Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 802 Before the Tower of Ten Thousand Demons, Demons Gather (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
"Not only that."

"According to reports from my spies planted in several demonic cultivator gathering places, people from the 'Xuanming Palace' in the North Sea, the 'Seven Fiends Sect' in the Western Regions, and the 'Heavenly Demon Sect' in the East Sea have secretly arrived in the East Sea, seemingly all secretly gathering clues about that ancient ruin, the 'Ten Thousand Demon Tower'."

"As for the righteous sects, there are quite a few of them!"

The sect leader of the "Flying Cloud Sect," the white-haired and youthful-looking Flying Cloud Master, stroked his beard and said with a solemn expression: "Now the edge of the swamp is a mixed bag of people, and danger lurks everywhere."

After many years, this veteran actor seems to have aged considerably.

Li Yunjing looked at this person and sighed inwardly. He estimated that Flying Cloud Immortal's lifespan was only about a hundred years, and he didn't know if he could last until the demonic calamity broke out.

"I am skilled in using music to soothe the soul, and I am particularly sensitive to malevolent energy."

"The malevolent energy deep within the swamp... is not simply accumulated; at its core, it seems to contain some extremely ancient and evil will that is gradually awakening."

"That place is definitely not a safe place!"

The Holy Sound Fairy of the Holy Sound Sect sighed, "If Sect Leader Li intends to investigate, he must be extremely careful!"

Representatives from forces such as "Lake Heart Island" and "Azure Wave Island" also added that, whether due to their advantageous location or special means, they had all noticed the unusual nature of the "Ten Thousand Demon Swamp" and were filled with anxiety about the possible changes that might occur there.

Li Yunjing listened quietly, his expression calm, but a thought stirred within him.

It seems the situation is more complicated than he anticipated.

Not only are the ruins about to be revealed, attracting the covetous eyes of various forces, but they also seem to be connected to some greater danger.

"Thank you for informing me, fellow Daoists."

“This place is dangerous, and our sect will not venture deep into it rashly.”

"However, with a great calamity looming, we must pay close attention to any variables."

Li Yunjing cupped his hands and said, "I hope everyone will pay close attention to the swamp's movements. If there are any abnormalities, please communicate with each other through the alliance channels in a timely manner."

"It's natural!"

"Sect Leader Li, rest assured!"

Everyone readily agreed.

After discussing East China Sea defense and internal alliance coordination with everyone, Li Yunjing got up to take his leave.

After leaving "Shenxiao Island", Li Yunjing did not immediately return to "Shenxiao Mountain Range". Instead, he turned his escape light and flew slowly towards "Wanmo Swamp".

He didn't get too close, but instead pressed his escape light on a deserted island a hundred miles away from the edge of the swamp.

Standing on the island, one can gaze into the distance.

Even from a distance of hundreds of miles, one can still feel the intense malevolent aura and unsettling spatial ripples permeating that area.

In Li Yunjing's eyes, a barely perceptible chaotic light flowed, his gaze seemingly piercing through space and mist, landing in the depths of the swamp, the area where Yu Zongzhe's team had been attacked and where Xie Wuyi had been hiding.

Although the specific details of the battle and Xie Wuyi's subtle actions could not be clearly recalled, he keenly detected the violent energy fluctuations, spatial distortions, and the faint, almost imperceptible, attempt to conceal but not completely erased... the cold, bloodthirsty aura belonging to Xie Wuyi.

"Something's definitely up to something... a spatial trap?"

"An ancient demon?"

"And... Xie Wuyi?"

A cold glint flashed in Li Yunjing's eyes.

Yu Zongzhe's team encountered danger and suffered heavy losses, a fact he had already sensed through his divination techniques.

Now that he has seen the traces left at the scene with his own eyes, as well as Xie Wuyi's futile attempts to hide his aura, he can deduce about 70-80% of what happened.

"Using someone else to do the dirty work? That's a clever scheme."

Li Yunjing snorted coldly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, but the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

He raised his hand, a wisp of chaotic energy swirling around his fingertips, and gently pointed towards the "Ten Thousand Demon Swamp".

Silently, an extremely obscure chaotic mark containing supreme will traversed a hundred miles of void and precisely imprinted itself on the spatial folds of the battle area, creating a subtle connection with the remaining aura of Xie Wuyi.

This mark is not offensive and is extremely difficult to detect, but it is like a highly sophisticated tracker.

As long as Xie Wuyi approaches this area again, or uses any power related to this incident, the mark will be triggered, allowing Li Yunjing to instantly pinpoint his location and status.

"Since the chess pieces are not behaving properly, they need stronger reins."

Li Yunjing muttered indifferently to himself, "Ruins... monsters... various forces... it's quite an interesting game of chess."

Li Yunjing's figure blended into the thick fog, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, without causing the slightest ripple.

Instead of unleashing any earth-shattering supernatural powers, he perfectly concealed his aura, moving silently through the perilous swamp like a ghost.

Divine senses, like the most intricate spider web, meticulously scanned everything around them in a way far beyond the comprehension of Nascent Soul cultivators, almost reaching the level of "Dao."

The undulations of the swamp, the flow of malevolent energy, the subtle folds in space, even the low breathing of lurking demons... all of these were clearly reflected in his sea of ​​consciousness.

He avoided several areas that exuded a powerful and obscure aura, where ancient beings, whom even Li Yunjing was unwilling to provoke easily, were clearly entrenched.

His goals are clear and focused!
Searching for that chilling aura belonging to Xie Wuyi, which he had marked.

This piece seems to have other ideas; its wrong path needs to be corrected.

In addition, Li Yunjing was not particularly satisfied with Xie Wuyi's performance; this person needed to be further exploited and made to play a greater role.

The terrain deep within the swamp is far more complex than the outer areas. Twisted, dead trees resemble the claws of monsters, and the pitch-black mud exudes a chilling aura that devours life. Occasionally, pale animal bones can be seen half-hidden within, adding to the eeriness.

The space is also extremely unstable, with tiny cracks frequently appearing and spewing out chaotic energy flows. If one is accidentally caught in them, the consequences are unimaginable.

Li Yunjing walked with composure, yet always managed to avoid all potential dangers perfectly.

He seemed to know this place inside and out, as if he possessed an intuition that defied common sense.

Finally, as he approached a decaying woodland that was constantly emitting bubbles of poisonous gas, a thought struck him.

The mark he had planted himself emitted an extremely faint but clear sensation.

It was not far ahead, and it was in a state of extreme oppression and stillness, like a hibernating venomous snake.

"That beast is cunning."

A faint, indifferent smile curved at the corners of Li Yunjing's lips.

He didn't approach directly, but instead, his figure flickered and merged into the twisted shadow of a huge withered tree, his aura completely disappearing, so that even the flying insects that fed on malevolent energy nearby were completely unaware of him.

His gaze pierced through layers of obstacles and landed on a swamp hundreds of feet away.

Xie Wuyi was indeed still nearby.

This person did not leave the previous battlefield, but chose what he considered the safest place.

That's a recessed area on the edge of the ancient monster's lair.

The aura of the demon is strongest here, enough to mask its own fluctuations—a case of the darkest place being under the lamp.

Xie Wuyi was fully engaged in the Concealing Breath Technique, sinking into the depths of the swamp like a stone, clearly trying to avoid the terrifying divine thoughts and waiting for an opportunity.

He probably never dreamed that the very being he was trying so hard to avoid was now observing him as if he were examining the lines on his palm.

Li Yunjing could "see" the trajectory of the golden core circulating within Xie Wuyi's body, and could sense his lingering fear, his frustration at failing to succeed, and his greedy desire for the unknown ruins deep within the swamp.

"They do know how to find a place."

Li Yunjing sneered inwardly.

He did not immediately attempt to capture him.

Making a move here would alert the ancient demon nearby, which was severely injured by Yu Zongzhe and was in a period of extreme rage. Although he wasn't afraid, it would only cause trouble, which was not what he wanted.

After a moment's thought, Li Yunjing once again conjured up a wisp of barely perceptible chaotic energy at his fingertips.

He gently guided the earth veins beneath where Xie Wuyi was hiding.

An extremely pure and chilling underground evil energy was quietly stirred by his supreme magic power, like a silent undercurrent, slowly seeping upwards.

This malevolent energy wasn't an attack; rather, it was more like nourishment. However, for Xie Wuyi, who cultivated demonic arts, the sudden appearance of such a pure "Earthly Fiend Yin Meridian" fluctuation in this place often meant...

"Ok?"

Beneath the swamp, Xie Wuyi suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise and uncertainty flashing within them. "The Earthly Fiend Yin Veins are surging?"

"And it's so pure... Could it be... that there's a hidden entrance to a ruin nearby that was affected by the battle just now, revealing a crack in advance?"

Greed momentarily overwhelmed caution.

He cautiously extended a wisp of his divine sense toward the direction from which the earthly evil energy was emanating, attempting to confirm its source and scale. His heart began to beat faster than usual.

If we can find the entrance in advance, then the previous mistakes will be insignificant!
"Om..."

The mark planted by Li Yunjing was quietly activated by this magic power of the same origin, emitting a clearer fluctuation that only Li Yunjing could perceive.

Xie Wuyi froze abruptly, a sudden, inexplicable, and chilling feeling sweeping over him, as if he had been completely seen through and locked onto by some incredibly terrifying being in the dark!
"not good!"

Although he didn't understand what had happened, the demonic cultivator's intuition told him that it was an ominous sign!

"Gululu..."

However, before he could react, a roar filled with pain and rage suddenly came from the depths of the ancient demon's lair next to him, stimulated by the pure earthly evil energy that Li Yunjing had stirred up but which had vanished in an instant!

Clearly, the monster also viewed this fluctuation as a provocation or disturbance.

The enormous tentacles thrashed wildly once more, slamming violently onto the swamp and stirring up towering waves!
The terrifying shockwave of malevolent energy spread out as if it were a tangible entity!
Evil and wickedness are the first to be targeted!
"Damn it!"

He cursed inwardly, unable to remain hidden any longer. A flash of blood-red light enveloped him as he burst out of the swamp, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow of the tentacles that could shatter mountains, leaving him looking utterly disheveled.

He hovered in mid-air, scanning the surrounding thick fog with suspicion and disbelief, his face extremely grim.

That feeling just now...

what is the problem?

Was it caused by that demon?
Or... is someone with exceptional skills secretly plotting against us?

He examined himself carefully but found nothing; the level of the mark far exceeded the limits of his perception.

Li Yunjing remained hidden in the shadows, calmly observing the slightly flustered Xie Wuyi.

The markings have been deepened.

At this moment, no matter where Xie Wuyi escapes to, as long as he remains in this realm, he will not escape his perception.

The purpose has been achieved.

He didn't linger; his figure vanished like wisps of smoke, leaving this place of trouble as if he had never existed.

Only Xie Wuyi remained, suspended in the perilous swamp, enduring the wrath of the demons.

Li Yunjing's next target was the ancient ruins deeper inside, the "Ten Thousand Demon Tower," which stirred up storms from all sides.

He needs to confirm some things himself.

Li Yunjing's figure moved through the thick fog and distorted light like a ghost. His speed seemed slow, but he always managed to make precise use of the subtle folds in space to move short distances, passing through the hundred-mile swamp in an instant.

The deeper you go, the more treacherous the environment becomes.

The malevolent energy was almost solidified, as viscous as ink, constantly trying to erode his protective aura, but it was dissolved by a layer of faint Xuanmen light.

The mud beneath their feet was no longer just simple silt; at times it transformed into a quicksand trap that devoured everything, and at other times it solidified like iron, radiating a chilling cold that could freeze the very soul.

Faint wails and whispers drifted in the air, the lingering resentments of powerful beings who had fallen here since ancient times, enough to drive the weak-willed to madness.

Li Yunjing's heart was as still as water, and the chaotic light in his eyes flowed steadily, seeing through illusions and pointing directly to the source.

He could sense countless auras, some strong, some weak, some righteous, some evil, like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, scattered throughout the swamp.

Some are cautiously exploring, some are fighting and vying for power, and many more are patiently lying in wait for their chance.

These are all forces attracted by the rumors of the "Tower of Ten Thousand Demons".

The intelligence from the "East China Sea Alliance" was absolutely correct; this place had become the eye of the storm.

Li Yunjing ignored these small fry; his target remained the core.

Gradually, the scenery ahead began to change.

The twisted, dead trees and foul-smelling mud gradually diminished, replaced by a more eerie, broken area that seemed to have been plowed by some immense force.

The earth cracked open, forming bottomless ravines within which churned scorching demonic fire and filthy blood.

Broken fragments of magical artifacts and huge, unidentified animal bones were scattered everywhere, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur and death.

The space here becomes more unstable, with distorted light and shadow flashing by frequently, and occasionally even terrifying illusions from other realms appearing and disappearing in a flash.

In the heart of this fractured region, the scene is even more breathtaking.

A massive, unimaginably large black tower base, like the spine of a prehistoric beast, arched out from the depths of the shattered earth!

The base of the tower was made of some unknown material, neither gold nor stone, but a deep, dark black that seemed to absorb all light.

It is covered with countless intricate and ferocious reliefs, depicting various scenes of ancient demon gods' conquests, sacrifices, and suffering. Just one glance is enough to make one's soul tremble and one's mind be filled with a murderous aura.

Only a portion of the tower's base is visible above ground; the majority remains buried deep beneath the earth's demonic veins, making it difficult to see its full extent.

Even so, it is already so vast that it makes one feel insignificant.

What's even more chilling is that from the cracks in the tower's base and where it meets the earth, a steady stream of pitch-black malevolent energy is gushing out!

These malevolent energies were a hundred times more concentrated and pure than those of the outer swamp, and they were mixed with countless grotesque and twisted phantoms of demons, emitting silent roars and frantically impacting the real world.

This is the base of the "Tower of Ten Thousand Demons"!

A fragment of the body of an ancient demonic treasure that remains in the world!

At this moment, on the edge of this fractured area surrounding the base of the tower, the situation is tense.

They were clearly divided into several camps, facing each other, yet none dared to approach the tower base that spewed terrifying malevolent energy.

To the east, a group of cultivators dressed in dark black robes with ice patterns exuded a chilling and deathly aura. The leader was pale-faced with sinister eyes and held a Xuanming Banner, its surface shrouded in ghostly spirits.

They were cultivators from the "Xuanming Palace" in the North Sea.

To the west were several cultivators exuding a murderous aura. They were dressed in different styles, but each of them was entangled in an intensely thick, malevolent aura, clearly indicating that they were practicing extremely vicious demonic arts. These were members of the "Seven Fiends Sect" in the Western Regions.

To the south, a group of demonic cultivators exuded an even more mixed and unrestrained aura. The burly man at the head of the group wore a skull necklace around his neck, and his eyes shone with demonic light, making no attempt to conceal his greed. This was the team from the "Heavenly Demon Sect," a major local demonic sect in the East Sea.

Besides these three strongest demonic forces, other rogue demonic cultivators or small sects could be vaguely seen in the surrounding shadows, waiting like hyenas for a chance to plunder.

To the due north, however, was a group of cultivators dressed in righteous attire. Though few in number, their cultivation was quite remarkable. They formed a strict defensive formation, their precious light swirling around them, resisting the baleful aura and demonic intent that permeated the surrounding area.

They came from different righteous sects, but were forced to unite temporarily due to the circumstances. However, they appeared weak and powerless in the face of numerous demonic giants, and their expressions were extremely solemn.

All eyes were fixed on the tower base, which was constantly spewing out malevolent energy, with a mixture of fervent desire and apprehension.

Clearly, the entrance to the "Tower of Ten Thousand Demons" has not yet been truly opened, or rather, the time for it to be opened has not yet come.

The surging baleful aura was the strongest barrier. If one approached rashly, even a Nascent Soul cultivator might be corrupted by the baleful aura, develop demonic thoughts, or even have their soul torn apart by those demonic phantoms.

They were waiting, waiting for the pause in the surge of malevolent energy, or waiting for some impatient fool to test the waters first.

Li Yunjing appeared silently behind a collapsed boulder, his presence perfectly blending into the environment, coldly observing the standoff.

His gaze swept over the massive tower base, his eyes flickering with a chaotic light, as if he were analyzing the ancient magical runes and restrictions contained within it.

"Indeed, it contains a trace of ancient will..."

He silently confirmed Fairy Shengyin's perception: "This tower is not an inanimate object."

Just because something isn't inanimate doesn't mean it's full of spirit!
Magical artifacts with spiritual power are all extraordinary existences, such as the immortal artifact on Li Yunjing's body!

A major war is inevitable!

People die for wealth, birds die for food; this is the law of the immortal path.

Li Yunjing's appearance went unnoticed by anyone.

The highest level present was only at the seventh or eighth level of the Nascent Soul realm, and no one could detect his presence.

His attention quickly shifted from the base of the tower to the group of demonic cultivators, or more precisely, to a seemingly ordinary disciple standing behind the sinister old man at the head of the "Xuanming Palace" group.

(End of this chapter)