The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

Fog shrouds the heavy passes, bones turn to dust; mournful songs echo in my ears, my body is but a phantom.

Corpses litter the fields, who has ever seen them? On which level of the illusory sea of ​​horrors is this?

Now, Su Qingxuan and the four fairies traveled another thousand miles to the southeast.

The fog was so thick that it was almost impossible to disperse, and visibility was less than ten feet.

Even with her Heavenly Eye ability activated, Xiao Lingyue could only see within fifty feet.

The air was filled with a sweet, cloying fragrance that made people drowsy and filled them with distracting thoughts.

Each of the five men took a mind-clearing pill, which helped them resist the confusion.

Scattered white bones began to appear on the ground, some human-shaped, some animal-shaped, all incomplete and mottled from being eroded by the gray mist.

Occasionally, phosphorescent lights would drift by, casting distorted shadows in the fog.

"The power of illusions to bewitch the mind here is several times stronger than before."

Xiao Lingyue solemnly said, "Everyone, keep your eyes closed on the spiritual platform and do not let your attention wander."

Just then, singing suddenly came from the fog ahead.

The singing was melodious and poignant, like weeping and lamenting, and it used ancient language.

The lyrics are vague, but the melody is mournful and lingering, penetrating straight into the cracks of the heart.

"O soul, return! Do not ascend to heaven. Tigers and leopards guard the nine passes, pecking and harming those below. O soul, return! Do not descend to the netherworld. The Earth God has nine covenants, his horns gleaming..."

The song continued to be sung repeatedly, growing ever closer.

A woman in white gradually appeared in the fog.

The woman had long, flowing hair, was barefoot, and had an exquisitely beautiful face. Her eyes were filled with tears as she gazed at them with a melancholy look.

"Young master... I have been waiting for you for so long..." the woman said, her voice as mournful as her song.

Su Qingxuan's mind trembled slightly.

The woman's appearance bore a striking resemblance to Lin Wanqing, about seven-tenths, but she appeared even more delicate and pitiful.

Her eyes were filled with such deep affection that they could almost melt your heart.

"Wanqing..." Su Qingxuan called out subconsciously.

"Young master, be careful! This is a 'Summoning Ghost'!"

Xiao Lingyue said urgently, "The Illusionary Demon Sea has unique illusory spirits, which are formed from the sorrow and obsession of living beings. They are most adept at transforming people's heartfelt attachments into those they cherish, tempting them to fall into depravity!"

Xiao Lingyue's sudden shout brought Su Qingxuan back to his senses—

Lin Wanqing was right beside him; the woman in the mist was an illusion!

At this moment, "Lin Wanqing" stretched out her slender hand, her eyes brimming with tears:

"Young Master, don't you want Wanqing anymore? After ten thousand years of reincarnation, Wanqing has finally waited for you, but you want to abandon me?"

Each cry was heart-wrenching, and those who heard it felt a deep sorrow.

Su Qingxuan knew it was fake, but seeing that face, which resembled Wanqing's, covered in tears, still caused her a pang of pain.

He took a deep breath, circulated the "Spring and Autumn Annals," focused his mind with a clear voice, and shouted sharply:

"You fiend, how dare you impersonate Wanqing and disrupt my Dao heart! You're courting death!"

With a single slash, the chaotic sword light tore through the mist.

Lin Wanqing smiled sadly, neither dodging nor avoiding, but was struck by the sword light, her body shattered, and she dissipated into specks of light.

But before it dissipated, that mournful look in his eyes was deeply imprinted in Su Qingxuan's mind.

"Young Master..." Beside him, the real Lin Wanqing held his hand, her eyes filled with concern and tenderness.

"Wanqing is here, forever."

Su Qingxuan grasped her hand in return and nodded emphatically.

However, the illusion did not end.

A figure reappears in the fog—

This time it was Xiao Lingxi, who collapsed to the ground severely injured, spitting blood, and cried out in a pitiful voice:

"Young master... Lingxi is dying... You must live on..."

Next was Xiao Lingyue, corrupted by demonic energy, her Buddhist light dimmed, groaning in pain:

"Young master... save me..."

Finally, there was Chi Ying, riddled with arrows, yet still fighting valiantly, turning back with a bitter laugh:

"Young master... Chi Ying can no longer protect you..."

Each tragic scene was a reflection of Su Qingxuan's deepest fears—

I fear they will get hurt, I fear they will perish, I fear I am powerless to protect them, I fear they will leave me...

These fears were amplified by the Illusionary Demon Sea, transforming into the sharpest blade, slicing through the heart of the Dao.

"It's all an illusion! Break through it!"

Su Qingxuan roared, and the Chaos Golden Core was activated at full power, causing the clear light to surge and dissipate all the surrounding illusions.

The four women each used their own methods to calm themselves down.

The illusion dissipated, and the mournful song gradually faded into the distance.

All four fairies had cold sweat on their foreheads, while Su Qingxuan was drenched in sweat.

The mental battle we just had was more exhausting than a real fight.

"If the outer perimeter of the Illusionary Heart Cave is already like this, how dangerous must the interior be?"

Xiao Lingxi was still shaken.

Su Qingxuan calmed himself down, his gaze resolute: "Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I'll still venture in."

"move on."

After walking several hundred feet, a low hill appeared ahead.

The mountain was not high, but it was entirely black, as if it had been dyed with ink.

At the foot of the mountain, there is a deep cave entrance, about three zhang high and two zhang wide.

The cave was pitch black, and nothing could be seen clearly.

Above the cave entrance are four large characters: Huanxin Ancient Cave.

More skeletons were scattered in front of the cave, some human, some of strange creatures.

Many of the remains bear signs of gnawing, which is quite gruesome.

At the edge of the cave entrance, the gray fog was so thick it was almost liquid, and it flowed slowly.

Occasionally, colorful halos flashed through the mist; those were the glows of high-quality Illusionary Sea Crystals.

"This is it."

Su Qingxuan stopped and began to probe with his divine sense.

But as soon as his consciousness approached the cave entrance, it was swallowed up by a strange force, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

"The cave entrance is protected by a barrier, preventing exploration," Su Qingxuan frowned.

"And the aura it exudes..."

Chaos, evil, and temptation—it's more than ten times stronger than outside.

Xiao Lingyue used her Heavenly Eye to observe, and after a moment her face paled slightly:

"Illusions overlapped inside the cave, and space and time were distorted. Lingyue could only see ten feet ahead; beyond that, there was only chaos."

Moreover... the cave exudes a cold and malevolent aura.

Chi Ying gripped her spear tightly: "Young Master, Chi Ying will lead the charge first to scout ahead!"

Su Qingxuan raised his hand to stop him: "Don't rush."

"Since Yu Xiaozi led us here, there must be some arrangements inside the cave. We must plan carefully before we act."

He pondered for a moment and said:

"Lingxi, divide the medicine into the 'Delusion-Breaking Pill' and the 'Unity Pill.' We will take them before entering the cave."

Wanqing wrote the three characters "定" (ding), "静" (jing), and "真" (zhen) with the brush of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Lingyue, set up the "Diamond Barrier".

Chi Ying, you lead the charge, I'll provide support from the center, and Wan Qing, Ling Xi, and Ling Yue will guard the left, right, and rear respectively.

Once inside the cave, under no circumstances should you be separated; maintain mental connection using the "Unity Elixir."

The four women accepted the order and made their own preparations.

Xiao Lingxi distributed the pills, Lin Wanqing wrote them down, Xiao Lingyue chanted incantations and formed hand seals, and Chi Ying adjusted her breathing to bring herself to peak condition.

Half an hour later, everything was ready.

After the five people took the elixir, their bodies were filled with a blend of pure light, Buddhist light, righteous energy, water spirit, and battle energy, forming a five-element mental network.

They are also connected by invisible threads, which is the effect of the Heart-to-Heart Pill. The five people's consciousnesses are faintly connected, and they can sense each other's state.

"Enter the cave." Su Qingxuan gave the order, and Chi Ying took the lead, stepping into the dark cave entrance.

As soon as we entered the cave, the light suddenly dimmed.

Outside the cave, a gray mist lingered, with a faint glimmer of light, but inside, it was utterly dark.

Fortunately, all five of them possessed spiritual energy that could illuminate an area of ​​several feet.

The cave walls are rough and covered with strange patterns that can make you dizzy.

The ground was slippery, with sticky residue and a fishy, ​​sweet smell.

After walking only ten or so feet, a soft "giggle" suddenly came from ahead, like a child playing.

Immediately afterwards, two red lights appeared in the darkness, gradually increasing in number until they transformed into dozens of pairs of red eyes, hovering in the air and gazing eerily over.

"It's the Bewitching Shadow!" Xiao Lingyue shouted, her pipa strings vibrating and Buddhist chants resounding.

Stimulated by the chanting, the red-eyed creatures let out sharp screechs and pounced.

By the light of the aura, they could be seen to resemble bats, but without flesh; they were merely dark shadows.

It has only a pair of red eyes and a gaping mouth that stretches to the base of its ears, filled with sharp teeth.

The crimson spear thrust forward swiftly, igniting a battle, piercing through several demonic figures at the forefront.

The demonic shadow dissipated, but turned into black smoke, attempting to penetrate the protective shield of spiritual light.

However, the shield had five-colored light flowing around it, and the black smoke ignited upon contact, making a "sizzling" sound before eventually dissipating.

The number of demonic figures was enormous, and they attacked one after another.

What's more troublesome is that their hissing contains mental attacks that constantly assault the mind.

If it weren't for the triple protection of the Breaking Illusion Pill, the Stillness True Essence, and the Vajra Barrier, the five people's minds would probably have been overwhelmed by this series of attacks.

"These demonic shadows are endless; we must find their source!"

Su Qingxuan pondered as he swung his sword to annihilate the demonic shadows.

"Charge!" Su Qingxuan ordered, and the five men formed a battle formation and charged forward.

Red tassels clear the way, spears move like swimming dragons;

Su Qingxuan stood guard on either side, his swords flashing like a net;

Lin Wanqing, Xiao Lingxi, and Xiao Lingyue each guarded the rear, resisting the demonic shadows on the flanks.

As they charged forward, the demonic shadows scattered, but illusions also appeared in the cave.

This time, it was no longer a single scene, but rather the five people were drawn into the same illusion.

In the illusion, the five found themselves on a blood-red battlefield.

The surrounding area was filled with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The Demon Lord broke free of his seal, standing ten thousand feet tall with three heads and six arms, his fangs bared, and was slaughtering heavenly soldiers and generals.

The sages of the three religions fought valiantly, but suffered repeated defeats.

Meanwhile, Su Qingxuan and his group of five were surrounded by countless demonic creatures.

The four women collapsed one after another, severely injured. Su Qingxuan faced the Demon Lord alone, his body covered in blood, his Gentleman's Sword shattering inch by inch.

The Demon Lord grinned maliciously and slammed down with his giant hand...

"This is...? Could this be a scene that might appear in the future...?"

Su Qingxuan was deeply shaken. He knew it was an illusion, but the despair and helplessness felt so real.

He saw the four women reaching out their hands in the pool of blood, their eyes filled with reluctance and longing...

"Young Master! Wake up!" the four women cried out in unison. With the connection of their hearts through the Heart-to-Heart Pill, the five of them resonated with each other and forcibly broke free from the illusion.

The illusion shattered, and reality returned, but all five were pale and panting.

"This Illusory Heart Cave can actually deduce fragments of the future and evolve them..."

Lin Wanqing's voice trembled, "That scene just now was too real."

Su Qingxuan suppressed his earlier palpitations and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "I don't believe it! The future is not predetermined."

Our practice today is to change that outcome...

Keep going!

The five of them pressed on forward once more.

Finally, light appeared ahead.

It was a spacious cave, about a hundred feet in diameter.

Countless stalactites hung from the cave ceiling, emitting a faint glow.

In the center of the cave, there was a pool about ten zhang in diameter. The pool wasn't filled with water, but with a thick, silvery liquid—

It is indeed liquefied phantom mist!

Hundreds of Illusionary Sea Crystals floated in the pool, each the size of a fist, shimmering with seven colors, and of exceptional quality.

However, three figures stood beside the pool.

The one in the center was none other than Ling Yunzi! — A disciple of Yu Xiaozi.

The two people on the left and right,

One was a fierce-looking Buddhist monk.

One was a scholar who looked like a Confucian gentleman, but had a sinister look in his eyes.

Upon seeing Su Qingxuan and his group of five arrive, Ling Yunzi clapped his hands and chuckled:

"Palace Master Su has indeed arrived. I have been waiting here for a long time."

Su Qingxuan's gaze swept over the three people, finally landing on Ling Yunzi, and he said coldly:

"Ling Yunzi, does your master, Yu Xiaozi, dare not take action personally and instead send a junior like you to your death?"

Ling Yunzi's smile remained unchanged: "Palace Master Su, you are mistaken."

This place is the Ancient Cave of Illusory Hearts, extremely dangerous.

If Palace Master Su were to perish here by accident, it would be an unforeseen event, and what would it have to do with my master?

He pointed to the two people beside him, "Let me introduce you. This is the 'Wrathful Vajra' ascetic, and this is the 'Evil Scholar' Wen Buming."

Both of you are outstanding rogue cultivators. You have been invited by my master to see Palace Master Su off on her journey.

The wrathful Vajra grinned maliciously: "Boy, you have four rather beautiful women by your side. After I, the Buddha, deliver you from suffering, I will take good 'care' of them."

The wicked scholar waved his folding fan and said in a sinister voice, "Su Qingxuan, your doctrine of the unity of the three religions is nothing but a deception and a fraud."

Today I will show you what the true Tao is!

Su Qingxuan's expression was icy: "You also have your own principles? Just the three of you?"

Ling Yunzi laughed and said, "Of course it's more than that." He clapped his hands.

More than ten people slowly emerged from the shadows surrounding the cave.

There were members of the Blood Fiend Sect, and members of the Ghost Skull Elder and the Enchanting Voice Lady Sect.

There were also two figures with eerie auras, their faces hidden under cloaks.

These people were at least at the mid-stage of the Celestial Immortal realm, and the highest level was even at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm!

A total of eighteen people, plus Ling Yunzi and two others, made up twenty-one enemies, who completely surrounded Su Qingxuan and his group of five.

Ling Yunzi said smugly, "To set up this scheme, Master spent three innate spiritual materials to invite these fellow Daoists."

Su Qingxuan, today this Illusionary Heart Cave will be your final resting place!

As for your four beauties… don’t worry, we’ll ‘treat’ them well, making them feel like they’re in heaven, hahaha!”

The four women wore frosty expressions, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

Su Qingxuan suddenly smiled.

His smile was cold, his eyes devoid of any warmth: "Ling Yunzi, do you think that numbers guarantee victory?"

Su Qingxuan's expression was stern, his body enveloped in righteous energy, as he vehemently rebuked Ling Yunzi:

"Evil never prevails over good!"

Your actions have strayed from the right path, resorting to personal grudges to retaliate against public justice.

Colluding with evil spirits and heretics to harm fellow practitioners on the righteous path, how are these unscrupulous people any different from Yang Zhen of the past?

They will be condemned for eternity and forever nailed to the pillar of historical shame!

Ling Yunzi's smile froze: "You're about to die, and you still dare to be stubborn?"

Su Qingxuan slowly drew his Gentleman's Sword, its blade reflecting the dim light from the cave ceiling, shimmering with a chaotic hue.

This sword was bestowed by the Celestial Venerable Wenru and has been nurtured by him for tens of thousands of years; it is incomparable to ordinary magical treasures.

His gaze swept over the surrounding enemies, his voice calm, yet every word was as cold as ice:

"Those who do not repent are tantamount to the demonic path."

Today, I will use your blood to pay tribute to the heroic souls of my fellow practitioners on the righteous path.

This will also let Yu Xiaozhi know the price he will pay for joining forces with evil forces!

As soon as he finished speaking, his aura exploded!

The Chaos Golden Elixir was operating at full power, and the true meaning of the unity of the three religions permeated the air.

The four fairies also displayed their unique abilities, and five-colored rays of light blazed brightly.

A great war is about to break out!

In the center of the cave, strange ripples suddenly appeared in the pool of illusionary mist.

At the bottom of the pool, something seems to be slowly awakening...

As soon as Su Qingxuan finished speaking, the five of them formed a unified aura, like a bright lamp in the dark cave.

The light illuminated the menacing shadows on the four walls, and also revealed the intense killing intent on the faces of Ling Yunzi and the others.

"You're courting death!" Ling Yunzi sneered, waving his hand and shouting sharply.

"Attack! Su Qingxuan must die; the rest are irrelevant!"

At a single command, the encirclement tightened abruptly.

The Wrathful Vajra was the first to attack; he roared and his body suddenly rose higher.

His skin had a dark golden sheen, and his muscles were taut.

A heavy crescent-shaped shovel, accompanied by a fierce wind, slammed down on Chi Ying.

"You little vixen, I'll take you in first!"

Chi Ying remained fearless and, with a clear shout, charged forward with her spear.

The clash of spears and shovels produced a deafening clang, the force of which sent stone chips raining down from the cave.

Chi Ying swayed slightly, feeling a numbness and soreness in her arms, and was secretly surprised by the great strength of this Golden Immortal Monk.

However, she is the reincarnation of the God of War, Wuqu, and is most skilled in battlefield combat, becoming stronger when facing stronger opponents.

The spear's momentum shifted, transforming from hard to soft, becoming countless points of cold light, specifically targeting the vital points of the Wrathful Vajra's body.

The Furious Vajra was strong, but his moves were rather clumsy, and he was temporarily entangled.

On the other side, the wicked scholar, Wen Buming, lightly waved his folding fan, his figure elusive, and in an instant, he appeared beside Lin Wanqing.

A flash of cold light appeared at the tip of the fan, and several poisoned silver needles were launched, silently shooting towards the major acupoints on Lin Wanqing's body.

He was also chanting:

"A beautiful woman adds fragrance to the study, and a scholar's folding fan can also kill."

Why must a beauty wield swords and blades? Why not come with me for a night of blissful intoxication...

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Wanqing's expression turned cold, and her movements became swift.

With his right hand, he swiftly wrote with the Spring and Autumn Annals brush in mid-air, and a powerful and elegant character "御" (Yu) appeared out of thin air. With a flash of golden light, it blocked all the silver needles.

He unrolled a bamboo scroll in his left hand and uttered a clear, resonant voice: "Confucius said: Do not do anything contrary to propriety!"

The voice contained a righteous spirit, like a great bell, striking directly into the soul of Wen Buming.

Wen Buming felt a violent tremor in his mind, as if countless phantom images of saints were glaring angrily before him.

The sinister folding fan froze, unable to be used properly, causing him to turn pale with frustration.

"Attack together, don't give them a chance!" Ling Yunzi urged sharply upon seeing this.

He himself did not rush forward, but instead took two steps back, hiding in the back, his eyes flashing as he stared intently at Su Qingxuan.

The dozen or so cultivators each displayed their supernatural abilities, their magical treasures flashing wildly, their evil magic surging with black energy, attacking from all directions.

Among them, the two cloaked figures with the strongest auras, one of them holding a white bone banner, which sent out hundreds of pale white skulls as it was shaken, spewing out phosphorescent ghost fire.

Another person offered up a blood bead, which spun around and emitted a strong, foul, bloody stench, specifically designed to taint the magical artifact's spiritual light.

Xiao Lingxi gave a sharp shout, and the Purple Cloud Furnace, suspended above her head, had its lid wide open.

The Trinity True Fire surged forth, transforming into a sea of ​​fire, meeting the Azure Phosphorous Ghost Fire and the skull.

True fire is extremely yang, strong, and pure, making it the nemesis of yin and evil things. It burns the skull with a sizzling sound, and the phosphorescent ghost fire dims by three points.

However, the cloaked figure wielding the White Bone Banner possessed profound cultivation, unlike an ordinary Golden Immortal.

He was actually at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm!

The ghostly fire and skeletons continued unabated, and Xiao Lingxi struggled to keep up on her own.

Xiao Lingyue sat cross-legged, her beautiful pipa resting on her lap, and her slender hands plucked the strings rapidly.

The compassionate chanting spread like a tide, cleansing away evil and protecting the minds of all.

The foul blood aura emanating from the blood droplet was somewhat sluggish after being washed away by the chanting.

A golden aura shone from behind her head, protecting the five people and shielding them from most of the mental attacks and the aftereffects of evil magic.

Su Qingxuan provided support from the center, his Gentleman's Sword transforming into a chaotic streak of color, weaving back and forth within the battle circle.

His swordsmanship had reached a state of perfection; each strike, though seemingly simple, precisely pierced the weak points of the enemy's attack.

They could either save the four women from their predicament or break the enemy's encirclement.

The Chaos Golden Core provides a massive amount of pure mana, and the true meaning of the unity of the three religions flows through it, allowing him to clearly perceive every change on the battlefield.

However, although the enemy's coordination was not sophisticated, they had the advantage of superior numbers.

Among them were two extraordinary Golden Immortals (two cloaked figures), and Ling Yunzi (also a peak Celestial Immortal) who was secretly watching and eyeing them covetously.

The five formed a defensive formation and, although they were temporarily undefeated, their magical power was greatly depleted. If this continued for too long, they would inevitably fall into danger.

"Palace Master Su, we've come to your aid!"

A loud shout rang out, and it was... Chu Yunfan and his group who had returned.

The Qingyun Sword Sect suddenly appeared, their sword light instantly joining the battle and relieving some of the pressure.

However, the members of the Qingyun Sword Sect were not highly skilled and had limited combat power.

The battle continues.

The cave echoed with constant roars, and sword energy crisscrossed the air.

The interplay and collision of Buddha's light, true fire, blood light, and ghostly aura illuminated the stalactites in a bizarre and fantastical way.

Cracks began to appear on the ground.

A flicker of anxiety and ruthlessness flashed in Ling Yunzi's eyes. He glanced at the thick pool of illusionary mist in the center of the cave.

The ripples on the surface of the pool seemed to be getting more and more pronounced.

He suddenly transmitted his voice to the two cloaked figures: "Gentlemen, delay will only cause problems! Proceed according to plan and awaken that thing!"

The two cloaked figures exchanged a glance and nodded cautiously.

The cloaked figure holding the white bone banner suddenly plunged it into the ground, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations, spraying his blood essence onto the banner.

The nine main skulls on the bone banner had their eye sockets blazing with emerald flames, emitting a shrill, mournful cry.

Another cloaked figure tossed a blood droplet high into the air, where it exploded into a thick blood mist that flowed into the bone banner.

The bone banner, having received a blood sacrifice, suddenly swelled, and thick, inky black mist surged from its surface.

Countless twisted and tormented faces are hidden within, emitting silent wails.

The black energy did not attack Su Qingxuan and the others, but instead rushed towards the Illusionary Mist Pool!

"Not good! They're going to awaken what's in the pool!" Xiao Lingyue, with her divine eye, saw it clearly and shouted a warning.

Su Qingxuan's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood Ling Yunzi's vicious scheme—

Knowing they could not defeat their own forces quickly, they decided to provoke the true evil within the Illusionary Heart Cave!

Without a second thought, he unleashed his Gentleman's Sword, transforming it into a dazzling sword rainbow that slashed directly at the white bone banner. At the same time, he swiftly dodged, attempting to rush towards the Illusionary Mist Pool to stop it.

"Stop him!" Ling Yunzi shouted, finally taking action himself.

He summoned a jade seal, which hung in the air.

In an instant, it transformed into a small mountain about ten feet square, radiating an aura of power and light.

It was the "Suppressing Mountain Seal," a authentic Taoist treasure, which pressed down on Su Qingxuan with immense force.

Meanwhile, Wen Buming and Nu Jingang also desperately entangled Chi Ying and Lin Wanqing.

Several mid-stage Celestial Immortal evil cultivators fearlessly rushed forward, using their physical bodies to block Su Qingxuan.

Su Qingxuan's movements were slightly hindered by the Zhenyue Seal.

In that instant, the thick blood mist and black aura were completely swallowed up by the Illusionary Mist Pool.

"Glug... Glug..."

The pool of illusionary mist surged violently as if boiling.

The silvery liquid mist shot into the sky, transforming into a column of mist several meters thick.

Within the column of mist, an ancient, chaotic, and extremely evil aura suddenly erupted!

That aura was mixed with endless resentment, greed, killing intent, and fear...

Even a tiny glimpse of it caused everyone in the cave to feel their hearts pound and their magic to stagnate.

"Hahaha! Su Qingxuan."

Enjoy the feast I have prepared for you!

This was formed from the remnant of the 'Bewitching Ancient Demon' who succumbed to this place during the ancient demonic calamity. Nourished by the Illusionary Demon Sea for ten thousand years, its demonic power reaches the heavens!

"Let's see how you survive this time!"

Ling Yunzi laughed wildly and quickly retreated with Nu Jingang, Wen Buming, and others, intending to leave the battlefield immediately.

"Trying to leave?!" Chi Ying was furious. With a single thrust of her spear, she forced back the enemy who was entangled in the fight and prepared to give chase.

"Chiying, come back!" Su Qingxuan shouted urgently.

He sensed that the existence within that pillar of mist was far more terrifying than he had imagined, far beyond the level of a Golden Immortal, and even comparable to a Great Luo Golden Immortal!

The most dangerous person at this moment is not Ling Yunzi, but the ancient demon that is awakening!

The column of mist suddenly exploded, and the silvery mist filled the entire cave.

A massive figure slowly materialized in the mist.

The figure was three zhang tall, humanoid in shape, but had three heads and six arms.

The head in the middle is an exquisitely beautiful and bewitching female face, with eyes full of endless allure;

The left side of the skull is a hideous demon face with exposed fangs;

The right side of the head is a blurry face that constantly changes, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, and sometimes angry.

The six arms each held a twisted blade, a wailing bone flute, a dripping heart, a bewildering bronze mirror, tangled chains, and a blank black book.

The ancient demon's body exists between reality and illusion, formed by a dense interplay of silvery illusory mist and pitch-black demonic energy.

Its eyes snapped open at the same time, shooting out a cold, chaotic light filled with endless malice, instantly locking onto all the creatures in the cave.

"Hiss... Fresh... Soul... Delicious..." Three mouths opened and closed simultaneously, emitting overlapping and hoarse sounds that resounded directly in the depths of everyone's consciousness.

"Form the Five Elements into One Formation! Defend with all your might!" Su Qingxuan ordered sternly without hesitation.

The five people instantly closed in, the formation was activated again, and five-colored light flowed, firmly protecting themselves and the Qingyun Sword Sect members.

Ling Yunzi and the others had retreated to the vicinity of the cave entrance, and upon seeing this, they showed smug expressions.

The cloaked figure manipulating the bone banner hissed, "The ancient demon has awakened! We cannot linger here! Retreat immediately!"

They were clearly prepared; in a flash, they transformed into streaks of light and were about to rush out of the cave.

However, the demon's right-side masked head suddenly turned towards them, letting out a sharp shriek!

The whistling sound was invisible, yet it caused the void to tremble. The gray mist near the cave entrance instantly condensed into a solid wall, blocking the way!

At the same time, a tremendous suction force emanated from the ancient demon, enveloping the entire cave.

Ling Yunzi and the others paused in their escape, their smug smiles freezing on their faces, turning into terror.

"What's going on?! How come it's even affecting us...?"

"Foolish...ants...whoever awakens me...will pay the price..."

The ancient demon's exquisitely beautiful female face parted her lips slightly, her voice soft and alluring, yet carrying a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

Her eyes swept over Ling Yunzi and the others, a glint of greed flashing in them.

The next moment, the ancient demon's six arms moved simultaneously.

The arm holding the bone flute brought it to the mouth of the hideous demon face and began to play.

There was no sound, but an invisible and intangible, eerie wave that penetrated straight to the soul spread out!

The arm holding the bronze mirror shone it on everyone, and they were immediately dizzy and fell into their own inner illusions, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion!

With a flick of his arm holding the chain, the pitch-black chain shot out like a venomous snake, heading straight for Ling Yunzi and the others!

The arm holding the heart squeezed the still-beating heart tightly, causing everyone in the cave to feel a sudden, sharp pain in their hearts!

"Ah—!" A rogue cultivator was the first to be caught in the crossfire, bound by chains, and screamed as he was dragged toward the ancient demon.

With a flick of its bladed arm, the ancient demon instantly cleaved the rogue cultivator in two, his soul screaming as it was sucked into the demon's mouth.

The ancient demon's aura seemed to have increased slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"No! Senior, it was we who awakened you! We are allies!"

Ling Yunzi was terrified, frantically urging the Zhenyue Seal to resist the invisible sound waves and the agonizing pain in his heart while screaming.

"An ally?" The ancient witch smiled mockingly. "Just a delicious meal of blood."

The chains struck again, this time targeting the Wrathful Vajra.

The Furious Vajra roared and swung his shovel at the chains, but was pointed at by the arm holding the blank black book, from which a twisted rune flew out and imprinted on his body.

The Furious Vajra froze, his eyes filled with confusion, and he turned around to slash at his companion beside him with a shovel!

Immediately, Ling Yunzi's side was thrown into chaos and began fighting amongst themselves.

Su Qingxuan and his group of five were also having a hard time.

The demonic sounds of the bone flute, the bewitching bronze mirror, and the agonizing pain in the heart attacked everyone in the cave indiscriminately.

The Five Elements Return to One formation flashed intensely, and the faces of everyone in the formation turned pale. They relied entirely on Xiao Lingyue's chanting and the power of the Heart-Cleansing Pill to barely maintain their mental state.

Thanks to Lin Wanqing's "steady" technique, everyone worked together to resist the strange heart pain.

"Young Master, this ancient demon is too powerful! We can't hold out for long!"

A trickle of blood had already seeped from the corner of Xiao Lingxi's mouth, and the True Fire of the Purple Cloud Furnace had dimmed somewhat under the demonic aura emanating from the ancient demon.

Su Qingxuan's eyes flashed rapidly.

Sweeping across the chaotic battlefield, across the ancient demon that was constantly devouring cultivators and whose aura was slowly growing stronger, across the surging illusory mist pool in the center.

His mind raced with thoughts.

This ancient demon was clearly formed by the fusion of remnant spirit and illusionary mist. It appeared terrifying, but its core was likely connected to the illusionary mist pool.

It has just awakened, its strength has not fully recovered, and it seems to be somewhat confused, unable to distinguish friend from foe...

At this moment, the ancient demon seemed to have lost patience with Ling Yunzi and the others.

Its eerie eyes suddenly snapped open, shooting out two beams of silver-gray light that swept towards Ling Yunzi and the others.

Wherever the beam of light passed, the radiance of magical artifacts and the protective aura melted away like ice and snow.

The two evil cultivators, both at the mid-stage of the Celestial Immortal realm, were struck by the beam of light. Before they could even scream, they were transformed into two silver stone sculptures, which then crumbled into dust, their souls being sucked into the mouth of the ancient demon.

Ling Yunzi was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder were shattered. He could no longer care about anything else. He bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood onto the Zhenyue Seal.

The Zhenyue Seal emitted a bright light, temporarily blocking the pillar of light. He then took out a purple talisman and crushed it!

"Universe Shifting Talisman! Let's go!"

The purple light enveloped Ling Yunzi, as well as Nu Jingang, Wen Buming, and the two cloaked figures closest to him.

The space rippled, and the five figures blurred instantly. The next moment, they actually broke through the ancient demon's gray mist blockade and spatial suppression, disappearing in the direction of the cave entrance.

The once-glowing and cracked Zhenyue Seal was completely shattered by the ancient demon's silver-gray beam of light.

The remaining few cultivators and evil practitioners who were unable to escape were slaughtered and devoured by the ancient demon in the blink of an eye.

The ancient demon's aura grew noticeably stronger, and all three heads displayed expressions of satisfaction.

Then, those six malicious eyes all turned to Su Qingxuan and the others who were still holding their ground in the Five Elements Returning to One Formation.

"A stronger... soul... delicious..." The ancient witch licked her lips and stepped forward.

With each step, the cave trembled, and the bewitching demonic sound, the chaotic mirror light, and the heart-wrenching pain became even more powerful!

The light of the Five Elements Returning to One dimmed at a visible speed.

Blood trickled from Xiao Lingyue's lips, Lin Wanqing's face was deathly pale, Xiao Lingxi swayed precariously, and Chi Ying's hand holding the gun trembled.

Chu Yunfan and the others had long since collapsed to the ground, only able to survive thanks to the protection of the formation.

"Young master... what should we do?"

It is:

The demonic shadow looms majestically with six outstretched arms, while a loyal heart burns brightly, concealing the five elements within.

We are in the same boat, braving the storms together; let us watch as the frost-covered blade breaks through the dawn's light.