Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Yun Jinyue hesitated for a moment, then bowed to Chen Yuan: "May I ask, senior, is Senior Cangsong still on Beiming Island?"

"Our cultivation levels are low. If we can be protected by Senior Cangsong, it should not be difficult for us to evade the pursuit of the demon race."

“Since you are an ascended cultivator, Senior Cangsong must have also ascended from the lower realm. If you can join the Miaohe Sect, my father will gladly accept you.”

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "After you mentioned this matter earlier, I have been considering it."

"However, this journey is fraught with danger. Whether I can enter the spirit world is uncertain, and I may not be able to see your father. Please send someone to rescue me."

Whether Fellow Daoist Cangsong is willing to take care of you remains to be seen until I ask him.

"However, he probably wouldn't refuse if there were a way to escape the Demon Burning Realm."

Zhang Yanwei and Yun Jinyue both showed joy on their faces. With the protection of a Nascent Soul cultivator, their chances of survival would definitely increase significantly.

Zhang Yanwei clasped his hands and bowed: "Master, could you please bring Fellow Daoist Liu, Fellow Daoist Huan, and the others back to the Spirit Realm?"

Chen Yuan looked at Yun Jinyue: "Young friend, do you know how to travel between the Spirit Realm and the Demon Burning Realm? Could you bring dozens of people with you?"

Yun Jinyue hesitated for a moment, then shook her head slightly: "Although I am quite favored by my father, my cultivation level is too low, and I am unaware of many sect secrets."

"I only heard my father mention it by chance, that the sect had sent shadow spy cultivators to the Burning Demon Realm, but I know nothing else."

Chen Yuan frowned, pondered for a moment, and shook his head slightly: "Traveling between the two realms must not be easy, otherwise the major sects of the Spirit Realm would not have only sent Nascent Soul cultivators to the Demon Burning Realm."

"I also want to bring them back to the Spirit Realm, but it is too difficult. It would be better to leave them in the Burning Demon Realm and hide them. They may have a chance to return to the Spirit Realm in the future."

"If we give hope and then take it away, it will cause trouble, and even you will not be able to escape."

Zhang Yanwei's face darkened: "It was disciple's greed."

Chen Yuan sighed inwardly. Zhang Yanwei not only looked exactly like Zhang Wushan, but also had a similar temperament. He was upright and kind, and had the demeanor of a Confucian or Taoist cultivator.

He gave a few more instructions, told the two to leave, and then got up and walked out of the cave, arriving at the secluded valley where the Taoist Cangsong lived.

The Taoist Cangsong was in seclusion in his cave, cultivating in seclusion. He personally went out to welcome Chen Yuan into his residence.

The two took their seats as host and guest, and Daoist Cangsong served them spiritual tea. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he asked, "May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Chen here today?"

Chen Yuan put down his teacup, pondered for a moment, and then slowly recounted the matter of the spatial secret realm.

The smile on Cangsong Daoist's face slowly faded: "So, in three years, you will be entering that spatial secret realm, and your identity as a human cultivator will be exposed?"

Chen Yuan said, "I don't know what's going on in that secret space either, but I'll definitely be fighting other demon generals on this trip. I probably won't be able to keep it a secret any longer, and the Northern Underworld Cave will also be affected."

The Taoist Cangsong frowned, stroked his beard, and sighed, "The path to immortality is indeed fraught with peril."

"I have cultivated diligently in the human realm for nearly a thousand years before finally becoming a deity. I was once full of pride and joy, but I am still trapped in a cage, never seeing the light of day."

"Afterwards, he finally broke free from the barriers, but fell into Qin Wuyai's scheme, annihilated the eight royal families, and finally ascended to heaven."

"Qin Wuyai has suffered another death calamity and is still unable to enter the Spirit Realm. He can only hide invisibly, living in fear."

"I finally heard news of you, fellow Daoist, and found a peaceful place to cultivate. But after only a few decades, I'll have to continue hiding and wandering everywhere..."

Chen Yuan said, "I had no choice. The Thunder Mountain Demon King specifically asked me to enter that secret space, so I had to agree."

“Otherwise, we would have no choice but to abandon the Northern Underworld Cave, incurring the wrath of the Thunder Mountain Demon King, which would implicate you, fellow Daoist.” “However, fellow Daoist, there’s no need to worry. I’m merely going ahead. If I successfully enter the Spirit Realm, I also have ways to lend you a hand…”

He recounted in detail how Yun Jinyue had asked him to seek help from her father.

Daoist Cangsong's face lit up with joy: "Is that so? I have been thinking about this day and night, and I am eager to enter the Spirit Realm."

"Protecting two juniors is just a small favor, what's so difficult about it?"

"Fellow Daoist, just hand over Junior Nephew Zhang and Young Friend Yun to me. As long as I live, I will protect them."

Chen Yuan said, "In that case, I will trouble you, fellow Daoist. I will do my best to help you when I go."

"But young friend Yun only knows that the Miaohe Sect sent shadow spy cultivators to the Burning Demon Realm, but he doesn't know which continent they are on, let alone which race they are secretly dealing with."

"Moreover, traveling between the two realms is by no means easy. Even if Yun Xubai really sends someone to rescue us, we don't know how long it will take. I hope you will wait patiently."

Daoist Cangsong stroked his beard and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, do not worry. I have wasted hundreds of years in the human realm and then spent several decades in the Demon Burning Realm. Having experienced many twists and turns, what harm is there in waiting another hundred years?"

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "I admire your unwavering resolve, fellow Daoist."

"However, there is one last thorny issue in this matter, which is putting Mr. Chen in a very difficult position."

Daoist Cangsong asked with some doubt, "Please speak, fellow Daoist."

Chen Yuan stared at the Cangsong Daoist and slowly said, "As you know, my cultivation method is extremely special and can refine the blood of true spirits."

"I will not hide it from you, fellow Daoist. This technique is very likely to have been passed down from the Immortal Realm. It is extremely profound and even Mahayana cultivators would be envious of it."

“In this Demon Burning Realm, you and I are both human cultivators. If we are discovered by the demon race, we will die instantly. Therefore, we can cooperate sincerely.”

"But once we return to the Spirit Realm, there will be no more life-or-death danger. If you, fellow Daoist, report this matter to a powerful cultivator and exchange it for a treasure as a reward, I, Chen, will be guilty of possessing such a treasure. What should I do then?"

The Taoist Cangsong's expression froze, his smile vanished, and he fell silent.

A hush fell over the stone hall. Chen Yuan quietly looked at the Taoist Cangsong, whose face was very ugly and whose expression was constantly changing.

After a long silence, he spoke with difficulty: "Fellow Daoist, do you perhaps wish to kill me to silence me?"

Chen Yuan said calmly, "If I wanted to kill someone to silence them, why would I waste my breath talking to you, fellow Daoist?"

Daoist Cangsong was stunned. Chen Yuan said, "Back then, several fellow Daoists bestowed spiritual herbs and pills upon me, collected the essence of the five elements, and spared no effort to deplete the foundation of our sect to help me reach the Nascent Soul stage. I have always kept this in mind."

"Although you fellow Daoists were also doing this for your own cultivation, and I helped you successfully escape the human realm, it was truly a case of mutual benefit, but there is still some affection between us."

"In the past, we had some disagreements, but they were just verbal disputes and nothing serious."

"Now that Fellow Daoist Ren is dead in the Myriad Demon Continent, Fellow Daoist Qin is most likely dead, and Fellow Daoist Lu is nowhere to be found; his fate is probably grim."

"There are only two Nascent Soul cultivators left in the human realm, and we can be considered sworn brothers. I, Chen, am unwilling to kill them again."

The Taoist Cangsong became even more puzzled: "What exactly do you mean, fellow Daoist? Please enlighten me."

Chen Yuan said, "Although I am unwilling to kill to silence witnesses, I am also unwilling for the secrets of my cultivation technique to be revealed by you, fellow Daoist, and for us to be hunted down by powerful cultivators in the Spirit Realm."

"The best way to achieve both depends on whether you can convince me that you won't publicize this matter. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to be ruthless." (End of Chapter)