Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 813 Seclusion for Healing, Third Level of Nascent Soul (Seeking monthly votes, two chapters combined into one)

Li Yunjing forcefully broke through the restrictions on it with his divine sense. Inside, in addition to a huge amount of spirit stones, demonic materials, and cultivation manual jade slips, he indeed found a special communication jade talisman.

The jade talisman has a bizarre shape, is entirely black, and has a twisted dark red rune engraved on it, which is of the same origin as the energy on the altar.

Only a short, encrypted message remained inside the jade talisman.

Li Yunjing and Zen Master Tanyin worked together, using the power of Buddhist thunder to try and decipher part of the content.

"...The bait has been laid...waiting for it to fall into the trap...void coordinates...lure it..."

The information was incomplete, but the words "bait has been laid" and "lure" made the two of them instantly realize that this was a trap aimed at Li Yunjing, and possibly even the entire vanguard of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion"!

Their goal was likely not just to kill them, but perhaps to use the altar to "guide" something even more terrifying!

"What a vicious scheme!"

Zen Master Tanyin gasped, "If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Li's extraordinary abilities, we would have really been in trouble this time."

The Buddhist monk's gaze toward Li Yunjing still held a look of shock.

The fact that he had summoned divine lightning from the sky and killed three True Monarchs at the Nascent Soul stage was something he could never forget.

That kind of power could almost injure him!

How exactly did Li Yunjing cultivate?
A Nascent Soul cultivator at the second level can unleash the power to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Little did he know that the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" worshipped heaven and earth, and with the manifestation of its ancestor, a true immortal array was passed down. As a grandmaster of array formations, Li Yunjing was experienced and naturally benefited greatly from it.

This time, the activation of the "Purple Heaven Divine Thunder" was achieved by leveraging the combined power of array formation cultivation, thunder magic cultivation, natural forces, and the authority of thunder...

Otherwise, relying solely on Li Yunjing's own divine lightning, let alone killing a Nascent Soul cultivator, even injuring them would be an impossible task.

"It seems that 'Black Fiend Ridge' is just a pawn, and there are deeper waters behind it."

Li Yunjing's eyes were cold as he carefully put away the jade talisman. "We cannot stay here any longer. We must leave quickly and rejoin the others."

With the mastermind killed and the core array destroyed, the power of the "Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Souls Array" was greatly reduced.

The fighting on the periphery is also nearing its end.

On the east side, the "Cave of a Hundred Ghosts" was reduced to ruins by the monk Huijue's violent "Vajra Pestle," and the demonic elder guarding it was purified by Buddhist light.

On the west side, the "Soul Refining Pool" was turned upside down by the illusion magic of Fairy Red Silk, and many of the guards killed each other. They were then wiped out by the infiltrated Xiao family secret guards and disciples of the "Thunder Punishment Hall".

Master Jingxin's "Purifying Lotus Demon-Transforming Array" delivered a large number of souls to the afterlife, effectively curbing the spread of demonic energy and providing timely medical treatment for the injured team members.

When Li Yunjing and Zen Master Tanyin walked out of the "Yinsha Cave", they saw the allied cultivators clearing out the remaining enemies and taking control of various places.

"Pavilion Master!"

"Zen Master!"

Master Yangyan, Master Xiaoying, Master Leize, and others quickly came forward. Seeing that Li Yunjing's face was pale but his eyes were sharp, they all breathed a sigh of relief. When they saw the corpse of the Black Fiend Old Demon being carried out from behind, they burst into a deafening cheer!
"The Black Demon has been defeated!"

"Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Those who surrender will have their cultivation sealed and be taken into custody!"

Li Yunjing's voice echoed throughout the entire "Black Demon Ridge".

Seeing their ancestor killed, the core formation broken, and the Nascent Soul reinforcements annihilated, the demonic cultivators who were putting up a last-ditch resistance suffered a complete collapse in morale. Most of them chose to surrender, while the few die-hards were quickly surrounded and wiped out.

As dawn broke, the battle that had lasted all night was basically over.

The once menacing "Black Demon Ridge" is now a scene of devastation, its demonic energy gradually dissipating under the combined effects of the "Purifying Lotus Demon-Dispelling Array" and sunlight.

Li Yunjing listened to reports from all sides in the main hall, which had been temporarily cleared out.

In this battle, the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" allied forces achieved a great victory, completely eradicating the "Black Fiend Ridge" malignant tumor at a very low cost.

They seized countless resources and captured hundreds of thousands of demonic cultivators.

"Immediately take stock of the battle results, treat the wounded, stabilize the formation, and guard against possible counterattacks."

Li Yunjing issued a series of orders: "Separate all prisoners and interrogate them strictly, especially regarding the white bone altar and the three mysterious Nascent Soul cultivators."

"As ordered!"

Everyone took the order and left.

Li Yunjing walked alone into the quiet room in the back hall. He could no longer hold on and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen.

The backlash from the "Divine Decree" far exceeded expectations, almost draining his magical power and divine consciousness, and even damaging his very essence.

Li Yunjing sat cross-legged on the cold stone surface of the quiet room, his body trembling slightly, each breath accompanied by a tearing pain.

"Zizzizi..."

The spurting blood was scalding hot and had an eerie purple hue!

The blood splattered in front of him, etching several small pits into the hard stone surface, making a sizzling sound.

"The Divine Decree of the Heavenly Firmament... to carry out punishment on behalf of Heaven... is indeed not something a Nascent Soul body can easily withstand..."

Li Yunjing gave a bitter smile and looked inward. He saw that his meridians were broken in many places, his dantian was almost depleted, and his once bright nascent soul was dull and lifeless, with even fine cracks appearing on its surface.

Even more seriously, an incomparably domineering will of destruction lingered deep within his consciousness and body, continuously eroding his vitality.

That is the price that must be paid to provoke the heavenly thunder!
If it weren't for his foundation being far superior to others of the same level, and the fact that the "Starry Sky Robe" and his powerful physique had offset most of the backlash, he would have already perished, body and soul.

"We must stabilize the injuries now!"

He dared not be negligent in the slightest, and with great effort, he endured the excruciating pain and began to circulate the "Divine Firmament Path" mental cultivation method.

This supreme technique, which was obtained from the true teachings of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect," now revealed its extraordinary nature, guiding the remaining weak magical power in the body to begin repairing the damaged meridians.

A wisp of sparse spiritual energy from heaven and earth was drawn in, seeping into the body through the pores. After being refined by the cultivation technique, it transformed into pure thunderous true essence, which, like a trickle, nourished the parched meridians and dantian.

Li Yunjing caught his breath and immediately took out the best healing pills he had obtained from his sect and those seized this time, swallowing them all at once.

The medicinal properties dissipated like sweet rain falling on parched land, and a powerful force of life surged into every part of the body, accelerating the body's repair.

In particular, several precious medicines that nourish the soul transformed into a cool energy that surged into the sea of ​​consciousness, barely resisting the erosion of that destructive will.

Time passes in silence.

The only sounds in the quiet room were Li Yunjing's heavy, suppressed breathing and the occasional, faint crackling of thunder emanating from within his body...

That was the Thunderous True Essence automatically removing the remnants of Yin Sha Demonic Qi and Dark Red Energy that had invaded the body.

Three days later, Li Yunjing's face gradually regained some color, from being as pale as paper, but his breath was still extremely weak.

Sweat kept seeping from his forehead, only to be instantly evaporated by the high temperature inside his body.

The repair process was painful and lengthy. The reconnection of every meridian and the restoration of every bit of magical power were accompanied by excruciating pain, like having one's bones scraped and one's heart ripped out.

Five days later, there was a gentle knock on the door of the quiet room.

"Pavilion Master?"

It was Zen Master Tanyin's concerned voice that came through, "The outer perimeter is basically stable, and the spoils and prisoners have been preliminarily counted. You..."

"It doesn't matter."

Li Yunjing's voice was hoarse and weak, yet carried an undeniable calmness: "Please come in, Zen Master."

Zen Master Tanyin pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Li Yunjing still sitting cross-legged, his complexion had improved somewhat, but his breath was still like a candle flickering in the wind. He couldn't help but show a worried expression: "Sect Master Li, your injuries..."

"The exertion was too great; you need to rest for a while."

Li Yunjing opened his eyes, his gaze tired but still clear. "What's the situation outside? Has anyone come to spy or retaliate?"

"None yet."

"The news of the destruction of 'Black Fiend Ridge' has probably not spread completely yet, or... some beings were intimidated by the Pavilion Master's thunderous actions yesterday and dare not make any rash moves."

Zen Master Tanyin shook his head. "Nephew Huijue and Fairy Hongling are leading a team to clear out the remaining strongholds in the mountains, while Abbess Jingxin is still performing rituals to deliver the souls of the dead and purify the demonic energy."

"Ah."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly. "Did you get any results from interrogating the prisoners? Especially regarding the altar and the three Nascent Soul cultivators."

"In the initial interrogation, the lower-level disciples and ordinary elders knew very little about this, only that a mysterious guest had visited several months ago and had a long private conversation with the Black Demon."

"After that, the Black Demon began to secretly set up the white bone altar, and his temperament became increasingly violent."

"As for the three Nascent Soul stage demon cultivators, no one recognizes them; they are definitely not from 'Black Fiend Ridge' or any of the surrounding demonic forces."

Zen Master Tanyin's expression turned solemn: "The aura of its technique... is extremely strange. It seems to be able to devour the essence of living beings to strengthen itself, and it shares the same origin as the energy of that altar."

"I suspect that the dark red energy is very likely the legendary 'Void Demonic Energy,' which comes from extraterrestrial demons."

He paused, then said in a low voice, "That altar is the channel for drawing in demonic energy! The Black Fiend Demon's cultivation level has increased dramatically, probably because he received a surge of demonic energy!"

"Sure enough."

Li Yunjing's eyes turned cold: "It seems that what we've disturbed is not just a den of demons, but also a hornet's nest connecting to the outside world."

“Zen Master, we must intensify the interrogation, especially of the Black Demon’s confidants.”

"The captured jade slips and books should also be examined as soon as possible to find clues."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of blood that was rising again due to his emotions. "I have a feeling that this is not going to end here."

"I understand."

Zen Master Tanyin put his palms together and said, "Sect Master, please rest assured and heal your injuries. This old monk and fellow Daoists will temporarily take care of everything outside."

"Thank you for your trouble, Zen Master."

Li Yunjing slowly closed his eyes. "Before I emerge from seclusion, all matters shall be decided jointly by the Zen Master, Yangyan Zhenren, Xiao Ying, and Lei Ze Zhenren. Do not disturb me unless it is an emergency."

"it is good!"

Zen Master Tanyin respectfully agreed and quietly withdrew, setting up several more layers of Buddhist restrictions outside the meditation room as a precaution.

The quiet room returned to silence.

Li Yunjing focused his mind and guarded his inner self, fighting against the destructive will within him and guiding the medicinal power and thunderous true essence to repair his injuries.

Time was of the essence, and the potential enemy would not give him much time to recover.

He must restore at least some of his combat strength as soon as possible to deal with any unforeseen events that may occur next.

Ten days passed quietly amidst the torment and recovery.

Inside the quiet room, the faint purple lightning surrounding Li Yunjing gradually dissipated.

Although his face was still somewhat sickly pale, his breathing had become much more stable and was no longer as weak and feeble as before.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing a deep, inner light. Though not as sharp and compelling as in his prime, it had regained its former profundity.

With the help of the Shenxiao Dao mental cultivation method and rare elixirs, his body, which was on the verge of collapse, was finally pulled back from the brink of death.

The severed meridians were initially repaired, and the depleted dantian re-condensed a not-so-powerful but sufficiently pure thunderous true essence.

As for the destructive will left by the backlash of the Heavenly Dao in the sea of ​​consciousness, as well as the wound to the origin, it cannot be cured overnight and requires a long and painstaking process to slowly heal and remove it.

"I've barely recovered 30% of my strength... That should be enough to handle the situation."

He exhaled a breath of stale air, which still carried a faint smell of blood.

He got up and stretched his somewhat stiff body, his bones making a slight cracking sound.

"Sect Leader Li, your emergence from seclusion is perfectly timed."

Just then, slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the meditation room, along with Zen Master Tanyin's voice, tinged with a hint of helplessness:
“Nephew Huijue, Fairy Hongling, and several other fellow Daoists are waiting in the front hall, saying that they want to discuss the distribution of the spoils of war.”

The Zen Master Tan Yin's voice revealed a hint of weariness, indicating that the external pressure had not lessened due to Li Yunjing's seclusion over the past ten days.

Li Yunjing's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of coldness flashing across them.

Sure enough, it came.

The newly established "Demon Slayer Pavilion" achieved a resounding victory in its first battle, reaping a mountain of spoils. This inevitably led to various factions having their own agendas.

He straightened his slightly wrinkled "Starry Night Robe" and pushed open the door to the meditation room.

Outside the door, Zen Master Tanyin saw that although his breathing was weak, it had stabilized, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry: "Master, your health..."

"No problem."

Li Yunjing waved his hand, his tone calm, "What must be faced must be faced. Let's go, Zen Master, and see how everyone wants to divide it."

The two walked side by side toward the front hall, which was temporarily being used as a council chamber.

Before even entering, one could hear the sounds of arguing coming from inside.

"...My disciples from the Kasyapa Treasure Light Temple charged ahead to break through the Hundred Ghost Cave, suffering considerable casualties. The 'Yin Marrow Jade Lotus' discovered in that cave is a treasure of Buddhism for purifying demonic energy, and it rightfully belongs to our temple!"

This was the high-pitched, slightly arrogant voice of the monk Huijue.

"Oh dear, Master Huijue, what are you saying? If it weren't for my little sister causing chaos in the 'Soul Refining Pool' and restraining a large number of guards, how could you have succeeded so easily?"

"The 'Bewitching Demon Bell Vine' that grows at the bottom of the pool is a top-grade material for refining musical magic treasures. It is compatible with my 'Wonderful Sound Workshop' technique. Could it be that Master also wants to compete for it?"

The Red Silk Fairy's voice remained charming, yet it carried an unyielding sharpness.

"Amitabha Buddha, the materials of the demonic path are mostly ominous. They should be purified with Buddhist teachings or handed over to the 'Demon Slaying Pavilion' for unified disposal."

Master Jingxin's voice was clear, cool, and peaceful.

"Hmph, easy for you to say! How can we, disciples of our sect, return empty-handed after going into battle? Does the 'Demon Slaying Pavilion' intend to take it all for itself?"

A slightly unfamiliar voice rang out, seemingly from the leader of a medium-sized sect who had come to lend a hand.

"Master Yangyan, Chief Xiao, Deputy Hall Master Lei Ze, say something!"

Someone else urged.

Clearly, after clearing out "Black Fiend Ridge" and looting the spoils of war these past few days, internal factions have started fighting over the wealth!
"Black Fiend Ridge" is an extremely powerful demonic sect, and the wealth inside is unimaginable.

No one can ignore the spoils of war!
Including all the cultivators from the "Shenxiao Dao Sect"!
As Li Yunjing and Zen Master Tanyin stepped into the hall, the arguing abruptly ceased.

All eyes immediately focused on Li Yunjing, their gazes varying in tone: some concerned, some scrutinizing, some expectant, and some deeply hidden indifference.

Clearly, some people noticed that his face was still pale.

Li Yunjing's gaze calmly swept across the entire room.

The monk Huijue stood tall like a pine tree, holding a vajra, his face proud; the fairy Hongling played with a bell, her smile as beautiful as a flower, but her eyes were shrewd and gleaming; the nun Jingxin lowered her eyes and twirled her prayer beads, her expression indifferent; the immortals Yangyan, Xiao Ying, and Lei Ze stood solemnly to the side, clearly not having participated in the dispute, but waiting for his arrival.

There were also seven or eight other sect leaders or representatives who came to lend their support inside the hall.

"It seems that you all have some ideas about how to distribute the spoils."

Li Yunjing walked to the head seat and sat down. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

“Sect Leader Li, it’s not that we are impatient.”

Monk Huijue spoke first, his tone was polite, but his meaning was clear: "The annihilation of 'Black Fiend Ridge' was the result of everyone's joint efforts. Now that we have reaped a great harvest, we need to decide on how to distribute it as soon as possible, so as to put the minds of all factions at ease."

"Yes! Yes!"

The Fairy of Red Silk chuckled and echoed, "Sect Leader Li, you are unwell, and we should not disturb you. However, this matter is of great importance, and we need your intervention to uphold justice."

Li Yunjing glanced at the two of them, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Yang Yan Zhenren and asked, "Fellow Daoist Yang Yan, what are the results of the inventory?"

He needs to find out exactly how much wealth he has!
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master!"

"Preliminary inventory complete."

"A total of approximately 590 million high-grade spirit stones were seized, along with countless magical materials, spirit herbs, and minerals. The preliminary estimate is that the value of these items far exceeds the value of the spirit stones."

"There are more than three hundred jade slips containing cultivation techniques, including many demonic techniques at the Nascent Soul and even Divine Transformation levels."

"In addition, there are 87,000 standard magical artifacts and demonic weapons."

Master Yangyan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "A total of more than 370,000 demonic cultivators have been captured, and their cultivation has been sealed. They are now under centralized guard."

He paused, then added, "Among them, the most precious are the several treasures suspected to be ancient demonic artifacts stored in the 'Yin Sha Cave,' as well as the 'Yin Marrow Jade Lotus' from the 'Hundred Ghost Cave,' the 'Bewitching Demon Bell Vine' from the 'Soul Refining Pool,' and other spiritual treasures of heaven and earth."

"As for the spiritual veins of 'Black Fiend Ridge', there is one fifth-order spiritual vein, fifteen fourth-order spiritual veins, eight hundred third-order spiritual veins, and countless other small spiritual veins."

"hiss……"

A collective gasp filled the hall. Although it was expected, hearing the specific numbers still made hearts race.

"This battle was indeed the result of everyone's concerted efforts."

Li Yun nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd again, and slowly said, "'Demon Slaying Pavilion' is by no means one that seeks to monopolize the spoils of war." He then changed the subject, his tone growing more serious: "However, before the distribution, there are a few points that need to be clarified first."

"First, all spoils of war must be deducted from the compensation, rewards, and funds for the subsequent operation of the 'Demon Slayer Pavilion'."

"This is the usual practice; I presume you all have no objections?"

Li Yunjing looked around and asked calmly.

"As it should be!"

The group looked at each other and slowly nodded.

This is an unwritten rule after the conquests of the cultivation world, and no one can object to it.

"Secondly, all demonic jade slips and evil magical artifacts, especially those related to that 'void demonic energy,' must be sealed and handed over to the 'Tianlan Alliance' headquarters for disposal by the alliance. No one is allowed to keep them privately!"

"Those who violate this rule will be punished for colluding with the demonic path!"

Li Yunjing's voice suddenly turned stern, and his gaze swept over the several cultivators whose eyes were darting around like lightning.

"I will obey Lord Li's decree!"

The atmosphere inside the hall became solemn, and everyone solemnly agreed.

Although some people are greedy, since "Black Fiend Ridge" has been destroyed, how could they dare to bring trouble upon themselves?
In the current cultivation world of "Tianlan Star," the inevitable trend is to confront the great calamity to come.

Anyone who goes against this principle is going against the vast majority of people!
This will definitely not end well!

"The third and most important point."

"Gentlemen, let us not forget why we are able to stand here and distribute the spoils of war?"

Li Yunjing leaned forward slightly. Although his aura was not strong, he still exuded an air of authority. "If I hadn't risked damage to my Dao foundation to forcibly break through the demonic array and kill the ringleader and those three mysterious Nascent Soul cultivators, we would probably have become sacrifices on that altar of bones by now. Where would we have gotten these spoils?"

"Master Huijue conquered the 'Hundred Ghost Cave,' and Fairy Hongling disrupted the 'Soul Refining Pool.' Their contributions are indispensable, and they will be richly rewarded after the battle."

"But shouldn't items like the 'Yin Marrow Jade Lotus' and the 'Bewitching Demon Bell Vine' directly belong to individuals?"

His gaze fell on Huijue and Hongling: "If the entire army had not fought with their lives, and if this Pavilion Master and the Zen Master had not stormed the enemy's lair and drawn the main force away, could you have obtained these treasures so easily?"

Monk Huijue frowned, wanting to refute, but recalling the earth-shattering "Purple Heaven Divine Thunder" and the scene of three Nascent Soul cultivators instantly turning to ashes, he swallowed back the words he was about to say, though his expression was rather unpleasant.

The Red Silk Fairy's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes flickered a few times.

The others also lost their temper.

Ten days have passed, and the great battle deep within "Black Fiend Ridge" has long been told to others by Zen Master Tanyin.

With such combat power, who would dare to disagree?

Even the high-ranking monks at the Nascent Soul stage of the "Kasyapa Baoguang Temple" were convinced. How could anyone else possibly contend with Li Yunjing?

Not to mention that Li Yunjing is also the vice leader of the "Tianlan Alliance"!
He is the master of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion"!

He is the supreme leader of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect"!

With all his identities at stake, Li Yunjing's words were practically law, and you couldn't argue with them!
"In my opinion!"

"All spoils shall be registered and recorded in a unified manner, and distributed fairly according to the size of the battle merits and the amount of effort contributed."

"Special resources required by each faction can be exchanged with priority within the same value."

"Only in this way can we win the hearts of the people and avoid damaging harmony."

Seeing that no one objected, Li Yunjing softened his tone, yet it carried an unshakeable power: "What do you all think?"

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Li Yunjing's plan, while seemingly fair, actually kept the distribution power firmly in the hands of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion".

But everything he said made sense, especially his terrifying record of decisive victories, which made it impossible to ignore his authority.

“Amitabha, what Pavilion Master Li said is very true.”

Zen Master Tanyin spoke up at the opportune moment: "The great battle has just ended, but the shadow of evil is not far away. We, as fellow practitioners, should unite as one and not let any temporary gain cause us to become estranged. I think this suggestion is very appropriate."

Master Yangyan, Master Xiaoying, and Master Leize immediately bowed: "We will obey the Pavilion Master's command!"

They represent Li Yunjing's core strength, so naturally they support him unconditionally.

Representatives from other smaller factions exchanged glances and then bowed, saying, "Pavilion Master Li is fair and just; we have no objections!"

After a moment of silence, the monk Huijue finally put his palms together and said, "I will do as Pavilion Master Li says."

Although he was arrogant, he was not stupid. He knew that it would be unwise to confront Li Yunjing head-on at this time.

Moreover, since his elder, Zen Master Tanyin, had agreed, there was no need to offend Li Yunjing.

"How could I dare disobey the Lord's command?"

The fairy in red silk glanced at her and said with a charming smile, "But when the time comes, you must prioritize exchanging for that 'Demon Bell Vine' for me~"

"The articles of association will be drafted and published as soon as possible."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly: "During this period, you all need to appease your subordinates, work together to maintain order, and guard against unforeseen events."

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison.

A potential internal power struggle was temporarily quelled by Li Yunjing's combination of kindness and authority, and his reasoned and well-founded control.

But this is just the beginning.

As the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" continues its operations, more conflicts of interest will emerge.

He must recover his strength as soon as possible in order to maintain control of the situation.

"Master, please work with Yang Yan and the others to draft the rules as soon as possible. They must be detailed and fair, leaving no room for criticism."

After dismissing everyone, Li Yunjing whispered to Zen Master Tanyin, "I need to continue my seclusion to recover my strength."

The reasons for choosing Zen Master Tanyin to take charge are as follows: first, the Buddhist community has made a great contribution; second, this person has profound spiritual cultivation; third, his character is acceptable based on observation; and fourth, it serves as a reminder to all parties that the appointment of people should be based on merit, not favoritism!
In this way, Li Yunjing naturally chose the best option.

"Rest assured, Master, I understand."

Zen Master Tanyin solemnly said.

Li Yunjing turned around and walked back to the quiet room in the back hall.

His steps were still somewhat unsteady, but his back was as straight as a pine tree, carrying an unquestionable determination.

Several days later, after repeated consultations and deliberations by Zen Master Tanyin, True Man Yangyan, Xiao Ying, True Man Lei Ze, and representatives from all parties, a detailed and relatively fair distribution plan for the spoils of war was finally drafted.

The core of the charter follows the principles set by Li Yunjing!
Twenty percent of the total spoils will be used first to pay for the pensions of the cultivators who died in this battle, to reward all the participants for their merits, and to reserve resources to maintain the daily operation of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" and for subsequent operations.

All clearly marked demonic jade slips, evil magical artifacts, and all items related to "Void Demonic Qi" and the White Bone Altar were immediately sealed and sealed by Zen Master Tanyin and True Person Yangyan. An elite team was then dispatched to the headquarters of the "Tianlan Alliance" at top speed.

Based on the specific performance of each team in this battle, such as the difficulty of breaking through enemy lines, the number of enemy soldiers killed, the importance of the decapitation target, the risk of undertaking the mission, and the effectiveness of assisting in medical treatment, a complex merit calculation system was developed.

An auditing team was formed, consisting of the leaders of the Shenxiao Dao Sect, Jiaye Baoguang Temple, Miaoyin Fang, Xiao Family, Yuanyang Dao Sect, and several medium-sized sects, to supervise each other and ensure that the merit statistics were accurate.

The remaining supplies and spirit stones will be exchanged according to the merit points earned by each faction and individual.

Merit points can be exchanged for spirit stones, materials, magic weapons, pills, and more.

As for special spiritual items such as "Yin Marrow Jade Lotus" and "Bewitching Demon Bell Vine", individuals or sects with an urgent need for them and sufficient merit points are allowed to exercise priority exchange rights. However, the exchange price must be fairly evaluated and converted into merit points to ensure that their value is not underestimated and to avoid disguised encroachment on collective interests.

After the charter was published, a few people still had doubts, feeling that their contributions were underestimated or that the exchange rate was not favorable enough.

Overall, the plan took into account the interests of all parties, the procedures were open and transparent, and it was backed by the prestige of Zen Master Tanyin and Li Yunjing's outstanding military achievements, so the vast majority of people expressed their acceptance.

The monk Huijue successfully exchanged the "Yin Marrow Jade Lotus" for the "Kasyapa Baoguang Temple." Although the merit points he paid were painful, almost depleting most of the disciples' gains in this battle, this item was of great significance to Buddhist cultivation, so he had no choice but to accept it.

The Red Silk Fairy was all smiles, having successfully acquired the "Bewitching Demon Bell Vine," and began to ponder how to refine it into a powerful natal magic weapon.

Other parties also exchanged for corresponding resources based on their own merits and needs, and the overall atmosphere gradually calmed down from the previous disputes and agitation.

A large amount of spirit stones and common materials were distributed, and the participating cultivators reaped a great harvest, which boosted their morale.

As for the more than 300,000 demonic cultivator prisoners, after initial screening, most of the low-level disciples had their demonic arts abolished and their related memories erased. They were then handed over to the "Tianlan Alliance" deacons who arrived later and escorted to remote mines or places of hard labor to atone for their sins through forced labor.

A small number of core members and those who knew the inside story were subjected to even harsher restrictions and were directly imprisoned by the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" for further in-depth interrogation in order to uncover more clues about the "Void Demonic Energy" and the mastermind behind it.

The spiritual veins of "Black Fiend Ridge" have also been taken over by the formation master team sent by the "Sky Tide Alliance". They have begun to purify the demonic energy and prepare to transform it into an important stronghold or resource production site for righteous sects. Its output will also be incorporated into the distribution system of the "Demon Slaying Pavilion" and the alliance in the future.

The allocation has been finalized, and all parties are temporarily satisfied.

As the undisputed hero of this battle and the leader of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion," Li Yunjing naturally received the largest share of merit points.

He did not rush to exchange for those fancy magic treasures or spiritual items, but instead pragmatically chose a massive amount of pure spirit stones, several kinds of top-grade medicines to nourish the origin and repair the soul, and a batch of rare spiritual materials that could assist in thunder cultivation and contained the most yang energy.

Inside the quiet room, spiritual energy permeated the air, almost materializing.

Li Yunjing sat cross-legged on the ground, and the high-grade spirit stones piled up in front of him, like a small mountain, were dimming and turning into dust at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He frantically absorbed the vast and pure spiritual energy, which was then refined through the "Divine Firmament Path" mental cultivation method, transforming into surging thunderous true essence, which poured into his still somewhat parched dantian and meridians.

At the same time, he also took those precious medicines. The medicinal power transformed into a warm current and a cooling sensation, respectively nourishing his damaged body and his tormented soul, resisting that stubborn will to destroy.

"Not enough...not enough!"

A fierce glint flashed in Li Yunjing's eyes.

Although resources were plentiful and his injuries were healing rapidly, he could sense that the normal recovery rate was too slow.

The gains and sense of crisis from that great battle lashed at him like a whip.

A mastermind behind the scenes, demonic energy in the void, a potential trap... all of this demands that he become stronger as quickly as possible!

"The second level of the Nascent Soul stage is still too weak!"

Li Yunjing muttered to himself, his gaze falling on the newly acquired spiritual materials that shimmered with lightning.

"Lightning-struck wood core", "Qianyang thunderstone", "Thunder-containing amber"... each one contains violent thunder power, and ordinary cultivators must be careful when refining them to avoid backfiring on themselves.

However, Li Yunjing cultivates the supreme thunder technique "Shenxiao Dao" and has a top-tier thunder spiritual root. He has also personally triggered the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, so his ability to withstand and control thunder far surpasses that of his peers.

A bold and crazy idea began to grow in his mind!

With the help of these supreme Yang Thunder-attribute spiritual materials, along with a massive amount of spirit stones, he not only needs to completely recover from his injuries, but also needs to activate the creation within his sea of ​​consciousness to forcefully break through the bottleneck of the third level of the Nascent Soul realm!
"Destruction precedes construction!"

"Thunder is the epitome of yang and strength; even in destruction, new life is born!"

"My injury originated from the Heavenly Punishment of Lightning. I used the essence of this lightning to nourish myself and broke through in one fell swoop!"

With this in mind, he no longer hesitated.

With hands forming a mudra, the spirit-gathering array set up in the quiet room instantly shone brightly, and the speed at which it drew in spiritual energy suddenly increased several times!
The entire quiet room seemed to transform into the center of a vortex of spiritual energy.

Immediately afterwards, he grabbed a fist-sized piece of [Qianyang Thunder Stone] wrapped with electric snakes and pressed it directly onto his dantian!

"boom!!!"

A surge of violent and scorching lightning power instantly rushed into his body, like a red-hot iron being plunged into his meridians!

A sharp pain shot through him, and Li Yunjing groaned, veins bulging on his forehead. But his eyes were sharp as knives as he desperately guarded his mental clarity, fully activating the "Divine Firmament Dao" mental technique to guide the external thunder power to merge with his own thunder true essence, and frantically attack the meridians and acupoints that were not yet fully opened!

"Zizzizi..."

Fine purple sparks began to erupt from his body, and he seemed to transform into a monstrous figure.

The powerful energy fluctuations even permeated the quiet room, causing the disciples guarding outside to tremble with fear.

He refined and absorbed one piece of lightning-attribute spiritual material after another, while a massive amount of spirit stones continuously turned into ashes.

This process was absolutely terrifying, like being repeatedly forged in a furnace of lightning.

This is Li Yunjing. Anyone else, even a True Monarch at the Nascent Soul stage, would probably find it difficult to withstand such power and its bombardment of the body, both inside and out!

"Crack!"

The newly generated Thunder True Essence is domineering and unparalleled. While repairing injuries, it also tears apart old and weak meridians, and then uses its powerful vitality to reshape a wider and stronger channel!

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, that destructive will seemed to be stimulated and began to fiercely counterattack, but it was quickly suppressed and worn down by the combined power of the more powerful thunderous true intent and the nourishing medicine for the soul.

Time passes day by day...

"Boom!"

The thunder in the quiet room grew louder and louder. Li Yunjing's aura did not weaken due to the pain. Instead, it became more and more powerful and terrifying, like an accumulating volcano!
At one moment, it seemed as if a silent roar came from within him!

"Crack!"

A certain solid barrier was violently breached by a raging torrent of thunder!
"Boom!"

An even more immense aura erupted from his body, instantly breaking through the restrictions of the meditation room. A condensed purple beam of light shot out from his head and soared into the sky. Although it was not as vast as the heavenly might he had previously summoned, it was incomparably pure and full of pure thunderous Daoist charm!

Nascent Soul Stage 3!
Become!

Outside, a condensed purple beam of light shot into the sky!

Although it was not as destructive as the previous Heavenly Punishment Divine Lightning, it carried a pure and majestic Daoist aura of thunder!

In an instant, it tore apart the remaining demonic energy that had not yet completely dissipated above "Black Fiend Ridge", turning the sky for dozens of miles around into a noble pale purple!
The pillar of light lasted for about three breaths before slowly dissipating, but the immense spiritual pressure and the heart-palpitating residual power of the thunder rippled outwards like water, spreading clearly throughout the entire "Black Fiend Ridge" mountain range.

"Hiss... What is this?!"

Master Yang Yan, who was directing his disciples to clear the ruins, suddenly looked up and felt the familiar yet even more powerful aura of thunder. His face first showed astonishment, then turned to great joy, "Sect Master... he broke through?!"

"Such pure lightning power! It seems even more condensed and domineering than before!"

Xiao Ying pressed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his eyes flashing with a mixture of shock and admiration.

He knew how serious Li Yunjing's previous injuries were, but he never expected that he could not only recover in such a short time, but also improve to a higher level!

"The true meaning of thunder... This is the manifestation of the primordial thunder power triggered when breaking through to a higher realm!"

"The Sect Master has actually broken through to a higher realm despite being severely injured!"

Master Lei Ze was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly. As the deputy hall master of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" who mainly cultivated thunder magic, he felt this aura most deeply: "Truly... truly a genius!"

He seemed to see a new peak in his cultivation of thunder magic.

"Amitabha!"

While Zen Master Tanyin was interrogating a demonic cultivator elder, he sensed this aura, his prayer beads paused, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. "Sect Master Li... has he only been in seclusion for a few days? Not only has his injury fully recovered, but he has even made further progress? Such foundation and comprehension are truly inconceivable!"

"What?! He broke through again?!"

The monk Huijue was feeling somewhat frustrated after spending a huge amount of merit points on the "Yin Marrow Jade Lotus". Now, feeling the undisguised breakthrough aura with a strong sense of oppression, his expression became extremely complicated.

The slight displeasure caused by the lack of resources was instantly replaced by a stronger sense of awe.

The last vestige of pride he held as a high-ranking member of a major sect was shattered at this moment.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness I didn't really offend him just now..."

The Fairy Red Silk was happily playing with the "Bewitching Demon Bell Vine" she had just acquired when her charming smile froze on her face, and a hint of shock and relief flashed in her beautiful eyes: "He has such power at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage, what will he be like when he reaches the Divine Transformation stage?"

The leaders and cultivators of the smaller sects were utterly shocked.

"Oh my God!"

"Wasn't Pavilion Master Li seriously injured?"

"How did you break through so quickly?"

"Is this what a prodigy is like?"

"Not only did he recover from being seriously injured and forced into seclusion, but his cultivation actually improved?"

"He already had the feat of reversing the Nascent Soul stage and defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator. Now that he has broken through, just how terrifying must his strength be?"

"With Pavilion Master Li leading the Demon-Slaying Pavilion, how can we fear that the demonic path will not be destroyed!"

"Quickly! Go prepare the gifts!"

"We once again congratulate the Pavilion Master on his breakthrough!"

……

For a moment, the entire "Black Fiend Ridge" camp fell into a deathly silence, and then a huge commotion and discussion erupted.

(End of this chapter)