Immortal, who usually disregarded worldly affairs, realized that someone in his domain harbored disloyalty. This prompted him to increase the frequency of his banquets.

As the two most powerful forces in North Hong, having significantly contributed to sending the Purple Ling Immortal to heaven, the North Dragon Palace and the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect had enjoyed a comfortable existence for a full 100,000 years.

While the immortals may choose not to interfere in mortal matters, it doesn't mean they want their subordinates making mistakes that would attract the Immortal Court's attention.

Allowing the North Hong family to dominate, intimidating the other three regions, and having these two forces focus on pleasing him—Hongze naturally enjoyed peace and tranquility, at least on the surface. That was enough.

Haven't they seen how the East Dragon Palace was pressured into sending their daughter to West Hong to form a marital alliance? If they didn't feel threatened, they wouldn't have resorted to such drastic measures.

"We're running out of time."

Yan Chongzhang anxiously swallowed and took out a jade slip. "Quick, inform the deputy master. This is a matter of life and death! Everyone else, return to your caves and remain there. Without the master's order, no one is to leave!"

"Hurry!"

In this critical situation, Yan Chongzhang remained dependable.

"A clear conscience needs no false witness. Come with me to greet him, and we'll handle this together."

The Master of Ban Shan Sect composed himself. After all, his sect's disciples hadn't taken any action. As for the one who had, as long as they kept quiet, who would know that he was right at the foot of Unnamed Mountain?

No matter how powerful the Wu Liang Dao Huang Sect was, this was still West Hong, and their intelligence couldn't be that extensive.

After speaking, the master and disciple straightened their clothes and flew out of the sect.

Between the pillars holding up the sky,

A landscape painting, more magnificent than the previous one, almost surrounded the entire Ban Shan Sect. In the golden light, even the palm prints on the giant pillars appeared dim.

Several disciples dressed in luxurious robes stood around, their clothes fluttering like celestial beings, creating a spectacular scene.

"I was unaware that Master Zi was coming, and I failed to greet you from afar. I hope..."

The Master of Ban Shan Sect shed his rough aura and feigned elegance and politeness. Before he could finish, his face twitched, and the smile on his lips vanished.

He lowered his arms and silently gazed at the Dao Huang Palace within the landscape painting.

The coarse cloth on his body fluttered slightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged like coiled dragons.

Zi Junrui sat cross-legged, casually stretching his legs. Beside him, an old man with white hair crawled on all fours.

Zi Junrui grabbed the old man's hair and forcibly lifted his head, revealing a bloody and bruised face.

"Come, Elder Yang, greet your master."

Zi Junrui smiled and looked down at the two, observing their figures.

He was like a king, looking down upon his subjects.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end