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

Aoyuko's vision was filled with white.

A sense of weightlessness, as if the space itself were distorted, enveloped his entire body. It felt like only a moment had passed, yet also like an eternity. When his feet touched the ground again, he found himself in an unfamiliar cave.

Beneath their feet lay the massive ancient teleportation array, its patterns slowly fading, and the light on the stone pillars gradually dimming.

"Finally escaped..." Qingyouzi took a deep breath and looked around. "Is this the other side of the Boundless Sea?"

The cave was spacious, its stone walls gleaming with a faint blue light, resembling some kind of luminescent moss. The air was thick with spiritual energy, yet it carried a subtle, unusual aura, different from that of Nanxuan.

He was just about to use his divine sense to investigate.

"boom!"

A clear wave came from the side without warning, so fast that even a Nascent Soul cultivator could not react!

Qingyouzi only had time to activate the Demon Dragon Shield to its maximum, with eighty-one shields stacked on top of each other, before he was struck hard!

"puff--!"

The immense force pierced through the shield array, sending him flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into a stone pillar that cracked and spread. Blood gushed out, and his internal organs seemed to have shifted out of place.

A tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

The newcomer was dressed in a tight-fitting blue outfit, with faint blue scale patterns visible on his neck. His face was stern, and his eyes were like lightning.

His aura was as deep and unfathomable; simply standing there made the air in the entire cave seem to freeze.

Late-stage fourth tier! Equivalent to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in the human race!

"I didn't expect... another human to teleport here." The man in the green robe spoke in a low voice, with a hint of amusement. "That's quite unusual."

Qingyouzi struggled to her feet, the Demon Dragon Shield protecting her, her heart filled with terror.

Is it Cangming?

He broke his oath and attacked me? No... Although this person's aura is also from the Jiaolong clan, it is far stronger than Cangming's, and his appearance is unfamiliar.

His mind raced.

"Could it be that this ancient teleportation array doesn't lead to the other side of the Boundless Sea at all, but rather... directly to the core territory of the Flood Dragon Clan?"

"Wait a minute, Chieftain!"

A familiar voice came from deep within the cave.

Cangming strode out and stood beside the man in the green robe, bowing respectfully.

"Clan leader, this man... is a friend of mine. Without his help, I would not have been able to find the teleportation array to return to the clan. I beg you, clan leader... to spare his life."

Clan chief?

Qingyouzi's heart skipped a beat.

This man in the green robe was actually the patriarch of the Flood Dragon Clan!

The clan leader in the green robe glanced at Cangming, then looked at the heavily injured Qingyouzi, his fingers gently stroking the storage bag at his waist.

"Friend?" He smiled faintly. "Cangming, don't forget, you are also a member of the Flood Dragon Clan. Yet you're pleading for an outsider?"

Cangming was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"This junior dares not forget. However... this person has indeed done me a favor. Moreover, he is currently seriously injured and poses no threat to the clan. I hope the clan leader will show mercy."

The clan leader in the green robe glanced at the demonic energy swirling around Qing Youzi, then at Cangming's sincere expression, and finally let out a cold snort.

"Fine. Since you call him a friend and have offered him that ancient herb... I will spare his life."

His gaze shifted to Qingyouzi, his eyes suddenly sharpening:

"Get out of here now!"

The single word uttered carried an immense, crushing pressure! Qing Youzi felt as if he were trapped in quagmire, struggling to breathe, and quickly bowed:

"Thank you for sparing my life, senior."

He nodded slightly to Cangming again:

Thank you.

Cangming remained silent, but used his demonic power to wrap a scroll of animal hide map and deliver it to Qingyouzi.

Qingyouzi took the map and dared not linger any longer. He mustered his magic power and transformed into a streak of blue light, rushing out of the cave and disappearing into the outside light.

Inside the cave.

Cangming gazed in the direction Qingyouzi had left, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Chieftain, have you made up your mind?"

The clan leader in the green robe walked to the stone pillar that had been smashed, gently touched the crack with his hand, and suddenly struck it with his palm!

"Bang!"

The stone pillar trembled, and the cracks deepened. The force of the recoil even caused his hand to tremble slightly.

He withdrew his hand and shook his head.

"According to what you said earlier, the demon race over there... is so weak that it needs to unite with the human race to contend with another human race?" The clan leader's voice was indifferent. "And our demon race is not having an easy time either on this Tianque Continent."

He turned around and looked at Cangming.

"The human race is powerful. Any two of the three major powers, if they join forces, are no less formidable than the full strength of our demon race. We can only hold onto the Western Sea for now, barely maintaining a balance of power."

"Make new enemies? I would not be so unwise."

He paused, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"Furthermore... that kid just now carried the aura of an ancient demon. Though faint, it was incredibly pure. You've probably gotten yourself into serious trouble."

Cangming lowered his head, his fists slightly clenched.

"Chieftain, how exactly can our demon race... become strong and powerful?"

The clan chief looked at him, his gaze filled with scrutiny and sigh.

"You and I share the same ambition," he said slowly, "but do you know that the biggest difference between the demon race and the human race is not in their physical bodies, not in their talents, but in..."

He pointed to his head.

"It lies in thinking about change."

"Humans are physically weak, but they are adept at using things. A flying sword can evolve into thousands of sword techniques; a spell can generate hundreds of variations; and a magical artifact can be used in countless ways."

Why? Because they understand that when faced with adversity, one must seek change; they understand the importance of innovation.

He walked to the cave wall and ran his fingers along the glowing moss.

"And what about my demon race? We are born with innate supernatural abilities. Those who spew water can only spew water, and those who control fire can only control fire. For thousands of years, they have remained unchanged. They are stuck in their ways and confined to their own little world."

"This is the root cause of our gradual decline."

Cangming's eyes gradually brightened.

The clan chief continued:

"You are exceptionally gifted, with a spiritual sense stronger than other humans of the same level, which is a tremendous advantage. Have you ever considered condensing your spiritual sense into a sword, a needle, or a net? Have you ever considered using the powerful physique of the demon race as a foundation, integrating human body-refining methods, to forge an unprecedented path of body cultivation?"

He turned around, his eyes blazing.

"Human cultivation techniques—alchemy, weapon crafting, talismans, formations… none of these came from nothing. They were all created by generations of sages through painstaking effort and tireless dedication. If they could do it, why can't my demon race?"

He took a few steps forward, raised his hands high, and then suddenly clenched them tightly.

"The demon race is the darling of heaven and earth, possessing powerful bodies, long lifespans, and innate supernatural abilities. But we rely too much on what we are born with, forgetting that the path of cultivation defies the heavens, requiring us to overcome obstacles and forge our own path!"

He patted Cangming on the shoulder.

"Cangming, if you truly want the demon race to prosper, you can't just think about borrowing external forces and finding allies. You need to fundamentally change things, teach the demon race to create, to innovate, and to turn their talents into infinite possibilities."

"This path is difficult, and it may take hundreds, thousands, or even longer. But if we don't take it... the demon race will eventually be trapped and die in this corner of the Western Sea."

Cangming took a deep breath, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He bowed deeply and gave a solemn bow.

"The clan leader's teachings, Cangming... will be etched in my heart."

Thousands of miles away.

Qingyouzi groaned, and another trickle of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Since entering the Nascent Soul stage, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? He was severely injured by a single blow, and had to bow and express his gratitude before fleeing in panic.

"This debt... will be settled sooner or later."

He suppressed his anger and unfolded the map that Cangming had given him.

The map clearly marked the mountains and seas, but the script was ancient demonic seal script, which he could only barely decipher. He randomly selected the nearest island, turned his escape light around, and sped away.

The most urgent task is to expel the evil energy from my body as soon as possible and recover from my injuries.

The other side of this so-called Boundless Sea... is probably even more dangerous than the area around Nanxuan and Beiting.

He glanced back at the direction of the Flood Dragon Clan's territory, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Then it accelerated and disappeared into the vast sea.

The road ahead is long, and life or death is uncertain.

But having embarked on this path, there is no choice but to... move forward.

The names you've written will appear in the new continent.

Compared to what's written in the text, I feel like everyone here is more like extraterrestrial demons. They were initially criticizing the protagonist's cruelty, but then immediately asked why he didn't collect the flesh and blood to feed his spirit beasts and pets. Why didn't the protagonist have the Myriad Soul Banner to absorb souls? Why waste it like that? Haha, 6.