Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 149 Great Change
Wealth and honor do not return to their hometown, just like walking in brocade at night.

Shen He has lived in seclusion for over eighty years. Now that the foundation of his Great Dao has been laid, he has few rivals in this inland land. He should return to the cultivation world to see how the world has changed so drastically.

Let's also do something else and finish what we haven't done yet.

Without hesitation, Shen He made arrangements and left the island.

"call!"

Upon arriving outside the island, the spiritual energy suddenly decreased, but Shen He still took a deep breath, feeling as if he were a wild man from the deep mountains who had just seen the light of day.

But he only had the potential. Although he had stayed on the island all these years, he was not completely unaware of the surrounding events and even the changes in the cultivation world. He often sent out his contracted spirit beasts and some disciples to gather intelligence, so he knew about the world's affairs without leaving his hut.

Outside Yulong Island, the mists and clouds of Dongting Lake remained unchanged, making the area appear even more prosperous. Countless people, fishermen and farmers, made their living in peace and contentment.

This is the influence of Yulong Island in recent years. As his cultivation strength continues to improve, Shen He no longer stands idly by regarding the affairs of the surrounding area. The affairs of the Dongting Fishing Old Man have intensified, and there are even rumors of the Yulong Immortal Sect, as well as some of its disciples traveling around, which have changed the situation in the surrounding area and even the Chen Kingdom.

"Wow!"

Shen He reached out and beckoned, and golden light shot through the air, instantly landing in front of him and transforming into a magnificent golden roc.

Golden-winged Roc

Spirit Beast Rank: Fourth Rank (King-type)
Spirit Beast Type: Bird (Great Roc)

Spirit Beast Battle Skills: Golden Feather Sword Wings, Extreme Speed ​​of Heaven and Earth, Roc Spreads Wings, Ten Thousand Swords Traverse...

Eighty years have passed, and this Golden-Winged Eagle is still at the Foundation Establishment stage, its realm has not broken through. However, under Shen He's careful cultivation, its bloodline has been further purified, evolving from a Spirit Lord type Golden-Winged Eagle into a Monarch type Golden-Winged Roc.

That being said, the bloodline has evolved, and its strength has also increased considerably. It can even put up a fight against a Core Formation cultivator. Moreover, it possesses the speed of heaven and earth, so if the opponent does not have special means, they will not be able to keep it.

Such a spirit beast is enough to support a force, or even become a Core Formation sect.

But now, in Shen He's hands, it can only be used as a mount and a means of transportation.

"go!"

Shen He moved swiftly and was already on the back of the roc.

"Wow!!!"

With a cry, the Golden-Winged Roc swept its wings, which spanned more than ten zhang, and instantly transformed into a golden light that streaked through the air. Its speed was so fast that even a Core Formation cultivator could not keep up with it.

……

That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were gone, and the sky was pitch black.

In a small town, not a single light was visible, only the raucous noise of ghosts.

In the town center, in front of the ancestral hall, a fierce battle unfolds.

"Chen Feng, you actually practice evil arts!"

"You commit murder and harm, you worship evil spirits and demons, aren't you afraid of karmic retribution?"

"We regret that we have practiced alongside you!"

Three cultivators—a pale-faced scholar, a woman in red, and a rugged swordsman—joined forces to attack one person.

"Karma, hahaha!"

Among them was a middle-aged man, dressed in a Taoist robe and carrying a black banner. Facing the three men's attack, he showed no panic, only a cold, sinister laugh: "We cultivators are born to defy the heavens. As long as we have cultivation and the foundation of the Great Dao is established, what karmic retribution do we have to fear?"

"You're insane!"

The three men's eyes sharpened, and their strength increased by three points.

"It's because you're so old-fashioned!"

The middle-aged Taoist priest gave a sinister laugh, and waved the long black banner in his hand. Instantly, a torrent of deathly aura surged forth, accompanied by the shrill howls of evil spirits.

"Now that the demons are growing stronger and the righteous are declining, the Xuanxiao Sect has closed its doors and is barely clinging to life, while the Youming Sect is spreading its great arts and benefiting the world. You people are giving up such merits and benefits, clinging to the remnants and resisting the trend. Even if you don't die today, you will become provisions for people in the future!"

"Instead of letting others benefit, it's better to let me benefit, thus fulfilling our decades-long friendship as fellow practitioners."

"Hahaha!"

Amidst the maniacal laughter, evil spirits attacked, including many ferocious creatures of the third rank.

In contrast, the scholar and the woman were only second-level cultivators, while the swordsman alone had third-level Qi Refining cultivation. Faced with this evil ghost and Yin current, they were immediately at a loss and even faced many dangerous situations.

"Die! Die!"

Seeing this, the Taoist became even more arrogant, and once again waved the long banner in his hand, unleashing a Netherworld spell.

"puff!"

The swordsman, who was at the Qi Refining stage, was fighting two third-tier vengeful ghosts when he was unexpectedly attacked by this Netherworld Evil Technique. His body was instantly filled with death energy, his face turned deathly pale, and his movements became sluggish.

"Second brother!"

The scholar and the woman exchanged glances and prepared to use their magical artifacts to rush to their aid, but were blocked by several evil spirits.

Just when the situation was at its most critical...

"Wow!"

A cry pierced through the dark clouds, and golden light swept down like a sword, crashing into the arena with the force of a plowshare.

"boom!!!"

In an instant, all the ghosts vanished, and the deathly aura of the underworld collapsed. Before the middle-aged Taoist priest holding the long banner could react, a golden light swept across his body, turning him to ashes on the spot, leaving no trace of his body. The three people standing nearby were also stunned by what they saw.

Only when the golden light fell and a person appeared in the field did the three react, hurriedly stepping forward to bow and say, "Thank you for saving our lives, senior."

"Get up."

Shen He gently helped the three of them up, then looked at the deathly silence around them and asked, "What happened?"

"Reporting to the senior!"

Upon hearing this, the three dared not conceal anything and immediately recounted the whole story: "We were originally wandering cultivators from Xiaoyue Mountain with this man, sworn brothers, bound by life and death. But we never expected that Chen Feng would betray us for profit, become so ruthless and heartless, slaughtering the people of an entire town to cultivate his evil arts. He then set a trap to lure the three of us here, intending to use us as resources to refine his demonic powers..."

"Um!?"

Shen He looked at the three of them and asked, "How can heretical cultivators be so rampant now? What exactly has happened in the cultivation world of the inland regions?"

"The Inland Cultivation Realm?"

Hearing his words, the three of them were taken aback, then suddenly realized.

"Since you returned from overseas, you are naturally unaware of the affairs of the mainland. Ever since the destruction of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain a hundred years ago, the balance of the righteous and demonic forces has been disrupted, and the great war between the four sects has begun. The cultivation world in the mainland has been in turmoil."

"The Xuanxiao Sect and Yunlong Sect, the Youming Sect and Huangquan Valley, the four sects of righteousness and evil first fought fiercely at Wanshou Mountain, and then expanded the battlefield to the entire inland cultivation world, finally reaching a conclusion a few years ago."

"The two righteous sects were no match for the two demonic sects. The Yunlong Sect was annihilated, and the Xuanxiao Sect could only hold on to its mountain gate."

"From this point on, the cultivation world in the inland region became a place where the demons grew and the righteous declined. The Netherworld Sect and the Yellow Spring Valley merged into the Netherworld Yellow Spring Sect, completely dominating the cultivation world in the inland region and spreading many evil techniques to the outside world."

"The demons and monsters of the Netherworld and the Yellow Springs, as well as various evil cultivators, have used this to run rampant. They have not only attacked righteous cultivators and destroyed many Foundation Establishment forces and cultivator markets, but also violated the laws of cultivators, wantonly slaughtering mortals and using them to refine evil techniques."

"Currently, within the borders of the Three Kingdoms, demonic cultivators run rampant, causing widespread suffering and death..."

The three men explained the current situation in their conversation.

Shen He frowned upon hearing this.

He knew about the rise and fall of the demonic path, and was not surprised by the predicament of the Xuanxiao Sect or the fate of the Yunlong Sect.

However, he found it difficult to understand what the Netherworld Sect and the Yellow Springs Sect had done after merging into one.

The Inland Cultivation Realm: Five Sects and Three Kingdoms.

Needless to say, the five sects are all Core Formation sects, so they can naturally stand in a tripartite balance.

Only the Three Kingdoms period was unique; although they were not sects specializing in Core Formation, they were able to pass down their traditions for a thousand years.

One reason is that the Three Kingdoms also had cultivators who could suppress mortal unrest. Another reason is that the Three Kingdoms had a special background, and it is said that they were related to the overseas cultivation world. They were descendants of the Nascent Soul sects that had migrated from the mainland in the past, and even the Transformation Immortal sects.

Therefore, although the five major Core Formation sects dominated the cultivation world in the interior, they dared not overthrow the three kingdoms and even set ironclad rules for the cultivation world, strictly prohibiting cultivators from slaughtering mortals.

Although the evil forces have declined and the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect is now at its zenith, Shen He still finds it hard to understand their actions in breaking this ironclad rule.

Even if they are not afraid of the Three Kingdoms Ancestors, shouldn't the Nascent Soul Sect and the Divine Transformation Immortal Sect, which are located overseas, also consider the ecological environment?

Why spread demonic cultivation techniques to outsiders, allowing demons and evil cultivators in the inland cultivation world to run rampant, even slaughtering mortals to refine evil techniques? Isn't this just creating competitors for oneself?

In the end, the cultivation world in the inland region was full of demons and evil cultivators. Righteous cultivators and ordinary people from the Three Kingdoms were all slaughtered. Who would the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect eat then? They didn't even understand the principle of draining the pond to catch the fish.
Shen He found it hard to understand.

But there was one thing he was certain of.

Something is definitely amiss!

Excluding the possibility that the higher-ups of the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect have collectively lost their minds, their dissemination of demonic techniques and promotion of evil cultivation must have some ulterior motive.

What are they plotting?
Shen He wasn't quite sure.

But things have come to this point, and even if they've really lost their minds, Shen He can't let them have their way.

Let's go check out Red Maple Valley first!
Shen He's mind raced, and he immediately summoned his escape light, soaring into the sky.

"senior!"

Seeing Shen He leave, the three of them finally reacted. They wanted to chase after him and try to stop him, but remembering their own status, they could only stop in disappointment.

"Appearing without a trace and disappearing without a trace, this senior is truly a master!"

The scholar sighed softly, glanced around, and then picked up the black banner magic weapon left behind by the middle-aged Taoist: "Although Chen Feng cultivated evil magic, his cultivation was mixed and his foundation was unstable, but he was still a master of Qi Refining Perfection. Yet he was wiped out on the spot with a single blow."

The woman nodded: "Such astonishing strength, he must be a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"It's probably more than just the Foundation Establishment stage!"

The swordsman continued, "I've heard that in the overseas cultivation world, Foundation Establishment is just commonplace, while Core Formation is considered a major cultivation. Since this senior has returned from overseas, he is very likely a Core Formation True Person."

"Not bad!"

The scholar nodded: "Back then, the two righteous sects suffered a great defeat, and the Netherworld Yellow Springs Sect spread evil magic and ravaged the cultivation world in the mainland. Some insightful people in the righteous sects set off to seek help overseas. Now, it is only natural that some overseas cultivators have returned to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path."

"Regardless of the circumstances, let's return to Xiaoyue Mountain first!"

"Demons are rampant and evil cultivators are roaming freely; we cannot linger in the outside world."

"Walk!!!"

The three acted swiftly, collecting the middle-aged Taoist's belongings and then using their magical artifacts to fly away in a burst of light.

On the other side, Shen He also rode the Golden-Winged Roc back to his former place of cultivation—the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Red Maple Valley—at an astonishing speed!
(End of this chapter)