Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 532 The Deal is About to Be Completed: Liu Yun Arrives at the Door
Mo Yu Demon School was so frightened that its scales stood on end along the way. Its bloodline was inferior, its skills were not high, and it did not have the most important background among the demon race. Therefore, among the many demon schools in this demon land, it could only be considered a worthless thing.

He knew that if the human cultivator who came with Peng Daoren became ruthless, he might be able to kill him with a single sword strike.

The thought of risking his life and only getting a few unique turtle beads from outside the barrier made Mo Yu Yaoxiao feel that this deal was a huge loss for him.

But it could only curse and grumble in its heart, daring not to reveal a word. Who knew if the handsome cultivator holding the halberd behind it was the kind of person who would turn on you in an instant?

Mo Yu, the demon school's cultivation level was not high, but he had been cultivating for quite some time. In his early years, he had actually witnessed human cultivators who, after entering the demon land, were filled with righteous indignation and killed countless demon officers and demon school commanders to vent their anger.

Although the matter ultimately ended with the human cultivator being surrounded and beaten to death by the swarming demon army, it meant nothing to the demons who had already lost their lives.

However, it's worth mentioning that such pure Taoist practitioners have become increasingly rare in recent years. For both humans and demons, this is a good thing.

The two humans and the demon walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, until they reached a palace.

Since the founding of the David Dynasty, although people have been dying at the hands of demons every moment, objectively speaking, it has been relatively peaceful compared to the previous dynasty.

Aside from a few remote prefectures like Liangxi and Yuwang, few outsiders have the opportunity to interact with high-level demonic beasts. Consequently, many ignorant people, including many low-level cultivators, believe that demons are all as savage, bloodthirsty, and unintelligent as those seen in Cold Crow Mountain.

Little did they know that the demon race established its system and dynasty in this realm much earlier than the human race. It was only because outstanding figures emerged from the human race generation after generation that the world's order was gradually reversed, and most of the demon race were treated as spiritual materials and servants raised by the human race.

However, the situation in the territory of the Great Wei Dynasty was different. Firstly, the demon plague was already severe in this area in the past. Secondly, the royal family of the previous dynasty only cared about themselves and, seeing the power of the demon race, always only did appeasement and tolerance, which allowed these cruel beasts to become too powerful to control.

Later, a powerful figure in the Bitter Spirit Mountain couldn't stand it anymore and sent David Taizu Kuang Nianbai to cleanse the filth, which slightly improved the situation of this territory.

It was only because Emperor Taizu was highly respected that he led the founding ministers to accomplish a series of great things, such as establishing a demon-suppressing barrier in the southwest border region. This prevented the David royal family from facing the situation of demons sweeping across the world, even though they were constantly fighting among themselves and gradually declining.

The Cold Crow Mountains are a branch of the Li Mountains. This lineage was once quite prestigious, boasting more than one Venerable. However, since making a pact with the Great Ancestor, it has remained relatively quiet in recent years.

Not to mention those Venerable Ones, even the top Demon Commanders rarely appear in the world.

Aside from the occasional harmless incident of his family raising "human sacrifices," outsiders rarely heard of any other misdeeds. They were much more docile than the Wu Qi clan, who bordered Liangxi Road and invaded their territory every year.

For the past four or five hundred years, Zhaixinglou has been considered the best in the southwest. Xiang Tianxing, having gained the trust of the tower's owner Bai Canhong, naturally knew these old stories that were not exactly secrets.

But as he stood before the magnificent palace, his courage suddenly surged as he looked at Mo Yu, the demonic schoolmaster ahead. His expression remained unchanged, but his heart was filled with disdain. He even bypassed Peng Daoren beside him and stepped forward alongside Mo Yu, the demonic schoolmaster.

A gloomy atmosphere shrouded the dome of the demon palace, and the purplish-black glazed tiles swallowed up the sunlight.

The nine pillars with human heads outside the hall have some history. They are inscribed with demonic script describing the lives of these important figures. At the very least, they were all elders of major sects or Nascent Soul cultivators, yet they still ended up with their heads separated from their bodies and their martial arts displayed by demons.

Xiang Tianxing frowned, but felt no fear, much to the disappointment of Mo Yuyao, who was eagerly anticipating a good show. At least in his memory, the Taoist Peng, who had been brought here by chance, was trembling with fear.

If these pillars only show that the demon race reveres martial arts, the double-eaved hip roof pressing down with rolling gray mist, and the countless human skeletons hanging on the hundred-foot dome, are enough to show the cruelty.

Xiang Tianxing was quite knowledgeable and recognized some demonic script. He felt the three characters "Eclipse Moon Palace" above him flash with light, which then pressed down on his chest as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer, almost disrupting his breathing.

"These beasts, they keep trying to intimidate us, one after another! So unpleasant!"

After cursing under his breath, Xiang Tianxing, instead of being afraid, became furious and coldly shouted at the giant fish-headed man in front of him who showed little surprise: "What are you standing there for? Quickly lead the way to your master!!"

Even though everyone knew they had arrived at the core of the headquarters, Mo Yuyao was still startled by Xiang Tianxing's sudden shout, causing the scales on his body to flare slightly.

It instinctively opened its mouth as if to argue, but after catching a glimpse of Xiang Tianxing's icy gaze, it became too nervous to utter a sound. In the end, it could only slam its steel fork down hard, shrink its head, and lead the way without saying a word.

But then it took out a crudely made token and opened the spiritual barrier outside the hall. After Xiang Tianxing and the other person followed it inside, they could see that the countless human faces hanging in the corridors seemed to be trembling.

The pond in the courtyard was filled with a pool of dark red blood, the contents of which could be either human or demon. At this moment, it was flowing down along the rune grooves of the ebony beams and pillars, staining the jade brick floor with a bloody network.

The heavy, blood-red silk curtains hanging on both sides suddenly moved without any wind, and sparks flew from the soul lamps. Although they were only emitting a faint light, they made Xiang Tianxing, who was standing to the side, feel as if he was being pricked by thorns.

"Mo Yu, you good-for-nothing, you actually brought guests with you?"

A powerful being's booming voice echoed through the palace, followed by a piercing, ear-piercing laugh emanating from all four corners of the palace.

Xiang Tianxing raised his eyebrows, held his halberd for protection, his spine as straight as a pine tree, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Xiang Tianxing, the head of the General Affairs Department of Zhaixing Tower, has come with gifts to greet fellow Daoists."

"Zhaixing Tower, Xiang Tianxing?"

"Is it Bai Canhong's Star-Picking Tower?"

"Gentlemen, shall we invite the master here?"

The snickering laughter in the arena was gradually replaced by a cacophony of discussion. Clearly, even among these unruly and cruel beasts, the name of the Star-Picking Pavilion Master was quite well-known.

Hearing the changes in the scene, Xiang Tianxing did not stop. He even dared to rush ahead of Mo Yu, the demon school, and led Peng Daoren into the dimly lit core hall, with pieces of human bones on his head, to greet the demon school students.

As this handsome cultivator entered, wielding a halberd, it became clear from his scan of the demons that most of the demons present, like Mo Yu, had beast heads and human bodies, while only a few, like the old bird of the Fei family, remained in beast form.

This has little to do with their individual cultivation levels. Rather, for most demonic beasts, the lower their bloodline, the easier it is for them to transform into human form.

Besides these vicious and ignorant beasts, there were also some tattooed men and women wearing animal skins. Regardless of their cultivation level, the fawning look between their brows was impossible to shake off, which made Xiang Tianxing frown slightly.

Humans raise spirit beasts, and the demon race is not to be outdone. Since the previous dynasty, there have been far-sighted venerable ones who select immortal seedlings from the domesticated human animals for cultivation.

They not only taught them the methods of seeking immortality, but also provided instruction in a wide range of cultivation arts such as alchemy, artifact crafting, talisman formations, and more. Although these people held low status, they made significant contributions to the prosperity of the demon realm.

Over thousands of years, much like the spirit beasts that serve the human race, these treacherous individuals who willingly act as accomplices to the demon race have accumulated to a considerable number.

I've heard that in the core area of ​​the Lishan lineage, there are even human cultivators serving demon lords, but I don't know if it's true or not.

Strictly speaking, figures like Peng Daoren could also be included.

Therefore, Xiang Tianxing saw such people here, but he didn't find it strange; he only felt disgusted and didn't bother to hide it. The highest cultivation level among these traitors was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and their cultivation methods were also inferior. They weren't worth a second glance. There were no demon officers present yet, and the one sitting at the head of the table was the Two-Faced Fiend, whose existence was almost extinct outside the barrier. The fierce and venomous look in his eyes was extremely ruthless, almost piercing.

The demons in the arena clearly regarded it as their leader. After it surveyed the arena for a while, there was no more sound, which was enough to show its prestige.

With a glance, Xiang Tianxing got a general idea of ​​the strength of this two-faced serpent. Its spiritual energy was slightly stronger than his own, but in terms of methods, it was still unknown who was stronger.

At least, but it's far from reaching the terrifying level of that old bird from the Fei family.

Xiang Tianxing knew he wasn't there to fight these beasts, but he also knew that if they turned on him, he would have no chance of breaking through their encirclement alone. However, after seeing the situation clearly, he felt much more at ease.

"Master Peng? You've come to our door without offering any human sacrifices, yet you've brought other guests. What is your purpose?" The two-faced serpent ignored Xiang Tianxing and asked Master Peng, who was already used to hunching over, in a deep voice.

Before the latter could answer, Xiang Tianxing interrupted, saying, "My master has entrusted Fellow Daoist Peng to bring me here to pay a visit, as he has important business to discuss."

"Important matter? What important matter is it? My Lishan lineage has no connection with your Zhaixinglou, and we even have a grudge against each other. Don't you know that, Taoist?"

The two-faced serpent snorted coldly, its suspicion practically written all over its face.

Xiang Tianxing showed no anger, but smiled faintly and asked softly, "May I ask how you should address the Demon School?"

Although the two-faced demon was confused, he still answered, "My name is Zeng Zhang, the chief demon officer under the Fengyun Demon Commander, in charge of all matters, large and small, within the territories of the forty-six demon officers."

"This amount is barely enough, but it's worlds apart from those demon school students like Mo Yu who don't even have a seat in the hall!" Xiang Tianxing nodded to himself, then took out a satin silk book from his sleeve and presented it to Zeng Zhang, the demon school student, with a gentle breeze.

The silk scroll personally written by the Master of Zhaixing Tower was naturally very exquisite, using several cloud-script characters and extremely ornate language.

This greatly embarrassed Zeng Zhangyao, because he did not recognize many seal script characters and had to grab the middle-aged man with the written face next to him in a fit of rage to translate.

After the tattooed middle-aged man whispered something, Zeng Zhang, the demon school's remarkably human-like eyes suddenly gleamed with a strange light. It flicked its tail, pulling the tattooed man aside, then separated two streams of demonic energy, forming hand gestures, and, clutching the silk scroll, urgently asked:

"If your master is so cunning, why don't you find a day to break a barrier array and let us go out freely?!"

No wonder Zeng Zhangyao was so excited, because while there were certainly powerful beings in the Demon Land, it was far poorer than the mainland of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty.

Whether it's cultivation techniques, magical treasures, or rare human sacrifices, many ordinary items within human territory become much more valuable in the demon realm.

Over the years, there have been some daring demon schools that dared to stay in the weakest points of the barrier, like Peng Daoren, and go out to "seek" some resources. While some were indeed lucky, most of the demon schools became valuable spiritual materials in the hands of human cultivators.

But if the array points opened by Bai Canhong are real, then they can gather hundreds of demons and countless demon beasts to go out together, and who can stop them?

Such unbridled plundering could easily turn several states into ruins. Zeng Zhangyao dared not even imagine the extent of the benefits he might gain.

The determination of Zhaixinglou was so great that even Peng Daoren, who had remained silent all along, was speechless:

"These so-called righteous cultivators are a laughing stock. How many lives have I lost in my two or three hundred years of hard work? Now that Bai Canhong has opened this door, who knows how many more lives will be lost from the list of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty?! Is this a scheme to nurture an enemy to enhance one's own prestige?"

Although Xiang Tianxing disagreed with Bai Canhong's plan of "murdering, arson, and accepting imperial amnesty," as a disciple of Zhaixinglou, he dared not have the slightest disobedience.

He glanced briefly at Zeng Zhangyao, who was barely concealing his excitement, then turned serious and retorted with a question:
"You demon school are being utterly unreasonable! How can a True Person speak so lightly?! However, it has been clearly stated from above that your invasion will only cover the entirety of Shanbei and Huangpi, and the five prefectures of Pu, Ding, Yun, Jing, and Ye in Shannan. You must avoid all other areas when leading your troops. Otherwise, don't blame my master for being ruthless!"

The latter suddenly realized that he had not considered things carefully when he asked the question. However, he could not apologize to Xiang Tianxing at this time, so he could only cough lightly and reply, "This is a big problem. I would like to ask Sect Leader Xiang to stay here while I report to the Demon Commander and then make a decision."

When will we hear anything?

"The whereabouts of the Demon Commander are uncertain, so how can I possibly answer?"

"If there is still no news from the Demon School within five days, I will find another Demon Captain with Fellow Daoist Peng to discuss the matter further."

"Five days it is. Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I will definitely have a reply within five days."

"In that case, Fellow Daoist Peng and I will stay here for another five days and await good news."

"If this fails, Zeng Zhang, I will bring you my head!"

—————Xiao Huanshan, Chongmingzong
Yuan Jincai and Ye Zhengwen read the letter sent back by Master Kang. It said that Kang Rongquan and his party had turned back from Chenjiang County, Sizhou. After discussing for a while, they went their separate ways.

Perhaps due to the noble aura bestowed upon him by Sect Leader Kang after he achieved Core Formation, Yuan Jin's cultivation has improved considerably recently. In addition, the Azure Jade and Crimson Jade Guards on Wild Fox Mountain have already taken shape, which allows him to occasionally act as a hands-off manager and return to the sect for a proper period of cultivation.

Yuan Jin slowly walked into the courtyard, but the atmosphere was even more desolate than where Zhou Yixiu lived. Despite Yuan Jin's high position, even the fake alchemists in the Chongming Alliance treated him as an equal.

However, his two sons are now dead, and his wife is also deceased. Although he does have descendants, none of them have yet been born with spiritual roots.
After all these events, the word "loneliness" was deeply ingrained in his bones, and only during his spiritual practice could he forget much of it.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Yuan Jin felt that the deeper his sorrow, the faster the demon in his heart grew.

He was initially quite concerned about this unusual occurrence, and even wanted to discuss it with Headmaster Kang and Jiang Qinghao. However, such moments of grief were rare, and once Yuan Jin himself overcame his sorrow, he was fine, which gradually made him stop thinking about it.

He even hoped that this situation would occur more often, so that he could advance to the next level sooner and see if he could really do as he expected, risking his life to refine the ape demon in his heart as soon as possible and compete for that chance to form a core.

Yuan Jin was focused on cultivating himself, but unfortunately, he was struck by an unfortunate event today. Just as he landed on the meditation cushion and was about to enter a meditative state, Ye Zhengwen sent him a message via a talisman.

He glanced at the dozen or so characters at the top and frowned deeply: "How could a mere squad leader and a dozen or so soldiers possibly command Tie Liuyun to come to my house and interrogate me?"

"Wait, could it be that someone leaked our information to this bastard?! He dared to come here knowing that our senior brother wasn't in the sect!!!"

Yuan Jin immediately feigned sudden realization, but did not dwell on it further.

He didn't know if Tie Liuyun had simply come to Chongming Sect to show off his power. After touching the brand-new brocade pouch at his waist, he rushed out of his secluded cultivation place and headed towards the archway.

(End of this chapter)