If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1379 Xiang Yu Saves the Beauty
Su Daxian has indeed fallen victim to this.

The first person to realize something was wrong and to wake up Su Daxian was actually Dong Ye.

Dong Ye had severed his three corpses, making his cultivation level too high; the Dream-Eroding Demon Ancestor hadn't provoked him. However, his disciples were falling victim to his attacks one after another, their minds and magical power being constantly eroded. Dong Ye's sense of crisis couldn't possibly have been completely oblivious.

His reaction was direct: "Fuqiu Zi, things have changed, come quickly to my aid!"

Uh, his reaction was to immediately call for backup!
The fourteenth day of the first lunar month isn't over yet; it's still afternoon.

The Dan Tribulation will not officially begin until noon tomorrow, and Fuqiu Zi is not currently at Mount Kuaiji.

However, he was also prepared to help at any time, and upon hearing his old friend's call, he immediately flew towards Zhongyuan Immortal Mansion.

After calling upon his old friend, Dong Ye immediately began to help his disciples who were trapped in demonic possession.

After Fuqiu Gong descended upon Zhongyuan Immortal Abode, he immediately stood guard beside Dong Ye without saying a word, protecting him from external enemies as he exerted all his strength.

After a brief period of busy work, Dong Ye rescued several celestial and golden immortal disciples and also summarized the characteristics of the celestial demon's spells and methods of defense.

"Never have any distracting thoughts, and even less any 'improper or evil thoughts'."

As long as you gather your thoughts and wholeheartedly recite the mantra that protects your spiritual path, you will not be attacked by external demons.

After admonishing his disciples, Master Dong returned to the alchemy furnace.

The Nine-Turn Bone-Changing Pill is nearing completion, and he must personally oversee the process.

Fuqiu Gong said solemnly, "I see that some of my disciples' hair has turned white, which clearly indicates a shortened lifespan."

Dong Ye sighed, "Losing lifespan is a minor matter. I'll refine a batch of elixirs for them later, and their essence and magical power can be replenished."

The key issue is their primordial spirit; it's as if a large chunk has been eaten away by termites, making recovery extremely difficult!

Fuqiu Gong's expression changed slightly. "Whose curse is this? How can it be so vicious? The Pill Tribulation hasn't even officially started yet, and it's already this terrifying."

Dong Ye shook his head and said, "It's not the old demon we're familiar with. We haven't been able to figure out his specific identity or location."

I can only confirm, through its methods, that it invades their minds through dreams.

Once it erodes the heart, the inner demons begin to gnaw at the Taoist's mind, magical power, and vital energy.

Fuqiu Gong asked in confusion, "With you here, how can they possibly sleep?"

Dong Ye shook his head again, a hint of apprehension hidden in his sharp eyes. "All the disciples are clear-headed and are still chanting the calming mantra."

However, they were distracted, their minds were filled with random thoughts, and their thoughts wandered, which can be described as 'low-intensity drowsiness'.

Alas, that demon's power is related to dreams.

For ordinary people, sleeping means lying in bed and falling fast asleep.

However, for us cultivators, 'sleep' can be divided into several levels.

Some people are wide awake but actually dozing off; some people are talking or working but are also dozing off, with some of their thoughts falling into slumber.

That old demon had lowered the definition of 'sleep' to the level of 'when the mind is filled with distracting thoughts, and one thought falls asleep, that is, entering a dream.'

Mortals have many distracting thoughts, and cultivators also have many thoughts. Some thoughts are thinking about this matter, some are agonizing over that matter, and one or two thoughts are tired and are resting.

For the Dream Erosion Demon Ancestor in the "Heavenly Demon Realm" at this time, even just one or two thoughts of dozing off could lull them into a dream.

"This old demon must be the Demon Ancestor who has merged with the Great Dao of Rahu!" A strong killing intent flashed in Fuqiu Gong's eyes. "These old demons can trigger inner demons with a mere thought, posing a great threat to our Xuanmen. They deserve to die, they deserve to be killed!"

Dong Ye sighed, "Back then, the great immortal of the Xuanmen instigated the emperor to send a million soldiers, who successively destroyed thirty-six branches of the Southern Demonic Sect and seventy-two sects of the Northern Demonic Sect."

Even the western branches of the demonic sect were forced to migrate to the western wilderness.

The Xuanmen sect achieved an unprecedented and glorious victory, but what was the result?

All the demonic tribulations that were supposed to occur were present, and they were even more terrifying than before.

The previous 'external demons' were all demon ancestors who cultivated the Heavenly Demon Path.

Now that the Demon Ancestor has been killed or banished to the Four Extremes and Eight Desolations, there are not enough 'inner demons' left. The 'Heavenly God' has gone mad and attracted true extraterrestrial demons.

Compared to the completely unfamiliar 'true external demons' with their bizarre and varied abilities, 'internal demons' are easier to deal with.

The murderous intent in Fuqiu Gong's eyes was replaced by contemplation. "Perhaps, our Xuanmen should take the initiative to raise a group of 'Demon Ancestors'."

Allowing them to seize power greatly increases the difficulty for other demons to achieve enlightenment.

If the Heavenly Demons of the Demon-Slaying Tribulation possess any abilities, we are very familiar with them, making the tribulation easier to overcome.

Dong Ye said strangely, "Your idea is a bit outdated. Our predecessors tried it long ago, and now they've gone even further—directly becoming demons themselves and cultivating a Heavenly Demonic Avatar."

Fuqiu Gong sneered: "What kind of people cultivate the Heavenly Magic Form? Gods and Buddhas!"

They are different from us; they don't need to conform to the Great Dao, and they don't have strong demonic tribulations to begin with.

They cultivate the Heavenly Magic Form, not to help our Xuanmen cultivators who cultivate the Heavenly Immortal Method overcome their tribulations.

Instead, they regarded "spreading the demonic calamity" as a "divine duty" required by heaven and earth.

Dong Ye waved his hand and said, "Nowadays, the paths of gods and immortals are mixed up, how can we still tell who is who?"
All the great gods qualified to cultivate the Heavenly Magic Form were, without exception, old immortals who had no choice but to switch to the Divine Path after reaching a dead end on the 'Celestial Immortal Path'.

Only they possess the innate talent and comprehension to comprehend the Heavenly Magic Form.

Ordinary deities cannot even fully control their own divine talismans.

Fuqiu Gongdao: "Can their 'Heavenly Magic Appearance' gain the approval of the Heavenly Dao and receive the Heavenly Will to arrange the Demonic Tribulation?"

Dong Ye said, "It is naturally impossible for them to bring about calamity for us. However, in the calamities of unorthodox sects, there are often 'demon gods who subdue demons'."

In fact, half of the "Fighting Gods" in Heaven responsible for subduing demons and monsters are actually "demon gods."

"It's pointless to talk about anything that can't bring about our calamity. Raising a demon ancestor is the truly practical solution," said Fuqiu Gongdao.

"Alas, even the Demon Ancestor is a Dao-merging being; how can he be kept as a pet—"

Before Dong Ye could finish speaking, a long, powerful, and chilling howl came from afar.

The voice was filled with anger, causing the entire world to tremble slightly.

It wasn't an illusion; the space really did ripple.

Fuqiu Gong was taken aback, and asked uncertainly, "Could it be Senior Jiugong? He has not shown himself in public for a long time. Why did he roar in anger this time?"

Dong Ye frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist, I would like to trouble you to go out and meet Senior Jiugong on my behalf."

If this matter involves me, please apologize to him on my behalf.

Once I have refined the elixir, I will personally travel to the Nine Palaces Immortal Mountain to pay him a visit.

"Is it related to your alchemical tribulation?" Fuqiu Gong seemed to be thinking, and with a flash, he left Zhongyuan Immortal Mansion.

We worship our ancestors before the New Year and pray to the gods during festivals.

Even Grand Tutor Yu followed this custom, so the Xiang family of Kuaiji Commandery naturally couldn't escape it either.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xiang Lianggong changed into a brand-new embroidered robe of the Chu royal family.

Even Xiang Ji was required to wear a tall crown and dress in the style of the former kings and princes of Chu. At first, Xiang Ji was not very willing, "When Ying Zheng was alive, I had only ever heard of immortals worshipping him."

We now aspire to conquer the world and become its overlord; how can we meekly beg immortals for help?

They want to support the Dragon Court and desire our humanistic fortune; they should be the ones begging us. We should be testing them one by one and selecting the best.

"I think you've ruined your brain by listening to the Qin Dynasty's proclamations to the people every day!" Xiang Lianggong rebuked him bluntly. "Is wanting to be a hegemon the same as already becoming the first emperor in history?"
Remember, you are now a bandit hiding your identity!

If my Xiang family wants to destroy the Qin Dynasty, avenge our family, and contend for the world, we must recruit talented people.

Some people join us for fame and fortune, while others join us for humanitarian reasons and good fortune.

What's the difference?
If you truly have no ulterior motives, would you dare to use or trust them?

Previously, his nephew was very close to the immortal master, and even fantasized every day about worshipping the immortal master, learning immortal techniques, and becoming an immortal who could live forever.

For this reason, he even refused to form a Human Immortal Essence Pill, fearing it would ruin his future.

The attitude towards immortals has changed drastically because of the "brainwashing" of the people of China by the Great Qin's proclamation to the people over the past six months—revealing all the sordid, private, and unspoken rules of the immortals to the public.

While ordinary people suffer in the underworld after death, immortals can seek favors from Huang Feihu of Mount Tai, and the former Emperor of Mount Heng accumulated a vast fortune as a result.

For example, a villainous deity who has committed heinous crimes and deserves to be struck by lightning might come to the mortal realm to support the Dragon Court and use the hidden dragon's fortune to cleanse himself of his sins.
All sorts of exciting news spread throughout the land through the "Proclamation to the People," even affecting Xiang Ji.

However, after Xiang Lianggong scolded him a few times, Xiang Ji still obediently followed him into Kuaiji Mountain, where he was taken into the "Ultimate Mysterious Great Primordial Heaven" by the immortals and welcomed into the Tushita Heaven Palace.

The name "Doushuai Palace" was not copied from the original.

It was originally the lineage left behind in the human world by the Nine Palaces Daoist, a disciple of the Tushita Palace.

The Tushita Heavenly Palace is also the largest Taoist sect in the Kuaiji Mountain's Extreme Profound Great Yuan Heaven. The Nine Peaks Elder studied his skills at the Tushita Heavenly Palace.

Xiang Lianggong was preparing for an uprising this spring, and taking advantage of the New Year, he brought his nephew to the Jixuan Dayuan Heaven to pay respects to the Nine Peaks Elder.

Well, the proclamation to the people also has another "wonderful" aspect: it breaks the information cocoon and lets Shenzhou Qianlong learn about a group of "troublesome" aspiring Grandmasters, such as the Four Friends of Qionglin and the Old Man of Jiudian.

Xiang Lianggong was unaware that the Old Man of Nine Peaks had already placed his bets on him.

He learned from the proclamation to the people what a Quasi-Great Luo was, how strong and high-ranking a Quasi-Great Luo was, and which Quasi-Great Luo were the staunch anti-Qin "righteous immortals" who were enemies of Grand Tutor Yu in Xianyang.

How could Xiang Liang not be excited to learn that his neighbor was a staunch anti-Qin quasi-Dar Luo?
He sought connections and pulled strings to finally obtain permission to enter the Tushita Heaven Palace to visit the Old Man of Nine Peaks.

Even the old man at the top of the mountain had no choice.

He was a chess player, who should have remained outside the chessboard, appearing and disappearing like a dragon, seeking only luck and not seeking fame, leaving behind only the essentials and leaving without a trace.

Now that I'm involved with Qianlong, making myself look like a cultivator from Fulongting, it's really low.

But Xiang Liang knew about him and that he wanted to play chess. Now he went to great lengths to see him. If he coldly refused, how could he use the Xiang family as a pawn to plot against the world in the future?

The Xiang family are just ordinary people, not fools!
Thanks to the extensive publicity surrounding the proclamation to the people, nowadays, any aspiring Grandmaster who shows his face before Grandmaster Yu has already moved one foot off the chessboard from being a high-ranking player.

Upon arriving at the Great Yuan Heaven of the Extreme Mystery, Xiang Ji was greatly amazed and had a feast for the eyes.

Although the previous grudge hadn't completely disappeared, he had temporarily forgotten about it.

He didn't even pay attention to the old immortals opposite him at this moment, but instead focused his gaze on the young woman playing the zither for the bigwigs in the "Crane Mountain Pavilion".

He was so engrossed in watching that he even ignored the subtle hints given to him by his uncle, Xiang Liang.

"Ahem, Yu'er, the Nine Peaks Immortal is asking you a question. What do you think of the King of Blazing Sun's new strategy?" Xiang Lianggong reached out to tug at his nephew's sleeve.

Xiang Ji was stunned for a moment, and was about to answer when suddenly his eyes sharpened, and he leaped out of the pavilion and flew towards the artificial hill pavilion on the other side of the lake.

He was still in mid-air, his sword already drawn, shouting, "Fairy, be careful! This demon is courting death!"

In Xiang Liangong's eyes, it was just his nephew acting crazy in front of the old immortals.

He drew his sword and unleashed a burst of sword energy, but it only struck the top of the pavilion, blowing off the roof made of red-lacquered wooden beams.

Tiles and pieces of wood flew everywhere, startling the woman playing the zither below, who clutched her instrument and screamed.

Xiang Liang was greatly alarmed, "Yu'er, don't be rude!"

Seeing that the Nine Peaks Immortal and Yin Immortal across the table were frowning and showing displeasure, Xiang Lianggong immediately put on an expression of "furious anger," "You brat, how dare you be so rude!"

Xiang Ji unleashed a sword aura with his right hand and waved his wide sleeve with his left, generating a strong wind that sent tiles and broken wood flying, but without harming the woman holding the zither in the slightest.

He stood opposite the woman, holding his sword and bowing respectfully, displaying the dignified demeanor of a noble young master. "I apologize for startling you, fairy. Just now, a demon tried to ambush you, and in a moment of panic, I drew my sword and struck it down. Please forgive me, fairy."

The woman looked at him with her big, watery eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and doubt.

Xiang Ji stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Excuse me."

He carried her, using his light-footed skill, moving very slowly and gracefully.

Crossing the lake and returning to the pavilion, Xiang Ji still didn't sheath his sword. Instead, he looked at the old immortal opposite him with suspicion, "Don't you know anything?"

His tone was very impolite.

Xiang Liang Gong was truly anxious, "Yu'er, are you suffering from a stroke?"

He tried to grab Xiang Yu's arm, but Xiang Yu avoided him.

“Uncle, I still need to hold the sword in this hand! Although I killed the demon just now, since it dared to come to the Tushita Heaven Palace to harm people, there can’t possibly be only one.”

"What evil spirits? This is a celestial abode, where are there any evil spirits?" Xiang Lianggong rebuked.

"You really didn't see it?" Xiang Ji didn't respond to his uncle, but looked at Jiu Dian and the others with disappointment and contempt.

Jiudian was initially somewhat surprised and suspicious, but after being looked at with that kind of gaze, he immediately flew into a rage.

—That brat is so arrogant, he actually looks down on him!
However, being an old immortal with high self-control, he did not directly rebuke him, but simply asked, "I wonder what kind of demon Young Master Xiang saw, and what kind of aura it possessed?"

Xiang Ji still held the zither player's wrist with his left hand, and held his sword horizontally in front of him with his right hand. While keeping an eye on his surroundings, he calmly said, "I am a mortal, not skilled in Taoist arts. I can't see clearly, nor can I distinguish auras."

But I know it is a demon, and it harbors great malice towards this fairy.

"You're all close to attaining the Great Luo realm, yet you can't even detect the demons?"

The "Young Immortal" standing next to the Nine Peaks Elder shouted, "Since you know our identities, how dare you be so rude?"

Xiang Ji wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but upon seeing his uncle's ashen face and worried yet angry eyes, he swallowed his words.

Turning his head, he saw that the goddess Qin looked frightened. He said softly, "Fairy, don't be afraid. With me here, the evil spirits can't hurt you."

The old man from the Nine Peaks frowned. "What an arrogant fellow! Are we all inferior to you?"

Xiang Ji said, "Great Immortal, instead of questioning me, you should hurry up and check the surrounding area."

The old man at the Nine Peaks was also getting impatient. "What are you checking? This is the Tushita Heaven Palace, a place for immortals—uh!"

Although he verbally refused, his intuition had already followed Xiang Ji's advice and scanned the surroundings.

Before he could finish a sentence, he saw many fairy children and fairies looking dizzy, shaking their heads as if they were dozing off.

"Oh no! A demon has invaded! Damn it, where did this demon come from?!"

(End of this chapter)