Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 814 Internal Disagreements within the Demonic Path (Seeking monthly votes, two chapters combined into one)

Everyone's attention was drawn to this sudden breakthrough!

All the previous little schemes and calculations seem pale and laughable in the face of such absolute power.

Li Yunjing used the most direct method to once again solidify his unshakeable authority!
He sat quietly in the secret room, motionless, and his aura, which had been so violent when he was comprehending thunder magic, suddenly became ordinary.

His eyes went from brilliant to desolate, from annihilation to rebirth, as if they had undergone a transformation from prosperity to decline.

At the same time, it seemed as if inexplicable trajectories emerged between heaven and earth, forming complex and profound rules and order, giving rise to mysterious patterns and designs.

A mysterious aura lingered in the place where Li Yunjing was in seclusion.

Such a change naturally did not escape the notice of the other cultivators in "Black Fiend Ridge," and everyone looked in shock at Li Yunjing's secluded cultivation place.

"Returning from brilliance to simplicity is the true return to nature!"

"My God! Such complete control! This Li Yunjing is practically a legend, his strength is beyond compare."

"No wonder this person, with only the Nascent Soul realm cultivation, is able to serve as the vice leader of the 'Tianlan Alliance'!"

"This person seems to have a bright future!"

From various points along "Black Fiend Ridge," streaks of light flew out, heading towards the main peak where Li Yunjing was located.

The crowd floated in mid-air, all of them shocked.

Everyone realized just how high Li Yunjing's status had become; with him around, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" had truly risen to prominence.

However, at this moment, inside the secret chamber, Li Yunjing was still immersed in that mysterious Daoist charm.

His eyes went from sparkling with lightning to deathly gray, from vibrant with life to empty and desolate, and then back to spring again.

The power of various laws is constantly evolving.

"Om!"

Within his body, his nascent soul underwent new changes.

Three days later, Li Yunjing woke up. He now appeared extremely ethereal, as if he were standing in a sea of ​​thunder, or in a starry sky.

"Ugh……"

After a long while, Li Yunjing slowly opened his eyes, his eyes shimmering with purple lightning and radiating a divine light.

Right there in this clean room, Li Yunjing moved, and the Five Thunder Dao Technique burst forth. Between his fists and feet, the "Thunder Tribulation Divine Fist" evolved, with thunderous roars and exceptionally fierce power.

The power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements transformation cleverly transforms the power of thunder into divine thunder of various attributes.

His palms moved smoothly and softly, aided by the power of the five elements, the power of yin and yang, the power of life and death, and the power of sacrifice, all under the command of the power of thunder, and were spread throughout his body.

He felt the surging true essence within his body, which was several times more powerful than before, and the more solid and vibrant nascent soul, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

His injuries were fully healed, and his breakthrough in cultivation was a natural outcome!

Li Yunjing: Head of the Shenxiao Dao Sect, owner of the Xingyue Trading Company, leader of the Zhanmo Pavilion, and deputy leader of the Tianlan Alliance.

[Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul Realm, Third Level]

[Spiritual Roots: Intermediate Heaven-Grade Five Elements Spiritual Root, Advanced Heaven-Grade Thunder Spiritual Root]

[Divine Body: Thunder Divine Body (Half-Step God Transformation)]

[Divine Sense: Spiritual Manifestation (Radiating over 380 miles) Comparable to a Half-Step Nascent Soul]

[Magic Power: All the power of various laws is at or above the ninth level of the Nascent Soul realm, among which the power of thunder is almost comparable to that of the Divine Transformation realm.]

[Spirit Stones: 3900 top-grade spirit stones, 7320 million high-grade spirit stones]

[Medicinal Pills: 15 "Ten Thousand Poisons Life-Snatching Pills", 3 "Nine Heavens Thunder Essence Pills", 3 "Mysterious Essence Gathering Spirit Pills", 8 "Nine-Turn Mysterious Yin Pills"]

[Talismans: 7 Exorcism Talismans, 5 Protection Talismans, 2 Escape Talismans, 5 Five Elements Divine Thunder Talismans, 28 Six Ding Six Jia Talismans, 4th-Tier Low-Grade Jade Brush and Mountain and River Grinding Stone, 1 Substitute Death Talisman]

[Formations: Mid-grade fourth-tier "Immortal Clouds and Misty Clouds Formation", Quasi-Immortal Formation "Nine Heavens Clouds and Thunder Formation", "Six Ding Six Jia Twelve Star Palaces Grand Formation", "Seven Star Dao Canon", Immortal Formation "Nine Heavens Demon-Suppressing Immortal Formation"]

[Magic Items: Tier 4 Superior "Yin Yang Five Elements Heavenly Evolution Sword", "Swift Wind Boots", "Five Dragon Wheels", "Heavenly Thunder Emperor Seal", "Five Poison Divine Needles", "Ten Thousand Poison Banner", Tier 4 Supreme "Ten Thousand Paths Glazed Furnace"; Tier 5 Superior "Yin Yang Treasure Mirror", Tier 5 Mid-Grade "Purple Gold Gourd", Tier 5 Low-Grade "Myriad Manifestations Lotus Lamp", Tier 4 Mid-Grade "Heavenly Net", Mysterious Thunder Origin "Thunder Divine Mace", Tier 4 Superior "Mysterious Heavenly Compass", Tier 4 Supreme "Dragon and Phoenix Yin Yang Heavenly Secret Pendant", Tier 4 Superior "Star Essence Bottle", Tier 5 Supreme "Bronze Ancient Bell", Tier 4 Mid-Grade "Sky Patrol Ship", Ancient Incomplete Immortal Artifact "Tortoise Shell", "Star Constellation Robe" Quasi-Immortal Artifact, Immortal Artifact "Ten Thousand Demon Tower"]

[Cultivation Techniques: Nine Heavens Responding Thunder Scripture, Way of Sacrifice, Way of Death, Heavenly Poison Scripture, Fifth-Order Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture, Starfall Secret Manual, Profound Yin True Explanation, Four Symbols True Scripture, Fifth-Order Dragon Emperor Scripture, Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs True Scripture]

[Spells: Yin-Yang Five Elements Divine Fist, Thunder Tribulation Divine Fist, Great Zhou Tian Star Technique, Three Heads and Six Arms Great Divine Power, Samadhi True Fire, "Creation Divine Eye"]

Materials: "Fountain of Life", 3 Tier 4 "Dao Seed Beads", and fragments of the Three Lives Stone

[Puppets: 28 low-grade Tier 4 "Puppet Mechanical Beasts"]

[Tokens: Divine Firmament Token, Meteor Token]

[Secondary Positions: Fourth-Tier Advanced Talisman Crafting Grandmaster, Fourth-Tier Peak Array Crafting Grandmaster, Fourth-Tier Advanced Weapon Crafting Grandmaster, Fourth-Tier Intermediate Puppet Crafting Grandmaster, Fourth-Tier Intermediate Alchemy Grandmaster, Fourth-Tier Intermediate Celestial Mystery Grandmaster]

[Industries: Zixiao Cloud Palace, Qiwu Mountain Villa, Chaos Palace, Xingyue Trading Company]

[Spirit Beast: Little Yellow Peregrine Falcon (Golden Core Realm, Fourth Level)]

[Spiritual Plants: Blood Bodhi Tree, Five-Colored Flower]

After checking his condition, Li Yunjing stood up. His aura was harmonious and restrained, yet he possessed a majestic and imposing presence.

Pushing open the door to the meditation room, the disciples guarding outside immediately bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with fervor and awe: "Congratulations, Pavilion Master, on your great advancement in cultivation!"

Li Yunjing nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the various cultivators in the distance who had quickly quieted down and were now casting their gazes upon him upon his emergence from seclusion. His voice, calm yet clear, resounded throughout the surrounding area:
"However, there has been some improvement, but it is nothing to boast about."

"Everyone, please perform your duties and complete the aftermath of this matter as soon as possible."

"Yes! Pavilion Master!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices strong and their morale high.

Yang Yan Zhenren, Xiao Ying, Lei Ze Zhenren, and other core members quickly came forward, their faces filled with genuine joy.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader!"

Several people offered their congratulations.

Li Yunjing waved his hand and looked at Zen Master Tanyin: "Zen Master, is there any new progress in the interrogation and the identification of the classics?"

"I was just about to report to the Pavilion Master."

Zen Master Tanyin composed himself, put his palms together, and said, "The intensive interrogation of the Black Demon Old Demon's trusted elders over the past few days, combined with some of the secret scrolls found in the secret room, has indeed led to a major discovery!"

"Oh?"

Li Yunjing's eyes narrowed. "Speak!"

"According to confessions and scattered records in secret documents, the one who came into contact with the Black Demon Lord and bestowed upon him 'Void Demonic Energy' to construct the altar was a mysterious being who called himself the 'Void Venerable'."

"Its whereabouts are mysterious, and it does not seem to be fixed in a certain area."

"And the ultimate purpose of that altar is indeed to guide others!"

"But what is being guided is not simply demonic energy, but... some kind of 'ancient demonic thought' or 'evil god's will' from beyond the heavens!"

"They are attempting to use this as a coordinate to erode and even invade our realm!"

"As for 'the bait has been laid'..."

Zen Master Tanyin's expression was extremely solemn. "Based on all the information, the 'bait' most likely refers to you, Pavilion Master!"

"Or rather, it's the 'Demon Slayer Pavilion' that you represent, which is rapidly rising and threatening them!"

"They anticipated that we would come to wipe out 'Black Fiend Ridge,' so they set up this scheme. First, to kill the Pavilion Master and the vanguard; second, if things failed, to use the fiendish energy and death generated by the battle as nourishment to accelerate the attraction of that 'Ancient Demonic Thought'!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunjing's eyes flashed with a cold light, and lightning flickered faintly around his body.

"What a fine 'Void Venerable'!"

"What a brilliant, two-birds-with-one-stone scheme!"

He said coldly, "It seems that Black Fiend Ridge is just the beginning. This 'Void Venerable' and the forces behind him are the real threat!"

"Yang Yan, immediately encrypt the latest intelligence and report it to the alliance headquarters with the highest priority!"

After a moment's thought, he immediately ordered: "We urge the alliance to take this matter very seriously and thoroughly investigate 'Void Venerable' and his cronies!"

"Xiao Ying, send more guards to expand the reconnaissance area and closely monitor whether there is any similar demonic energy or abnormal spatial fluctuations around 'Black Fiend Ridge' and even the entire 'Buddha Light Continent'!"

"Lei Ze, accelerate the purification of the spiritual veins and construct a permanent defensive formation here, making 'Black Fiend Ridge' the forward outpost of 'Demon Slaying Pavilion'!"

"Zen Master, continue digging deeper into the clues. We cannot overlook any trace of the 'Void Venerable' or the coordinates of the guide!"

With Li Yunjing's recovery and return to the game, orders were reissued one after another!

"As ordered!"

Everyone accepted the order with a solemn air and immediately got to work.

Everyone understood that an even bigger storm might be brewing.

Li Yunjing stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant horizon, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void.

“Void Venerable… No matter where you come from or what your purpose is, since you dare to use me as bait to invade my territory, I, Li Yunjing, will crush you and your conspiracy with the force of thunder!”

His words were soft, yet they carried an undeniable determination and a chilling killing intent. The low rumble of thunder that echoed around him seemed to be a response from the heavens.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Black Fiend Ridge" has been completely transformed.

The once malevolent abyss has been largely purified thanks to the efforts of the array masters and numerous cultivators sent by the "Tianlan Alliance."

The ruins were cleared away, and palaces, towers, and fortifications built in accordance with righteous principles and laws rose from the ground.

The massive spiritual vein was successfully transformed, radiating pure and vibrant spiritual energy, giving this once barren land a touch of celestial grandeur.

This place also became a base for the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" to be anchored in the "Buddha's Light Continent".

During these three months, Li Yunjing stayed here, consolidating his newly broken-through cultivation and mastering his increased power, while handling various follow-up matters and defenses, and supervising the investigation into the clues of the "Void Venerable".

Although no major discoveries were made, the entire "Demon Slayer Pavilion" vanguard team has been raised to its highest level of vigilance.

On this day, a dazzling golden light streaked across the eastern horizon, ignoring the numerous protective formations, and landed precisely in the original main hall of "Black Fiend Ridge," which had become the headquarters of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion."

The golden light dissipated, transforming into a jade slip wreathed in dragon-shaped energy, radiating supreme majesty, which floated in front of Li Yunjing.

"The Alliance Leader's decree!"

The expressions of everyone in the hall turned solemn.

Li Yunjing reached out and took the jade slip, immersing his consciousness into it.

A moment later, he raised his head, a look of understanding and seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"Master, what are the instructions from headquarters?"

Master Yangyan stepped forward and asked.

"Headquarters has confirmed our battle report and will announce the 'Great Victory at Black Fiend Ridge' to the world to boost the morale of the righteous path and deter the evil forces."

Li Yunjing shared the contents of the jade slip with the core members of the hall through divine thought, and said in a deep voice: "The merits of all of us who participated in the war have been recorded, and rewards will be issued soon."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

The initial victory, acknowledged and publicized by headquarters, undoubtedly greatly enhanced the reputation of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion".

"In addition, headquarters attaches great importance to our reports regarding 'Void Demonic Energy' and 'Void Venerable'."

But Li Yunjing's next words made everyone's mood heavy again: "The highest-ranking members of the alliance, including Emperor Huangze, Senior Yu Chenzi, Zen Master Dabei, Sword Master Taixu, True Lord Caiyun, and Venerable Master Xuantian, have reached a consensus after several secret meetings."

"This matter is of utmost importance, involving extraterrestrial demons, and could potentially lead to the collapse of the realm."

His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice lowered, yet carried an unprecedented seriousness: "The alliance has decided that, on the one hand, we will secretly organize forces to thoroughly investigate all known demonic forces, especially those ancient, deeply rooted, and mysterious great demonic sects, in order to find any clues related to 'Void Demonic Qi'."

"All demonic forces?"

Zen Master Tanyin frowned: "Including... those sects that have already outwardly submitted, or even joined the 'Tianlan Alliance'?"

"Not bad!"

"The Alliance Leader's decree clearly states that although the 'Heavenly Demon Sect' and 'Mysterious Nether Palace' have joined the Alliance, their roots are, after all, in the demonic path. In this critical period, they must undergo the most rigorous covert investigation!"

"It's better to investigate incorrectly than to overlook something!"

Li Yunjing nodded emphatically, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "This matter will be personally overseen by the Alliance Leader and entrusted to the 'Sky Patrol Mirror' and the Dark Palace. We must cooperate closely and provide all necessary information."

There was silence in the hall.

Everyone understands what this means.

The foundation of trust has been shaken, and a storm of light and darkness, sweeping across the entire cultivation world, is about to break.

Even those seemingly subjugated demonic giants will be examined under a magnifying glass.

But there is nothing that can be done about it.

"Black Fiend Ridge" was originally just an object for establishing authority, but investigations revealed that this sect had indeed colluded with extraterrestrial demons and even had shady dealings with "Xuanming Palace," which aroused dissatisfaction among many forces within the alliance.

The reason they gathered together and formed an alliance was to fight against the extraterrestrial demons.

You fucking traitor, are you planning to betray everyone?
Who can bear this?

Therefore, this decision was tacitly accepted by all parties with almost no resistance and was conveyed down from headquarters.

As an important internal force of the alliance, it is naturally the duty of the "Demon Slayer Pavilion" to investigate spies.

Li Yunjing had no choice but to accept this task that would offend people.

It's estimated that it won't be long before the entire demonic forces on "Tianlan Star" will hate Li Yunjing to death.

"on the other hand!"

"Headquarters has instructed us, the 'Demon Slayer Pavilion,' to continue fulfilling our vanguard role, but to be even more cautious in our actions."

"Before we thoroughly investigate the background of 'Void Venerable' and his cronies, it is not advisable to launch a full-scale purge against large demonic sects rashly, lest we alert them or fall into a trap similar to 'Black Fiend Ridge' once again."

Li Yunjing continued, "The current priority is to consolidate existing achievements, eliminate small and medium-sized demonic strongholds in the surrounding area, continue to dig deeper into clues, and at the same time accelerate our own development and enhance our strength."

"We obey the Alliance Leader's command!"

Everyone responded in unison, feeling the heavy responsibility on their shoulders.

Everyone's smart enough to know what this means!
Li Yunjing was the first to be affected, and they weren't much better off.

He's definitely the most unpopular person during this period.

After everyone had left, Li Yunjing fell into deep thought.

"Heavenly Demon Sect... Xuanming Palace..."

He silently recited the names of these two colossal figures who stood at the pinnacle of the demonic path.

Although they have submitted, their true strength is unfathomable. If they are truly connected with the "Void Venerable," it would be a disaster that could shake the very foundation of the "Tianlan Alliance."

In Li Yunjing's view, the Xuanming Palace was highly likely to have betrayed them, otherwise how could they have obtained a way to reclaim the Ten Thousand Demon Tower?

If it weren't for my meddling, this immortal artifact might not have fallen into the hands of the "Tianlan Alliance"!
Wouldn't it be terrible if it fell into the hands of the extraterrestrial demons?

Thinking of this, beads of cold sweat appeared on Li Yunjing's temples!

As for the "Heavenly Demon Sect"?
He couldn't make a judgment, but he guessed that there must be someone in the "Heavenly Demon Sect" willing to join the "Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon"!
Back then, the great figure of the "Heavenly Demon Sect," Po Jun Zhenjun, wanted to bring forth a giant demon, but fortunately, he was crippled in time by several major forces.

There might be a second Po Jun Zhenjun within the "Heavenly Demon Sect"!

"Night Without a Trace..."

Li Yunjing pondered for a moment.

His relationship with the young master of the "Heavenly Demon Sect" was complicated; they were both competitors and had cooperated before.

His father, Night Emperor Demon Lord, held a prestigious position within the "Heavenly Demon Sect," but he did not wield absolute power.

If one could learn about the true attitude of the "Heavenly Demon Sect" towards "Void Demonic Energy" through Ye Wuhen, and even some of its secrets, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit.

He took out a specially made communication jade talisman, which was given to him by Ye Wuhen when they parted ways, with the instruction that he could use it to contact him if there was anything important.

Li Yunjing immersed his consciousness into it, leaving behind a brief but clear message:
"Brother Ye, the matter of 'Black Fiend Ridge' may have further developments, involving a wide range of issues, concerning the future of our two sects and even the entire Tianlan Star. I hope we can meet; you can choose the location."

After the message was sent, the jade talisman flashed briefly and then went silent.

Li Yunjing was not anxious; he knew that Ye Wuhen would need time to weigh the situation after receiving the message.

A few days later, Li Yunjing received a reply from Ye Wuhen, which was equally brief: "Half a month later, at midnight, 'Mist-Hidden Island' in the East China Sea."

Without any hesitation, Li Yunjing replied with two words: "On time".

Li Yunjing temporarily entrusted the affairs of "Black Fiend Ridge" to Master Lei Ze, with Zen Master Tan Yin and Master Yang Yan jointly managing them, while publicly declaring that he would continue to go into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation.

He then quietly left the "Buddha's Light Continent" through a secret teleportation array set up inside the headquarters.

After several transfers, traversing endless mountains, rivers, and seas, and changing his appearance and aura, Li Yunjing finally stopped above a vast, boundless, and turbulent deep blue sea.

This is the easternmost point of "Tianlan Star," where the spiritual energy is violent and chaotic, and islands are scattered everywhere. It is known as the "East Sea" or "Mist-Hidden Sea Area."

Guided by the star map, he flew in one direction for another half a day, and ahead appeared a sea area permanently shrouded in thick gray fog.

The fog not only obscures vision but also greatly suppresses the ability to perceive with divine sense. It also contains subtle natural spatial folds and mazes, making it extremely easy for people to lose their way. This is the location of "Fog Concealment Island".

Li Yunjing activated his "Creation Divine Eye," and a faint purple-gold light shone in his eyes. After piercing through the layers of mist and discerning the direction, his figure transformed into an almost imperceptible stream of light and silently disappeared into the mist.

After traveling through the labyrinthine sea of ​​fog for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the outline of a solitary island appeared ahead.

The island is small, with jagged rocks and sparse vegetation. In the center is an ancient ruin, which seems to be the remains of some ancient sect.

"Wow... Wow..."

As midnight approached, the moon and stars faded, leaving only the mournful sound of the tides crashing against the rocks and the hissing of the flowing mist, adding to the eeriness of the place.

Li Yunjing landed on a dilapidated plaza in the center of the ruins, his aura concealed as if he were an ordinary stone, and waited quietly.

Almost exactly midnight, a shadow behind him rippled like water, and a figure in black robes silently appeared, as if he had always been standing there.

The newcomer was tall and handsome, with a pale face that carried an eerie quality. He was none other than Ye Wuhen, the young master of the "Heavenly Demon Sect".

"Brother Li is truly a man of integrity. You've come alone to this appointment. Aren't you afraid this is a trap I've set for you?"

He looked at Li Yunjing with a complicated expression, and spoke first, his voice sounding somewhat ethereal in the mist.

Li Yunjing slowly turned around, his expression calm: "If this were a trap, Brother Ye wouldn't have chosen this place, much less come alone."

"This place is a natural maze that can prevent prying eyes, making it an ideal location for a secret conversation."

He glanced around and said, “It seems that Brother Ye also has important matters to discuss.”

"Brother Li's influence is now at its zenith. He is in charge of the 'Demon Slaying Pavilion,' acting as a representative of Heaven to patrol and eliminate the demonic path."

"I suppose my 'Heavenly Demon Sect' has now become a target for elimination in your eyes?"

Ye Wuhen chuckled lightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Aren't you afraid of giving others a handle to use against you for colluding with the demonic path when you come to me now?"

The sarcasm and probing in his words were undisguised.

"Brother Ye, why provoke me with your words?"

"As we both know, the situation today is no longer as simple as the past grievances between the righteous and the demonic paths."

"Behind 'Black Fiend Ridge' lies an extraterrestrial demon whose ambition is to devour this world."

When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?

"Even though the Heavenly Demon Sect is the leader of the demonic path, its foundation is still in this world."

Li Yunjing looked directly at him and got straight to the point: "I am here today not as the master of the 'Demon Slaying Pavilion,' but on behalf of all those who do not wish for this world to fall, to ask Brother Ye: 'Heavenly Demon Sect,' in the face of this calamity, which side is it truly on?"

"Or rather, what is the attitude of the 'Heavenly Demon Sect' towards the 'Void Venerable' and the extraterrestrial power he represents?"

He paused, his voice deep and serious: "Is someone like True Monarch Po Jun trying to invite a wolf into the house, or someone like Demon Lord Ye Huang trying to protect the clan's foundation?"

Ye Wuhen's disdain gradually faded, and he remained silent for a moment.

Sea fog swirled around him, making his expression appear somewhat obscure.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice much lower: "Li Yunjing, do you know that your question is enough to stir up a bloodbath within the 'Heavenly Demon Sect'?"

"I know."

"But the storm has begun, and no one can escape unscathed."

"The headquarters has issued an order for a thorough investigation. The only difference is whether to passively wait for the investigation or to actively clarify the internal situation and strive for a glimmer of hope."

Li Yunjing nodded, "I believe that the Night Emperor Demon Lord is not a short-sighted person."

“Father… naturally does not want the sect’s millennia-old foundation to become food for extraterrestrial demons, nor does he want to become someone else’s puppet.”

Ye Wuhen took a deep breath, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes, which ultimately turned into determination: "But..."

"The sect is not a monolithic entity."

"The faction led by the Grand Elder 'Old Demon of the Nether Bone' is extremely powerful and has close ties with the 'Xuanming Palace.' In recent years, their actions have become increasingly secretive."

"They strongly advocated that all external forces should be used to revive the prestige of the demonic path, and even secretly promoted the so-called 'Void Venerable,' believing that it was the opportunity for the revival of the demonic path."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely solemn: "Although Father is a powerful elder, he is still subject to his control."

"The Demon King of the Underworld..."

"Does he and the 'Xuanming Palace' already know the 'Void Venerable's' detailed plans?"

Li Yunjing noted down the name, "For example, the altar that guides the 'Ancient Demon's Thought'?"

"The specific plans are at a very high level, and I have little access to them."

"But I once overheard the Old Demon of the Underworld mentioning to his confidant that 'Black Fiend Ridge' was just one of the starting points of the 'Ten Thousand Demons Eroding the World' plan, and was 'bait' used to test the reaction of this world and the feasibility of its attraction."

Ye Wuhen shook his head, "The real 'main course' is yet to come. And..."

"They seem extremely angry that the 'Tower of Ten Thousand Demons' has fallen into your hands, believing that it has disrupted some of their plans."

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "'Xuanming Palace' seems to have offered some kind of... alternative, but it requires a huge price and... sacrifices."

Li Yunjing felt a chill run down his spine.

The information revealed by Ye Wuhen corroborated his previous speculations and the intelligence from headquarters, and went even further.

As expected, there was a faction within the "Heavenly Demon Sect" that was deeply involved in the "Mysterious Nether Palace".

"Thank you for your frankness, Brother Ye."

Li Yunjing said solemnly, "This information is of utmost importance. I wonder what Brother Ye's plans are for the future?"

What can I possibly do?

"As the young master, I should work with my father to maintain the sect and eliminate internal troubles."

Ye Wuhen revealed a bitter smile: "But this is by no means an easy task. Even my teacher, Po Jun Zhenjun, has sided with that side, believing that 'Tianlan Star' has no chance of escaping!"

"In addition, there are many True Monarchs similar to the Old Demon of the Nether Bone. They have been operating for many years, have many followers, and their strength is unfathomable. Once the relationship is torn apart, the Heavenly Demon Sect will be in danger of splitting up and fighting internally in an instant."

"Perhaps... this is exactly what the 'Void Venerable' would like to see."

In the mist, the two remained silent, each sensing the heavy pressure on the other's shoulders and the perilous situation before them.

"If needed, the 'Demon Slayer Pavilion' might be able to provide some assistance in secret."

Li Yunjing pondered for a moment and said, "Of course, the method needs to be absolutely secretive."

"This matter requires careful consideration."

"What I have said today has already taken a great risk."

Ye Wuhen's eyes flashed, but he did not agree immediately. Instead, he said, "I hope you... will not betray this trust."

He stared at Li Yunjing, "I also hope that the thorough investigation by the 'Tianlan Alliance' will not turn into an indiscriminate purge, which will only push more people to the other side."

"I see."

Li Yunjing nodded, "Eliminating spies and maintaining overall stability are both indispensable. I will act cautiously."

"So best."

Ye Wuhen looked up at the sky. "This place is not safe to stay for long. I will try my best to keep an eye on the movements of the Netherbone Demon and the 'Xuanming Palace'. If there is any important news, I will try to contact you."

After saying that, his figure slowly blended into the shadows and disappeared as silently as he had come.

"Ugh……"

Li Yunjing stood alone amidst the ruins of "Misty Island," surrounded by sea mist, lost in thought.

The meeting with Ye Wuhen was incredibly informative, not only confirming the serious internal divisions within the Heavenly Demon Sect and the risk of it siding with external forces, but also mentioning the "alternative solutions" that the "Xuanming Palace" might offer and the complete defection of Po Jun Zhenjun, making the situation even more severe than anticipated.

With its current strength, the Demon Slayer Pavilion is far from capable of dealing with both external threats and internal strife at the same time.

As for seeking help from the "Tianlan Alliance"?

This is the final step!
He needs more support, but even more so, a solid foundation.

Li Yunjing was unwilling to bring the power of the "Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens" and those top-tier behemoth sects into the "Demon Slaying Pavilion".

The operation in "Buddha's Light Continent" was a last resort, as accepting Zen Master Tan Yin of "Kasyapa Baoguang Temple" was a desperate measure.

After all, this operation received strong support from the Kasyapa Baoguang Temple.

How could it be possible that Zen Master Tanyin brought so many "allies" to help him in the battle without sharing the benefits with them?

Li Yunjing is not powerful enough to not need to compromise!

After leaving "Misty Island", Li Yunjing did not immediately return to "Black Fiend Ridge" on "Buddha's Light Continent".

Since he had already come to the East China Sea, he decided to visit a few old friends along the way.

The East Sea is a vast region, with a complex web of independent cultivators, sects, and overseas immortal islands, including some of the people he had befriended in the past.

His first destination was "Bibo Island," located deep in the East China Sea.

The two immortals of Bibo were of a detached nature, but they had cooperated with Li Yunjing several times and had a close relationship with him, so he naturally wanted to go and see them.

To Li Yunjing's surprise, he sensed the aura of a battle as soon as he arrived near "Bibo Island"!

"Are there clashes on 'Azure Wave Island'?"

Li Yunjing frowned, suddenly increased his speed, and sped towards "Azure Wave Island".

The protective array surrounding the island was already activated, and the light blue screen rippled violently, clearly under attack.

"Boom!"

Beyond the light screen, several ferocious demonic bone ships hovered in mid-air, constantly spewing out filthy blood light and demonic fire, bombarding the great formation.

A group of cultivators dressed in black robes, exuding a murderous aura, were launching a fierce attack. The leader of them was actually a cultivator at the fifth level of the Nascent Soul realm. His attacks were ruthless, causing the great formation to rumble incessantly.

Inside the formation, the two immortals of Bibo were leading their disciples in a desperate effort to maintain the formation. Everyone's face was pale, indicating that they had been holding out for quite some time.

The Ji couple had only been at the first level of the Nascent Soul realm for a few decades, and were now extremely passive.

If it weren't for the advantageous terrain and the combined attack technique, the two would have been captured by the outsiders long ago.

"Two Immortals of Azure Waves, if you know what's good for you, immediately dismantle the formation and hand over the 'Azure Wave Tide Pearl,' or today will be the day your 'Azure Wave Island' is destroyed!"

The demonic cultivator leader, at the fifth level of the Nascent Soul realm, roared fiercely, his voice carrying a chilling aura through the array.

A cold glint flashed in Li Yunjing's eyes.

Magic gate?

Unexpectedly, they dared to openly attack "Azure Wave Island", with their target being the island's treasure, the "Azure Wave Tide Pearl".

This pearl contains pure water elemental power, which is of great benefit to cultivating water-based techniques and even refining certain special magical treasures and elixirs. No wonder it is coveted.

Seeing that the light barrier of the great formation had begun to show fine cracks under the continuous attacks, the disciples of "Azure Wave Island" looked desperate, and Li Yunjing no longer hesitated.

He flashed and appeared directly behind the Nascent Soul demonic cultivator leader like a ghost, without even causing much of a ripple in the surrounding space.

"Who gave you the audacity to mess with my friend?"

A calm voice suddenly rang out, yet it carried a chilling majesty.

"Who?"

The demonic cultivator leader was terrified. His protective demonic light erupted instantly, and without thinking, he swung his claw out, the demonic energy chilling, aiming straight for Li Yunjing's heart.

However, Li Yunjing simply threw a punch.

There was no dazzling brilliance, no deafening roar, only a terrifying power, restrained to the extreme yet vast and boundless like a starry sea, surging forth.

"Crack!"

The demonic leader's protective demonic light shattered like paper. His claw, which had condensed his life's demonic power, along with his entire arm, broke apart inch by inch and turned into dust the moment it came into contact with that simple and unadorned fist force!

"puff!"

The demonic cultivator leader coughed up blood, his eyes filled with unbelievable fear. His body flew backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily into the distant demonic bone boat, smashing a large hole in it. His fate was unknown.

quiet!
Deathly silence!

All the cultivators attacking the formation froze, their attacks abruptly ceasing.

They stared in horror at Li Yunjing, who had suddenly appeared, and their leader, who had been beaten to a pulp in a single encounter.

What a terrifying power this is?

Fifth level of the Nascent Soul stage!

He couldn't even withstand a single move?
Li Yunjing slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the remaining demonic cultivators.

His gaze was calm, yet it seemed to contain thunder from the heavens, causing all the demonic cultivators who met his eyes to feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their souls trembling.

"Senior...Senior, spare your life!"

One of the Golden Core demon cultivators was the first to succumb to the terrifying pressure, collapsing to his knees in mid-air with a thud, trembling as he begged for mercy, "We didn't know this island was a place of protection for you, senior. We will retreat now and never..."

"late!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yunjing pointed his fingers like a sword and casually made a sweeping motion.

A tiny yet incredibly sharp purple lightning bolt flashed by, seemingly tearing through space itself.

The Golden Core demon cultivator who was kneeling and begging for mercy abruptly stopped, a small, charred hole appeared between his brows, the terror in his eyes froze instantly, and his body limply fell from mid-air, his life force instantly extinguished.

This seemingly casual yet ruthless and decisive strike completely shattered the psychological defenses of the remaining demonic cultivators.

"Escape!"

Someone shouted, and the remaining dozen or so demonic cultivators scattered in panic in all directions like a swarm of wasps, wishing they had two more legs to run at their maximum speed.

"Want to leave now?"

Li Yunjing's voice was devoid of any emotion, like the whisper of death.

Without even moving a step, his body crackled with lightning, and streaks of purple lightning, thin as hair yet swift as lightning, appeared out of thin air, shooting precisely at each fleeing demonic cultivator.

"puff!"

"puff!"

"puff!"

……

A series of soft popping sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

No matter how far these demonic cultivators escaped, whether they used blood escape techniques or summoned protective magic treasures, they were as fragile as paper in front of that seemingly insignificant purple lightning snake.

The electric snakes easily penetrated their protective aura, piercing their skulls or heart meridians.

The screams were short and shrill, then abruptly stopped.

Charred corpses fell from the sky like dumplings being dropped into a pot, crashing onto the sea or rocks, sending up wisps of smoke.

In the blink of an eye, except for the leader on the wrecked bone ship whose fate was unknown, all the invading demonic cultivators were annihilated!

The sea breeze, carrying a strong smell of blood and burning, swept across the area. The sea, which had been filled with the deafening shouts of battle just moments before, was now deathly silent, with only the sound of waves crashing against the shore remaining.

Inside the protective array of Bibo Island, Ji Hanshu and his wife, their daughter Ji Xiaoxuan, and all the disciples stared in disbelief at the scene before them, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

More than ten vicious and ruthless demonic cultivators, including some Golden Core cultivators and even a Nascent Soul Fifth Heaven cultivator, were easily killed by this suddenly appearing green-robed Taoist in just a few breaths, as if crushing ants!

What a terrifying power this is?

Ji Hanshu and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing immense shock and lingering fear in each other's eyes, followed by overwhelming joy and gratitude for surviving such a disaster.

Li Yunjing moved swiftly and appeared atop the wrecked bone boat. His gaze fell upon the dying demonic cultivator leader, whose arms were shattered, chest bones collapsed, and whose breath was faint, but the powerful vitality of a Nascent Soul cultivator kept him clinging to life.

Li Yunjing extended his finger, the tip of which was shrouded in fine lightning, and gently touched the center of his forehead.

"Soul search!"

He didn't bother with words and directly used a secret technique to forcibly search for the person's memory fragments.

He had no pity for such vicious and ruthless people who slaughtered islands and plundered treasures.

The demonic cultivator leader convulsed violently, his eyes revealing extreme pain and fear, before falling completely silent a moment later.

Li Yunjing withdrew his finger, his brows furrowing slightly.

From this man's chaotic memories, he obtained limited information, only knowing that they came from an East Sea Demon Sect called "Blood Fiend Sect". This operation was carried out on the orders of a vice sect leader to seize the "Azure Wave Tide Pearl", which seemed to be presented to some important figure, but the specific details were vague.

"Blood Fiend Sect..."

Li Yunjing noted down the name and planned to look it up later.

The forces in the East China Sea are constantly emerging; one family is wiped out today, and another one appears tomorrow.

Li Yunjing had been away from Donghai for many years, and his previous experience was no longer sufficient; he was truly unfamiliar with this sect.

He waved his hand and unleashed a burst of true fire, burning the bone boat and the corpses on it to ashes. The sea breeze swept by, leaving no trace.

(End of this chapter)