Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 154 The whole story
The battle for Core Formation has come to an end.

In the market, several Foundation Establishment cultivators from Xuanling Island cleaned up the mess. Xuanjizi, whose injuries had been stabilized, led Shen He to a nearby restaurant and set up a tea banquet in a private room.

"Brother Dao, please!"

"please!"

Shen He treated the tea like wine, drinking it all in one gulp, then chuckled and said, "Truly worthy of being called a divine tea from overseas."

"Brother Dao, you flatter me!"

Xuanjizi smiled and then got straight to the point: "The demonic chaos in the inland cultivation world is just a microcosm; the real root cause is the demonic calamity of the entire Taiyuan Realm!"

"The Primordial Demonic Tribulation?"

Shen He frowned: "How so?"

"This story goes back 1,200 years."

Xuanjizi sighed: "Twelve hundred years ago, during the great war between the righteous and the demonic, the Master of Taihua Mountain led the various sects of the righteous path to defeat the demonic path and even killed the Demon Lord of the West Sea, Mo Yunzi, thus laying the foundation for the Taiyuan Daoist sect to prosper and the demonic path to disappear for the next twelve hundred years."

"Mount Taihua?"

"Mo Yunzi?"

Shen He murmured to himself, his eyes thoughtful.

Xuanjizi continued, "But unexpectedly, that Demon Cloud Child, though dead, did not die. By chance, he received the help of a great demon from the upper realm, rebuilt his Purple Mansion Primordial Spirit, and even entered the Return to Emptiness Realm. He also brought a ninth-level demonic treasure, the 'Demon Heaven Banner,' to seek revenge."

"Mo Tian Banner?"

Shen He's eyes narrowed: "A high-grade magic treasure?"

"Not bad!"

Xuanjizi nodded: "This Demon Banner is a top-grade demonic treasure. Its ninth rank corresponds to the Venerable One of Integration, and it also has the eighth rank of Returning to Emptiness cultivation. In the Taiyuan Realm, no one can rival it."

"Fortunately, this Taiyuan Realm is an ancient cultivation world. When the ancient immortals and gods left, they set up a law of heaven and earth that does not allow those who return to the void to stay in the world. Therefore, Mo Yunzi cannot enter the Taiyuan Realm and can only set up the Demon Heaven Array outside the Taiyuan Realm."

"The Demon Heaven Formation?"

Shen He frowned: "What do you intend to do?"

"Refine the Primordial Essence!"

Xuanjizi said in a deep voice, "That Demon Heaven Banner is a top-grade demonic treasure, and the Demon Heaven Array set up with it as the core also has a nine-level number. Mo Yunzi set up such a vicious array outside the Taiyuan Realm in order to refine the Taiyuan Realm."

"Cultivating the Primordial Realm?"

Shen He frowned deeply: "A ninth-order formation can create an entire world?"

"Of course I can't."

Xuanjizi shook his head: "Let alone Taiyuan being an ancient cultivation world, even in an ordinary world, it cannot be refined by a ninth-order formation alone. It would require at least the power of a twelfth-order immortal or demon."

"But while it cannot refine the world, it can refine the living beings within it!"

Xuanjizi said in a deep voice, "Under the influence of that Demon Heaven Array, the primordial spirits of the Taiyuan Realm are constantly changing and gradually transforming into demonic essences and spirits. The creatures in the realm are also mutated by the demonic energy, becoming violent and ferocious, and turning into the claws and teeth of the demonic path."

"If this continues, the Taiyuan Realm will eventually become a demonic land. The beings within the realm will fight each other under the influence of the demonic path until a group of demons at the Nascent Soul stage are chosen. They will then use the resources of all living beings as demonic fruits to ascend and be devoured by the Demonic Heaven Array."

"This is Mo Yunzi's purpose: to avenge himself against the righteous cultivators who killed him in the past, and to refine this Taiyuan creature into a demonic fruit and devour it to enhance his own demonic power."

"..."

Upon hearing Xuanjizi's description, Shen He frowned even more: "Where did this information come from?"

"A hundred years ago!"

His words carried a hint of doubt, but Xuanjizi didn't care: "A hundred years ago, when Moyunzi returned, he set up the Demon Heaven Array outside the boundary. The Seven Cultivators of Taiyuan, led by the Master of Taihua Mountain, went out of the boundary to try to break the array, but they still failed in the face of the power of the Demon Heaven."

"After the Seven Masters of Taiyuan were defeated, Mo Yunzi transmitted his voice from outside the realm. Those within the realm who had reached the Nascent Soul stage all heard his voice and learned about the Demon Heaven Transformation Realm. Furthermore, the Nascent Souls of the Divine Transformation Venerables from both the righteous and demonic paths came out of the realm to confirm its authenticity."

"Thus, the demonic calamity was born, wreaking havoc on the Great Origin!"

Xuanjizi sighed and said, "In that case, Brother Dao should understand why that Netherworld Demon Lord spreads demonic techniques so widely, causing chaos in the cultivation world of the mainland, right?"

Shen He's eyes narrowed: "He wants to use this to cultivate the Divine Transformation Demon Fruit?"

"Not bad!"

Xuanjizi nodded: "If he had acted like this in the past, a great cultivator from the righteous path would have returned from overseas to eliminate him. But now, the calamity of the Demon Heaven has completely detonated the hidden dangers of the demonic path."

“Now, in the overseas cultivation world, no matter east, west, south, or north, there are demonic cultivators causing trouble. Not to mention Nascent Soul demons, even those old demons who have been living in seclusion for many years and have not appeared in public have once again run rampant in the world and have done the same things as this Netherworld Demon.”

“The overseas cultivation world is now more chaotic than the inland cultivation world. Various demons are spreading demonic techniques at will, and many short-sighted rogue cultivators are throwing themselves into it, completely disregarding the peril of Taiyuan.”

Xuanjizi sighed, his words filled with helplessness.

Shen He frowned as well: "What about the various righteous sects?"

"Even the righteous sects are willing but powerless!"

Xuanjizi shook his head: "Originally, the Tao was strong and the demons were weak in the Taiyuan Realm. The righteous sects led by the Seven Cultivators of Taiyuan could suppress all kinds of demons. However, in the battle outside the realm a hundred years ago, the Seven Cultivators of Taiyuan were defeated by Mo Yunzi. Although they did not die, they were severely injured."

"After Mo Yunzi transmitted his voice, the Taiyuan Demonic Path suddenly went into chaos. The seven cultivators of Taiyuan went to suppress them, but they could only suppress the strongest Nascent Soul stage demons and prevent them from leaving the mountain. They were powerless to do anything about the rest."

“Currently, in the overseas cultivation world, from the Nascent Soul stage to the Golden Core stage, the righteous and demonic paths are locked in a chaotic war. Under the calamity of the Demon Heaven, they are all showing signs of madness. Therefore, even if they know that the Netherworld Demon is causing trouble in the mainland, no one can spare the time to come and eliminate him.”

Xuanjizi sighed and said, "My Xuanling Island is just like that. The Nascent Soul Ancestor has to guard the mountain gate of the island to prevent those ruthless old demons from launching a sneak attack. After receiving the request for help from the Xuanxiao Sect, we can only send us to see if we can stabilize the situation."

"Therefore, I set up this golden light array under the guise of an auction, originally intending to ambush and kill the demonic cultivators who were causing trouble in the interior. Who would have thought that Xin Chenzi and Ding Weiyin would come along and play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. If it weren't for your intervention, brother, our lives would have been in grave danger!"

After saying this, he bowed to Shen He again.

"I never imagined there was such a reason behind it!"

Shen He helped him up, his expression even more solemn: "Is there a way to break this calamity?"

"This……"

Xuanjizi hesitated for a moment before finally answering: "To be honest, I don't know either. However, my Taiyuan Realm is an ancient cultivation world, and my righteous sects are the direct lineages of ancient immortals and gods. Although we are limited by the heavens and earth and find it difficult to break through the Void Returning Realm, we may still have ways to deal with that Demon Heaven Formation."

"The Grand Master of Mount Taihua has issued the Demon-Slaying Order, commanding our righteous disciples and Taiyuan cultivators to sweep away demonic and evil cultivators. Subsequently, all sects joined forces to resist the Great Calamity of the Demon Heaven. Therefore, although demonic forces are rampant overseas, the righteous path is also eliminating demons." "In addition, our Taiyuan sects also have ancestral masters from the upper realm. This Taiyuan Realm is also an ancient cultivation world with great karma and connections. That Demon Cloud Child is insane and wants to refine Taiyuan alive. It is impossible for him to keep it a secret forever."

"As long as we stabilize the situation, sweep away the demons and evil cultivators within the realm, and prevent them from colluding with Mo Yunzi from the inside, we can avert this calamity when the patriarch of the upper realm arrives, or when Taiyuan Qi cultivates the method to break the demons."

Xuanjizi's words offered various methods to overcome the tribulation, but they lacked confidence.

But it's understandable; given the current situation, no one feels confident.

Shen He also frowned deeply.

He had just emerged from seclusion, intending to gradually develop his power in the inland cultivation world before expanding his influence overseas, step by step building a hegemony in the immortal path. But then this happened.

Mo Yunzi?
Demonic Heaven Array?

Refining the Primordial Essence?

This is nothing!
Although it's true that if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up, and his worries as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator are useless, judging from the current situation, it seems that those tall ones can't hold it up.

How to do?
Are we to abandon this foundation?
That won't do. Not to mention that Taiyuan is an ancient cultivation world with treasures and opportunities such as the inheritance of immortals and gods that can be explored, Shen He also has a responsibility to the disciples and spirit beasts he has cultivated on Fish Dragon Island. He can't just abandon them.

and so……

Shen He turned his gaze back: "I wonder when this final calamity of the Demon Heaven will likely occur?"

“It’s hard to say.”

Xuanjizi shook his head: "However, Taiyuan is an ancient cultivation world, and with the righteous sects working together, it can hold out for several hundred years, and it is reasonable for it to hold out for over a thousand years."

"Hundreds or thousands of years?"

Shen He murmured to himself, then looked at Xuanjizi: "So, what are your plans next, fellow Daoist?"

What other plans could there be?

Xuanjizi said in a deep voice, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. This is a calamity for all living beings in Taiyuan. We have nowhere to retreat but to fight to the death. I am a Core Formation cultivator and cannot control those old demons overseas, but I still have some use in the cultivation world in the mainland."

Shen He's eyes narrowed: "Fellow Daoist, are you going to lend a hand to the Xuanxiao Sect?"

"Not yet."

Xuanjizi shook his head: "The Netherworld Sect is a branch of the Netherworld Demon Sect of the Western Sea. That Netherworld Demon is also a true master of the demonic path. Now that he has cultivated into a demonic infant, he is no ordinary person. I am only at the Core Formation stage and am no match for him. I can only sweep away the demonic cultivators in the interior and wait for strong reinforcements from overseas to arrive."

After saying that, he looked at Shen He again: "Although your supernatural powers are the most I have ever seen in my life, I still dare to say something. Reversing the formation of the Core Formation and attacking the Nascent Soul is not something that can be done by human power. You must not act rashly."

Shen He nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist."

"It's good that you know, fellow Daoist."

Xuanjizi smiled and said, "Then what are your plans next, Brother Dao? If we join hands to sweep away the evil forces, I believe that no one in this inland land, except for the Netherworld Demon Lord, will be able to stop us."

"Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist!"

Upon hearing this, Shen He shook his head: "But I am used to being a free spirit, traveling alone. I hope you will understand."

"It was Xuanjizi who was being presumptuous."

Xuanjizi didn't press the matter: "If there's anything I can do to help you, fellow Daoist, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll go through fire and water for you!"

"Uncle Master!"

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.

"come in."

Xuanjizi spoke softly, and the person who came pushed open the door. It was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a similar temperament to Xuanjizi.

He held a jade plate in both hands, on which were various storage bags of different sizes. He walked into the room and came to Xuanjizi: "Uncle-Master, the battlefield has been cleaned up. These are the belongings of those demonic cultivators."

"Ok!"

Xuanjizi nodded, then turned it to Shen He: "This is spoils of war, and it belongs to you, fellow Daoist."

"This……"

"Don't refuse!"

Shen He was about to offer some polite words when Xuanjizi stood up and said, "If you don't accept this, I won't feel at ease."

"If that's the case, then I'll accept it!"

Upon hearing this, Shen He no longer declined, waved his hand to accept the storage bags, and then stood up to take his leave: "This matter is of great importance, and I still need to inform a few friends, so I will take my leave now."

"Fellow Daoist, please take care!"

"Fellow Taoist, stay!"

"..."

Xuanjizi escorted Shen He out of the restaurant before stopping and watching him disappear into the distance.

"Uncle Master!"

After watching the disappearing light vanish into the distance, the Foundation Establishment disciple finally couldn't contain himself and whispered from behind, "This Senior Li is truly an inland cultivator. Xin Chenzi and Ding Weiyin are, after all, orthodox members of the demonic path, yet they couldn't even last three rounds against him. Such strength would be among the top figures even among Core Formation cultivators overseas, right?"

"What do you know?"

Xuanjizi glanced at him: "Although the cultivation world in the inland region is lacking in primordial spirit, it is still the ancient central hub and the most desirable place. There are countless opportunities and even the inheritance of ancient immortals and gods. It is only natural that such a person exists here. How can you, a mere brat, be so disrespectful?"

"How could this disciple dare to underestimate you!"

The disciple said with a wry smile, "Just now, I don't know what kind of method he used, but he broke Xin Chenzi's wooden dragon stake with just one strike. Ding Weiyin's Blood Demon Differentiation Technique also failed to escape his grasp. I wouldn't dare to underestimate such a person even if I had ten lives."

"It's good that you don't dare!"

Xuanjizi shook his head, then sighed, "This inland land has too many ancient treasures, so everyone is obsessed with the chance to become an immortal, which has caused a lot of bad consequences and sins. This makes him somewhat wary of us and unwilling to travel with us. Alas..."

Having said that, he left helplessly.

(End of this chapter)