I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 822 Sword Pointing at the Abyss of Demons
The appearance of the Demon King of No Return made Gu Yuanqing somewhat wary.

"Be more careful. Xuan You and the Seven Emotions Demon Lord suffered a great loss at my hands last time, so they may not let it go easily," Gu Yuanqing said.

"Don't worry, although with my strength I am far from being a match for a Heavenly Demon at the Void Immortal level, I still have a way to protect myself for a short time." Li Miaoxuan's lips curled slightly as she gently shook the silver bracelet on her wrist.

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "That's good. The Demon Lord's strength is extraordinary, almost at the peak of the Void Immortal level. He has even studied various Great Daos, and his methods are mysterious and difficult to guard against."

After about an incense stick's time, the two landed on the mountain peak where Gu Yuanqing had met with Ling Yi.

Looking into the distance, at Wangxiang Pass, the flames of war seem to have only recently been extinguished.

On the city wall, the soldiers could not hide their exhaustion, and many of them had wounds on their bodies.

Each of the array's key points is actually a weak point in the grand array. Compared to other places, these locations offer them less assistance, making it easier for the Heavenly Demons to launch a surprise attack.

Under normal circumstances, these demons might not be willing to charge under the threat of the Pure Yang Demon-Repelling Holy Light, but if a great demon gives the order, these ordinary demons have no choice but to obey.

Even with a magic array, it's difficult to provide complete protection. Ordinary demons can only arouse the cultivator's Dao heart, but demons at the Void Heaven level have almost all absorbed demonic energy and impurities to form demonic bodies, and their attack methods also include physical aspects.

Just like the two bone demons that Gu Yuanqing once killed, they almost abandoned most of the original methods of the Heavenly Demons and instead put all their power into their demonic bodies. Their bodies were sturdy and difficult to damage with ordinary magic weapons, and they were also incredibly strong.

“Let’s wait here. If Ling Yi of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect senses my presence and has the time, he will surely come,” Gu Yuanqing said.

Li Miaoxuan looked at the courtyard that was gradually solidifying from nothingness, then looked around and said, "You left a base here?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "The transaction with the Nine Domains Divine Continent takes place here, so we also set up some magic arrays here. The spiritual energy in the Demon Land is mixed with demonic energy, and it doesn't feel comfortable to breathe. This can be considered a place to stay."

Looking at the scenery in the courtyard, Li Miaoxuan praised, "It's quite nice, with a touch of elegance and uniqueness."

Gu Yuanqing laughed loudly: "Of course!"

The two had been slaying demons the whole way, and were getting a little tired of it, so they brewed a pot of spiritual tea in the courtyard and chatted casually for a while.

When talking about the culture and customs of the Nine Realms Divine Continent, and the differences between it and the Spirit Realm.

Li Miaoxuan said, "If there's a chance, I might take a look."

Gu Yuanqing chuckled: "If you really want to, you can do it this time. Experiencing the civilizations of these different worlds will also benefit your cultivation."

Li Miaoxuan said, "Let's leave it at that this time and focus on cultivation. Besides, you mentioned last time that the Nine Realms Divine Continent seems to harbor designs on the Spirit Realm?"

Gu Yuanqing said, "Perhaps, but that's just my guess. With the demons rampant in this world and humans reduced to food supplies, they naturally want to find a way out. However, even if they do have a plan, we have nothing to fear."

As the two were talking, they suddenly turned their heads to look into the distance.

Li Miaoxuan asked, "Should I avoid this place for a while?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled calmly and said, "No need. They should have already guessed something from the rare and precious materials I gave them last time."

"As long as I don't cause you any trouble." Seeing Gu Yuanqing's composure, Li Miaoxuan didn't say anything more.

Gu Yuanqing got up and went to the courtyard to greet him, with Li Miaoxuan standing behind him.

The sword light in the distance faded, and Ling Yi landed, cupping his fists and laughing loudly, "Fellow Daoist Gu, it's been a long time! You're even more impressive than before, and it seems your cultivation has improved again!" A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Reaching the level of Undying Chaos, every step forward is extremely difficult, and each time I meet this Fellow Daoist Gu, it is different.

Although Gu Yuanqing's aura was contained, he was a Void Immortal and could faintly sense his essence, energy, and spirit. He felt that his spirit and will seemed to be much stronger than before. Although it was grand and profound before, it was still somewhat loose, which was quite different from now.

Gu Yuanqing cupped his hands and smiled, "I have to thank you, fellow Daoist. If it weren't for the Zhenyu Sect's inheritance that I obtained from you, I wouldn't have been able to progress so quickly."

"Not at all, it's just a mutually beneficial arrangement. I, Ling, am merely the matchmaker. Your rare and precious materials have solved our urgent problem. Otherwise, the losses suffered by the Nine Domains Divine Continent during this demonic calamity would likely have been much greater. As for the inheritance of the Prison Suppression Sect, as long as it is of some help to you, I am at ease." Ling Yi spoke with a smile, his gaze involuntarily glancing at Li Miaoxuan behind Gu Yuanqing. He was slightly startled, but his face showed only surprise as he asked, "Fellow Daoist Gu, may I ask who this fairy is?"

Gu Yuanqing turned slightly to the side: "My Daoist partner is Li Miaoxuan."

Li Miaoxuan's expression changed slightly. Apart from her own people in Beiquan Mountain, there were also many people in Lingxu Sect who knew that she and Gu Yuanqing were Daoist partners, but this was the first time she had been introduced to outsiders in this way.

"So it's Fairy Li. I was disrespectful. Fairy Li has a natural grace and you and Fellow Daoist Gu are truly a perfect match, which is enviable!" Ling Yi cupped his hands again and bowed politely.

"Sect Leader Ling, you flatter me. I've heard Yuan Qing mention your charisma before, and seeing you today, I know it's no exaggeration," Li Miaoxuan said, clasping her hands in greeting.

A few pleasantries.

Gu Yuanqing stepped aside and invited him into the courtyard, where they each took a seat.

Li Miaoxuan poured tea for the two of them, and Ling Yi half-stood up to thank her.

Li Miaoxuan then sat down next to Gu Yuanqing.

We chatted for a few more minutes.

Gu Yuanqing asked, "I see demons gathering in front of the human defense line. Could it be that the demonic calamity has already begun?"

Ling Yi's expression was slightly heavy as he said, "Eleven years ago, the Demon Lord of Ten Thousand Evils seemed to have also awakened from his slumber, and the demonic calamity suddenly broke out. In recent years, even with the great formation as a guarantee, none of the three Demon Lords have personally taken action, yet countless people have already died or been injured. I had only seen scenes of demonic calamities in ancient books before, but in actual combat, I realized that it was a completely different matter from ordinary times."

Gu Yuanqing asked directly, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Ling Yi was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Fellow Daoist's intentions are appreciated, but there's very little we can do right now. The Demon Lord dwells deep within the Demon Land, only sending his subordinates to attack. Few Great Demons above the Chaos Realm level truly confront our human race head-on; they merely harass us with their demonic thoughts from outside the defensive lines. I've made several attempts, but I've only managed to kill a few clones of the Chaos Undying Demon King; his true form never shows itself. Countless demons have been born in this Demon Land, almost endless. The current situation, seemingly a drain on our strength, is actually a constant provocation, accumulating our human race's fear, despair, anger, and resentment. They use this to corrode our Dao hearts, ultimately turning them into resources for their cultivation. Only when our experts' minds waver, their Dao hearts develop flaws, or their emotions reach their peak, will they truly appear to reap the rewards."

Ling Yi sighed and said, "To be honest, the number of those who have died from the backlash of their inner demons or fallen into the demonic path within the defensive line now far exceeds the number of cultivators who have died in the frontal battles. The Eclipse Moon Sect has been fueling this, spreading panic, and in just over ten years... alas!"

Gu Yuanqing was also taken aback. He had never expected that in just over ten years, the human realm would have fallen to such a state, causing Ling Yi, a sword immortal at the Void Immortal level, to have such thoughts, completely unlike his previous sharp and imposing demeanor.

Ling Yi seemed to realize his emotions were off, and suddenly laughed loudly again: "Fellow Daoist, please forgive my rudeness. It's not that I've lost hope in the human race, but rather that I've witnessed too much death and injury, and it has moved me deeply. As far as the Nine Domains Divine Continent is concerned, these Heavenly Demons who are currently making their move are merely pawns, not worth worrying about. In fact, killing more of them wouldn't be of much use. Only by killing the Demon Lord can the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or structure) of this world be changed."

These demon lords want to use our human race as resources, intending to use their demonic subordinates to incite and provoke the emotions of our human cultivators, and then reap the rewards. But for us, they are also whetstones; it's just a matter of which knife is sharper in the end!
"Of course, if you wish to help, I, Ling, would be more than happy to oblige, and the human race of the Nine Domains Divine Continent would be eternally grateful."

Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan exchanged a glance, then suddenly asked, "Has the Nine Domains Divine Continent discovered the location of the Xuan You Demon Lord's lair deep within the Demon Land?"

Ling Yi was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "Deep within the Demonic Land, demonic energy surges to an overwhelming degree, even distorting the laws of heaven and earth. Our divine senses cannot reach far enough, and our eye techniques are also unable to penetrate it. Sages of past generations have organized several in-depth explorations, but most of them suffered heavy losses, and the information obtained was incomplete. We only know its general location, its specific lair, and the true nature of the Demonic Land's core... To be honest, we know very little."

Many years ago, one of my Nine Heavens Sword Sect's founders, nearing the end of his lifespan, ventured alone into the depths of the Demon Realm, hoping to ascertain the true strength of humanity before his death, and also intending to take several Demon Kings down with him. At that time, I was still in the Undying Realm of Chaos, and I entrusted a wisp of my divine will to my founder to bring back this information, but ultimately I never even reached the Demon Abyss. Those who fought my founder back then were Wujian and Shiyue.

Gu Yuanqing frowned slightly and said, "A general direction is fine, as long as we don't go astray."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yi sat up straight and stared at Gu Yuanqing: "Fellow Daoist Gu, do you perhaps intend to go to the depths of the Demon Realm?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled calmly: "I do have this idea. As you know, I need some of the original demonic thoughts of the Heavenly Demons to use in my pills. In the past, it was easy to find them, as these Heavenly Demons were all around their respective lairs. But now it seems that they are a bit difficult to find."

"In the original transaction, I, Gu, benefited somewhat. Killing a few more great demons might have alleviated some of the pressure on the Nine Domains Divine Continent. However, I'm worried that my actions might affect the Nine Domains Divine Continent's plans and cause unforeseen circumstances. That's why I've come to communicate with you beforehand."

Ling Yi said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, this is far too dangerous! Deep within the Demonic Land, spiritual energy has been transformed into demonic energy. Xuan You is at the peak of the Void Immortal level. Once discovered and surrounded, and given the favorable timing and location, even a Void Immortal might be in danger of perishing! I know you are exceptionally strong, but it would be best to think twice before acting!"

Gu Yuanqing laughed loudly: "Brother Ling, do you think I'm someone who's tired of living and is looking for death?"

“Of course not,” Ling Yi said.

Gu Yuanqing picked up the teapot, poured tea for Ling Yi, and smiled, "That's it. Even if I didn't want to live, I wouldn't take my Daoist partner with me. So, Brother Ling, you don't need to worry. If possible, I would like to find a map of the depths of the Demon Land. Even if it's not detailed enough, as long as the directions are correct, it will be fine."

This was also Gu Yuanqing's main purpose for this trip. This world was also a vast world, with almost no boundaries.

Although Gu Yuanqing could once sense the approximate location of the Xuan You Demon Lord from a great distance, this ability to sense it would become much less clear once he ventured deeper into the Demon Realm. Moreover, after entering this world this time, he discovered that the location he could vaguely sense before seemed to have disappeared, as if the Demon Lord had completely concealed its aura.

If you take a slightly wrong turn, you might end up somewhere completely off course.

Ling Yi stared at Gu Yuanqing, then glanced at Li Miaoxuan. He saw that both of them were calm and composed, as if entering the depths of the Demon Land was just an ordinary matter.

He certainly didn't think the two people in front of him were being foolish; there must be something behind it that he didn't know.

Ling Yi remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Since you say so, I will not try to persuade you any further. Now that the demonic calamity has begun, there is no need for any more scruples. Please do as you please. What you want will be delivered by me personally in three days at most."

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Thank you very much, fellow Daoist. I will wait for you here."

Ling Yi said, "Actually, the two of you can go into the Nine Domains Divine Continent to rest for a while."

Gu Yuanqing glanced at Li Miaoxuan, then said, "There's no need for that for now. We'll explore the Nine Realms Divine Continent properly once we return from the Demon Land."

After exchanging a few more words, Ling Yi got up to take his leave.

Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan both stood up to see them off.

After Ling Yi left, Gu Yuanqing asked, "What do you think of this person?"

Li Miaoxuan said, "It's acceptable!"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "That's what I think too. I've seen his sword, and it's just like the man. He's worth befriending. That's why all my transactions with the Nine Domains Divine Continent have been through him. At least I haven't suffered any losses."

Li Miaoxuan nodded slightly: "It seems we'll have to wait about three days."

Gu Yuanqing asked, "Should we go back to Beiquan Mountain?"

Li Miaoxuan shook her head and said, "No, it's been many years since I've been to this world. I'll take advantage of these three days to familiarize myself with the great principles of this world, which will also serve as preparation for going deeper into the Demon Land."

……

Ling Yi went straight back to Wangxiang Pass. Even he, after leaving the human realm, had to go through the city gate for inspection before returning.

The methods of the Heavenly Demon are ever-changing and can be incredibly captivating. One might leave as a human and return as a demon, sometimes without even realizing it.

Ling Yi returned directly to the Nine Heavens Sword Sect, summoned his disciples, and asked them to organize information about the depths of the Demon Land and the Demon Abyss.

The Yin-Yang Realm cultivator said, "Master, could it be that the imperial court is making some big move?" But as soon as he said it, he realized something was wrong. The Great Hao Dynasty should have more complete information than the Nine Heavens Sword Sect.

Ling Yi said, "It's not the imperial court that wants it, but that Fellow Daoist Gu."

"He's appeared again?" the monk exclaimed in surprise.

Ling Yi nodded slightly: "Don't ask any more questions. Just go and make the preparations. I'm going to use the Heart Seal Technique to go to Jade Capital."

"As ordered!"

(End of this chapter)