Chapter 577: Returning to the Treasure Flower Sect

Chapter 577: Returning to the Treasure Flower Sect

"Demons! So many demons!"

The Treasure Flower Sect, serving as the "vanguard" of the Southern Seven Sons, had weathered countless storms over the years.

But at this moment, facing the inquiries of their Sect Leader and three other Dao Fusion Realm elders, the Great Elder of the Treasure Flower Sect was still trembling, his eyes unfocused, looking somewhat frightened.

It was important to note that the Treasure Flower Sect was currently intact, with its array unharmed, meaning they had not directly confronted the group of demons.

They had merely been bystanders, hiding in the treasure land and spying from afar, witnessing a terrifying scene. How could a White Jade Capital cultivator have ended up in such a sorry state?

The several Sect Leaders exchanged glances, their faces growing grim as they realized the situation was even worse than they had imagined.

"Please forgive me, elders, but I truly cannot discern the exact number... The demon clouds blocking out the sky and sun, the mere passing of which caused our grand array to shake violently. This is definitely not a force that any single power could mobilize, not even the Western Dragon Palace!"

The Treasure Flower Sect elder managed to calm himself with difficulty, his face filled with horror, "So many demons have emerged from their lairs, the Southern Flood is about to descend into chaos."

In his entire life, he had never seen so many demons with such terrifying strength.

Moreover, these demons had mysteriously gathered together.

"..."

Deng Xiangjun withdrew her gaze, remaining silent, but her eyes revealed a complex expression.

When they escorted the Treasure Flower Sect Leader back, their journey had been calm, and they hadn't seen the demons the Treasure Flower Sect elder spoke of.

Of course, she wasn't questioning the elder's honesty.

Deng Xiangjun was simply thinking more deeply.

The sudden southward migration of the Western Flood demons was undoubtedly the doing of the Western Dragon Palace, but she didn't believe these carefree demons would willingly follow the Dragon Palace's orders, sacrificing themselves as the vanguard in the campaign against the Southern Seven Sons.

It was most likely forced.

However, at this moment, someone was clearly passing information to the demons, or else the Southern Flood would have already descended into chaos, unlike the peaceful scene they had witnessed during their journey.

None of the Sect Leaders were fools.

In an instant, they arrived at a terrifying conclusion.

That damned Southern Dragon Palace had turned the Southern Flood into a rare delicacy, a fat piece of meat on a platter, offering it to the migrating demons. Only then might they temporarily restrain themselves.

If these powerful demons truly went on a killing spree, they wouldn't just slaughter cultivators; the aquatic races would suffer as well.

"That old lunatic is going to risk our lives!"

Deng Xiangjun sighed deeply, almost able to imagine that even after the Southern Seven Sons and the Southern Dragon Palace settled their dispute, this vast land and water would remain restless for a long time, with cries of misery echoing throughout.

As for how to respond...

They didn't even know the number of demons, let alone have a countermeasure. This was not a disaster that any single power could solve alone.

Under normal circumstances, if the Western Flood demons invaded the Southern Flood, it would likely require the combined efforts of the Seven Sons and the Dragon Palace to hold them back.

Moreover, the Southern Dragon Palace had sold out the Southern Flood, and they were sitting right across from them.

In other words, the Southern Seven Sons had to resist the combined forces of the Southern Dragon Palace and the entire Western Flood's demon races, while also guarding against sneak attacks from the Western Dragon Palace.

Forget about the Seven Sons; even with Elder Brother Qin, it might not have been possible!

Protecting the vassal forces and allied sects? If these demons truly followed the Dragon Palace's orders, the Seven Sons should worry about themselves first.

"It seems... we have to bring up Xuan Qing again and ask for the Eastern Dragon Palace's opinion." The Unmatched Sect Leader sighed bitterly, knowing that in such a major crisis, the most useful person was still the former Nanyang Sect Leader's direct disciple, the half-son-in-law of the Eastern Dragon Palace.

"Elders."

Hearing Xuan Qing's name, the Treasure Flower Sect Leader took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness on her lips, "Please return quickly."

Aside from their own sect, there were over a thousand vassals and millions of cultivators under the Southern Seven Sons, completely lacking the protection of the treasure land. Among these millions of cultivators, the number of ordinary people relying on them for survival was countless.

"From today onwards, the Treasure Flower Sect's grand array will be temporarily closed. Please take care of the surrounding creatures and bring them into the treasure land." Deng Xiangjun lightly nodded.

"I understand, please rest assured, elders."

The Treasure Flower Sect Leader didn't say more, personally seeing the three elders off and watching them leave.

"Master..." Treasure Flower Fairy Zhilan supported the elderly woman, striving to maintain her composure, but her delicate fingers couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"Go and make the arrangements."

The Treasure Flower Sect Leader looked at her disciple with compassion. Although she was the heir to the treasure land, compared to the other disciples, she was still as young as an infant in terms of experience and cultivation. She hadn't had enough time to mature, and now she faced a crisis that even she found heart-pounding.

"Disciple understands."

Zhilan nodded seriously, then took out her Dao token and maintained a calm voice, efficiently and orderly beginning to mobilize the sect's elders and various officials to accept the innocent creatures around them in the most efficient way possible.

No matter the method of acceptance or the arrangements after entering the Treasure Land, the Treasure Flower Sect Master couldn't find any fault.

It was indeed laughable.

Initially, she was only searching for someone, and in the process, she attempted to take over the Treasure Flower Sect's affairs. As a result, that person hasn't spoken a word to her since, yet she was gradually becoming more and more like a qualified Daoist priest.

As time passed, the sun and moon revolved.

Led by numerous Treasure Flower Sect cultivators, batches of vassal forces began to pour into the Treasure Land.

The elderly woman held a walking stick, quietly observing from above.

Suddenly, her face slightly tightened, and she forcefully threw the walking stick towards the sky.

The originally plain and simple walking stick, after being released, grew in the storm, quickly transforming into a thousand-foot-tall towering tree. The tree was full of vitality, with hundreds of flowers blooming, carrying a vast momentum that stirred up the sea of clouds. It ruthlessly smashed towards a certain location!

At the same time, a huge, unmatched furry forearm suddenly stretched out from the sea of clouds, reaching towards the numerous cultivators below.

Its five fingers opened, forming a heavenly net that trapped the creatures below, leaving them with no escape.

Fortunately, the hundred-flower giant tree slammed into that arm, causing its skin to tear and flesh to burst. A fierce howl echoed through the sea of clouds!

"Ow—"

When the hideous ape face appeared in the sky, the cultivators below all held their breath, as if struck by lightning!

"Go in! Close the formation!"

Zhilan swiftly passed through the crowd, shouting a reminder.

The moment her voice sounded, the sea of clouds stirred again, and a robust white-winged arm forcefully struck the giant tree. A violent storm of energy swept towards the cultivators below. Even the aftermath was enough to leave the cultivators with nothing but bone fragments.

The hundred-flower giant tree flew back, petals scattering, and it transformed back into a walking stick, forcefully returning to the old woman's palm, causing her to stagger back several steps.

The Treasure Flower Sect Master forcefully stabilized her body, quickly glancing downwards, trying to stop the raging wind formed by the gathering of heavenly energy, but it was already a bit too late.

At this moment, it was as if a mountain had fallen, forming an unbreakable barrier, firmly blocking the way ahead.

The clear wind brushed the mountain ridge, but it remained unmoved.

When the energy returned to calm, the anxious crowd looked closely and saw that there was no mountain ridge, only an old man in plain robes standing there.

The old man's face was expressionless as he stared upwards: "You two rivals, you actually managed to get together? Old Ape, have you forgotten that it once crushed your mother's head?"

Before he finished speaking, another robust old man appeared beside him. They stood one in front of the other, and their auras transformed the mountain ridge into a continuous mountain range, becoming even more stable and unshakeable.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your assistance."

The Treasure Flower Sect Master heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that her disciple had also been in that crowd earlier.

"You're welcome."

The old man slightly cupped his hands and said casually: "The Mountain Movers Sect follows the orders of the Nanyang Sect Master, coming to aid the Southern Flood."

Hearing the name of the Nanyang Sect Master, the Treasure Flower Sect Master was slightly startled, and Zhilan in the crowd also subconsciously looked towards the old man in front.

That young Sect Master still had her Treasure Flower Sect in mind.

Moreover, even such a powerful cultivator now had to follow the other's commands... The Nanyang Sect Master was becoming more and more like the Nanyang Sect Master from ten million years ago.

"Hmph."

The Mountain Movers Sect Master retracted his palm, his face becoming expressionless again, and he looked towards the sky: "What are you hiding over there for? Don't you think I'm unaware of your abilities? Hurry up and scram!"

Compared to fighting with these two demon monsters, it was more important to first help the cultivators of this sect retreat to the Treasure Land.

"This is truly a joke. The cultivators of Western Flood coming to aid these Southern barbarians in guarding the Treasure Land, Yellow Old Man, you must be full and idle."

The Old Ape slowly retracted his arm, mocking: "And you follow the orders of the Nanyang Sect Master, haven't you been cooped up for these ten million years? You're really out of touch."

Is the Southern Flood Seven Sons still the same as they were before? Are they the Mountain Movers Sect's reliable support?

"It doesn't matter. Southern barbarians are everywhere, and although this one is a bit more delicious, it will be the same next time we come to eat. It's best if you can always stay here and guard, adding two more dishes to our table."

The Old Ape smiled sinisterly, knowing that there was nothing more to be done, and he no longer lingered and slowly disappeared into the sea of clouds.

"..."

The Mountain Movers Sect Master stood silently in his original spot, wanting to refute, but as a member of the Western Flood forces, he had witnessed the events that occurred during this period, and he knew in his heart that the Old Ape was telling the truth.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed over from the Western Flood with the Deputy Sect Master.

With the full expulsion of the Dragon Palace, the Western Flood rarely became a peaceful scene without greater demons, which was good news for them, but for the Southern Flood... It was simply chilling to think about.

Under this trend, whether the Mountain Movers Sect came over or not had no impact on the situation.

They could only do what they were capable of.

"Fellow Daoist, after accepting this batch of people, close the sect for now, and we'll see how the situation develops."

The Mountain Movers Sect Master only needed to glance at the situation before him to know that the Treasure Flower Sect Master was kindhearted, but time was indeed running out.

"I understand."

The elderly woman sighed and turned her gaze towards her disciple.

Zhilan pursed her lips and scanned the group of fellow cultivators before her, their faces filled with sorrow. She closed her eyes and took out a jade slip, "Once they enter the sect, prepare to close the array."

They had the heart to save the dying and heal the wounded, but lacked the strength to do so.

The Treasure Flower Sect was now struggling to protect itself.

The crowd began to surge again, but unlike the previous orderly formation, the numerous cultivators were now pushing and shoving, rushing towards the front, afraid of falling behind and missing out on the treasure land before them.

Many more vassal force cultivators were still scattered across various locations, eagerly awaiting the Treasure Flower Sect's invitation.

Just then, the surging crowd suddenly came to a halt.

A piercing ape's screech echoed in the air, like a thunderclap in a clear sky, plunging the surroundings into dead silence.

In an instant, the entire blue sky twisted, the sun and moon dimmed, and the sea of clouds churned.

In the sky, it seemed as if an additional palm-sized shadow appeared, indifferently grasping the old ape's neck, bringing back the demon that had already left and imprisoning it beneath this blue sky.

Then, the figure hidden within was forcibly pulled out, and amidst its frantic struggles, it was slammed down!

Boom!

The thickly furred, robust giant ape, capable of leaping over rivers in a single bound, now fell like a mountain, smashing harshly onto the ground! Countless cultivators, whether riding on their treasures or standing on the ground, were all tossed about chaotically by the turbulent energy.

They stared in shock towards that direction.

The mountain-like massive figure twitched slightly, its entire spine mercilessly broken, and its hideous head hung limply on its back. Beneath its intact fur, flesh and blood had been crushed into pulp by immense force, clearly lifeless.

Yet, the blue sky continued to transform.

Another equally massive figure burst out from the sea of clouds, frantically attempting to escape this prison.

No matter how fast it tried to flee, the sky extended just as wide.

The next moment, the entire sky seemed to sink towards the ground right before everyone's horrified gaze!

The sky was collapsing! The crane demon, with its feathers as white as jade, was suppressed by the overwhelming force, its liver and gallbladder bursting as it watched the endless sky press down upon it, unable to struggle.

Boom! The sea of clouds heavily dispersed onto the ground, transforming the area around the Treasure Flower Sect into a fairyland.

Within the thick clouds, a strong smell of blood permeated, but as the white mist dissipated, the crane demon lay beside the old ape, its entire body deflated, reduced to a broken skin bag filled with flesh.

Not only ordinary cultivators, but even the three great Dao Fusion Realm masters were now looking on with shock, staring up in disbelief.

The blue sky remained clear and serene, as if the previous changes were merely an illusion.

If one had to point out a difference, it was that within the clear sky, a figure in an ink robe stood with hands hanging by its side, its sleeves fluttering as if the entire world responded in harmony.

The young man's fair face and clear eyes calmly scanned the surroundings, as if inspecting his own territory.

He seemed to be suspended in the true blue sky, yet gave off the illusion of standing within the Dao Union Holy Land.

"..."

Zhilan swallowed, staring at that familiar face, unable to reconcile it with her memory of the impatient yet inexplicably reassuring Return to Void Realm cultivator.

But that sense of reassurance was as it had always been.

It was as if as long as he stood before her, there was nothing in the world worth worrying about.

"Shen Zongzhu?"

The Treasure Flower Sect Master hesitated for a long time before calling out this title uncertainly.

She remembered the last time she saw Shen Zongzhu in the Nanyang Holy Land, he didn't seem like this...

After confirming there were no other demons, Shen Yi finally retracted his gaze and looked at the Treasure Flower Sect Master, "Are you alright?"

"..."

The Treasure Flower Sect Master shook her head without hesitation.

Whether there was a problem or not, it depended on the comparison.

Compared to the two Dao Fusion Realm demons that had already died, the fright these cultivators experienced was insignificant.

"Divine Mountain Technique! It's definitely the Divine Mountain Technique!"

The Mountain Movers Sect Master smacked his lips, glancing at the Branch Sect Master beside him, his face filled with excitement.

He was also well-versed in the Divine Mountain, Mountain Stabilization, and Blue Sky Techniques.

The commotion caused by Shen Zongzhu's move just now was exactly how he imagined the combined display of these three techniques would look. This peerless genius had truly merged these three techniques to such a harmonious level.

Although there were no immortal techniques in the Nameless Mountain, he had forcefully elevated this technique to a terrifying level that rivaled immortal techniques, relying solely on his own strength!

"Hmm."

The Branch Sect Master exhaled lightly, finally understanding why the Sect Master had insisted on bringing him here.

The Southern Seven Sons might not be the most powerful, but the youth before them would undoubtedly be the thickest tree in all of Hongze, second only to the immortals.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end