Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

A dozen or so breaths later, the pitch-black demonic pillar vanished without a trace.

At the forefront of the three defensive lines, the array's spiritual light flickered dimly, and the originally stable protective barrier was now covered with fine, spiderweb-like gray-black demonic patterns. Strands of cold demonic energy seeped into the Spirit Immortal Grass Valley along the patterns.

A chill ran through everyone, and fear filled their faces. Many cultivators were thrown into disarray, believing that the legendary Bone Demon had fully awakened.

Lin Yan stood motionless in the center of the crowd.

Despite the surrounding malevolent energy and demonic pressure, his aura remained as steady as a mountain. His recently solidified late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation remained undiminished, and his meridians were smooth and full.

As the demonic pillar appeared, his eyes were deep and focused, his gaze piercing through the black mist and billowing malevolent energy, looking towards the depths of the Ruins of Return. His expression was calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

"He's not really awake."

Lin Yan murmured to himself, his tone resolute.

Since acquiring the Inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl, his divine sense has grown increasingly powerful, making him exceptionally sensitive to anomalies at the bottom of the Ruins and the source of demonic energy. He can now clearly distinguish the aura of ancient Ruins-born demons like the Bone Demon. The overwhelming murderous aura and bone-crying sounds before him, seemingly terrifying in their power, are in reality merely the unconscious surging and trembling of the Bone Demon's body after millions of years of slumber, revealing signs of its awakening.

The Demon Pillar was formed from the vibrations of the Void Qi, and the Bone Melody was the sound of ancient bones trembling slightly.

The true form of the Bone Demon remains dormant in the deepest part of the Ruins, never opening its eyes or appearing in the world.

However, strange phenomena occurred frequently, the evil aura grew stronger day by day, and the cracks continued to expand and seep in, already indicating that the awakening of the Bone Demon was inevitable. It was only waiting for the last opportunity to break through the ruins and wreak havoc on the mountains and seas.

The thought flashed through Lin Yan's mind, and he suddenly became focused.

A sudden heat surged within his dantian, and the innate pale golden elixir fire circulated throughout his body. The inkstone and inkstone beads in his arms vibrated slightly at the same time, and the black and white light merged and resonated. A vast and boundless power of the ocean suddenly burst forth along the meridians, washing over his limbs and bones.

In his mind, the patterns of the "Canglan Sea Emperor's Technique" appeared on their own, shining brightly.

This technique is an exclusive secret manual of the Guardian of the Meridians, using the Guardian of the Meridians' root bone as a guide, the Dan Fire as a source, and the Inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl as a medium. It is divided into three progressive forms, each with its own unique divine intent and combat power characteristics.

First Form: Suppressing the Tide

Using stillness to control movement, stabilizing the sea and bringing peace. The spiritual energy surrounding the body is like the still waves of a vast ocean, the flow of energy in the meridians shifts from agitation to stability, the mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation becomes solid and unyielding, significantly enhancing resistance to disturbances. Unaffected by nearby malevolent energy, external pressure, or bewitching influences, the perception of anomalies in the void and the source of demonic energy is amplified, allowing for the prediction of malevolent energy's trajectory. Capable of defense and stabilization, using the power of the alchemical fire to envelop the inkstone, a pale golden "tide-shaped shield" is formed, capable of simultaneously withstanding attacks from more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, or blocking attacks from demonic creatures below the Golden Core stage, without initiating attacks.

Second Form: Sealed Vast Ruins

By "sealing" the gaps, the evil energy is suppressed and returned to the void. The pale golden elixir fire changes from "gentle refining" to "sealing and suppressing," merging with the power of the inkstone beads to form a "sea mist-shaped sealing barrier," which can cover an area of ​​ten zhang in radius. It can accurately lock onto the point of demonic energy infiltration and the expansion of the void gap, using its own power to guard the meridians and draw upon the power of the vast ocean to forcibly suppress the leakage of evil energy.

Third Form: Sea Emperor Burns the Heavens

It burns away evil with "burning", covering the sea and burning the sky. The pill fire evolves into "Sea Emperor Pill Fire", with a pale gold flame and a blue sea flame. It can burn demons, refine treasures and heal injuries all at once. The early stage of Golden Core cultivation is enough to activate it. It can fly in the air for a short time and form a "sea of ​​fire domain" that covers an area of ​​fifty feet in radius.

-Sense of Intent: Completely resonate with the power of the vast ocean, transforming "sealing" into "attack". The mind can draw the fire of the elixir to transform into the sea, using the sea of ​​fire to purify a large area of ​​demonic energy, and even burn the evil essence of Nascent Soul level demons.

Lin Bujian had already mastered the first move. At this moment, guided by the movement of the void and the resonance of the bones, and aided by his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and the resonance of his two natal treasures, the shackles of his technique were broken in an instant.

hum-

An invisible sound from the sea resounded in Lin Yan's mind, and he instantly comprehended the second move, "Sea of ​​Vast Ruins."

Lin Yan raised his hand and gently pressed it into the void. The pale golden flame of the elixir in his palm intertwined with the faint light of the vast ocean, and a heavy and powerful sealing force quietly spread out. Within a radius of ten feet around him, the leaking evil energy was instantly suppressed and purified, and demonic energy could not invade, nor could evil spirits arise.

At the crack in the Lingxiancao Valley defense line, the originally crumbling barrier was temporarily stabilized by this wisp of protective power, preventing it from being continuously eroded and expanded by demonic energy.

Not far away, the three sect leaders, Xuan Yang of Laoshan, Jian Chen of Qingyun Sect, and Ling Xi of Shuiyue Pavilion, stood side by side, their faces solemn as they gazed at the sky and the direction of the rift, their brows furrowed.

The rift in Guixu is intensifying, with demonic energy continuously seeping into the valley. The protective defense line set up by the three sects has developed multiple cracks, and the spiritual energy of the formation is being consumed rapidly, making the situation extremely precarious.

Xuan Yang said in a deep voice, "The more intense the disturbance, the more the demonic energy leaks out. If this continues, the defense line will surely be breached."

Jian Chen gripped his longsword, the blade trembling slightly, his expression cold and stern: "The Blood Fiend Sect is lurking on Black Abyss Mist Island, and will surely take advantage of the chaos to harass and plunder. We must prepare for this as soon as possible."

Lingxi looked at Lin Yan with a hint of approval: "The successor of the Guardian Vein has stabilized his aura and comprehended a new move, which is a great help. However, the internal strife is not yet over, external enemies are lurking, the distribution of the Hidden Crystal Vein is still undecided, and the three sects are united in guarding the ruins. The road ahead is still difficult."

Knowing the situation was critical, the three sect leaders immediately turned around and entered the Three Sects Council Hall to discuss the activation of the Mountain and Sea Demon Sealing Array, finalize the agreement on the distribution of the Hidden Crystal Spirit Vein after the war, unify the deployment, and work together to stabilize the defense line and deal with the impending storm.

At the same moment, in the far east of the East China Sea, on Black Abyss Mist Island.

Deep within the Blood Fiend Sect's heartland, in the Bone-Suppressing Cave, a chilling wind swept through the cave, causing the corrosive seaweed to sway and the human bone bells to jingle softly and coldly in the breeze.

Inside the cave, there was no clamor or frenzy, only a deep, cold chill, and a stagnant, malevolent aura.

Within the layered niches of the rock wall, fragments of black bones from the Void are quietly displayed, absorbing the surrounding blood and muddy earth, emanating a faint gray mist, warming the evil magic within the cave, and nourishing the cultivation of the Blood Fiend Sect members. At the deepest part of the cave, a Xuan Yin bone wall stands silently, swallowing all the surrounding light, dark and deep, which is the core of the Blood Fiend Sect's ability to draw in the aura of bone demons and sense the anomalies at the bottom of the Void.

Dozens of Blood Fiend disciples, clad in black robes, stood against the wall, eyes closed, gathering their energy to nourish the fragments of black bone with their own blood essence. Their faces were indifferent, their evil aura concealed, awaiting orders.

Earlier, when the Demon Pillar of Guixu soared into the sky and its bone-chilling sound reverberated throughout the East Sea, the Xuan Yin Bone Wall within the Bone-Suppressing Cave radiated heat, black bone fragments trembled in unison, and gray mist surged continuously. The disciples' hearts trembled, their evil power surged, and they felt as if the Demon Ancestor had descended upon the world, their hearts filled with nothing but awe and submission. When the Demon Pillar dissipated and the bone-chilling sound weakened, the disciples could no longer restrain themselves. They all knelt on the ground of bone dust and blood, burying their heads deep, their backs arched. The entire cave instantly resounded with a uniform, muffled thud. Without any command, hundreds of black-robed disciples shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the cave:

"Welcome the extraordinary phenomenon of the Bone Ancestor; Blood Fiend awaits, ready to unleash the demonic rise!"

The shouts echoed through the stone cave, the crowd filled with sinister piety, their hearts and minds bowing in worship, firmly believing that the Bone Demon's power was growing daily and the Blood Fiend Sect was about to rise. They only knew that the strange phenomenon was earth-shattering, thinking that the Demon Ancestor was about to awaken. Only a few of the higher-ups knew that the ancient demon at the bottom of the ruins was still asleep and had not yet awakened.

Mo Tu, the leader of the Blood Fiend Sect, stood before the bone wall, his large hand pressed against the cold, bone-chilling stone. Greed and calmness intertwined in his eyes as he silently felt the bone rumbling and the oppressive demonic energy emanating from the distant Ruins of Return.

"The Bone Demon has not yet awakened; only strange phenomena are surging."

Mo Tu spoke in a low voice, his tone calm, without a trace of fanatical worship.

The Blood Fiend Sect never displays blind loyalty, does not worship the Void Demon, and certainly does not regard the Bone Demon as its ancestor. Its only aim is to leverage the power of the Bone Fiend at the bottom of the Ruins to expand its sect, plunder spiritual veins, rise to power amidst the chaos, and dominate the East Sea.

Beside him, Commander Li Guichou leaned against the rock wall, his fingertips stroking the sea monster's finger bone token, and said in a sinister voice, "The three sects are currently preoccupied with their own problems, busy consolidating their defenses and discussing the division of their branches. This is the perfect opportunity for my Black Abyss to send troops."

In the shadows, the Demon Lord Poison Heart Rakshasa, surrounded by a pale blue sea of ​​poisonous mist, spoke in a soft yet icy voice: "Using the chaos of demonic energy, seize the hidden crystal spirit mines on the outskirts of Spirit Immortal Valley, severing the foundations of the three sects. We won't fight the powerful directly, only take practical benefits, a sure-fire way to make a profit."

Mo Tu slowly withdrew his hand, and the gray mist on the Xuan Yin Bone Wall slightly subsided. His gaze pierced through the black mist of the cave, looking towards the direction of Lingxian Valley, and he coldly gave the order:

"Take advantage of the next time the Bone Rumbles and Ruins Shake, the Three Sects are thrown into chaos, and the Spirit Tide rises, and immediately send out troops."

"Without breaking the great formation, without attacking the main peak, we will only seize the spirit mines and accumulate power by gathering crystals."

"With the Bone Demon still unconscious, it's perfect for our Blood Fiend Sect to profit from the chaos."

Inside the Bone-Suppressing Cave, all the Blood Fiend disciples opened their eyes simultaneously, their gazes fierce and their killing intent surging.

The human bone bells jingled softly, and the black mist of the abyss surged to the sky.

On one side, the three sects firmly guarded the Void Realm and solidified their defenses, while Lin Yanxin comprehended the second form of the Sea Emperor; on the other side, the evil cultivators were poised to strike, waiting for the chaotic world to seize real benefits.

Before the ruins have been quelled, troubles have already begun.

A storm is brewing over the mountains and seas.