Begin immortality by slaying demons

“Venerable One, how did it go?”

Outside South Sumeru, the young monk had been waiting for a long time.

Compared to when they first met in the Divine Dynasty, the appearance of Monk Zhikong had hardly changed. For a cultivator, the years rarely left traces on them. Only the naivety in his eyes had quietly disappeared.

Shen Yi, having mastered the insights left by the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva, could naturally solve a Transformation into Beast spell with ease.

Moreover, as a Bodhisattva, it was normal to have someone help with miscellaneous tasks. It was just that other Bodhisattvas usually brought along Arhats, while he carried a sixth-grade cultivator, which was a bit rare, but still barely explainable.

The two had agreed to address each other as Venerable One in public to avoid arousing suspicion.

“So-so.”

Shen Yi adjusted his breathing, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

This was the first time he had seen a cultivator who had reached the second grade. Just standing in front of the Great自在Purifying World Bodhisattva, even without any emotional fluctuations from the other party, one could feel a sense of inexplicable oppression.

Those fair and beautiful palms seemed capable of tearing apart his Bodhisattva Dharma Image woven from the Heavenly Dao Order's origin with a single, gentle rip.

In the face of such an existence, Shen Yi felt that he had almost performed to the best of his ability.

But even so, the other party could not be said to trust or distrust him, but rather showed indifference.

In the end, what truly convinced this Purifying World Bodhisattva was the six-armed illusory Dharma Image he displayed, proving a rather deep connection with the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva.

“At least I can be considered to have participated.”

Shen Yi looked into the distance ahead. Even though he had some expectations beforehand, the immense pressure inevitably surged into his heart when he truly learned that the high-level members of the Three Teachings planned to intervene in the affairs of the mortal world.

Without considering the imperial aura.

The Divine Dynasty was, in essence, just a larger mortal force. The entire Great South Continent could only offer three Southern Suppressing Generals.

As for those military formations, even with blessings, they might be useful for head-on confrontation, but when it came to fighting against these powerful old foxes, they would probably be played to death before they could even see their shadows.

Looking at the Three Teachings.

Also within the territory of the Great South Continent, the death of a third-grade Bodhisattva seemed to have not affected their foundation at all. As far as Shen Yi knew, there were at least the Golden Toad and the Seven Treasures, and on the other side, there were also the Heavenly Wutong Old Ancestor and the Jade Pool Old Ancestor.

In addition to the Purifying World Bodhisattva saying that there would be a Bodhisattva to receive him at the foot of the mountain… the strength of the two sides was simply not on the same level.

In the past, there was the restraint of the Immortal Court. If they really let go and fought, it would likely be a one-sided ending.

As for why the Three Teachings were still enduring.

It was probably still a matter of people's hearts.

These gods, Buddhas, and Immortal Venerables were still reluctant to give up the imperial aura of the mortal world. They were unwilling and dared not stand on the opposite side of the mortal world. Before taking action, they had to first slander the Human Emperor in order to hold the righteousness of acting on behalf of Heaven, and then they could rightfully replace the Human Emperor with the "Immortal Emperor".

“… …”

Shen Yi thought about the Human Emperor's dissolute appearance, and it seemed that he didn't need anyone else to slander him.

With a little analysis of the situation, anyone with a brain could see that the demise of the Divine Dynasty was a foregone conclusion, just a matter of time.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi gently exhaled.

To be honest, although he hadn't stayed for a very long time, this Great South Continent was truly the most suitable place in his mind for the word "prosperous age."

The common people here were much more at ease than those in Hongze.

His group of old friends had finally left Hongze with great difficulty, and finally witnessed the real mortal world that the Eastern Dragon King spoke of. In just a few years, they were about to usher in a more cruel world.

It would be a pity if Shenzhou were to disappear just like that.

Shen Yi shook his head. The situation he was facing now was completely different from before.

Whether it was Baiyun County or the entire Nanyang, all the way to Hongze later, it seemed that he had always been playing the role of a savior, but in essence, saving the world was to save himself.

If the Howling Moon Demon King overthrew Qingzhou, it would be difficult for even a Demon Suppressing General to escape with his life.

The Thousand Demon Cave guarded Nanyang, and the temple masters of the Martial Temple would never gain freedom in their entire lives.

Not to mention that the Nanyang Sect was the thorn in the side of the other three Dragon Palaces besides the Eastern Dragon King.

But this time was really different.

Shen Yi suddenly had many choices. No matter which one he chose, he was confident that he could sit in a high position and eventually become one of those who divided the world.

Except for choosing the Divine Dynasty.

You must know that the young man who inexplicably became an evil servant one morning only sought to be free from disaster and disease, to have a stable life, and to live comfortably for a few more years.

Returning to that Divine Dynasty would be tantamount to betraying his original intention.

“Tsk.”

Shen Yi suddenly remembered the night he traveled through time, the hand he inexplicably reached out to stop the dog demon.

What exactly was the original intention? Perhaps even the person himself couldn't explain it clearly.

Following one's heart was probably not wrong.

Thinking of this, he slightly lowered his eyes and looked at his palm.

The four words of immortality were certainly coveted, but how could they compare to the joy of having clear thoughts?

“Wait for me for a moment.”

Shen Yi sat down cross-legged directly, the Six-Winged Soul Insect landed in the Myriad Demon Hall, looking exhausted.

Even an old ancestor who had been wandering in the Void for many years could not withstand the deduction of thousands of kalpas at every turn. You must know that it had only lived for over a thousand kalpas in its entire life.

It even felt a little terrifying.

Because the master in front of him could actually show a shocking calmness in such a long period of time.

That's right, even with the help of the Godly Void Old Ancestor, Shen Yi still failed to truly pluck the third-grade Dao Fruit.

In the words of this old ancestor, it was because his attachments were too heavy, he thought about too many things, and he could not feel the power of nothingness at all.

As for the solution… the Godly Void Old Ancestor didn't know either. After all, it was able to enter the ranks of the Great Luo Immortal Venerable by relying on its demon race background. The Six-Winged Soul Insect was naturally suitable for practicing this Transformation into Void Dao technique.

But Shen Yi's change of mind just now actually coincided with some of the free and unrestrained meaning of the Godly Void.

Taking advantage of this trace of understanding, he simply and neatly poured in the vast demon lifespan.

Of the eight thousand kalpas of demon lifespan he had harvested from killing the Godly Void Old Ancestor, about five thousand kalpas were left at this moment. Together with the six thousand kalpas of power originally contained in the Golden Core, they instantly gathered into a gray mist.

Shen Yi closed his eyes, his divine soul strolling leisurely in the gray mist, picking at will, and transparent threads fell down.

They seemed like crystal clear silkworms, and under the traction of the divine soul, they began to gradually weave into shape.

With the Tai Void Golden Core as the heart, a transparent little person sat in meditation.

At the moment of completion, it slowly dissipated like a sandpile, as if turning into a boundless ethereal wind, merging into the gray mist.

Until this moment, the Six-Winged Soul Insect was still only surprised by Shen Yi's epiphany, and did not pay attention to this change.

After all, this was a road it had once walked through.

The divine soul wanders in the void, only then can it become the Godly Void Dao Fruit, and enter the ranks of the Great Luo Immortal Venerable!

But immediately following, the whooshing sound of the wind returned, circling around the halo of the Guardian Bodhisattva.

"Wind can also take form?!"

The Six-Winged Soul Insect widened its eyes.

Its current state of perpetual dormancy isn't voluntary, but rather due to the unique nature of the Divine Void Dao Fruit.

Once a soul merges with the Realm of Great Emptiness, how difficult is it to retrieve it?

"Freedom isn't without self."

"Recognizing one's true heart, being fixated on eliminating obsessions, isn't that itself a kind of obsession?"

Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes, as if the present self doesn't necessarily have to hide from the world and avoid calamity, escaping from those karmic entanglements, like the wind, free from all attachments. On the contrary, doing what one wants and staying where one wants, isn't that also a kind of carefree freedom?

"Let's go."

He stood up and darted forward.

However, the monk Zhikong stood blankly in the mountains, looking around, only to see that the once peaceful mountain peaks were now like a celestial realm, shimmering with spiritual light, and even the flowing mountain springs were overflowing with rich fragrance.

This is… a place of enlightenment!

Shen-daren became a Grand Luo Immortal with just a single sit and stand?!

…

Eight Extremities Valley, deep within.

Clouds and mist gathered, so thick that they resembled an unthawable white river.

Dense figures gathered here, inhuman in appearance, yet without any demonic aura, instead carrying a trace of inexplicable majesty.

Strictly speaking, they aren't living beings, but rather incarnations of the Heavenly Dao.

Those so-called gods, Buddhas, and immortals in mortal mouths are still ranked behind them.

"Has everything been thoroughly investigated?"

At the very front were two tall figures with faces like dyed lacquer. One of them vigorously rubbed his knuckles, and it was none other than the Divine General Qi Feng.

An Eight Extremities Valley is guarded by two Divine Lords of the third rank.

Now, with the gathering of all the gods, the goal is to completely seize this valley and eliminate any future troubles.

The one being questioned by the Divine General Qi Feng wasn't the numerous True Gods, but rather a certain Immortal General mixed among them.

Although the terms gods and immortals are often used interchangeably, they are two distinctly different existences.

However, in the Eight Extremities Valley, these True Gods didn't cast any strange glances at that golden-bodied Immortal General.

Immortal General Qianqing, holding the official position of the fourth rank and wielding the Leopard Seal, had successfully gained the approval of the True Gods through her actual actions in recent days.

After all… being even more valiant and unafraid of death than those who possessed the divine power of Rebirth from a Drop of Blood, perhaps no one else in the entire Immortal Court could be found.

Moreover, the speed of her ascent had long become a celestial wonder.

"Reporting to the Divine Lord, everything has been investigated."

Qinghua earnestly cupped her hands, feeling a little happy in her heart.

She hadn't offered demon lifespan to her master for a long time, and only hoped that her luck would be slightly better this time, so she could kill a few more great demons.

"If this battle goes smoothly, when you return to the heavens, I'm afraid your position will climb even higher."

After becoming familiar, Qi Feng no longer seemed as stern as he once was, and even jokingly teased in front of the gods: "Lest those people in the Immortal Court still think that we have delayed you."

"Divine Lord is joking."

Amidst the waves of friendly laughter, Qinghua calmly responded, humbly retreating back into the crowd.

She knew very well how she had obtained her current position, and had no qualifications to be arrogant.

It was precisely this demeanor of hers that made the True Gods next to her look at her with new respect.

Just then, the Divine Lord who had been silent beside Qi Feng slightly raised his eyes, looking at him with a frown and saying: "Recently, I always feel that my mind is shaken and my state is a bit off."

"What, have you been here for too long and become reluctant to leave?"

Qi Feng glanced at his colleague, still joking and not very concerned.

True Gods are nurtured by the Heavenly Dao and have lifespans equal to heaven. They also don't need to cultivate, so how could anything unusual happen?

"Perhaps I'm just overthinking it."

Divine Lord Haochuan smiled helplessly, gently rubbing his brow.

It was probably because he had guarded this Eight Extremities Valley for too many years. When the great demons were dealt with, it would be time to return to the Immortal Court for a period of rest.

He turned around and walked down the mountain.

No one noticed that on the solid back of this Divine Lord, dense golden threads faintly appeared, forming a face that looked dignified and upright, yet inexplicably exuded a hint of eeriness.

The golden threads disappeared in a flash and quickly merged into his divine body.

"By the way, as we are about to part, this lord also wants to remind you of something."

Qi Feng didn't rush to leave, but walked to Qinghua's side, earnestly gazing at this Immortal General and whispering: "This lord knows that no matter how high one cultivates, everyone still has a few old friends."

"But you were born as a Merit Immortal, with an excellent temperament and a bright future. There's really no need to get involved in those inexplicable muddy waters."

"You should know who this lord is talking about."

Previously, in the Hongze Territory, Qi Feng had personally seen that cultivator from Divine Void Mountain kill the Heavenly Wutong Green Luan.

He didn't think Shen Yi was wrong.

Even if this son didn't take action, he would have captured the Green Luan to Wutong Mountain to question her.

But this has nothing to do with right or wrong.

Since that young man has participated in the affairs of this group of cultivators, no matter what he thinks in his heart, it will be difficult to extricate himself.

The Three Immortals Sect and the Bodhi Sect have become increasingly restless recently, and their intentions are self-evident.

Qi Feng didn't want this Immortal General, whom he greatly admired, to be implicated because of her relatives and friends.

"…"

Qinghua remained silent.

She knew that this Divine Lord meant well, but how could he know the relationship between herself and her master?

Seeing this, a trace of helplessness appeared in Qi Feng's eyes.

He shook his head.

Forget it, being devoted to love and righteousness is also part of her good nature.

True Gods don't care about the affairs of the mortal world and the cultivation world. He can only remind her to this extent at most. As for how to choose, it depends on what Qianqing thinks.

"Go, earn more merits in the battle three days later. At that time, this lord will let others assist you, so that you won't have worked so hard these days in vain."

Qi Feng waved his hand and turned to leave this place.

However, even under such strict control, he, as a Divine Lord, didn't notice that several unfamiliar figures had appeared in the Eight Extremities Valley.

Somewhere in the valley.

Shen Yi landed following the aura, without informing Qinghua.

This Madame Cow, who once terrified Qingzhou, was still too inexperienced in front of the gods, Buddhas, and immortals. One could get a glimpse of this from the matter of Ziling; it was easy for her to have her thoughts seen through by the strong.

And this time, the Bodhi Sect's actions revealed something was wrong from beginning to end.

Sharing the worries of the True Gods.

It sounds like there's nothing wrong with it, but it also depends on the timing.

Just after the transmission of scriptures, a large number of Arhats had fallen, and a Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva had died.

Not to mention heavy losses, at least they should be anxious.

At this time, letting the Bodhisattvas in the sect manage the True Gods' business?

"…"

Shen Yi raised his eyes to look. In front of him, an old monk was sitting cross-legged on a treetop, as if he had been waiting for him for a long time.

The other party was like a withered stone, with no aura emanating from his entire body.

Concealing his breath and sneaking in—this didn't seem like the behavior of someone who had come to assist the True Gods.