Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

"An arrogant fool."

White Tiger Saint snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the three saints beside him.

Without needing to say more, the four of them were of one mind and simultaneously made hand seals!

Four pillars of light—blue, white, and red—rose dramatically from all four directions of Zhenhai Pass! The pillars pierced the sky and pierced the sea, turning the entire sea area into a strange sky interwoven with four colors.

The Azure Dragon roared, the White Tiger howled, the Black Tortoise growled, and the Vermilion Bird cried.

The four illusory figures manifested from the pillar of light, each a thousand feet in size, their oppressive aura descending like the collapse of the heavens!

The Nascent Soul cultivators all paled!

It was an instinctive tremor originating from the level of life itself, as if an ant were facing a mountain. Those at the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages fared even worse; many knelt down on the spot, blood seeping from their seven orifices.

The Beiting Fleet reacted extremely quickly, activating all the defensive formations of its warships and stacking layers of light shields. However, the light shields still trembled violently under the pressure of the Four Saints, flickering and seemingly about to shatter at any moment.

Master Lingxiao clenched his right fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the crowd behind him.

Nascent Soul cultivators and transformed demons made way for an old man with a goatee to stroll out.

The old man was dressed in a blue and white Taoist robe, with the Eight Trigrams and Yin-Yang patterns flowing at the hem. He was none other than the renowned Tianji Elder, famous throughout the two continents.

"I am old and my lifespan is running out. I have not yet found a successor..." The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets stroked his beard and sighed softly. "Deducing the secrets of heaven shortens one's lifespan. This time, there were indeed oversights and unforeseen circumstances."

He looked up at Lingxiao Zhenren, his voice calm:

"But please rest assured, everything... is still under control."

Master Lingxiao took a deep breath, his chest heaving, which ultimately turned into a cold sigh:

"snort!"

The gazes of those around the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets couldn't help but carry a hint of resentment. If it weren't for their miscalculation, how could they have fallen into this Four Saints Formation?

The old man of the Heavenly Secrets closed his eyes, shook his head, and said no more.

He hadn't exerted his full strength in the deductions; his lifespan was nearing its end, and he hadn't found a successor. He didn't want to waste his remaining lifespan on this. He had only looked at scattered fragments, supplemented by common sense deductions, thinking that would be enough…

It was this sliver of luck that led to a grave mistake.

"Charge!"

Qinglongzi gave a clear shout.

The four phantom images of the saints moved in unison!

The Azure Dragon of the East opened its mouth, and endless azure vines spread from the void, coiling around the Beiting fleet like living creatures.

The White Tiger of the West raised its claws, and ten thousand beams of Geng metal light rained down.

The Vermilion Bird of the South spreads its wings, and raging flames sweep across the sea.

The Black Tortoise in the north roared, and towering waves transformed into icy spikes and spears!

The Four-Colored Divine Communication can be used with ease, and the world will change color!

"rise!!"

Within the Beiting fleet, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators roared in unison, pouring their magical power into the defensive array as if their lives depended on it. The light shield was layered upon layered, yet it still trembled violently under the bombardment of the four saints, with cracks spreading across its surface like a spider web.

"Snap—!!"

The outer shield of one of the outer warships shattered, and Azure Dragon Vines instantly wrapped around its hull. Cultivators on the deck screamed as they were dragged into the sea. The Vermilion Bird True Fire then swept in, and the entire warship turned into molten iron in the flames and sank to the bottom of the sea.

"Hold on!!" Lingxiao Zhenren's eyes were bloodshot.

The Nascent Soul cultivators, including Xue Wuyai, gritted their teeth and held on, while the demon race also unleashed their full demonic power. The defensive light barrier barely held, but it was already on the verge of collapse.

Qing Youzi hovered on the flank of the Southern Xuan camp, his azure hair flowing around him, ancient azure demonic flames burning eerily. His gaze swept across the battlefield, taking in the overwhelming power of the four saints—a power indeed beyond human capability. But…

His brows suddenly furrowed slightly.

Although the Beiting fleet was at a disadvantage, its formation remained intact. While the Nascent Soul cultivators' eyes showed fear, there was no despair. It was as if... they were still waiting for something.

Just now.

A deep, rumbling sound came from the depths of the sea.

As if an ancient behemoth had awakened, the entire boundless sea began to flow backward and swirl!

A bottomless vortex formed in the center of the battlefield, and pitch-black demonic energy surged out of the vortex and soared into the sky!

"What is that...?" a Golden Core cultivator asked in a trembling voice.

No one answered.

The next moment, a torrent of demonic energy swept in like a tidal wave! Its speed was so great that even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't react in time!

The demonic energy easily penetrated the light barrier of the Four Saints Formation, turning the seawater black and polluting the spiritual energy wherever it passed. Lower-level cultivators tainted by the demonic energy instantly developed bloodshot eyes and a violent aura, indiscriminately attacking their fellow cultivators!

"Demonic energy is invading your body! Close your orifices and protect your spirit!!" Wen Tao shouted fiercely.

But it was too late.

Dozens of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators fell into demonic possession, and the battlefield instantly descended into chaos.

"Mo Zhou Mountain... has appeared!!" someone shouted hoarsely.

The four phantom images of saints paused simultaneously.

The four true forms of Qinglongzi, Baihusheng, Zhuquezi, and Xuanwuzi exchanged glances, their eyes revealing solemnity.

The Demon Mountain arrived even faster than expected...

"Reinforce the formation and suppress the demonic energy!" Qinglongzi made a decisive decision.

The four holy beings simultaneously formed hand seals, thickening the array's light barrier by three-tenths in an attempt to seal off the demonic energy. However, the demonic energy, like a living thing, was all-pervasive and continued to slowly seep in.

Xuanwuzi looked at the other three sages and secretly transmitted his voice:

"Mount Mozhou has appeared, and the longevity-promoting elixirs within are ancient relics... not to be missed."

The four of them understood each other without saying a word.

They have guarded the Celestial City for nearly a thousand years, and their lifespans are nearing their end. Ordinary longevity elixirs have negligible effect on them. Only ancient secret realms like Demon Zhou Mountain could possibly nurture heaven-defying treasures.

This may be your only chance.

"Walk!"

The four saints transformed into four streams of light and plunged into the overwhelming demonic energy without hesitation!

The moment the commander made his move, the Nanxuan camp erupted in uproar.

"The Four Sages, seniors??"

"They...went in?"

Qingyouzi's eyes sharpened.

Sure enough.

The four saints are nearing the end of their lifespans, and the elixir of longevity is more important to them than the outcome of this war. Without their command, the power of the Four Saints Formation will be greatly reduced, and it will only be a matter of time before the Northern Pavilion fleet breaks through the formation.

This place has become a dangerous place.

Without hesitation, he patted his storage bag, and the Demon Dragon Shield flew out, instantly splitting into thirty-six shields, layer upon layer protecting his body.

The ancient green demon fire burned fiercely on the green hair, scorching and dispelling the approaching demonic energy.

"The Demonic Qi permeates Mount Mozhou; there must be a Demonic Dragon Flower there..." Qing Youzi looked at the dark vortex with a resolute gaze. "We cannot linger here. If we go forward, there may be a glimmer of hope; if we retreat, we will surely be trapped in a deadly predicament."

He transformed into a blue rainbow and plunged headlong into the demonic energy!

With him taking the lead, Nascent Soul cultivators in the Southern Xuan camp gritted their teeth and followed suit. The warships also began to change direction, heading towards the vortex of demonic energy.

Upon seeing this, the Northern Pavilion Fleet made a decisive decision:

"Break through the formation! Enter the mountain!"

Xue Wuyai and the others bombarded the light barrier of the great formation with all their might. Without the four saints presiding over it, the power of the light barrier was greatly reduced, and it shattered in a short while!

Both groups of people surged toward the vortex of demonic energy.

Hidden in the crevices of the reef.

Lu Zhou held his breath, watching the changing colors of the world outside, his palms sweating profusely.

The necklace around his neck slowly floated up, and a dark light enveloped him.

"Good disciple."

An aged voice rang out.

"I will conceal your presence for you, and you may sneak in. Once inside Demon Zhou Mountain, you will be randomly teleported to any location. Remember, there is a hidden stone chamber halfway up the mountain, containing the Demon Dragon Flower that I planted years ago. Even after a thousand years, it may still remain."

"As for the Demon Dragon Stone... you'll only have a chance to get it when you reach the mountaintop."

Lu Zhou gritted his teeth so hard that his nails dug into his palms.

"Master, my father died because of me... I would rather be dead than live without avenging this. After I enter the mountain, everything... I entrust to you."

"Don't worry." The old voice was calm. "Once we retrieve the Demon Dragon Flower and the Demon Dragon Stone, and restore some of my strength... none of those who chased after your father back then will escape."

The black light completely enveloped Lu Zhou.

Like a shadow, he silently slipped into the sea and headed towards the vortex of demonic energy.

Qingyouzi passed through layers of demonic energy.

The demonic energy eroded the protective azure light, emitting a hissing sound. The ancient azure demonic fire burned fiercely, barely holding on. Thirty-six demonic dragon shields surrounded the area, dispersing the occasional turbulent waves of demonic energy.

I don't know how much time passed.

The pressure on my body suddenly eased.

He landed, and his divine sense instantly expanded.

Before me lay a vast, empty cavern, with countless stalactites and stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. The cave walls were dark red, with faint, swirling patterns that emitted a dim glow.

The air was filled with pure yet violent demonic energy, which even made the nascent soul slightly agitated with each breath.

Silence reigned all around; there was no one in sight.

"This place... is inside Mount Mozhou?"

Qingyouzi concealed his aura, his black hair spreading out like a spider web as he explored every corner.

The cave is deep and its destination is unknown.

In the distance, the faint sound of water droplets falling to the ground could be heard.

Tick, tick.

It was exceptionally clear in the dead silence.

Qingyouzi gripped the black silk in her sleeve and walked deeper into the cave.

And then there's that mysterious, predestined opportunity.

Footsteps echoed softly on the stone ground.